Tuesday News - March 6, 2012

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Click here to view our Google Calendar of Events.   

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

Upcoming Events

Tonight! You don't want to miss this wonderful opportunity to hear Kim John Payne.

Simplicity Parenting

Using the Extraordinary

Power of Less

to Raise Calmer, Happier

and More Secure Kids

A Public Talk by

Kim John Payne

Tuesday, March 6

7:00 p.m.

$10 at the door

 Because this talk is in lieu of a previously scheduled Early Childhood Parent Evening, we will waive the $10 fee for our EC parents but they should feel free to make a donation at the door.

     We are pleased to welcome back Kim John Payne. He is a wonderfully warm and engaging speaker and you definitely don't want to miss what he has to say about this important topic. Since Kim's last visit to Merriconeag, he has published the book, Simplicity Parenting, which has been featured in Time and Parenting magazines and on NPR and BBC, as well as ABC, NBC, and CBS television.

To learn more about Kim and his work, click here

or visit simplicityparenting.com

Parent Enrichment Coffee Postponed: The Parent Enrichment Coffee scheduled for Thursday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. has been postponed. We will reschedule shortly as we are hoping to host it as a follow up discussion to Simplicity Parenting.

Admission Events:

We appreciate the efforts of all school community members to introduce new families to Merriconeag. Please continue to tell your co-workers, neighbors and friends about upcoming admission events (listed below and on our website under News & Events), or have them contact Lyn Baird at 207-865-3900, ext. 103 or email, admissionsdirector@merriconeag.org.

Fridays, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. March 9, 16, 30

Tea and Play
While your child plays near you, share a cup of tea with our Early Childhood teachers and learn more about our programs for young children.

Wednesday, March 7, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Early Childhood Information Session
Learn about our unique approach to meeting the needs of today’s young children. See our beautiful indoor and outdoor environments, designed for play and exploration. Just for adults.
Thursday, March 15, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Observe High School Classes
9th & 10th grades – The Art of Poetry with David Sloan
11th grade – Atomic Chemistry with Jeff O’Brien
12th grade – Modern History with David Barham

A Note About the Rescheduling of The Prep School Negro:

This film, scheduled for March 1, 6:00 p.m., was postponed because of

last Thursday's snow storm. It will not be shown on April 5 as announced last week. Friends School of Portland is looking for another date for the showing because it turns out that UNE is not available on the date selected. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

From the Accreditation Coordinator

Accreditation Team Arrives Sunday
      If you see some unfamiliar faces on campus next week, it is because the visiting team for the school’s accreditation will be here. There are eight members on the team and they are: Mara White, Waldorf High School of Massachusetts, Sarah Walsh, Waldorf School of Atlanta, Scott Burgess, John Bapst

High School, Marleen DeGrande, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School,

Dan Garvey, Tilton School, Timothy Harrington, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, Edward Kloman, Pingree School, and Charlotte Langraf, Waldorf School of Baltimore.
      The Board and faculty will be welcoming the team on Sunday with a reception and dinner. On Monday and Tuesday, the team will be observing main lessons as well as many other classes throughout the day. They will be gathering as complete a picture as possible of the school and its programs. The team will be observing all sections of the school (early childhood, grades, high school) and all aspects of the school (administration, extracurricular activities, Board activities, parent organizations, and more). In addition, different members of the team will be interviewing faculty, staff, Board members, students, and parents in order to learn as much as they can about our school.
      If you see one of the team members on the path as you are heading to or from school, please stop and introduce yourself and share your experiences about the school. We have so many wonderful stories to share about this school and the impact it has made on our lives. Barbara Guffin

From the Development Office

Game Show Night

Tuition Support Fundraiser and Silent Auction

Saturday, March 31, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Calling All Auction Donations: Merriconeag’s Game Show Night and Tuition Support Silent Auction are just a few weeks away on Saturday evening, March 31st, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. in our Community Hall. We’ve already received some great donations from local businesses and our families, but we still don’t have yours. If you are planning to make a donation, please fill out the attached donation form and send it to any Merriconeag office or directly to Lynne Espy by March 12th. Click here for 2012 Auction Sponsorship and Donation Forms
Come to the Auction: You should receive an invitation by mail this week. We have kept the entry fee low ($25 each or $40 per couple) so that every parent will come. If this fee is preventing you (or a friend) from coming, please give Lynne Espy a call. We want all adults to come (parents, grandparents, alumni parents, past faculty and board members, friends of the school, plus your friends and neighbors), and we can provide discounted tickets if that’s what is needed to get you there. Don’t forget to RSVP so we will have enough delicious appetizers and drinks.
Buy a cash raffle ticket: Five cash raffle tickets were included in your invitation, which we hope you will fill out with your name and phone number and send back with the payment. It is a 25/75 cash raffle, meaning that if you win, you keep 25% of the total proceeds. Last year, the winner took home $2,486, having just bought only 5 tickets for $100! This large winning can only happen if many people buy the tickets. Buy one, buy 10, sell them to your neighbors or extended family.

What to Wear? Whether or not you like to dress up, we will have a prize for best costume, and to make it easy for you, we will be providing accessories and costumes for the night. If you have an extra outfit that you’re willing to lend, let us know and we’ll add it to the collection. Need ideas? Think early 70’s, leisure wear, sequined dresses, wide lapels…we will have an image book by next week.

Submitted by Lynne Espy, for the amazing Auction Team

School Community Updates

Books, Books, and More Books are Still Needed for High School Library:

     We are asking all families and friends to search their homes for any and all types of books that could stimulate and/or entertain a teen-age mind. We are hoping for a wide variety of fiction, non-fiction, and resource with perhaps an encyclopedia set or two to grace our shelves.

     Please leave your bagged or boxed donations with either Susan at the high school office or with Lisa at the main campus. If you leave your name with the books, we would love to acknowledge your gift with a sticker that says “Lovingly donated by the _____ Family.”  Submitted by Karen Hastings

March Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, March 22nd and Friday, March 23rd
      March conference sign-ups for Grade School parents are available online. Click here for instructions for sign up and click here to schedule your conference with your class teacher(s). Winter Progress Reports will go home with students a week before conferences on Friday, March 16th. At the grade school, teachers are continuing to work towards greater participation from subject teachers at conferences. Do not be surprised to see one or more subject teachers at your conference.

     EC conference sign-ups are available outside classroom doors.

     High School parents will receive a conference scheduling link by direct email. Second quarter HS reports went out via email the week before vacation. If you have not received this email, please contact Susan.
Christine Sloan and Lisa Mainella

Craft Afternoons with Sandy Pearson:

Wednesdays 3:30- 5:00 p.m. in the new Handcraft Building.
These afternoons are for parents, friends of the school, and 4th graders and up. Please sign up with Lisa in the Grade School office. Please note: If childcare is an obstacle, please contact Lisa in the grades school office - there are plenty of sitters available. (officemanager@merriconeag.org).

Wednesday, Mar 7, 14, 21: Crochet Hats

Enjoy crocheting a hat in new spring colors. Beginners welcome. Yarn and pattern supplied. Bring a size "J" crochet hook. Limit: 12 participants. $25.

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

How college prep is killing high school
A narrowing focus means more dropouts, says an expert.
By Russell W. Rumberger, The Boston Globe, November 20, 2011

Who really benefits from putting high-tech gadgets in classrooms?
How much genuine value is there in fancy educational electronics? Don't let companies or politicians fool you.
By Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, February 4, 2012

(Click blue to link through)

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