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FROM THE DESK OF STEVE LORENZ
| 2011 Parent Surveys
Thank you one and all for completing this year's Parent Survey. As we endeavor to work in a conscious partnership with all of our stakeholders, including our parent body, the survey results provide important input/feedback for the staff and faculty. I shared the statistical results of the survey before the school year began. Each teacher was able to see what areas of our curriculum and programs we could celebrate our work and what areas needed improvement.
I am still analyzing and sorting the 40 pages of comments. These will be shared with teachers as well, to be used as a tool to continue our work of looking to be better at and improve what we do. At TGS we call this continuous improvement process "good to great." The comments are shared with faculty and staff without parents names on them. In some cases I may ask parents to meet with me to discuss their comments so I may further understand and address their joy and their concerns.
I thank you for the time you invested in filling out the survey. I can promise you they have been all read. In the past, the results of these surveys have effected much positive change here at TGS.
Student Parent Handbook Highlight - TGS Dress Code/Guidelines
This week I feature the TGS Dress Code for your review. Over the next week or so I will be visiting with many classes to review the dress code and talk about how it will be enforced . Last year the TGS student council, comprised of 6th,7th, and 8th graders reviewed the code, discussed other school's codes, and decided to keep ours intact for now. I have also reviewed the code with faculty and staff. The members of the student council, in the infinite wisdom of adolescents stated that, "the TGS student code is only a good guideline if it is enforced."
I share the code with you below and ask you, our parents, to review the guidelines with your children, to monitor your children's dress before they leave the house, and to help us enforce the code. When I visit classes next week I will share with them my interpretation of the dress code, how I plan to monitor it, and the consequences if the guidelines are abused. I will send that information along to you.
As in the past, I will work with the teachers and staff and with our social skills counselor to educate our children around body image, media literacy, presentation of oneself, being members of a prek-8th grade community, etc. The dress code is on page 11 in the Student and Parent Handbook, which is on the TGS website.
What to Wear/What Not to Wear At The Grammar School, appropriate dress should be loose enough, opaque enough and cover enough of the body to avoid being a distraction to others or making others uncomfortable. Clothing should cover the midriff. Tops and shirts should not be too low cut or revealing, and shorts and skirts should not be too short. Boys' and girls' undergarments should be covered. "Heelies" or any form of shoes with wheels are not allowed at TGS. Hats may be worn in the cubby room and hallways only. Students should always wear weather-appropriate outer clothing, particularly in the winter. This includes hats, coats, gloves/mittens, and boots. Classroom teachers may request that children bring both indoor and outdoor shoes.
Other Announcements
Annual All School Hike to Putney Mountain Thursday, October 13 - Our annual "all school" hike to Putney Mountain will take place on Thursday, October 13. As is our custom, parents are invited and encouraged to join us as we eat lunch, take in the views, sing some songs, have fun, and celebrate our school community. We will be leaving the school at 11:00am and returning at 1:00pm. The hike is for preschoolers to 8th graders. Students and teachers will be riding buses.
Dogs No Longer Allowed in The School Due to several students having allergies, and some being frightened by dogs both big and small, dogs are no longer allowed in the TGS building under any circumstances. In fact, we would appreciate dogs to be kept in cars and not allowed on campus, as this still puts some of our children at risk. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Seeking Substitute Teachers and Substitute Bus Drivers Each year TGS puts out a call for substitute teachers, and this year also for substitute bus drivers. In order to qualify to substitute teach at TGS, a candidate must have a minimum of two years of college, present a resume to the Head of School, be interviewed by the HOS, be fingerprinted, and have a criminal record check (TGS will pay for this). If interested please make your initial inquiry to office manager Tammy White.
To be a substitute bus driver, a candidate must have a valid bus driver's license (or be willing to be trained and pass the test; in some cases paid for by TGS), present a resume to Chris Harlow, Director of Transportation, be interviewed, be fingerprinted, and have a criminal record check (paid for by TGS). If interested please make your initial inquiry to office manager Tammy White.
Steve Lorenz
Head of School |
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FAIRE ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!
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 THE MEDIEVAL FAIRE NEEDS YOU!!!!!!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HELP and all you do to support TGS!!!!
For your convenience, you may purchase game and ride passes in advance from Tammy in the main office, and then pick them up on Faire Day at the ticket booth. All day passes are available for $20 per child, individual game and ride tickets are $1 for 1, $10 for 12, and $20 for 26 tickets. Please contact Alyson with questions: nh.opsahls@gmail.com
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MEDIEVAL FAIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE
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 Since times long past, knights and ladies of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th classes of the Kingdom of Grammar have given of their time to assist the littlest knights and princesses at the Faire. They help the great knights and ladies in the selling of the raffle tickets, in the pushing of the dragon up the hill, in the painting of little faces, in the retrieving of arrows, and a multitude of other tasks. This is called service to the community, and in the tradition of chivalry, everyone is expected to help.
In plain speak, we need 5th-8th grade students to work for a period of time during Faire day (October 15). Their participation is vital to the success of the day, and their efforts are much appreciated by all of us, great and small. Tara will be organizing and assigning jobs; please let her know (tmeinhar@thegrammarschool.org) by the end of this week if your 5th-8th grader will be here only for a partial day, or will not be here at all. Students will still have time to enjoy the Faire, but we also need everyone's participation to make things run smoothly.
Many thanks for your support.
Tara |
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The Grammar School Library Book Fair!!
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The Grammar School Library Book Fair!! Friday, October 12 - Wednesday, October 19
Mark your calendar for the Library Book Fair to be held in the Library from Oct 12-19. Proceeds benefit our library program.
Today you will receive a Scholastic Book Fair promotional piece, which highlights just a few of the books available at the Fair. Please set aside a time to visit the library to select from the exciting books that will be on display. If you have not seen our Book Fair in the past, the variety and number of items available will amaze you. Shopping at the Book Fair is a great way to find gifts for the holidays and birthdays, trip entertainment, and fun reading for you and your children.The Book Fair is also an opportunity to donate books to your child's class. Teachers will submit a wish list of books that will enrich their classroom libraries. Gift certificates for teachers to redeem at the fair will also be available. Each donated book will be recognized with a bookplate identifying your child or family as the donor. Students will also have an opportunity to visit the Book Fair to make their own selections or wish lists.
Here are the times when the Book Fair will be open: Thursday, October 13; Friday afternoon, October 14; at the Medieval Faire; Monday, October 17, and the mornings of Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18 and 19. If you have any questions, or if you would be willing to volunteer to help, please contact me.
Your support of the library is always greatly appreciated.
Ponnie
~Visit the Book Fair during the Medieval Faire~
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SPORTS
|  XC RUNNING AT TGS - Today was our first home XC meet! Almost 70 runners raced, representing more than 6 schools. Thank you to all the coaches, runners, parents, and everyone who helped out during the race.
NO PRACTICES ON FRIDAY, OCT. 14 (Medieval Faire setup). Please check the calendar for games, meets, and schedule changes. Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from games and running meets.
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ORDER TGS T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS!
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PUTNEY FOOD SHELF
| PUTNEY FOOD SHELF: THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT WAS GIVEN DURING SEPTEMBER! Our many full boxes were delivered and received with great gratitude. The seventh graders are collecting for October. Boxes for your donated items are outside the main office and outside the seventh grade homeroom.
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Wednesday Notice Submissions
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Please email Tammy with any submissions for the Wednesday Notice by 11 am on Tuesday.
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COMMUNITY NEWS!
| HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR BUHS EXCHANGE STUDENTS - Enjoy learning about other cultures? Want to share your world with a teen from another country and make a lifelong friend? PAX, the Program of Academic Exchange, is interviewing host families for several exchange students who are attending BUHS this year. Families are invited to host for a couple of months or for the remainder of the school year.
The three boys who need host families are Hassan, 15, from Jordan; Thales from Brazil, age 16, and Soeren from Germany. Soumaya, a junior at BUHS, is a 16-year old girl from Morocco, who will need a home starting in November.
PAX students do not need a separate bedroom, as long as the family can provide a bed in a room with a host sibling and a place to study. Students have spending money of their own for personal expenses and separate medical insurance. For more information contact Ann Newsmith at (802) 257-4710 or annN@pax.org or visit www.pax.org.
October 8th is International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN), a worldwide celebration of our nearest neighbor, the Moon! Join in the fun. Each fall millions of people across the globe come together to view the moon and learn about its diverse roles in culture, history, science, and exploration.
Brattleboro Figure Skating Club! Do you like to ice skate? Would you like to learn? You're invited to join the Brattleboro Figure Skating Club! We have a place for everyone: from beginners to recreational skaters, to highly competitive skaters. Ages 4 and above are welcome. We skate Thursday nights at 5:30 at the Nelson Withington Skating Rink at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro. Opening night is October 27th. Please contact Alyson Opsahl (nh.opsahls@gmail.com) for more information.
F L O R A L I - A new shop in Putney! Beautiful Things to Wear - 133 Main Street, The Tavern. Florali will offer a 10% discount to anyone who mentions that they heard about Florali through TGS. MAA'SAI JEWELRY SALE TO SUPPORT TANZANIA Leyeyo and Paul Weber will be selling Maa'sai jewelry outside of Beadniks in Brattleboro during October Gallery Walk (October 7th). Many beautiful necklaces, bracelets, key rings, and earrings for sale at great prices (possibly some Tinga Tinga too). All the profits go back to Tanzania to support our many projects. Thanks, Paul
Harlow Farm is offering a Winter CSA this year!
Harlow Farm Winter CSA has a group forming at TGS. To recieve 3% credit and delivery to the school, we need 8 members, we're almost there, just a few more to go! If you are interested in recieving organic and locally grown fresh greens, frozen produce, stored veggies, pastured meats, poultry and eggs and so much more this winter, contact Tara Meinhard, at the school or e-mail me, Jeanette, at jeanettestaley@myfairpoint.net for a brochure. Delivery starts first week of November, time is running short to join! Save the date! Windham Child Care Association is hosting the first annual Fall Into Art celebration on Friday, October 21 at the River Garden in Brattleboro, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, live music, a gallery of beautiful art work by area artists and children, and the chance to own a framed piece of art work. Tickets are either $35, which includes a beautiful piece of framed art to take home, or $10, which includes food, fun, music, and gallery browsing! Tickets can be purchased from Ken Brautigam here at TGS, or at Baker's, Vermont Artisans, and Windham Child Care in Brattleboro. Call 254-5332 for tickets or more information. Come Fall Into Art on October 21!
FOUND - White crocheted poncho left in theater at graduation. Email Alli if it's yours.
NEXT STAGE CINEMA - Next Stage Arts Project kicks off its Second Saturday Kids Flix film series with "Kiki's Delivery Service" at Next Stage in Putney on Saturday, October 8 at 3:30 pm. The series features G-rated movies designed for children ages 3 to 10.
Rarely does a film touch so many hearts or reach such artistic heights as the highly acclaimed "Kiki's Delivery Serivce," the magical adventure of an enterprising young girl who must follow tradition to become a full-fledged witch. Venturing out with only her chatty black cat Jiji, Kiki flies off for the adventure of a lifetime. Landing in a far-off city, she sets up a high-flying delivery service. Here begins a wonderful experience of independence and responsibility as she finds her place in the world. The breathtaking animation of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and the star voice talents of Kirsten Dunst (Kiki), Phil Hartman (Jiji), Matthew Lawrence (Tombo), and more make "Kiki's Delivery Service" soar with an energy, excitement and the kind of imagination that entertains again and again!
Come out & support Putney's own Movie House!!! For the month of October, Next Stage features films celebrating music, musicians, and the creative process. Next Stage features a full size 22' screen and surround sound. 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. Find more information at Facebook/Next Stage Arts or www.nextstagearts.org. Admission by donation.
Saturday, October 8th, 7pm - "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" Daniel Johnston, the manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, is revealed in this award winning portrait of madness, creativity and love. Next Stage is located in the former United Church at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. Admission to the film is by donation ($5 suggested). For more information, visit www.nextstagearts.org.
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CELEBRATING OUR 51st YEAR!
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CALENDAR
OCTOBER 5
Wednesday - 3:30 pm
TGS Open XC Meet
OCTOBER 6
Thursday - 6:30 pm
PRESCHOOL AND 6-8 PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
OCTOBER 13
Thursday - 11 am
ALL SCHOOL PUTNEY MOUNTAIN HIKE
OCTOBER 15
Saturday - 10-4
MEDIEVAL FAIRE
NOVEMBER 2
Wed. 6-7:45 pm
FOREIGN LANGUAGE NIGHT
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