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FROM THE DESK OF STEVE LORENZ
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Secondary School Counseling
A secondary school decision is multifaceted. TGS families choose local independent schools, local public schools, or independent boarding schools. The Grammar School supports 7th and 8th grade students and families throughout the decision making process, with guidance from our Secondary School Counselor, Laurie Fichter. Laurie meets with families and students in the spring and fall, or by appointment throughout the year, to provide information about secondary schools and the processes for visiting and applying to those schools. Laurie works with students on their essays and their applications. She also arranges for a SSAT prep session here at TGS and informs students and parents about other ways to prepare for the tests, and gives information about test site locations.
Faculty and staff write many letters of recommendation that go to all schools to which TGS students apply. The main office (Tammy) puts together an attractive folder for each student to be sent to each school. The folder includes student reports, transcripts, a letter from the Head of School, a profile of the school, and the faculty and staff recommendations. Laurie follows up with phone calls to the schools to check that materials have been received, to address questions or concerns about an applicant, and to advocate for students.
Each fall Laurie and Steve visit the independent day schools attended by most of our students. While on sabbatical leave several years ago, Laurie also visited many other boarding schools attended by TGS students. During these visits we meet with admissions officers, and in some cases Heads of School, to promote TGS applicants and to answer any questions about our students who have applied. During these visits we often meet with TGS students who are attending that school to seek input on their transition. We query students in person and sometimes through surveys, to find out how TGS did or did not prepare them for their secondary school experience.
To learn more about what schools our students have attended in the last ten years, go to the TGS website to "About Us" and click on "Transitions." The Grammar School graduates confident, resilient, and independent young people who leave TGS with an excellent academic, artistic, athletic, and ethical foundation.
Thank you,
SteveSteve Lorenz
Head of School
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FEB. 1 FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE
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Upcoming Financial Aid Deadline
Greetings. As the deadline for submission of the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) grows closer, I want to highlight some subtle changes in protocol this year. In The Grammar School's ever-increasing desire to be more sustainable, families applying for financial aid will be encouraged to complete the process online. Paper copies are available, but please know it is more expensive for families to submit a paper version of the PFS.
Notable Changes
- The deadline for submission of the PFS is Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
- The deadline for submission all supporting documents is Wednesday, February 15, 2012.
- Supporting documentation includes:
- W-2s and 1099s;
- Signed copies of your 2011 IRS 1040 and all schedules;
- Forms 1065, 1120-S and K-1 Schedules (if applicable);
- 4056-T (which will be mailed to you in the coming weeks);
- Business/Farm Statement for self-employed parents.
- Families must send copies of all supporting documentation directly to:
SSS by NAIS
Application Processing Center
P.O. Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-0449
- Award letters (along with a re-enrollment contracts) will be mailed on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
Please refer often to the attached timeline for financial aid, which gives added detail to the abovementioned information. If you have any questions, please contact me at (802) 387-5364 (ext. 105).
Thanks you in advance for all your work in meeting these important deadlines!
In appreciation,
Phil Blood
Director of Admissions
Enrollment calendar changes:
The financial aid process and timeline changes outlined above have created some changes to the timeline for re-enrollment as well.
Re-enrollment contracts for all families (whether or not you are applying for financial aid) will be mailed out on March 15. Signed re-enrollment contracts and enrollment deposits are due back to TGS no later than March 30, 2012.
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PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
| January 26: NO SCHOOL - Preschool-8th grade conferences 11am to 7pm
January 27: SCHOOL WILL BE IN SESSION - Upper School conferences only
CALL OR EMAIL TAMMY TO SCHEDULE CONFERENCE TIMES - Lower School conferences are 30 minutes and Upper School conferences are 20 minutes per student.
January Upper School Conferences: January conferences for 6th-8th will be with homeroom teachers only. While we received good feedback from parents on the team-based model we used in October (and teachers also felt it was productive to have everyone meet together early in the school year), we don't feel it's needed for each conference. Fall term reports are being mailed home in advance of the conferences, so parents (and homeroom teachers) will have information from all teachers. Twenty minute conferences with homeroom teachers are available on Thursday, January 26 from 11am-7pm, and on Friday, January 27 from 9am-12pm.5th-7th grade reports will be mailed the third week in January.
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| Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10am-12pm - Independent School Information Session provides options for families who may be interested in TGS. Encourage friends and prospective TGS families to attend the event at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro. Questions? Email SVTSCHOOLS@GMAIL.COM
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BUS DRIVER NEEDED
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Anyone interested in getting his or her bus license and driving for the Grammar School? We will cover all the costs. Contact Chris Harlow at charlow@thegrammarschool.org. |
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National XC Ski Champion visits 2nd grade
|  US Classic XC Ski Champion Noah Hoffman shows second graders where he will travel and race in Europe this winter.
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SPORTS
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BKL practice is at TGS this afternoon. For more information, go to the BKL website. | |
Skiing at PSD
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CIRCUS ARTS AT TGS
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After School Circus Arts Opportunity at TGS for 8 Mondays from March 19 through May 7, 3:15-4:15 pm. Ages 8-15 years, cost $120.
Do your kids like to jump around, climb things, and throw stuff? Sounds like a circus! With experienced instructors from the New England Center for Circus Arts, kids will learn group pyramids, solo tumbling, aerial skills, juggling, and more, all while learning how to work together, be strong, and have physical confidence. This is special class held on site at the Grammar School in Putney. The enrollment deadline for priority to Grammar School Students is by February 15; after that date other students may register for remaining spots in the class. For information, contact NECCA at (802) 254-9780. Register online at www.necenterforcircusarts.org. |
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PUTNEY FOOD SHELF
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To quote the Food Shelf staff in Putney: "It takes a village, and neighbors helping neighbors is truly taken seriously by TGS. The 25 families we help weekly are grateful. The continued support of TGS is overwhelming. Thank you!"
For the month of January, the 8th grade class is leading the collection of non-perishable items donated to the Putney Food Shelf. Boxes at the upper school and outside the main office are there for all contributions. Thank you!
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| ORDER TGS T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS! | |
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COMMUNITY NEWS
| Pilates comes to TGS: With the closing of the Hot Yoga studio in town, I for one am interested in another resource for exercise. Hilary Famolare (extraordinary pilates instructor and former TGS parent) is willing to teach a class here at TGS starting in February. I am not exactly sure of all the details yet, but we are looking at Thursdays at 5:00ish in the gym for one hour.We have mats here for your use. Please email me at dgray@thegrammarschool.org if you are interested in joining this amazing class with Hilary. Guaranteed to make your belly firm but still shake with laughter!
Deb Gray
RUSTY BELLE returns to Vermont and the Green Mountain Festival Series on Saturday, January 21 at 7pm in Chester, VT. The Green Mountain Festival Series continues its season on January 21 when we proudly welcome the return of RUSTY BELLE to our stage.
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, the trio of Matt Lorenz, Kate Lorenz and Zak Trojano have performed nation-wide and developed a style all their own. Moving easily from sweet, simple melodies to folk-punk anthems, their music is in no single category and embraces everything from lullabies to ballads to bluegrass. Performing many original songs, they also incorporate personally designed, handmade instruments that highlight their unique sound and style.
Rusty Belle shows are never predictable, always dynamic and when they were part of a reunion ensemble here in 2009, they thrilled our audience. So much so, that we are bringing them back. But they already know the area well - brother and sister, Matt and Kate Lorenz grew up in Chester so the Green Mountain Festival Series is especially proud to present this show.
Please join us at the Green Mountain Union High School on January 21 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $8.00 for Adults and Seniors, $5.00 for Students.
Tickets for Rusty Belle can be purchased at one of the following ticket outlets - Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls, Blue Sky trading Company in Ludlow, Misty Valley Books in Chester, Green Mountain Pharmacy in Londonderry or 56 Main Restaurant in Springfield. You may also call 802-875-4473 or visit our website, www.greenmountainfestivalseries.com where you can download a ticket order form.
Art of Songwriting with Jaime Nicolaisen Workshops for Children,Teens & Adults including Finding Inspiration, Songwriting Tools, Writing Lyrics, Melody Exploration, Creating Mood & Motion through Rhythm, Basic Song Construction, Individual and Group Compositions. A recent transplant to Vermont, Jaime Nicolaisen has worked as a studio musician for EMI, Sony, Warner-Pioneer, Pony Canyon, and Victor Records. She has written and recorded music for national commercials in Japan, was featured on ABC flagship station KLOS FM in Los Angeles, is member of ASCAP, and has her own company, Cutie-Pie Publishing. As an educator in Los Angeles, CA, she has worked as a Music Director, Choir Director and Music Instructor. Songwriting Workshops Start Feb. 4.
Ages 11 & under: Saturdays 11 am-12 pm. Fee: 8 weeks $130
Teens & Adults: Saturdays 12:30-2:30 pm. Fee: 8 weeks $160
to download a class registration form.
Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival on Saturday, January 28, 2012, Brattleboro, VT
The Brattleboro Music Center's 5th annual Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Each year the festival brings together local and regional musicians representing the best of various northern musical traditions. This year's festival features twenty-four musicians, an Irish step dancer, and the rich traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England, New England and French Canada.
The majority of the festival events happen at the New England Youth Theater, a state-of-the-art downtown venue, with multiple teaching sessions occurring simultaneously throughout the building along with performances in the main theater and a family dance on the stage. McNeill's Brewery, only a couple of blocks away from NEYT, provides the perfect setting for a rollicking afternoon of jam sessions.
Tickets for the Northern Roots Festival (combination day & evening $35, daytime only $20, evening only $20; youth combination day & evening $15, youth day only $10, youth evening only $10) are available from the Brattleboro Music Center (www.bmcvt.org, 802-257-4523). Advance ticket purchase is recommended; seating for the evening performance is limited. Admission at 3 pm, for the Family Concert and Family Dance only, is $5 per person at the door.
On Saturday, during the festival, tickets can be purchased at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat Street in Brattleboro, Vermont, with doors opening at 11:30 am. For directions and the complete festival schedule of events visit the Brattleboro Music Center website at www.bmcvt.org or call 802-257-4523.
NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S XC SKI DAY Jan. 29, 2012
Email Mary with questions. |
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