November 17, 2019 The Heron Where children are known, loved, challenged and inspired for their future. Lower School Ever Wonder What Makes Learning Stick? Valerie White, Lower School Head Ever wonder what makes the learning stick? Ben Franklin was wise beyond his years recognizing back in the 18th Century what modern neuroscience has proven to be fact. The real key to learning is being able to demonstrate your knowledge by communicating with others about what you know. Watch as one of our first graders explains the part-part-whole relationship of numbers in this video clip. It was great fun to spend time with our first grade friends today as they shared the many things they have been learning so far this year. Upcoming Lower School Dates:
SAPA fundraiser at Chipotle - November 19 OUT OF UNIFORM DAY!! - November 22 Special Friends Day - November 26th Thanksgiving Holiday/School Closed November 27 through December 2 St. Anne's Movie Night at Westown - December 2 Christmas Concert (PS - 1) - December 13 Christmas Concert (grades 2-8) - December 19 Noon Dismissal for Christmas Break - December 20 Christmas Break - December 21 - January 5 Return to School - January 6 Middle School News “We Contain Multitudes” Middle School Advisors “We Contain Multitudes” Cristina Bromley, 7th-8th Grade Language Arts Instructor, 7th-Grade Advisor One of my favorite lines from Walt Whitman’s beloved poem “Song of Myself” reads, “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes”. Instructing middle schoolers challenges us as teachers to know our students as “multitudes” and in turn to help them see themselves as multifaceted individuals. We have the privilege of guiding them as they navigate the inherent contradictions of being middle schoolers, a world where four square, snack time, and stickers are still coveted, yet topics like societal injustice, historical atrocities, and human rights violations are explored in depth. Through our academic and advisory curricula, we help these young adults to straddle the divide between the innocence and carefree nature of childhood and the responsibility and awareness that define coming of age. Walk into any classroom in our middle school, and you will enter into lessons and discussions that challenge our students to think deeply about themselves and about their relationship to the world around them. Through topics like genetics and ecosystems, Mrs. Wolinski and Mrs. Shpak foster scientifically literate citizens who care deeply about the future of our health and our environment. Mr. Brown and Mr. Edwards, exposing students to historical periods like Ancient Rome and the Age of Exploration, challenge students to critically evaluate the past and to take seriously their responsibilities as global citizens who have the power to create a better world. Delving into probability and linear functions, Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Okocha create analytical thinkers who can tackle the complex problems facing our contemporary society. From learning geography to reading Spanish literature, Mrs. Caro and Mrs. Duffy not only prepare our students to be confident Spanish speakers and readers but instill within our students a lifelong appreciation for and understanding of cultures that may be different from their own. Likewise through teaching music, Mr. Ryan helps students to be proficient in another language - one that allows them to express their individual identities and to communicate powerful universal emotions. Mr. Egan, instructing physical education and health, challenges students to excel beyond their comfort zones and to grasp that all dimensions of health - physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and fiscal - are interconnected. Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Sherman encourage students to view the world around them as inspiration for their canvases and provide students with the technical skills necessary to create their own unique master studies. In sharing meaningful literature with our students, Mrs. Shepherd, Mrs. Cameron, and I hope for them “to see each text as an invitation into an experience - literature opens our eyes and hearts and teaches us how to be better” (Shannon Cameron). By sharing our passions for each of our disciplines, we collectively desire for our students to not only feel loved and known by us but to truly know themselves as “multitudes”. We hope that our holistic understanding of our students inspires them to use their gifts in the service of others and “to make a positive difference as confident, compassionate, contributing community members” (Jill Reilly). Middle School Party: Friday, November 22nd The first Middle School Party of the year will take place next Friday, November 22nd! The doors will open at 6:00 PM and the party will end at 9:00. The price of admission to the event is $5. Students who wish to bring guests must return completed guest forms by Thursday, November 21st (forms are available outside Mr. Brown's classroom). All guests must be in 5th-8th grade. Student Council will be providing beverages. There is no formal required dress code for the party. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Brown! Middle School Out of Uniform - Friday, November 22nd Middle School Student Announcement We are very excited to announce a dress down day for the Middle School next Friday, November 22nd! There is no specific theme for this dress down day. Out of uniform day, guidelines are found on the St. Anne's website. If your student is unsure about whether or not they may wear something, they can ask Mr. Brown, Mrs. Reilly, or one of the Student Council Executive Board members. Student Council Exec. Board
Upcoming Middle School Dates:
Middle School Calendar Events: St. Anne's Night at Chipotle (4-8 pm) - November 19 Middle School Party - November 22 Special Friend's Day - November 26 Thanksgiving Break - November 27-29 No School - Teacher In-Service - December 2 SSAT Testing at SAES - December 14 Christmas Concert (grades 2-8) - December 19 Noon Dismissal for Christmas Break - December 20 Christmas Break - December 21 - January 5 Return to School - January 6 Math League Meet #2 - January 7 MS Geography Bee - January 10 Head of School Good Day Parents, For the faculty, staff, and administrators of St. Anne’s Episcopal School, each day is a labor of love for our children and families. Simply put, it is about meeting our students where they are and giving them what they need each day. Rita Pierson says it best,”every child needs a champion and a meaningful relationship with faculty, staff, and peers. It is our goal to provide this for our children and families. This is a short TedTalk video by Rita Pierson that I hope you’ll enjoy. Regards, Barry “The world is never saved in grand gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion every day.” -Chris Abani- Heart, Mind and Spirit Fund ~ Welcome to Week 5!
"We Support St. Anne's because of the wonderful faculty..." Welcome to the last week of our 5-week Heart, Mind & Spirit campaign! "We support St. Anne's because of the wonderful faculty and staff who have challenged, supported, and inspired our children. They are flourishing in heart, mind, and spirit, and we are grateful to the school for creating and maintaining a culture of kindness, generosity, creativity, and collaboration." -Mindy Reynolds and Phil Walsh, P '24, '27 We hope that you too can see how your child is learning and growing at St. Anne's. Only about 76% of the cost of a St. Anne's education is covered by tuition dollars each year. The remaining 24% comes from the school's endowment and donations to the Heart, Mind & Spirit campaign. The Heart, Mind, and Spirit Fund allows us to say "yes!" to opportunities for faculty and students. Let us know we can count on you by returning the pledge form mailed to you in the envelope provided. You may also complete and return this pledge form, or make a one-time or recurring gift by clicking the link below: Make a gift to support your child's learning If you have already made a pledge or a gift, thank you! Participation in many classes has jumped, just in the past week! Won't you help your child's class get to 100%? Questions? Feel free to contact Jenny Randolph at (302) 378-3179 x347 or email jrandolph@stannesde.org. Thank you! From the Chaplain One of the trademarks of an Episcopal school, whether it is a PS-8 school or a college, is the honoring of traditions. The tradition of the Baby Blessing Chapel is how we at St. Anne’s welcome new faculty babies to our community. This week in Chapel, we continued that tradition. Jesse Hussion, 4th-grade teacher, and her husband, Daniel, and their daughter, Carter (Preschool), brought their newest family member, Baby Poppy, to Chapel. Poppy was showered with blessings created by each grade level. The blessings ranged from chasing rainbows to a good night’s sleep to having a strong moral compass, all reflective of the mission of our school. We also acknowledged Carter as a new big sister, praying that she will be able to be patient with herself as well as becoming a lifelong companion with her little sister. Blessings on Poppy and her family as they continue to grow in wisdom and love. Chapel Calendar All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend. Wednesday - December 11, 2019 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM St. Anne's DEI Book Club St. Anne’s will be offering a faculty/parent book club with a diversity, equity, and inclusion focus. Our first book will be Just Mercy by Delaware native and Equal Justice Initiative Founder, Attorney Bryan Stevenson. We will provide a timeline and discussion questions; all you have to do is read along and join us in January for dinner and maybe even a trip to the movies on the opening night of the upcoming film release. Please RSVP to Amy Shepherd, Director of DEI, expressing your interest. All are welcome! Reminders and Announcements Parent Education: Online safety, Cyber-bullying, and Digital Citizenship Thursday, November 21st6:00 - 7:30pmFREE and Open to the PublicSt. Anne's is proud to partner with the Secret Service to offer an important workshop to parents called Childhood Smart Program. This workshop focuses on online safety, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship. This workshop is for parents of children in preschool to grade 8 as it is never too early to focus on these extremely important topics. Important Note: There is potentially sensitive/emotional content in this presentation which will not be appropriate for younger children to hear. PARENTS/GUARDIANS ONLY. Seating is Limited
The Childhood Smart Program was created in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help educate parents and children about computer and personal safety. The child safety experts at NCMEC create educational resources for parents and K-12 students. The Secret Service helps to disseminate these resources to schools and communities across the nation. We are proud to partner with NCMEC to bring these free prevention materials to schools. Join us for Chipotle Family Night Chipotle Family Night in Middletown, DE on Tuesday, November 19th 4 - 8 pm! How to Raise the Most for SAPA on Chipotle Family Night
RSVP for Special Friends's Day 2019 Special Friends' DayNovember 26th 8:30 - 10:30 am*November is here, which means that Special Friends' Day is just around the corner as well! Every year it is a joy to welcome special friends to our classrooms to see how our children experience learning at St. Anne's. Special Friends are welcome to join us for coffee or tea in the Dining Room beginning at 8:00am. Please check in through the main doors. Chapel will begin at 8:30am in the gym. Following chapel our special friends will visit the students' classrooms, then return to the gym for a short concert. For capacity and safety reasons, we ask that no more than two special friends plan to visit each child. We also request that all guests are 18 years of age or older. St. Anne's alumni are welcome to attend if they have a sibling or a special friend who is currently enrolled. Please note: November 26th is a full school day. Please contact Change in Transportation (CIT@stannesde.org) if your child will be leaving school early with their special friend. If you have any questions about Special Friends' Day, please feel free to contact Jenny Randolph at 302-378-3179 x347 or jrandolph@stannesde.org. Family Movie Night on December 2nd at 6pm - RSVP by November 26 Christmas Family Movie Night at Westown Movie TheaterMonday, 12/2/19 at 6 pmThis year’s movie is THE GRINCH! Order November Lunches by 11/25 Coming Soon! Report Cards & Grades Available Online We are pleased to announce that we will now be sending report cards and grades electronically, via St. Anne's Episcopal School parent portal. If you have not signed into the portal or need help accessing the parent portal, please email rediker@stannesde.org.
FAST Opens on December 1, 2019 for Tuition Assistance Applications
Weekly Athletics
M, 11/18 Girls Basketball Practice 3:20-4:45pm Boys Blue Team Practice - Edwards SH 3:20-4:45pm/Practice 4:45-6pm T, 11/19 Boys Green Team Practice 3:20-5pm W, 11/20 Girls Basketball Practice 3:20-5pm/1/2 court share Boys Green Team Basketball Practice 3:20-5pm/1/2 court share R, 11/21 Girls Basketball Practice 3:20-4:15pm Boys Blue Team Basketball Practice - Edwards SH 3:20-4:15pm/Practice 4:15-5:30pm F, 11/22 Boys Blue and Green Teams Basketball Practice 3:20-5pm Lights, Camera, Action We are so excited to announce that 6th-8th grade will have an opportunity to perform on stage at St. Anne's on Sunday, March 1st. Play will be announced after auditions are held.
Audition Details: Two monologues will be provided before the audition. Please choose one to read for the audition. The monologue does not need to be memorized but please use it as an opportunity to show what you can do in regards to vocal and facial expression.
Can you sing? If so, please also prepare at least 16 bars of your favorite musical to sing.
More of a backstage sort of fella or gal? No worries, there is a place for everyone. There will be three sign-up sheets in the middle school hall. One for lighting, one for set design and one for the stage. Just sign up for whichever one interests you most Any questions? Please email Melissa Meier.
Heron Wear - St. Anne's Sweatshirts are Here
All School Calendar Monday - November 18, 2019 All day
211 Silver Lake Rd. • Middletown, DE 19709 • (302)378-3179 |