Upcoming Events

Spirit Week runs with week of Oct 5-9. The week is filled with fun, BUT it's still a week of school, so students need to keep doing homework and being attentive in classes.

Costumes are worn (if students choose) Monday through Thursday, according to assigned themes. Costumes should be creative, but must be appropriate for school wear. If a student comes to school in something inappropriate, parents will be called to bring alternate clothes or the student will be required to wear clothes from a supply in the Dean of Students office. Friday, students are allowed to wear a shirt in their class color. This year, it's red for freshmen.

The biggest event of spirit week is the food drive. Each day, the community brings in food according to a specific category. One day is dinner, one breakfast, etc. Food is delivered to my office in the morning. At the end of the week, all of the food is delivered to SPAN. SPAN relies on us to help stock shelves, so it's important that we all pitch in and contribute. [It doesn't really matter whether you send in food according to the day's announced category. Every bit helps and will be counted toward the class's points for the week.]

• Please do not buy industrial sized cans, etc. These are not generally helpful.
• Please do not send in expired (or nearly expired) food. 
• Please bring in food that your family would enjoy. 
• Please do not bring in pop tarts or ramen noodles! Yes, they are inexpensive, but they are not healthful.

On Saturday, the 10th, we will have the homecoming dance. Freshmen are all encouraged to attend the dessert reception held in Creeden for one hour before the dance begins. We have some fun and then all walk over together to the dance, which is held in the dining hall. Homecoming is not a formal dance, so tuxes and long gowns are not required. Dates are definitely not required! 

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Things seem to be going well so far this year. I will begin having individual lunch meetings with advisees next week. This is a chance for me to catch up with each one to see how they're feeling about school and all that entails. 

I've reminded everyone about the opportunities they have for extra help before and after school from all of their teachers. It's expected that students will go for extra help whenever necessary, rather than worry about not understanding what's going on in classes. I encourage students to go for help regularly and not just the day before a test. That's not terribly helpful! 

Yearbook Pictures

Yearbook pictures will be taken this coming Monday and Tuesday. They're taken during English classes, so students should ask their English teachers which day it will be. There will be a make-up day later, but only one!

If you want copies of the pictures, you should send in the form with a check to be given to the photographer. I'm not at all sure that you can order them retroactively, though I might be wrong about that.

First day of assembly dress! Looking very smart here.

Some quick notes:

1. We encourage all freshmen to attend the Frosh-Soph picnic and the APA Movie Night afterward. It's fun and a good chance to socialize. If you come, bring a blanket (or even a chair) to use on the field. It will be chilly, so bring a jacket, as well. We will vote for which movie to watch at the movie itself, and treats are provided.

2. Grades are beginning to appear in Netclassroom. Please do not be appalled or aghast at any lower-than-last-year grades that you see. Let's give everyone a while to adjust to the new demands of high school and, in some cases, a new school entirely. Your teachers and I will let you know when it's time to start wondering.:-) It is not at all uncommon for ninth graders to have many C grades early on. They will adjust.

3. Please feel free to contact me any time you have questions. Honestly, I am easiest to reach through my school e-mail account. I see your sons and daughters every morning and throughout the day, so we will get to know each other well throughout the four years we're together.

Reminder: If your son or daughter did community service at a non-profit agency over the summer, she or she can get some of the required ten hours credit for that. The form is due this Friday, the 18th. We will look at other opportunities to work together for community service as the year goes by.

Happy New Year!

It's good to see such bright, happy faces on this first day of school!

I'd like to introduce Stephen Duncan, on the very left of this group. He is our senior prefect for this year and will be helping out with advising. Stephen will provide a student's perspective and much experience to what I know will be an interesting group.

Going to be absent? Leaving early? Arriving late?

Just a quick reminder about attendance.

1. Every student should be in advising by 8 am. Being tardy could result in detention, particularly for habitual tardiness.

2. If your student needs to be absent for some unavoidable reason, please send me a message prior to that day. I will make sure that the Dean of Students is aware of this. Students should also let their individual teachers know beforehand to collect assignments, etc.

3. If your student needs to leave school early, you MUST send a message or call beforehand. Students will then sign out with Mrs. Fegan in the Upper School office before leaving. This is very, very important. If we have an emergency, we must be able to account for everyone on campus. 

4. Alternately, late arrivals must sign in with Mrs. Fegan. Again, we need to know who is on campus at all times.

Thanks for helping with all of this.