Tuesday News - February 8, 2011

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All submissions for the Tuesday News should be sent to publicrelations@merriconeag.org by Friday at 3:00 pm.

Click here to view our Google Calendar of Events.

From the Administrator

     Due to the generous snow falls this winter, our snow banks have grown and our parking lot has shrunk! It is more critical than ever to abide by the following parking lot guidelines:
1.) The curb is for drop off only. Do not leave your car unattended at the curb.
2.) The first grade drop off area must be approached from the correct side of the drive. Do not cross the road and park in the drop off facing the wrong direction.
3.) Slow, cautious driving and walking through the parking lot is critical with the snow, slush and ice that have accumulated. 5 miles per hour is posted.
      Thank you for your attention to this safety issue. Christine Sloan

Recap: Geezers Versus Students II

Student Version by Brian Watko:    

     Last Friday, a frenzied crowd of basketball enthusiasts watched as a conflict of epic proportions unfolded before their very eyes. Two teams met on the court for the second time with some unfinished business. Only two years ago, a squad of intrepid geezers clashed with a horde of vicious high schoolers, only to depart the Freeport Junior High School Gymnasium crushed. A debt unpaid, both sides were ready to play once again, and this time it was personal.

     Eager to retain their glory, the students put together a commendable force of high school players: Cyrus Fenderson, Sophie Simmons, Tyler O’Brien, Devon-Murphy-Anderson, Connor Beckett, Emma Dolan, and Wyatt Mccurdy. If this wasn’t enough, an equally powerful lineup of middle schoolers joined the team, to ensure certain victory: Jacob Haldeman, Natalie Murphy, Joe Armstrong, Bekah Rhein, Lincoln Samuelson, Phoebe Dolan, Josh Dow, Anna Evans, Hugh Voorhees, Lily Kolle, and Gaby Gaspardi. Prior injuries kept Haley Johnson and Peter Watko from playing, but their teammates were trained to the peak of perfection by coaches David Sloan and Richard Evans. Read more.

Geezer Version by Michael Fenderson:

     Merriconeag's faculty basketball team, warmly dubbed "The Geezers", came back in the final minutes to pull out the winover the students in the second annual Student-Faculty Basketball Game. The non-stop action was, according to many an appreciativefan of both teams, great fun and a 'most amazing game'! The student team, made up of high schoolers and players from 7th and 8th grades, coached by David Sloan and Assistant Coach Richard Evans, led most of the way and kept the scrappy, well seasoned Geezersguessing right down to the last baskets. 

     Cheering the efforts of all players, the gym resounded with "Go Students" and "Go Geezers" throughout the contest. Both benches were filled with many new players this year but in the end, it was Nancy 'Downtown' Roderick, the Geezer backcourt specialist who sank final running jumpshot. Read more.

Upcoming Events                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Tomorrow Evening:  Why Waldorf Works: From a Neuroscientific Perspective
Wednesday, February 9, 7:00 PM in the Community Hall

     Join us for a discussion about recent neurological research and how Waldorf Education supports healthy brain development. It is becoming ever clearer that the movement and emotional aspects of education are as important for healthy brain development as the cognitive aspects. What does the research show, and how are we supporting this healthy growth at Merriconeag?

     Panelists will include David Beringer, who has completed a three-year training as a therapeutic educator, Cristina Post who recently completed the Mind, Brain, and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Sandy Pearson, Handwork Teacher who recently led workshops for teachers on the importance of craftwork and the hand for healthy development, and other teachers.   This event will include brief presentations and time for dialogue, so please come and bring your questions.

This Friday:  Merriconeag Art Show Reception at 317 Main Street, Yarmouth

February 11, 6:30 - 8:30 pm  We look forward to seeing you there!

presents

Where Art and Academics Interesect

an exhibition of student work from Merriconeag Waldorf School.

Show dates: Jan 17 - Feb 25,

317 Main Street, Yarmouth

Merriconeag's 4th Annual Blood Drive is Next Week

Tuesday, February 15th, 1pm - 6pm.
Calling all blood donors! NOW is the time to call or stop in the office and schedule your appointment to donate blood. Please help us meet our goal of 50 units of blood. Due to all the snow this winter the Red Cross is experiencing a severe shortage of blood. Lets do our part as a community to help replenish the supply. A few volunteers are still needed to help the drive run smoothly. Thank youo to those of you who agreed to bake. Please call or sign up today. Any questions,please call Barbara Kappelmann, 207-754-5777

Merriconeag Presents the Maine Premiere of the film

Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?

Co-sponsored by:

Thursday, March 3, 7:00 PM

57 Desert Road, Freeport

Tickets $7.00

Purchase tickets now

Limited tickets will be available at Royal River Natural Foods beginning February 14. For more information about this fascinating film, please click on the poster.

Growing Up Real in a Virtual World: A Public Talk by Lowell Monke

Wednesday, March 9, 7:00 PM
    

     To read two significant articles in Orion Magazine by our upcoming March speaker, Lowell Monke, please use the following links:

Unplugged Schools   

Charlotte’s Webpage

From the Finance Office

Enrollment packets: Hopefully, everyone has received their re-enrollment packet. The re-enrollment deadline is February 11th. If you do not intend to re-enroll, please check that off on the enrollment contract or contact the Finance Office directly as this helps us with planning for the next school year. Please remember that both parents/legal guardians are required to sign the enrollment contract. If parents are in separate households, the enrollment packet includes an envelope for the paperwork to be forwarded to the other parent.

Tiered Tuition (formerly Tuition Assistance): Information regarding the changes in this program are now listed on the website under Admissions, Financial Aid. At the bottom, there is a link “Applying for consideration” which will take you to the web page containing the TADS links for the worksheet and the application website. Additional information regarding the application process is listed on this webpage under “What Every Family Should Know”.

     Please state the tier of tuition that your family is applying for in your letter to the Tiered Tuition Committee and send this document along with your financial documents to TADS. In evaluating an application for consideration, the committee considers the assets of both parents and/or legal guardians. Parents/legal guardians in separate households must submit an application and the supporting documentation to TADS individually. If you have any questions regarding enrollment or applying for tiered tuition, please contact me at 865-3900 ext 101 or businessmanager@merriconeag.org. Thank you, Shannon Combar

From the High School

High School Forum — 350 and Counting: The 2011 High School Forum season opened with a conversation on

Climate Change. Jesse Pyles, sustainability director at Unity College and a Senior student, Jean, came to our High School Friday January 28th to talk about 350.org.
      The number 350 is what scientists say is the upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The planet faces both serious human and natural disasters if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remain above 350 parts per million. At the present moment, the number is about at 388 and is on the rise. 350.org is an international campaign that tries to inspire and unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis.
      Jesse and Jean talked with great enthusiasm to our students about the road trip they took last year from Unity College in Maine to Washington DC. They were planning to return solar panels that Unity College had bought from the White house after the Reagan administration had put them in a warehouse. The intent was to encourage the present administration to put solar panels back on the White House, thus being a model for the whole nation. Their visit inspired the White House to plan the re-installation of solar panels.
      The students were impressed with Jesse and Jean’s passionate and determined enterprising spirit as well as their strong motivation to make a difference and have an impact on the future of the planet. We hope our students will follow their lead in taking action for their future! Submitted by Regine Whittlesey

Athletic News - Sports Updates

Middle School Nordic Skiing

     We had another amazing race day last Thursday, after another big snowstorm. Both MWS boys and girls came in second place in a 3K skate race at Twin Brook. Our fans continue to come out in full force to cheer on the athletes. The beauty and friendliness of these Nordic events continue to inspire me. We have made many new friends in the other schools. When we watch the athletes ski, we see power, grace and determination in their movement. Again special thanks go out to our coaches who lend their skill and loving support to our students.

     Next week is the final CCC league race of the year and we are hosting it at Pineland. Please come support the middle school athletes. The boys start at 3:30PM, followed shortly there after by the girls. The final state championship will be on February 19th in Fryeburg. Submitted by John Saccone

High School Nordic Skiing

     It was a real pleasure to see the effort by all of those at Starks Hill last Friday. Emelie Chace-Donahue had a great finish in fourth, Carlin Tindall is getting the feel for nordic racing and turned in a fine 17th. Despite missing Zoe and Teagan, the girls finished third thanks to the depth provided by Sierra Jeffers, Hadi Jacobs and Lily Tupper. The girls are molding to a strong force in any class.
      For the boy's: Jack Pierce again was solid in 14th, less than a minute from 3rd. Eli McCurdy, Ben Tindall, Ben McCrave, John Burgess and Phineas Samuelson were all tight in scoring points for the team. Soren Donisvitch and Brian Watko are also in the mix and pushing the pack in front. The boys were sixth behind five of the top teams in the state. Submitted by John Tarling
      The WMC Nordic Ski Championships skate race is on Wednesday, February 9th, 2:00 p.m. at Libby Hill in Gray and the WMC Nordic Ski Championships classic race is on Saturday, February 12th in Fryeburg.  We'd love to see you there!

     For race dates and maps, visit our website's Google Calendar. For high school race results, go to Maine High School Skiing.

School Community Updates

The 7th Grade launches fundraising enterprise: SEVENTEEN SEEDS
      The 7th Grade, with the help of Fedco Seeds, has carefully chosen a variety of vegetable and flower seeds (seventeen varieties in all), which they are selling in a bundled pack. For $25, you will received 17 seed packets filled generously with highest quality seeds. Fedco has given us an incredible deal, allowing us to raise money and while also passing along on much of the savings to you. (We have estimated that these same seeds at a retail outlet would cost between $30 and $40).
     The varieties in the bundled pack are: Bush Bean, Sugar Snap Pea, Slicing Cucumber, Zucchini, Delicata Squash, Pumpkin, Carrot, Radish, Spinach, Lettuce Mix, Greens Mix, Chard, Kale, Cosmos, Nasturtium, Sunflower, and Zinnia. They were chosen based on flavor, popularity, and ease of growing. While some of these can be started indoors, the don't need to be, as they can all be direct seeded in the spring, summer, and even early fall.
      How to get them: The 7th grade will be busy labeling envelopes, weighing, dividing, and packing the seeds over the next couple of weeks. We plan to begin selling the bundles by the first week of March at pickup and in the office. Remember that this will make a wonderful gift as well.

Survey Results Are In
Thank you to all parents for participating in the survey related to our Accreditation with NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). We received 102 completed parent surveys which represent 74% of total families! Surveys were also completed by faculty and high school students.

Top Statements:
Overall, there was much agreement with the statements on the survey.
99% of parents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: I believe that the school is a safe, clean, well-organized place that nurtures learning and mutual respect among students and teachers.

Other statements receiving a 95% or higher agreement level are:
I find the school provides a comprehensive program of intellectual, aesthetic, and physical activities that serve the interests of my child.

I find that my child’s teachers communicate in a clear and timely manner about my child’s education.

I feel that the teachers provide a positive learning experience for my child, and that throughout my child’s experience at the school he/she has found thoughtful and skilled faculty.

Areas where work is needed:
Statements receiving the lowest level of agreement include the outreach program where 73% of parents and 34% of faculty agreed that, “the school has an effective outreach program that clearly communicates our core values, programs and events to the greater community” and diversity where 77% of parents and 73% of students agreed that, “the school offers a variety of experiences to reflect the diversity of the students enrolled and the multicultural nature of society itself.”

If you would like more information about the survey results, please contact Barbara Guffin.

Race to Nowhere

The Race continues to get lots of play in Greater Portland and Outskirts North. If you haven't seen it, do try to catch one of these showings:

Frontier Cafe & Cinema, Tuesday, February 8, 5:00 & 7:00 PM

Wednesday, February 9, 5:00 & 7:00 PM. For more information.

Greely High School, March 1, 7:00 PM

For tickets and more information.

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

Want to get your kids into college? Let them play.
By Erika Christakis and Nicholas Christakis,
Special to CNN, December 29, 2010 7:57 a.m. EST

Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity

Many of us just can't get enough of Sir Ken. If you haven't seen this TED Talk,

be sure to make some time for it.

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