The Foote School
E-News
November 17, 2011
In This Issue
Read, Read, Read
All-School News & Information
Photo News
Giving on Thanksgiving
Community Service Kudos
PTC News
Foote Finances
Stop & Shop
Movie Afternoon
"The Story of Stuff"
Comparing Cultures
Help with Art
Seventh Grade Science
"A Christmas Carol"
Forms Due
A Day in the Life of Foote
Dates to Note
Quick Links
Week At A Glance

Parents Page

K-5 Faculty

6-9 Faculty

When Waiting, Read      

Vision and hearing screenings took place in the nurse's office this week, filling the bench outside the office with waiting students. What does one do at Foote when faced with a few minutes of free time?







read1


ALL-SCHOOL NEWS & INFORMATION 

Photos are On the Way    

Please be on the lookout this week for the photo packages that you ordered for your child or children.  If you have any questions or problems, please contact photographer David Frost at 203-468-9797, or Amy Buhl at 203-230-9493.

Last Chance For A Thanksgiving Food Donation  

The Community Service group and the 6X homeroom class are coordinating a school-wide Thanksgiving food drive for St. Ann's Soup Kitchen on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden. The Soup Kitchen plans to hand out 200 bags with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving Day meal next Tuesday.

Please click here for more information on the food drive, and the list of the items each grade level is collecting. Sixth graders will collect the food on Fri., Nov. 18.
  

Setting Records for Community Service   

Foote's participation in the Cook and Care Walk-A-Thon Oct. 16 landed in Cook and Care's list of Top 10 donors for the event. Congratulations to Foote's Community Service group!   

PTC NEWS 

Learn about Foote's Finances at next PTC Meeting

The next PTC meeting, at 8:30 a.m. Wed., Dec. 7, in Steinen Hurtado's art room, will feature a Foote Community Conversation with Business Manager Jay Cox. Jay will present an overview of Foote's finances and budget. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The School Store will be open immediately following the meeting. Stock up on holiday gifts, including a half-price deal on Foote cookbooks, at just $10 a copy!

'Tis the Season to Shop: Use Your Stop & Shop Card for Foote

Please help Foote earn free money! Remember to register your Stop & Shop card, and every time you shop you earn money for Foote. Even if you registered last year, you must re-register this year to participate.

Click here to enter your 13-digit Stop & Shop card number.  Our school code is 08832.  Or email Foote's Stop & Shop coordinator Jamie Cole with your Stop & Shop card number and your last name.

We also have Stop & Shop gift cards for sale in $100 increments. Stop by the Alumni & Development Office to purchase them. We accept cash or personal checks made out to the Foote School PTC.  

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS & INFORMATION

    

Middle School Movie Afternoon  

The Middle School Movie Afternoon is sponsored by the Student Council.

When:  2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fri., Nov. 18
Where: North Building
What:  Choice of two movies - "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (PG-13) OR "Kung Fu Panda 2" (PG)
Charge:  A canned good would be very much appreciated. Please refer to the list of food items assigned per class for the Thanksgiving food drive listed under All School Information, above. Refreshments also will be for sale.

Information and descriptions for the films may be found at imbd.com.

Students Hear "The Story of Stuff" 

On Wednesday afternoon, middle school students gathered in the Sandine Theater for a presentation by the Environmental Action Group (EAG) based upon the short film "The Story of Stuff." A popular student club led by science teacher Pam Harmon, EAG is focusing its efforts this year on sustainability, and this assembly provided its members a chance to share their conversations with their middle school peers.

Seven EAG members joined Pam in speaking before, between, and after short selections from the film, and they provided the student body with a variety of messages:
 
* Think about the difference between what you want and what you need.
* Consider how you 'vote' for sustainability practices each time you buy something
* Evaluate the true costs of an item (such as production, transportation, replacement, and disposal) before each purchase.

There was a buzz in the room as students left the theater, and middle school advisors have been provided with resources to continue discussions in their homerooms. Head of School Carol Maoz hopes to build upon EAG's momentum; she will speak in an upcoming assembly about the many sustainability features of the Jonathan Milikowsky Science and Technology Building. Community members who wish to view "The Story of Stuff" in its full, 20-minute length can do so by clicking here.
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A Hands-On Exercise in Comparing Cultures  

The Comparative Cultures class will visit the Yale Art Gallery Tues., Nov. 22. Please click here for a copy of a letter regarding the trip that was sent home Wednesday with ninth grade students. 
 
Eighth Grade Art Project Needs a Little Help from Home  

Eighth grade students are embarking on an art project that requires parental interaction. A letter, which is also available here, was sent home this week in the backpacks of eighth grade students.

Any questions may be directed to art teacher Steinen Hurtado.

Introducing Google Docs  

 

Seventh graders were introduced to Foote School Google Docs in their science classes with a spreadsheet project. The sixth and ninth grades are in the process of receiving their Google Docs accounts, and plans for the eighth graders will soon follow.  

 

Read more here about the Middle School's introduction to Google Docs, a helpful tool for word processing, spreadsheets, drawings and presentations.
 
"A Christmas Carol"

Due to high demand for tickets, an extra performance of "A Christmas Carol" has been added for 2:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 10. Tickets may be purchased at the front desk starting Mon., Nov. 21, for all shows.  

Parents and cast and crew members, please note: a second email was sent home this week with information on the additional performance. Please check your email carefully, and if you did not receive either communication, please email Jane Gordon, director of communications, or call 203-777-3464 ext. 246. 

Find rehearsal information for Foote's production of "A Christmas Carol" for the weeks of Nov. 21 and Nov. 28 here.

Secondary School Recommendation Forms Due

For parents of students applying to secondary schools, a Nov. 23 deadline is approaching for:
 
1. Teacher recommendations
2. Record release forms
3. School recommendation forms
  
Students should personally deliver teacher recommendation forms to each teacher. School recommendations are to be delivered to Erika Villa in the registrar's office, located next to the Head of School's office.   

We continue to request that paper forms be used. We acknowledge that many schools are using online forms, but until further notice, please continue to use paper. Thank you.

 
 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE

         

A Focus on Professional Development 

    

Foote has made a priority of stressing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, from providing funds for professional conferences, classes and seminars to holding in-house training sessions for the plethora of tools available today to teachers. Last Friday, faculty and staff learned how to use specific technological tools including Google Docs, Scratch and Smart Boards.  

 

profdev       

  

Important Dates to Note

Nov. 23 - 12:30 p.m. All School Dismissal (No After School Program)
Nov. 23 - Young Alums Day
Nov. 24 - School is closed. Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov. 25 - School is closed. Thanksgiving recess
Dec. 7 - 8:30 a.m. PTC Meeting, Steinen Hurtado's Art Room  
Dec. 8-11 - "A Christmas Carol," Sandine Theater 
Dec. 16 - 12:30 p.m. All School Dismissal (No After School Program)
Dec. 19-30 - Winter Recess. Classes Resume Jan. 2