GREETINGS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL  
Thank you all for coming last Friday to our annual TGS Potluck. The turnout was terrific and the food was incredible. I hope you enjoyed this special night together and the opportunity to meet with your children's teachers, as well as to hear more about our curriculum and plans for the year. The next all community event is our annual all school hike up Putney Mountain next Wednesday. We will leave from TGS at 11:45 and have lunch on the summit, followed by all school meeting and school sing. This is a special event and families are welcome and encouraged to attend. 
 
For many years TGS has actively supported the Putney Food Shelf. Through monthly food collections to our Thanksgiving Baskets, our students and families make meaningful contributions to help local residents who are food insecure. Last year we began the tradition of "Fill The Bus" to build awareness and celebrate our involvement in support of this great program. Next Wednesday we will again gather food and Fill The Bus. Full details are included in the notice, and thank you in advance for helping to continue this important tradition of giving back to our local community. 
 
Fall sports have begun! Congratulations to all of our athletes who are participating in soccer and XC running. TGS is primed for a strong season this year. If your child still wishes to give a sport a try, it is not too late to join a team and have a great experience. 
   
MEDIEVAL FAIRE VOLUNTEERS!
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Calling all TGS parents to the Medieval Faire on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 10am-4pm! The time has come to join your fellow TGS families as we transform the campus back to the Middle Ages. It takes a whole community to build, run, and put away the Medieval Village and Gaming Glen, so don't delay, sign up today!
Medieval Fair Volunteer Signup
Questions? Contact Jennifer Jacobs, volunteer coordinator.

FIFTH GRADE NEEDS GRIST MILL
The fifth grade is looking to borrow a small grist mill, hand operated if possible. We have harvested the multicolored feed corn grown right here in the TGS gardens and hope to grind it into flour for making tortillas. If you know of or have access to a small grist mill please contact Mike Tholen.

FILL THE BUS! 
Please support the Putney Foodshelf's community food drive on September 30 by filling the TGS bus again this year!
 
Next Wednesday, September 30 (or earlier), students and families are encouraged to bring five or more food items to benefit the Putney Foodshelf. Individual classes will load the TGS bus on Wednesday morning between 8:30 and 10:00, and Dan, Justin, and the eighth graders will travel on the bus to unload the items into the trucks in front of Next Stage.
 
PUTNEY MOUNTAIN HIKE SEPTEMBER 30 
Buses depart TGS at 11:45. Parents can follow the buses from school or meet us at the trailhead at noon.
We expect that everyone will reach the summit by 12:30. We will eat lunch and have an ASM before heading down by 1:15 or 1:30. It's safe to say we will be back to school by 2pm. Pizza lunch will NOT be served on the mountain!
 
There will be no work jobs on Wednesday and no ASM at school. Students will return to their homerooms. 

TGS AT LATCHIS  AND MOCHA JOE'S 
For the month of October, our student work will be exhibited at two venues in downtown Brattleboro! Our young artists depicted dragons in different media and styles at each grade level to get into the spirit for the upcoming Medieval Faire, and selected works will be displayed at the Latchis Gallery (next to the theater).  Students worked in pencil, tempera, oil pastel, and collage to create these inventive and detailed dragons as part of our celebration of community spirit at the Medieval Faire. 
 
At Mocha Joe's, illustrations of seafaring creatures and their collective nouns (animal groupings) will be on view. Come see how our fourth graders have visualized a smack of jellyfish, an army of herring, a knot of frogs, and many more. Please join us for Gallery Walk at these two venues on Friday, October 2to support our imaginative young artists!
 
STUDIO INSTRUMENTS NEEDED
NEEDED: Acoustic guitars for student practice  
FOUND BACKSTAGE: Vintage Ludwig snare drum with grey pearl finish - did someone donate this? We'd like to thank you in person! Please email Alli if you have a guitar you'd be willing to loan for a few months. 
 
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS 
We had a great race with many TGS runners at Kurn Hattin last Wednesday! Times are posted outside the business office. Thanks to all who ran, coached, and cheered! 

There will not be running for upper school students this Friday afternoon because of the sixth and seventh grade field trips.

After school soccer and running practices are underway! Games and meets (subject to change!) are listed on the calendar on the sports page.   
Please email Mary if you have questions, and to sign up for after school sports. There is a $45 fee per student, which covers all fall sports.  
 
SOURCE TO SEA CLEAN UP SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 FROM 9AM-12PM 
Dummerston Covered Bridge
Show your love and appreciation of our rivers, help to clean up the swimming holes along the West River (which feeds into the Connecticut River). Join with other TGS families and the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance as we participate in the annual Connecticut River Watershed Council's Source to Sea clean-up. We all live downstream. Contact Jennifer Jacobs with questions.

MUSICAL CALENDAR 2015-2016
Music performance dates for the 2015-2016 school year. The dates of the 7th-8th musical will be announced soon.  
 
Like us on Facebook

SEPTEMBER

24-25
6th-7th overnight field trips

30 Fill the Bus

30 Putney Mountain Hike


COMMUNITY NEWS

BEN BRACKETT MEMORIAL 5K
There are some upcoming races would be a fun team event for TGS XC! The Ben Brackett Memorial 5K and Middle School Invite will be held on
Saturday, October 3, 2015. The 5K begins at 9 (reg 8:45), and the Middle School Invite races start at10:30. Both will be held at Keene High, 43 Arch Street.
 
Anyone can run the 5K, and the coach at Keene High has invited TGS to participate as a team in the Middle School Invite.In the past, 5K prizes have included all sorts of skis and ski accessories, and the word on the street is that this year's offerings are equally awesome and generous.
 
Ben Brackett, Keene High alum, was a member of the state champ cross country running team in 2000 and was also a passionate skier. He died in an avalanche while skiing in California in 2012. 

Big thanks to Alyson Opsahl for getting this under way and to Coach Goldsmith for inviting our middle schoolers! Hope to see all of you out there. (Any sixth, seventh, or eighth grader is welcome to be a part of the TGS group that day, not just current XC runners. So join your friends!)

Email Alyson or Jen to be included on the team reg form for middle schoolers. Participants in the 5K can register in advance online or on race day. 

TECHNICOOL INTERNET SAFETY PRESENTATION
Daniel Ozimek of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont will be at Putney Central School on Thursday, Oct 1 presenting "Technicool." This is an internet safety program to promote safe use of the internet and social media. The PTO will be sponsoring this evening session of Technicool for parents and interested community members.  Daniel's presentation will primarily focus on what parents can do to teach and promote safe use of the internet and social media.

The PTO will provide a light dinner at 5:30pm with the approximately one hour presentation beginning at 6pm. Free childcare will be provided through the PTO. We are requesting a RSVP by Sept 21 so the PTO can plan for food and childcare needs. You may call the main office to RSVP at 387-5521. Feel free to leave a message. Please contact Arlene Scott RN at 387-5521 x4 with any questions or concerns. 

Thank you,
Arlene Scott RN, School Nurse

APARTMENT FOR RENT
3-4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, kitchen, laundry, internet, nice yard space, stream, barn...less than half a mile from TGS on Tavern Hill Road. Available early October. Great for a family! $1200/mo., includes utilities. Email [email protected] 
 
HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS
Katherine Wagenbach (TGS parent) is offering horseback riding lessons to children and adults interested in learning how to ride this fall.  She is certified by CHA and local to the Putney area.  Contact her at: [email protected] or 802-380-3234 for more information.
 
YOGA CLASSES FOR KIDS AT PUTNEY MOVES 
Putney Moves, a yoga and wellness center located in Putney Village (right across from the General Store), offers group classes, kids classes, private sessions, workshops, yoga therapy, and massage therapy.
 
Yoga of Girls (ages 9-11)
Mondays, 3:30-5:00pm
Free Class on 9/14
6-Week Session Begins 9/21

This 6-week series is for girls who wish to explore how yoga can help with the development of confidence and courage.

During this series the students will move their bodies through yoga postures, attune to their feelings through mindful awareness, and reflect on their thoughts through a variety of formats including yoga, meditation, art, writing, and discussion.
 
 
Yoga for Kids (boys and girls ages 7-11)
Wednesdays, 3:30-4:45pm
Free Class on 9/16
6-Week Session Begins 9/23
 
This class combines basic yoga poses, meditation, and breathwork with lighthearted yoga games and partner poses. Kids will leave class feeling relaxed, joyful, connected, and centered. For more information visit:  http://putneymoves.com/kids-families/yoga-for-kids/

FREE SKI SEASON PASS FOR VERMONT FIFTH GRADERS! 
Click here for more information.

WANDA HOUSTON AND THE JAZZ ON THE MOTHERSHIP TRIO 
Benefit Concert and Silent Auction for Windham Child Care Association
Friday, October 9 at the Hooker-Dunham Theater in Brattleboro -  Mark your calendars for an evening of fantastic jazz, fine appetizers, and a Silent Auction featuring work by area artists and promotions by a host of local businesses! Limited seating -- only 100 tickets will be sold. Get yours now ($25) from Ken Brautigam or the WCCA website. Click here for more information. 
  
YOUNG WRITERS AND ANIMALS 
Who: Girls ages 8 - 12
When: September 26, 2015 9am - 12pm
Where: Marlboro, VT (directions will be furnished upon registration) 
Investment $25
This workshop is for young girls with a talent for writing & love for animals.
For more details and to register please go to ... 
http://www.mindful-connections.com/young-writers-animals

ART CLASSES AT RIVER GALLERY SCHOOL
- Sept. 21 - Jan. 21 
Child Studio Class with Helen Schmidt, Collin Leech, and Lauren Watros for ages 6-12  $360 - 3:30pm - 5pm Sept. 21 - Jan 21 Monday - Thursday. Choose one afternoon for a 15 week session. Individualized approach to painting, drawing and sculpture in an environment where we nurture each child's free imagination. 
 
Teen Studio with Helen Schmidt for ages 12-18  $360 - Friday 4-5:30, Sept. 25 - Jan 21. Open studio and portfolio guidance for students who want to further their artistic journey. Options include drawing, painting, sculpture, figure drawing, and printmaking.

LOCAL EVENTS

BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITION


SANDGLASS THEATER PUPPETS IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS 
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.