October 27, 2011Peek at the Week for Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 2011
October
| 28 |
Grandparents & Special Friends morning, 8:00-11:15am |
| 29 |
Catlin Gabel Service Corp work day at Oregon Food Bank |
November
| 4 |
Middle School choir begins t |
| 10 |
Teaching & Learning Center parent lecture evening, 7:00pm in the middle school Commons |
| 11 |
Middle School Coffee House, 7-8:15pm in Narnia |
| 13 |
Catlin Gabel Admission Open House |
| 15 |
Middle School parent coffee with Barbara, 8:30-9:30am in the middle school library |
| 16 |
Middle School Service Learning |
| 21-22 |
Middle School teacher report writing days, no middle school |
| 23-25 |
Thanksgiving Break, no school |
| 28 |
Classes resume |
Message from Barbara
As we wind down our first service learning day of the year, I am struck by the connections, growth and real life experiences days like these provide the entire community. We had students playing with 3-year-olds in Head Start programs around Portland, conversing with senior citizens just down the street at Regency Park, preparing food for the homeless at a variety of agencies downtown, to only name a few of our activities. The morning excitement began with assembly led by Len Carr highlighting the commitment we have to one another to do good deeds and contribute to the world so it becomes the place we all hope it can be. He shared the value of connections in the form of relationships upon which much of our commitment to service begins and is sustained over the years. After lunch, community service transformed into community members and their service stories, a bit of a play on words, as about 15 leaders of service organizations and Catlin community members held small seminar style sessions with the students. Often volunteering at these places allows for us to do a lot, but hearing the history and the actual impact the work has on others and society can be lost. This afternoon they had the opportunity to hear this first hand!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
Today our 185 middle schoolers accompanied by their C&C advisors contributed about 600 hours of service to the greater Portland area. While we did not change the world drastically, I know Catlin Gabel students left a positive mark on Portland today! Ask them about it!
A special thank you to Len Carr for organizing service learning in the Middle School, and for a great afternoon of speakers today!
Boo! Halloween in the Middle School
Halloween is in the air. The Middle School tradition invites students to wear their costumes if they want first thing Monday morning, October 31. We will have a “Halloween fashion show” during a special Monday assembly, which entails groups of students, usually by grade, showing off their outfits. Typically students bring a change of clothes which they change into at break or lunch.
In the spirit of kids being kids, there will be light, if any homework at all on Monday night. Trick or treat away!
Individual Pumpkin Carving Contest. Bring your beautifully handcrafted, carved jack-o-lanterns to school for display. Bring them no earlier than Friday and no later than next Monday. MSSA will judge them on Monday. Categories include: scariest, funniest, most creative and original, and classic. Prizes!
Middle School Fall Choir Begins Next Friday
If you signed up you received an email from Glenn Burnett. There are over 15 students signed up for choir! If your son or daughter still wants to sing, it’s not too late. Let Barbara know. The first group meeting is next Friday, Nov. 4th 3:30-4:15 pm in the Upper School music room across from the Barn.
Catlin Gabel Service Corps News:
In its second year, the Catlin Gabel Service Corps presents four opportunities for multi-generations to work together in service to the greater Portland community. Please visit the web page for details about upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Oregon Food Bank on October 29.
This Saturday's Service Corp kick off at the Oregon Food Bank has spaces available for last moment sign up should you be interested. Your efforts at the Oregon Food Bank are terribly needed. Sadly, Oregon is amongst the national leaders with regard to state-wide hunger. Come Saturday and roll up your sleeves with others from the Catlin Gabel community, have some fun and work to fight hunger locally.
Here is the link to sign up or for more information:
Grandparents & Special Friends:
Grandparents & Special Friends morning in the middle school is coming soon. Please issue an invitation to a grandparent or special friend for Friday, October 28th. Registration will be from 8-8:15am outside the Art Room in the middle school. We will move to a welcome assembly in the Commons at 8:15am. After the assembly grandparents and special friends will visit classes with their student. At 10:35am Barbara Ostos, middle school head, will be available in the library to talk about life in the middle school or to answer any questions. The morning visit with our special guests ends at 11:15am and students are expected to remain until the end of the day.
News in the middle:
7th grade Open House host students needed for Sunday, November 13. This is a big day at Catlin Gabel when we open up the school to the public and show off our great place. Your job as host is very important. You will be handsomely rewarded for your efforts that day, 1:00-4:00. Please see Len if interested and be sure to come to Thursday's lunch meeting to learn more. We will meet in Brox.
An afternoon with Bats and Dr. Pete
Dr. Peter Ritson (our very own 7th grade science teacher) and his wife, Christine Portfors, associate professor of biology at Washington State University Vancouver, host their annual Bat Talk from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, in the Dengerink Administration building, room 110 at Washington State University in Vancouver. This event is an especially fun fall activity for families with children ages 4 – 12 and is free and open to the public.
While the season often calls for depicting bats as blood-sucking, vicious creatures, now families have an opportunity to see live bats up close and learn why these animals are largely misunderstood. In addition to teaching guests about bats, Christine and Peter will offer fun children’s activities including arts and crafts.
In their presentation, Peter and Christine dispel popular folklore and teach guests about the beneficial role bats play in nature managing insect pests, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. They will showcase different bat species and introduce guests to a few of their captive tropical fruit bats.
WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Avenue off the 134th Street exit form either I-5 or I-205. Parking is free on weekends.
Artist in Residence
Eric Adjetey Anang, a Ga Fantasy Coffin sculptor from Ghana, will be an artist in residence at Catlin Gabel November 7th to the 11th. We have invited him here to demonstrate his amazing art of sculpting a coffin out of wood in whatever shape a family feels best represents their deceased elder. He will be sculpting a woodworker’s hand plane, approximately 7’ long, 3’ wide, and 4’ high on the front deck of the barn. Please come ask him questions, watch him work, and feel free to participate in the building of the hand plane. Eric will give a slide lecture on Monday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gerlinger Auditorium
Two years ago, Michael de Forest, the LS Wood Shop teacher, traveled to Ghana for a summer and studied with Eric in his carpentry shop in Teshie, near Accra. There is also a proposed US trip planned for Ghana this summer July 29 to to Aug 19th, 2012 where students will be working in the Kane Kwei Carpentry Shop with Eric.
Middle School Coffee House:
Friday, November 11th 7—8:15pm
In the spirit of risk-taking, independence and autonomy, we invite all students in the MS to perform or listen at Coffee House. Kids recite original poetry, sing, play instruments, perform monologues, do stand-up comedy, lip synch to favorite songs or do impersonations. Riotous clapping follows each act. Sorry, the days of snapping are over. It all happens in the transformed setting that is Narnia/Treasure Island
. Tables and chairs are removed for couches, throw rugs, pianos and low lights. Due to the size of the room, guests are not allowed and we ask that parents do not attend, allowing the students to take full ownership of this event. Students should go home between the end of school and the beginning of coffee house. Contact Spencer White at whites@catlin.edu with any questions.
Catlin Gabel Gambol:
Calling all party people. You know who you are and you know how to make things fun. We're kicking off this year's Gambol auction planning with a come one, come all meeting at 8:30 AM a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, in Jubitz. We have some exciting changes in store for the 2012 event -- Join us!
For more information contact Kecia Welt, Auction Coordinator at
weltk@catlin.edu or 503-297-1894 Ext. 242.
Save the Date!
Gambol 2012
March 3, 2012
at the
Governor Hotel
PFA News:
Parent Community Meeting, November 17th
Gerlinger Hall, 8:30am
COURAGE TO BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE
Do you have the courage to foster resilience in your kids, when the culture is telling you to rescue and prop them up? Do you have the courage to be truly compassionate not only to others, but to yourself, too? Learn how to model authenticity, honesty, and self-care in order to empower your kids. Join us as Kathy Masarie speaks about resiliency.