November 18, 2011Peek at the Week for Nov. 18-Dec. 2, 2011

November

21-22	Middle School teacher report writing days, no middle school
23-25	Thanksgiving Break, no school
28	Classes resume

December

2	Middle School dance, 7-10:00pm in the Barn
2	Viewfinder Global Film Series, 6:30pm in Humanities bldg.
7	Middle School Service
9	8th grade performance of St. George & the Dragon in Cabell Theater, 1:30pm
12	7th grade FAME - Japan presentation, 9-10:00am
13	7th grade FAME - China presentation, 9-10:00am
14	7th grade FAME - Byzantine Empire presentation, 8:30-9:45am
15	7th grade FAME - England presentation, 9-10:00am
16	7th grade FAME Food Festival, 11-1:00pm
19-Jan. 2	Winter Break, no school

 

 

This fleeting chance to enjoy nature’s beauty reminded me of the old saying, “Stop and smell the roses.” This saying’s meaning varies, but to me it means taking time to appreciate our surroundings and one another. As we break for Thanksgiving to share time with family and friends and give thanks for our lives and time to share together, I would like to thank a special group of people that have worked tirelessly over the past three years to add to the natural beauty of our community and campus. This group has intentionally created a space and a place that allows for connections with nature, curriculum, and one another as members of this special Catlin Gabel School community. The special group of which I speak is our garden club.

 

Under the leadership of Carter Latendresse, sixth grade team leader and English teacher, a seed was planted and has grown into a meeting and teaching place for students, teachers, parents, and even prospective families if you attended Open House last Sunday! Just a few weeks ago a cob oven was completed as a centerpiece to our community garden that allows for cooking together. If you have not walked through the garden, you are missing out on one of our school’s jewels.

 

But Carter is the first to admit that this amazing corner of campus would not have been possible without the able hands of countless volunteers including teachers, parents, students, grandparents, friends of Catlin Gabel School, and alums. In particular two Catlin Gabel alums, Owen Gabbert and Kai Yonezawa, Class of 2002, volunteered literally hundreds of hours since last February sharing their landscaping and building knowledge to guide Phase 3 of the garden from student originated ideas to professional drawings and construction. Owen started at Catlin Gabel in kindergarten to graduate twelve years later; he is therefore affectionately known to us as a lifer. After earning a BA in History and American Ethnic Studies from Willamette University in 2006, Owen began working as a project manager at Green Gables Design and Restoration, a local design/build company. Kai started at Catlin Gabel in the third grade and graduated with Owen nine years later. He went on to earn a BA in Architecture from University of Oregon, and he has worked at Green Gables as a designer alongside Owen for the last four years.

 

 

As we go into Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for our wonderful Catlin Gabel School community whose support sustains all of us as it members. I wish you and your families as members of our community a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I hope it brings fun and memorable times! Enjoy the time away from school with your middle schooler!

 

You might have noticed you are receiving this week’s Peek on Friday. From now on, please expect the Peek on Fridays instead of Thursdays. The next Peek will be December 2^nd.

 

Early next week Arts Reports will be mailed home for the first two rotations of sixth grade and the first rotation of seventh and eighth grades respectively. This is a change from last year allowing for students and parents to have feedback in a timelier manner after the end of art rotations. This change was spearheaded by the Arts Team themselves with a desire to share their insights with their students as close to the end of their time together as logistically possible. Thanks to them for their extra efforts to close the feedback loop more effectively!

 

As usual, but of noteworthy mention, all are invited to MS assembly on December 2^nd for the Middle School Choir’s performance. Assembly begins promptly at 8:15 in the Commons.

 

Contacting all of your child’s teachers is now easier than ever. Like the 7^th grade, all three grades now have one email address to help with communication. All teachers for each grade level will receive messages sent to the following email addresses and they will reply as needed.

6^th Grade- 6thGradeTeachers@catlin.edu

7^th Grade- 7Teachers@catlin.edu

8^th Grade- 8thGradeTeachers@catlin.edu

 

We would appreciate a few minutes of your time to take a brief survey regarding your experience at your C&C Parent-Advisor conference two weeks ago. As always your input and candor are greatly valued. http://inside.catlin.edu/survey/378. Thank you, Barbara

 

 

 

OES will have their fans out in force – we invite and hope that the entire, greater Catlin Gabel School community will show up to cheer on the team.

 

Please pass the word to all friends of the school, alums, parents of alums, neighbors, relatives and friends.

 

Admission – cash or VISA/MasterCard only - Adult - $8 Student - $5

 

Spectator Info: http://www.osaa.org/soccer/2011/4a3a2a1ascfinalsspecinfo.pdf:

 

Directions to Liberty HS: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=21945%20NW%20Wagon%20Way,%20Hillsboro,%20OR

 

Go, Eagles!

7^th & 8^th grade basketball is just around the corner. Please note that the entire basketball practice schedule is posted on the school’s website on the Middle School page. Games do not begin until January. The game schedule is located on the main home page – go to Quick Links and scroll to Team Schedules, then locate your team.

 

Our first week will simply be a series of optional, relaxed “open gyms” to ease into the season. Tryouts will start on Monday, December 5. To this end, we will be creating two teams for boys and girls. A Blue and a White. The Blue team will be open to more experienced and skilled players. The White team will be for the less experienced players. Teams will practice together and be placed appropriately into league play.

 

 

Girls White – Jessica McGrory

Girls Blue – Carrie Blank

 

Boys White – TBD

Boys Blue – Deonte Huff

 

Remember, 6^th grade basketball is a late season commencing in February.

 

Please feel free to contact Len Carr should you have any questions at Carrl@catlin.edu

 

The schedules and the map on the school website have been corrected to reflect this change.

 

 

The Middle School Rock Climbing Club is coming back in the New Year! The club will head to the Circuit Bouldering Gym on SW Macadam on Thursday afternoons. The bus will leave directly after school and will return by 6pm. The first session will be on Jan. 5^th and the club will run every Thursday until Feb. 16^th.  The estimated cost of participating is $90, which includes shoe rentals. 

 

Climbing is a fun physical and mental challenge.  This program is an after-school club designed to help students learn about the technique, movement, and fun of the sport of rock climbing. This course is open to all MS students, regardless of experience level.  The club will be limited to the first 18 students who sign up! Although the sport encourages individual efforts, students will support and encourage each other in a team environment. Catlin Gabel, under the leadership of David Reich will provide transportation, instruction, logistics, and inspiration. Other adult chaperones will accompany the group each session. Please email David Reich (reichd@catlin.edu) to sign up for this great experience.

 

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to scale the beautiful rock faces of central Oregon?

Have you ever wondered what the high desert looks like in the winter? Come join the outdoor program for a weekend of rock climbing and hiking in central Oregon, and you can find out. No climbing experience is necessary.

The plan is to head over the mountains on Saturday morning in a small yellow school bus, arriving about 11:20 a.m. We'll grab harnesses, shoes, and helmets (provided upon request) and make the short walk to the rock. Students will get a day of personalized rock climbing instruction on Saturday. On Sunday we will hike along the beautiful Deschutes River in Tumalo State Park .

Saturday night we will cook a big meal and sleep indoors in yurts! at Tumalo State Park.

The trip is open to Middle School students.

The cost of the trip is $60. Financial aid is available.

To sign up- contact Peter Green at Greenp@catlin.edu