PA Wine Tasting  

Nearly 100 ESK parents, faculty and special guests attended the Parent Associations' Third Annual Wine Tasting - Roaring 20's - on Friday night at the home of ESK Grandparents Joe and Ruth Fielden. Those in attendance had the opportunity to taste and learn about 12 different wines from California, Oregon, France and Italy. All wines were under $20 but highly rated. Heavy hors d'oeuvres were provided by Echo Bistro & Wine Bar. New Headmaster, Dr. Jack Talmadge and wife, Beth, were also in attendance. What a great event!

Last Friday in Middle School was Mad Scientist Day, a day at ESK where students could tap into their inner scientist by dressing up and participating in super cool, wacky experiments during science class. Students made elephant toothpaste, watched a pickle become electrified and glow, created slime, oobleck, and bouncing eyeballs, along with participating in challenges that involved sticking pencils through plastic bags of water and moving plastic cups without touching them with their hands. Students and staff experienced the words of Albert Einstein, "creativity is intelligence having fun" on Friday. Visit the ESK Facebook page for more pictures from Mad Scientist Day. 

This afternoon, members of the MS Chorus and Band put the school in the mood for Halloween with a special performance of a variety of favorite Halloween-themed songs. The Siler Great Room in Googe Hall was decorated for the occasion, as were the students, and they performed such classics as Monster Mash, Time Warp, and One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater. They did a great job!

Information regarding the purchase of Eighth Grade Farewell ads for the yearbook was sent home to all families in the July mailing. Please remember the final deadline is Friday, October 31. For additional info or with questions, please contact Director of Communications Melissa Callahan via email at callahan@esknoxville.org.

Last Sunday's Open House was a tremendous success. Many thanks to all who directed friends and family to attend the event. Over and over, interested families told us that they attended the function because of your comments and encouragement. Newspaper and radio aside, our BEST sources of advertisement are happy ESK families. You are the ones who tell the story of our remarkable school, and we are grateful!

"No Body to Murder"

Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., the show at 6:30 p.m. Come and see our Sixth Grade superstars. For dinner reservations, please contact Director of Special Events, Alice Smith, via email at smith@esknoxville.org. Tickets for the dinner are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

ESK will host the Scholastic Book Fair from Nov. 10-14 in both the Jane L. Pettway Library in Googe Hall and the Clayton Family Library in the Brewington Family Lower School. The fair will run from 7:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day. Information regarding students shopping during class time was sent home in an email this week.

Scholastic Book Fairs get our students excited about reading, as well as supplement our library budget. It is also a great deal for customers because there is NO TAX on book fair purchases. You might consider making some of your holiday gift purchases here, and we will be happy to get your books to you discreetly.

ESK Middle School students are currently collecting supplies to donate to St. Luke's Episcopal Church in support of the church's Ebola relief efforts. Sixth Graders are collecting hand sanitizer, Seventh Graders face masks and Eighth Graders latex gloves. Each grade level had a goal to reach for the number of items collected and if they meet their goal, will earn an ice cream party. The grade that collects the most items overall will earn free dress on Friday, November 7. The supply drive ends Wednesday, November 5.

Technology Forum

Wondering how your students use technology at school? Struggling with social media and your tweens? A Technology Forum for parents will be held on Monday, November 17th from 6-7pm in the Siler Great Hall. We will be discussing strategies for managing social media, setting appropriate use boundaries, talking to your kids about all things digital, and how we use Google Drive and Classroom in the FLEx 1:1 program at ESK. For more information email king@esknoxville.org.

PA News

The ESK Parents' Association launched its annual fundraiser last week. This year, the PA is joining with Vienna Coffee to create a simple stream of monthly revenue for the ESK PA and, at the same time, show support of a local coffeehouse!

Here's how it works:

Eighty percent of the parents at ESK drink at least 1-2 cups of coffee each day. Why not have those coffee drinking habits help support our school and our students! Instead of buying coffee from the local grocery or Starbucks, you can now buy the highest quality coffee from www.viennacoffeeco.com and $3.00 from every bag of coffee purchased will be given back to the school. If you, your spouse, or your company, are coffee drinkers, this is a great opportunity to buy coffee AND SUPPORT ESK.

Go to www.viennacoffeeco.com and support ESK PA today! Click here for video with step-by-step directions for ordering. If you have any questions, please contact PA President Katherine Fielden at kikifielden@gmail.com.

Library News

Tuesday, November 4, 2014  2-3 p.m.  

Please join Miranda Clark and Nancy Laurence at the November Parent Association Meeting to discuss our Fall 2014 book selection, All Joy and No Fun (February, 2014) by Jennifer Senior. Click here for a full review.  

Come with your insights from the book or come to listen and decide if you would like to read the book. We are expecting Joy and Fun as we gather to share our stories. Click here All Joy And No Fun to purchase your copy via Amazon.