November 20, 2022

Dear Lower School Families,

Our Thanksgiving break is underway, and we hope your family is enjoying this week-long break.

Dress Code Changes When We Return from Thanksgiving Break

When we return on Monday, November 28, all lower school students must wear long pants or skorts/jumpers with leggings/tights. Shorts can be worn once again when we return from Spring Break on April 3, 2023.

Winter Closing Program

We look forward to welcoming you to our Winter Closing Program on Friday, December 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mackenzie Gymnasium. Come listen to the lower-schoolers perform songs they have learned around the theme of Wintertime Community. You will also hear some old favorites. Students should come to school in dress code on December 16. When you arrive for the program, please park in the parking lots near the athletic entrance or in the upper school lots near the dining hall. Following the program, students will return to their classrooms for dismissal. Please go to your children’s classrooms to pick them up immediately following the program.

Upcoming Lower School Parent Coffee

December 7: Fly 5 (our new social and emotional learning program)

Please join Director of Academic Programs Gabriel Paynter along with classroom teachers Beth Klug and Elizabeth Sinclair to hear more about the Fly Five curriculum and how it is integrated into the school day and beyond. We ask that you use this form to sign up if you haven’t already. Coffee and scones will be available at the forum, which will take place in our dining hall (fireside) from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7.

Update on Parking After School

Please note that for safety reasons, the gravel area by the Hondros Field bleachers is not available for parking before or after school beginning Monday, November 28. Please park in the athletic parking lot if you are parking to meet your children.

Parent Book Club

Our next selection is entitled “Hunt, Gather, Parent” by Dr. Michaeleen Doucleef. A date has not been set, but it will be during the first two weeks of January when we return. It can be found online as well as in local libraries. Amanda Ripley writes, “Parents: you don’t have to go to kid birthday parties anymore! Or awkwardly straddle playground equipment! Or create chore charts! In her funny, honest, and practical book, Michaeleen Doucleff collects ancient wisdom that can restore sanity to parenting.”

Parenting Article

This week’s article is from Forbes magazine and is entitled “Parents: It’s On You To Teach Your Kids Empathy.”

Happy Thanksgiving! On behalf of the lower school faculty and staff, we are thankful for all of the support you give us and wish you and your family a lovely holiday. School resumes on Monday, November 28.

Mark L. Hansen

Head of Lower School