The Foote School 
E-News
November 21, 2013
In This Issue
Quick Links
Award-Winning Illustrator a Huge Hit at Book Fair

Award-winning author and illustrator Christopher Myers is the featured guest at this year's Book Fair, and spent a packed day speaking to Foote and New Haven public school students today. The high-energy and hilarious author had his audiences in stitches as he talked about stereotypes, misguided media portrayals and his life as a professional writer. He spent the morning at Mauro-Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School speaking to third, fourth and eighth graders, all of whom received a copy of his bestselling book, "H.O.R.S.E.," courtesy of the Foote PTC. At Foote, the author encouraged students in grades 4-9 to pursue writing, saying everyone has a story to tell. "I want you to think of yourselves as writers who will be my competition," Christopher said. "Mind you, I'm gonna beat you." Don't miss Christopher at tonight's ice cream social, sponsored by the PTC, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Hosley Gym.
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Thanksgiving/Early America Assembly

The Thanksgiving and Early America Assembly takes place Wed., Nov. 27, at 11:30 a.m. in the Hosley Gym. As tradition holds, seventh graders will share musical selections and give oral presentations as the early Americans they have been studying. And as always, MAG students will be singing "Over the River."

To ensure everyone looks his or her best, parents and students are asked to follow assembly dress guidelines:

Boys: Long pants (no jeans, sweatpants or warm-up pants). Collared shirt (button-down, golf or polo). Shirts may be long or short sleeved. (No T-shirts or sweatshirts, no writing on shirts.) Closed shoes (no flip-flops).

 

Girls: Pants or dress/skirt of an appropriate length (no shorts, jeans or sweat pants). Appropriate top (no spaghetti straps, T-shirts or sweatshirts; no writing on shirts.) No flip-flops.

 

Assembly dress guidelines may also be found here and in the Parents Handbook.  

Save the Date: MOSAIC Talk on India and Pakistan   

MOSIAC will present two speaker events this school year focused on diversity and cultural understanding. The first talk will be Jan. 16, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., in the Perrine Library and is titled "Divided Homelands, Unfriendly Homes: The Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947." Please save the date for what promises to be a very enlightening evening. A second talk will take place next spring.

About the speakers:

Dr. Fasih Q. Zaman, the grandfather of three Foote students, was only 7 years old when India and Pakistan underwent a partition that left people on both sides with difficult choices to make. His family left its home in Jalandhar, India and made the journey to Pakistan to be in the relative safety of the religious Muslim majority. He will retell the incredible story of a family's struggle to leave the life they knew for an unfamiliar life in a brand new country.

Steven Wilkinson is the Nilekani Professor of India and South Asian Studies, and Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Yale and father of two Foote students. His research looks at the causes of ethnic violence and peace in India and elsewhere. He will provide a historical perspective on the politics and environment leading up to, and during, partition.

Click here for more information about MOSAIC (Multicultural, Open Minded, Supportive, Accepting, Inclusive Community)
Annual Fund Update  

AF logo Foote's Annual Fund is off to a great start with over $30,000 (a record!) raised last Tuesday evening during the parent calling night. Many thanks to the Class Captains and Board members who volunteered their time to make calls, and to those of you who have already generously donated. 
 
We're still aiming to exceed 90 percent parent participation and again have a $20,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor, if we meet this goal. To sustain Foote's comprehensive and imaginative curriculum and engaging learning environment, please support the Annual Fund now by clicking here.

Together, we can help Foote continue to be the special place it is. 
 
Glenn Levin
Chair, Annual Fund
Foote School Board of Directors
Admissions News: Siblings Applying to Foote 

If you have a child applying to Foote, please send in your application. As a reminder, if your child is applying to Kindergarten, s/he must be 5 years old by September 30, 2014.

Visit the Admissions page of our website to review the process and download forms. Questions? Contact Director of Admissions and Outreach Rachelle Byron at rbyron@footeschool.org. 

MSNewsMIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Please Fill Out These Important Forms - Grades 7-9  

Parents of seventh, eighth and ninth graders: If your child plans to participate in the Winter Session After School Program, please fill out and return the enrollment contract (download here). Please also fill out and return the Winter Dismissal Form (download here).

Both forms are due by Dec. 5 and may be dropped off at the Front Desk.

Thank you! 
PTCNewsPTC NEWS
Find Your Lost Items

The lost and found bins are overflowing with sweatshirts, hats, gloves and jackets. Please collect items that belong to you before or after the Thanksgiving Assembly next Wed., Nov. 27. Remaining items will be donated to a local nonprofit. Thank you.
Foote Day at R.J. Julia 

The Book Fair is almost over but there's one more opportunity to support Foote with your literary purchases. This Saturday, Nov. 23, is Foote Day at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison. Mention Foote at check-out, and 20 percent of your purchase (books, cards, gifts, etc.) will benefit the school.
 
DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
Former Foote Teacher Talks About Homelessness  

Betsy Branch, a former MAG associate at Foote, came back to campus last Friday to speak to eighth graders about the work she does assisting the homeless. Betsy is a senior patient navigator at Columbus House in New Haven. She discussed the most common causes of homelessness - addiction, trauma and mental illness - and asked students to imagine what they would do if they found themselves penniless and alone in a strange city. "All of you in this room have someone in this world that you could rely on," Betsy said, but people who become homeless often do not. "Some people work really, really hard but don't make a lot of money. They have enough to get by, but then their car breaks down." After her talk, Betsy accepted a check for $1,100 from eighth graders, which represented a portion of the proceeds from this year's Halloween Fair. "I can't tell you how much this means to us," Betsy told students. Betsy, in turn, gave eighth graders a certificate of appreciation signed by Columbus House executive director Alison Cunningham. "You guys are doing a big thing that really, really matters," Betsy said, "and people at the top are taking notice."
Foote Fills Empty Shelves at St. Ann's Soup Kitchen

The Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Ann's soup kitchen in Hamden was a big success. Families donated a total of 1,138 canned goods - yams, green beans, stuffing, potatoes and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal. We also raised $182 for St. Ann's, enough to buy nine turkeys for needy families. Sixth graders organized the food drive and coordinated the loading and delivery of the food on Wednesday. On the bus ride home, one student said to classmates, "Raise your hand if you feel really good right now." Every hand went up. Check out these before and after photos of St. Ann's shelves to see the impact Foote made this year.

Before


After

From the Faculty Blogs

Kim Yap's MAG students are learning about different cultures and produced an audio slideshow to answer the question: What is a community?

Margy Lamere's MAG class had a close encounter with a real live hawk. Perfect for their bird studies!

Amanda Diffley's third graders went on an "archaeological dig" in the Twichell Room as part of their Early America unit.

Adam Solomon's fifth graders imagined future National Geographic covers (pictured) with fictional animals discovered in the Foote woods. Among them: the Firplederk, the Scumplix, the Zinkospiker and the Flying Bizzard (a sharp-toothed omnivore whose only predator is Mr. Solomon).

As the holidays approach, Head of Middle School John Turner reflects on the many ways students are raising money to help those who are less fortunate.

To read more, check out the Lower School blogs and Middle School blogs.  
DatesDates to Remember
Nov. 21 - Book Fair Ice Cream Social, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving Assembly, 11:30 a.m., All School Dismissal 12:30 - No After School Program
Nov. 27 - Young Alums Day, 10:15 a.m.
Nov. 28-29 - Thanksgiving Recess
Dec. 3 - Photo Retake Day
Dec. 5-8 - Theater Production: "Treasure Island" - Tickets available at the Front Desk, $10