The Foote School 
E-News
November 19, 2015
In This Issue
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Conversations About Diversity

 
Dear Parents,
 
An important goal articulated in our Strategic Vision is to nurture relationships with and among diverse families. We would like to learn about your family's experiences with diversity at our school.
 
Kossouth Bradford, our new school counselor, and I will be setting aside time to meet together with parents so that you may share your thoughts and experiences. It is our hope that we can learn from our families and continue to grow and develop in this very important area.  
 
If you are interested in meeting with us, please contact Silvia Gee, Assistant to the Head of School, to set up an appointment, at sgee@footeschool.org.   
 
The available times for half-hour meetings are: 
  • Monday, November 30 (12:00 - 2:15 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, December 2 (12:00 - 4:00 p.m.)
  • Monday, December 7 (8:00 - 9:00 a.m.; 12:00 - 2:15 p.m.)
  • Friday, December 11 (8:00 - 11:00 a.m.)
Thank you!
 CarolM signature
Carol Maoz 
Head of School 
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Thanksgiving Assembly & Early America Day
The Thanksgiving Assembly is next Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 11:30 a.m. in the Hosley Gym. (Please note: the start time listed on the Art Calendar is incorrect.)

The assembly will feature seventh graders performing musical selections and introducing themselves as Early American historical figures, and second graders singing "Over the River and Through the Wood."

Reminder: There is a 12:30 p.m. all-school dismissal.

Please remember assembly dress:
  • Long pants (no jeans, sweatpants or warm-up pants)
  • Dress/skirt of an appropriate length (no shorts, jeans or sweat pants)
  • Collared shirt (button-down, golf or polo)
  • No T-shirts or sweatshirts, no writing on shirts
  • No flip-flops
Book Fair Social Tonight

Book Fair Social
Pizza and Ice Cream
Talk by visiting author/illustrator Elisha Cooper '86

Thursday, Nov. 19
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Hosley Gym and Sandine Theater

Don't forget: Saturday, Nov. 21 is Foote Day at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison. Mention 'Foote' to the cashier and 20 percent of your purchase will benefit the school.
   
Save the Date for Scratch Day - Jan. 23


   
After School Forms & Winter Minicourses

After School Forms

For students in Grades 7-9 who are participating in the After School Program for the winter trimester, please complete and return the After School Enrollment Contract and Dismissal Form to the front desk by Dec. 14.

Minicourses

It's time to sign up for winter minicourses. Courses offered this trimester include "Basket Making," "Baking With Kathy," "Shining Stars," "Minecraft for Beginners," "The Art of Storytelling" and more!

Click here to download course descriptions.

Click here for the enrollment form.
  
This Holiday, Give the Gift of Horizons
Horizons at Foote has beautiful holiday cards that you can use to make a donation in someone's honor. It's a great, easy and meaningful gift.

Each card lets the recipient know that a donation has been made in his or her name to help low-income children in New Haven participate in our six-week summer enrichment program. This is a great way to streamline your holiday giving and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors! The cards don't cost anything other than the donation - and there is no minimum. If you would like some cards, please email Jaime Cole, Executive Director of Horizons at Foote, at jcole@footeschool.org. For more information about Horizons, click here.

Thank you for your consideration and support!
Photo Retake Day


Photo Retake Day
Friday, Nov. 20
8:30  - 10:30 a.m.
Twichell Room

Please note: There is a $10 fee to retake photos. Also you must return the original photo package (you may keep the class photo).

Questions? Contact Sandra Curran at shelena2002@yahoo.com.

Tickets for Winter Plays Now on Sale

Tickets for the winter theater production are now on sale. This year's production will feature three one-act plays in celebration of Foote's Centennial year: A Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov, Sorry, Wrong Number by Lucille Fletcher, and The Diary of Adam and Eve, a musical by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock. 

Performance dates are:

 

Thursday, Dec. 3 - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 4 - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5 - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6 - 1:00 p.m.


All tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the front desk.

EAG Movie Event - Nov. 20

Foote's Environmental Action Group (EAG) is hosting a movie event for all students in grades 4 through 9.

Friday, Nov. 20 at 2:20 p.m. 
Twichell Room 
Pick up at 4:00 p.m.

Monkey Kingdom is a documentary
about a newborn monkey and its mother as they are challenged to survive in a new environment. Rated G. Click here to watch the trailer.

Admission is FREE! Centennial water bottles ($5) and snacks ($.50-1.00) will be available for purchase.


Students are invited to gather as a community to learn more about nature and planet Earth, and support EAG projects and initiatives. 

Winter Sports Information


Winter sports will begin on Monday, Nov. 30. The first day will be a whole group meeting, followed by individual team meetings and uniform hand-out for basketball and squash teams and uniform fitting/ordering for swim team. All teams will begin practices on the court or in the pool on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Click here for each team's game schedule.

Equipment needed:
 
Boys/Girls Basketball: properly fitting sneakers (basketball sneakers preferred for appropriate ankle support), shorts and t-shirt

Reversible practice jerseys will be handed out with uniforms, but if a student would like to order a practice jersey to keep they can bring in $20 and one will be ordered.
 
Squash: non-marking squash sneakers (no black soles), squash racket, protective eye goggles, shorts and t-shirt
 
Swimming: practice swimsuit, competition swimsuit, goggles and towel. Swim cap will be provided. Click here to download the swimsuit order form. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Athletics Director Brad McGuire at bmcguire@footeschool.org or (860) 866-8175.

 MSNewsMIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Reminder: Secondary School Recommendations


Parents of Eighth and Ninth graders:

If your child intends to apply to secondary schools this year, please remember that all recommendation forms must be submitted to the proper teacher and the Registrar's office by Wednesday, Nov. 25. On or before that date, please send an email with the subject line "Schools Applying To" to Liam Considine (lconsidine@footeschool.org) and Erika Villa (evilla@footeschool.org) indicating the final list of schools to which your child will be applying.

  PTCNewsPTC NEWS
PTC Meeting - Dec. 2


PTC December Meeting

Wednesday, Dec. 2 
8:30 a.m.
Sturley Room (under the Library)

All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Questions? Contact PTC co-presidents Rosa Holler and Amy Sudmyer at ptc@footeschool.org.

Support Foote with Amazon Holiday Purchases


Are you planning to do online shopping this holiday season? You can give back to Foote while you shop! Amazon will donate 1 percent of your purchases to the charity of your choice through the Amazon Smile program. Sign up here and choose to support Foote School.

Earn Rewards for Foote at Stop & Shop


THANK YOU to everyone participating in Stop & Shop's A+ School Rewards program this year. During the first month of this program for 2015-16, Foote earned $697.26. Not sure if you are participating? Check your Stop & Shop receipt (see picture). You should see a summary of "School Rewards" points. If you don't see this summary, please click here to register your card to earn points for the Foote School. (Registration is easy - all you need is your card # and the first three letters of your last name.) And remember to always use your S&S card when shopping, as this is how Foote earns points. 
 
Also, please consider buying and using the Stop & Shop "Cash for Causes"  gift cards for all of your shopping at Stop & Shop. You get the full value of the $100 gift card, while Foote receives 5 percent. Gift cards are always available at the front desk and will also be sold at the Thanksgiving Assembly next week.

DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
Balancing 'Crayfish' and the Scientific Process

 
This week, Hilary Pearson's first grade class kicked off their Balance and Motion unit with an inquiry-based activity about balance. The children were faced with the task of trying to balance a "crayfish" made out of tagboard on the tip of their fingers. After some trying, they all managed to do so when the shape was positioned flat. They were then challenged with trying to do so when the creature was faced nose down. After about two minutes, Hilary gave each child two clothes pins and put them to work again. Eventually, one child figured it out, and word spread as to where to place the clips.
 
So goes the process of scientific inquiry. The children are learning to develop their ability to ask and answer questions, plan and conduct investigations, use tools to gather data, use data to explain their theories, and communicate their findings with their peers. We encourage the kids to explore and investigate materials, develop persistence in tackling problems, solve problems through trial and error and experience curiosity.

Find more photos on Hilary Pearson's blog.

 
Filling Food Pantry Shelves for Thanksgiving
Thanks to all Foote families for remembering our neighbors in need and making this year's Thanksgiving Food Drive a big success! On Wednesday, sixth graders delivered a van load of canned goods (and cash for turkeys) to St. Ann's Soup Kitchen in Hamden. Each grade was responsible for collecting a certain item with a goal of filling 200 bags with fixings for Thanksgiving dinner that St. Ann's guests can take home. A group of students spent their lunch and recess stocking the soup kitchen's pantry shelves until they were completely full. The sixth grade will reveal the final tally of items collected at next week's Thanksgiving assembly.

Before
 
After

From the Faculty Blogs

Kim Yap's first graders planted a classroom garden this year, and just harvested the lettuce for a community salad with their buddies (pictured).

Jake Burt's fifth graders learned about photosynthesis with the help of some sweet treats.


Head of Lower School Beth Mello links to a helpful resource for talking to children about tragic events.

To read more, check out the Lower School blogs and Middle School blogs.
DatesDates to Remember

Nov. 19 - Book Fair Author Talk and Ice Cream Social. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the Gym/Theater. 

Nov. 25 - Seventh Grade Early America Day. Reception for seventh grade students and parents in the Library at 10:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Assembly: 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. dismissal)

Nov. 26-29 - Thanksgiving Recess - NO SCHOOL

Dec. 2 - PTC Meeting - 8:30 a.m. in Sturley Room

Dec. 3-6 - Theater Production: A Centennial Celebration of One-Act Plays