The Nantucket Lighthouse School Newsletter
Welcome Back To School!
September 2009 |
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| Contact Us |
1 Rugged Road
Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
ph: 508.228.0427
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THANK YOUS:
- Nantucket Garden Festival: Thanks to all of the members of the Lighthouse School community who came together to help with the Nantucket Garden Festival, July 23 - 25, 2009. A special note of thanks to committee members Connie Umberger, Mimi Beman, Robin Berglund, Lizbet Carroll Fuller, Sheila Carroll, Mary Casey, Syd Fee, Stacy Fusaro, Cary Hazlegrove, Suzanne Keller, Mike Schwed and Mary Taaffe for their work on this successful event!
- Floors: Don't our floors look great? A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Jeff Evans for overseeing the get-the-floor-painted crew. Big thanks also to the crew, which includes Chris Andrews, Chris Fuller, Patrick Levesque, Ben Moore, Bill Mogensen, Andy Maltby, Jon Nabors, Dave Sharman, Joe Topham, Chris Vallett. If you would like to join our Building Committee and help with building maintenance issues, please contact the office.
- Compost Box: Thanks to Chris Vallett for building and installing a new and improved box for the all-school garden compost.
- Landscape: Thanks to Liza Ottani for organizing volunteers to revitalize our landscaping. Thanks to the parent and alumni parent landscapers for transforming the yard: Seth Rutherford, Jon Wisentaner, Julie Wood, Chris Powers and Heather Coffin.
- Window Boxes: Thanks to Lighthouse School teacher and parent, Dina Warren, for planting our back-to-school window boxes so beautifully.
- School Bus: Thanks to Jim Cranston and Lee Bradley, our Friday field trips proceeded without a hitch. Jim discovered a broken window on the door of the school bus and Lee saved the day by replacing the window within 2 hours, thereby allowing the bus to pass its inspection the very next day. Thanks Jim and Lee!
- Shredder Event: Thanks to Meg Valero and Melinda Vallett for organizing the second in a series of 'Shredder Events' (see article in this newsletter) to benefit the Lighthouse School's Capital Campaign.
Bulletin Board:
- Mail Boxes: Every family has a school mailbox. Please check it regularly for school information.
- Newsletters: Our school newsletters are sent via email, as are many announcements. If you do not have/use email, please let the office know you need hard copies.
- Flu Shots: Seasonal flu shots,
recommended for all children 6 months - 18 years of age every year, are available in September, and can be administered by your child's doctor and some pharmacies.
According to the Nantucket Health Department, seasonal flu shots will be available for free for those 18 and older at the Elementary School on Sat. Sept. 19 from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Nantucket Health Department estimates that H1N1 vaccines will be available mid-October for emergency care workers, young children (6 months - 18 years), pregnant women and childcare providers. We will update you as more information becomes available.
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Wish For Peace: September 11th, 2009
Traditionally, the first weeks of September welcomed children and teachers back to school. Since 2001, the anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11 embedded itself in what has been a celebration of new beginnings. In September of 2002, teachers at the Nantucket Lighthouse School decided to create a new tradition for children on September 11th; one that served to transform what was a terrible day of violence into a Wish for Peace. During the first days back to school, all of our Lighthouse School students work to create handcrafted Wishes for Peace. On September 11th, older students travel downtown to give these tokens to Nantucket shopkeepers to bedeck the town in a communal hope. The peace banners and ornaments of past years can still be found displayed in Nantucket shops year round and children are gratified to see their wishes and their handiwork so honored.
 The Wish for Peace project is not only a 'welcome back to school' tradition but an expression of the Lighthouse School's founding philosophy, which is excerpted below: At Nantucket Lighthouse School, we are committed to the education of the whole child, concerning ourselves equally with ethical and intellectual development. We consider a child's relationship to self, others and the world to be fundamental to his/her emotional maturation. Thus, we are committed to cultivating those qualities of a child's humanity- compassion, kindness, love, and consideration- that inspire an inner joy and a feeling of responsibility toward the world.
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 Last chance to sell or buy tickets to win! If you haven't already, now is the time to participate in the 8 Painted Chairs Raffle, a fundraiser created by Cary Hazlegrove for the Lighthouse School. Buy (or sell) these $10 tickets for a chance to win one of eight unique hand painted chairs by eight of Nantucket's preeminent artists, including MJ Levy Dickson, Julie Gifford, Lou Guarnaccia, Randy Hudson, David Lazarus, Robert McKee, Julija Mostykanova, and Gail Sharretts.
Thanks to Nantucket Bank we have had 4 of the chairs on display in the window at 51 Main Street for the entire summer! It is easy to sell tickets downtown ... simply stop by Diana Kim England Goldsmith, pick up a cash box complete with tickets, pens, a table, and chair, and walk across the street to the window at 51 Main. The beautiful chairs sell themselves.
 Thanks to Kim England and Suzanne Keller, there is a $100 gift certificate to Force 5 for the student(s) who sell the most tickets by October 16. Currently in the lead for most tickets sold: Ashley and Declan Hehir, Henry Schwed, Blake Lazarus, and Virginia Bullington.
Winners will be drawn at the Hoe Down, on October 17!
If you haven't sold tickets yet, or are new to the school this year, you will receive tickets in your mail box at school by September 18. Each family is asked to sell at least 20 tickets. Feel free to stop by the office with any questions. Thanks for participating in this fundraiser for the school.
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Parent Discussion Evenings
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Please join us for a Class Parent Discussion Evening (see schedule below). We will begin by outlining the developmental characteristics of your child's age group. Each teacher will then meet with her class to share information about the coming year. We hope that at least one parent from each family will be able to attend. We look forward to meeting with you!
Parent Discussion Evenings
Small School Parents: Mon., Sept. 14, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kinderclass Parents: Wed., Sept. 16, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Primary Class Parents: Mon., Sept. 21, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Upper Primary Class Parents, Wed., Sept. 23, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Primary 5/6 Class Parents: Mon., Sept. 28, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
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 Morning Drop-Off
Because teachers rely upon the time before school to prepare for the school day, gather materials, and touch base as a staff, we ask everyone to be mindful of drop-off time. School officially begins at 8:30 although, for those raring to go, our doors will be open by 8:20.
Please remember, in the morning, there is no adult overseeing play outside. In the interest of safety, children should not be dropped off unsupervised.
We thank you for your understanding! |
Do you have boxes of documents to be
shredded in your home or office?
Here is the quick solution.
A GIANT SHREDDING
TRUCK THAT CAN
SECURELY SHRED 1 BANKER'S BOX OF PAPER PER MINUTE (APPROXIMATELY 35LBS).
CERTIFICATES OF DESTRUCTION CAN
BE PROVIDED.
THIS
IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT (PLUS
IT'S A DEDUCTABLE EXPENSE).
IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL AND LET US KNOW HOW MANY BOXES YOU
HAVE.
WE'LL
GIVE YOU A TIME SLOT. NO WAITING!
Please call: 508-325-1589 for reservations
Tuesday September
22nd, 2009
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nantucket
Lighthouse School Parking Lot
Cost 75 cents/ lb
or
approx $20 per
12"x12"x15" box
Space is limited
so please call early to secure your slot
Funds raised benefit
the Nantucket Lighthouse School Capital
Campaign
Co-Sponsored by the Inquirer and
Mirror
& The Nantucket Lighthouse
School
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 Please join us for the 2nd annual Hoe Down, Sat., Oct. 17!
Last year this event was the talk of the town. You'll want to wear your dancing shoes for the amazing Cliff Brodeur and Square One Band. Enjoy authentic BBQ, take a mechanical bull ride, and bid on unique auction items, all to benefit the Nantucket Lighthouse School.
The Hoe Down Committee, led by Megan Maltby and Anne Topham, needs your help to pull off a successful event for the school! Assistance is needed in the areas of decoration, procuring auction items, event set up and break down. Please contact either Megan at 508.325.5973 or megmaltby@comcast.net or Anne at 508.228.8413 or josephtopham@comcast.net if you are able to help. Thank you!
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H1N1/Swine Flu:
The Lighthouse School recognizes that collaboration is essential to our
efforts to enjoy a healthy school year. As such, we are working with
the local Health Department and public schools, who are in turn working
with state and public health agencies and the CDC, to prepare for the
upcoming flu season. We ask you to work with us as well.
It is important to teach our children
how to reduce the risk of getting the flu and how to protect others
from becoming infected, without scaring them unnecessarily. Routine
hygiene practices go a long way toward preventing the spread of flu and
staying healthy.
We will practice the following common sense precautions at school and ask that you reinforce these healthy habits at home:
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds, or as long as it takes to sing the ABC song).
- Respiratory etiquette: students will be taught to cough and sneeze into tissue (or sleeve if tissue is not available).
- Hand sanitizers: a bottle of hand sanitizer will be available in every class room.
- Daily cleaning, particularly areas and surfaces frequently used by children.
In addition, please keep
your child at home if he/she has a fever of 100 F degrees or more. The student should stay home for 7 days after
symptoms begin or 24 hours after the fever, or signs of a fever, have
disappeared, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Please notify the office if there is a diagnosis of H1N1 in your household.
Collaboration is key to a healthy school year. We thank you for your cooperation and communication.
You will find a fact sheet about H1N1 in your mail
boxes at school, as well as an update for parents from the Executive
Office of Health and Human Services.
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Dear Lighthouse School Families,
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An independent day school serving children pre-school through 6th grade, the Nantucket Lighthouse School celebrates 10 years of honoring the spirit of childhood through a comprehensive curriculum that imaginatively engages and inspires children in the process of learning.
Lighthouse School's unique and integrated curriculum educates the head, hand and heart.We teach traditional academic subjects imaginatively, building upon what a child knows in a meaningful and systematic sequence and challenging his/her emerging skills and abilities. Writing and art are integrated throughout the curriculum. Lighthouse students receive a great deal of individual attention and thrive in a warm and caring community. Through the social component of our curriculum, children learn to communicate honestly and respectfully while developing a sense of empathy and personal responsibility.
We recognize that human growth and development unfolds in a series of developmental stages. Each stage represents the assimilation of past learning and a new way of perceiving the world. Learning might be represented as climbing the steps of a ladder but, as parents and teachers can confirm, the human learning process does not take place in such regular and incremental steps.
Sometimes the concept of developmental readiness is often confused with the notion of waiting until a child 'feels like it'. In a developmentally appropriate practice, academic and social expectations are based upon the ever-expanding capacities and skill levels of a given age group while recognizing those of the particular individual. For instance, a child's seventh year is characterized by significant changes in his/her cognitive, emotional and physical makeup. The change of teeth and bodily proportions are physical indicators. The child is newly able to consciously draw upon the working memory and to employ mental imagery. What has been called the 'age of reason' has arrived. Thus, the 1st grade has traditionally been the year in which children are 'ready' to be formally introduced to academic skills, such as reading and can view the world (and ideas) from a less egocentric perspective.
We consider each child as an individual. Developmental research informs us that, while children tend to progress through a common sequence of developmental stages, the rate at which they journey through these stages differ. By not assigning our classes by numerical grade, we create more flexibility in terms of meeting each individual's actual needs. Without an emphasis on climbing the numerical ladder of grades, and with the one and only intention of meeting the individual's academic, social, and emotional needs, we can place a child in the class that is most appropriate.
A Lighthouse class is designed as a two year program, within which the relationship between child and teacher deepens and the child gains valuable experience as a younger and then an older student. Naturally, there are different academic expectations for younger and older students within any given academic task. Where appropriate, teachers will design parallel lessons for the two groups, such as in the subjects of math and spelling. Social studies and unit studies topics alternate from year to year. Despite the unconventional class names, the basic curriculum of each Lighthouse class will be found to correspond with a traditional grade's curriculum when that curriculum is developmentally appropriate to the age group.
Most importantly, we inspire, develop and exercise the most essential human creative faculty: the imagination. The imagination is fundamental to the ability to think, to empathize, to problem solve, and to give form to that which does not yet exist. Magical thinking and the playful imagination remain a child's most precious birthrights and house the seeds which will flower into creative and profound thought. At Lighthouse, we remain committed to honoring the spirit and magic of childhood and to taking the time to introduce children to abstract academic ideas in a timely and meaningful way.
Welcome back to school!
Lizbet Carroll Fuller
Director of Education
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| Faculty & Staff Updates, Changes & Job Openings |
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 Teacher News
The good news is that Patricia Harding, a.k.a. Senora Patricia, was hired as a full time ESL teacher the elementary school. The bad news is that she will be unable to teach Spanish at Lighthouse this year. Patricia's warm generosity of spirit and her knowledgeable enthusiasm were ever-present in her lessons. We wish Patricia the very best in her new endeavor and will SO miss her! We are currently interviewing candidates to fill her hard-to-fill shoes.
Lizza Obremski, of last year's Small School, is now in Beirut, Lebanon preparing to begin teaching a pre-school class at a small private school. Lizza reports that, after an eventful journey there, she (and her luggage) are safely ensconced in her new home but she misses all at Lighthouse School and sends greetings!
Administrative Staff News
It is with sadness that we announce Stacy Fusaro is leaving Lighthouse School for the public school guidance office. We have decided it will take TWO people to fill Stacy's shoes. If you are interested in more info or applying for either of the following jobs, please forward cover letter and resume to Cheryl Evans at 228.0427 or cevans@nantucketlighthouseschool.org:
Office Admin: 25 hours weekly, 8:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., responsibilities include greet and direct visitors, maintain office supplies and communications systems, facilitate parent communication, and support Administrative staff in various duties. Requires proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel. Experience with Microsoft Publisher and a contact management database a plus.
Events Manager: Estimate 20+/- hours a week, flexible hours, responsibilities include managing volunteer event committees; running and recording regular event meetings; with volunteers, work to develop and execute marketing plans for events; insure proper event permits and insurance are in place; liaison with food, beverage, rentals, tent, and entertainment contractors; manage event set up, on site logistics, and event wrap up. Requires event management experience and proficiency with Microsoft Word. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Publisher and a contact management database a plus.
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From Stacy Fusaro:
To Lighthouse Families, Staff and Board,
It is with very mixed feelings that I am leaving my position of Office Manager at NLS. This has been much more than one year's employment, it has been a seven year voyage beginning with our son, Riley's first day of kindergarten. His six years at NLS were filled with an incredible education as well as loving, nurturing teachers and lasting friendships not only for him, but for our whole family. When he graduated in June '08, the thought of leaving this warm community was really difficult so I jumped at the opportunity to take a job here. Experiencing the 'behind the scenes' working of the school made clear why the school is what it is: everyone here works passionately to ensure the well-being of our children and the success of the school. I will take with me the value of being passionate about what you do because it does make a difference in the world around you.
My new job will be in the High School guidance office and, although I am sure I will find it a fulfilling job, I will miss the Lighthouse commuity. I have been assured that, "You can never really leave," because there will always be raffle tickets to buy, events to attend, and invitations to design ... And that makes me feel much better!
Thank you all for your friendship.
Stacy
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We will miss you and wish you well in your new job, Stacy!
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