The Foote School 
E-News
October 9, 2014
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Grandparents Day is Tomorrow


GRANDPARENTS DAY is tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10. We look forward to welcoming more than 400 grandparents and special friends to campus.

ASSEMBLY DRESS
Students are reminded to wear assembly dress, to ensure everyone looks his or her best.

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.


SCHEDULE
  • 8:30-9:00 - Registration and refreshments in the Hosley Gym
  • 9:00-9:15 - Welcome from Carol Maoz, Head of School
  • 9:15-10:20 - Visit grandchild's/special friend's classes
  • 10:20-10:45 - Refreshments in the Hosley Gym and Perrine Library
  • 10:50-11:30 - Choice of mincourses or school tours, or shop at the school store
  • 11:40-12:30 - All School Assembly in the Hosley Gym
  • 12:30 - Dismissal

PARKING
Visitor parking will be available in the Canner Street parking lot, in the Highland Street lot next to Rike Field or along the street on Loomis Place. Volunteers will be stationed at each location to show grandparents to the Hosley Gym for registration.  

 

We are asking that parents (other than volunteers) refrain from visiting campus tomorrow to ensure that parking is available for all who need it. Thank you!
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
School Store Open for Grandparents Day



The Foote School Store will be open in the Hosley Gym for Grandparents Day. Grandparents are encouraged to stop by and check out the great Foote apparel, stuffed Falcos and other items for sale there. All purchases directly benefit the children by funding field trips, the summer read-a-loud program and campus improvements such as the new Lower School playground.

Fall Weekend Reminder


School is closed on Monday, Oct. 13 for Fall Weekend. No Vacation Program is available. Have a wonderful extended weekend!

Sign Up for Fall Minicourses


Fall Minicourses in the After School Program begin Oct. 14. Among this year's offerings are Knitting, Exploratory Art, Little Scientists, Math Enrichment and Bricks 4 Kids (a hands-on class where students build machines and structures from LEGO Bricks.)

PLEASE NOTE: BAKING IS FULL.

Click  here to download the course descriptions.

Click here to download the enrollment form.

The forms can also be found on our website.

Questions? Contact Dawn Walsh (dwalsh@footeschool.org) or Bill Manke (bmanke@footeschool.org) in the After School Program.

Admissions Update

Foote is holding two open houses this year - Saturday, Nov. 1 for Lower School, and Sunday, Nov. 2 for Middle School - and Parent Tours for prospective families are scheduled through January.

If you know parents who might be interested in Foote, please share this information with them and direct them to the Visit Foote page of our website.

Applications can now be completed online. Click here to access our secure parent application portal.






Siblings Applying to Foote

If you have another child who is applying to Foote, we welcome applications now. Visit the Admissions Process page  to review the process.

Questions? Contact Director of Admissions and Outreach Rachelle Byron at rbyron@footeschool.org.

Yearbook Cover Contest - Deadline Approaching!


Calling all artists!

This year, the Foote Steps staff is holding a yearbook cover contest open to all students! Students can design what they think is amazing about school, incorporating this year's theme, "Soaring to Success."

All entries are due at the front desk by Wed., Oct. 15.

Click here for contest information.

Questions? Contact Foote Steps advisors Amy Caplan (acaplan@footeschool.org), Danielle Plante (dplante@footeschool.org) or Joe LaMacchia (jlamacchia@footeschool.org).


   MSNewsMIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
9th Grade China Trip

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's Yali visit a big success, and for making our Chinese guests feel so welcome!

A reminder to ninth grade families that next Thursday, Oct. 16, is the deadline for declaring whether your son or daughter plans to join the trip to China in March.

Click here to download the Declaration of Participation form and instructions.

If you are having trouble reaching a decision or obtaining a passport in time, please contact Debra Riding immediately at driding@footeschool.org.
 
6th Grade Bear Mountain Trip


Sixth graders will hike Bear Mountain, Connecticut's highest peak, next Friday, Oct. 17. An email went to sixth grade parents today with details about the trip and a checklist of what students should bring.

 
   LSNewsLOWER SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Reminder: Kindergarten Parent Meeting - Oct. 15


Kindergarten parents are invited to hear about changes coming to the Mixed Age Group structure next year.

Wednesday, Oct. 15
8:30 a.m. in the Sturley Room

RSVP to Registrar Erika Villa at evilla@footeschool.org, or 203-777-3464 ext.208.

The meeting will be combined with the monthly PTC meeting, another opportunity for parents to learn more about parent/school connections. 
 PTCNewsPTC NEWS
October PTC Meeting 
 
Parent Teacher Council Meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 15
8:30 a.m. in the Sturley Room

All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Questions? Contact PTC Co-Presidents Christina Herrick or Rosa Holler at ptc@footeschool.org.

Details on School Photo Day

School Photo Day

Monday, Oct. 20

 

All Foote students will have their photos taken on campus on

Mon., Oct. 20 (the date has changed). Class photos will also be taken at this time.

  • This is also a PTC fundraiser event. If you would like to order a photo package, please complete the "order envelope" that went home on Parents Night inside the School Directory. A copy of the order form is also available by clicking here.

  • Please enclose the exact amount for the photo package you are ordering - cash or a check made out to "Coffee Pond Photography". If ordering for more than one child, fill out an order form and submit payment separately for each.


  • You can order online anytime before Photo Day (Oct. 20) at www.coffeepond.com. Return the envelope and check off the "Ordered Online" box.


  • For Lower School students, please return your envelope to your child's teacher on or before Oct 20. For Middle School students, there will be a pocket on the PTC bulletin board for completed envelopes, or you may deliver the envelope to your child's teacher by Oct 20.

  • Online orders may be placed after Photo Day, but are subject to a handling fee.

Questions? Contact Photo Day coordinator Sandra Curran at shelena2002@yahoo.com, or 203-907-6045.

Earn Rewards for Foote

Parents can now earn rewards for Foote with purchases made at ShopRite stores. If you have a ShopRite grocery card, click here to sign up on the "ShopRite for Education" website. Enter the 12-digit number on your ShopRite card. When you get to the School Selection field, enter 50051 as Foote's five-digit school code. At the end of the year, participating schools will receive supplies based on the amount spent. Thanks for your support!
 
DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
 Exploring Early America at Plimoth Plantation

Seventh graders traveled back in time this week to Plimoth Plantation, a historical site in Plymouth, Mass., that recreates life as the Pilgrims lived it in 1627. The field trip kicks off the study of early American history in humanities class, which culminates with Early America Day on the day before Thanksgiving. At Plimoth, seventh graders toured the Mayflower II (a replica of the original ship), wandered through a recreated English village (where they met Pilgrims in character) and visited a Wampanoag site (where they learned how succotash is made).


A Moving Dedication to a Teacher and Friend


Third grade teacher Debbie Rhoads retired from a 10-year career at Foote School last year, but she returned this fall to cover a maternity leave for teacher Ashley Schnabel, who is making the move from fourth grade to third this year. With Ashley returning next week, Debbie now officially departs Foote for her next adventure. On Wednesday, faculty and staff gathered on the new Lower School playground to dedicate a "friendship bench" in honor of Debbie for her deep commitment to Foote students and their families over many years.

The bench bears a plaque that reads, "In honor of Debbie Rhoads. Forever a teacher, colleague, friend." Debbie thanked her colleagues for the moving tribute and said the fact that her "long farewell" is ending is finally sinking in. "This week it really hit me. How blessed I am at Foote to know all of you," Debbie said. "I will cherish the friendships and time spent with the kiddos and this bench is a very special memento to me."
From the Faculty Blogs

Kindergartners went on their first field trip - to Hickory Hill Orchards in Cheshire (pictured). Jess McKinney, Tricia Simon and Alexandra Wittner have recaps.

In MAG: Emily Buckley's class practiced cartography atop East Rock. A monarch butterfly hatched in Sue Delaney's class and was set free in Foote's butterfly garden. And Margy Lamere's class brought nouns to meeting.

Curriculum Coordinator Lauren Goldberg considers what budding writers can learn from the literary greats.

Head of Middle School John Turner blogs about the difference small-group learning makes at Foote.

To read more, check out the Lower School blogs and Middle School blogs.  
DatesDates to Remember
Oct. 10 - Grandparents Day - All School Dismissal 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 - School Photo Day
Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade & Fair
Nov. 6-7 - ERB Testing (Grades 5 - 8) - All School Dismissal 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 6-7 - Middle School and Lower School Conferences (by appt)