NOTES HOME

11/19/2021
Lower Elementary A students organize Food Drive donations.
Coming Up
Wednesday, 11/24 - Friday, 11/26
Thanksgiving Break - no classes
Thacher News
Note from Deba

Dear Families,

This note is one that I am thrilled to send. With excitement, I announce we are opening our doors and offering our first in-person event since before the beginning of the pandemic.
 
The families with students at the Upper Elementary level received their invitation today to attend the UE Student's Project Night scheduled for December 16. The administrative team and guides worked carefully to craft this event for optimum success and enjoyment for those attending.
 
Understanding that we are not yet COVID-free, we continue to adhere to our safety protocols with strict guidelines for the event. Masks are required, safe distancing will be maintained, and everyone must follow all protocols to ensure the safety of those attending.
 
And there is more to come from our Athletic Director Tom Giatrakos! Mark your calendars for the opening of Spring Athletics in March/April with flag football and track offerings. Tom is also working on preparing for the return of soccer and basketball next fall and winter.
 
In closing, and as you finalize your Thanksgiving plans, whether gathering in homes or traveling, please stay vigilant in keeping to the safety measures you practiced since we opened Thacher to students in September 2020. Your partnership with us throughout this life-changing pandemic helped keep us healthy.
 
Wishing you all a peaceful, joyous, and above all, safe holiday. 
 
Warmly,

Deba
AP Students Protest Climate Change

Six Thacher AP students attended an Extinction Rebellion rally declaring a climate and ecological emergency at the JFK Federal Building in Boston earlier this week. Our young activists made themselves heard by participating in a protest performance.
Thacher Family Network
New England Base Camp during Professional & Vacation Days

Thacher's Family Network is partnering with New England Base Camp for Thacher School days off on 12/20, 12/21, 12/22, 1/3, and 2/18, and 4/25 of the 2021-22 school year. The Camp is for children five and up. If you're planning on signing up for the December dates, please do so soon. NE Basecamp needs to meet a minimum number of kids to run the program, and currently, only a couple of kids are enrolled.

During these days, students will enjoy the facilities at the Camp located on Unquity Road (5 minutes from Thacher). Programs included are nature activities, STEM programming, crafts, and much more.

The cost is $45 a day per child (8-3:30). Note that the camp will only run if a minimum number of children enroll.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Corner
Native American Heritage Month

In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving. Below are some interesting resources related to these events.
This video, "America Before the Pilgrims", explains what native life was like for the Mashpee-Wampanoag tribe before the Mayflower arrived. Appropriate for children and five minutes long, this video details some basic history of the tribe, which is an integral part of American history.
Have you been to the Plimoth-Patuxet Museum? The Museum not only represents the colonist narrative and history but explores the Indigenous people's history too. It's a short drive from Boston, open during the Thanksgiving vacation, and has a special exhibit on the origins of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Their webpage, Who Are the Wampanoag?, will give you a feel of the Museum's cultural offerings. The Museum is hosting the national premier of the Smithsonian Channel documentary, "Behind the Holiday: The First Thanksgiving," on Saturday, Nov. 20, for free.
Community Corner
Merry Historic Milton Family Fest - 12/11 - 11:00 - 4:00 pm

At three historical estates:

The Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum
The Eustis Estate
The Forbes House Museum

Enjoy a day of festive family fun at three historic estates in Milton. Tickets provide admission to the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum, the Forbes House Museum, and the Eustis Estate. Each location will have a unique experience with holiday-themed activities and seasonal refreshments.