Tuesday News - March 20, 2012

Click here for Tuesday News Archives

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

Please note: School is closed Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23 for Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Upcoming Events

Tea and Play

Friday, March 30, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
      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.

     Please continue to tell your co-workers, neighbors and friends about Tea & Play. For more information or to register a friend, please call Lyn Baird at 207-865-3900, ext. 103 or email, admissionsdirector@merriconeag.org.

Game Show Night

Tuition Support Fundraiser

and Silent Auction

Saturday, March 31,

6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

     On Saturday evening, March 31, we hope that the entire community will come together to raise the money needed to ensure that all of our families who seek this Merriconeag education can get the tuition support they need. There could not possibly be a more important cause at Merriconeag, and we hope you will show your support for our diverse and wonderful community by coming to the Game Show Night Auction, buying cash raffle tickets, and bidding on auction items.
Bring a friend for FREE to the Auction: This party is a wonderful way to showcase our creative and fun community. Do you know someone who is possibly interested in our school or who has a connection to our school, or who you think should know about us, please bring them at no extra cost. Let Lynne Espy know ahead of time and they will be pre-registered. If they just show up that night, they only need to let us know they are coming as your guests. Grandparents received invitations by mail, and they also enjoy free entry.
Send in your rsvp card and payment: Your invitation should have arrived by mail. Please, please rsvp! We want to have plenty of food and drink available. We have kept the entry fee low ($25 each or $40 per couple) so you will come. If this fee is preventing you (or a friend) from coming, please give Lynne Espy a call. We want everyone to come, and we can provide discounted tickets if that’s what is needed to get you there!
Get your sitter – Come for Happy Hour: New This Year – we will have Happy Hour from 5:00 - 6:00 during which we will have drinks half priced, and you can begin bidding on the Silent Auction items. The Silent Auction will close at 8pm, and you may want some extra “quiet” time before the crowds come, to locate, and bid on, your favorite auction items.
Buy cash raffle tickets: Five cash raffle tickets were included in your invitation, and more are available in the office. We sincerely hope you will fill out with your name and phone number and send the stubs 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, we raised over $10,000 and the winner took home $2,500, having just bought only 5 tickets for $100! The more tickets sold, the bigger the prize money! Buy one, buy 10, or buy more! You need not be present to win, so feel free to sell them to your friends and neighbors. All grandparents have received an invitation to the auction (gratis) and five raffle tickets for purchase.
Volunteer at the Auction: To make the event run smoothly, we need many volunteers to help for an hour or two with specific jobs like setup, bartending, silent auction table runners, check-out and clean-up. Please, please sign up! Click here to sign up online.
Submitted by Lynne Espy for the fun, fabulous, glamorous Auction Team

The Prep School Negro

Monday, April 2, 6:00 p.m.

UNE's Ludcke Auditorium

719 Stevens Avenue, Portland

Free and Open to the public

The film is followed by an

outreach workshop

with Director Andre Robert Lee.

Wondering why you should see The Prep School Negro?

     In The Prep School Negro, Lee prompts us to consider the meanings that home and school, class and race, aspirations and education play in our current lives and the lives of our children. What does it mean to belong in a school community and what can schools do to become more truly inclusive? We hope you'll come to this unique event and engage in this important conversation!

You will want to see it if any of the following questions are interesting to you:

1) What does it mean to encourage "diversity" and "inclusion" in our schools? Are there ways we could become more fully inclusive?

2) What are the implications of economic segregation for ourselves and our children, and how does school shape our likelihood of integration or segregation in terms of race and class?

3) What role does education play in creating access to the middle and upper middle class? What role do we, as citizens, play in shaping education policy that best serves democracy?

4) How do we maintain curiosity about experiences that are different from our own? What might we learn about ourselves or our children through listening to Andre's story? In what ways does his story reflect a more universal experience and in what way is it specific to him, to race, to class?

     This film is sponsored by the Friends School of Portland with the following co-sponsors: Merriconeag Waldorf High School, Cheverus High School, City of Portland, McAuley High School, NAACP Portland Branch, North Yarmouth Academy, UNE Multicultural Affairs, and Waynflete School.

From the Accreditation Coordinator

Accreditation Team Visit
      After all the time we spent preparing for the NEASC and AWSNA accreditation visit, it is amazing to know that it is now over. Thank you to our entire school community for your time and effort in hosting the eight team members, greeting them on the path and sharing your experiences of the school.

     The team members were quite impressed with our school and had many good things to say. Here are a few of their quotes:
“I wish Bangor had a Waldorf school.”
“truly a place of learning and a place to cultivate spirit”
“dedication of faculty and staff”
“deeply moved by engagement of the students at the high school, in woodworking class, and in all the places visited”
“dedication to the mission”
“openness and engagement of high school students, willingness to take risks”
“strong, positive relationships between administration and teachers, and among people from all aspects of the school”

     Some of the NEASC folks had never seen a school who IS their mission – whose mission imbues everything they do.

     The team will be writing a report that documents all they observed and gives commendations to our school as well as recommendations on areas that will help us to achieve our goals. We look forward to receiving their report and continuing our exciting work at the school. Submitted by Barbara Guffin, Accreditation Coordinator

School Community Updates

Ski Rental Return:
It's time for us to return the rental skis. On Tuesday, March 27, before and after school, skis can be returned outside of the Community Hall. They must be checked off by Mr. Saccone. All skis, poles and boots must be clean and free of dirt. All skis must be free of kick wax. Skis should be elastic banded together, top and bottom. Poles need to be banded top and bottom and attached to the skis on top and bottom. This is a total of 6 elastic bands. Boots should be attached to the bindings. Again, please do not drop these off. They need to be recorded. Thank you. Mr. Saccone

Merriconeag is missing a punch bowl: Now that it has warmed up and become the season for punch, we have realized that our beloved punch bowl is missing. If you borrowed it or someone left it at your house, please return it to the Community Hall as soon as possible. Kindly let Lisa (officemanager@merriconeag.org) know that you have it and are returning it. Thank you!

Simplicity Parenting Press:

This article below by Kim John Payne appeared in the Huffington Post a few days ago.

Why the Ritalin Debate Is Asking the Wrong Question:

Healing Our Kids' Soul Fever With Simplicity

     Parents across the country know something is wrong. All the hovering, anxiety, medicating, and overscheduling is giving voice to that parental instinct that knows when our kids and family life are in trouble. And it's true, our kids are in crisis, victims of an undeclared war on childhood, drowning in a sensory tsunami, and because we love them so much, we worry, and we search for solutions, ignoring the voice in our heads telling us that something's off when we greet our kids every morning with a pill to fix them. Indeed, something is wrong. But it's not our kids. Our kids are as beautiful, feisty, gifted, and quirky as they have always been. What's changed is their environment, and the levels of stimulation and stress we expect them to integrate. Click here to read the whole article.

The 2012 Poetry Out Loud Maine State Final
      At 1:45 pm on Friday, March 23, ten students representing schools across Maine will come together at Bates College in Lewiston to compete in three rounds of poetry recitation at the state finals of Poetry Out Loud.and Merriconeag senior, Tyler O'Brien will be among them.

     The Maine state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete at the national finals. The state champion’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up at the Maine state finals will receive $100 and his or her school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books.

     Poetry Out Loud began in Maine in December with approximately 8,000 students competing at 44 schools across the state. Winners were then selected from each school to compete at two regional finals where five students from each region were selected to appear in the state final.

     The Maine Public Broadcasting Network will televise the state final live from the Olin Arts Center on the Bates College Campus in Lewiston. Anyone wishing to attend the final should register online as space is limited and only those with printed reservation will be able to access the event.
Click Here to register to come out and support Tyler on Friday!

Middle School Ultimate Frisbee Club:
Beginning April 23 and running through May 16, every Monday and Wednesday, from 3:00 to 4:30PM, the Ultimate Frisbee Club will meet at the Desert Rd. campus. This is open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The cost is $40. If interested, you must sign up in the office. The club will be run by John Saccone and other guest teachers.

Merriconeag Summer Camps for 2012:

This summer we will be offering two summer camps during the week of June 25 - 29, 9:00 a.m. - noon. If there is enough interest, we will consider offering an afternoon program like we did last year.

For more information and to register, please click on the name of the camp below.

Circus Arts Camp: This camp is for ages 8 - 12 (entering grades 3, 4, 5, 6). Campers will learn juggling, clowning, mime, pyramids, tightrope walking, character study and performance techniques. The camp will be led by John Saccone. Cost: $225.

Buttercup Summer Garden Camp: This camp is for ages 3.5 - 6. Campers are lovingly held in a gentle, nature-filled environment that immerses them in magical play and discovery. There is lots of time for crafts, water play, the sandbox, walking woodland paths, and playing games. The camp will be led by Jessica Moore. Cost: $175.

Sign-up Time for the Spring Pizza Session: The spring pizza session consists of eight weeks beginning March 30th and ending June 1st. Sign up for pizza will be for the entire session only.

     Pizza choices will be cheese, pepperoni, and pesto, and the cost will be $2.00 per slice. The total cost of one slice of pizza per week during the winter session will be $16.00. As in prior years, students in grades 4-8 and faculty will have the chance to participate during the spring session.

    Students will have the option to omit or skip a pizza day in the case of a known or anticipated absence (i.e., Pentathlon or Dr.’s appointment). Please provide the date(s) of known absences. Adjustments or refunds cannot be made for unanticipated or last minute absences.

     Pizza order forms will be given to all students in grades 4-8. To order pizza for the spring session, please either complete the order form that was sent home with your child or print the form below. Please return the order form with cash or check (made payable to MWS) to the basket outside the 7th grade classroom no later than Wednesday, March 21st. Click here for pizza order form. Questions? Call Nancy Goldberg, 865-1961

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, March 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

Silicon Valley school with no computers
CNN|Added on March 13, 2012
CNN's Dan Simon reports on a school that uses a no-technology approach and how it's attractive to high-tech parents..

(Click blue to link through)

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