The Catlin Gabel Lower School Crier, January 22, 2010
January
29 *No classes, Admissions Day
February
4 How Do I Support My Child in Reading? 6:30-8:00 pm, LS Library
5 Read-a-thon for Haiti, 2:15-3:00 pm, Lower School
8 Parent Coffee with Vicki and Jonathan, 8:20-9:15 am, LS Library , Topic: How to Talk with Your Child About the Hard Stuff, (like war, death, abuse, oppression, body image, etc.) When do you protect your child from the scary stuff and when do you “go there?”
12 *No classes, Professional Development Day
15 No classes, Presidents' Day
19 Re-enrollment contracts due
*After School Care Available
Note: New or changed items will appear in bold.
Experiential Days choice form due Monday, January 25
Each student was sent home today with an Experiential Days choice form. The brochure is posted as a PDF on the Lower School website (scroll down). We encourage parents to help their children make decisions based upon their interests rather than what favorite friends or teachers might be exploring.
Before approving your child’s choices make sure she or he:
• Can make the commitment to all days with overnights
• Will not have conflicts with scheduled after school activities
• Meets the other requirements listed in the course description
Financial Aid
We want to make sure that all students have equal access to the offerings of their choice. We are eager to provide financial support for anyone who needs it. The financial aid form is posted as a PDF on the Lower School website (scroll down). You may hand it in to Traci Rossi in Toad Hall or to Julie or Vicki in the Lower School office.
If your child is absent, and cannot turn this form in on Monday, January 25 you may email Julie or call her at (503) 203-5102 with your child’s choices.
Notes from Vicki
Mariam Higgins, one of our fourth grade teachers, will be sharing a slide show about Haiti at a special community Monday at 8:30 am. Mariam and her family have spent considerable time in Haiti. (See the following article from Mariam.) Her husband, a physician at OHSU, just flew to Haiti yesterday with a team of doctors to provide help at the same hospital he volunteered in a year ago. We hope this slide show will help conceptualize Haiti for our children.
The students showed great care and compassion when they learned of the earthquake in Haiti. Although it is a "faraway" place, they understood the need for help. Whenever an event like this occurs, we try to leave room for student leadership to emerge: What can we do to help? The third graders came up with the read-a-thon idea and it has quickly gained momentum. At first students wanted to collect books and school supplies to send to Haiti. But once they understood that the immediate need is for food, water and medical care they shifted into a fundraiser.
So how do students feel like THEY are making a difference when monetary donations mostly come from parents and other adults? By seeking pledges for sustained reading during a read-a-thon, they feel like they are contributing to the cause. Students have also set out jars for money donations in the Lower School. Some students have already brought in money from their piggy banks to make a direct contribution. I am aware of some students doing their own fundraiser in order to add more to these jars; one student is putting on a dance performance for family and friends to earn donations; and another is selling his artwork. One student receives $3 a week in "allowance"; $1 is put in an envelope for savings, $1 is put in an envelope for giving to charity, and the other $1 can be spent. The money in the charity envelope was given to our effort to help people in Haiti.
Mercy Corps is an organization we've partnered with many times before. We have the utmost confidence in their work and fiscal responsibility. A Portland-based non-profit, a number of staff members are Catlin Gabel alums. It is no surprise that many of our graduates find opportunities to help through well-run non-profits.
Service is a strong part of our school's mission so this is certainly an opportunity to help teach that there are many ways to help others. Thank-you for partnering with us in empowering the students to make a difference.
Haiti Connections
Seven years ago our family first traveled to the mountain top village of Matenwa, on the island of laGonave, Haiti. We were awed by the progressive school community there co-directed by an old friend, Christine W. Low. Our children Max and Genevieve whiled the sunny days away, playing with Haitian school children and goats. In 2008 Max and Genevieve wanted to go back to Matenwa, to volunteer and learn. Although I knew they would perceive things differently in Haiti, being mature teenagers now, I was impressed they wanted to do it. We packed up school supplies, computers and books and hauled it all across the very rugged terrain, moving in with our host family. We shared their modest three room home for nearly a month that very hot July. Max, now a senior at Catlin Gabel, helped set up a computer lab and offered very popular evening screenings of the movies, Planet Earth. Genevieve, now a junior, organized their new library and helped to teach kids to swim. I took professional development classes with the teachers of Matenwa, studied Haitian Kreyol, taught typing and English to adults, and read with children. Mostly we explored, read and soaked in the culture.
Haiti is not an easy place to be, honestly, we still have pretty complicated feelings about our experiences there. But, it is intoxicating. The art, songs, sun and especially, the Haitian people are intriguing, inviting and strong, very strong. Our hearts and thoughts have been with the Haitians this past horrific week. Miraculously, our many friends in Port au Prince have all survived. The people of Matenwa are safe too, though shaken and now really struggling to feed themselves as they’ve been cut off from the supplies of Port au Prince.
Nick Gideonse, my husband, is a family doctor who has been to Haiti twice the last year, working in a hospital and in the open air, with Haitian doctors and nurses. He just left again Thursday with a couple of surgeon friends to work in Cayes-Jacmel, he’ll be helping with the relief efforts there for one week.
Your students and our families have been incredibly, though not surprisingly, empathetic and generous. The questions and touching interest of fourth graders has been deeply moving. I’ve appreciated the support and commiseration from my wonderful Catlin Gabel colleagues. Our family can not tell you how much it means to us that people here care about the people there.
Orevwa,
Mariam Higgins
Read-a-thon for Haiti
Friday, February 5, 2:20-3:00 pm, Lower School
In response to the earthquake in Haiti the Lower School has decided to involve children in the relief effort by holding a Read-a-thon on Friday, February 5 to raise money for Mercy Corps. We are asking children and interested families to join together in the Library and hallways of the Lower School with a pillow and a good book or two to read from 2:15 to 3:00 pm
The Third Grade will be organizing the fundraiser. Next week each child in the school will receive a pledge sheet to gather donations. Donations can be either a flat rate or an amount per minute. All the money raised will go to the remarkable relief agency Mercy Corps. We are encouraging donations to be made on-line at Catlin Gabel’s place on the Mercy Corps website: http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/spencerwhite Thanks to several anonymous donor parents, we are thrilled to say that donations to help in Haiti will have matching dollars!
The first $1000 we raise will be matched by $1000 by an anonymous donor
The second $1000 we raise will be matched by a second anonymous donor
The next $2500 we raise will also be matched by a third anonymous donor
So, yes, do the math with your child to see that if we raise $4500, it will be doubled and $9000 will be sent to help in Haiti!
On-line donations can be made at anytime. We will also take checks made payable directly to Mercy Corps. Cash will also be accepted.
We are hoping for a large turnout and a wonderful afternoon of reading and strong support for Mercy Corps. If you have questions, contact Julie in the office or Susan and Richard in the third grade.
Re-enrollment contracts due February 19
Re-enrollment contracts for the 2010-11 school year are being mailed on January 27. Signed contracts must be postmarked or hand delivered to Toad Hall by February 19. This deadline is firm. We cannot guarantee a spot for your child(ren) if we do not receive the contract by February 19.
If your child is not returning, please return the enrollment decline form by February 19.
Please call Traci Jernigan Rossi ’83 in the admission office if you have questions about re-enrollment, 503-297-1894 ext. 346. Questions concerning payment options should be directed to Mary Ann Rogers in the business office at 503-203-5114.
Join the "What's Next?" workshop online
RSVPs were required by January 8 to participate in person, but it's not too late to participate online.
Alumni, parents, students, and friends of Catlin Gabel are encouraged to join the workshop online. It's easy:
• Visit the website on January 23, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pacific time).
• Find the "What's Next?" badge below the home page photo.
• Click on the badge to link to the virtual version of the "What's Next?" workshop.
We also welcome you to make suggestions for how Catlin Gabel can keep the spirit of the Rummage Sale alive through a new activity. Post your ideas on our website forum.
Learn more about the What's Next? process
Registration is open for Gambol 2010!
Tables and single tickets are now available for the Gambol auction being held on Saturday, March 13, 2010.
Reserve your seats today before we sell out! A portion of each ticket is tax deductible. Registration is online on our secure site. Click here to register.
Auction item donations are accepted until February 1.
Don't miss out on participating in this important event for our school. Donations are essential for meeting our fundraising goal. Forms are available here.
Advertising and Sponsorships are a great way to expose your business to the Catlin Gabel community.
The Catlin Gabel community is a desirable demographic for any advertiser. Reaching them through such a focused and receptive forum as the Gambol auction catalog is a distinctive advantage for your sales efforts. In addition to being featured in the auction catalog for over 450 guests to view at the event, your ad will be made available to the entire Catlin Gabel community through an online catalog on the Gambol website prior to the event. For specific paid advertising and sponsor information, please go to www.catlin.edu/giving/gambol or contact the auction office . For free class advertisements in honor of teachers and students please contact Gambol Co-chair, Gina Wand. Thank you!
Upper School Funsraiser
Saturday, January 30 - 4 1/2 hours of childcare for $20!
Looking for a night out on Saturday, January 30th? Drop your children at school and fabulous upper school students will take it from there. $20 gives you 4 1/2 hours of excellent childcare. Student participants in a global education trip to Nepal are hosting this event. Three teachers will be present as well. All monies raised will be donated to non-profit groups working on literacy and health issues in Nepal.
Location: Catlin Gabel School
Ages: 1st through 5th grade students
Date: Saturday, January 30th
Time: 5:30-10:00 PM
Snacks and plenty of fun included!
For reservations, contact David Ellenberg
The Catlin Gabel community is invited to the next Garden Club meeting
January 27, from 3:30 – 5:00 pm, Narnia in the middle school building
The next Garden Club meeting is an open meeting for the Catlin Gabel community. This is an invitation to parents, students and staff to come collaborate and plan on the next steps for the garden that is growing behind the middle school. The meeting is from 3:30 – 5:00 pm on Wednesday, January 27, in Narnia in the middle school building.
Our agenda is simple but ambitious: 1) How to incorporate the garden into school curricula, grades Pre K – 12; and 2) the physical design of the garden, as we plan on building seven more raised beds and adding garden art this spring and summer.
If there are questions, please email Carter Latendresse. Thank you.
Upper School Jazz Band supporting Portland's John Craig Band
Friday, February 12, Cabell Center, doors open at 7:00 pm, show starts at 8:00 pm
Come and hear the Upper School Jazz Band supporting Portland's John Craig Band, Friday February 12 at the Cabell Center. Tickets are $5.00 at the door and the whole family can come. Doors open at 7:00 pm and the gig starts at 8:00 pm with our very own Upper School Jazz Ensemble performing first. Come and hear a night of, rock, soul, fusion and indie music.
After School Care News
Lower School After-School Activities next week include:
• Monday Chess Team will meet for their final practice session before the 1/30 Chess for Success regional tournament.
• 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 3:30pm.
• Individual Strings lessons as scheduled Wednesday afternoons.
• Monday Chess Club and Thursday Chess for Learners (note meeting day change) will resume in February.
• Yoga class, meeting on 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. Sign-up here. First come, first served!
• Come Roll With Us, the ASC all-day program next Friday, January 29 has some student places remaining. The day will include a trip to Oaks Park to go roller skating. To inquire, leave a message for Ginny Malm at 503.297.894 ext. 353 by Monday morning.
Also After School: Girl Scout groups will not meet this week.
Fusion Yoga for grades 1-5
Catlin Gabel Lower School students are invited to explore basics of YOGA (including stretching, breathing, and the practice of mindfulness) for 9 weeks this winter and spring. Having fun will fuse with story-telling, poetry and a special project caring for animals in need.
Both boys and girls are welcome to join Suresh Srinivas, assisted by Lisa Ellenberg for ¾ hour on Fridays after school for a Winter/Spring term of 10 weeks. The group will include no more than 15 participants.
• Dates for the class will be: February 5, 19 and 26; March 12, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. (There is no LS on 2/12, 3/5, 3/19, 3/26.)
• The fee will be $99 for 9 weeks billed to student accounts in March.
• Students will come to the LS Library after classes end on Fridays and meet there until 4:00 pm. The fee includes a snack served at 3:50 pm.
• Students will be provided yoga mats and props. They are expected to wear comfortable and appropriate clothing for yoga.
• Pick students up right at 4:00 pm in the LS Library; after that time students will return to After-School Care. ASC will be billed monthly as used.
SURESH SRINIVAS is a Computer Scientist, Principal Engineer at Intel Corporation and LS parent. He has developed a passion for integrative and holistic health. In his spare time he volunteers with local non-profits such as NW Veg, and Street Yoga where he teaches yoga for homeless youth.