Thursday Bulletin
Volume 27, Number 30
May 8, 2008

Celebrating 27 Years of Ethical Education!

Dear Families,
Saturday, Sue and I spent the morning planning the details of our gathering this Saturday. This week you may have noticed Terry in more than usual and energy going into the beautifying of the building. It is not a coincidence that our workday came the weekend prior to the big workshop here this weekend.

Many of you know that GCS is also a Center for the Coalition of Essential Schools. As part of our work we host visits to teachers and also have a gathering each spring. We present workshops at the Fall Forum, and stay active with educators from all over the country. Tomorrow we will be hosting teacher visitors from the Baltimore area as well as some from Brookline, MA. On Saturday, fifty people arrive for a day in which we all study, learn and share with one another. Almost all the GCS staff will be participating as well.

In preparation for the day, we read Chapters 1 and 6 of The Having of Wonderful Ideas by Eleanor Duckworth. During the morning we will all have the opportunity to work with educators who trained with her. Educators will arrive at 8:30 to register and eat breakfast. Then they will choose a group in which they will experience the "Duckworth" approach. Each group will explore one concept and the process will be debriefed and related to the CES Principles of "Less Is More" and "Personalization."

Lunch will be a time for educators to connect with one another in groups with similar jobs. Then, in the afternoon, we are offering four different focused discussion groups. For these discussions teachers bring work of their own to share and refine.

The afternoon concludes with a circle and a sharing of what people learned and look forward to doing.

As you might imagine, this is both exciting and intense. On Monday I hope you will ask us about our feedback.

Sincerely,
Laura

May 19
Board Meeting 6:30

May 19-23
UPPERS Cape Trip

May 22
6th Grade Math Fair 9:00-11:00

Monday May 26
Memorial Day–No School

May 27-29
Upper Middles Cape Trip

June 3
8th Grade Plays 6:30 at DA

June 4
6th Grade Celebration of Learning

June 6
Graduation 9:00

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THANK YOU
A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SPENT MOST OF A CHILLY, RAINY, YUKKY DAY LAST SATURDAY WORKING IN OUR GARDENS!

Magic Penny:

We are still looking for a few more bright, shiny, new 2008 pennies to be used for Magic Penny ceremonies. Please drop them off in the office if you find any.

CHRIS PINNEY:
Mom, Teacher and Friend!
Because of your love, compassion and selflessness you have allowed us to be the individuals that we are.
HAPPY MAMA'S DAY
We love you,
Will, Casey & Maggy
"Children learn to smile from their parents." - Suzuki

Report: Pride Day in Northampton

Thanks to the 25+ people who showed up on a gray day to march behind the Center School banner. It was exhilirating to parade through Northampton streets choking with jubilant merry-makers cheering enthusiastically for us. Special thanks to Lisa Wall for providing treats for us to hand out, and Ben Garbus and David Brock for being our official marshals.

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SEED STORE NEWS

The Seed Store will be open tomorrow (Friday), before and after All School. This is the last chance to purchase seeds before Mother's Day.

The store will be open next Monday morning and afternoon, next Wednesday morning and noon, and next Thursday and Friday mornings. If you have taken a box of packets to work or to a business, please check it for refills.

If you haven't done so already, please consider taking a box to a community business, to your workplace, or to sell seeds in your neighborhood. The packets are selling well in most work or business locations that have them. Thanks

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DEVELOPMENT NEWS

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Development Office Update
Almost all classes increased their participation in the Annual Fund since the last update. This week, the Uppers maintain their lead by a tiny margin over Middles. Thanks for your donations! We still hope to see the other half of each class make a gift to the Annual Fund. Remember, a contribution of any size is a gift GCS can use! Thanks.

ANNUAL FUND PARTICIPATION

Primes: 47% (up from 35%!)
Mups: 45% (up from 40%!)
Middles: 50% (up from 45%)
Water: 48% (up from 38%!)
Wind: (still) 43%
Uppers: 51% (up from 46%!)

If you are willing to participate, feel free to give a check to April, call or email me.
Thank you ever so much!
Jane (development@centerschool.net)

Admissions Drive:
We recognize that our very best "advertising" is you. Most of our families have learned about us by word-of-mouth. When we enroll friends of friends, we find an easy fit with values and beliefs. To that end we'd like to make a special offer to all Center School friends, staff and families. From now until we are enrolled to capacity, we'd like to encourage you to talk about the Center School to people you know, with children. Should your outreach work result in an enrollment, you will be invited to choose one of the following acknowledgment gifts:

1. $100 gift card to the grocery store of your choice (eg. Fosters, Green Fields Market, Whole Foods, Stop and Shop)
2. $100 off next year's tuition
3. $100 donation to the charity of your choice

Be sure to tell your friends to mention you when they are inquiring or let us know you have sent some one. In advance, thanks for promoting the Center School and for helping to fill the school.
Chris P. and Jane

WANTED!!
27" TVs for classrooms

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CLASSROOM NEWS

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PRIMES:
The Monarch butterflies came back from Mexico this week! Last October we made paper monarchs and sent them south. Along with the butterflies, we received a letter in Spanish from the classroom where they over-wintered. To our surprise the individual butterflies that returned here weren't the ones we sent. They came from schools in Arizona, Utah, California. To help the butterflies get to their real homes we are mailing them along with pen pal letters. We hope that we will have some responses before the school year ends.

Announcement: Next week's All School leaders will be Noah, Margot, Sophie, Morgan and Luke.

MIDDLES:
MIDDLES had lunch with Primes today and it was lovely. Stefan, the wind and a string entertained us when we were done.

Tomorrow our final published writing of the year is due and next Friday our book reports are due
Thanks for all the classroom snack donations. We're set for now.

UPPER MIDDLES WATER
Spring has sprung in UPPER MIDDLES WATER as we have begun to create a beautifully huge garden and begin to learn about the human body. In Lit groups, students are studying the art of Shakespearean theater, practicing fencing, working with wood and natural dyes, exploring survival in the forest, and studying art and artists. We are looking forward to our Cape Cod trip, and remind parents to help us prepare by volunteering to chaperone and by signing up to prepare or purchase food items for the trip. There is a sign up sheet in the office behind April's desk. Thanks!!

UPPER MIDDLES WIND:
In UPPER MIDDLES WIND, we have jumped into another hands-on project! Students partnered up on Friday and made plaster-masks following the contours of their faces. This week, they were asked to extend their mask into a head using paper mache and newspaper. We bagan Body Education with Liza Ramlow, Sixth Grade Celebration of Learning preparation and an Outdoor Theme (gardening) for Fifth Graders! We are also starting our reflection work for our end-of-the-year portfolios. Please sign up for food for our Cape Trip! The lists are in April's office.

UPPERS:
The UPPERS have been very busy! We are planning for the Cape trip, 8th Graders are rehearsing for plays, everyone is working on final projects for theme and the Ultimate Frisbee team has been working hard.

UPPERS' IMPORTANT DATES:

• Thursday, Frisbee @ Eaglebrook
• Sunday, May 18th Frisbee Tournament at Eaglebrook
• Thursday, May 29th Frisbee @ Four Rivers JV boys at GCC 3:40
• May 19-22 Cape Trip
• No school Friday May 23 for Uppers only
• June 3rd 8th Grade Plays 6:30 at Deerfield Academy's Black Box Theater
• June 6th Graduation! 9:00

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AfterSchool Corner

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Thank you, Parents & Guardians, for continuing to sign your child(ren) and their friends out from AfterSchool. It is very important to us to know that they are being picked up safely by their guardians. As usual, if you arrive earlier than 3:45, your child can simply leave circle, you will not be charged, and there is no need to sign them out.

Also, thank you for putting your After School checks in the bright yellow and orange folder on the wall behind April and specifying "for after school" or "for after school camp" on them! It is so helpful!

Sign-up now for the June Camp. We will run June 9th through June 20th Sign-up for the whole time or for some days.

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NOTES & NOTICES

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SUMMER TUTORING & PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE:
I am offering summer tutoring in all academic areas, including math, reading, and writing. I am certified in grades K-8 and currently teach in the Upper Middles (5/6).

I am also offering private & small group instruction in my specialty areas:

• WOODWORKING – carving, building projects, other wood crafts

• MUSIC – recorder, percussion, guitar, songwriting, etc.

Please contact me at school or home (548-9008).
Thanks,
Chris Sanborn

Mother's Day Concert:
If you're deciding on an outing for Mother's day, consider a lovely, lively mid-afternoon concert of community-based music from around the globe. The flyer attached to the print edition of the Bulletin will tell you everything you need to know.

Center School community folks Annie Winkler (Middles teacher), Mary Link (Emi's mom), and Diane Robinson (Jessica's mum and GCS All School Chorus leader) are members of this ensemble.

NATURE'S ART CAMP
Camps this June, July, & August at The Art Bridge are over half full, but there is still room for children ages 4-6 and ages 7-12 (in two separate, interrelated groups.)

Weeks of:
June 30-July4, July 21-25, July 28-Aug1, Aug 11-15, Aug 18-22.

Staff include:
Kirk, Eve, Evelyn (of the after-school program), Tess Forton (Tyler's older sister), Thomas (swordplay leader), Frank Grindrod (Earthworks naturalist), area singer-songwriters, and other special guests.

Activities include: Music making around the morning fire. Stories brought to life in art and nature adventures. Tie-die and jeans painting. Stream wading meadow play. Waterfall challenges for older campers. Theater improv games & reinvented stuffy puppet plays. Pottery. Painting poetry murals & printmaking picture books. Hearing music in nature and writing our own songs. Recording our songs. Spirit Art of many kinds. Musical meditation and yoga.

Compassionate Communication practiced from opening circle to afternoon puppet show.

Incredible amounts of fun enjoying our love for this world.

Location:
4 miles west of the Greenfield rotary in a forested meadow by a bubbling brook.

More info:
Call or email 625-2724, info@theartbridge.org.

Artspace:
Artspace is in need of ½ & ¼ size violins for a music program in the Greenfield Public Schools. You can give them to Vivian in Middles or to Artspace. Call Jen 773-7130 for more info.

General:

1. Shoes must be worn and have to be able to allow for play and movement.

2. Pants have to stay up without holding them.

3. Underwear cannot be visible.

4. Clothing graphics – no offensive writing/graphics on clothing (no sexual content, meanness or offensive language); political content is okay as long as it is not insulting.

5. Scents must be mild enough to not linger in a room after the wearer leaves.

6. Make-up can be worn in moderation and applied outside of class (UM and Uppers only).

7. Outer wear is temperature/weather dependent and left to the discretion of the administration and/or classroom teacher's policy.

Clothing length:

1. Standard length – Clothing no shorter than mid-thigh (where fingertips reach thigh with arms extended down)

2. Clothing shorter than standard length are worn with leggings, pants, jeans (not see-through tights or fishnets).

3. Shirt and tops

a. Low neckline –shirt/tank worn under a second
b. Bra straps can show but no other parts of a bra are to be visible
c. Neckline is no lower than cleavage line
d. Midriff must be covered and shirt is long enough to keep from riding up
e. Tops have straps or sleeves, not strapless

4. Fabric – sheer or see-through clothing must have a layer underneath.

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Lost and Found
Check the front hall of the Brick Bldg for lost belongings. Anything not claimed before break will be donated.

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May Coffee Order

The May Coffee Order is the last one for this school year. Notable up-coming coffee-giving events: Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day. Ice coffee lovers – consider stocking up for the summer!
Get your order in before Wednesday.

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NOTES & NOTICES

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Full-Day Hilltown
Summer Arts Program for Children
Ages 6 to 12
4 weeks, July 14 - August 8, 2008
9 –3:30 at Sanderson Academy, Ashfield, MA

#1 Puppet Theater & Expressive Arts (July 14-18, ages 6-10)
Enjoy playful Puppet Theater with Janice Dompke, accomplished actor, director and craftsperson. Bring your imagination and love of crafting to this exciting workshop where children create different types of puppets and begin to tell interactive stories with each other.

Rachel Silverman, painter, designer and art educator, brings her passion for creativity, imagination and experiential learning. Your child will engage in exploring various 2 dimensional media. Through drawing, painting, cut-paper collage, and print-making we will practice making art from observation and our imaginations, inside and out!

#2 Yoga Adventures / Ukrainian Eggs & Batik (July 21-25, ages 7-12)
With Chayah Lichtig, a certified children's yoga and movement teacher, your child will take a yoga adventure. Children will learn traditional yoga postures, songs, and breathing exercises, then create their own in a fun and lighthearted environment of games, and partner poses - and play with AcroYoga, where partners "fly" each other! Music and visual art provide reflection time. (former Center School teacher)

Batik with Mary Link, will be full with color! From Ukrainian Egg dying to creating designs on T-shirts and wall hangings, children will explore using colorful dyes with a wax resist. (Note: your child will need to be able to responsibly handle permanent dyes, hot wax and candles).

#3 Mask Making & Joyful Noise Music (July 28 - August 1, ages 6-12)
Sara Brown, enthusiastic artist and teacher, will draw out your child's creativity. Your child will enjoy a colorful time creating expressive masks of papier mâché and other materials, making sculptures, drawing and painting. (former Center School teacher)

Julia Meservey of A Joyful Noise Children's Music Studio will fill afternoons with music. A licensed Kindermusik teacher, Julia will lead the children in playing simple tunes on the recorder, exploring their own "inside" instruments (the voice), mastering basic sight-singing skills and putting together a short musical drama by week's end! Each child will receive a recorder and music book to keep.

#4 Theater / Mosaics (Aug 4-8, ages 7 -12)
With Jeannine Haas, accomplished actor and director, children will actively explore a variety of roles and relationships as they play upbeat theater games, do improvisation, and collectively create a play performance for the final day.

Cynthia Fisher, of Big Bang Mosaics, offers her enthusiasm and expertise for this exciting art form. Your child will learn glass cutting, design, positioning and grouting, resulting in a colorful original mosaic to bring home. (Note: this is a time consuming, fine motor activity requiring patience and focus. Please consider your child's specific needs, in registering).

$165 per 1-week session - Scholarships available

Brochure Registration forms are available in the Center School Lobby
To Register, call Mary Link (Emi's mom) at 628-4695
On Web at http://www.acth.org/summer.html, or Email: summer@acth.org

Sarah Pirtle’s Journey Camp
Nature awareness for young people

Three Week Camp for boys & girls
July 7-July 25 – for ages 8 to 13

Girls’ Week
August 18-August 22 – for ages 8 to 13

Girls’ Teen Leadership
For ages 13-17

August 16-17 Training weekend plus Girls’ Week August 18-22
For information contact Sarah (413) 625-2355
pirtle22@hotmail.com
(Flyer posted at Center School)return to top

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DEANS BEANS

Delicious Coffee…Great Cause-LAST order due May 7.

Each pound purchased will raise money for the Center School.  Dean’s Beans is a progressive local business that assists grassroots development projects in coffee-growing villages.

How it Works:

Fill in order form and send it, along with check made out to “Greenfield Center School,” to school with your child.

Orders will be placed the first Wednesday of each month. Coffee will be roasted and shipped fresh in one-pound Kraft bags of whole or ground beans; we'll send it home to you via your child’s backpack the second Wednesday of the month. (You may opt to pick your coffee up if you prefer; see order form.)

Order by the month. Buy for yourself, for friends and relations, for holiday gifts, and for every day.

Order form below; additional forms available from April in the Main Office.

Questions? Email James Robinson (father of Jessica – Water) at dianejim@crocker.com

Greenfield Center School/Dean’s Beans Fundraiser

Products Available.

All coffee can be purchased whole-beans or all-purpose ground.

Regular Coffee $8.50/lb (Whole Beans or Ground)

• Dark: Nicaraguan French Roast, strong and exceptionally smooth
• Medium: Full-bodied, complex Colombian medium-roasted beans. The traditional standard in coffee.

Swiss-water Processed Decafs $9.50/lb (Whole Beans or Ground)

• Dark: Flavorful, aromatic, full-bodied Peruvian French Roast. The best tasting decaf in the world!
• Medium: Mixture of medium and dark-roasted Mexican Chiapas beans, mellow and medium-bodied with very low acidityOther Fun Products

Milk and Dark Chocolate Java Drops: $8.50

• Vienna-roasted, shade grown Guatemalan and Mexican coffee beans, sensuously surrounded by pure dark or milk chocolate. A mouthful of 100% organic pleasure.  Half of the profits are returned to the indigenous cooperative in Costa Rica that provides the cocoa butter.

Delicious Hot Cocoa:             $4.50

• Greatest-tasting and lowest cost organic hot cocoa mix available! 12 ounces.

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Greenfield Center School/Dean’s Beans Order Form

Adult’s Name: ____________________________________

Telephone/Email:  _________________________________

Student’s Name and Teacher/Class: ______________________

Your order will be sent home with your student, unless you check here indicating you prefer to pick up your order at school. (Download a copy of the order form in Microsoft Word format.)

BLEND	PRICE/lb	QTY	Ground	Whole	$ TOTAL
Regular Dark	$8.50
Regular Medium	$8.50
Decaf Dark	$9.50
Decaf Medium	$9.50
OTHER PRODUCTS
Java Drops / Milk	$8.50
Java Drops / Dark	$8.50
Hot Cocoa	$4.50/12 oz
Please make checks payable to “Greenfield Center School.”				GRAND TOTAL	$

ORDERS ARE PLACED THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL!

Extras of this order form available from April in Main Office.

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Drop off and Dismissal Procedures

Drop Off
Arrival time is anywhere between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. The school driveway is actually a one-way public road called Abercrombie Ave. Parents should proceed single file to the Brick Building. Please wait to drop off children until your car is in front of the school entrance. Children should only exit on the passenger side of the car at the school sidewalk. Once your children have entered the school, carefully pull forward to exit onto Montague City Road. Traffic on Abercrombie Ave is constantly in motion. Please do not park along either side of Abercrombie Ave. It is very dangerous for people to get out of cars anywhere other than right in front of the Brick Building or in one of the parking lots. Uppers should not be dropped off in front of the Finer Building. Stopping in that area of the street is too dangerous. Please pull into one of the parking areas or continue on to the front of the Brick Building.

Dismissal
Dismissal is anytime between 3:15-3:30 p.m. daily, except Wednesday, which is 12:30-12:45 p.m. Dismissal time is very structured and organized. Again, cars enter Abercrombie Ave and proceed toward the Brick Building. This time, however, there are three lanes of traffic. The right and middle lanes form lines of cars waiting for GCS students. The left lane is the drive through lane and must always remain open.

Please pull up until you are a few feet behind the next car in line. We have a walky-talky system for calling students to their cars. A teacher will be outside, walking up and down the dismissal line with a walky-talky. She/he will come to each waiting vehicle and ask for the names and classrooms of the students going home in that vehicle. The dismissal teacher will relay the names to the classrooms and the classroom teachers will send your children out. K-6th grade students will exit the Brick Building through the main doors.

	NO PARKING! PLEASE DO NOT PARK ANYWHERE ALONG THE LEFT LANE OF THE DRIVEWAY. PLEASE KEEP THAT LANE OPEN FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC.
source: shop-colour.net/ Item/f/f2/058.jpg

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Page last updated: May 9, 2008

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