DEAR TGS FAMILIES, Below is an email from Pat Basset, President of the National Association of Independent Schools, the governing body for independent schools of which we are a member. I thought you might appreciate the message as we all work together to support our children and our school. Steve
Dear Colleagues,
I know that many of you are nervous about the current state of the economy and are wondering what it may mean for your school. We at NAIS are keeping close tabs on the economic news as well as developing resources for schools to use to ensure their financial sustainability.
As I wrote in the E-Bulletin last week...
...we are facing in independent schools as in the country at large what Jim Collins in Good to Great has called "the brutal facts." Let's not forget, however, that his brutal facts were also counterbalanced by "unshakeable beliefs." For me, the latter are rooted in three indisputable virtues of independent schools:
We have the freedom to act quickly and decisively when needed, since we are effectively independent of government or church in our governance and finance.
We have the capacity to act with resources behind us since we have intellectual, physical, and social capital, unmatched by any other segment of the K-12 education market.
We have confidence our schools "will not only endure but prevail," since history is on our side. For every other calamity, man-made or God-delivered, independent schools have weathered the storm remarkably well. If any institutions are "built to last," independent schools are.
As Yogi Berra quipped famously, "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future," but with planning and resolve, we will make it through this together.
Sincerely,
PFB
Patrick F. Bassett, President NAIS
GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENTS in Art Show at The Brooks Memorial Library
March 7 to March 28th - This is an annual student art work show of local elementary students. Several schools are represented and it is a wonderful chance to see the different projects being done in our area. Each school is limited to a four by eight foot display space. I am sorry that more pieces could not be in this show. The following TGS students have pieces displayed: Isabel Rodriguez, Julia Shumlin, Wyeth Olmsted, Marley Hathaway, Dylan Ray, Anton Wozniak, Ethan Cameron, Hamza Abadi, Carrie Brautigam, Hannah Green, Rory Cuerdon, Erin Sternfels, Ella Warner, and Kasey White.I hope you will have a chance to see the show.
Yours, William
IMMUNIZATIONS - There are 39 TGS students out of compliance with the Vermont State immunization requirements. I would like to thank the parents who took the time over break to update their children but we need to complete this project soon. If you want your child to be exempt from any of these immunizations and have not signed a form I have exemptions forms in my office for you to sign. I will be calling families that have not responded to my letter over the next 2 weeks. Please do your best to call me (802-387-5364 ext. 105) and meet these requirements. Marcia
THE MARKETING COMMITTEE - has been working on developing a "tag line" for The Grammar School. A couple of suggestions are: Learning Through Discovery, Education for a New World, Strong Minds: Strong Bodies, and Capable Confident Learners. We would like your family to think about a 2-3 word line that you think describes a TGS education like "Just Do It" describes Nike. Please feel free to email or call me with your wonderful ideas. Marcia
PLEASE TAKE NOTE - Tammy White Will Be Bus Monitor for the Westminster/Saxtons River/ Bellows Falls/Walpole bus route starting last week. With this change the school will not be offering the Extended School Program and Tammy will not be in her office until 8:20am in the mornings and will leave her office at 3:00 in the afternoons. We ask that you are on time picking up your children after school hours as faculty members are on duty only until 3:15pm. If you have an emergency and need to speak with someone in the school after hours, please dial extension 103 for Steve, 107 for Deb & Tara,106 for Mark Green or 113 for Chris Harlow. If it isn't an emergency please leave a message for Tammy in the general mailbox and she will get back to you in the morning. This change will remain in effect until the end of this school year. Your patience during this transition will be very much appreciated. Thank you. Steve Lorenz
CONNECTICUT RIVER CHILDREN'S CHORUS DEBUT CONCERT
3:00 TGS singers rehearsal
4:00 ALL final rehearsal and brown bag supper
5:00 drive to The Putney School
6:00 CONCERT
Parent drivers
and assistants are needed
Email Alli for informationposter by JaJa Laughlin
RE-ENROLLMENTS - Were due March 2nd. Please get them to the office as soon as possible. Thank you.
BILL SHONTZ formerly of Rosenshontz, the infamous and beloved children's music duo, is coming to TGS on Tuesday, March 17! He will lead two improvisation workshops for the 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade recorder players and perform a St. Patrick's Day Celebration and Concert for the whole school from 12:50-1:40. Parents are welcome. Please consider wearing GREEN!
DONATIONS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOODS - are being collected by the Sixth grade, during the month of March. You may bring items to their classroom or to the box outside the main office. Thank you for your thoughtful contributions.
The Grammar School Summer Program!
Save the dates June 29th - July 24th!
We are excited to announce that this summer we will offer another full month of summer camps for students ages 4 -12. The Studio Arts program will have new offerings and new teachers as well as old favorites. The Athletic Adventures program will include biking, soccer, skateboarding, and more. The Nature Camp will include wilderness and survival skills. For these camps, students may attend for two or four weeks. Classes will be split ages 6-9 and ages 9-12. Participants may focus in one area or create a mixed day that combines elements of all the programs. Camps run from 9-3:30. Classes will be taught by professional artists and educators.
We will also offer a Young Explorers camp for children ages 4 and 5. Each week will have an exciting and different theme.
Look for camp updates and details to come in future Wednesday notices. Brochures and Registration forms will be sent home in early April.
I had a chance to look at our statistics from last year and am excited to share the numbers with you. We had 115 Campers last summer. They came from 24 different towns and 6 states. 64 campers were from private schools (5 different private schools) We gave financial aid to 25% of our campers. 15% received more than 50% tuition reduction. and we gave full financial aid to 9% of our campers.
Please contact us if you know a child or family that might enjoy our program. We have scholarship funds available for families of limited means.
Come and Explore!
William Chambers
Director of Summer Programs
wchamber@tgs-putney.org
(802)387-5364
OPEN CLASSROOMS ON THURSDAYS FOR K-4TH GRADE- We will be holding Open Classrooms every Thursday during the month of March from 9 am-12 noon for new families to explore TGS. Please tell any friends or neighbors who might be interested in learning more about the Grammar School to explore this opportunity. We are trying a month long advertising campaign on NHPR and will talk about this on our website if you care to learn more. Please let us know what you think. Marcia
BOGGED DOWN IN THE MUD? READ! Reading Challenge began Monday, March 9th and ends Friday, April 3rd Don't be left out! There's still time to begin the Challenge, if you begin today (March 11th) and don't miss another day. This is such a fun reading incentive for students and families. Read together. What a perfect way to spend four weeks of mud season. All successful student participants will receive a certificate, small prize and be invited to the Library Reading Challenge Popscile Party. Also students and adults will be entered in drawings held in Brattleboro for more prizes. Remember to be successful; there are rules to follow. So please read the information sent home with your student. For more information and forms, contact me or go to the Windham County Reads website http://windhamcountyreads.org/ Ponnie
It can be a family affair!
THINK SPRING (AUCTION)!
While you're still rightfully enjoying skiing and all that winter has to
offer, the time has come to start planning this year's Spring Auction.
SAVE THE DATE! Friday, May 15th at Boggy Meadow Farm in Walpole, NH. This is the premier social event for the TGS adult community as well as an important fundraiser. Fine food, drink, aucton items and live music! BroadBand has already committed to playing and they are sure to get everyone dancing (featuring TGS parent and French teacher Johanna Gardner and her husband Bahman Mahdavi. This highly energized band is sure to please. Food catered by TGS's own Elizabethan Fare run by Elizabeth and David Warner. Auctioneering by the famed Ned Childs.
Mark Green and Kathleen Hathaway have agreed to co-chair this year's auction again and are looking for parents to volunteer for auction responsibilities. We also ask that all parents help contribute auction items large and small...details to follow...
We need folks to: 1: help coordinate and solicit live and silent auction items 2: work with teachers/students on class projects 3: help with decorations. Some folks have already stepped up and volunteered to coordinate these activities, but they will need help from the
parent community. Please contact Mark or Kathleen if you are interested. mkgreen@thegrammarschool.org or khathaway@vermontel.net
THANK YOU!
CALENDAR CHANGE! - APRIL 17 IS LISTED ON THE CALENDAR AS AN INSERVICE DAY THIS IS ACTUALLY A PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE DAY!
VISIT THE TGS UNDERGROUND on the web for links to South Pacific, 7th grade homework, library and more.
LOOKING FOR NEW LUNCH OPTIONS FOR YOUR KIDS? Want to support a local business and get a great deal in the process? Mountain Pauls in Putney is offering a school lunch program, you can order from their school lunch menu the night before and it will be ready for you to pick up the next morning on your way to school. Each lunch includes a sandwich, piece of fruit, and a drink. (More options are available for additional charges.) Call 387-4446 for more information.
You can see the menu on the bulletin board outside Tammys office.
COMMUNITY NEWS!
TYLER HARLOW (TGS "99") who has recently returned from a three month habitat restoration project in Ecuador, is about to embark on a cross country bicycle trip to raise money for a summer camp for foster children. Tyler has volunteered at "Camp to Belong" for the past two years and he will be taking this opportunity to raise awareness of and collect funds for this wonderful nonprofit. Please go to Tyler's web site for more information, Tyler's progress blog and to support Tyler as a sponsor http://www.firstgiving.com/tylerharlow. You can find Tyler's fundraising letter on the TGS Underground.
IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - The Donald B. Watt Library on the campus of SIT Grad Institute/World Learning is hosting an exhibit by TGS mom and painter, Jeanette Staley. This body of work was developed with the support of 2005 Vermont Arts Council Creation Grant. Library Hours are: Mon-Fri 8:00am -10:00pm, Sat 10:00am - 6:00pm and Sun 12:00pm - 10:00pm. The exhibit will hang through March 31st
Grafton Ponds St Patty's Ski Fun - Head over to Grafton Ponds this Sunday, March 15 for their Leprechaun Leap Events. Obstacle course race, tandem ski race (they have the skis), and loads of other fun events for kids, and a real race for adults. Free for all kids under 12 and season pass holders. Bill Salmon is hoping for a big gathering to make this day fun for all. Kids wearing costumes will get a time bonus in the race. See http://www.graftonponds.com/ for more info.
New England Youth Theatre is pleased to announce a new offering: PAGE TO STAGE , a theatre class for 6 & 7 years old. Beginning March 14th, classes will be held on Saturdays from 10:00am to 11:30am. Page To Stage will be taught by professional educator Maureen Ward. Page to Stage is a perfect continuation of the work begun in our Drama & Dress Up class for our youngest students. For new or returning kids, it will be a wonderful place to build a deeper connection with the theatre and to explore the creation of character, script, scenery and costume.
Classes are Saturday March 14th through Saturday, May 9th, 10:00 - 11:30am, $175 tuition. To register call Michelle Meima at 246.6398, ext. 101 or email michelle@neyt.org.
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tel: (802) 387-5364, main office ext 101
fax: (802) 387-4744
http://www.thegrammarschool.org
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Quick Links
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TGS Calendar
Reading Challenge
CALENDAR
March 17
Board Meeting 7pm
March 17
Bill Shontz at TGS
Improvisation Workshops
St. Patrick's Day AssemblyMarch 23Technicool6:30-8:00March 30 - April 8
ERB Testing for grades 5-7
April 2
CONNECTICUT RIVER CHILDREN'S CHORUS
Debut Concert
The Putney School
Currier Center/Calder Hall
6pm
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