The Foote School 
E-News
May 22, 2014
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Details About May Day



While a final decision has not been made yet, based on the latest reports it seems likely that this year's May Day festivities will be held in the Hosley Gymnasium tomorrow,  May 23. 

 

To ensure all goes as smoothly as possible, we are asking parents to gather in the gym lobby until we are able to open the doors, to allow teachers the time and space to get the children settled into their spots in the gym. 

 

May Day will begin at 11 a.m. For dress guidelines, see last week's Parent E-News. We are grateful to all Foote parents for helping to ensure a successful May Day in spite of the weather! 

 

An important parking reminder: please do not block neighbors' driveways on Loomis Place, and please be sure not to park in designated handicapped spots or near the fire hydrant. Thank you! 

 

(In case of rain, the PTC's May Day picnic will be held in the gym, with pizza, wraps, chips, cookies, drinks and ice cream for sale in the theater.)  
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
After May Day, Stay for the Picnic


Appreciation Dinner for ASP Staff - May 28


After School Program Appreciation Dinner
May 28 at 5:30 p.m
Sturley Room

Parents who use the ASP are asked to contribute desserts. Drop them off anytime on the 28th in the main office.

Questions? Please contact ptc@footeschool.org.

Important Forms Due May 30

An envelope from Foote containing important forms for the 2014-15 school year was mailed to families recently. Please note: The emergency consent form and gray card are due Fri., May 30. Extra forms are available on the Parents page of our website and at the front desk. Thank you!
  PTCNewsPTC NEWS
Summer Book Fair - June 2 & 3 in the Library

Parent volunteers are needed for set-up, bookselling and breakdown at the Summer Book Fair. Click here to sign up for a shift.

Mabel's Labels Fundraiser Extended

The PTC has extended the Mabel's Labels fundraiser through the summer. The labels are a great way to keep track of your children's belongings and are perfect for summer camp season! Parents must purchase labels through this website. Labels are shipped directly to your home and Foote receives 20 percent of all purchases.
DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
Students Win Honors At Model Congress Event

Students in Foote's Model Congress participated in a long and engaging day of legislating at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 17. Joining students from several area schools, the Foote delegation presented 16 bills, on topics ranging from lifting term limits on the presidency to limiting "stand your ground" laws. Seven of those were debated in full session and five of them passed!

Four Foote students won "Golden Gavel" honors for best legislator on their committees, while six Foote students received honorable mentions. Faculty advisor Liam Considine says every student who participated came home a winner.

 

"Many students overcame fear of public speaking. Other students learned the value of honoring a commitment in the face of nerves or busy schedules," Mr. Considine says. "All enjoyed bonding with interesting and engaging people their age from other schools." Read more on our website.

"America the Beautiful," Illustrated

Art teacher Jennifer Youngblood cut up the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" and asked each fourth grader to pick a line from a hat and illustrate it. The result is a patriotic, lyrical mosaic, now on display in the main hallway. Find more photos on our Facebook page.
Two Ninth Graders Lead Collection for Refugees

While their classmates were in China, ninth graders Tommy Craft and Thor Illick spent part of March break volunteering at New Haven's Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS). The boys learned a great deal from working alongside newly arrived New Haveners and from the organization's staff. Afterward, Tommy and Thor asked IRIS how Foote could help refugees settle into their new lives here. Staff at IRIS said their clients frequently lack basic toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant. Tommy and Thor spearheaded a school collection drive that amassed a mountain of the supplies they will deliver to IRIS next week. Grades 4 through 9 donated items to the drive. Thanks to every family who helped make the effort a success!
Spirits Run High at Yearbook Assembly

Wednesday was the annual Yearbook Assembly, when students receive their copies of Foote Steps and learn who won Field Day. You could have heard a pin drop in Hosley Gymnasium when Athletic Director Brad McGuire reached into the Maroon and Gray Cup to reveal the winning team's flag. When he pulled out the Gray, the gym erupted in celebratory cheers. Afterward, Mrs. Maoz called up students to receive their yearbooks and the big signing party began. This year, Foote Steps is dedicated to retiring third grade teacher Debbie Rhoads and longtime Spanish teacher Gail Mirza. Making the assembly more festive, the Jazz Rock Band played a rocking rendition of "House of the Rising Sun." Find more photos on our Facebook page.



Foote Singers Debut 'Chorus Cabaret'

Foote's Chorus organized an informal singing cabaret on Tues., May 20, decorating their rehearsal room with flowers, tables, and mood lighting, while transforming a wall with curtains and yards of felt to create a theater backdrop. A variety of auditioned performers sang for their fellow chorus members and friends, both in small groups and as soloists, while the attentive audience sipped lemonade, consulted the carefully typed programs, and munched on special refreshments. Lively interpretations of popular songs, from Pharrell Williams' "Happy" to Cole Porter's "You're the Top," were received with great enthusiasm. People entered the room to the sound of Jaden Stone gently playing Edvard Grieg's "Morning" on piano. Former Chorus head and current high school student Rob Williams took everyone by surprise when he suddenly appeared and gave a dramatic rendition of one of his favorite songs from the musical "Godspell." It was so much fun that there was unanimous agreement among students that the Chorus Cabaret should become an annual tradition!
MAG Classes Host 'Africa Open House'

Mixed Age Group students in Emily Buckley, Kim Yap and Cara Given's classrooms invited parents last week to see everything they have made and learned about Africa this year. Students showed off their creation tales, their mini-Masai village, African masks, Senufo pillows, projects on the cheetah, the leopard and the gorilla, and a life-size giraffe! Find more photos on our Facebook page.
 
From the Faculty Blogs

Emily Buckley's MAG students are learning about parts of soil and testing what they know by investigating a "mystery mixture."

Fifth graders took a field trip to the Slater Museum in Norwich (pictured), and Adam Solomon posted a photo gallery.

Librarian Jennifer Friedman blogs about the books Foote students voted for to win the Nutmeg Award, Bank Street Book Award and Cook Prize.

Head of Middle School John Turner  recommends a few more "books worth reading" and reflects on the little things we can do to guide and support students' development.

To read more, check out the Lower School blogs and Middle School blogs.  
DatesDates to Remember
May 23 - May Day - All School Dismissal 12:30 p.m.  (After School Program available)
May 23 - May Day Picnic
May 26 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL - No Vacation Program
June 5 - Last day of After School Program
June 6 - Last day of of K-5. All School Dismissal 12:30 p.m.