Milton Academy

racheal-adriko Dear Lower School Families,

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at your dinner tables yesterday to hear all of the stories about our day in Greenleaf. We knew it was successful when your children came up to thank us for the day. There are lots of proposals and requests to do this again. It is a sign that children are asking for more opportunities for togetherness and community. We will continue to listen to our young leaders and to think of how our practices from yesterday can become part of our life at school.

This past week, the Admission office held a parent tour guide training and it was wonderful to see a number of Lower School parents in attendance offering their time to assist us in this very important role. The Admission office can use as many volunteers as possible, so please, if you missed the training but still think you could volunteer your time—even if only once a week—click Tour Guide Sign Up to access the sign-up sheet. For questions, contact the K-8 Admission office at 617-898-2509. The Admission team will be happy to help train you as a new tour guide if you have never given a tour before. I cannot stress enough the power of volunteerism and parent participation. We are a stronger School with your involvement.

This morning, we held our first all-school lockdown drill. This drill allows children and teachers to prepare in the unlikely event of an emergency on campus. It is always a good idea to check in with children afterwards, and feel free to reach out to me, a member of my administrative team, or Valerie Thadhani if you need any clarification on the drill or any tools to help your child process it. From our perspective, the drill went well, and children felt well cared for and supported.

In today’s Lower School Newsletter you will find information about our special El Pilar Assembly on Monday morning, an invitation to join in our first Community Conversation on October 4, details about the week ahead, some dates to add to your calendar, and much more.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Have a good weekend.

Best,
Racheal

The Week Ahead

Special El Pilar Assembly, Monday, September 25, 8:30 a.m., Thacher—Meet members of the El Pilar faculty who are visiting Milton this month. Learn about how the partnership between our Lower School and the El Pilar School in Madrid is enhancing the way children are learning Spanish, and building a transatlantic community of educators. Join us in the CSG art room afterwards for a reception and opportunity to speak with the El Pilar teachers and students.

Milton Fund Kick-Off Celebration, Wednesday, September 27, 6:30 p.m., Straus Library—If you’re interested in becoming a Milton Fund volunteer, join us! The Milton Fund is the primary way that alumni, parents and friends support our School. By providing current use operating revenue, the Milton Fund affords academic leadership the freedom and flexibility to respond to pressing needs and promising initiatives. For more information, contact: Daniele Serafini, LSPA Development Ambassador, or Liz Dixon-Eversole, director of the Milton Fund.

Getting to Know You Conferences, Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29—These take place in our Lower School classrooms and offices while students have extra time with specialists.

Early Release Friday, September 29—All Lower School students are dismissed at noon, prior to lunch. There will be no assembly on this day. Our After School Program will offer a specially-themed Autumn Extravaganza afternoon for students who would like to stay.

News and Announcements

Community Conversations, Wednesday, October 4, Straus Library, 5:30 p.m. dinner followed by presentation and discussion—”Understanding Cultural Narratives in the Public Discourse on Diversity” facilitated by Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, sociologist, professor, author, and Grade 5 parent. Join fellow Lower and Middle School parents to create a shared understanding of cultural narratives so that we can guide our children. No one has all the answers, but we all have questions: What do we say when our children ask difficult questions? How are we inclusive and accepting and understanding of one another? How do we teach our children to understand and to make a difference in the world they inherit? Click here to RSVP. Dinner will be provided for parents and children, and childcare will be provided during the presentation.

Junior Building Drop-Off Reminder—The area in front of the Junior Building is for drop-off only. There is no parking in front of the building, aside from quickly helping a child get out of the car. If you would like to walk your child to the door, please use one of the legal parking spots in the lots on either side of the building. Thank you!

After School Private Music Lessons—Instructors from the Music Department will be reaching out in the next day or two, with the hope that lessons will begin in the coming weeks. Parents who registered their children for private lessons and who don’t hear from an instructor by Wednesday, September 27, should contact Marlena Alex.

*** No Assemblies on Friday, September 29, October 6, or October 13—To accommodate Early Release Fridays on September 29 and October 13, and to give parents with Middle School students flexibility to attend Middle School Parents’ Day on October 6, we will not have our regular Friday assemblies on these days.

Volunteer to Drive—The Upper School Office of Community Engagement is looking for volunteer drivers to help with any of the following weekly trips beginning on Oct.4. Trips depart from the Ware Loop, and most groups consist of 2–3 students, so drivers may use their own cars. A school minivan can also be provided if you prefer. Driving can be one-way or round trip. To volunteer for any of the trips listed below, contact Andrea Geyling.

Wednesdays 10:15 a.m. to Boston Home for Adults with Multiple Sclerosis. Return pick-up is at 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Dorchester Ave and Gallivan Blvd, near the Ashmont T station. (about 5–7 minutes from campus)
Wednesdays 1:20 p.m. to the Winter Valley elder residence here in Milton (5 min drive up Canton Ave). Return pick-up is at 2:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 1:30 p.m to Forbes Museum (on Adams Street) in Milton. Return pick-up is at 3:30 p.m.
Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to Collicott School in Milton. Return pick-up is 9:45 a.m.
Saturdays 8:20 a.m. to the Milton Food Pantry. Return pick-up is 11:30 a.m.
Sundays 9:40 a.m. to Urban Farm in Dorchester (15 min drive each way). Return pick-up is at 12:45 p.m. (4-6 volunteers in this group)

Important Reminders

Seeking Library Volunteers—Each week, students visit our two Lower School libraries to read and to check out books. The work of our librarian, Joan Eisenberg, is assisted by a legion of parent volunteers who come into our libraries during student class time for the purpose of checking books out for students, checking in and shelving books that are returned, and occasionally sharing a story with the group.

The Library schedule is as follows:

Kindergarten: Wednesdays 10:30–11:45 a.m.
Grade 1: Fridays 11:00–noon
Grade 2: Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.–noon and Fridays following assembly
Grade 3: Thursdays 8:30–10 a.m.
Grade 4: Mondays 10:30–noon
Grade 5: Mondays 8:30–10 a.m. and Thursdays 8:10–8:30 a.m.

Contact Kerri Polimeno or Beth O’Brien. Thank you!

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit, time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Special Events Coming Up

Wednesday, October 11—Lower School Photo Day—Due to some staffing changes, Stomping Ground Photography has suspended their operations in the Boston area. While we are disappointed to lose the great partnership we forged, we are fortunate to have connected with a wonderful school photography company here in Milton, Hayward Photography. On October 11, Hayward will be on campus photographing our children. As the day approaches, we will share ordering information. Photos will be outdoors and will be the traditional headshot. Questions? Contact Marlena Alex.

Friday, October 20—Summer Reading Assembly—This is one of those “your child will want you to attend this!” assemblies. Students from each grade share their Summer Reading books as well as the lessons and activities that they’ve done around those books. The assembly will take place at 8:30 a.m. in Thacher.

Sunday, October 22—Fall Festival, 2–5 p.m—Join our LSPA and other Lower School parents for a gathering by and for our students and their families. We’re planning fall games and crafts, a karaoke world stage, snacks, and a petting zoo. If you’d like to volunteer, click here. For more information, contact Kate Paiz or Christy Marinelli.

Friday, October 27—Halloween Parade and Celebration and Early Release Friday.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

No Classes, Monday, October 9—in observance of Columbus Day
Classes Resume, Tuesday, October 10—Monday Schedule
No Classes, Monday, October 16—Mid-Fall Weekend
Classes Resume, Tuesday, October 17—Tuesday Schedule
Dare: Boston Reception for Parents, hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. Tuesday, October 17, The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here.

Monday-Friday school dismissal to 5:45 p.m.
Questions? Contact Noah Spofford at 617-898-2507

Click here to access After School Program information for the 2017-18 year.

grade8-math-will-crissman-MA20130503-1031-2498076757-O Dear Middle School Families,

We look forward to hosting you for Parents’ Day next Friday. I hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy classes with your child, make an appointment with your child’s advisor, and take in a game or two at the end of the day. We also hope that you might be available on Wednesday evening, in advance of Parents’ Day, to join our Community Conversations evening. In these confusing times, is important that we have the tools to help our children understand and navigate the world. I believe this evening will be a good start in moving that work forward among our Middle and Lower Schools parents.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find detailed information about Parents’ Day and Community Conversations, an opportunity to pre-order school photos, the announcement of this week’s Mustangs of the Week, and more. We don’t have a writer for the Faculty Voice feature this week, but it will be back soon!

Have a great weekend!

Will

The Week Ahead

Photo Day, Tuesday, October 3—All students will have their photographs taken. Forms were shared with students earlier this week. Completed forms, including payment, are submitted to the photographers on photo day. Want to skip the paperwork and order photos online? Follow the prompts to order your photo package from the Coffee Pond Photography website. If you to choose to order online, print your confirmation and have your child give it to the photographer on photo day.

Community Conversations, Wednesday, October 4, Straus Library, 5:30 p.m. dinner followed by presentation and discussion—A conversation on ”Understanding Cultural Narratives in the Public Discourse on Diversity” will be facilitated by Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, sociologist, professor, author, and Grade 5 parent. Join fellow Lower and Middle School parents to create a shared understanding of cultural narratives so that we can guide our children. No one has all the answers, but we all have questions: What do we say when our children ask us difficult questions? How are we inclusive and accepting and understanding of one another? How do we teach our children to understand and to make a difference in the world they inherit? Click here to RSVP. Dinner will be provided for parents and children, and childcare will be provided during the presentation.

Parents’ Day, Friday, October 6—Please join your children for a day at school! You will have the opportunity to attend classes, to join us for lunch, and to schedule a conference with your child’s advisor. We invite you to end the day attending the many afternoon games to cheer on our Middle School Mustangs!

Details about how to schedule advisor meetings were shared via email earlier this week. To schedule a conference, click here. If you are unable to meet with your child’s advisor next Friday, we encourage you to reach out to find an alternative day and time. Keep in mind that though we are together for the full day next week, time is short for parent conferences, so advisor meetings are more of an opportunity to get to know your child’s advisor and for the advisor to get a fuller picture of your child from you.

Finally, if you have any dietary restrictions, reach out to Samantha Cristoforo so that we can ensure that an appropriate meal is provided for you.

Athletic Team Photo Day is Friday, October 6 before all the home games—The cost of photos ($19) may be charged to student IA accounts. Ordering photos is optional; students will indicate whether they would like to order them on photo day, so please discuss with your child whether you want to place an order prior to October 6.

No School in Observance of Columbus Day, Monday, October 9.

Classes Resume, Monday Schedule—Tuesday, October 10.

No School for a Professional Day, Monday, October 16.

Classes Resume, Tuesday Schedule—Tuesday, October 17.

Important Reminders

Video of last Tuesday’s parent coffee—For those who missed last week’s parent coffee, click here to watch some of it. Unfortunately, an error in the recording cut it off early and the sound is disrupted in a few spots (either that, or I really need to work on my elocution!) Liz’s full presentation slides can be viewed here.

Volunteer to Drive—The Upper School Office of Community Engagement is looking for volunteer drivers to help on a regular or occasional basis to drive to or from the Urban Farm at 950 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester (15 minutes from Milton Academy). The trip to Urban Farm departs on Sundays at 9:40 a.m. from the Ware Loop. The return pickup is at 12:45 p.m. Four to six students typically volunteer for this project. Families with children are invited to join in the work as well. Drivers may use their own cars or a school minivan can be provided. Driving can be one-way or round trip. To volunteer, contact Andrea Geyling.

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

No Classes, Monday, October 16—Mid-Fall Weekend
Classes Resume, Tuesday, October 17—Tuesday Schedule
Dare: Boston Reception for Parents, hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. Tuesday, October 17, The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here.
Student and Parent Fall Socials, Friday, October 27
Novice Speech Festival, Sunday, October 29.

racheal_adriko Dear Lower School Families,

Thank you to our wonderful Parents’ Association for the amazing breakfast you provided for faculty and staff this morning! We have felt loved and nourished throughout our conferences and the day.

This Wednesday, at our weekly faculty meeting, we were able to hear from and work with Yndia Wilmot. I can’t wait for you to have the opportunity to engage with her next week! As a faculty, we felt energized and empowered to focus on how we continue to support each child in his or her development. Given the current national divides around issues of race, identity and difference, it is imperative that we have the tools and that we empower our children. Again, I encourage you to attend and to be part of this discussion. We are providing both dinner and childcare so that all you have to do is come!

In today’s Lower School Newsletter you will find details about our first Community Conversation next Wednesday, information about ordering school photos, directives about drop-off at the Junior Building, advance particulars about our upcoming Lower School Festival, and much more.

Have a good weekend,

Racheal

The Week Ahead

No Assembly, Friday, October 6—Students will be taking a fall walk.

No School in Observance of Columbus Day, Monday, October 9.

Classes Resume, Monday Schedule—Tuesday, October 10.

News and Announcements

Important Reminders

Junior Building Drop-Off Reminder—The area in front of the Junior Building is for drop-off only. There is no parking in front of the building, aside from quickly helping a child get out of the car. If you would like to walk your child to the door, please use one of the legal parking spots in the lots on either side of the building. Thank you!

No Assemblies on Friday, October 6, or October 13—To accommodate the Early Release Friday on October 13, and to give parents with Middle School students flexibility to attend Middle School Parents’ Day on October 6, we will not have our regular Friday assemblies on these days.

Special Events Coming Up

Wednesday, October 11—Lower School Photo Day—On October 11, Hayward Photography will be on campus photographing our children. Photos will be outdoors and will be traditional headshots. All children will be photographed, but purchase of photos is at each family’s discretion. Click here to access the order form (paper forms will be distributed to students next week). If you prefer to order photos online, click here and then follow the directions to “prepay for photo day.” The code for Milton Academy is MILT17. Questions? Contact Marlena Alex.

Friday, October 20—Summer Reading Assembly—This is one of those “your child will want you to attend this!” assemblies. Students from each grade share their summer reading books as well as the lessons and activities that they’ve done around those books. The assembly will take place at 8:30 a.m. in Thacher.

Sunday, October 22—Fall Festival, 2–5 p.m—The Fall Festival is just around the corner, and we’re changing it up this year. Located in Greenleaf, families can look forward to a baby animal petting zoo, a haunted house, and a karaoke dance party in Thacher. There will also be snack stations, face-painting, crafts, and plenty of games to enjoy!

We will be building the haunted house in the Greenleaf basement and are looking for volunteers to help plan and decorate. If you are interested in lending a hand (or some decorations), please email Kate Paiz at katepaiz@gmail.com. Look for more detail on the Fall Festival in next week’s newsletter.

If you’d like to volunteer, click here. For more information, contact Kate Paiz or Christy Marinelli.

Friday, October 27—Halloween Parade and Celebration and Early Release Friday.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

No Classes, Monday, October 16—Mid-Fall Weekend
Classes Resume, Tuesday, October 17—Tuesday Schedule
Dare: Boston Reception for Parents, hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. Tuesday, October 17, The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here.

rodney2 The different aspects of a person’s identity are critically important to how they see themselves and how the world sees them. And while identifiers like race, gender and religion are affirming in many circumstances, they can also result in negative stereotypes, prejudice and oppression, educator Rodney Glasgow told students this week.

Mr. Glasgow, who is a speaker and facilitator on issues of diversity and equality, spent time with the Middle School Tuesday morning leading a discussion about the cycle of oppression and the role of identity in individual lives and society. Mr. Glasgow’s visit was part of an ongoing partnership with the entire School to explore issues of race and identity.

Students broke into their advisory groups for an activity to help them define the different stages in the cycle of oppression: fear of difference, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, institutional oppression and internalized oppression.

“Our identities help us understand who we are, and they are often positive, but issues surrounding identity can also cause a lot of heartache,” Mr. Glasgow told students, explaining that institutional and internalized oppression can negatively impact individual lives and entire communities.

People are biologically inclined to put themselves into groups that share their identities, Mr. Glasgow said—such instincts kept people alive at the beginning of human history. Problems arise from stereotypes that are based in fear of differences, which are used by people in power to oppress others.

When oppression becomes internalized, it can make a person doubt their abilities and sense of belonging, Mr. Glasgow said.

“It can make you not seek opportunities because you’re ‘not supposed’ to do that, and ask yourself, ‘Am I worthy? Do I belong here?’” Mr. Glasgow said. He challenged students to interrupt the cycle of oppression by rejecting prejudice and discrimination.

Chair and Founder of the National Diversity Practitioners Institute, Mr. Glasgow has a long and distinguished career in this work. He serves today as chief diversity officer and head of middle school at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland. Mr. Glasgow earned degrees in Afro-American studies and psychology at Harvard University and holds a master of arts in organization and leadership from Columbia. He is an independent school alum, having graduated from Gilman School. He is also president of The Glasgow Group, a consortium of dynamic and innovative consultants.

racheal-adriko Dear Lower School Families,

This week, we were fortunate to have two experts in the areas of diversity and inclusion visit our campus. First, faculty and staff spent some time with school consultant Rodney Glasgow, discussing identity and organizational culture. We looked at our deeply held assumptions about education and discussed how those assumptions are supported by the culture of our School. While there is always work to be done, it was gratifying to see that much of the work that we have done in the area of identity has made our values quite visible. I hope you agree.

On Wednesday evening, many parents joined fifth-grade parent Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot for her presentation on “Understanding Cultural Narratives in the Public Discourse on Diversity.” Our thanks to Yndia for facilitating this important work, for setting a positive and supportive tone to the evening as parents in both Lower and Middle School had the opportunity to develop a toolbox for helping our children. Thank you to Milton’s Director of Multiculturalism and Community Development Heather Flewelling, for hosting the evening.

Next week, Rosetta Lee will work with Lower School faculty to further develop the scope and sequence of our work in identity and in multicultural and cultural awareness. Rosetta worked with the entire Milton Academy faculty and staff in the days before school began this year, and we are looking forward to her return.

Our classrooms are bustling with lots of active teaching and learning. Teachers continue to lean into implementing our new writing program. Our summer reading books are coming alive in our rooms — have you seen the giant bird’s nest in Grade 1? As the children settle into routines and transitions, our classroom communities continue to form and gel and it is evident that their little brains grow day by day. The sounds and rhythms tell me that we are in full swing of what will be another exciting school year.

I also want to mention, again, how excited and thankful we continue to be about the work of our Parents’ Association. Your love and care for our teachers and community are so greatly appreciated and valued — the home-school partnership is among the most important elements in children’s growth, and we feel particularly good that these bonds are strong. Thank you, also, to Christy Marinelli and Kate Paiz for the time and energy they are putting into our exciting new Fall Festival. We’ve taken a new approach this year and Christy and Kate have been incredibly thoughtful about every element of what will be a wonderful day for our children, and great community-building among our adults. I encourage you all to be part of this special event on October 22.

Finally, in today’s Lower School Newsletter you will find details about ordering school photos, information about the start of Grade 4 & 5 CAFE, an invitation to share your family’s traditions, advance particulars about our upcoming Fall Festival, and much more.

Have a good weekend,

Racheal

The Week Ahead

No School in Observance of Columbus Day—Monday, October 9.

Classes Resume, Monday Schedule—Tuesday, October 10.

Photo Day—Wednesday, October 11—On October 11, Hayward Photography will be on campus photographing our children. Photos will be outdoors and will be traditional headshots. All children will be photographed, but purchase of photos is at each family’s discretion. Click here to access the order form (paper forms will be distributed to students next week). If you prefer to order photos online, click here and then follow the directions to “prepay for photo day.” The code for Milton Academy is MILT17. Questions? Contact Marlena Alex.

Parents’ Association Executive Committee Meeting—Thursday, October 12.

No Assembly on Friday, October 13.

Early Release Friday—Friday, October 13. Special ASP programming available.

No Classes for Mid-Fall Weekend—Monday, October 16

Classes Resume, Tuesday Schedule—Tuesday, October 17

News and Announcements

CAFE (Cultural Awareness For Everyone) begins for students in Grades 4 and 5 next week—CAFE is offered weekly during lunch-time on Thursdays. Participation in the program is voluntary; interested students sign up with Mr. Jordan at the beginning of each week. Weekly themes are announced at Community Meeting and will also be indicated on the sign-up sheets. During CAFE, we talk about our identities, celebrate differences in our community, share our many cultures, and explore a variety of perspectives. If you have questions about CAFE, contact Valerie Thadhani or Josh Jordan.

Celebrating Family and Cultural Traditions—Among the incredible strengths of our Lower School community are the plethora of cultures and traditions celebrated by our families. We would like to bring those celebrations to school and to empower students to share themselves and their backgrounds with us. We invite you to reach out to us so that we can work with your child(ren) on something to share — perhaps at Community Meeting, or at a Friday Assembly, or at CAFE. Contact Valerie Thadhani with your thoughts and ideas.

A Health message from our Nurses: Cold and Flu Season is upon us. Over the last week, we’ve seen an uptick in cold and cold-related symptoms. For the health of our whole community, please do not send children with fevers to school. Giving your child “a little Tylenol to get through the day” spreads virus among students and teachers alike. Students must be fever-free (without the use of medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Important Reminders

Special Events Coming Up

Tuesday, October 17—Dare: Boston Reception for parents. The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here. Hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal.

Thursday, October 19—Lower School Parent Association Open Meeting, 7:30 a.m.

Friday, October 20—Summer Reading Assembly—This is one of those assemblies your child will want you to attend. Students from each grade share their summer reading books as well as the lessons and activities that they’ve done around those books. The assembly will take place at 8:30 a.m. in Thacher.

Sunday, October 22—Fall Festival, 2–5 p.m. The Fall Festival is two weekends away, and full of fun events for the whole family! Kids can earn raffle tickets by going through the Haunted House, using the Big Slide, and visiting the Petting Zoo, then enter those raffle tickets into drawings for experiences hosted by our great Lower School teachers! Every class will end up with at least one fun, school-time teacher experience.

Help from parents and older siblings is needed to help build and decorate the haunted house. Please email Kate Paiz if you have the desire to bring a Halloween graveyard to life or if you have any ghoulish decorations you can loan for the weekend of October 21 and 22. Also, we need lots of help the day of the Fall Fest to put on a great event – please sign up to volunteer here: http://signup.com/go/aHCEsBV

Kate Paiz & Christy Marinelli.

Friday, October 27—Halloween Parade and Celebration and Early Release Friday.

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

Thank you for joining us for today’s Parents’ Day. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the interactions among students, parents and teachers during what is one of my favorite days of the year. I hope that you were able to meet with your child’s advisor, and perhaps have some quiet time with a teacher or two, and I hope that you were challenged to engage in classroom discussions and activities. It’s a long day and one that always ends with smiles!

Our community was fortunate to have some time with Rodney Glasgow, a diversity and inclusion consultant, who visited Milton early this week. Our special assembly, which focused on helping us all better understand identity and identity formation in the context of social groups and community was fascinating for students and teachers alike. At the end of the day, our faculty had additional time with Rodney so that we, as adults, could continue to develop the ways we work with students.

On Wednesday evening, many parents joined Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot for her presentation on “Understanding Cultural Narratives in the Public Discourse on Diversity.” Our thanks to Yndia for facilitating this important work and to Milton’s Director of Multiculturalism and Community Development Heather Flewelling, for hosting the evening.

Next week, Rosetta Lee will be joining us. Rosetta worked with the entire Milton Academy faculty in the days before school began this year, and we are all looking forward to her return. Like the visit with Rodney Glasgow, Rosetta will spend time with students in the morning and work with faculty and staff in the afternoon.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about the short week ahead, an invitation to join our Middle School Parents’ Association for a fall social at the end of the month, and an opportunity to attend an event co-sponsored by the Milton Public Schools and the Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.

Have a great long weekend!

Will

The Week Ahead

No School in Observance of Columbus Day—Monday, October 9.

Classes Resume, Monday Schedule—Tuesday, October 10.

Rosetta Lee to speak with Middle School students—Tuesday, October 10. This event is for students and faculty only.

No School, Mid-Fall Weekend—Monday, October 16.

Classes Resume, Tuesday Schedule—Tuesday, October 17.

Important Reminders

Photo Day was this past Tuesday, October 3—All students were photographed. If you would like to order a photo package retroactively, contact Coffee Pond Photography at 508-907-6633.

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

Dare: Boston Reception for Parents, hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. Tuesday, October 17, The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here.
Student and Parent Fall Socials, Friday, October 27.
Novice Speech Festival, Sunday, October 29.

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

Our community was fortunate to spend some time with diversity and inclusion consultant Rosetta Lee early this week. At a special assembly for Middle School students, Rosetta spoke about the developmental stages of friendship and relationships. She engaged the students in discussion about cliques and best friends and how we connect with people similar and dissimilar to us. Her visit comes amidst the rollout of our culture clubs and affinity groups in the Middle School. The cultural clubs are open to all students and provide opportunities to engage in conversation around a variety of issues with respect to culture and identity. The affinity groups provide forums for students with a shared identity to gather and discuss common experiences and interests. The cultural clubs and affinity spaces together provide windows and mirrors for our students to better understand themselves and their peers. I thank Rosetta for setting such a positive stage for this work in our assembly this week and for the leadership of our Middle School educators who help facilitate these groups for the students.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about another short week ahead. We hope you will join other area parents at the Dare: Boston event next Tuesday evening. And, we hope you will mark your calendar for our Middle School Parents’ Association fall social at the end of the month. Your timely R.S.V.P. will assist the Parents’ Association in planning the evening. Please also plan ahead for our upcoming Admissions Open House on Saturday, Nov. 4. We need lots of student tour guides that day!

A reminder that there is no school next Monday, October 16, for the mid-fall long weekend. Teachers will be spending the day getting started on their comments. We’ll see everyone back here next Tuesday!

Have another great long weekend,

Will

News and Announcements

K–8 Admission Open House, Saturday, November 4, 1:30–3:30 p.m.—We invite all families to volunteer to host at our Open House, and help us welcome prospective families to campus, answer questions, and provide an ‘inside look’ into the Milton Academy community. We welcome an average of 400 people to campus on this day—so the more hands the merrier!

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Student Volunteers: If you are the parent of a student in Grades 4–8, we are also looking for student tour guides. Please speak with your child(ren) about this very important opportunity to share their experiences as members of the Milton community. Click here to register your child to be a tour guide.

The Week Ahead

No School, Mid-Fall Weekend—Monday, October 16.

Classes Resume, Tuesday Schedule—Tuesday, October 17.

Dare: Boston Reception for Parents—Tuesday, October 17, Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston Street—Join us for a wonderful evening hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. Click here to RSVP. This is an adult-only event.

Trustees Weekend—Friday and Saturday, October 20 and 21.

Important Reminders

From our Nurses: A Message about Cold and Flu Season—Over the last week, we’ve seen an uptick in cold and cold-related symptoms. For the health of our whole community, please do not send children with fevers to school. Giving your child “a little Tylenol to get through the day” spreads virus among students and teachers alike. Students must be fever-free (without the use of medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

Mock Speech Tournament, Thursday, October 26.
Student and Parent Fall Socials, Friday, October 27.
Novice Speech Festival, Sunday, October 29 — CANCELLED.
K–8 Admissions Open House, Saturday, November 4.
K–12 Pep Rally (student event), Monday, November 6.
Fireside Chat with Head of School Todd Bland, Monday, November 6.

racheal_adriko Dear Lower School Families,

This is a week for thank-yous! Thank you to the parents who helped our photo day run smoothly—Jessica Trach, Jenn Jilani, Kerri Polimeno, Kerri Holland and Beth O’Brien. Your oversight of this wonderful Lower School tradition allowed teachers to focus on their classrooms, knowing that the photos would go off without a hitch.

Thank you to the faculty for their work with diversity consultant Rosetta Lee this week. As you know, this year, we are developing the Milton Academy strategic plan on diversity and inclusion and we are committed to meaningful conversations and ongoing work on these important topics. Rosetta’s visit, and Rodney Glasgow’s visit last week are elements of this work and they dovetail with the identity work we began as a faculty last year, and with parents at last week’s Community Conversations with Yndia Lorick-Wilmot. It is critical that this important work is coordinated, purposeful, thoughtful, and implicit in everything we do so that children and families see themselves reflected in our classrooms and our spaces.

Thank you, also, to the Westphal family for sharing their grandfather, José Pagan with our community this week. Señor Pagan, who lives in Puerto Rico and just experienced Hurricane Maria’s devastation of the island, shared what he saw both in terms of destruction and in terms of the kindness of the Puerto Rican people toward each other and toward the animals (and even the insects!) that inhabit the island. Thank you, Señor Pagan for your visit and for the sage lessons you shared with us.

Finally, thank you to Fall Festival chairs Christy Marinelli and Kate Paiz for their work to make next week’s Fall Festival such a wonderful community event! I hope you all plan to attend (and to help, if possible!). The power of community events is not only in the event itself, but in the preparation and breakdown—we get to know each other when we work side-by-side.

Next Friday morning is our annual Summer Reading Assembly! It is one of our Lower School traditions and one that you don’t want to miss. See below for details. I hope you will take advantage of the early drop-off option and stop by the Parents’ Association open meeting in the Perry Reading Room (CSG library) before the assembly, from 7:30–8:20 a.m. In addition to time with fellow parents, you will have the opportunity to learn about the ways, big and small, that you can contribute to our Parents’ Association.

In today’s Lower School Newsletter you will find information about the busy week ahead, details about the Fall Festival, an invitation to be a volunteer host at our upcoming Open House, and some dates to add to your calendar.

Enjoy the long, mid-fall weekend!

Racheal

The Week Ahead

No Classes for Mid-Fall Weekend—Monday, October 16

Classes Resume, Tuesday Schedule—Tuesday, October 17

Dare: Boston Reception, Tuesday, October 17—The Four Seasons, 200 Boylston Street, Boston. RSVP here. Hosted by Sylvia and Christoph Westphal. This is an adult-only event.

Lower School Parents’ Association Open Meeting, Friday, October 20, 7:30–8:20 a.m., Perry Reading Room—Take advantage of early drop off to join us for coffee and conversation before the Summer Reading Assembly. Chat and connect with other parents while learning more about upcoming PA initiatives and how to get involved. Children can be dropped at their buildings where they will be attended until the start of the school day.

Summer Reading Assembly, Friday, October 20, 8:30 a.m., Thacher—This is one of those assemblies your child will want you to attend. Students from each grade share their summer reading books as well as the lessons and activities that they’ve done around those books.

Fall Festival, Sunday, October 22, 2–5 p.m.—Join us next Sunday for some family fun! This year’s Fall Festival is outdoors (weather permitting) and full of fun activities, music, games and light refreshments for all! Evites were sent earlier today, so please let us know whether you will attend.

This year’s festival is not a fundraiser, so there are no class basket raffles. Instead, kids can earn raffle tickets by going through the haunted house, using the big slide, and visiting the petting zoo, then they can enter those raffle tickets into drawings for experiences hosted by our great Lower School teachers! Every class will end up with at least one fun, school-time teacher experience.

One of our activities is a haunted house designed, built, and run by parents and older siblings. We’d love your help in making this treat happen either by loaning us some of your ghoulish decorations for the weekend, or by helping us build this fun feature. Contact us if you’re interested.

We need lots of help the day of the Fall Festival to put on a great event—please sign up to volunteer here: http://signup.com/go/aHCEsBV

Finally, we are hosting a small can drive to benefit the Milton Food Pantry. We hope that you will bring a nonperishable item to donate.

Kate Paiz & Christy Marinelli.

News and Announcements

K–8 Admission Open House, Saturday, November 4, 1:30–3:30 p.m—We invite all families to volunteer to host at our Open House, and help us welcome prospective families to campus, answer questions, and provide an ‘inside look’ into the Milton Academy community. We welcome an average of 400 people to campus on this day—so the more hands the merrier!

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Ordering School Photos—Hayward Photography was on campus photographing our children this past Wednesday. Photos were pre-ordered. If you did not order a photo package and would like to, contact Hayward Photography directly at 617-698-1840. The photographers took a number of photos of each child and they will choose the best one for you. We are awaiting information about photo retake day, and will share details as soon as they are available. Questions? Contact Marlena Alex.

Important Reminders

Celebrating Family and Cultural Traditions—Among the incredible strengths of our Lower School community are the plethora of cultures and traditions celebrated by our families. We would like to bring those celebrations to school and to empower students to share themselves and their backgrounds with us. We invite you to reach out to us so that we can work with your child(ren) on something to share—perhaps at Community Meeting, or at a Friday Assembly, or at CAFE. Contact Valerie Thadhani with your thoughts and ideas.

CAFE (Cultural Awareness For Everyone) for students in Grades 4 and 5 has begun—CAFE is offered weekly during lunch time on Thursdays. Participation in the program is voluntary; interested students sign up with Mr. Jordan at the beginning of each week. Weekly themes are announced at Community Meeting and will also be indicated on the sign-up sheets. During CAFE, we talk about our identities, celebrate differences in our community, share our many cultures, and explore a variety of perspectives. If you have questions about CAFE, contact Valerie Thadhani or Josh Jordan.

Special Events Coming Up

Wednesday & Thursday, October 25 & 26—Grade 5 Overnight to Plimoth Plantation.

Friday, October 27—Halloween Parade and Celebration and Early Release Friday.

Monday, November 6—All School Pep Rally kicks off Spirit Week.

Friday, November 10—Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony

Friday, November 10—Early Release Friday

racheal_adriko Dear Lower School Families,

I just love our Summer Reading Assembly! Thank you for filling the room with love for our children and teachers and for supporting them through their studies and projects this fall! I’m sure you enjoyed the morning as much as we did in putting it together.

I’m delighted so many parents took advantage of the early drop-off option to stop by the Parents’ Association open meeting. I hope you will all join us this Sunday from 2–5 p.m. in the Greenleaf Circle for our Fall Festival. Thank you to Christy Marinelli and Kate Paiz for their leadership on this event. We are all looking forward to some great, fall family fun!

Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Racheal

The Week Ahead

Fall Festival, Sunday, October 22, 2–5 p.m.—Join us Sunday for some family fun! It looks like the weather will cooperate and much of this year’s Fall Festival will be outdoors, in the Greenleaf Circle. There will also be activities in Greenleaf Hall and Thacher. Activities will include a petting zoo, haunted house, inflatable slide, karaoke, music, dancing, arts and crafts, and much more!

The Fall Festival is not a fundraiser. As students participate in activities, they will receive raffle tickets. These tickets will be good for grade-level experiences with faculty. Each class, rather than individual students, will enjoy one special activity.

We will have light refreshments—water, apple cider, apples, donuts, popcorn and crackers. You’re welcome to bring additional food or refreshments as your family desires.

Costumes are optional. If you would like to volunteer, click here. If you haven’t yet let us know that you’ll be coming, please RSVP via the evite you received last week, or click here.

Finally, we are hosting a small can drive to benefit the Milton Food Pantry. We hope that you will bring a nonperishable item to donate.

Literacy for All Conference, Monday and Tuesday, October 23 & 24—A number of our Lower School teachers will be attending the Literacy for All conference early next week. This is a leading literacy conference, and offers teacher workshops that will support our implementation of the Lucy Calkins program this year. It is critical that teachers develop professionally so that they have the tools to work with our children.

Grade 5 to Plimoth Plantation, Wednesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 26.

Halloween Parade, Friday, October 27—See the News and Announcements section for important Halloween information.

Early Release Friday, October 27 at Noon—Special After School Program

News and Announcements

We are building the Haunted House tomorrow, Saturday, October 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Greenleaf. Do you have decorations that you would like to lend us? Drop by Greenleaf tomorrow afternoon to loan us a spooky item (or two) from that box of Halloween stuff in your basement! Huge thanks to those who have already sent in stuff, and we would be so grateful for a few more loans!

Halloween is coming and we will celebrate on Friday, October 27, with a costume parade beginning at 9:40 a.m., followed by a gathering in Thacher to sing some traditional songs. Below are some planning guidelines about how Halloween is celebrated in the Lower School:

Students should arrive at School in costume.
NO: Weapons; makeup or masks; or footwear that makes walking on uneven terrain difficult.
Costumes should be culturally sensitive to the diversity of our community.
After our gathering, students will return to their classrooms for the remainder of the school day. Please provide a change of clothes so that students may fully participate in all classroom and specialist activities.
In an effort to ensure that we are meeting the needs of ALL our students, please contact Valerie Thadhani if your child wants to opt out of the parade festivities on October 27. We will provide supervision in the Junior Building.

Lunch News—Barilla Plus pasta will now be served in the Junior Building dining room. As we continue to refresh our lunch-time offerings with an eye to health, we are making two significant changes in the pasta offerings. First, instead of offering white pasta, we have begun to offer Barilla Plus pasta. Barilla Plus is a non-GMO, multigrain pasta made with simple ingredients like flaxseed, barley, and oats, plus protein-rich chickpeas, lentils, and egg whites. Second, other than days when pasta is the main dish, pasta will be a side option. Thank you in advance for supporting this decision with your child(ren).

Important Reminders

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Special Events Coming Up

November 1 – 3—Grade 4 Trip to The Mountain School.

November 6—All School Pep Rally kicks off Spirit Week.

November 10—Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony and Early Release Friday

November 14–17—El Pilar Trip for several Lower School Faculty

November 20—Fireside Chat with Todd Bland

November 21—Thanksgiving Assembly, Dismissal for Thanksgiving vacation at 3 p.m.

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about volunteering for our upcoming open house, details about the Middle School Students of Color Diversity Conference, and dates to add to your calendar.

Will you be joining us for the Middle School Parents’ Association fall social next weekend? Our hope is that you will join fellow parents while your children are at the student social. Take a moment to RSVP so that our Parents’ Association can plan accordingly. Please also plan ahead for our upcoming Admissions Open House on Saturday, Nov. 4. We need lots of student tour guides that day!

I also want to take a quick moment to thank all of you who responded to the parent conference survey this fall. We got a lot of good feedback that we’re processing among the faculty and staff. In short time I hope to be able to share out more with you.

Have a good weekend,

Will

News and Announcements

Math Team Success—Congratulations to the Middle School Math Team—Abby, William, Hailey, Thomas, Zander, Ava, Neha, Karol, Sachin, Katherine, Caden, Riya, and Matthew—for competing in their first math meet yesterday at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree. Our team placed 3rd, and Hailey received the award for highest sixth-grade score. The team looks forward to its next meet in November at Boston Green Academy in Boston.

Middle School Students of Color Conference, Saturday, November 18, 9:45 a.m.–3 p.m., Fenn School—Students are invited to register for the AISNE Middle School Students of Color Diversity Conference. This year’s theme is Finding your Voice in the Noise. To reserve a spot for your child, contact Jacqui Pennini by November 1. Space is limited and students will be registered on a first come, first served basis. Transportation and all costs (including continental breakfast and lunch) are covered by Milton Academy. Faculty chaperones are Carrie Ferrin and Steven Bertozzi. Drop off is at 8:30 a.m. in Ware Loop and pick-up will be at 3:45 p.m. also in Ware Loop. Click here for detailed information about the day including a biography of keynote speaker Bich Minh-Nguyen, author of Short Girls, Pioneer Girl and Stealing Buddha’s Dinner.

Parents: click here to volunteer.

The Week Ahead

Trustees Weekend—Friday and Saturday, October 20 and 21.

Mock Speech Tournament—Thursday, October 26, 4 p.m., Ware Hall

Student Social—Friday, October 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Caroline Saltonstall Gymnasium (CSG). Costumes optional, but prizes will be awarded as part of our costume contests. After School Program (ASP) will be extended to accommodate students who would like to stay. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. Drop off and pick up are in the Pool Lot. Please wait for your child(ren) to come to you instead of coming to the social.

Parent Social—Friday, October 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Robert Saltonstall Gymnasium

Important Reminders

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

K–8 Admissions Open House, Saturday, November 4.
K–12 Pep Rally (student event), Monday, November 6.
Fireside Chat with Head of School Todd Bland, Monday, November 6.
Rosie’s Place, Thursday, November 9.
Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony (student event), Friday, November 10
Last day of the fall athletic season, Friday, November 10 – Nobles Day!

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

By now, you have hopefully seen the notice from Todd about me moving on from Milton at the end of this year to become the head of school at Tenacre Country Day School. I am thrilled for the opportunity and grateful that I still have the rest of this year to enjoy my time at Milton and make sure that the Middle School is poised for great, ongoing success as new leadership comes in. Over the last 14 years, so many amazing people have influenced me as an educator and a person and I will be forever grateful for those relationships. You parents are certainly a part of that group! I look forward to celebrating with you and engaging in some planning for the transitions ahead. The Middle School will be in great shape.

We are also looking forward to tonight’s student and parent socials. Thank you to Jacqui Pennini and Sharon Mathieu for their work with the student council in planning and executing a wonderful event for our students, and to Shadi Farokhzad for organizing a great event for parents.

Please drop your child in the Pool Lot before going to the Parent Event. At 8:30, we will let you know that it is time to pick up your child(ren). Pick up is in the Pool Lot, not at the CSG. Thank you for your cooperation in following this procedure.

Next weekend is the K–8 Open House. I hope you and your child(ren) will volunteer as hosts and tour guides. This event allows us to showcase our school in a way that is quite different from the individual visits with the admission office. It is a busy day, and we benefit greatly from your assistance.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about volunteering for our upcoming open house, details about the Middle School Diversity Conference, and dates to add to your calendar.

Have a good weekend,

Will

News and Announcements

Harvest Hangout: Mix-it-Up Day Reimagined, Tuesday, October 31, Lunch Period, then “Hangout” from 2:10–2:40 p.m.—Mix-it-Up Day is an international campaign that encourages students to cross social boundaries. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. Each year, we participate in Mix-it-Up day during lunch. This year, we’re mixing it up a little differently. While we will still encourage students to sit with different friends at lunch, we have also created “hangout” time in the afternoon before athletic practices.

Donate Halloween Candy, Beginning Wednesday, November 1—Operation Gratitude wants your extra candy! Last year, Operation Gratitude received and distributed a record-setting 533,891 pounds of candy! Operation Gratitude sends over 200,000 care packages to veterans; first responders; new recruits; wounded heroes and their caregivers; and to individually named U.S. service members deployed overseas, as well as their families waiting at home. Please consider donating your unused or collected candy to this worthy cause. A collection bin will be located in the Ware mezzanine beginning on Wednesday, November 1.

Table Tennis Clinic at ASP with Ralph Bockover, Head Coach of C&C Table Tennis, Thursday, November 9, 4–5 p.m., Ware 101—Students may sign up with Ms. Cristoforo.

The Week Ahead

Student Social, Friday, October 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Caroline Saltonstall Gymnasium (CSG)—Costumes optional, but prizes will be awarded as part of our costume contests. After School Program (ASP) will be extended to accommodate students who would like to stay. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. Drop off and pick up are in the Pool Lot. Please wait for your child(ren) to come to you instead of coming to the social.

Parent Social—Friday, October 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Robert Saltonstall Gymnasium.

K–8 Admissions Open House—Saturday, November 4, 1:30–3:30 p.m., Ware Hall—Parents and students are welcome! We invite all families to volunteer to host at our Open House, and help us welcome prospective families to campus, answer questions, and provide an ‘inside look’ into the Milton Academy community. We welcome an average of 400 people to campus on this day—so the more hands the merrier!

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Important Reminders

Middle School Diversity Conference, Saturday, November 18, 9:45 a.m.–3 p.m., Fenn School—Students are invited to register for the AISNE Middle School Diversity Conference. This year’s theme is Finding your Voice in the Noise. To reserve a spot for your child, contact Jacqui Pennini by November 1. Space is limited and students will be registered on a first come, first served basis. Transportation and all costs (including continental breakfast and lunch) are covered by Milton Academy. Faculty chaperones are Carrie Ferrin and Steven Bertozzi. Drop-off is at 8:30 a.m. in Ware Loop and pick-up will be at 3:45 p.m., also in Ware Loop. Click here for detailed information about the day including a biography of keynote speaker Bich Minh-Nguyen, author of Short Girls, Pioneer Girl and Stealing Buddha’s Dinner.

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

K–12 Pep Rally (student event), Monday, November 6.
Fireside Chat with Head of School Todd Bland, Monday, November 6.
Rosie’s Place, Thursday, November 9.
Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony (student event), Friday, November 10
Last day of the fall athletic season, Friday, November 10 – Nobles Day!
Athletic Recognition Ceremony for the Fall Season, Tuesday, November 14.

racheal-adriko Dear Lower School Families,

What an amazing Fall Festival we held on Sunday! Thank you to the many volunteers, led by Kate Paiz and Christy Marinelli, who made the day magical. I was delighted to see so many of you there, to watch the children running around and having fun, and to have the opportunity for parents to connect.

On Monday and Tuesday of this past week, many of our teachers attended the Literacy for All conference in Providence. In addition to being a leading literacy conference in the region, the program offered teacher workshops to support our implementation of the Lucy Calkins program this year. It was a great experience for our teachers! Here is what some shared about the conference:

“It was inspiring and affirmed what we’re already doing.”
“The conference informed me about the importance of populating classroom with rich libraries because children need to read a lot, they need to read a wide variety of genres and most importantly, they need to read books they love.”
“As teachers, we need to really pay attention to curiosity by developing, embracing and encouraging questions as curiosity is the bedrock to lifelong learning. I’m now thinking about how I model curiosity to my students — thinking out loud, wondering out loud, etc.”

This morning, we celebrated Halloween, Lower School-style! Led by our own Lower School mascot, students and teachers dressed in costume first circled the field and then crossed the street to celebrate with the Upper Schoolers. Click here to view photos from the parade.

Birthday celebrations will be starting shortly. Thank you for your patience as we get a new system up and running. After some discussion among the faculty, we’ve decided that birthdays should be celebrated in the classroom instead of monthly at assemblies. Over the next few weeks, birthday celebrations will begin, with retroactively celebrating all those birthdays that have occurred since school began. In the spring, just before we break for summer, we will celebrate summer birthdays.

Finally, a word about changing pickup plans for your children—particularly on Early Release Fridays (when there appears to be a frenzy of last-minute pick-up changes). Please be sure to email your child’s teacher and copy the building office (Patrick in the Junior Building and Josh in Greenleaf) to let them know of any changed plans so that we can be sure to get your child where he or she needs to go.

In today’s Lower School Newsletter you will find information about the busy week ahead, an invitation to be a volunteer host at our upcoming Open House, and some dates to add to your calendar.

Have a great weekend,

Racheal

The Week Ahead

Grade 2 Field Trip to Einstein’s Workshop, Tuesday, October 31.

Grade 4 Overnight Trip to Mountain School, Wednesday, November 1–Friday, November 3.

K–8 Open House, Saturday, November 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m.—See Important Reminders section for information about volunteering.

News and Announcements

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Pep Rally, Monday, November 6, 9:50 a.m., ACC—The Lower School will participate in the all-school Pep Rally. Parents are welcome to come watch the pep rally, however we ask you stand on the sides so that students and teachers may sit in the stands and on the floor.

Spirit Week—November 6–10 is Spirit Week and Lower School is excited to join in the fun! If your child chooses to participate, below is the schedule of silly dress for the week!

Monday – School Colors Day! Wear your orange and blue (Milton gear if you have it)!
Tuesday – Pajama Day!
Wednesday – Mismatch Day!
Thursday – Wacky Socks Day!
Friday – Red, White & Blue Day!

Important Reminders

Special Events Coming Up

November 6—All School Pep Rally kicks off Spirit Week.

November 10—Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony and Early Release Friday

November 14–17—El Pilar Trip for several Lower School Faculty

November 21—Thanksgiving Assembly, Dismissal for Thanksgiving vacation at 3 p.m.

will_crissman Dear Middle School Parents,

It was nice to see so many of you at last Friday’s Parent Social, and to watch the students enjoying the myriad activities organized by our Student Council at the student social. Thank you to Shadi Farokhzad and her team for a great parent social, and to Sharon Mathieu, Jacqui Pennini and the students who helped with that event as well.

Tomorrow is the K–8 Open House. I hope you and your child(ren) have volunteered as hosts and tour guides. It is a busy day, and we benefit greatly from your assistance, so thank you in advance for volunteering.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about the busy week ahead, important reminders about the Diversity Conference and our Operation Gratitude effort, and dates to add to your calendar. I expect we will have the first round of course comments ready to send to you early next week, too.

Have a good weekend,
Will

News and Announcements

Community Skating Details—Community Skating begins next week! Click here to access the schedule, which includes all rink rules. Community Skating is a wonderful time to gather with friends in the fall and winter. The link will be available through the Lower School website as well.

The Week Ahead

Parents: click here to volunteer.

K–12 Pep Rally, Monday, November 6, 9:50 a.m., ACC—Students should wear their orange and blue gear to show their school spirit!

Robotics Team First Lego League (FLL) Scrimmage, Monday, November 6—Milton Academy is hosting a scrimmage during regular practice time. All FLL team members will be competing, and VEX team members are helping with the scorekeeping and judging. Space is limited, but observers are welcome to stop by!

Fireside Chat with Head of School Todd Bland and Middle School Principal Will Crissman, Monday, November 6, 7 p.m., Straus Library

Visit to Rosie’s Place, Thursday, November 9, 4-7 p.m.

Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony, Friday, November 10, 11 a.m.

Milton-Nobles Day, Friday, November 10—Come out and support our Middle School Mustangs in their last games of the season! All games are at Nobles and begin at 3:15 p.m.

Play Production Week, Monday through Friday, November 13–17

Important Reminders

Table Tennis Clinic at ASP with Ralph Bockover, Head Coach of C&C Table Tennis, Thursday, November 9, 4–5 p.m., Ware 101—Students may sign up with Ms. Cristoforo.

Admissions: Accelerated Process for Kindergarten Siblings—Milton families interested in applying a younger sibling for Kindergarten may take advantage of an accelerated timeline for the application process. All applications for grades other than Kindergarten follow the standard application timeline as outlined on the School’s website. While we have a strong commitment to our students’ siblings, we cannot guarantee admission. With an earlier decision, we hope to give families with children for whom Milton is not an optimal fit time to investigate other options. Please reach out to our Admission office to schedule your interview which must be completed by November 10. For more information, call 617-898-2509.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

Athletic Recognition Ceremony for the Fall Season, Tuesday, November 14.
Student Athletic Party, sponsored by the Middle School Parents’ Association, Thursday, November 16, 2:30–3:30 p.m., ACC. There will be skating, basketball, dodgeball, music, refreshments and more. Students who plan to skate should plan to bring skates, either a hat or helmet, and gloves.
Speech Practice Party, Tuesday, November 14, 4–5:15 p.m. Ware Hall.
Fall Play, Totality, Opening Night, Thursday, November 16, 7 p.m., Thacher.
Middle School Diversity Conference, Saturday, November 18 at Fenn School.
Middle School Speech: TurkeyFest, Sunday, November 19 at Milton.
Photo Retake Day, Monday, November 20.
Winter Athletics Begin on Monday, November 20.
Thanksgiving vacation begins, Tuesday, November 21 at 3 p.m. No ASP available.
Classes resume, Monday Schedule, Tuesday, November 28.
Assessment Week begins Monday, December 5.

racheal-adriko November 3, 2017

Dear Lower School Families,

This afternoon, our Grade 4 students returned from an amazing three days at the Mountain School where they bonded as a class while chopping wood, harvesting potatoes, playing in the hayloft, building a 16-foot tall geodesic dome, and participating in a host of project adventure-style activities. This trip is important for so many reasons, and we are fortunate to be able to take the children for this magical and transformative adventure. Thank you to Gary Shrager for spearheading this year’s trip, and to our teachers who accompanied the group: Sandra Correia and Zach Wilson, Corey Simonson, Ann Marie Martens, Valerie Thadhani, Mallorie Reinecke, and Josh Jordan.

Tomorrow, we will host families from across the Boston area at our annual open house. It is a very busy afternoon as we welcome upwards of 400 people to our buildings and our campus. Thank you to the many parents and students who have volunteered to help!

Next week we will have our annual K–12 Pep Rally in advance of Milton-Nobles weekend. This year, our Lower School students will have a role beyond cheering and participating in the relay race. Parents are welcome to join us, however, we ask that you stand on the sides of the gathering so that students and teachers can sit in the stands and on the floor. The pep rally also kicks off spirit week. In the News and Announcements section, you will find each day’s theme. Monday is “Orange and Blue” day. For those families who wish to purchase Milton gear, the bookstore will set up a pop-up shop in the Junior Building at drop off. For those who are new to Milton, the bookstore is located on the ground floor of the Schwartz Student Center (the glass-front building across Centre Street).

In today’s Lower School Newsletter, you will find information about tomorrow’s open house, details about Spirit Week, an opportunity to be a volunteer host at our upcoming Open House, and some dates to add to your calendar.

Have a great weekend,
Racheal

The Week Ahead

Parents: click here to volunteer.

Bookstore Pop-Up Shop, Monday, November 6, 8–9 a.m.—Are you or your child looking for some Milton gear? Kevin Mullins from the Milton Bookstore is bringing an assortment of items for purchase.

Spirit Week—November 6–10 is Spirit Week and Lower School is excited to join in the fun! If your child chooses to participate, below is the schedule of silly dress for the week!

Monday – School Colors Day! Wear your orange and blue (Milton gear if you have it)!
Tuesday – Pajama Day!
Wednesday – Mismatch Day!
Thursday – Wacky Socks Day!
Friday – Red, White & Blue Day!

Veteran’s Day Flagpole Ceremony—Friday, November 10, 11 a.m., Flagpole. Students, faculty and staff across Milton Academy gather in silence at the flagpole to honor our veterans.

Early Release Friday—Friday, November 10, noon. Special Thanksgiving-themed afternoon including a traditional Thanksgiving meal and crafts. Contact Noah Spofford (617-898-2507) for more information.

News and Announcements

Lower School Fireside Chat has been moved to January 24—We hope the new date will come during a less busy time!

Community Skating begins next week! Click here to access the schedule, which included all rink rules. Community Skating is a wonderful time to gather with friends in the fall and winter. The link will be available through the Lower School website as well.

Important Reminders

Special Events Coming Up

November 14–17—El Pilar Trip for several Lower School Faculty

November 21—Thanksgiving Assembly, Dismissal for Thanksgiving vacation at 3 p.m.

Monday-Friday school dismissal to 5:45 p.m.
Questions? Contact Noah Spofford at 617-898-2507

Winter enrichment clubs begin soon!! To register your child for any After School Programs, click here.

Maker Studio! Chess! Piano Ensemble! Early Release Friday Skating Lessons!

Kindergarten Extended Day! Gap Coverage! And more!

New this winter…Musical Theater!

Thank you to our amazing ASP Staff for hosting our first December camp! Over 85 students attended the camp during the week of December 18. Students made crafts, baked snacks and treats, played outside, and more! The week was a huge success!

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving break! It was nice to slow the pace down and spend a lot of quality time with family.

The next two weeks of school are busy ones. We’ll have assessment week for the seventh and eighth grades, the ABCD Head Start gift drive, our annual performance showcase for the students, the first games of the winter season, and the regular business of teaching and learning.

Assessment week is an important learning experience, and I, along with the other teachers and staff, have emphasized this repeatedly to the students. Our primary objective is to have kids learn how to manage their time and preparation so that they feel increasingly prepared and comfortable as they face exam-week-like situations through their academic careers. They’ve been given advice about how to manage their time and what resources to use for their studies, and next week they will have a lot of structured time to continue to study with each other or their teachers. Helping your children focus on the process is important as is minimizing their stress by providing good regular routines, as well as encouraging relaxation and opportunities for fun through this weekend and next week. If you have more specific questions about the schedule or how to support your child, please feel free to reach out to me or to your child’s advisor.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find a little more information about next week’s assessment week, as well as details about the gift drive. I hope you will make plans to attend the Parent Association’s coffee with our Middle School librarian, Beth Reardon. We’re fortunate to have her as a guide and resource to our students.

Have a good weekend,

Will

News and Announcements

Assessment Week Presentation—Yesterday morning, Liz West and Nicci King presented some helpful strategies for supporting students through next week’s assessments. If you missed the gathering (or if you just want to review the information provided) click here to access the slides. Unfortunately, the meeting was not recorded.

Math Team Success—Congratulations Abby B., William C., Brendan H., Thomas H., Ava M., Neha M., Karol Q., Sachin S., Katherine S., and Riya S., for competing in our second math meet yesterday at Boston Green Academy in Brighton. Our team placed second! The team looks forward to hosting the next meet on Thursday, January 11, 2018.

The Week Ahead

Assessment Week for Grades 7 and 8, Monday, December 4 – Friday, December 8

Robotics Tournament, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Saturday, December 9—The bus leaves Ware Loop at 7:15 a.m. and returns at 4:15 p.m. Families of students participating in the tournament should refer to emails from Bridget Sitkoff.

Parent Association Coffee featuring Middle School Librarian Beth Reardon, Monday, December 11, 8:20 a.m., Thacher—Join us to meet Middle School Librarian Beth Reardon, who will introduce Cox Library and share a little bit about the library’s resources, including our growing Young Adult fiction collection, and few resource guides she has created, including one for the CTP Project (which might be of interest to the parents who want to help), and one on Digital Citizenship (which includes a section for parents).

Student Showcase (Talent Show), Thursday, December 14, 10 a.m., Thacher—This is a student-only event.

K–12 Holiday Assembly, Thursday, December 14, 11 a.m., ACC

Winter Break Begins, Thursday, December 14, 12 p.m.—No ASP available. Classes resume January 3.

Important Reminders

Holiday Gifts for ABCD Early Head Start—Each advisory has been assigned a child ranging in age from infant to age 5. Within advisory, students have decided how to purchase gifts. Throughout the years, our students have visited the ABCD Head Start Program, learning about the mission of the program and getting to know the children. Last year, Grade 7 student advisory groups visited on a weekly basis. This year, Grade 6 students will deliver gifts to the children and spend time in the classrooms. Gifts are due on Thursday, December 7, so that they may be wrapped. Contact Carrie Ferrin with any questions.

Community Skating—Community Skating has begun! Click here for the schedule.

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

Student Showcase (this is a students and faculty-only event)—Thursday, December 14.
K–12 Holiday Assembly—Thursday, December 14.
Winter Break begins at noon on Thursday, December 14. No ASP available.
No Classes, Faculty Professional Day—Tuesday, January 2.
Classes Resume—Wednesday, January 3.
Speech Practice Party—Thursday, January 4 in preparation for the Novice Festival at Nashoba Brooks on Sunday, January 7.

racheal-adriko2 Dear Lower School Families,

At this morning’s assembly, we celebrated our After School Program and the staff that make it such a special part of so many students’ Lower School experience. Thank you to the students who shared their projects and experiences as well as those who helped us thank Noah Spofford, Ann Marie Martens and Maria Elisa Ciampa for all they do for us. In the ASP section of the newsletter, you will find a link to the video that we enjoyed as well as a registration for our winter programs and activities.

This morning, we also heard from the faculty who went to Spain and El Pilar before Thanksgiving. Each trip member shared highlights of the visit, from teaching classes, to visiting the soccer stadium, to learning to flamenco dance. I encourage you to find an opportunity to speak with any of our travelers about the trip and what he or she took away. Professional development like the Spain trip and this week’s People of Color Conference, which several of our teachers are currently attending, are important for both personal and professional renewal and for curricular innovation and connection. We look forward to welcoming back Sachiyo Unger, Kim Alston, Josh Jordan and Doana Marcellus on Monday.

In today’s Lower School Newsletter, you will find suggestions about how to prepare for next week’s conferences, details about the busy two weeks ahead, and dates to add to your calendar.

I look forward to seeing many of you on campus next week.

Have a great weekend,
Racheal

The Weeks Ahead

Fall Reports—Reports will be sent to parents the week of December 4.

Grade 5 Field Trip to the Black Heritage Trail, Monday, December 4

Grade 3 Field Trip to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Tuesday, December 5—Students should come to school with a bag lunch and a drink.

Grade 4 Field Trip to the MFA and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Wednesday, December 6—Students should come to school with a bag lunch and a reusable, non-glass, water bottle.

Parent Conferences, Thursday, December 7 (3–6 p.m.) and Friday, December 8 (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)

Early Release Day, Friday, December 9, noon. No assembly.

Grade 5 Writing Celebration, Wednesday, December 13, 8:15–9 a.m.—The celebration will take place in the Grade 5 classrooms.

K–12 Holiday Assembly, Thursday, December 14, 11 a.m., ACC

Winter Vacation Begins, Thursday, December 14, noon—ASP is available.

Classes Resume, Wednesday, January 3, at 8 a.m.

News and Announcements

Preparing for your Parent Conference—Next Thursday and Friday, December 7 and 8, we will host our second parent conferences of the year. The purpose of the December conference is to touch base with the classroom teachers about your child’s academic progress and growth, and to discuss goals for the remainder of the year.

In advance of conference day, you will receive your child’s fall report, which will serve as a launch pad to your discussion. Read the report in its entirety and note any questions that you will bring to your conference. The teachers will guide conferences, which will last from 25 to 35 minutes. We look forward to seeing you next Friday and to working with you and your family for the best success of your child.

Passports Lunch Series—This week Health and Wellness Director Valerie Thadhani launched our Passports Lunch series for students in Grade 3. Wednesdays are Passport days at lunch. Each Wednesday during lunch Lower School children enjoy a special treat—each treat is a clue to where the Passports group will eventually “land.” On the last Wednesday of the month, the location is revealed and children learn a little about that country. This week, our third-grade students learned about France!

CAFE Sharing—In yesterday’s CAFE, we were fortunate to have Anisa Mukhtar, Dean Ibrahim, and Omar Hamoda (Grade 6) share a little bit about Islam. Thank you to these students who prepared a great presentation and who shared themselves and their beliefs with our community. Next week, a group of students will share about Hanukkah.

Important Reminders

Have you scheduled your parent conference? Click here to schedule.

Community Skating has begun! Click here to access the schedule, which includes all rink rules.

Events Coming Up

Lower School Family Skating Party, Sunday, January 7, 1–3:50 p.m., ACC

Second Community Conversations Gathering, Tuesday, January 9

Special Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly, Friday, January 12

No School in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 15

Lower and Middle School Geography Bee, Thursday, January 18, 4 p.m., Thacher

Fireside Chat with Todd Bland and Racheal Adriko, Wednesday, January 24

Early Release Day, Friday, January 26

Lower School Concert, Thursday, February 8

will_crissman Dear Middle School Families,

They made it! Our seventh- and eighth-grade students are delighted that this week is over! Thank you to the Parents’ Association—donuts this morning were a perfect way to celebrate the day. As educators, we hope that the process has been reflective, productive, and positive for all our students, and we continue to remind them that the week is more about PROCESS than it is about product. We’ll help the students reflect on that process some more next week. Thank you for your support of your child(ren) and of us.

Thank you, also, for your participation in our ABCD Head Start gift drive. The sixth-grade students took the gifts to the Head Start children this morning and had the opportunity to play with the children and get to know them a bit. It was a fun morning and another moment where we’ve been able to sustain an important relationship with that Head Start program.

Students and faculty alike are looking forward to the first games of the winter season next Wednesday; our annual, student-only performance showcase followed by the K–12 Holiday Assembly; and dismissal for winter vacation next Thursday. I remind you that students are dismissed at noon, and that our After School Program will NOT be in session.

I hope you will make plans to attend the Parent Association’s coffee with our Middle School librarian, Beth Reardon, on Monday morning at the start of the short and busy week. We’re fortunate to have her as a guide and resource for students, teachers and hopefully you, too! I believe that you will come away from her session better knowing our library and all that it offers our students.

In this week’s Middle School Newsletter, you will find information about the busy week ahead, calendar items through the first week of January, an opportunity to RSVP for our second Community Conversations of the school year, and the dates of several of our newly-initiated departmental coffees. I hope you mark your calendar for these events as they are an opportunity to hear about the curriculum directly from the teachers. Don’t forget to sign-up for parent-teacher conferences if you haven’t yet!

Have a good weekend, happy holidays, and a restful winter vacation,

Will

The Week Ahead

Robotics Tournament, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Saturday, December 9—The bus leaves Ware Loop at 7:15 a.m. and returns at 4:15 p.m. Families of students participating in the tournament should refer to emails from Bridget Sitkoff.

Student Showcase (Talent Show), Thursday, December 14, 10 a.m., Thacher—This is a student-only event.

K–12 Holiday Assembly, Thursday, December 14, 11 a.m., ACC

Winter Break Begins, Thursday, December 14, 12 p.m.—No ASP available

No Classes, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Tuesday, January 2

Classes Resume—Wednesday, January 3, 8 a.m., Wednesday schedule

Parent-teacher Conferences – Thursday, January 4

Novice Speech Practice Party—Thursday, January 4

Novice Speech Festival at Nashoba Brooks—Sunday, January 7

Community Conversations Parent Gathering, Tuesday, January 9, 5:30 p.m. dinner / 6 p.m. conversation—Join fellow Lower and Middle School parents to create a shared understanding of cultural narratives so that we can guide our children through this tumultuous time.

No one has all the answers, but we all have questions: What do we say when our children ask us difficult questions? How are we inclusive and accepting and understanding of one another? How do we teach our children to understand and to make a difference in the world they inherit?

Dinner and childcare will be provided. Parent session will be held in Straus. Students will be in Thacher for dinner, then Middle School students will move to Ware, and Lower School students will move to Greenleaf during the conversation. Click here to RSVP.

Important Reminders

Community Skating— Click here for the schedule. There are community skating times over winter break, so grab some friends and head to the rink if you’re home!

Add These Dates to Your Calendar

We are in the process of scheduling Departmental Coffees so that parents can hear about our curriculum from the teachers themselves. The following dates and departments have been booked; the remaining are still in process. Coffees will be held at 8:15 a.m. in Thacher.

January 25—Parent Coffee: Math Department
February 9—Parent Coffee: Science
March 2—Parent Coffee: Social Studies
April 12—Parent Coffee: Language
May 4— Parent Coffee: English (this session will be held in Room 101)

racheal-adriko2 Dear Lower School Families,

It has been so great to see so many of you yesterday and today—and we look forward to seeing families next week as well! Thank you for the wonderful breakfast treats this morning. On this particularly busy day, the treats—both snacks and notes—are greatly appreciated.

The next week is short but busy. I note here a few very important items that I encourage you to read closely in the News and Announcements section below.

Special dismissal plans for next Thursday, December 14
Diversity, Multiculturalism and Inclusion Survey
Launching PickUpPatrol after winter break

In today’s Lower School Newsletter, you will find the important information listed above as well as details about our upcoming Family Skating Party, an opportunity to RSVP to our next Community Conversations evening, and some upcoming dates to note.

I look forward to seeing many of you on campus next week, but should our paths not cross, I wish you wonderful holidays and a restful and relaxing winter break.

Best,
Racheal

The Weeks Ahead

Grade 5 Writing Celebration, Wednesday, December 13, 8:15–9 a.m.—The celebration will take place in the Grade 5 classrooms.

K–12 Holiday Assembly, Thursday, December 14, 11 a.m., ACC

Winter Vacation Begins, Thursday, December 14, 12:20 p.m.—ASP is available.

Classes Resume, Wednesday, January 3, at 8 a.m.

LSPA Executive Committee Meeting, Thursday, January 4, 8:15 a.m., CSG Conference Room

Assembly, Friday, January 5, 8:30 a.m. Thacher

Family Skating Party, Sunday, January 7, 1-3:50 p.m., ACC—Siblings (older and younger) are welcome to attend. There will be refreshments, snacks, music and more! We hope you will join us for this wonderful family event!

No one has all the answers, but we all have questions: What do we say when our children ask difficult questions? How are we inclusive and accepting and understanding of one another? How do we teach our children to understand and to make a difference in the world they inherit?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Assembly, Friday, January 12, 8:30 a.m., Thacher

News and Announcements

Delayed Dismissal next Thursday, December 14—To accommodate the dismissal of the entire school at noon next Thursday, we will delay the dismissal of Lower School students to 12:20 p.m. This allows our Campus Safety officers to clear Middle School traffic from Centre Street and Upper School student drivers from the Pool Lot before our students are out. Middle School students who have Lower School siblings will be sent to the Lower School sibling’s regular dismissal location (pool lot, rock, or JB) for pickup. Middle School students MAY NOT pick up Lower School siblings. Instead, pick up will occur through our dismissal procedures. In order to make sure that dismissal goes smoothly, have a conversation with your middle schooler in advance of Thursday to confirm your plan.

Complete the Diversity, Multiculturalism & Inclusion Survey—Participate in our survey about multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion by clicking here. This survey will provide us with information about the needs of our community so that we can better serve students and parents. It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire. It is critical that we have a high response rate to this survey, as it will drive our upcoming work.

Implementing PickUp Patrol after winter vacation—In the coming days, you will receive a separate email about PickUpPatrol, the application we will be implementing to help us manage student dismissal plans. In short, we believe that this app will make notes, phone calls to the office, and the flurry of phone calls home (particularly on early-release Fridays) a thing of the past. The app (which is available to use either on your phone or via a website) allows you to make a range of temporary and permanent changes to your child’s dismissal plans. This weekend, please either download the PickUpPatrol app via iTunes or Google Play, or bookmark the page https://app.pickuppatrol.net. Next week, you will confirm your email and your child’s default dismissal plan. On January 3 we will begin using the app—do not begin using it until then.

Important Reminders

Community Skating— Click here for the schedule. There are community skating times over winter break, so grab some friends and head to the rink if you’re home!

Events Coming Up

No School in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 15

Lower and Middle School Geography Bee, Thursday, January 18, 4 p.m., Thacher

Fireside Chat with Todd Bland and Racheal Adriko, Wednesday, January 24

Early Release Day, Friday, January 26

Lower School Concert, Thursday, February 8