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Peek at the Week for Nov. 18-Dec. 2, 2011
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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 |
Message from Barbara
When I wrote about the changing of the seasons last week I did not realize how fleeting the enjoyment of my favorite tree on campus would be. One day the luminous leaves on the tree behind the middle school basketball hoop dangled in delight at the wind’s whim, and the next day their remains, still dazzling, blanketed its trunk.

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.
Being a small school, we always recognize the power of our own human resources, but the commitment and passion of Kai and Owen to Catlin Gabel through their oversight of this third and final phase of the garden has been exceptional. Thank you Kai and Owen!
Check out the garden club online right now: http://www.catlin.edu/all-school/garden-club
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!
Peek Updates:
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 2nd.
Arts Reports Next Week
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!
Choir Performance at MS Assembly on December 2nd
As usual, but of noteworthy mention, all are invited to MS assembly on December 2nd for the Middle School Choir’s performance. Assembly begins promptly at 8:15 in the Commons.
Contacting Teachers is Easier Than Ever!
Contacting all of your child’s teachers is now easier than ever. Like the 7th 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.
6th Grade- 6thGradeTeachers@catlin.edu
7th Grade- 7Teachers@catlin.edu
8th Grade- 8thGradeTeachers@catlin.edu
C&C Parent-Advisory Brief Survey- Completely Anonymous Feedback
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
WE NEED YOU - THIS SATURDAY – PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!
2011 3A/2A/1A Girls Soccer Championship
November 19 @ Liberty HS (Hillsboro) 10:30 AM
Your defending state champion, #1 ranked Catlin Gabel Eagles will play Oregon Episcopal School for the girls state championship soccer title.
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.
This is a huge game. Your fan support will be greatly appreciated
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!
Middle School Athletics News:
All Fall middle school athletes should turn in their jerseys ASAP to Len or Brian.
Middle School Basketball
7th & 8th 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.
Coaches for the teams are:
Girls White – Jessica McGrory
Girls Blue – Carrie Blank
Boys White – TBD
Boys Blue – Deonte Huff
Remember, 6th 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
Catlin Gabel Transportation News:
Please note that a minor adjustment has been proposed and adopted for the Green bus route in both the morning and afternoon. The stop on SW Vista will move up to the stop sign at the intersection of SW Patton/SW Broadway (also known as the “Fountain” stop).
The schedules and the map on the school website have been corrected to reflect this change.
Middle School Outdoor Program News:
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. 5th and the club will run every Thursday until Feb. 16th. 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.
Smith Rock trip for Middle Schoolers: Dec. 3-4

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