SAVE THE DATE!

How Do I Support My Child in Reading?

Thursday, February 4
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Lower School Library

Art Show

January 12 – February 22 Cabell Center foyer

Minimalist works from the Collections of the Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundations. Prints by renowned artists including Joseph Albers, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, and Frank Stella. 

PFA Meeting 

January 21, 8:15 am - 10:00 am., Gerlinger

Raising our Daughters and Sons: It Really Does Take a Village a talk by Kathy Masarie, M.D., author of Raising our Daughters and Raising our Sons

“We live in a culture that pulls families in different directions, sometimes towards influences we do not value. Plus family alone isn’t enough. Kids need to feel like their community cares about and values them, have connections to other adults, be empowered by volunteer opportunities, be inspired to learn, make good choices in friendships… all of these are built outside the family. In this seminar, learn about the evidence-based programs on how parents can create a thriving family. You’ll learn how all of us can build the connections within our neighborhoods, schools, and families to create a healthy network of support for our kids to become strong, resilient, capable, responsible, and caring young adults.”

Safety reminder about curb side pick up

• Both lanes have moving cars - do not get out of your car.  If you have to assist your child in stowing their backpack and putting on their belt then safety is better served if you take the time to park in the lot.

• Do not stop and wait in a particular place. Tell your child to look for you all the way up the line.

• Do not allow your child to enter on the driver's side of the car! 

• Set an example - We have young, inexperienced drivers on campus and they need your help by setting a good example of safe, courteous behavior when you are on campus whether you are walking or driving through the parking lot.

• The neon vest rules. You need to do what they say, when they say it. .

Read the complete set of parking lot rules
 

Children and Body Image

By Jonathan Weedman, Beginning and Lower School Counselor

If you ask a 5-year-old what dieting means you are likely to get a variety of responses.  Most of us would like to believe that a 5-year-old would say, “What are you talking about?” or the wonderful “I don’t know.”  However, it seems that research is telling us that in fact we might hear something like, “A diet is when you don’t eat.”  Research from Florida State University indicates children as young as three-years-old think about their bodies and how they compare to their classmates. 

Here at Catlin Gabel, it would appear we are no less victim to this potential research finding.  In the last several months I have had numerous conversations with teachers, parents, and children about body image.  In my previous work experience I was very accustomed to talking about body image with adults and adolescents.  Never did I image I would be talking about body image to children as young as five years old. 

Read entire article to learn what you can do to help

Spring Festival

The first Spring Festival Planning Meeting will begin at 8:30 am on Wednesday, January 20 in the Jubitz Room.  The meeting will last about 90 minutes and we will be picking this year’s theme so come with ideas!  If you are looking for a way to get involved with the school, here is a great opportunity to make connections and learn about event planning. If you have experience organizing and throwing GREAT parties, this is the volunteer event to sign up for.  We are still looking for the next official Spring Festival Coordinator, so if you are interested in this great event please come to the meeting.   Spring Festival will be held on Sunday, May 2, from noon to 4:00 pm, rain or shine (we always hope for shine!)
 
If you cannot make it to the meeting and would like to help the committee, please email Kayla Reich. We will be sure to keep you in the loop.
 

Bus route reminder

Beginning or Lower School students riding the bus must be on the daily bus list.  Arrange this by calling 503-297-1894 ext. 666 before 1:00 pm on the day affected, or by calling Ginny Malm ext. 353 directly after that time. Long term bus arrangements are also arranged through Ginny.

Yearbook volunteers needed

Grades 1 through 4 are in need of yearbook volunteers. Please let Julie know if you are intersted in working on this annual project.

After-School Care news

Lower School After-School Activities next week include: 

• Tuesday after-school Homework Club will meet 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.

Note:  This week is a “no-homework week” for the 4th Grade.  Only students who have homework to work on should attend Tuesday Homework Club.

• Individual Strings Lessons as scheduled Wednesday afternoons.

Other After School Care News

• Monday Chess Team will not meet as there is no school that day.

• Monday Chess Club and Thursday Chess for Learners (note meeting day change) will resume in February. 

Change of scheduled dates:  Yoga class, Fridays after-school, will begin on February 5 for students in Grades 1-5.  Suresh Srinivas, CGS LS parent and Yoga Instructor will lead the group, assisted by Lisa Ellenberg, LS Librarian and Yoga enthusiast. Paperwork for this class will be included in next week’s Crier.  Sign-up will be “first come, first served” after that Crier is posted on-line next Friday.

A reminder about ASC all-day programs:  Students who are frequent daily ASC participants (or full-time) receive automatic notification of these programs on non-holidays when there is no Lower School. Any family with need for this coverage on a particular date is encouraged to let Ginny know as far ahead of the desired day as possible.  The next two ASC all-day programs will be on Friday,  January 29 and Friday, February 12.

Girl Scouts in Grades 4 and 5 will meet in their respective classrooms this Wednesday after school.

Experiential Week, March 16-19

This will be our second year of combining Experiential Days in the Lower School, Breakaway in the Middle School, and Winterim in the Upper School into one Catlin Gabel Experiential Week. We are committed to this schedule for the following reasons:

* Backing it up to spring break means that students in grades 5-12 can be involved in national and international trips missing fewer, if any classes. Flight costs will also be lower with departures the week before spring break.
* Better weather allows for more local experiential opportunities (the Upper School Winterim used to be in February).
* Sets the stage for cross-age connections among divisions.
* Opens up student leadership opportunities (such as US students helping to lead groups for LS and MS students).
* Good timing for students – there is a natural “pause” in studies during spring break already.
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