The Foote School 
E-News
December 1, 2016
In This Issue
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Foote Theater Presents:
"Telling Tales: Three One-Act Comedies" 



The winter theater production "Telling Tales" debuts tonight and runs through Sunday in the Sandine Theater. (Note: The Friday performance is sold out.) This year, seventh and eighth graders are performing three one-act comedies: The Ugly Duckling by A.A. Milne, The Flying Doctor by Moliere and The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang. Click here to read more about the plays.

Performance dates:
Thursday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2 - 7:00 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, Dec. 3 - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 - 1:00 p.m.

All tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the front desk.
AllSchoolNewsALL SCHOOL NEWS AND INFORMATION
Dress Policy for Cold Weather

  
Parents are reminded that during the months of December, January and February, students may not wear shorts except during athletic events. All students should wear appropriate clothing for playing outside in the winter months, and the school will restrict outdoor activities for students who are not suitably dressed on extremely cold days.

More information on winter dress policy can be found on page 12 of the Parent Handbook. 
   
'Whistling Vivaldi' Book Discussion - Dec. 7
 
Over the summer, the entire Foote faculty and staff read Whistling Vivaldi by social psychologist Claude Steele as professional development. Faculty and staff are using the book this year in our ongoing efforts to achieve an inclusive, supportive, nurturing environment for children, families and teachers. (Read more about our efforts on our Curriculum Conversations blog).
 
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, we will host a diversity and book discussion following the PTC meeting in the Sturley Room. All parents are welcome. Curriculum Coordinator Lauren Goldberg, School Counselor Kossouth Bradford and Head of Lower School Beth Mello will facilitate the discussion. Please do not feel you need to read the book in its entirety to participate. Should you wish to read the book, several copies are available for checkout in the Perrine Library.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Raises Over $1,000


The Student Council has finished counting the money collected for UNICEF on Halloween and the total is ....$1,281.39! Funds raised for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fund vital programs that support children in need.

$5 can provide 13 children with the measles vaccine.

$15 can provide a child with clean, safe water for one year.

$50 can provide 35 malnourished children with lifesaving nutrition for one day.

$165 can provide a bicycle to deliver medicine to children.

A huge thanks to Foote families for your support of this important cause!

  PTCNewsPTC NEWS
PTC Monthly Meeting - Dec. 7


PTC Monthly Meeting 
Wednesday, Dec. 7 
8:30 a.m. - Sturley Room

All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend and join in planning fun activities that support our school.

The meeting will begin with a brief special meeting of the Foote School Association to elect members of the Association Nominating Committee (all parents and guardians of children enrolled at Foote are members of the Foote School Association.)

The book talk on Whistling Vivaldi will follow the brief PTC meeting.

Questions? Contact PTC co-presidents Amy Sudmyer or Melissa Castleman at ptc@footeschool.org. 


Thanks for a Fantastic Book Fair!



On behalf of the PTC, we want to thank the Foote community for supporting the annual Book Fair. Thanks to our parent volunteers, to everyone who purchased books and to families who came to hear singer and storyteller Bill Harley at the ice cream social. Twenty percent of all purchases go directly to support programs at Foote that enrich our children's experience. Thanks also to parents for sharing the love of reading by purchasing books for the Horizons at Foote summer program, Read to Grow and Teacher Wish Lists. 

Amy Sudmyer and Melissa Castleman
PTC Co-Presidents

DayInLifeA DAY IN THE LIFE OF FOOTE
Close-Up:
Wind Power Lights Up 7th Grade Science

 


The excitement, discovery, and ownership of knowledge in Tim Blauvelt's science classroom are contagious and all-consuming. As they learn about weather systems and alternative energy, teams of seventh graders bend over wind turbine kits with screwdrivers and volt meters, carefully adjusting blades and measuring results. Tim stands with a pair of students as they consider their readings. "The number keeps changing," one girl comments. "What might be causing that?" Tim asks her. Side by side, they consider each element of the design, until the student is able to explain why the fan was producing a variation in airflow. Tim points to her head with a huge grin. "That's the kind of thinking I love to see!" he tells her.

New Photo Galleries

A Foote Thanksgiving Tradition


 
For many decades, Foote students have performed "Over the River and Though the Woods" at the annual Thanksgiving Assembly. Last week, second graders took to the risers to sing the holiday classic for the whole school. Click above to watch video. 

Experiencing the Chinese Tea Ceremony

The art of drinking and serving tea plays a major cultural role in China. In seventh grade, students are learning about Chinese tea culture. Chinese teacher Wenyan Witkowsky invited her friend (and fellow tea lover) Lindan Hu to Foote to perform a Chinese Tea Ceremony, which embodies the traits of peace, tranquility, enjoyment and truth. Students saw the ceremony come to life and enjoyed smelling and tasting the tea.

 
DatesDates to Remember

Dec. 1-4 - 7th/8th Grade Plays - "Telling Tales" - Tickets available at the front desk

Dec. 7 - PTC Meeting - 8:15 a.m. in the Sturley Room, followed by a book talk on Whistling Vivaldi

Dec. 16 - Winter Assembly - 12:30 all-school dismissal - No After School Program

Dec. 17-January 2 - Winter Break

January 3 - Classes resume