The Foote School 
E-News
May 1, 2014
In This Issue
Quick Links
Field Day Schedule



Parents are invited to Field Day, a beloved Foote tradition, on Wed., May 7 beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Click here for the schedule of events.

Click here for a map and seating chart.
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Sixth Graders Seeking Medical Professionals for Science Project
Sixth graders are looking for medical professionals they can interview for a science project about body systems.

If you or someone you know would be willing to help, please click here to add the person's name and specialty to a Google Doc.

If you have any questions, please contact Kim Birge-Liberman at kbirgeliberman@footeschool.org. Thank you! 
Donate Toiletries to Refugees in Need


The Community Service Club is sponsoring a spring drive to collect personal hygiene items for clients of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS).

Two ninth graders - Tommy Craft and Thor Illick - spent two weeks volunteering with IRIS in March, and recognized the need for basic supplies to help refugees establish themselves in local apartments and build their lives. The drive will last from May 1-16. Students in grades 4 through 9 are asked to help by contributing at least one of the items listed below - and more if possible.  Collection boxes will be placed around campus. Our goal is to prepare at least 50 parcels that IRIS will be able to share with those in need. Thank you!

4th - Toothbrushes
5th - Toothpaste
6th - Shampoo
7th - Deodorant
8th - Soap
9th - Disposable Razors
Reminder: No Sports on May 6 & 7


There will be no sports games or practices on Tues., May 6, due to an all-school faculty meeting, or Wed., May 7 due to Field Day. After School Program will be available both days.

  Order Your May Day Video Now

 You can download the form pictured below from our homepage.
 MSNewsMIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Rising Ninth Grade Parent Meeting - May 12

There will be a meeting for parents of rising ninth graders on Mon., May 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Perrine Library. The meeting is a chance to socialize with other parents and hear about the special opportunities and rewarding challenges that await students. RSVP to Registrar Erika Villa at evilla@footeschool.org, or 203-777-3464 ext. 208.
  PTCNewsPTC NEWS
Fundraising Auction: Raising Bucks and
Sharing Yuks

Thanks to everyone who made Laughs on Loomis, our annual fundraising auction, a huge success! It was a wonderful evening and raised needed funds to support our children's education. Special thanks to the auction committee, PTC co-presidents Christina Herrick and Jaime Cole, and Erik Dobratz, who served as emcee and auctioneer. Find more photos on our Facebook page.


PTC/Foote School Association Annual Meeting


PTC/Foote School Association Annual Meeting
Wed., May 14 - 7:00 p.m.
Sandine Theater
with a special performance by
the Haven String Quartet
  • Wine and cheese social with light hors d'oeuvres and desserts
  • Reports from Head of School Carol Maoz, Foote School Association President Richard Bershtein and PTC Co-Presidents Jaime Cole and Christina Herrick
  •  Election of new board members
  • Musical performance by the Haven String Quartet featuring Foote parent Yaira Matyakubova. The Quartet will perform a variety of music, from classical to tango.

Please join us for this very special evening! 

Volunteers Needed for Spring Tag Sale

The Nearly New Sale is a big, fun event and volunteers are needed to set up, organize items, price and tag items, and work the sale. Please sign up to volunteer for a shift by clicking here. Childcare will be provided by the After School Program staff.

DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
Sixth Graders Shine at Festival of the World

On the first day of school, sixth graders spin a globe and randomly point to a country. They spend the next seven months researching that country in-depth while learning a host of songs, dances and games from cultures around the world to perform at the annual Festival of the World. Sixth graders showed off what they've learned on April 24 with a research fair, and a performance of international music, poetry and dance. Students dressed in culturally appropriate costumes and the Hosley Gym was decorated with students' hand-drawn maps of the world, travel posters made in the computer lab and Oaxacan-inspired paintings made in art class. Each student learned a greeting in their country's official language and presented a range of fascinating facts, statistics and biographies to parents and students who visited their displays. Click below to watch a video compilation of the performances, and find a lot more photos on our website.
Foote School Festival of the World 2014
Foote School Festival of the World 2014


Foote Alum Tells Whale Tales
at Earth Day Assembly

Foote alum Ari Friedlaender '89 has spent years studying whales so he can help protect them. As a marine biologist at Oregon State University, he travels the world's oceans tagging whales so scientists can learn more about their behavior and protect them from fishing nets, ships and other hazards. Ari spent the day at Foote on April 29 speaking to classes and an all-school Earth Day assembly. Ari talked about his work studying baleen whales like the humpback and minke, and showed 3-D simulations of the whales' journeys that were reconstructed from the data collected by the tags. At the assembly, student members of the Environmental Action Group presented Ari with Foote's Environmental Stewardship Award for his contributions to marine ecology and conservation. Ari thanked students and credited Foote for nurturing his passion for wildlife and the environment. "At Foote, I learned how to study nature right outside my door," Ari told students. "I learned we must protect and conserve what we value, and respect animals and nature." Click below to watch video of Ari tagging whales. Find more photos on our Facebook page.
Whale Tagging: Marine Biologist Ari Friedlaender Tags Whales for Science!
Whale Tagging: Marine Biologist Ari Friedlaender Tags Whales for Science!

 
Eighth Graders Hear From Holocaust Survivors

Eighth graders are studying World War II and recently welcomed visitors who brought that chapter of world history vividly to life.

On April 25, three speakers connected to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale spoke to students about their efforts to document the stories of Holocaust survivors. The project was cofounded by the late Laurel Vlock (grandmother to Foote eighth grader Mira Arbonies) in 1979 and has recorded more than 4,500 personal testimonies since then. Laurel's husband Jim and daughter Sandra joined Joanne Rudof, who heads the archive at Yale, to show videos and speak to students about interview techniques. For English class, eighth graders are interviewing people about their memories of living through World War II.

On April 30, eighth graders welcomed Fernande Keufgens Davis, a 90-year-old woman who joined the Belgian Resistance during WWII. Fernande told the harrowing story of how, at age 16, she escaped the Germans' attempts to conscript her into service as a translator, and later working in a Nazi munitions factory. Determined not to aid the enemy, Fernande jumped from a moving train, secured a false identity and joined the resistance movement. She also spoke about unknowingly walking through a minefield and about the role that faith played in her ordeal.
Celebrating the 50 States, And Then Some
Each fourth grader spent the month of April researching a state, and students showed off their work at the annual 50 States Fair this week. Students dressed in costumes that represented their states; made posters using classic "wish you were here" Americana lettering; built a 3-D map of their state in a box recycled from the ninth grade play; and created a board game, chart or triorama representing their state's tourism and economy. Additionally, students wrote letters to President Obama arguing why their state was the most important and shouldn't be kicked out of the union! This year's fourth grade has 52 students, so Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. were thrown into the mix to accommodate everyone. "The goal of the project is to find out what makes a state unique," said fourth grade teacher Ashley Schnabel. For more pictures, check the photo gallery page on our website next week.
 
From the Faculty Blogs

Kindergartners in Katy Botta's class are hatching chicks, and Associate Lynne Banta set up a live "egg cam" you can watch from anywhere. (Pictured)

Mixed Age Group classes welcomed an amazing storyteller this week, and Emily Buckley, Margy Lamere, Sue Delaney and Cara Hames have pictures.

Head of Middle School John Turner blogs about the "good busy" that characterizes the month of May at Foote.

What does it take to succeed in math? Curriculum Coordinator Lauren Goldberg looks at how students answered that question on a recent survey.

To read more, check out the Lower School blogs and Middle School blogs.  
DatesDates to Remember
May 7 - Field Day
May 14 - PTC/Foote School Association Annual Meeting
May 23 - May Day - All School Dismissal 12:30 p.m.
May 26 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL - No Vacation Program