Monday Morning Memo

I took the opportunity to watch the championship boys’ soccer game and girls’ volleyball game last Monday night.  I can’t tell you how proud I was of our students and of our parents.  Both the boys and the girls played with such tenacity, teamwork, and commitment!  The girls were particularly demonstrative in their support for each other – whether one of them had made a fantastic shot or missed the mark – throughout both games.  At the end of the game, one would not have been able to tell which team won and which lost because both teams did celebratory dances and smiles were everywhere.  (The boys were more subdued than this!)  I was reminded of the Bill Severns’ book about which we heard earlier this fall because these students PLAYED their games.  Yes, they were intense, focused, and giving it everything they had, but they were enjoying the competition and each other.  The parents and students who had come to support them were positive and supportive all the way.  I was so proud of the way the students and parents represented our school!

Book Fair:  Tonight is family night for the St. Paul's Book Fair.  Families can shop at the book fair from 3:30-6:00 today.  Then Tuesday and Wednesday, November 5 and 6, students will visit the book fair with their classes.  Students may buy books with cash or charge slips signed by a parent.  Charge slips were sent home with the students on Friday.  We also need more people to help work family night and/or bring treats to drop off on Tuesday.  Please open the link below to sign up:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F044DAEAD283-book

2013-2014 FIVE WEEK ANNUAL FUND PLEDGE DRIVE UPDATE  We are pleased to report that as of the end of the third week of our first ever Five-Week Annual Fund Pledge Drive, we have reached a whopping 56% participation by current families.  Here is the breakdown by class:

It is very impressive that our newest families are responding so early and with such generosity.  Congratulations to the 3^rd grade for leading the pack and a great big thank you to all who are working on this very important campaign. 

Please reach out to your Head Coach, Casey Simmons at casey@pursuegoodstuff.com or any of the other Class Captains.

Courtney Angilan 

Melanie Bolin 

Jeanne Bolinger 

Felicia Bondi 

Polly Breitenkamp 

Laura Brooks 

Audrey Chinnock 

Katherine Coughlin 

Lina Dickinson 

Micah Hobbs 

Brittany Harris 

Mary Kennedy 

Ann Long 

Suzanne Raney 

TWO MORE WEEKS TO MAKE YOUR PLEDGE.  DO IT NOW!!!!! 

The Wax Museum, a culminating activity of our seventh grade students’ study of the Revolutionary War era, will be presented to parents at  8:45 and 1:45 on Wednesday, Nov. 6.  Students assume the character of one of the people of that era, research the life and work of that person, and share their knowledge with guests during these presentations.  The students perform at the time of their regular social studies period in the MS Commons.  Come brush up on your history and enjoy these characters!

Reminder:  There will be no classes for ECC students on Thursday and Friday of this week, and no classes for all students on Friday.  ECC (toddler through kindergarten) faculty will attend the ISACS Conference in St. Louis together on Thursday and Friday.  First through eighth grade teachers will remain on campus, working more on the curriculum design and technology.  Child care is provided on both days by prior arrangement with Karen McDonald at kmcdonald@speds.org. 

Applications for Siblings and Church Members are due This Friday if they are to receive priority consideration for acceptance for the 2014-15 school year. Please apply online at www.speds.org. If you have questions, please contact Jill McGee in the Admissions Office:  jmcgee@speds.org. 816-268-6452.

We are thrilled to share with you a very special opportunity that we have recently been able to arrange.  In last week’s MMM we shared with you our plans to have a book discussion on The Genius in Every Child in February.  This was one of our summer reading books for faculty and was very well received.  However, since last week, we have been able to arrange to bring the author, Rick Ackerly, to St. Paul’s  on Tuesday, November 12^th at 6:45 PM!  We are partnering with Sion and Oak Hill to make this opportunity available to our faculty and families.  Mr. Ackerly began his career as a head of school at Sion in the 70’s and has since been the head at three other independent schools across the US.  We hope you’ll be able to join us for this wonderful opportunity to hear him share the lessons he has learned about raising and educating children.

Keep up with Michelle Johnson’s inclusion blog at: http://spedsdiversitydialogue.blogspot.com/

Michelle and others will offer insights into relevant topics inside and outside of our school and we think you’ll appreciate this perspective.  Michele Stowers has just contributed a review of the movie, “My 12 Years as a Slave”.

Our own Ella G. will have a principal role in the Lyric Opera’s presentation of “Magic Flute”.  We are proud of her talent and her tenacity in landing a role in an opera!