The Catlin Gabel Lower School Crier, December 18, 2009
December
19-1/3 Winter Break
January
11 Parent Coffee with Vicki, 8:20-9:15, LS Library
12 North Carolina Exchange Parent Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm, LS Library
18 No classes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
22 Martin Luther King, Jr. community meeting, 2:15 pm
29 *No classes, Admissions Day
*After School Care Available
Note: New or changed items will appear in bold.
Notes from Vicki Dec. 18, 2009
Revels always brings me to tears. That last song, “Light One Candle” did me in. I am amazed by our children’s angelic voices, lively dancing and skillful instrumentation work. The intensity on their faces, the smoothness of the transitions between numbers (when they go every which way you wonder how they keep track of it all), the opening and closing rituals….truly, Revels is evidence that our music program is amongst the nation’s finest.
Our students have spent the last month rehearsing for Revels. They learned songs in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and French as part of their language classes. The purposes for this event and the rehearsals that lead up to it are aligned with our broader aims that include: 1) to further the musical education of our students, 2) to honor the diversity within our school, and 3) to foster a sense of school as a community by asking all students to work together towards a common purpose. A winter festival, common to cultures throughout the world, offers as a perfect opportunity to further the children’s education by focusing on these three aims. We deliberately include music that has cultural and historical significance.
Each year Peggy selects a few new musical pieces and the children help with the choreography on all but a few numbers. Other selections stay the same, serving as anchors of familiarity and predictability for the children. We hear anticipatory exclamations such as, “You get to do the sword dance in the fifth grade!”
One of my favorite stories this year was learning that a second grader went home, donned a white turtleneck and black pants, wrapped a red scarf around her waist and slept in this “fifth grade Revels costume.” Talk about anticipation!
Thank-you, parents, for your support of the effort that goes into Revels and for your celebration of the children in the larger context of the world during this holiday season. Have a restful winter break and happy new year!
White turtleneck to spare?
The library is willing to circulate more than books! If your child has a white turtleneck that might fit a 5th grader and is no longer needed at your house, consider donating it to the cause. Bring it to Lisa in the library. Whatever we collect will be available to loan to next year’s 5th graders for Revels.
Tis the season
The holiday season can be a stressful time for parents, children, and the entire family. With the rush of holiday parties, present purchasing, decorating, and all the numerous activities that happen during this time, it’s hard to remember the basics.
Routine is crucial. Saying, “it’s the holidays!” is the best response to breaking any routine. Such events as bedtime, eating healthy, avoiding exercise are quick to go out the window. However, more than ever, keeping a consistent routine is important for children and families. This isn’t to say we don’t have more things to do but it should never usurp our family routine. Children do best when they have prediction in their lives and although they would love to stay up later, it might not always be to their benefit.
In order to avoid being attacked by the holiday grizzly bear, consider the indicators of stress for you, your family, and your children. If you can identify stress early on you can avoid meltdowns, getting sick, and other general struggles. Signs of stress in children might be problems sleeping, an increase in irritability, low frustration tolerance (getting angry easier), not wanting to eat, complaining of stomach pain or headaches. I encourage families to think about stress on a scale of 1-10. A “10” is the most stress your family has ever been under and “1” is virtually no stress (yeah right!). When you start to feel that your family is around a “6” on the stress scale start some distressing activities.
There are a million things you can do to reduce your family stress and you know what works best for your family. Here are some ideas:
• Avoid the curse of the “Perfect Holiday.” As one parent recently told me, “I would love to have a Martha Stewart Christmas tree, but I know that’s not going to happen so I am just letting it go.” Nothing is ever perfect and we can’t expect the holidays to be any different. Just know that there will be ups and downs and that some plans will work out and others will not. Notice the simple things. I just had a very excited second grader stop me in the fir grove to show me his wiggly tooth. We sat for a couple minutes and talked about how losing teeth is so much fun!
• Take a big deep breath. Taking time to relax and breathe can be invaluable for reducing your stress. The effect that deep breathing and muscle relaxation has on your body can not be disputed. Take time for that hot bath, vegging out in front of the television, taking a nice long walk, or listening to your favorite music. Not only will this help you cope with stress but it provides a great model for your children to learn to cope with stress. If you have a 2nd grader, talk to them about their Emotional Tool Bag or as one student calls it her “Cope Kit.”
• Do something as a family that is all about having fun and not about getting anything DONE. Go to Mt. Hood and have a snowball fight or go sledding for the day. Head to the Oregon Zoo or drive around and look at Christmas lights. Make sure the family knows the only goal is to have fun, not to get something done, buy one more present, or attend one more social engagement.
Gambol raffle tickets still available!
Buy a $25 raffle ticket and win a family trip to San Diego. A great holiday gift for someone on your list and you'll support the school at the same time. We are close to selling out so don't miss this opportunity! For information and to purchase a ticket online go to www.catlin.edu/giving/gambol. Drawing will be held December 31, 2009 and winner will be notified by phone.
Questions? Contact the auction office at gambol@catlin.edu.
Warm holiday wishes to you!
Your Gambol Planning Committee 2010
After-School Care news
Lower School After-School Activities meeting during the first week back after Winter Break include:
• Monday Chess Team for selected players (who were notified by email.)
• Tuesday after-school Homework Club for 4th and 5th graders whose parents have made advance arrangements with Sue Sacks, LS Learning Specialist. Students report to the Barn for snack before 3:30 pm.
• Individual Strings Lessons as scheduled Wednesday afternoons.
Chess and Yoga
• Monday Chess Club and Thursday Chess for Learners (note meeting day change) will resume in February. During the month of January, the CGS LS Chess Team will meet.
• Beginning in mid-January, ASC will offer an after-school Yoga class on Friday afternoons for students in Grades 1-5. Suresh Srinivas, LS parent and Yoga Instructor will lead the group, assisted by Lisa Ellenberg, LS Librarian and Yoga enthusiast. Look for the paperwork in the next Crier (1/8/10). Sign-up will be “first come, first served” after that Crier is posted.
Catlin Gabel ski bus
The snow is flying and it’s not too early to start planning for this season’s Catlin Gabel ski bus program! The ski bus will roll out every Saturday morning for six weeks beginning February 6, 2010. If you are looking for a fun holiday gift for your 5th grader, middle or upper schooler, this may be the ticket. Mt. Hood Meadows’ 6 week package options are listed below. Sign ups and payments for these programs will be made online this year, but transportation by Catlin Gabel school bus is paid directly to Catlin Gabel and is an additional $150 for the six weeks. More information will be coming soon and questions can be directed to Kathy Sloan, Len Carr at ex. 406, or Chris Bell at ex. 403. Financial aid will be available.
Ski Bus Prices
5-8th grades
(lessons required for 1st 4 weeks of program)
Lift/Lesson/Rental - $360
Lift/Lesson - $275
Lesson/Rental - $230
Lesson only - $90 (4 weeks)
Helmet rental - $30
Lift only - N/A
Lift/Rental - N/A
9-12th grades
Lift/Lesson/Rental - $405
Lift/Lesson - $315
Lesson/Rental - $210
Lesson only - $105 (4 weeks)
Helmet rental - $30
Lift only - $228
Lift/Rental - $335