Friday, September 9 – The First Day of School!

What do I need to know for next week?

• Monday, September 12 – Dismissal will be at 3:30 p.m (instead of 3 p.m.). The later dismissal is due to our opening of school, K–12 Ice Cream Social. The social is held on the Upper School Quad (the big grassy area behind the buildings across Centre Street). Parents are welcome to join us, but children will not be dismissed from the social. Dismissal will follow the regular procedures at the Junior Building, Rock, or Pool Lot.
• Friday, September 16 – Our first Lower School Friday Assembly! Join us this, and nearly every Friday if you’d like, at 8:30 a.m. in Thacher.
• Friday, September 16 – Parents of students with ILG (Individualized Learning Guides) meet with the Learning Resources Team. These meetings are pre-scheduled. Questions? Contact Nancy Stawarky (grades K-3) or Liz West (grades 4 & 5).
• Reminders from P.E. and Woodworking!
  • Have you sent in a pair of sneakers dedicated to P.E.? Beginning this week, students will need sneakers for P.E. class.
  • No open-toed shoes in the woodshop.  Be sure to send your children in closed-toed shoes according to the class schedule you received at orientation.
• Personal Electronics – Personal electronics (including cell phones, laptops, tablets, Apple Watches, etc.) that are brought to School may not be used during the school day. They should be stored in a backpack and kept turned off while school is in session. Often, for young children, the temptation of devices necessitates leaving them at home.

Here’s What’s Coming Up

• Thursday, September 29 – Lower School Photo Day! We have changed our photo provider from Coffee Pond to Stomping Ground Photography. To see their work and to learn about the company, click here. Parents will choose whether to have their children’s pictures taken indoors or outdoors. Photographers will take approximately 10 shots, and parents will be able to choose more than one photo from among those taken. Photos will be both the traditional headshot, as well as of the more creative variety shown on the website. We will share more information next week.
• Friday, September 30
  • Parent Conferences. These take place in our Lower School classrooms and offices while students have extra time with specialists. Next week, we will send out a link so that parents may register for time slots.
  • Early Release Friday. Students are all dismissed at noon, prior to lunch. Our After School Program will offer special activities for students. Click ASP 2016-2017 for information and to register.

Announcements

• Lower 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 in our Admission viewbooks and 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. For more information, please contact the admissions office at 617-898-2509

• Seeking Prospective Admission Tour Guides

The K–8 Admission Office is looking for volunteers to give tours of campus to prospective families. A Tour Guide Training session will take place on Tuesday, September 20 at 8:15 in Perry Reading Room. Ideally, tour guides can commit either to a regular time or can substitute in a pinch. We also heartily welcome volunteers who are returning or new to our community, and we will provide the training necessary for you to feel comfortable with giving tours.  If you would like to volunteer as a tour guide, click Tour Guide Sign Up Sheet 2016 to access the sign-up sheet which can be returned either in person or via e-mail at k8admissionoffice@milton.edu. For questions, contact Meg Burke at 617-898-2510.

• Welcome to Tammy Vyas, who will be joining the Lower School to teach Grade 3 during Susan Wheelwright’s leave of absence. Tammy is experienced in both pre-school and elementary education, having taught in Houston and Austin, Texas as well as at Milton’s Tucker School. She has served as Grade Level Chair, as a supervising teacher for education students, and on a variety of curriculum and program committees at the schools where she’s taught. Tammy has received multiple awards for her teaching as well as a competitive grant for implementing a gardening component in her classroom! She has a B.S. in Applied Learning and Development, as well as a certificate in teaching English as a second language. The mother of two Milton Academy “lifers” (Austin – Class I and Ryan – Class III), Tammy has strong ties to our Lower School and to Milton Academy. Over the years, she has been an active parent volunteer, and she is familiar with our program and our traditions. If you happen to be in Greenleaf, stop by to say hello!

• Congratulations to Lower School Counselor Sarah Spinello and her husband Nick, who welcomed their son, Ryan Patrick on August 25.  Ryan weighed in at 6.8lbs.  Mom, Dad and Ryan are all doing well.