December 4, 2009

December

17   Revels 7:00 pm, Cabell Theatre

19-1/3 Winter Break

31  Calendar Year Giving Ends

 

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.

Revels
December 17, 7:00-8:30 pm,
Cabell Center Theater
 

It’s that time of year again! This is a time when the Lower School joins together to celebrate many of the cultural traditions celebrated by families within our community. Revels began in 1986 as an all-school event in an attempt to move away from the typical “Christmas pageant” and move towards a performance that honors diverse practice. Many Catlin Gabel teachers that are still here were a part of this inaugural Revels. This evening celebrates the changing of the seasons through singing and dancing. Our revelry honors the celebrations that occur within the cultural practices of our community and highlights the many gifts of our children. We look forward to seeing you on the 17th!

If you have any questions please email Peggy McDonnell or Julie or call 503-203-5102.

Dress Code for Revels

First - Your best pajamas without feet attached
Second, Third and Fourth grade:
Boys – Dress pants, collar shirt – tucked in – if the pants require a belt please wear one
Girls – dresses, skirts or very dressy pants
Fifth grade – Black dress pants and a white turtle neck

December Community Meetings

There will be no community meeting during the month of December. The students use this time to rehearse.

DVD  of Revels

We will have a professional videographer to tape Revels again this year. More information on prices will be available next week along with instructions on how to order.

Language Songs for Revels

The language teachers and the students of the Lower School are practicing the 4 language songs and the students might need extra practice at home. All the songs are on YouTube. Here are the songs to look for:

French “Un flambeau Jeannette, Isabelle” by Rene Fleming
Chinese “Chun tian zai na li” famous Chinese children’s song
Japanese “Ookina noppo no furdokei”
Spanish “Veinticinco de deciembre”
 

 

 

Notes from Vicki Roscoe

Reflections on Grandparents/Special Friends Day

Your children looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL on Grandparents and Special Friends Day and sang like angels in the Cabell Theatre, bringing smiles to every single guest. The girls spun down the hallways of the Lower School all day, loving the feel of their dresses with a lift of air. Instead of having a grandparent guest speaker we featured the voices of our children this year in a 7-minute audiovisual presentation. Our first and second graders wrote stories about their elders that they read with loving care – a great blend of heartwarming words mixed with humor! Herb Jahncke, our very talented second grade teacher, put it together for our guests. If you’d like to see it for yourself, click here!

Thanksgiving is a time of year to count your blessings and I am certainly counting mine. As I admired your beautiful children on stage I realized that the skillful parenting they get from you was shaped by the parenting of their grandparents, many of whom were sitting in the audience. And for that, the entire Lower School staff and faculty are grateful, as we love working with your children!
 

Problem Solving Steps by Grade Level

Teaching the steps to problem solving is crucial for social emotional learning.  The ability to understand how to solve problems effectively and to critically think about a situation is imperative for social and emotional growth of students.  Each grade level is taught the steps to problem solving throughout the year.  The steps are broken down depending on the cognitive level of the grade.  For example, in the first grade three steps instead of four are used as this is much easier for students to remember.  In addition to the number of steps, how these are talked about remain basic and to the point.  Stories are shared and first graders are asked to extrapolate on possible solutions to problems. 

In the older grades, steps are added and/or modified and the lessons incorporate role plays and more complex scenarios for the children to sort out.  Steps of “cool off” and “what is the size of the problem” are added as children in these ages are able to retain more steps as well as think about the process more abstractly.  Beginning in fourth grade, concepts of relational aggression are discussed and children are asked how to solve these kinds of problems.   

The steps to problem solving are as follows: 

First Grade
•    Listen to the problem?
•    Think of solutions
•    Make a plan and go for it

Second Grade
•    Cool off
•    What’s the problem?
•    Brainstorm solutions
•    Make a plan and go for it

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades
•    Cool off
•    What is the problem?
•    How big is the problem?
•    Brainstorm solutions
•    Make a plan and go for it.
 

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

Catlin Gabel Logo Merchandise Clearance Sale

Tuesday, December 8, and Wednesday, December 9 1:00 – 3:30 pm in the Barn

We are clearing out our inventory to make way for new logo merchandise. This is a great opportunity to get one-of-a-kind items from the vault. Great deals on sweatshirts, T-shirts, mugs, Frisbees collectibles, and more!

Questions? Contact Lauren Dully Hubbard ’91 in the office of alumni and community relations.

Welcome Parker Griffin Heintz!

Born November 24, 2009 at 12:18 pm. He weighs 8lbs, is 21 inches long, and is 100% amazing!

Congratulations Jordan and Erica!

 

Admissions Open House

If you know of anyone interested in applying for the Beginning or Lower Schools, please invite them to attend the Winter Admissions Parent Meeting Wed. Jan. 6 at 7:30 pm in the library. Our Open House for prospective families drew a good sized crowd on Sunday, Nov. 22. Lark, Hannah (interim Head of the Beginning School), Vicki and Traci presented about our school’s philosophy and answered questions. Parents were given tours by eager fifth graders (actually the hit of the day with their unscripted candor) and all of our teachers were available to chat. We anticipate having a strong pool of prospective candidates for the coming school year.
 

Veteran’s Day Community Meeting

Wilson (grade 4) and Luke (grade 3) proudly introduced their father B.J. as our guest speaker at the Lower School Veteran’s Day Community Meeting last month. B.J. was home for 2 weeks from his year-long deployment in Iraq. Vicki gave a slide show presentation on the Oregon Vietnam Memorial located in the Hoyt Arboretum. Liam and Miguel, two fifth graders interested in military history, gave a presentation about the Vietnam War. Lisa talked about taking care of the American flag and what it means to fly at half-staff. You might want to ask your child more about what they learned about Veteran’s Day.

After-School Care News

Lower School after-school Activities meeting during the coming include: 

•    Monday Chess Club for experienced players.  This is the final week of the fall term of Chess Club.
•    Tuesday after-school Revels strings rehearsals from 3:30-4:30 pm in the US choir room.  Strings players who gather in the Barn after school will be escorted to rehearsal as a group. Players should bring their after-school snacks from home or purchase them from the Barn.  Let ASC know whether to expect your strings player after the rehearsal.
•    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.
•    Friday Chess for Learners This is the final week of the fall term of Chess for Learners.

Also After School this week:  The Girl Scouts in will not meet .