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SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
WEDNESDAY NOTICE


k-2 soccer


Graduation and Last Day of School Change -
The date for the 2010 graduation and the last day of school have been changed to Thursday June 10, 2010. Please make note as this will be changed on the master calendar.

NEWS FROM STEVE LORENZ 
New and Expanding Web Site and Parent Resources Link - Our web site, with the help of Mary Heller Osgood and Alli Lubin, continues to change and improve. Our Parent Resources link as of next week will contain the following sections:  The Student and Parent Handbook, Flu Information, Technology Acceptable Use Polices, our complete 2009-2010 PreK - 8th Grade Curriculum Guide and a copy of our Social Skills and Health Curriculum Map (Framework).

Also as you may know each classroom page has a link at the top to the "teacher's page", which is an informational blog for each homeroom teacher to be used as a communication tool between teachers, parents and students. This can be accessed by going to the website, click on the class under Curriculum, then click on the teachers' page link at the top of the class page.  Or, go to the Blogger Dashboard to access a list of all classroom blogs. You will need to create and sign in with a gmail username and password - http://www.blogger.com/home

The Grammar School Faculty and Staff-"Value Added" - When I meet with former TGS students, usually the first question I am asked is, "how is my former teacher(s)..........?" And the next statement more often than not is, "I will never forget them." Past parents of TGS alums always want to tell me stories about certain faculty and staff and how they positively impacted the education and lives of their child(ren). For many this is the reason they continue to support the school.

During these economically challenging times, independent schools continue to provide the best PS-12th grade education available and at TGS this is because of our dedicated teachers and staff. At The Grammar School "belts have been tightened", we are doing business more efficiently and have finished in "the black" for the last three years. We have and will remain committed to offering quality educational programs delivered by a diverse, caring and talented faculty.

When I was considering accepting the position of Head of School, three years ago ( I am entering my fourth year at the helm), I read and reread the biographies of the faculty and staff. I was struck by the length of time the faculty and staff had been teaching at and serving  TGS. I was impressed with their varied, interesting and extraordinary backgrounds. I was wowed by the variety of educational and life experiences they had brought to the school and shared with our students.

The administration and trustees understand the value of maintaining the very highest quality of educational programs. This can only be accomplished by retaining the very highest quality faculty and staff. As we steer our ship into the current economic storm and use the crisis to create a stronger and more sustainable school rest assured; the school community recognizes the "value added" by one of our most important resources, our teachers and staff.

Steve Lorenz, HOS

Social Skills Education -  Social Skills education at The Grammar School is at the foundation of the TGS  curriculum. The Grammar School seeks to inspire in our students honesty, self-discipline, and a sense of community, kindness, and respect for others. The TGS community believes that the best environment for learning and growth is one in which students are free to make clear choices with the guidance of wise and caring teachers and within a clear framework of reasonable expectations.

To achieve these goals The Grammar School has a social skills curriculum. This curriculum is woven into the fabric of the school culture and is carried out in everyday classroom interactions and instruction by classroom teachers. To support students, teachers, and parents in maintaining a healthy school community, TGS also employs a social skills counselor for grades K-5 and grades 6-8. The 6-8th grade counselor meets with each class once a week. The K-5 counselor meets with each class on a rotating schedule.

The social skills and health curriculum map (framework) fro pre-k through 8th grade will be on our web site by next week via the Parent Resources Link. A summary of the social skills program can be found by grade level in our curriculum guide which will also be on our web site by next week. Please use the Parent Resources Link for this as well.

Student and Parent Handbook - Our student and parent handbook provides each Grammar School family with pertinent information about the operations of the school, daily life on campus, and the rhythm of the school year. Our goal is to make the information clear and accessible, however, as you read the handbook, do not hesitate to call or e-mail Steve if you have questions.  

It is my intention to highlight on a regular basis different sections of the Student and Parent Handbook. This document can be found on our web site in the Parent Resources link and I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with it. The handbook was sent in hard copy to each family last year and was made available to new families at the New Family Orientation. This handbook contains the procedures, protocols and policies that guide the operations of our school. This week I focus on the section entitled Behavior and Discipline.

Behavior and Discipline
The school plays a guiding role for our students; any behavior that is detrimental to the progress, safety, or well-being of the group or counterproductive to the learning environment will not be tolerated. The following steps will be taken in providing guidance to the student:
a) minor infractions will be brought to the student's attention by the teacher and discussed;
b) with repeated infractions (two or three occurrences), discussion with the student will continue and a plan of corrective action will be formulated. The parents will be informed of this and consulted on the corrective plan;
c) if there are infractions beyond this, the Head of School will become involved with the student, teacher, and parents. At this point, corrective action may include varying lengths of time spent away from school;
d) a major violation (physical violence, abusive language, destruction of property) will bring immediate involvement of the Head of School and parents.
*Term reports will reflect any steps that have been taken in dealing with students' behavior.

Suspension and Dismissal
The school retains the right to suspend or dismiss a student. The Head of School holds these prerogatives.

Conduct and Standards Board - I must note additionally that I am in the process of forming a Conduct and Standards Board consisting of two teachers and and one or two staff members to assist me, as the Head of School. This "Board" will help me in providing guidance and in some cases, consequences for our students who fail to adhere to our basic tenets of honesty, self discipline, and a sense of community, kindness, and respect for the members of our school community and school property. The board will meet initially to review our behavior an discipline protocols and policies and then will meet on an as needed basis.

Steve Lorenz, HOS

WALPOLE/SAXTONS RIVER/BF BUS TIME ADJUSTMENTS -
Morning
Leave Walpole @ 7:38
J&W Auto          @ 7:46
Saxtons River Store @ 7:56
Westminster West @ 8:05
TGS @ 8:15
Chirs Harlow

PARKING ON HICKORY RIDGE ROAD -  Parents May NOT park along Hickory Ridge Road for sporting events. Emergency vehicles cannot pass, neighbors get upset and the sheriff has ticketed. Thank you for your cooperation. Chris Harlow

FAIRE NOTES!
If you have not already signed up for a shift for the Faire, or signed up to make something for the Tavern or Marketplace, please do so.
We are still in need of: hay, ponies, decorative items (gourds, cornstalks, pumpkins, mums etc)

The costume closet (upstairs in the gym) will be ready on Monday. Please do not enter the closet beforehand. There will be a sign out sheet for borrowed items and children are not be in the costume closet unsupervised. Please leave things as you found them. Thank you!

Sports Information

Please remember to bring in the $20 fall sports fee. Go to the sports page on the website for information and updates, and remember to check the calendar at the bottom of the page.  (To view the information in more detail, click on the event.)
 
Mouth guards: The Vermont Principals Association mandates mouth guards for all high school students during soccer practices and games. TGS strongly recommends the use of mouth guards for our students, as well.
 
The first Kurn Hattin cross-country running meet is Wednesday, September 16.  Parents should arrange transportation for their children to the Kurn Hattin School.  The course walk begins at 3:30, so runners should leave TGS by 3:10 pm.
 
Putney School has offered a rowing activity to interested Upper School students on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons this fall. If your child is interested in rowing, please contact Mary as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity!
Mary Heller Osgood.

INTERESTED IN SUBBING FOR TGS? - if you are, please email Tammy at [email protected].

WE ARE RESUMING OUR SCHOOL-WIDE YEAR-LONG COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT:  Each month a class or two will be in charge of collecting non-perishable food items and /or toiletries that will be delivered to the Putney Food Shelf.  These are always greatly appreciated. Usually there is a box for donated items outside the office as well as one in or near the classroom that is collecting for the designated month.
THE THIRD GRADE WILL BE COLLECTING FOR SEPTEMBER.  THANK YOU!

Great fun for Girls!
Field hockey for girls grade 3-6 with Bethany Coursen Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-7, games on Saturday mornings, at the Bellows Falls Union High school. Practice starts 9/8, but you can sign up and join anytime! $15.00. you need shin guards and mouth guards, stick provided. There is also a team for 7th and 8th grade girls, practice is everyday 3:30-4:30 at BFUHS, call Bethany at 875-2351 or 376-5997 with any questions about either group.



COMMUNITY NEWS!

After-school Spanish classes at TGS
Thursdays from 3:15-4:30 for children ages 4-7.
Songs, stories, art projects, outdoor play. Healthy snack provided. Starting next Thursday, September 24th- December 17th. 12-week session is $150. Also possible to take it as six-week session. Please contact Elissa McLean ASAP if you are interested: [email protected] or 275-2694. More information
about this class and other Spanish classes offered in the community at www.escuelitaspanishschool.org.

Please buy a raffle ticket from Rudi Gohl! $10 a ticket for a chance at one of three $100 gift certificates to Ruggles & Hunt in Walpole. Proceeds help Rudi pay for his trip to the Morgan Horse National Championships in Oklahoma City this October.

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night will be performed this Saturday, Sept. 19, in the Main Theatre of The Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College.
The performance begins at 7:30 and tickets are FREE! (or make a donation)

The performers are from Durham University in England. Yes, that means hearing Shakespeare with British accents!
The production is based on Donmar Warehouse's script that was recently seen in London's West End and starred Derek Jacobi.
According to the director, "The script our production uses has been carefully cut to focus on the play's farcical comedy, the childlike decision-making of its characters, and the inevitability of its comic resolution...Every member of the cast has embraced the humor with the text, as well as its inherent physical comedy - I wanted to direct a production that proved Shakespeare does not have to be studied before it can be enjoyed."

RIVER GALLERY SCHOOL - ART CLASSES  FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Classes start the week of September 21st.

Classes start the week of September 21st and run through the week of January 18, 2010. Tuition includes all materials. Class sessions are 15 weeks unless otherwise noted. RGS follows the public school calendar, recognizing holiday breaks and snow days only.

Children's Studio Classes with Barbara Campman, Helen Schmidt, Kim Colligan, &/or Ezra Stafford   $360
Classes meet one afternoon a week 3:30 pm to 5 pm
Monday through Friday - (Mon for 6-7 yrs, Fridays are for teens)
Individualized approach to painting, drawing, and sculpture in an environment where we nurture each child's free imagination. Art materials include pencil, pastel, acrylic, oil, collage, basic printmaking, and basic construction.

Teen Portfolio Class   with Helen Schmidt  $360
Tuesday 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
For students interested in preparing portfolios or improving their drawing and painting skills. Main focus will be working from observation, including still life, portraiture, life drawing, and downtown on-site drawing.

Exploration in Art for Preschoolers with Collin Leech   $145.
Tuesday 9:30 am to 11 am
A dynamic, hands-on, project based class for preschool aged children. Many exciting projects will be presented specifically geared to this process-oriented group.

The Insight Photography Project - starts offering fall classes September 23rd! Classes run ten weeks and range from beginner to advanced in both film based and digital formats. Classes are open to area youth aged 11-18 and are provided regardless of a student's ability to pay. All materials are provided and spaces are limited so sign up today. Call us at (802) 251-9960 or visit our website at www.insight-photography.org for more info!

If the design elements of this message fail to open in the body of your email message, try viewing them in your web browser by simply double clicking on the html file attached. If you are still having difficulty, let us know at [email protected]
tel: (802) 387-5364, main office ext 101
fax: (802) 387-4744
http://www.thegrammarschool.org
 
Quick Links


CALENDAR


Sept 17
PHOTO DAY upper school

October 1
PUTNEY MOUNTAIN
ALL-SCHOOL HIKE
All are welcome
Buses leave 11:30

October 10
Medieval Faire!