The Grammar School Wednesday Notice  January 25, 2012

FROM THE DESK OF STEVE LORENZ

Head of School Report
My January report to the Trustees appears on my Head of School page on the website. I hope you find these reports informative. Last night we had our monthly trustee meeting, during which time we discussed the 2012-2013 tuition and budget. Other topics included the proposed solar project (which I will report on soon), the new Strategic Plan process for 2012-2013, and a new calendar model for trustee meetings.

The Grammar School Trustees
The Grammar School Board of Trustees is a group of dedicated volunteers comprised of parents, community members, and the Head of School, who is an ex-officio non-voting member. There is also a non-voting faculty representative. If you are interested in the Governance model of The Grammar School, it can be found in the Student and Parent Handbook (page 6) on the TGS website.

The TGS trustees are: Ray Hutchins, Reggie Rockefeller, and Wendy Brennan, current officers; Maggie Smith; Marcia Leader; Kimona Alin; Mark Long; Peter Howe; Alyson Opsahl; and new members William Helm, new treasurer and officer; Julie Burns; and Natalie Thomson. I have placed brief bios of our three newest members on my Head of School page, right after my January Report.

Steve 


Steve Lorenz 

Head of School
FEB. 1 FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE

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.
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.
Spring Dinner Auction 2012

The second and final parent fundraiser for the 2011-2012 school year will be the Spring Dinner Auction on the evening of Friday, May 18, following Grandparents Day. The event's focus may be parent fundraising, but it is also fun-filled evening and a great community-building opportunity. This event is very important to the school, as all proceeds directly impact tuition assistance programs, teacher salaries, and school programming. Parents are invited to an informational and committee signup meeting on Thursday, February 16 at drop off time (approx. 8:20 AM), location TBD. Committees in need of your talents and resources include: Silent auction, live auction, food & beverages, decorations, marketing, and set-up/clean-up. Please RSVP your plans to attend the 2/16/12 meeting to Pauline O'Brien @ 387-5364, ext. 106, or [email protected].

FRIDAY YUM YUMS - a possible lunch option coming your way from the student council!
Would you like to help lessen The Grammar Schools carbon footprint, and receive a healthy and yummy snack and lunch for your child?! We, as part of the student council, are polling The Grammar School community to see if there is interest in this idea. We are purchasing  a few lunch and snack varieties from the Putney Co-op. You will be able to choose from a small menu for your child's lunch for five dollars, or include snack for an extra two dollars. If you are interested in this healthy and yummy option, please email student council members Ona Hauert  or Hannah Oxholm with a quick YES, we would love the idea, or NO, it wouldn't work for our family.

Thank you,
TGS Student Council

SPORTS
Maddie at Grafton Ponds
BKL practice is at TGS this afternoon. For more information, go to the
BKL website.

Russell winning the Paintball Biathlon
 
CIRCUS ARTS AT TGS

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

LIBRARY BIRTHDAY PARTY FEBRUARY 9

Save the date! Our Library's 52nd birthday will be celebrated on Thursday, February 9.

 

This anuual event is fun for all. The entire school will crowd into the library to celebrate reading, books, and our library with lively entertainment and gift opening. And since it's a birthday party, we finish with yummy cupcakes. If you would be willing to bake cupcakes for the celebration, please let me know. We will need about ten dozen.

 

A library wish list will be sent home with students today. A copy of the wish list can also be found on the Library Page, or you can pick one up in the library. Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls has a special display of books from the wish list as well as some additional paperbacks. Books also may be ordered online at http://www.villagesquarebooks.com/grammar-school-library-52nd-birthdaywish-list, and I'll make sure that they are delivered to the library.

 

Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or if you will be able to bake cupcakes. Your support is greatly appreciated.  

 

Thank you,  

Ponnie

 

SUMMER IS COMING!
SAVE THE DATES FOR TGS SUMMER CAMP!


SAVE THE DATES! TGS SUMMER CAMP WILL RUN JULY 10 THROUGH 27! THREE ONE WEEK LONG PROGRAMS TAUGHT BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS! Watch the notice for more information.
PUTNEY FOOD SHELF

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!

 

ORDER TGS T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS!

dragon sweatbwnewlogo

 Order your TGS dragon or school logo apparel! Order forms are available on the school website on the school store page. Please email Mary if you have any questions. 

COMMUNITY NEWS
Pilates comes to TGS: Hilary Famolare (extraordinary Pilates instructor and former TGS parent) will begin Pilates classes on February 2, 5-6 pm in the TGS gym. Cost is $10 per session.We have mats here for your use. Please email Deb you are interested in joining this amazing class with Hilary. Guaranteed to make your belly firm but still shake with laughter!
Deb Gray

West Hill Shop and Grafton Ponds presents:

Skate Ski Clinic for all ages!

Instruction by Bill Salmon and Kirsten Jeppesen

Sunday, January 29 at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center in Grafton, VT - Clinic $25 (fee includes required trail pass) Students $10

Choose your category and sign up - Space will be limited. 9am First Timer - Never done it, tried a couple times, just can't get it! 10:30am Novice - Done it, love it, need help to get better. 12:30pmExperienced - Fairly proficient, but want to be faster.   

 

Limited skate ski rentals available through Grafton Ponds 802-843-2400.Save $5 and pre-register for the clinic:[email protected]  or call 802-387-5718


Women, Wine and Waxing -
Friday, February 10th at 5:00pm - In cooperation with Swix and NENSA, West Hill Shop is hosting a special event designed to give women practical hands-on cross-country ski waxing instruction.  Our "coach" will be Sabra Davison, Nordic marathoner for Swix/Atomic/VTXC, ski tech rep for Swix, two time Mountain Bike US World Championship Team Member and founder of Little Bellas. We ask for a $12 donation as a benefit  for Little Bellas. This is going to be really fun so register for WWW or call 802-387-5718 with payment info. Yes, this will be an opportunity to shop in our shop, too! 

PUTNEY FOOD SHELF NEEDS ITEMS -
Refrigerator, scale, and cheese cutter

Refrigerator: The Putney Foodshelf has a refrigerator that is on its last ice cubes. It is working fine at the moment, but we have noticed when the weather turns warmer it is hard to keep it at a food-safe temperature. Do you have a refrigerator you are getting rid of? Perhaps replacing one? Let us know if you'd like to donate it to the Foodshelf.

Scales: We want to track donations better by using a scale to weigh donated food. Do you have a simple bathroom scale you aren't using? We could put it to good use! Our crates are never overweight!

Cheese Cutter: We get donated cheese from the Vermont Foodbank as well as from Grafton Cheese. It comes in large chunks which we need to cut down and repackage. A cheese cutter would really help out.

If you can help out with any of these items, give us a shout. Call or email Sue at 387-5889 or [email protected]. And, thanks!

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

Register Early! Call the Brattleboro Music Center at 802-257-4523 or visit www.bmcvt.org/school/classes
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
Bethel, Maine - Register early at www.NENSA.net/women
Email Mary with questions.
CELEBRATING OUR 52nd YEAR!
colornewlogo
CALENDAR 
January 26  Thursday
Upper/Lower School Conferences 
11 am-7 pm

NO SCHOOL


February 1
Wednesday 
 Financial Aid Applications due
 
February 9 
Thursday
Library Birthday Party 
 

Quick Links
TGS Homepage

 TGS Calendar

TGS Sports Page and Calendar 

 

TGS Together
Shutterfly Website
Photos of TGS Events
Password Protected