 |
September 2002 Newsletter
The school year has begun in fine fashion. Last week,
students met their teachers and classmates, enjoyed a welcome back
picnic (Thank you volunteers!), participated in two welcome assemblies
and began new studies. As the second week comes to a close, new
students have settled in, all students are adapting to new routines
and the curriculum is well underway. Inquiry, discovery, activity,
reading, writing, singing, creating - there is so much in a child's
day here. Please make a point of understanding more about your child's
school life by attending our curriculum nights (see details below).
Last year, we were just getting settled in during
the second week of school, when all was interrupted the morning
of September 11. As the anniversary of that horrific day approaches,
I will outline with you the school's thoughts and intentions. If
you read nothing else in this monthly newsletter, please read and
tend to this.
The media blast has begun about how the events of
9/11 have changed our country and our lives. This next week, photos,
video tapes and commentary will surround us, reminding us of the
terror, questioning our safety, what we have learned, and where
we are going. As adults, most of us can filter this information
in reasoned and useful ways. Children simply cannot. Their world
is the here and now. It is mom, dad, home and school. Security is
their number one need. Am I safe? Will the adults in my life protect
me? Can they protect me? Will they be there for me? That feeling
of security comes through predictable routines, behavioral boundaries
and listening adults-- adults who are "in charge" who
reassure children of their love and care. Young children are concrete
thinkers and see things as good or bad, right or wrong, black or
white. Thus, we must be very careful about
what they see on television, overhear from adults, witness in society.
Should they be sheltered? Of course! To what extent? That's the
tough part. Watching movies filled with violence and adult situations
are confusing to young children. They cannot process it well and
cannot separate realistic fiction from reality itself. As we begin,
again, to see jet planes soar into the World Trade Center, dive
into the Pentagon and crash into the fields of Pennsylvania, remember
that a feeling of security is a child's number one need. My quick
suggestions include:·
| • |
Keep life for your child
as routine as possible. |
•
|
Shelter your child from the news
clips and television reports. Even though the news is on "in
the background," a young child can pick that up with the
parent never realizing. It then displays itself now or later
with trouble sleeping, creating lego planes that crash into
buildings, play-fighting, or undetected emotional unrest that
has no outlet. |
•
|
As children ask questions, be honest
without too much detail. Focus on the fact they are safe and
on the wonderful people in our world who are here to keep them
safe. They need for us to be strong, confident and reassuring. |
In the lower school, we are not having a 9/11 ceremony,
but have decided only to handle the topic as is appropriate as it
comes up in the classroom. The days will be "normal" school
days and the teachers will be their normal good listeners who stress
the child's safety and security. However, I will gather the fifth
graders together Wednesday morning before they head off to camp
Pilgrim Hills for three days. The focus of our brief time together
will be acknowledgement of this anniversary, the importance of being
a person courageous enough to help others, respect and the nature
of a caring community. They will then leave for a camp experience
that emphasizes teamwork, respect, community and care for our environment.
Last year, I gathered fourth and fifth graders together to explain
the events that were unfolding that day. Our fifth grade camp was
to begin on Sept. 12, so we postponed it to December.
Pesky Mosquitoes
We continue to be a bit pesky ourselves, calling the Lorain County
Health District to see if there are any significant updates from
them. "Didn't you just call us?" was the last response.
"Well, yes, but we just want to make sure…" The truth
of the matter is the possibility of a child getting sick from the
West Nile virus is very remote. It is we "older" adults
that are at any risk and even that is quite slight. Nonetheless,
we are sticking to our precautions here. You can help us out, though.
If your child gets to school before 8:15 and is thus able to go
outside before school begins, please spray him/her with repellent
before leaving the house if you wish. Mosquitoes are far more active
in the early morning than during the mid-day recess.
Carpool Procedures
At dismissal time, patience is the operative word. To clarify procedures,
please remember…
•
|
Kindergarten students
|
Pick up at the doorway on the west
end of the lower school building. Parents will need to drive
around the CRC parking lot, under the canopy at the main CRC
entrance, then pull up to the next doorway. The child's name
sign visibly placed in the car window will help teachers get
students to the correct automobiles.
|
|
•
|
Grades one through five
|
Students are to be picked up in front
of the lower school's main entrance (north side near flag pole).
Again, the name sign in the car window will help with efficiency.
Drivers will need to drive around the CRC parking lot, around
the middle school and K carpool lines and then to the front
of the lower school. Please be patient, though, and don't cut
in front of other drivers who are trying to follow correct procedures.
When running smoothly, the line can move along rather quickly.
|
•
|
If you have more than one child to pick up
|
the oldest children will meet you
where the youngest one is to be. Thus, if you are picking up
a kindergartner, your fourth grader and your middle schooler
are to meet you at the K carpool area.
|
•
|
Coming Into the Building?
|
If you are stopping in to pick up
your child at the end of the day, grade 1-5 parents should park
in the north lot and come in through the main lobby doors. Kindergarten
parents should park in the west lot and come in through the
Community Resource Center's main doors. Please stay in the common
areas (lobby or by the CRC exit doors) until class is dismissed.
Coming to or near the classroom makes dismissal more confusing
for the students and teacher. If you are coming in during the
day or picking up from Extended Day please park in the north
lot and come through the main doors. Please never leave your
vehicle unattended along the sidewalk. Thanks for helping! |
Drop-off in the mornings should all be at the flagpole
- the lower school entrance.
Curriculum Nights
We are hosting four separate curriculum nights this fall. We urge
you to attend these important evenings for connecting with your
child's teachers and gaining an important understanding of key curricular
components. Each evening will be structured as follows:
6:15 - 6:55 Dinner is provided in the lower school lobby. This way
you can come straight from work or get a sitter for the kids and
have some socialization time with adults. Nothing fancy, just some
pizza and salad and goodies.
7:00 Meet in the Kiva in the Community Resource Center. During this
important time, you will hear from me and others to help frame our
curricular program and update you on significant LRA matters. We
will then move into the classrooms to meet with specific teachers
who will give presentations and allow ample time for questions and
input.
9:00 Expected ending time
Dates are:
Grades 4&5: Thursday, September 19
Grades 2&3, Tuesday, September 24.
Grades K&1, Wednesday, September 25
K-5 Focus on Special Subjects In order to acquaint parents with
the special areas of instruction (art, music, drama, French, physical
education, technology, library) an evening in mid-October will be
set aside for that purpose. Details will be out next week.
Instrumental (Strings) Music Sign-up for
Grades 4-8
Parent Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 12 at 6:00
p.m. in the Instrumental Music Room in the new Fine Arts wing. Mrs.
Bush will be available to demonstrate instruments and discuss the
program. Mr. Peter Horn will also be on hand with instruments for
rental and purchase and contracts. He will be able to answer any
questions parents may have about his company and the instruments
he has for our program. We urge all parents of new Cadet Strings
to attend this meeting.
Composer and Musician David
Young Here on September 10
On Tuesday, Students in grades 4-8 will share in the music of David
Young. A recent promotional article states:
"Composer and Musician David Young, who
lives with his wife and children in Novato, has some advice for
kids interested in pursuing a career in the field of popular music.
"Get a grounding in classical music. Studying piano is a good
instrument to focus on. But versatility - being able to do lots
of different things - is the key. Always say, 'Yes, I can do that.'
"Saying yes has led David from Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked
for Young Audiences and played in a Calypso World Beat Band, to
the San Francisco Bay area, where he also works for Young Audiences,
(demonstrating the synthesizer to school audiences) and composes
and records his own music and is a freelance engineer/producer in
recording studios for other musicians and composes music for computer
games.
"He has co-written the music for several popular Sega CD Rom
games, 'Sonic the Hedgehog' and 'Ecco the Dolphin.' David told Family
Festival News, 'For Ecco the Dolphin I mixed synthetic sounds with
real marine mammal recordings.' David says that he finds all of
this work interesting and absorbing. It takes a large team of creative
people to make a CD Rom -lots of artists, computer programmers,
as well as musicians and sound technicians. 'It's not unlike working
on a movie.'"
A concert will be given at 9:00 with workshops to
follow: Grades 4/5 at 10:00; 6/7 at 1:00 and grade 8 at 2:00.
What's in a Name?
Sometimes we ask: Where is your name? Please make sure your child's
name is written in jackets, boots, etc. Apparel can easily be misplaced
or left on the playground or picked up by mistake. A NAME makes
a big difference in keeping personal property with the person.
Precautionary Screenings
Just a reminder that during these first two weeks of school, ALL
students have been checked for head lice. We do this routinely after
each major vacation. If lice or nits are found (quite rare) a child
is sent home for treatment and the grade-level families are notified.
All new students will have speech, language and hearing screenings
in upcoming weeks and those results will be sent home as soon as
possible. These screenings have not yet been scheduled, however.
In October we will conduct routine vision checks for all children.
If you have questions, don't hesitate to call.
Substitute Teachers
Each year we look for qualified and caring substitute teachers.
They play an important role by filling in when our regular teachers
are out sick (rare!) or engaging in professional activities off
campus. Some of our best substitutes have found us word of mouth.
If you know of someone who may be interested and you would be comfortable
recommending, please have her/him contact me.
On Schedule
Children typically do best when on very regular schedules and getting
enough sleep and nutritious foods. Setting consistent bedtimes,
encouraging calm mornings and providing healthy lunches are gifts
to your children whether or not they recognize them as such. And,
of course, they won't; they are children! Yet, a good night's sleep
and eating right make a huge difference in a child's performance
at school. So, Mom and Dad, I encourage you to begin the year with
the consistency and nutrition that best invites physical, emotional
and cognitive health.
Don't Miss the All School Picnic
and Homecoming September 21
Athletic events, fun and food are all planned for Saturday, September
21. Homecoming events are not just for upper schoolers (except the
dance that night) and lower school families are typically well represented.
Please plan to attend this exciting day. Bring the whole family
and any special friends. Details will be forthcoming.
Uniquely LRA -- Did you know…
In the September issue of Cleveland Magazine, Lake Ridge Academy
ranked NUMBER ONE in having the Highest Composite SAT scores, above
all other private schools in Northeast Ohio (page 110.) Additionally,
in a sidebar article on choosing the best fit in a private school
for your child, Lake Ridge Academy ranked FIRST "if your child
wants to attend Harvard University," and follows with, "Lake
Ridge Academy sends more than 25 percent of its graduates on to
Ivy League schools. Gilmour Academy, Hathaway Brown School and Hawken
School all rank second, sending 15 percent of their graduates to
the Ivy League" (page 104).
The upper school is extremely proud to announce that
three LRA seniors are National Merit Commended Students and six
seniors are National Merit Semi-finalists. Congratulations to Commended
Scholars Alison Bilz, Ellen Klemme and Shaud Tavakoli. Semi-finalists
T.J. Bittel, Kim Coniam, Katrina Escuro, E.B. Fouts, Theresa Guo
and Mike Riffle will continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship
awards to be offered next spring. These students are among the highest-scoring
program entrants in Ohio. The percentage of students we have that
receive recognition as National Merit Scholars is likely the highest
of any school in Ohio!
The seniors are spending this weekend whitewater rafting,
horseback riding and rock climbing during the annual Senior Challenge.
Senior Challenge is a program designed to bring the senior class
closer together as a group, challenge each individual and provide
an opportunity for good experiences together outside the academic
environment.
Lower school families are always welcome to attend
varsity athletic events. Soccer, volleyball, field hockey, tennis
and golf are of interest to many. If you'd like a schedule, contact
the athletic department. The next home games include Girls Volleyball
on 9/12 at 6:00 and Girls Tennis on 9/13 at 4:30.
From the Student/Parent Handbook- ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be at school every day that
school is officially in session. Every effort should be made to
schedule doctor, dentist and other appointments, as well as family
vacations, at times when school is not in session.
The school day begins at 8:25 a.m. and students are
expected to be in their classrooms at that time. Chronic tardiness
places an undue burden on students and teachers; thus, parents will
be notified of such a condition.
If a student is absent from school for any reason,
please notify the lower school secretary before 9 a.m. The lower
school office should be notified in writing if the absence is known
in advance.
Jim Whiteman
Head of Lower School
Email
Webmaster | Privacy
Statement | Contact Us |
September 24, 2002
|
|
