GREETINGS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL 

Last week both the seventh and eighth grades were away on their spring trips to Quebec and Washington, DC, respectively. I want to thank Hop, Madame Jo, and Laurie, and all of the energetic and adventurous parent chaperones who helped make these trips meaningful and memorable for our students. At TGS we take every opportunity to celebrate the world as our classroom and these trips are very important experiences in our students' learning journeys. We look forward to hearing more about them at upcoming All School Meetings.

 

We are all very excited for our Tee it up for TGS golf and dinner on Thursday and Grandparents Day on Friday. It is not too late to register for either and please feel free to encourage Grandparents to attend this important and fun event!

 

This Saturday is the annual Girls on The Run 5K in Brattleboro. We have a terrific group of GOTR participants at TGS and I am looking forward to going and supporting them as they take on this challenge as the culmination of a great season.

 

TGS is very fortunate to have a talented and committed Board of Trustees. We make every effort to keep the community updated as to the actions of the Board through our open meetings and publishing BOT minutes on the website. Last week we had our most recent meeting and the minutes from that are available here.

 

We are pleased to announce Justin Altman '95 as the Director of Admissions for 2015-2016. Justin brings with him a wealth of energy, enthusiasm, and institutional experience at TGS. Please join me in welcoming him warmly to TGS!

 

Justin's educational background began right here at The Grammar School where he was a student from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Following TGS, he attended Northfield Mount Hermon before moving on to Colgate University where he graduated with a BA in Sociology and Anthropology. As a lifelong skier and lover of the outdoors, Justin moved to Salt Lake City where he lived for five years, skied more than his fair share of powder, took up photography, and most importantly, met his wife Amanda. His business experience spans the natural food industry and e-commerce at both Overstock.com and Backcountry.com. For the past two years, Justin has been teaching filmmaking and photography along with supporting faculty and staff technology needs at The Putney School. Justin resides with his wife Amanda, their two cats Daryl and Rosie, and their puppy Henry in Westminster West.  

 

Justin says, "I am thrilled to be returning back to TGS in a role where I can help continue guiding the school into a strong and sustainable future. The campus has evolved since my grade school years, but the heart of the school, the sense of community, and the culture of learning is more alive than ever. I look forward to meeting everyone in the community in the weeks and months to come! Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]."  

 

Dan 
 
7th graders in Quebec last week

WORKDAY THANKS
 
I would just like to say thank you to all of the parents, students, and friends of The Grammar School who gave their time and hard work to get our campus looking shipshape this past Saturday. The flower beds look great, an incredible amount of work was accomplished both in the woods and on the far bank of the smaller soccer field, the preschool playground has a nice soft new bed of chips, and most importantly, everyone had a great time. 

A special note of thanks to David and Apple who provided the delicious grass fed burgers from their farm that we all had for lunch. 
Kurt

K-6 SPRING CONCERT THURSDAY, MAY 21 6pm
DRESS REHEARSAL: Tuesday, May 19 at 2:00pm
Family members who are unable to attend the evening concert are welcome at the dress rehearsal.

EVENING CONCERT: Students should arrive at 6:10pm; K-1-2 in Kindergarten; 3-4 in 4th room; 5-6 in 5th room. If a student forgets a recorder or music folder, please go right up to the theater when you arrive and see Carol Cutts to get what you need.

SELTZER/SODA BOTTLES NEEDED
The seventh grade students will be building bottle rockets and are in need of plastic soda/seltzer bottles. One and two liter sizes are desired, and caps would be appreciated. If you have any to contribute, please bring them in to Hop. Many thanks and ready for lift off! 
Hop

 

VT Health Department warns that tick season is already underway. Please check your children for ticks daily.

 

COME ONE, COME ALL! Crafting Bee for Medieval Faire 2015 FRIDAY, MAY 22
Join us in crafting for the Medieval Faire's Marketplace anytime from after drop-off until noon at the Kent/Greenewalts. Learn some crafting skills, share your own expertise/interest, or just enjoy the company of folks while we busy our hands for the 2015 Faire. For this occasion, there will be a group working on making felted hats in addition to whatever else folks bring to the mix. Experienced crafters and beginners alike are encouraged to come! Please email Melanie Kent ([email protected]) if you plan to attend, need directions, or would like to participate but can't make it on the 22nd.
 
PUTNEY FOOD SHELF
May is the final month for TGS contributions to The Putney Food Shelf! This month the Preschool will be collecting for the Food Shelf, and we hope to collect a large and diverse supply of non-perishable food and household items to share with our neighbors in the community. The need is great, so please think of picking up a few items next time you are at the store. Collection boxes are outside the Main Office and the Preschool classroom. Please help us to make this a record month! Many thanks. 

MUSICAL DVDS 
Beauty and the Beast JR DVDs by videographer Pedr Seymour are now available. Please email Alli with orders and remember to specify Cast A or Cast B. $20 check, payable to TGS, should be delivered to Alli or to her faculty mailbox.  

Plans for Summer Discovery camp and the Young Explorers program are well under way. While the youngest campers are busy exploring the woods and crafting with Jess Sardinas, older kids can do everything from mountain biking and other outdoor adventures to studio art and traditional crafts.

The three-week sessions will run from July 6 through July 24, and it's a great time to get a jump on your summer schedule by reserving your place now. Please email Jen Robb for more information.

TGS SWEATSHIRTS! 

Hooded or crewneck sweatshirts are $35, Tshirts are $15, and a student's name on the back is an additional $5. Please email Mary to order, and specify style, size, color, and name choice.

TGS ALUMS PERFORM AT VA
Fun, Funny, Accessible Shakespeare at Vermont Academy this weekend - A Midsummer Night's Dream, set in the 1980s, will be performed Friday and Saturday nights (May 15, 16) at 7:30pm and Sunday night (May 17) at 7pm in the Horowitz Performing Arts Center at Vermont Academy. 
 
The show features TGS graduates Nevada McGowan and Wyeth Olmsted in their final performances on the VA stage. Don't miss it! 
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MAY

14 Golf Event

15 Grandparents Day

16 GOTR 5K 10am

19 Concert Dress Rehearsal 2pm

21 Spring Concert 6pm

JUNE

6 Strolling of the Heifers Parade

10 Last day of school and Field Day

11 GRADUATION! 
Thursday, June 11 at 4pm

COMMUNITY NEWS

DONATE BOOKS TO HELP BUILD A LIBRARY IN SIERRA LEONE
Putney School ninth grader Sarah Young has started a book drive to to donate 1000 books and $500 to the African Library Project. For more information, go to Sarah's Sierra Leone Library Project.

 

CircusNEXT:  The Circus Stars of Tomorrow!

Sunday, May 24, 1pm and 5pm - Come see the members of the New England Center for Circus Arts' Youth Performance Troupe share their talents in their end of year showcase. Trapeze, acrobatics, tumbling, juggling and more will be presented by youth ages 8-17. Students in the program come from Vermont, N


ew Hampshire, and Massachusetts twice a week to train with elite coaches in the circus arts. Previous students have gone on to train at the acclaimed National Circus School of Canada and several are members of the much-loved Circus Smirkus summer touring show. These are the circus stars of tomorrow!  All proceeds benefit student scholarships.Tickets $10 adults, $5 youth under 12, under 2 free.

New England Center for Circus Arts, 74 Cotton Mill Hill, #300,  Brattleboro, VT 05301,  www.necenterforcircusarts.org   

 

BRATTLEBORO SWIM TEAM
The Brattleboro Swim Team (BST) is gearing up for another fun summer swim season and we are looking for motivated swimmers of all abilities, ages 5-18, to join our winning team! BST is accepting 2015 summer season registrations now through Sunday, June 7. Please visit www.offtheblocks.org/bst to learn more about BST and for registration information.    

 

MISSING XC SKIS

Willa's brand new XC skis - a Christmas gift from her grandma - went missing from the ski shed. They are black and yellow, no-wax, Fischer Sprint Crown Juniors, 160 cm. They had black tape near the tips. Also, 1 Norda aluminum pole, 120 cm, with her initials on the handle. Please double check what you or your child brought home!  Thanks, Alicia 

 

CIRCUS SHOW -
2015 graduate show of the Professional Track students from the New England Center for Circus Arts

In order to showcase all the acts, there are two different shows as well as shorter matinees on weekdays geared to school audiences.

Fri, May 15 - 7:30pm (Show B)

Sat, May 16 - 3:00pm (Show B) and 7:30pm (Show A)

One hour Matinees on May 13, 14 & 15, 10:30 am

All performances are at The Austine Campus, 209 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT

Tickets are $15 adult / $8 youth under 12. 

To purchase tickets visit www.necenterforcircusarts.org.

For information call (802) 254-9780.

 

PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS

Students are coming this summer from Cairo, Beijing, Munich, Tbilisi and Amsterdam - as well as Windham County and 23 States! Summertime at Putney School is simply a great crew of teens and adults who just need to keep doing their art - making films & animations, writing songs, singing, dancing, painting, weaving and much more. CONTACT Tom Howe, Director, The Putney School Summer Programs summer.putneyschool.org, 802-387-6234

 

GRAFTON NATURE MUSEUM SUMMER CAMPS   

The Grafton Nature Museum offers a variety of summer programs and camps.

www.nature-museum.org 

  

MAIN STREET ARTS SUMMER CAMPS
Main Street Arts in Saxtons River has a variety of youth summer camps available.
www.mainstreetarts.org

GARDENING

TGS parent Sam Dell, the owner of Vermont Fine Gardeners, is offering $50 off the first 10 hours of gardening labor for any new clients. His business specializes in the maintenance and installation of perennial gardens, trees, and shrubs. He also does design consultation and edible landscaping. He can be contacted at (802) 380-3055 or at [email protected].

BED FOR SALE
PB Teen (Pottery Barn) Cottage style single bed with trundle. White. Lightly used. Price negotiable. If interested, visit this link and watch the video for more information.Please contact Libby if you have any questions or are interested in the bed.
 
FAMILY YOGA AT PUTNEY MOVES on Saturdays 11:00-12:15pm 
Family Yoga is a great way to engage the whole family in some silly fun!  Traditional Hatha yoga poses are mixed in with creative games, positive music, art projects, and story time. Parents will also work side-by-side with their little yogis to create poses.  Classes focuses on core strength (strong tummies), creative play, healthy communication skills and an overall awareness of health and wellbeing.

 

Ages 2 and up. A parent or caregiver must attend and participate. 

$20 for 1 adult and 1 child | $5 for each additional adult or child. Putney Moves is located at 133 Main Street, 2nd Floor.  Learn more at: www.putneymoves.com.   


NEWS ITEMS
Please send your Community News items to Mary by Tuesday morning to be included in the Wednesday Notice. If you have news you would like to share with The Grammar School community, please contact Mary.