Here is a glance of what was on the Board Table this month.

• Marketing and admissions update to the Board included that families are already starting to apply to GHA for next year. We currently continue to enroll new students to GHA and are expecting more in the New Year. Next open house will be in January so start spreading the word and possibly benefit from the "BIG" program.
• The school's financial outlook is looking better each month with the continued help of Annual Fund donations. Thank you all for your efforts! Re-enrollment is the next big contributor to the continued success of the financial outlook. The Tuition Incentive program "BIG" will continue for the 2012/2013 school year.
• The Head Search Committee presented to the Board their recommendation for the next Head of School. The Board continues to move forward with the process of hiring the next Head of School. We look forward to making an announcement soon. Our thanks to Elizabeth Gray for coordinating this stellar effort.
• The Board has endorsed continuing with the PNAIS school accreditation self study and school validation process and will be asking for a one year extension to our allotted time line in order for GHA to be thorough in our self study and set ourselves up for a successful accreditation visit.

The Board does have an email to allow the community to reach out to the board at anytime with any questions, ideas or concerns.

Thank you to Kindergarten parent Russell Scott for orchestrating this fun holiday fundraiser benefiting GHA! Great job Russell!

LAST Order Delivery Date: December 16th

Extra wreaths are available, please see the office. 

Tiffani Wetherbee gave the kindergarten class a quick immersion into African culture to support their weekly theme: Children Around the World. Nigerian clothing, baskets, dolls, pictures, musical instruments, stories, and learning a few words in Yoruba helped add to the students' schema of African life. Tiffani was raised off and on in Africa since the age of 10. She taught at the American International School in Lagos, Nigeria for 10 years. The students have enjoyed learning about the different continents and countries, comparing and contrasting their lives with the lives of other children around the world. We are working very hard to widen our global lens!  

Every year when the Jan Brett unit is introduced to the first grade class the students are visited by some very interesting creatures.....trolls! These trolls stand very still and are extremely well mannered until no little eyes are upon them and then they cause mischief of one kind and another!  One day the kids came into class and the trolls did their laundry and strewn it across the classroom.  Coming back from recess on another day, the first grader's came back to discover turned over chairs and the class supplies not in their appropriate places. 

The children have been very patient with these destructive little fellows and are even teaching them the lesson of being kind and giving to your friends and neighbors. The children have left several gifts for the trolls including homemade houses. Mrs. J's class is now brimming with anticipation everyday to see what they will find from the trolls next.

Stop by the first grade class to see these welcomed guests and find out more about their shenanigans, because soon the trolls will disappear and not be seen until this same time next year.

To read more about these trolls and their hi jinx, check out the books "Christmas Trolls" and "Trouble with Trolls" written by Jan Brett.  

This year we have united as ONE SCHOOL, ONE COMMUNITY, ONE FAMILY! You have reached into your hearts and into your wallets to support our school, your children, and their future!   

CHEERS...TO OUR SUCCESS!

Luke Strom, who owns Strom's Northwest Tree Co., is an alumni from Our School and his daughter recently attended the Tuesday Enrichment Preschool Class.