I hope you and your family were able to take some time over the Labor Day weekend to rest and relax. While we are just starting the school year, there should always be time to catch our breath - and a three-day weekend really fits the bill. 

This shortened week there are some important parts of Deal life that should catch your attention. New families to Deal (in particular 6th grade but not exclusively) should be sure to attend the 6th Grade Parent Workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. The workshops run for two days but actually repeat; this should allow a family that has another commitment on one of those days to still get the information they need. These workshops have proven to be very popular and quite helpful; the list of topics has been honed over the years to what seem the most necessary. While the workshops run for two nights, you won't be able to see all the sessions on one night as there are many of them. If you aren't sure which ones to see, feel free to ask when you come in.

Our club and activities get underway with energy this week. At the bottom of the bulletin is a list of clubs by date and location. There are also short explanations in the information section about many of the clubs. For new Deal families, the clubs can be a bit confusing. In general, the clubs are for your children as a way to make connections outside of the curriculum. There are no attendance requirements for almost all of the clubs - your child can try one and, if they like, continue. If they don't, there is no expectation that they will come back. Sometimes clubs are very popular and we add a session or two; sometimes only one or two students are interested and we may try and get them to try something else. One of the characteristics of the IB learner is being balanced; clubs and activities give your child something to do to balance their day. Students should also try not and overdo it - while they can try many clubs, it is probably best to let them find what they want based on their own interests. 

Some of the activities (mostly sports) come on line at different times of the year, and some of them are seasonal (fencing, for example). Ultimate frisbee can't really play in the snow. Engage with your child about the clubs they are interested in and be sure to check in with them. On occasion, a club meeting will have to be cancelled unavoidably; we will do our best to let the students know when we know and they may call to let you know about this. If so, they need to head home at the end of the day as if they weren't in a club. If a club is schedule for Monday, it won't happen the week of a Monday holiday.

Finally, have a plan in place for 4:30 when clubs end. Students need to leave Deal after their activities; there is no general supervision. There is a WMATA bus that picks up 4:35 at the usual Nebraska Avenue spot and runs up and across Military Road. Please clarify with them how they are to get home or where they should go; hanging around the stores in Tenleytown is not a good option! 

I hope you and yours have a great week. Now that we are really connecting with the curriculum it is a great time to ask your children about what they are learning; we really want you to know what is going on over at 3815 Fort Drive.

Take care, 

James Albright