THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL WEDNESDAY NOTICE
October 8, 2013
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GREETINGS FROM TGS!
Campus continues to buzz as we raise the village in preparation for our 25th annual Medieval Faire. I have been looking forward to seeing this revered TGS tradition and am excited that we are almost there.Thank you all for your workto make this day a success, and again, I want to thank our Medieval Faire Committee for their epic efforts! We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Many parents made it to last Thursday's Head of School Coffee to discuss the emerging Strategic Plan, and we had excellent conversations and a productive exchange of ideas. We would like to extend an additional three days to gather your feedback, so please email me with any suggestions, edits, or ideas, by the end of the day on Friday. In our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all students and community members, we will hold a Lock Down Drill on Friday October 18th. We are pre-announcing this so that you have time to preview this with your child if you feel that is needed. We will also address this at the upcoming All School Meeting. There will be other Lock Down Drills this year that may or may not be announced, as well. If you have any questions about this, please let me know. I hope many of you will make it to our Green Mountain Orchard Fun Run on Wednesday to support our TGS runners, and perhaps have a doughnut! We are expecting over 100 runners to attend and the day promises to be exciting for all.
Sincerely,
Dan Marchetti
Head of School
URGENT ALERT FROM THE MEDIEVAL FAIRE COMMITTEE:
If you have a 10X10 pop up tent you could lend to the Faire, please let Jaja or Melanie know!
We are still lacking volunteers for critical areas of the Faire. If we can not fill these positions soon, we will have to start cutting back on games and attractions, which will disappoint our children and lead to revenue losses. We have the following needs: * Over 20 work shifts in the Gaming Glen * 18 items of Marketplace Food * 8 work shifts in the Tavern * 6 items of Tavern Food * 2 work shifts in the Village Shops Please sign up today at http://tgs.ivolunteer.com If you have any questions related to volunteer duties, please contact jajalaughlin@hotmail.com or beth@mindofwinter.com. Thank you! Beth Stickney Jaja Laughlin Melanie Kent Jen Robb
COME VISIT 8th Graders' ECUADOR Booth at The Harvest Festival!
When: October 13
Where: The Putney School
Why: To support our 8th grade Service Learning trip to Ecuador.
This is a fundraiser run by the 8th graders attending the Service Learning trip and their teacher, Liz Jackson. Parents will need to drop off their child at the designated time to sell goods at the festival (a signup sheet will be going out to families). If you have any questions please contact Liz at lizzyole@gmail.com.
We will be selling: Bocadillos de Tortilla de Patata (Potato Omelette baguettes from Spain), Cheese and Pesto Baguettes (The PESTO is donated by Laura Gaudette and Dave Hume of Whirlygig Farm), Smokin' bowls CHILI with bread and cheese, and tons of goodies left over from Medieval Fair the day before!
¡!Gracias!!
Liz
TGS Fun Run today at Green Mountain Orchards. Course walk at 3:30. OCTOBER ADVENTURE ON MT. MONADNOCK  On Saturday, October 26, fifth grade teacher Charlie Boswell will lead a TGS hike up Mt. Monadnock. Students in grades 4-8 are invited to leave TGS on the school bus at 8:00am or from the rotary in Brattleboro shortly afterwards. We'll hike to the summit at a comfortable pace, have lunch, and return to TGS at 4:00pm. Students in lower grades are welcome to participate with a parent chaperone. Our trip will be weather dependent and contingent on the commitment of ten (minimum) participants. Students and families should register to participate by contacting Charlie at cboswell@thegrammarschool.org. FALL INTO ART!
Windham Child Care Association presents its 3rd annual Fall Into Art event, Friday, October 25, from 6-8 pm, at All Souls Church (West Village Meeting House) in West Brattleboro. Come join us for a fabulous Silent Auction featuring dozens of works by area artists, live music by Jazzberry Jam, decadent homemade desserts, delicious food by Vermont Country Deli, and a cash bar by Windham Wines. Tickets are $20 at Windham Child Care Association, Everyone's Books, and from Ken at TGS preschool. Call 254-5532 for more information. Help support WCCA and enjoy a spectacular evening of art, food, music, and REAL social networking!
Ken Brautigam
Preschool Teacher
MUMS, ASTERS, AND PUMPKINS
If you are buying potted mums or asters and/or pumpkins for your house this fall won't you consider loaning them to us for the Faire? You can leave them at the foot of the stairs or by the Upper School Door where there will be Masking Tape and a Sharpie (both locations) for labeling. Pick them up after the Faire. THANKS!
MEDIEVAL FAIRE PRE-SALE PASSES - For your convenience, pre-sale passes are available at the office.
DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!
The eighth grade is hosting a dance at TGS on October 18. The dance is open to 6th-8th graders and runs from 7-10pm (prompt pick up is appreciated!),and will be fully chaperoned. Admission is $5. Free snacks and great music. Proceeds to benefit 8th grade trip to Boston. Questions? Email lfichter@thegrammarschool.org.
PUTNEY FAMILY SERVICES
THANK YOU CHARLIE AND THE FIFTH GRADE AND ALL WHO HELPED FILL BOXES FOR THE PUTNEY FOOD SHELF. IT WAS A GREAT START TO OUR YEAR OF CONTRIBUTING TO THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE. KATHY AND THE 6TH GRADERS ARE COLLECTING FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
UPDATE: The Power of Discovery - An After School STEM Program at TGS
We are excited to share an update on The Power of Discovery After School STEM Program at The Grammar School. The FIRST Lego Robotics Club for students in grades 4-8 was SWITCHED to Tuesdays-which is GREAT NEWS for students who want to join both the Chess Club (Wednesdays) and the Robotics Club.
More Clubs Available Session I:
We are launching a Math Olympiads Team (Upper Level) for students in grades 7-8, thanks to current TGS parent and Math Department Chair at The Putney School, Kevin Feal Staub. The team will meet on Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm, and run for 7 weeks. Additionally, there will be a Math Olympiads Junior Team for grades 5-6 coached by TGS Parent Jay Reichman, which will run for six weeks on Thursdays, 3:30-5pm! We also are pleased to announce that we will offer a Junior FIRST Lego Robotics Club for young people in grades 2-3, which will run for 8 weeks and meet on Wednesdays, 3:30-5pm, thanks to current TGS parent Whitney Blauvelt. Find more information below.
Two new clubs starting during Session II:
We are pleased to announce that we will offer a Kids Craft Club for young people in grades 2-4, led by the extraordinary Ann-Michelle Andrews. This club will meet on Wednesday for eight weeks, 3:30-5pm. TGS students also will have the opportunity to join TGS's Future Problem Solvers for young people in grades 5-8, coached by Suzanne Rubinstein. Find more information below.
Still seeking mentors:
We still are seeking mentors for a handful of clubs. In particular, we are looking for someone who would like to offer a craft class and/or a read aloud and art class to young people in grades K-1. We are seeking a co-mentor: we found a wonderful mentor for a DIY Maker Scouts Club for Session II, grades 2-4, but he is seeking a partner to help run the club! If you are interested please contact Suzanne Rubinstein or David Hull.
Click here for a comprehensive listing of clubs and links to registration forms.Box Tops for Education It's Box Tops submission time! Please send your Box Tops coupons in with your child or put them in the box in the entrance way. We will be bundling up all the Box Tops on October 24 to get them in by the fall deadline. Once we send in all the Box Tops, our school will receive a check from General Mills in December. Each Box Top coupon is worth 10 cents -- free money for the school! If everyone participates, the money can really add up! This year we're planning to use the money for TGS Athletics. If you have any questions about the Box Tops program, feel free to contact Clare Mundell, TGS Box Tops Coordinator, at cemundell@gmail.com.
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October
9 TGS Fun Run at GMO
11-17 Book Fair (during school Library hours)
12 Medieval Faire!
14 Columbus Day No School
21 Secondary School visit - Choate
22-23 Sixth-eighth conference days, school in session
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COMMUNITY NEWS!
Is it important to feed your family organic, local foods? Are you concerned about investing in a sustainable economy? Is a stronger community important to you? Harlow Farm winter CSA delivery to The Grammar School may be for you! We offer our own Westminster grown root crops, meats and poultry, eggs, fresh winter greens, frozen and canned goods and products from other local producers like cheese, honey, pies and veggie burgers. This year we will be collaborating with the Gleanery to provide convenient frozen prepared foods created with local ingredients. Our CSA is different, as you order what you need to feed your family using our easy online ordering system. Membership starts at $200, but you can join at a level that works best for you. A 3% credit is added to all TGS members as a benefit of the TGS group. Visit http://harlowfarm.com/csa/ for more info or contact your coordinator, Tara Meinhard at tmeinhar@thegrammarschool.org, or Jeanette on the farm at jstaley@harlowfarm.com.
MAIN STREET ARTS
In Saxtons River, VT is offering several new classes from hula-hooping to conversational Spanish. Check them out online at www.mainstreetarts.org
MUSIC LESSONS
Jared Stolper, who teaches music here at TGS, is giving private lessons on either the guitar, the banjo or the ukelele. He works with ages grade four and up. If you are interested, you can reach Jared at 603-756-4010.
Vinyasa Yoga at The Grammar School
Mondays 4:45-6:00pm in the auditorium - $14 drop-in, $60 for 5-class card, $100 for 10-class card. Please bring a yoga mat.
HOST FAMILY NEEDED FOR CHINESE GIRL
Might your family consider hosting a wonderful 16-year old girl, Tianxin or "Yolanda," who is a sophomore at the Putney School? She needs a host family in the Putney area, starting in mid-October. An accomplished musician, Yolanda plays piano, oboe, and saxophone. She is totally delightful--curious, upbeat, flexible, and helpful. Yolanda is also an excellent student, speaks English well, and hopes to become a diplomat in the future.
The host family receives a generous monthly stipend and is asked to provide a place for the student to sleep and to study, meals, a warm, supportive environment, and transportation to school. Tiaxin has her own spending money and medical insurance. For more information, please contact Ann Newsmith, 802-257-4710, exchangevt@gmail.com.
B1 ZUMBA CLASS w/ PAULINE at The Grammar School!!
Fridays: 4:30-5:30pm. $6 per class for TGS employees, $8 per class for general public. Pre-buy discount tickets available: * 6 Classes for the Price of 5 * To register or for more information: paulinebob@hotmail.com or 802/376-5397
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