December 2023 - Parent Volunteer Newsletter

Parent Volunteer Newsletter

December 2023

Dear Parents,

We can't thank you enough for your participation in our Piece of the Pie event! The administration, faculty, and staff members were truly grateful for receiving delicious pies as they headed off for their Thanksgiving break. Here are some of the thank you notes we received...

"Thank you for the delicious pie. I just had to have a slice - wasn't waiting for Thanksgiving. Your kindness is greatly appreciated"

"I just wanted to thank you all so much for the delicious pie! It was such a nice treat, and it was so kind of you all to think of us. I really appreciate it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!"

"Thank you for the pie! I look forward to this every year. The blueberry March Farm pie I chose looks delicious and I can't wait to eat it. Enjoy Thanksgiving with your families!"

"Your crew has done it again! Thank you so very much for continuing the tradition of pie giving. It's so nice, is a real treat, and it helps get you in the mood for Thanksgiving :)"

Enjoy the winter celebrations of our students as they perform in upcoming concerts (parents are invited to attend):

-Upper School Holiday Concert for Lower School and Parents on Thursday, December 7 at 11:00 am.

-Lower School Winter Celebration of Song and Art on Friday, December 8 at 3:00 pm

Also, coming up this month is an annual Rumsey tradition, Holiday Cookie Boxes ! Cookies can be homemade or store-bought. We ask parents who are interested in helping bake cookies and treats to please sign up. The cookies and treats will be assembled into Holiday Cookie boxes and given to the faculty and staff before we depart for Winter Recess. You can also bring gluten-free treats, nut-free treats, or fillers, such as popcorn balls, candy kisses, or candy canes. We ask that you bring all treats and baked goods to the Pastor Home (on campus) on December 11 after morning drop off. See below for more details.

A reminder that Winter Recess begins on Thursday, December 14 @ 3:00 pm.

Last but not least, if you plan on attending the Rumsey Hall Holiday Gathering which will take place on Friday, December 15 from 6:00-8:00 pm in Farmen Hall, please R.S.V.P. below.

Coming up in the Winter Term:

January Bake Sale: Thursday, January 11
Rumsey Circle General Meeting: Friday, January 12
Bromley Weekend: February 4-6 (see portal for permission slip)
Valentine's Day Fundraiser: February 12-14
March Bake Sale: Friday, March 1

Weekend Activities

Academic Calendar

Upcoming Events

Family Free Skate - Lufkin Rink

Dec 2

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Dec 9

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Dec 16

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Dec 23

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Dec 30

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Click Here for More Details

SignUpGenius

Kindly R.S.V.P. if you plan to attend

Yoga w/ Julie Haesche

Join us for a delightful morning yoga experience exclusively for the parents of Rumsey Hall School. Explore a variety of yoga practices, including breath work, meditation, & postures - from gentle seated stretches to empowering standing & balancing poses. Come together to unwind, recharge, & experience the blissful benefits of this post-drop-off class. All skill levels are welcome. Mats & props are provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Class is led by Julie Haesche, a certified and award-winning yoga teacher and owner of Washington Wellness.

Class duration: 50 minutes

Location: Allen Finkelson Gallery

Cost: $25 / class

*Minimum of 3 people per class

The 2024 Annual Fund is off to a great start. Last year 99% of the Lower School supported the Annual Fund and we reached 75% participation school-wide. Your contributions make so many great things possible at Rumsey. Please consider making a gift to the Annual Fund.

Make A Gift

Upper School Class Parents

Are you interested in volunteering as a Class Parent or Co-Class Parent? If so, please click on the button below and fill out the Google form. More details about the role and responsibilities are within the form.

We've seen how the Lower School Class Parent program has thrived to not only support the school but also build community. We are excited to bring this opportunity to the Upper School.

Please feel free to email us at rhscircle@rumseyhall.org with any questions about this volunteer opportunity.

Volunteer Here

Weekend Travel Permissions

Boarding student taking another boarding student off campus

Both students will need to put in a weekend pass (this can also be done by the parent)
The host will select "Home", and the visiting student will select "Friend/Families Home" for the location
The visiting student's pass should also include the "Host" portion of the pass filled out
Both parents will need to approve the pass unless they are the ones to create the pass

Day student taking a boarding student off-campus

The day student's family will reach out to Phil Perreault or Rick Butler with the request to take a boarding student off campus
If we approve, the boarding student will need to fill out a weekend pass
The pass needs to include the "Host" section filled out and be approved by a parent
Boarding students need to be dropped off before 7 pm study hall (before 6 pm if they plan to eat dinner on campus)

School Store

The Rumsey Hall School Store is located via a separate entrance below Farmen Hall. We welcome students and parents to shop during open hours.

School Store Hours:

Students: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. (or first lunch)
Students: Friday—Student Bank from 8:30 a.m. until sports (2:30 p.m.)
Parents: Monday-Friday at drop-off (8 a.m.) or by appointment

To make an appointment, please email gnewman@rumseyhall.org

Uniform and casual items can also be purchased from our online store with Tommy Hilfiger School Uniforms.

Rumsey Circle Fundraiser

If you'd like to purchase a MiiR water bottle, click the button below to process your payment. You may pick up your purchase in the Advancement Office at your convenience.

Purchase Here

Chain-Gang All-Stars

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites.

Learn More

The Bee Sting

Paul Murray

The Barnes family is in trouble. Dickie’s once-lucrative car business is going under―but rather than face the music, he’s spending his days in the woods, building an apocalypse-proof bunker with a renegade handyman. His wife Imelda is selling off her jewelry on eBay, while their teenage daughter Cass, formerly top of her class, seems determined to binge-drink her way through her final exams. And twelve-year-old PJ is putting the final touches to his grand plan to run away from home.

Learn More

Master Slave Husband Wife

Ilyon Woo

In 1848, a year of international democratic revolt, a young, enslaved couple, Ellen and William Craft, achieved one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as master and slave, while sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across more than 1,000 miles, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains that took them from bondage in Georgia to the free states of the North. Along the way, they dodged slave traders, military officers, and even friends of their enslavers, who might have revealed their true identities.

Learn More

Parent Articles

2023 Screenagers Tech-Free Gift Guide

Our unique Tech-Free Gift Guide offers a refreshing escape from digital overload, presenting a handpicked selection of imaginative gifts. From culinary adventures and creative arts to educational magazines and physical activities, we emphasize experiences that foster family bonding, creativity, and healthy habits. The guide includes community-building ideas like mural painting and beekeeping, encouraging children and teens to engage in enriching, screen-free activities while creating lasting memories and developing new skills.

Are Your Kids Play-Deprived?

Kids today have less free time than previous generations. But they're still playing, even if it's not in the same way that their parents did. It was the day before Thanksgiving and I was frantically trying to prep for the holiday while my son, daughter, and my son's friend lounged on the couch. They were being uncharacteristically quiet and when I checked in on them, I immediately saw why: though they were sitting next to one another, each kid was staring at a separate device.

Join Us on Facebook!

We invite you to join our private Rumsey Circle Facebook Group to stay connected with fellow parents, get notifications about meetings, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities!