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!

Monday Morning Memo

Thank you so much to Tracy Gordon, Ann Fasel, and our Development Coordinator, Katie Gregg and the team of volunteers they enlisted for the sumptuous meal for dinner on Thursday night and the great coffee and breakfast on Friday!  We feel very special and the good will and great food carried us through our conferences happily.  We sincerely appreciate your care and support!

Thanks, too, to all of you who came to conference with your teachers on Thursday and Friday!  We are always proud of the turnout for these conference days and sincerely appreciate your commitment to talking face-to-face with your child’s teachers to share notes on his/her progress.

Get Hooked on a Good Book! - The St. Paul's Book Fair is this week!  We kick the week off with Buddy D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything and Read) on Monday and an All-School read on Tuesday.  Wednesday morning local authors will be visiting the lower and middle school divisions.  The 1st and 2nd grades will hear from "Maybelle" series author Katie Speck.  The 3rd-5th grades will hear from Lisa Harkrader and her book, The Adventures of Bean Boy.  Author Dorinda Nicholson will be sharing her book, Pearl Harbor Child, with the 6th-8th grades.  Wednesday after school (3:30-5:30pm) is Family Night at the Book Fair.  Come peruse the fabulous selection of books, read a few with your child or set some books aside for the class visits on Thursday and Friday. Remember, books make great gifts!  If you would like to help with the book fair, please sign up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0B48A9AA292-book  If you would like to help by bringing treats for the kids as they visit with their classes, please visit www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0B48A9AA292-book1  We look forward to seeing you at the Book Fair!

If you are planning on applying for tuition assistance for the 2013-2014 school year:

·        Applications will be accepted November 1 – January 15. Priority will be given to applications that are completed (including supporting documentation) by January 15.

·        The application process begins online, at www.factstuitionaid.com.

·        After completing the online portion of the application, you will need to mail or fax in all required supporting documentation.

If you need assistance with the online application, help is available from FACTS via telephone (866-315-9262) or email (info@factstuitionaid.com) Monday – Thursday, 10:00 – 7:00; and Friday, 10:00 – 5:00. We apologize that we are not able to help you with the online application process, but please ask us, if you have difficulty or need clarification.

The Annual Food Drive begins Wednesday, November 7 and runs through Friday, November 16.  Annually, this is our biggest ingathering of food for the St. Paul’s pantry, hoping to supply a winter-stockpile of well over 12,000 items.  Competition between grades and divisions is quite fun – so bring it on!   While all pantry offerings earn points, attached is the list of daily featured items that will earn double and triple points for our classes.   St. Paul’s School is blessed to have this opportunity.  Thanks to all who help feed the need!

St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School’s

Annual Food Drive

To support St. Paul’s Church’s food pantry

When:  November 7-16

Where:  Main entrance/hallway of both buildings

Double points will be given for BULK ITEMS every day except Wednesday, November 7

Wednesday, November 7:  Triple points for bulk items (except           

                                                 diapers)

Thursday, November 8:     Double points for peanut butter or

                                                canned fish or meats

Friday, November 9:          Double points for toilet paper

Monday, November 12:     Double points for personal hygiene

                                                 items

Tuesday, November 13:      Double points for dry beans, rice,

                                                crackers and Mac and Cheese

Wednesday, November 14:  Laundry detergent (20 points for     

                                                multiple-load bottle or box     

                                                detergent)

Thursday, November 15:    Double points for disposable diapers

                                                sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6 as well as Adult

                                                Depends. (We will count each

                                                diaper in the package)

Friday, November 16:         To be announced

The seventh grade Wax Museum culminating activity will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 8:50 for Mr. Stewart’s class and 1:50 for Mr. Reschke’s class.  Come learn some history from students who have chosen famous people to represent in character and spirit.

In Harmony Choir is getting set for another season! Starting on Wednesday, November 7, and continuing on Wednesdays, students in grades three through eight are invited to join Mr. Ah’Lee Robinson in the north MPR (stage) at 7:15am. He will lead the choir as they prepare for Christmas and beyond. Choir performances will generally be at All School Chapels and occasional community events. All interested students may join – from novice to professional, shower singer to stage singer. Please contact Colette Rousey crousey@speds.org if your child would like to sign up.

This Friday, November 9 we will be celebrating the Communion of Saints in All School Chapel.  We invite anyone to bring a flower in honor of any loved ones who are now safely with God.  These will be received by the Chapel Leadership Team and placed on the altar.  Sometimes children want to write a note or card and may place that on the altar as well.  Additionally, if your family has experienced the loss of a loved one in the past twelve months, we would be honored to light a votive candle in his/her honor on Friday.  Those names need to be e-mailed to Pam by Wednesday, November 7:  pbauer@speds.org.

Attention Pre-Kindergarten Families:  We would like to invite you to come preview Kindergarten on *Tuesday, November 13^th from 8:30-9:30am.  We will meet in the North MPR for a short presentation by Mrs. Abio and then visit the kindergarten classrooms.  Please RSVP to the admissions office by Thursday, November 8^th in order to reserve a spot. 
*The master school calendar indicated that this event would take place on Nov. 6^th. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

When you make your tax deductible donation to the St. Paul’s Annual Fund, you are contributing to minimize tuition increases for next year?  Every donation counts!  Thank you for your support!

Donate Now (http://www.diamondmindinc.com/spedsog.html)

Pledge Now (http://go.speds.org/pledgenow)

St. Paul’s is hosting a blood drive for the entire month of December across the street at Community Blood Center.  During this holiday season, please consider donating blood and use the code CBUE when you donate.  There are critical shortages that occur during the holidays so let’s help stock this vital commodity to save lives! 

Monday Morning Memo

Halloween is Wednesday (as I’m sure you know!) and the excitement will be palpable!  Please be sure that children’s costumes are appropriate – ones they can safely wear all day or out of which they can change early in the day, not so expensive that school activities can ruin them and cause disaster, no frightfully scary masks or even plastic weapons – just good, clean, creative fun!

Parent Teacher Conferences are this Thursday and Friday!  I hope you’ve made an appointment to visit with your child’s teacher as there is much to be gained by these face-to-face meetings.  Remember there will be no classes for students on these days but our extended day program will be available for all day care or for drop-ins during conferences. 

Speaking of extended day, we are making a change in the coverage of our Early Room program

based on the increased growth of participation during the morning.  For many years we have offered all early room care in the south MPR.  As our numbers have increased this year, we feel it is in the best interest of all participants to split the groups by age.  Beginning Monday, October 29^th,  we will have the following age groups report to the identified locations:

Toddler/Preschool/PreK/Kindergarten will be reporting to the ECC Commons

First through eighth graders will be remain in the south MPR

This will allow us to offer developmentally appropriate choices to everyone.  It will also allow us to provide the adequate supervision and interactions important for a positive start to the school day.

As a reminder, all Toddler/Preschool/PreK/Kindergarten children must be signed into Early Room by their parent while the first through eighth graders may sign for themselves.

We are confident that this will be a successful adjustment for all and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly.  Please remember that this change begins today – Monday, October 29^th.

Admissions season for the 2013-14 school year is in full swing!  Siblings of current St. Paul’s students and St. Paul’s church members receive admissions priority until Friday, December 7^th.  Please submit your applications to the admissions office as soon as possible.

Get Hooked on a Good Book! - Please mark your calendar for family night at the book fair on Wednesday, November 7th from 3:30 - 5:30 pm in the gymnasium.  Come peruse our fabulous selection of books, read a few with your child or set books aside for class visits on Thursday and Friday.  We will celebrate and encourage reading with buddy D.E.A.R. times (drop everything and read) and an all-school reading time during the week, as well as author visits during each divisional chapel on Thursday.  If you would like to help with the book fair, please see the schedule at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B48A9AA292-book  If you would like to bring treats for class visits during the book fair, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B48A9AA292-book1

All School Pencil Collection Project from October 25^th – November 7^th, 2012 -- Atem Akuei is a current second grade student at St. Paul’s whose father is originally from Sudan, Africa. Since Atem was six years old, he has been collecting pencils and school supplies for the children of South Sudan when he learned that children there do not have any support for their education. In fact, they sit under any big tree and write in the dirt with their fingers. Atem has voluntarily given up a lot of things to make sure he can make a difference in the lives of the Sudanese children.  Last year Atem worked hard to meet his goal of collecting and sending 10,000 pencils.  Atem’s previous school and channel 41 honored him last school year for collecting 12,334 pencils!  This year his goal is 20,000 pencils!    Students in St. Paul’s School and St. Paul’s Church members are invited to donate to this worthy project in the next two weeks.

We invite each St. Paul’s student and family to help Atem reach his goal by bringing in new, unopened boxes or bags of pencils anytime between

Wednesday, October 25^th and Wednesday, November 7^th . Pencils can be placed in the large boxes found on each floor of the Lower School, in the blue tub at the greeting spot in ECC, and in the receptacle organized by MS on the third floor. We thank you for supporting the children of South Sudan and Atem Akuei’s honorable mission!  Atem and his mother will be delivering the pencils to the children of South Sudan in December of this year. To learn more about this heartfelt story, go to:  http://tinyurl.com/atem-news   

Several parents and faculty have reported cars coming through the carpool lines with children unbelted and hanging out windows, a very unsafe practice that makes us all nervous.  Please encourage your children to buckle up as soon as they get in the car and stay buckled until leaving the car.  We would hate to see a child get hurt by not adhering to this expectation.