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Happenings at High Meadows School
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December 16, 2013
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Dear Families and Friends,
This is a celebratory week at High Meadows, one filled with music, plays, and holiday parties (for grown-ups!). Along with the fun, we don't "cash it in" in anticipation of the break. Our teachers are busy keeping children engaged and learning right up until 3:15 on Friday.
Weeks like this, when our hallmark qualities of joy mingled with purposefulness are clear for all to see, make me especially grateful for working in an elementary school. I've been doing a lot of thinking about our PS-8 model lately, and I invite you to read (and comment on) these thoughts posted on
my blog.
Here are some of the things we have going this week at High Meadows:
- Our third graders will perform their play "Operation: Save the Environment" on Thursday;
- The HMS bands will showcase their talents at the Winter Concert tomorrow afternoon;
- We are holding our semi-annual Community Board Meeting immediately following the concert, around 5:45 in the Community Center;
- Our faculty and staff will enjoy a holiday party at the home of SHARE co-president Kathy Forman; and
- Middle Years students will gather for their annual "Livestock" performance, in which home rooms present comical skits (including lip-synced pop songs), followed by their annual "Campout," when they will cook food together to celebrate the conclusion of the first semester.
This morning at our Community Gathering, we were serenaded by our jazz band, treated to a skit from our No Place for Hate students, and we celebrated the life of Nelson Mandela. It was a perfect exclamation point to a great first-half of our fortieth year. I know the second half will be as wonderful as the first!
Enjoy the break,
Jay
Pictured: Abigail Peacock, Summer Sun, Fallon Smith, Quentin Smith, and Lindsay Freeman performing with the Jazz Band during Community Gathering, this morning.
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 Bake Sale Tomorrow to Benefit Typhoon Victims By Yana Gokhman, Fourth Grader Maceo Boyce, fourth grader in Buffum/Freeman/Reed, has an idea. His idea is to help the people in the Philippines who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Maceo's idea is to help these people by having a bake sale. All the money will be collected will go to helping these people. Maceo and the Roadrunners class are holding this bake sale on Tuesday, December 17 outside the Community Center, 4 - 4:45 p.m. First through fifth grades are helping by baking these yummy treats. We want each and every penny we can get to help the people in the Philippines. We will have cake pops, cupcakes, brownies/bars, and cookies for anyone who would like to make a donation. Each penny counts and we hope we can make a difference. The treats will be labeled if they have nuts or not and will be packed individually. We hope we can help the people in the Philippines who are not as fortunate as we are. |
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Learn from Alumni About Life After Graduation
Learn why it's a wonderful life after graduation thanks to High Meadows! Attend "An Evening with Alumni" on Wednesday, January 8 from 7 - 8:30 p.m., a panel discussion with graduates about how High Meadows prepared them for high school, college, and their professional careers.
"Hearing alums speak to their post-High Meadows experiences not only affirms the quality of our academic foundation, but also emphasizes the power of our nurturing community," Middle Years Director Pat Wolf said. "Our alums voice a self-awareness and a maturity that attests to the impact of their High Meadows education."
"We hear about such a variety of pursuits from our alumni, from technology to nonprofit endeavors to media production to research. And so many credit High Meadows as the key factor in preparing them for the challenge," Director of Development Kathleen Bryant said.
Please RSVP here. And spread the word to your friends, who have either enrolled or prospective High Meadows students!
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 Time to Think About Applications, Financial Aid
by Laura Nicholson, Director of Admission
It's hard to believe we're already talking about the 2014-2015 school year, but the time has come! We began accepting 2014 - 2015 applications back in October, and are happy to be receiving a high volume of interest from prospective families. If you have plans to apply for admission for a younger (or older) sibling of your current HMS student, this is the time to begin the process. Our goal is to give special consideration to sibling applicants who are a fit with the School's admission criteria as space allows. Please visit www.highmeadows.org to apply now.
This is also the time to start thinking about the Financial Aid process. In January, we will begin accepting applications for need-based financial aid. To apply, you will need to submit the online PFS/SSS application through the National Association of Independent schools at www.nais.org. Copies of all 2013 tax documents for your family income and those contributing to your child's tuition will be needed to complete the application process.
Re-enrollment is also right around the corner. Contracts will go out at the beginning of February to all eligible families. Grade level riser workshops will be held in the new year, and are a great way to learn more about what opportunities the upcoming school year will hold for your child.
I am happy to assist with questions about sibling applications, financial aid, and re-enrollment.
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Please Help Us Raise Funds for Financial Aid: 2014 Georgia Tax Credits are Going Fast!
Which would you prefer: paying taxes to the State of Georgia or providing much-needed scholarship funds to High Meadows?
The Georgia Tax Credit allows you to divert up to $2,500 of your state tax dollars to High Meadows. And if you have an LLC or S-Corp or are a partner in a company, you can redirect up to $10,000 of your taxes to the school!
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High Meadows Debate Team Continues to Soar
The High Meadows School Debate Team wrapped up an excellent first half of the debate season las week. Students in debate have been researching and preparing for the 2013-2014 debate topic: "The United States' federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement towards Cuba, Venezuela, and/or Mexico." The team has been debating the benefits of lifting the current embargo on Cuba and increasing trade with Mexico. In addition to working on the topic, students work on their technical debate skills and public speaking.
The team this year has included 50 students who take debate as a mini-course. The team regularly travels to tournaments with 20 to 25 students, where they compete against 300 students from all over the state. High Meadows teams have won numerous awards already this season including having the top teams in the varsity division for three of the first four tournaments. "We are extremely proud of all of the hard work all of the debaters have put into their debate work so far this year," Middle Years Teacher and Debate Coach Isaac Wolf said. "A large part of our success is a result of the Teaching-Assistant (TA) program in which experienced eighth grade debaters enroll in the novice debate class as peer mentors." The TA's play a crucial role in helping younger debaters work on arguments, highlight evidence, and hear practice debates." A giant thank you to our eighth grade TA's from the fall: Saya Abney, Aidan Brown, Ryan Beitzell, Gabriela Boatright, Anneliese Haas, Brenna Salkin, and Camille Steyaert," Isaac said.
Congratulations to the entire team for such a great start to the season!
Teams Receiving Medals at the December tournament: Varsity Teams: 1st Saya Abney and Brenna Salkin; 2nd Jonah Bennett and Aidan Brown; 6th Ellie Brill and David Hauser; and 12th Ryan Beitzell and David Reingold; Varsity Speakers: 1st Saya Abney; 2nd Aidan Brown; 3rd Brenna Salkin; 4th Ryan Beitzell; 10th Jonah Bennett; and 12th David Hauser; and Junior Varsity Speakers: 8th Maya Moss; and 20th Avi Arora.
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Better Air Bear Joins "No Idling" Campaign
The Better Air Bear and the Burke/Portis class worked last week with Environmental Education Teacher Michelle Griffin to remind carpoolers that High Meadows is a "no idle" zone.
Pictured: Kate Deskey, Sam Vargas-Prada, and Brett Becker
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 2014 Auction Request Planning continues for the High Meadows Auction and Gala on April 26, 2014. Auction Donations Chair Lisa Tilt has already received many great ideas and items for the event. The committee requests - Signed memorabilia (know anyone famous?);
- Donations of airline miles for some great trips in the works; and
- Donations of unique hand-crafted items (by you or others).
Email Lisa with info and ideas! |
Middle Years Student Makes All-State Band
Eighth Grader David Reingold
auditioned for District and All-State Band and made the District V Honor Band.
Seven High Meadows Band members attended Midfest in Athens this weekend, where David was named to the Honor Band. David auditioned with the clarinet, but he also plays the saxophone with the Jazz band (and the guitar at home).
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 Multi-Age Play is coming soon! The HMS Theatre Arts and After-School Enrichment Programs are proud to announce the 2014 Multi-Age Play: The Jungle Book! Students currently in third through fifth grades are eligible to audition. Auditions will be held on January 21-22. View the rehearsal schedule on the Theatre Arts portal for more information. Feel free to contact Shannon Lindsay or Danielle Wright for more information. |
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We Still Need Shoe Donations
High Meadows is supporting "Generation Outreach," which is embarking upon an ambitious program to collect 200,000 pairs of shoes to benefit the homeless community in Atlanta. You can help by donating shoes, new or old, for people of all ages.
The drive will end on December 20. Shoe collection bins are located on the porch of the Community Center. For more information, please contact Susan Brown.
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High Meadows High School?
Is that even possible?
Visit Jay's Meadow Musings Blog to read his recent entry on this topic.
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Winter Concert
December 17
5 p.m.
Community Center
Community Board Meeting
December 17
5:45 p.m.
Community Center
Winter Holiday Break
December 23 - January 3
No School for Students
(teacher work day)
January 6
Classes Resume January 7
Evening with Alumni
January 8
7 p.m.
Community Center
Gazeb0 and Porch Dedication
January 15
8:35 a.m.
Early Years and Elementary Courtyard
Literacy Night (adults only) January 15
Riser Workshops January 22 - 27
40th Anniversary Auction and Gala
April 26
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Link Provides Answers about the Flu
Is it the FLU? Or a FLU like illness? For information regarding FLU symptoms, High Meadows Nurse Ashlyn Montague-Hill suggests this link from Children's Hospital of Atlanta.
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For Push Notifications, Reinstall Phone App
If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest news and information at High Meadows, make certain you have the school's phone app on your Android or iPhone. If you already have the app, please reinstall it so you can be sure to receive push notifications from High Meadows.
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