Jan. 14, 2010January 14-21, 2010

January

15	Last day to register at Mt. Hood Meadows fro Catlin Gabel Ski Bus Program
18	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, no school
22	Middle School dance, 7-10:00pm in the Barn
22	Viewfinder Global Film Series, 6:30pm
25	Basketball begins for 6th grade

February

4	Middle School Parent Conference, no middle school
5	Middle School Parent Conference, no middle school
6	First Ski Bus Saturday
11	Middle School Parent Conference, no middle school
12	Middle School Parent Conference, no middle school
15	President's Day, no school

 

 

  

 

Parent Night

 

Please join us tonight, January 14 from 7—8:30 for the third of five parent evenings on health and wellness. We’ll be joined by Emily Moser.

 

Emily is director of parenting programs at Oregon Partnership, a statewide

nonprofit that provides substance abuse prevention education and treatment referral.

 

Emily will share information about the rates of underage drinking in Oregon (often referenced among 8th and 11th graders) as well as the adverse health affects of this.

 

Underage drinking is widespread in Oregon. In 2007, according to self-reports made by Oregon students in high school (grades 9—12):

 

•       33% had their first drink (not a few sips) before the age of 13.

•       47% had at least one drink on one or more occasion in the last 30 days.

•       27% had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row in the last 30 days.

•       Underage drinkers consumed 14.9% of all alcohol in the state of Oregon.

 

There are other attention-grabbing trends. Whereas national rates of underage drinking have been in decline, Oregon’s rates are increasing. Oregon experienced a 13.1% increase in 8th grade monthly use while the national rate decreased by 40%.  

 

Emily will give us advice as to the ways we as parents and teachers can start this proactive conversation with students at Catlin Gabel. It is intended as a parent evening only.

 

We hope to see you at 7pm tonight in the Middle School Commons.

 

 Many thanks for your support of the Tanzanian Children’s Fund. Brittany will be sending along much needed goods and supplies.

 

 Tomorrow we will be joined by Father Chuck Leinert, from St Andrew’s Parish. He will share thoughts about Martin Luther King, Jr. as a religious figure who relied on other interfaith leaders.

 

All are invited to attend.

 

Today I shared a short video of King speaking against the Vietnam War, focusing on the fact that he agonized over this decision before he came to the conclusion that he was a moral leader first. 

 

 This is just a reminder that there is a dance next Friday, January 22. 

 

The theme will be THE BEACH. There will be a $3.00 fee.

 

The charity for our proceeds will be the TANZANIAN CHILDRENS FUND.

 

Additional dance information, including the guest policy can be found here: www.catlin.edu/middle/frequently-asked-questions

 

 Many students have asked me about ways to support the Haitian earthquake victims. We are putting some things in place and will announce these soon. Stay tuned.

 

I’ve also asked that students watch the news images (including those on-line) of suffering with an adult who will help them process these.  

 

In addition, I am passing along an article that was sent by Tony Stocks (US English teacher) responding to the recent earthquake in Haiti by Tracy Kidder, author of this year’s US summer reading book, Mountains Beyond Mountains. The article appeared today on the Op-ed page of the New York Times:

 

 

 At this point we are closing (this is a good thing) the two books groups for parents, facilitated by Paul Andrichuk and Lynn Silbernagel, the MS Librarian.  

 

These will always run from 8:30—9:30. Nurtureshock will meet in the library. Not Much Just Chillin will meet in Graceland (the MS office)

 

If you are reading the Perlstein book, we will divide the book by season, with “Autumn” being read for the second session, “Winter” for the third session, and “Spring” for the fourth session. Please read the Prologue as well as “A Conversation with Linda Perlstein” at the end of the book for the first session. I’ll include more details in weekly emails, once we’ve established some protocols.

 

If you are reading NurtureShock we will begin the first session discussing the introduction and chapter. 1. In subsequent weeks we will cover most, but not all, of the other chapters in the book averaging around 30 pages per session. Here is the schedule for the rest of our time together: on February 1st chapters 2 and 6 (The Lost Hour) and (The Sibling Effect) and on February 8th chapters 3 and 9 (Why White Parents Don't Talk about Race) and (Plays Well with Others). We will not meet on February 15th, but will resume on the 22nd to discuss chapter 4 (Why Kids Lie), and finally, on March 1st we will conclude with chapter 7 and the conclusion (The Science of Teen Rebellion) and (The Myth of the Supertrait).

 

We have some book orders, but if you need a copy and have not informed us of this, please do so by Tuesday, January 19

 

Dates:

 

Monday, 1/25

Monday, 2/1

Monday, 2/8

Monday, 22

Monday, 3/1

 

Two additional parent book groups, lead by Ann Fyfield and Chris Bell,  will start April 5th and run every Monday throughout the month. Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences by Leonard Sax and Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life by Winnifred Gallagher are the books for the April groups. More information about these books and the groups will come closer to the start up date.

Thursday, 01/21/2010 - 8:15am - 10:00am

Location:  Gerlinger

 

“We live in a culture that pulls families in different directions, sometimes towards influences we do not value. Plus family alone isn’t enough. Kids need to feel like their community cares about and values them, have connections to other adults, be empowered by volunteer opportunities, be inspired to learn, make good choices in friendships… all of these are built outside the family. In this seminar, learn about the evidence-based programs on how parents can create a thriving family. You’ll learn how all of us can build the connections within our neighborhoods, schools, and families to create a healthy network of support for our kids to become strong, resilient, capable, responsible, and caring young adults.”