NOTES HOME

6/5/2020
Thacher News
Note from the Head of School
Dear Thacher Families,

It is hard to believe this is the last Notes Home for the 2019-20 school year. When we started our year with the Back to School picnic, little did we know what was in store for us. The true test of a community is not what we say and do during good times, but how we support one another in times of crisis and conflict. Clearly, we have endured crisis and conflict for the past several months. Through it all, our Thacher community found ways to support each other even though we were not able to physically be together. 

Life has changed for all of us in so many ways. For those families who are moving on, memories of you will remain with us, and you will always be part of our Thacher Family. For those of us remaining, we will continue to uphold our mission and live our core values as we forge ahead with a positive and hopeful outlook. We must work together to be the catalyst for change ensuring that all children grow up in a world with a clean, and healthy environment, and justice and equality for all people. 

I know many of you are still apprehensive and concerned about what school will look like in September--on campus, online, or both. I assure you, our Re-Entry Task Force will be working all summer, and we will keep you informed as our program develops. There are still many unanswered questions regarding required protocols on health and safety to be determined by State officials. Again, our Task Force will be working closely with MA health officials to ensure that Thacher’s environment is safe for children, families, and staff. 
We hope you remain healthy and safe throughout the summer, and we look forward to seeing you in September. 

In Partnership,

Deba Dunn Palma
Head of School
Thacher Montessori School

PS - I hope you will enjoy the inspirational video (and the education blog) below.
Summer Childcare/Online Enrichment

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected our families, especially in terms of childcare options. In an effort to help support our families, we surveyed the Thacher staff to see who would be available to provide child care or online enrichment opportunities over the summer. If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the button below to see the contact information of those who are available.

Please note that this is not affiliated with our Thacher Montessori program, families will contact and work with staff individually. Please reach out with any questions.
Graduation Ceremony

Our Virtual Graduation Ceremony will air on YouTube on June 12 and will feature the farewell speeches of our six graduates.
Progress Reports/Google Classrooms Update

Progress Reports will be published on June 18. You will receive an email notification with instructions on how to access your child's report on the 18th. Please contact Andrea (andreabd@thacherschool.org) if you have any questions about this process.

Google Classrooms (with the exception of AP) will be archived on June 12 and will no longer be available to students or parents after that date. If necessary, classrooms can be restored in the fall.
Messages for our Grads
Teaching Videos
Toddler & Children's House
Music with Melanie
Subscribe to Melanie's Children's Music blog.
Reading Time with Kim Storch

Kim has been reading stories for us every day! Subscribe to her YouTube Channel.
Elementary
Art with Renay

Paint a lighthouse!
Spanish with Mario
Community
Blue Hills Climate Action Coalition- Free Tree Giveaway - June 15, 9:00am - June 19, noon

Join Thacher's representative of the Blue Hills Climate Action Coalition (BHCAC), Melanie Colby, at a tree planting event originally scheduled for Earth Day 50th Anniversary. Every family receives two free trees!

Residents can choose from four native species of trees (Northern Red Oak, Red Maple, River Birch, and Spruce) and a pollinator-friendly shrub (Serviceberry). 

Trees are available for pick-up beginning on Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19, 9:00 am-12noon daily at the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum , located at 1465 Brush Hill Road in Milton.

Piano Lessons with Chuck

As the school year draws to a close, the music plays on. With my newfound “expertise “ in online teaching I have been able to continue working with my students at the piano. With fewer distractions, summer is a great time to dig deep into playing, this year even more so. Send me an email about Summer piano and to reserve a spot for September ( cwolff@clavichords.com).
Wakefield Estate - 8th Annual Dogwood Days Garden Party
Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 5:00 pm

Join Wakefield for an annual celebration of Polly Wakefield’s lasting legacy. While not in bloom, the Kousa Dogwoods are beautiful in the late summer sun as their berries ripen and turn yellow and red.