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FROM THE DESK OF STEVE LORENZ
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Parents and the Annual Fund
Dear TGS Parents,
Once upon a time, I was an Independent School parent paying tuition and donating each year to my daughter's school's annual fund campaign. Like many of you, I was an involved parent who donated much time and energy as well as paying tuition. I also clearly understood the importance of giving to the annual fund campaign to ensure the fiscal stability of the school. Currently 100% of TGS trustees have given to this year's annual fund. So far we have raised $58,000 through all annual fund gifts, and we are over halfway to our $100,000 goal.
As our next round of letters go out, I ask you to seriously consider making your gift for the following reasons:
*The Annual Fund Campaign proceeds benefit all of our students.
*The Annual Fund Campaign funds bridge the per student gap between tuition and what it actually costs to educate each of our students.
*TGS is a non profit, your donation is tax deductible, and you will be giving to an organization that directly benefits your child and your family.
*Giving to an institution you believe in feels good.
*100% parent participation helps with our grant seeking efforts.
Thanks to those of you have already donated. For those of you have yet to give, please consider making your donation when you receive your next annual fund campaign letter. Your gift will make a difference.
Sincerely,
Steve
Steve Lorenz
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FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE IS TODAY!!!
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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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Spring Dinner Auction 2012
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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 a 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. 8:30am), 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 pobrien@thegrammarschool.org.
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FRIDAY YUM YUMS - a possible lunch option coming your way from the student council!
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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 |
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LIBRARY BIRTHDAY PARTY FEBRUARY 9
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 TGS Library Celebrates its 52nd Birthday on Thursday, February 9. The Library will celebrate its 52nd birthday next week with a fun party. The entire school crowds into the library to celebrate reading, books and our library with lively entertainment and gift opening. And since it's a birthday party, we end with yummy cupcakes.
If you would be willing to bake cupcakes for the celebration, please let me know. We will need about ten dozen, so far Alyson, Anne-Marie, Christy, Carlotta and Jen have volunteered.
Last week an announcement and library wish list were sent home with students. For a copy of the wish list, please go to the Library Page or 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-birthday-wishlist, 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
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Information Evenings for Parents
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Steve has worked out a schedule for parent information nights. The first evening will be Monday, February 27 from 6:30-7:30 pm, and will be a general discussion with our counselor, Karen Blumberg. At that meeting, we will be soliciting ideas for future topics for the April 8 and May 21 meetings.
Student Council Winter Event/International Theme Parent Potluck - The Student Council will host a Winter Event on Friday, February 24, from 3:00-5:00 pm that will consist of (weather permitting) skating, sledding, and skiing, with a bonfire. Chris Harlow is helping the Student Council organize this afternoon event. Following the winter activities for students, our parents will host a potluck dinner at 5:30 pm in the gym/auditorium, with an International theme. Parents are encouraged to bring a dish from their national ethnicity. This will be a great opportunity for our new parents to be welcomed into the TGS community. We will need 5 parents to volunteer for the potluck set-up and 5 more for clean-up. Please RSVP to pobrien@thegrammarschool.org or 802-387-5364, ext. 106.
Reminder: There will be a parent meeting on February 16 at morning drop-off time with general information and sign up opportunities for the Spring '12 Dinner/Auction. This is the final parent-driven fundraiser for the 2011-2012 school year. The 2/16 meeting will be another opportunity for our new parents to learn about this event and become better connected with other parents and the school. Anyone planning on attending the 2/16 meeting, please RSVP to pobrien@thegrammarschool.org or 802-387-5364, ext. 106.
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SUMMER IS COMING!
SAVE THE DATES FOR TGS SUMMER CAMP!
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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.
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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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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. |
| ORDER TGS T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS! | |
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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
Little Red Riding Hood
WonderSpark Puppets at Sandglass Theater - Saturday, February 4 at 2pm & 4pm - $8. Reservations:call 802-387-4051,info@sanglasstheater.org
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: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 flockshm@sover.net, 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
to download a class registration form.
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