Lower School (HC & BC) Events You Don't Want to Miss
PARENT ASSOCIATION GRAB AND GO COFFEE
The Lower School Parent Association will be hosting Grab and Go Coffees on the first Tuesday of every month after drop off at 8:15 until 8:45 a.m. outside the Lower School Office on the Blake campus and in the Meeting Room on the Highcroft campus. The first coffees will be held on Sept. 4, Oct. 2 and Nov. 6. So mark your calendars and stop by and grab a cup of coffee (or tea) to go or stay and chat with fellow parents.
JOINT LOWER SCHOOL PARENT ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP MEETING
There will be a joint Lower School Parent Association leadership meeting for all event and activity chairs and room representatives on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. in the Bovey Chapel on the Blake campus.
PICTURE DAY AND RETAKES
Blake campus: Wednesday, Sept. 19 Retakes: Wednesday, Oct. 10
Highcroft campus: Wednesday, Sept. 19 Retakes: Tuesday, Oct. 23
Look for order forms in your child's backpack in early September.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS
Back-to-School Night is an opportunity to find out more about curriculum, to learn about your child's classroom experience and to get updates from Lower School administrators and Parent Association leaders. Childcare will be available for those who pre-register.
BC: Thursday, Sept. 20, MPAC
5:30-6 p.m.: Lite Bite to mingle with parents and faculty
6-8:45 p.m.: Speakers, presentations and classroom visits
HC: Thursday, Sept. 13, dining room & gym
5:30-6 p.m.: Lite Bite to mingle with parents and faculty
6-8:45 p.m.: Speakers, presentations and classroom visits
NOON DISMISSAL
Lower School students will be dismissed at noon on Friday, Sept. 14 for a joint faculty meeting. The Extended Day program is available. A link to the online registration forms will be available in the Bear Cub Connection.
CONVOCATION AND LEGACY DAY – Friday, Sept. 28
PARENT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
There will be a joint Lower School Parent Association Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 8:45 a.m. in the PCR on the Blake campus in Hopkins. Please join us for our first PA meeting of the year. Hear school and PA updates, get a preview of LiteracyFest and welcome our special guest, new Head of School Anne Stavney. Every parent is a member of the PA, and your participation is vital and encouraged. If you have any questions, please contact LSB Parent Association Chair Sara Barry or LSH Parent Association Chair Patty Chenitz.
PARENT PARTIES
Parent parties are a great way to become acquainted or to reconnect with other parents in your child's grade. Please make a special effort to introduce yourself to parents who are new to Blake. Watch for invitations and details in the Bear Cub Connection and please remember to R.S.V.P.
PK & K Blake campus: Saturday, Oct. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the PCR
PK & K Highcroft campus: Saturday, Oct. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Highcroft foyer
LITERACY FEST 2012
LiteracyFest is the only fundraiser specifically supporting the Lower School. It celebrates literacy and community while giving families a chance to purchase limited-edition Blake clothing and other boutique items. Watch for more information in Bear Essentials, Bear Cub Connection and throughout the school.
Blake campus
Back this year on the Hopkins campus will be an “on-campus” book fair with Scholastic Books. A selection of books from Scholastic will be available for purchase in the cafeteria on Monday, Oct. 15 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents and children are invited to shop Monday, and the students will have an opportunity to shop with their classes on Tuesday during the school day. Used books will be collected beginning Oct. 1 and presented for sale during the book sale. Also new this year — the Boutique will be open for take away purchase at BOTH campuses starting Monday, Oct. 15 at 2:30 p.m. Watch for the LitFest packet with all the important information on events and the forms to come home in your child's backpack on Monday, Sept. 10. We still need volunteers, contact Heather Hansen for more information.
Highcroft campus
Highcroft Book Fair and Boutique: Monday, Oct. 15 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All families are invited to the Highcroft campus for the annual Book Fair and Boutique. Come browse the latest and greatest in children’s literature. Used books will also be available for sale. Boutique Blake apparel and hard goods will both be available for take-away purchase again this year, and the student-designed Lower School class T-shirts with student names will be available to order.
Boutique Sales will also be held during Lower School conference days on Oct. 17-18. Continue to shop for exclusive take-away Blake apparel and hard goods and order the student-designed Lower School class T-shirts.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
There will be no classes on Wednesday, Oct. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 18 due to parent/teacher conferences. Conferences will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Extended Day is available. Watch the Bear Cub Connection to register.
NO CLASSES
There are no classes on Friday, Oct. 19. No childcare will be provided.
PUMPKIN DECORATING PARTY
Please provide your child with a pumpkin to decorate and the Parent Association will provide the rest. Look for a link to online registration in the Bear Cub Connection. Advance registration is required. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please call Blake campus chairs Anne Spaeth and Mary Liddicoat or Highcroft campus chairs Debra Altschuler and Jessica McDonald.
Highcroft campus: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 3:30 - 4 p.m., dining room/gym
Blake campus: Thursday, Oct. 25, 3:30 - 4:15 p.m., dining room
LS LEARNING LUNCHES
Lower School Director Barry Wadsworth will be hosting a series of Learning Lunches for parents of each grade level. This is a chance for parents to connect with one another and learn about what's new at their particular grade level.
Monday, Oct. 1 Highcroft campus fifth grade — HMR
Thursday, Oct. 4 Blake campus fifth grade — PCR
Wednesday, Oct. 10 Highcroft campus fourth grade — HMR
Thursday, Oct. 11 Blake campus fourth grade — PCR
Tuesday, Oct. 30 Highcroft campus third grade — HMR
Thursday, Nov. 1 Blake campus third grade — PCR
GRANDFRIEND DAY
Friday, Nov. 2 is Grandfriend Day for Pre-K through fifth grade students on the Blake and Highcroft campuses. Invite someone special in your student's life to join us for a morning of learning and activities from 9 to 11 a.m.
NOON DISMISSAL
Lower School students will be dismissed at noon on Friday, Nov. 2 for a joint faculty meeting. Extended Day is available. A link to online registration will be provided in the Bear Cub Connection.
BEARS and GSAC
Registration begins soon for Blake’s Girls Service Activity Club (GSAC) and BEARS Club (Boys, Exploration, Activity, Recreation, Service). Our after-school program provides Highcroft girls and boys an opportunity to build friendships through shared educational and recreational activities and service learning projects. Check the Bear Cub Connection for details. The Pinewood Derby is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.
3RD GRADE BROWNIE/GIRL SCOUT TROOP — BLAKE CAMPUS
Meetings are held Thursdays after school, 3:30 to 5 p.m. throughout the school year in Ms. Jessop's 1st grade classroom. The first several meetings are scheduled for Sept. 20, Oct. 4 and 25, Nov. 8 and 29 and Dec. 13. We may travel off-campus for some events and will need volunteer drivers to help us. There are also other off-site optional events throughout the year. We need volunteer parents, nannies, grandparents, aunts, sitters, etc. to help us during meetings or to bring snack. Please contact troop leader Lisa Wright, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for one or more meetings or bring a snack.