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The Sometimes Bumpy Road to Success
By Peter Kraft, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs
"There is an important distinction between preparing your child for the road ahead...and preparing the road ahead for your child." As our children head back to school, our attention as parents inevitably turns to some critical questions: Will they be happy? How can we help them be successful? How much do we let them "go it on their own?" The answers are not easy, and they depend as much on the age and individual nature of the child as anything else. Nevertheless, educational researchers increasingly agree on some basic ingredients in helping our children become, in the words of Park Tudor's mission statement, "balanced, confident, and resourceful lifelong learners." Indeed, from Stanford Psychologist Carol Dweck to popular author Daniel Pink to educational leaders Paul Tough and Howard Gardner (all of whom our faculty and staff have read over the past four summers as part of our goal of staying abreast with the most recent thinking in education), an emerging consensus is helping us as parents navigate between the Scylla of over-parenting and the Charybdis of an overly hands-off approach. Read more of Peter's article, including some of the best thinking distilled from these various authors.
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A Word on Wellness: Debunking the Myths of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
By Lisa Mercurio, School Psychologist, Upper School Academic Support Coordinator
Prior to the start of the school year, the faculty participated in professional development designed to be a day of exploration and discussion. The division school psychologists, Lisa Mercurio (Upper School), Phyllis Shea (Middle School) and Lisa Picha (Lower School and Hilbert Center), led an "Exploration Session" on the misconceptions of ADHD. The discussion focused on topics like diagnostic criteria, motivation, communication and supportive instructional strategies for the classroom. Click here to view the presentation. As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's learning, please contact your division school psychologist.
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*Junior Elizabeth Niculescu was involved in groundbreaking new research on biomarkers and apps that can predict the risk of suicide. Conducted by researchers at the IU School of Medicine, the study was published recently in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Click here to read more.
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New Trips for Students - and Adults
Middle School Europe Trip: Mark your calendars for the first Middle School Europe Trip meeting which will take place on Wednesday, September 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the MS Library. The trip, which will take place from June 28-July 8, will include visits to Paris, Normandy, London, Stratford-upon-Avon and Amsterdam. Both parents and students currently in grades seven and eight are invited to attend and find out more about this exciting opportunity! If unable to attend, contact Amy Kerr at [email protected] or 415-2902.
Upper School Trip to the Galapagos Islands: The science department is sponsoring a trip to the Galapagos Islands, a place that all students were introduced to in Bio I because of its many unique species and relevance to the study of evolution. This 12-day trip will involve field work (Galapagos tortoise monitoring and highlands restoration), a cultural exchange with local students, and island exploration (snorkeling and encounters with local wildlife). Students will observe animals found nowhere else on Earth and explore secluded waters, and experience a location that very few get to see.
Dates: 6/4/2016-6/15/2016 Price: $5796 (all airfare included) Spots available: 15 Open to US students currently in grades 9-12
There will be informational meetings about the summer 2016 Galapagos trip on Tuesday, September 1 at the following times:
3:15-3:30 p.m. - Students interested in the trip 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Parents interested in the trip The itinerary and specific details will be given for this once in a lifetime opportunity! Upper School Trip to Cuba: There will be two final Cuba Information meetings
for parents and prospective Upper School travelers: Thursday, August 27 and Monday, August 31 at 6:00 p.m. in US 229. In the interest of time, the non-binding pre-registration form for permission to participate is available online here or from Mrs. Lerch, and should be completed prior to the meetings. Approval from PT is quick and then formal registrations can be done directly with ACIS online prior to the initial deadline of Sept. 1. Registrations will continue to be accepted until Nov. 1, but there is no guarantee that this trip will be still be available due to popularity of travel to Cuba. As Yale University's Educational Tour to Cuba announces, "There is no better time in recent history to meet our neighbor, Cuba. Cuba is a "time-capsule" nation, with charming historic architecture and nostalgic 1950s era automobiles. It is an island like no other and with the recent announcement to normalize relations, many believe that it is only a matter of time before the landscape of Cuba changes forever." Since our initial spring offering of a trip to Cuba, we discovered that student trips to Cuba fill very quickly and unfortunately our original itinerary is no longer available. Thus, we have opted for a Havana-focused trip, tentatively from March 19-27, 2016. There will still be opportunities to venture out into the country and to learn more about Hemingway's connection to Cuba. Click here to view the trip brochure. Any registrations completed before Sept. 1, 2015 will have a savings of $100, and the initial deposit is only $200 versus $495. Contact Kathryn Lerch by phone (415-2880) or email [email protected] for further information. European War History Trip for Adults: In 2013 and 2014, Park Tudor sponsored European War History trips, one trip with students and one with adults and veterans, which went from Normandy to Berlin. Since there has been interest also expressed in adding England and expanding the French portion of the D-Day tour, a special trip has been designed for 22 adults. This trip - which runs from July 4-13, 2016 - welcomes alumni, parents, faculty, the community at large, and class of 2016 graduates to register for the limited number of seats.
This third tour is also organized by Kathryn Lerch, Upper School history teacher and director of the Legacy Initiative Project which publishes the Words of War anthologies. As with earlier trips, there will be a special PT Journal including excepts from the Legacy collection. The itinerary takes travelers from Bletchley Park (Enigma machine decoding center) to the various Imperial War Museum sites in and around London and then to Portsmouth, where a ferry takes the group across to Caen, France. Extra time will be spent in Normandy at Omaha Beach, Pointe-du-Hoc, St. Mere Eglise, Carantan, Arromanches, and Bayeaux and finishes in Paris, plus much more. There will be an informational meeting on Sept. 1, 2015 in US 229 at 6:00 p.m. Registration forms are online at www.ACIS.com; our Group ID is 91527 and Group Leader is Lerch. The deadline for registering with a $100 discount is Oct. 1, 2015, but registrations will continue to be accepted up until Nov. 1, 2015 or until the trip is filled. Contact Kathryn Lerch for more information: [email protected] (415-2880). |
Back-to-School Nights - MS
Back-to-School Night TONIGHT!
Middle School: Thursday, August 27, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Upper School: Thursday, September 3, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Meet your children's teachers and hear from school administrators as we kick off the year!
PTPA Back-to-School Coffee for Middle and Upper School Parents
Thursday, August 27 - THIS MORNING! 7:45-10:00 a.m. Wood Room Pick up your directory, sign up for PTPA volunteer opportunities, and catch up with fellow Middle and Upper School parents over coffee. Pantherpalooza for 8th Graders Sunday, August 30 4:00-6:00 p.m. We invite all 8th graders - current and prospective Park Tudor students - to have some fun while learning a bit about the Upper School. Wear comfortable, casual clothing. Questions? Call Barb Skinner at (317) 415-2776 or email [email protected]. RSVP here by August 27.
Photo Day
Monday, August 31
School pictures for all divisions will be taken on Monday, August 31.
You can simplify the process by pre-ordering picture packages online at mylifetouch.com, using Park Tudor's picture day ID: SB015055Y0. No need to bring an order form or check to school!
Celebration and Dedication of the Debbie Stuart Everett Patio
Friday, September 11
5:30 p.m.
Upper Gym Parking Lot
The new patio space is located between the Upper Gym and the tennis courts.
Please stay after the dedication event to watch the Park Tudor Panthers football team take on Southern Wells at 7:00 p.m. RSVP here.
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* The PTPA Board has approved a $500 ANNUAL gift to the LS library in honor of longtime Lower School Director Debbie Dominguez. Debbie loved reading and supported it in many ways. The PTPA Board felt this was the best way to honor her memory now and into the future.
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A Heads Up from the Nurse's Office
Did you know that back-to-school time is also peak lice season? Every year approximately 6 to 12 million school children are affected with head lice. Although they are often a source of great concern for parents, students, and staff, it is important to remember that head lice are not a health hazard or responsible for the spread of any disease.
The most common symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp. Nits, or the tiny yellow-white lice eggs, are most likely found firmly attached to the hair shaft at the nape of the neck, behind the ears, or within 1 cm of the scalp. Sometimes a live louse may even be seen on the scalp. Head lice are transmitted directly by head to head contact with an infested individual or indirectly by sharing personal belongings such as combs, brushes or hats. Lice cannot hop or fly from one student to another.
Please feel free to contact the School Nurse Office with any questions or concerns. We have included a link to the CDC's Head Lice Fact Sheet for your reference.
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* ScoreZone App: Receive updates on PT athletic results and upcoming competitions by downloading the up-and-running PT ScoreZone app. Search "PT ScoreZone" on the Apple iTunes app store and it will be the first one to come up.
* PT Football Schedule Change: The PT Panthers will play Scecina on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Indianapolis. This Friday, August 28, the Panthers will play Beech Grove away at 7:00 p.m.
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Reminder: Drop-off and Pick-up Locations
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to ensure efficient - and safe - student drop-off and pick-up. Below is a reminder of drop-off and pick-up locations for all divisions:
Drop-off: Determine your location based on your youngest child
Students in JK/SK: Enter through south gate off of College and drop off at Hilbert Center Circle Students in Grades 1-5: (note this is different from pick-up)Enter through south gate off of College and drop off along sidewalk in front of the LS and MS. Please be sure to pull your car to the furthest spot along the curb all the way to the edge of the MS. Students in MS: Enter through north gate off of College and drop your child off at the Fine Arts circle. Students in US: Enter through 71st street gate and drop-off at Upper Gym Pick-up: Determine your location based on your youngest child. If you have multiple children in LS, pick up TIME is based on your oldest child. Times: JK/SK 2:50 Grades 1-2 3:20 Grades 3-5 3:30
Locations: JK/SK: Hilbert Center Circle Grades 1-2: Lower School Grades 3-5: Foster Hall MS: Fine Arts Circle US: Upper Gym
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Senior Photos are Due by November 2
Senior parents: Please submit five photos of your student by November 2. The five suggested images include: - Senior portrait (to be used in the yearbook)
- Baby picture as an infant or toddler (to be used in the yearbook)
- Elementary school-age photo (camp, sport/hobby, etc.; to be used in senior slide show)
- Family photo (to be used in senior slide show)
- Favorite fun high school photo (to be used in senior slide show)
Most students submit a formal senior photo, but a professional portrait is not required. Please upload photos to PT Photos at http://photos.parktudor.org/dropbox Be sure to include your name in the "Note to Site Owner" section so your child may be easily identified. The senior photo storage area is private and cannot seen by the public. Digital images (.jpg or .tiff format) should be at least 300 dpi resolution or higher, at a minimum dimension size of 3" x 3". The photo may be larger in size and either horizontal or vertical. You can also email digital photos (.jpg or .tiff) to Shirley Gaughan ([email protected]). Clearly identified photo prints, digital photos on CDs, flash media or actual photos may be brought to to Mrs. Sharon Riddle in the Upper School. The photos will be scanned and returned to your student.
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PT Photos
Don't forget to check out PT Photos throughout the year for photos of events. You can also follow PT on Facebook and Instagram.
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Park Tudor School Mission
To create an inspiring college-preparatory learning environment, with exceptional educators and extraordinary opportunities, that prepares and motivates students to become balanced, confident, and resourceful lifelong learners.
Editor: Cathy Chapelle '87
Editorial Staff: Emily Groves '93, Cassie Dull
Graphic Design & Layout: Stefanie Dean '05
The deadline for submissions to the Times is Monday at 9 a.m. for publication on Thursday. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication in the same week, but date-sensitive information will receive priority. |
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