Upper School News You Can Use - May 13, 2011
May 13, 2011Volume 2 Issue 16
Calendar
US Art Show
May 11 to June 17
Seniors and 1st-Grade Buddies to Oregon Zoo
May 18
US New Family Social and Laptop Program Showcase
May 18
Donor Thank-You Picnic
May 19 -- 6 to 8 pm
PFA Meeting (final meeting of the year)
May 19
May 24
Memorial Day -- Campus closed
May 30
May 31
Senior Projects End
May 31
US Concert
June 1
Beginning School Lifer Celebration
June 3 -- 9 am in the Beehive
Senior Trip
June 3 to 6 -- Camp Namanu
US Final Exams
June 6 to 8
Senior Seminar
June 7 and 8
US Awards Ceremonies
June 9 and 10 -- Cabell Center
US Used-Book Return
June 9 and 10
Senior Picnic
June 10
US Graduation
June 11
Laptop program showcase
Wednesday, May 18, 5:30 – 7 pm
More information: Laptop program
Donor Thank-You Picnic—Thursday, May 19, 2011
On Thursday, May 19 from 6-8 pm, Lark is hosting a celebratory barbecue and picnic to thank all our wonderful donors to Catlin Gabel this school year (2010-11). Come for the fixings, music and fun -- and, most importantly, to share our gratitude for this exceptional community. RSVP online or call 503-297-1894, ext. 374. See you soon!
Last PFA meeting of the school year
Thursday, May 19
8:30 – 10 am
Gerlinger
The final PFA meeting of the year will begin with announcements about next year's PFA officers, division coordinators, and grade reps. Summer Programs director Len Carr will update parents on all the activities that Catlin Gabel offers during the summer. Come learn about the PLACE program, the Elana Gold '93 Project, Outdoor Education adventures, and the wide variety of Summer Programs classes for kids of all ages.
Senior Vighnesh Shiv is a semifinalist in the Google Science Fair
Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award by May 20
More than 7,500 students from 90 countries entered the competition. Vighnesh is one of 20 semifinalists in his age group. A panel of judges will select five finalists in each age group to visit Google headquarters for final judging and the opportunity to win a generous college scholarship. With your votes, Vighnesh could win the People’s Choice Award.
Life after Catlin Gabel: Student and alumni voices
The alumni and college counseling programs invite parents and students from all divisions to come hear from seniors and alumni.
Tuesday, May 24
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Cabell Center Theater
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Cabell Center Theater
How does lifelong learning take shape?
What are the benefits of a Catlin Gabel education?
Who do Catlin Gabel graduates become?
Bring the world home – host an exchange student from Costa Rica
In the fall we will welcome sophomore Nimsi Campos-Solís, from the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
Please contact Spencer White, global education coordinator, at whites@catlin.edu if you are interested in hosting our fifth scholar from the Cloud Forest School.
Nimsi is a fast learner and an excellent student. She loves singing and acting, is very involved in her church and community service, runs, plays soccer, and adores animals. She has three brothers and says she doesn't need any more than that! Nimsi loves helping people – her friends call her "Mommy" because she takes care of everyone.
Nimsi is a cheerful person who is very excited about coming to Catlin Gabel. She is nervous, of course, but feels that she is an open-minded person and willing to learn anything and everything during her time abroad.
Expressing appreciation for the teachers we love
As we approach the end of another great school year, the PFA respectfully reminds parents that giving personal gifts to teachers invites misinterpretation, favoritism, and inequity. To avoid these unhappy situations, the PFA encourages families who wish to express their appreciation to a teacher to do so with small, inexpensive tokens such as a note, a card, or a child’s drawing. For those who would like to do more, the PFA suggests that families consider giving to the school’s annual fund in honor of a particular teacher or teachers.
Summer Programs 2011
Our difference is learning
Once again, Catlin Gabel Summer Programs offer numerous creative and dynamic opportunities for all ages, from preschool through 12th grade. Back again are many old favorites, along with some new and exciting possibilities.
Summer Programs are open to Catlin Gabel students, as well as everyone in the community, so feel free to spread the word to family, friends, neighbors, and community groups. Please be sure to review our beautiful catalog of offerings and enroll today—classes are filling up fast!
For additional information or to view the catalog and to enroll, please visit http://www.catlin.edu/summer.
Inquiries can be directed to Len Carr, Director of Summer Programs, at summerprograms@catlin.edu or 503-297-1894, x406.
Outdoor Education summer trip
Gorge ecology opportunity: July 25-29
Are you interested in real-world issues related to biology, ecology, public policy, forestry, Native American culture and rights, climate change issues, or geology? If so, join us for a week this summer exploring the Hood River watershed by bike, raft, and foot!
Partnering with the Gorge Ecology Institute, we will travel from the headwaters of the Hood River at Eliot Glacier on Mt. Hood, all the way to the mouth of the Hood River as it merges with the great Columbia. All along the journey, we will seek to understand the natural functions of the watershed and human impacts on it. We will meet with a climatologist, a glaciologist, representatives from the Warm Springs tribe, US Fish and Wildlife scientists, and forest service employees working on stream/salmon habitat restoration. We will camp along the way (students don’t need special experience, and we can loan equipment such as backpacks and tents if necessary).
Contact Erin Goodling at goodlinge@catlin.edu to sign up for this unique field experience.
Spring break 2012 finalized
Spring break is March 24 – April 1
Catlin Gabel’s spring break next year is the last week in March—not the previous week, which was published as tentative. We had been waiting for the Portland Public Schools to schedule their spring break before finalizing our schedule, so our break aligns with theirs.
In addition to syncing with PPS, the later break provides improved odds for decent weather for the experiential week just prior to spring break. Experiential week will run March 19–23.
Reminders
Graduation invitation and announcement pickup
Please come by or have your senior come by the Upper School office to pick up your graduation materials.
Parking in St. Vincent's parking structure
Please remember, and remind your students, to always park only on the top level of the St. Vincent's parking structure. We want to maintain our positive relationship with the hospital and retain our parking privileges for all our upcoming spring events.
Attendance
Please email or call Mary Yacob if your student will be late or absent at 503-297-1894, ext. 315, or yacobm@catlin.edu.