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October 9, 2026
Dear Lower School Families,
I want to share that the first book for our Lower School Parent Book Club has been selected, and it is entitled “The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-ups” by Dr. Leonard Sax. We will meet on the following dates in the Huntington Room (next to the Viking Corner in the dining hall):
- Monday, November 16, 8:15-9:15 a.m. (chapters 1-7)
- Monday, December 14, 8:15-9:15 a.m. (chapters 8-12 & conclusion)
The book is available in paperback and at local libraries. Please use this form to sign up so we have an estimate of how many people will join. Here is additional information about the book from the author.
School Photo Retakes
Photo retakes will be on Monday, October 12. A photographer from Pictures with Class by Barksdale will be available in the photo studio room off the Morris Hall art gallery from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. that day for any and all walk-ins. Parents of lower-schoolers who need retakes can either bring their children to the Morris Hall art gallery between 7:30-8:00 a.m. (if you wish to accompany them for the photo) or let their children’s teachers know in order for arrangements to be made to have those students escorted to the location at some point during the school day before the 2:00 p.m. cutoff. If you have questions about ordering school pictures, please email customersupport@pictureswithclass.com.
October Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will occur on Thursday and Friday, October 22-23, in the Lower School. The conference scheduler opened Monday evening and will close at noon on Friday, October 16. All lower school conferences will be in-person and on these two days only. If you are unable to attend, the next parent-teacher conferences will be on January 15. Please note: all lower school students will be dismissed at noon on Thursday, October 22. CASE will not be available on October 22 and 23. Additionally, not all buses will be coming to campus to take students home after the noon dismissal on October 22. Please make arrangements accordingly. An email will be sent in early October about busing options for that day.
Fall Celebration and Halloween
In mid-September, you received this letter with the details for our Fall Celebration scheduled for Friday, October 30. Teachers will share specific grade-level details when they are finalized. The information provided in the letter will help you select an appropriate costume and plan your day accordingly. Due to parade gridlock on the Lazarus Courtyard, students will make just one loop before heading back into their classrooms.
9:45 a.m. – Exp-PreK Class Parties
10:15-10:45 a.m. – Parent Cider Social (Exp-PreK)
11:00 a.m. – Exp-PreK Parade
1:45-2:30 p.m. – Parent Cider Social (K-5)
2:30 p.m. – Parade (K-5)
Parent Coffees in 2026-27
We enjoyed an informative hike on campus on Wednesday morning led by Ms. Gordon to kick off our first Lower School Parent Coffee of the school year. All parents are invited and encouraged to join us for upcoming Parent Coffees. They begin at 8:15 a.m. in the dining hall (fireside), and some will move to different locations from there. Here is the list:
- November 19: Developmental Benchmarks for Early Childhood Children
- January 20: Our New MakerSpace and Shipyard
- February 17: When Anxiety Takes Over: A Parent’s Playbook for Breaking the Cycle
- April 14: Understanding Your Child’s ERB Results (Grades 3-4-5 only)
- May 19: Tips for Summer Success
Lower School Skate Party: Mark Your Calendar
The PACA-sponsored Skate Party will take place on January 28, 2027, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Skate Zone in Columbus. This popular event is for all lower school Academy students and their families. More details will be forthcoming, but please plan to attend!
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