November: Gratitude and Stewardship

 

Gratitude is thankfulness for the gift of life and the gifts in life.

Stewardship is caring well for the gifts given us--our life, our world, our talents, and those entrusted to our care.

Sometimes, it is important to step away from the familiar to gain a deeper appreciation for a range of possible approaches. Experiencing the International School of Prague as a member of the NEASC accreditation team provided that kind of perspective. I return this week both with a better sense of the way teachers work in a leading international school as well as how we teach at Crossroads.

In a Venn diagram (something that our second graders learned to create last month), there would be many items that are unique to each school as well as things that we have in common. First and foremost, I was struck by the similar high standards for learning and the care that both groups of faculty have for their students. Each school also benefits from dedicated teachers who are eager to learn and strengthen their pedagogy. But of course, teaching in an international school with dozens of languages and nationalities represented presents both challenges and opportunities. And the culture of international schools tends to attract students and teachers who stay for shorter periods before they transition to other schools or return to their own countries. 

There are many other observations that I would be happy to share as the impressions from my recent travels settle, but for now, it is good to be back and to begin to apply what I have learned to help inform what we do at Crossroads.

Yours truly, Brad

STUFF-a-TRUCK (11/15)

 

The annual STUFF-a-TRUCK community service project by the second grade students is coming! This year we will be collecting for the Upper Valley Haven.  Many local families can be helped as the cold weather arrives by receiving our clean, gently-used outgrown items. As you switch over your closets for the new season, please put aside coats, jackets, and snowsuits to share with the folks at the Haven. The second graders will be collecting your donations ONE DAY ONLY: Wednesday, November 15, at drop-off on the playground. Let's Stuff-a-Truck for our neighbors!

Kangaroo Math Competition

 

Enrollment is now open through December 15 for the Kangaroo Math competition hosted at Crossroads Academy on Thursday, March 15, at 5:00 pm. Kangaroo Math is an international mathematical competition established in 1991 with over fifty participating countries. There are twelve levels of participation, ranging from grade one to grade twelve. This is an individual competition, and you do not need to be on a school team to participate. For more information, go to mathkangaroo.org. When you enroll, select NH; Lyme will be one of the testing site options. Once you select Lyme, you will see Crossroads Academy and can go from there.

 

Call for Volunteers - PA Bylaws Committee

 

The PA is recruiting interested parents to update our bylaws to better clarify, focus, and efficiently structure the PA mission, operations, and officer roles. Please email Gwen Martin if you're interested in joining our PA Bylaws Committee!

PA Holiday Wreath Sale (Orders Due 11/15)

 

This year the PA has again partnered with the Nicholses, a former Crossroads family, to offer you double-sided 24-inch or 30-inch balsam wreaths. These wreaths are beautiful, smell lovely, and are so much sturdier and of higher quality than any you can buy elsewhere for a similar price. You can order them plain, with a red bow, or decorated with a red bow, berries, and pinecones. Sample wreaths are on the Crossroads fence. Order forms and checks need to be dropped off by Wednesday, November 15, in the wreath folder near the Klee entrance. Wreaths will be distributed at dismissal outside Klee on Monday, November 20.

As a bonus, we will hold a wreath decorating workshop for Middle School students on Monday, November 20, directly after school. Middle School students will have the opportunity to help decorate special themed exhibition wreaths which will be displayed on Tuesday, November 21 (the last day of school before break) and then sold at the end of the day! Please email the Parent Association if your student wishes to participate.

 

Funds raised through the wreath sale and other PA fundraisers support the PA missions of community building, educational enhancement, faculty and staff appreciation, and parent education. Recent PA funding includes a monthly Spanish luncheon, a seventh grade trip to Northern Stage to watch Robert Frost: This Verse Business, an upcoming third and fourth grade trip to the Link Up Concert, and support for "Discussion with Andrew Watson."

 

Farm Sale, Care of Bliss Farm

 

Just in time for the holidays, there will be a farm sale to benefit the Crossroads PA! Bliss Farm, a Lyme farm and home of Anna and Maeve Hammond (third grade), is selling grass fed lamb and winter squash this fall. All sales to Crossroads families will be matched with an equal donation to the Crossroads PA. All cuts of lamb are $10/lb. (legs, ground, roasts, rack, chops, and shanks), butternut, red kuri, and spaghetti squash are $1/lb., and delicata squash is $1.50/lb. For more information or to place an order, please contact 

Bruce Hammond

. Orders can be picked up at Crossroads or at the farm.

Book Buzz (11/30 - Save the Date!)

 

This year, the PA has partnered with the Norwich Bookstore and the Book Jam Blog to bring you Book Buzz on November 30 in the Lora Robins Library at 5:30 pm. Book Buzz will feature for-sale book selections by kids for kids, just in time for holiday giving. Come support Crossroads students as they present their favorite books, raise money for their school library, and increase sales for a local independent bookstore.