February 5th, 2010
Calendar
(Athletics Schedule Available Here)
February
Winterim Catalogue Posted
Friday, Feb. 5
Junior Class Retreat
Friday & Saturday, Feb. 5-6
Junior Parent Potluck
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Upper School Jazz Band and John Craig Band Performance
Friday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m.
Presidents' Day
School and Offices closed
Monday, Feb. 15
"Earth Becomes Us" Lecture
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m.
Future Date Change:
Prom will occur on May 8, not May 1, due to venue availability
And just a reminder for all days of the week ~ please feel free to leave messages, day or night, about your child's attendance. Contact Molly Grove, Upper School Administrative Assistant, 503-297-1894, ext. 315. Thanks!
Can you text with thumbscrews on?
This week we had a fascinating discussion in our faculty meeting around cell phone use at the school. The CGSA came up with what I consider to be a thoughtful, cogent proposal for us to consider, and we as a faculty debated it fiercely and finally passed it as a policy. It will be revisited towards the end of the year, but we will plan on introducing it soon.
Certain restrictions have always been in place, such as not allowing cell phone use in classrooms, the library, or during assemblies. A subtler, more complex point has been added which states that cell phones should not be used for social reasons during the day. What I told the faculty in an email before our meeting is I really like the way the articulation of this policy resists a rules-based guideline and focuses more on explaining the values we have that lead us to limit our cell phone use. For us it is not the most facile or straightforward way, but it is the better path. The French philosopher Jacques Derrida talks about culture as something that is ‘arranged’ in a certain way, and this is what we are trying to do with this kind of policy—to form culture and even identity through these values.
Of course approaching behavior in this way is untidy. There’s a lot of gray and that makes some people nervous. That’s why a rule-based system is so much more attractive to many people. With clear rules firmly in place, you know where you stand and which side of the line the students are on. But this means you really do not need to engage and know your students. You can simply take their phones!
Our approach is different and for very good reasons. It’s our commitment to change a culture in a deeper way, far beyond any Behavioralist model of limits and environment. We want to talk about what is going on inside each student. We speak of words like ‘commitment’, ‘decency’, ‘kindness’, and we speak to people’s hearts, not just some external indicator that leads us to believe they are abiding by the rules.
With kind regards ~ Michael
Summer Outdoor Trips Announced
Signups open Monday, February 8th at noon
Each summer the Catlin Gabel Outdoor program offers about a dozen trips designed to provide students with wonderful adventures and challenges during their summer away from campus. Students have consistently reported these longer trips to be the highlight of their summer and sometimes of their high school career. Though these trips may attract some students with a natural bent toward the outdoors, they are designed to encourage students with little or no experience to expand their comfort zone a bit - in a fairly secure setting among their friends. The trips are diverse; take a look at the offerings here--you can scroll through the pending spring trips before looking over the many new summer trips. Trip signups begin at noon on Monday Feb. 8. We expect many of these trips will fill up in the first hour or so, so it’s important to contact us early.
Winterim Catalogue now posted with sign-ups next week
Please read the offerings with your students and sign their forms by Monday, February 8
We are excited to share this year's Winterim experiential week catalogue with all US families. Students have worked hard in collaboration with faculty to create a wide variety of exciting and engaging offerings for this year's Winterim period, Tuesday, March 16 through Friday, March 19. This time of intentional experiential learning is a key component of the Catlin Gabel curriculum. Last year and this year, all of the school's divisions engage in hands-on learning during the same timeframe, known school wide as Experiential Week.
Please ensure your child(ren) completes the Winterim selection form at the beginning of the catalogue and has you sign it for return to C&C advisors Monday, February 8.
Financial aid is available to assist with costs; please contact Traci Rossi at 503-297-1894, ext. 346.
Everyone invited to upcoming Upper School Jazz Band Show
Performance to feature Portland's John Craig Band on February 12
Come and hear the Upper School Jazz Band supporting Portland's John Craig Band, Friday, February 12th at the Cabell Center. Tickets are $5.00 at the door. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the gig starts at 8:00 p.m. with our very own Upper School Jazz Ensemble performing first. Come and hear a night of rock, soul, fusion and indie music.
John Craig's catchy brand of modern indie pop is a refreshing addition to the already exploding Portland music scene. Balancing pop/rock sensibilities with complex and electronically dusted arrangements, Craig is the newest and most exciting addition to the indie pop genre.
Calendar news for 2010-11
This year we added instructional days to the school year. Our students are benefiting from more time in class and teachers are pleased to have more time to cover their curricula. Because the extended calendar is so successful, we are adopting the same number of instructional days for the 2010-11 school year.
As you review the calendar highlights below, please keep in mind that Labor Day falls late in 2010 (September 6). Lower, Middle, and Upper School students will begin before Labor Day, just as they did this year.
Last year's unusually high number of snow days persuaded us to create a policy about unscheduled school closure days: If school is canceled for three or more days, due to weather or other emergencies, the days will be made up in June.
Calendar Highlights 2010-11
Upper School orientations and activities
Wednesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 2
Upper School classes begin
Friday, September 3
Middle School orientation day
Thursday, September 2, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lower School open house
Thursday, September 2, 10 a.m. – noon
Lower and Middle School teacher prep day (no classes)
Friday, September 3
Middle and Lower School classes begin
Tuesday, September 7
Beginning School orientations begin (details to follow about small group visits)
Wednesday, September 8
Beginning School classes begin
Friday, September 10
Thanksgiving break
Wednesday, November 24 - Sunday, November 28
Winter break
Saturday, December 18 - Sunday, January 2
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - no classes
Monday, January 17
Presidents' Day - no classes
Monday, February 21
Spring break
We are waiting to hear for Portland Public Schools and other area schools to confirm their plans before scheduling spring break. We will let you know as soon as decisions are made.
Last day of classes
Friday, June 10
Graduation
Saturday, June 11
Reserved days for closure make-up (if we have three or more unplanned closures)
June 13 - 15
Gambol auction tables and tickets are available!
We encourage you to purchase your tickets online at
www.catlin.edu/giving/gambol. The Gambol is a wonderful way to support our school and connect with the Catlin Gabel community at our biggest party of the year.
Gambol Mythbusters
Myth # 1
"I don't have anything fancy to wear"
Truth...
Attendees dress in everything from jeans to gowns. Wear what makes you comfortable. It doesn't matter what you wear as long as you are there!
Myth # 2
"Everything so expensive, there is nothing in my price range."
Truth...
There will be items in all price ranges from as low as $25 to as high as you want to go.
Myth # 3
"I haven't been asked to sit at a table"
Truth...
You can arrange your own table or the Gambol committee has a person in charge of table seating and she will do her best to sit you with your class or your division.
Myth # 4
"The live auction is too long"
Truth...
We have shortened the live auction this year and added an after-party featuring games and prizes -- just in case you were outbid on your fabulous trip.
Be a Patron at the Gambol
As a Patron you will receive an invitation to a private reception on March 3 with Head of School Lark Palma, along with Hannah Whitehead, Vicki Roscoe, Paul Anderchuck and Michael Heath. On March 13, you will receive complimentary valet parking at the Nines hotel. And best of all, your Patron ticket purchase sponsors a teacher to attend the Gambol auction. Show your support of our school and buy your patron ticket today at
www.catlin.edu/giving/gambol.
Tuition raffle tickets on sale for $100
The Tuition raffle is back by popular demand. Don’t miss this opportunity for a chance to win $10,000 towards tuition at Catlin Gabel. You can purchase your raffle ticket at
www.catlin.edu/giving/gambol. You must be 18 years and older to purchase a raffle ticket. Drawing for raffle will take place on March 13 at the Nines. Need not be present to win. For more information, please contact the auction office at
gambol@catlin.edu.
Re-enrollment contracts due February 19
Re-enrollment contracts for the 2010-11 school year will be 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.
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