GRADUATION! FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2011 

The Last Day of School - Friday, June 10th

9:50-10:50 - Field Day

11:00 - Gym for goodbyes, announcements/birthdays, slide show

11:50 - Popsicles and Departure

12:00 noon - Dismissal  

Graduation 2011

4:30 reception - 5:00 ceremony

Many thanks to all our students and parents who represented the school in the 10th Strolling of the Heifers parade. The bluebirds and flowers that William helped inspire were terrific.

TGS also, for the first time, had a presence after the parade on the grounds of the Retreat. Our strategy was to draw families to our booth to sample the French crepes being served, and then to tell them about the school. We'll learn later how well the strategy worked, but we had a number of interested people drop by - and we had a lot of fun. Many thanks to the crepe team - Madame Jo, Camilla Hornsby, Erin Taylor, Grandparent Chuck Hornsby, and Michael Hornsby. A special "thanks for the crepe inspiration" goes to Doris and Francis Hauert, who began what we hope to call a tradition at last year's Medieval Faire. Thanks also to our marketing crew - Ray, Reg, Tracy, Jaja, Linda, and Maggie Smith.

Michael Hornbsy 

FROM THE DESK OF STEVE LORENZ 

Congratulations and Good Luck to our  

50th Graduating Class

Wishing You All a Happy and Healthy Summer

The thought of our students leaving for the summer always leaves me a bit depressed. I know we all need a break and summer is meant to be a time for family fun, vacations, etc.... but the reason I do this work is to be around the students. My fun is being with the children and watching them grow, learn, and be a part of our school community. So yes, you may have them back for two months, if you must, but make sure they are here on September 6, or better yet, send them to our summer camps.

Many thanks to our students, parents, staff, and faculty for a wonderful school year.

What Our 8th Graders Say About TGS

I have just interviewed our 8th graders, which I do every year, and asked them what was it that made our school a good place for them, and what did they enjoy or especially appreciate about their time at TGS, whether it has been for one year or eleven years?

Here is a summary from my four pages of notes. They told me that our faculty and staff bring out the best in each student through trust, mutual respect, and dialogue, that we integrate challenging academics with engagement in the arts and the outdoors, that we value imagination and enthusiasm, that we foster acceptance of each student's uniqueness and strengths, that we have prepared them to be resilient, confident, and independent, and to advocate for themselves, and that they have felt supported. I could not have said it better myself. 

Student Council Praise

It was my pleasure to be the advisor to this year's student council. We have had a very productive year.  

*This year the student council's major project was to research how to develop and install a solar panel array here on campus. The council will present the proposal to the trustees, supported by Chris Harlow and Peter Thurrell.

The student council also:

*Reviewed the hat and dress code and will make a recommendation to the faculty.

*Installed a No Idling auto sign at the Lower School. (We still need to install one at The Upper School.)

*Sponsored a variety show.

*Instituted a healthy snack store (with Tammy White's help), with the proceeds going to the school's "accessibility fund."

*Endorsed the renovation of the cubby room bathrooms to make them physically accessible for all.

*Developed a new application process for membership on the student council that focuses on service to the school and greater community.

Many thanks to:

Wyeth Olmsted

Aly Silbey

Jennifer Flint

Hannah Oxhlom

Stefan Grallert

Libby Green

Carrie Brautigam

Thank you, 

Steve

Steve Lorenz

Head of School 

ANNUAL FUND UPDATE

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO TGS! 

Thanks to all who have contributed to the Annual Fund this year. If you have not already given, now is the time to donate. We are very close to $60,000 towards our goal of $100,000, and our fiscal year closes on June 30. Remember that tuition only covers part of the cost of educating your children. Every child who attends TGS receives a silent scholarship, supported by the Annual Fund. 

Our goal is to achieve 100% participation by all members of the school community - please donate today! 100% of TGS faculty, staff, trustees, AND THE ENTIRE STUDENT COUNCIL already have contributed to the Annual Fund - thank you!  

 Percents of TGS community donations as of June 8th

 Thank you for supporting TGS!

4TH GRADE PLAY - THE TEMPEST

Hark, "Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves!" (Prospero) Come to the Tempest!

The Fourth Grade Players will present a performance of William Shakespeare's The Tempest on Thursday, June 9 at 1:30 in the theater. All are welcome to attend.

LOST AND FOUND

Items will be displayed on tables outside the cubby room for the rest of the week. PLEASE CLAIM THEM NOW, OR THEY WILL BE DELIVERED TO A LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION NEXT WEEK.  Many thanks.   

Linda

8TH GRADE ART RETROSPECTIVES

Eighth graders are busy collecting their artwork for their Art Retrospectives, which will decorate the halls of the lower school for the last two weeks of school. Sculptures, photographs, etchings, paintings, sketches - all types of art will be on display. Please enjoy viewing them when you're at school this week.

PUTNEY FOOD SHELF

PUTNEY FOOD SHELF: Thank you all for your generous giving all year long. I delivered our final collection of donated food and items on Tuesday evening, June 7. Again, I want to remind you of how great a role our school played in filling their shelves during particularly difficult times. Have a wonderful summer.  

In appreciation,  

Linda Kosiba

CHECK OUT TGS SUMMER CAMPS on Facebook! SPREAD THE WORD!!!!! 

Look for summer camp information on

Facebook and

The Grammar School  

website. Camps run for three one-week sessions from

June 27 - July 15, 2011.

TGS BIKE CAMPS

Once again we have the good fortune to have Daq Woods and Jason Sperling return to TGS to run our awesome mountain bike camps. The half day camp for younger riders 8-12 years old will be July 5-8. The all day camp for more experienced riders will be July 12-15. Brochures for the camp are outside Tammy's office. If you need more info please email dgray@thegrammarschool.org. These camps are very popular and fill up fast, so please reserve your spot now! Thanks! 

Deb Gray  

What a great year this has been in our new library. Thank you for your support this year in so many ways: the book fair, 50th library birthday party, donating books, cupcakes, your valuable time, and most of all encouraging your children to read. A special thank you goes out to four steadfast volunteers: Victoria Oxholm, Karen Shapiro, Emily Weinberg, and Marcia Leader. 

Please return all books to the library by Friday - bills for lost library books will be mailed next week. Books (even ones you forgot to check out) can turn up in the strangest places...in the car, in closets, under beds, even on bookshelves! 

Thanks for a great year,  

Ponnie

Summer Reading lists and teacher notes explaining expectations for those entering grades 2-8 in the fall will be posted on our TGS website soon. Encourage your children to continue reading all summer. It's entertaining and fun, and helps students to retain the skills they have acquired during the year. 

What have you been reading? Contribute your recommendations to the TGS adult summer reading list! We promise no reports will be due in the fall!  All genres are welcome. Please email me your suggestions - the more the merrier. 

Thank you,  

Ponnie   

CALENDAR

June 9

Thursday

4th Play

The Tempest  

1:30 pm  

June 10 

Friday

HALF DAY

noon dismissal

GRADUATION

4:30 reception

5:00 ceremony