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Friday Notes I May 20, 2022
A Message From Mr. Silva
Dear Foothill Families,

Annual Meeting Success
It was invigorating to have a full house in attendance in the Randall Lewis Family Auditorium for our Annual Meeting this week. Our Board of Trustees provided summary reports of Foothill’s financial and programmatic strengths, and it was my pleasure to offer the Head of School’s Report of our school’s accomplishments as we enter the final three weeks of the school year. Our newest trustees—Spring Chen (Alan, Seedling, Alan 2nd), Liming Cheng (Sofia, 2nd, Emily, 4th), Meera Kanani (Dylan, 1st, Sarina, 4th), and Matt Weis `84 (Mercer ’18, Kendell ’19) were unanimously approved. BWO Council past president Tina Rodriguez (Max, Seedling, Mason, 2nd, Carter, 5th) recounted the successes of our amazing and resilient parent volunteer corps and passed the torch to incoming president Michelle Martinez (Hudson, 1st, Aria, 4th, Gryffin, 7th) as we look ahead to next year and many more opportunities for our parents to volunteer on campus and at school events.
 
Looking Ahead at the Rising Class Meetings
We will be completing the Rising Class Meetings this week, with grades 6, 7 and Kindergarten. We hope you had a chance to meet virtually with next year’s teachers to get an overview of the curriculum and expectations and ask questions. A new energy is present—even in the virtual setting—as we contemplate another year of in-person learning.
 
A Foothill Investment Should Offer Choices
Foothill sets the foundation our students will use for the rest of their lives, and there are many stages in between, one of the most significant being high school. We take great pride in the fact that Foothill graduates are prepared to do well in all high school settings--public or private. One outcome of a family’s investment in a Foothill education, therefore, should be that all families have choices in addition to our excellent public options when considering high schools.
Our graduates who apply to private high schools are often offered more than one acceptance at some of the most selective day and boarding schools across the country. In the last two years alone, Foothill students have been offered admission to Andover, Cate, Choate, Damien, Episcopal (VA), Exeter, Fairmont, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Flintridge Prep, Groton, Harvard Westlake, The Hill School, Hotchkiss, Idyllwild Arts, Kent School, Loomis Chafee, Marlborough, Middlesex, Midland, Polytechnic, Sage Hill, Stevenson, St. Lucy’s, St. Mark's (MA), St. Paul’s, Webb, Western Christian, and Westridge.

Consider An End-Of-Year Gift
Our families have made possible a record-breaking year in giving! We exceeded our goals for both the Foothill Fund and Spring Benefit—our two major fundraisers that ensure our students remain immersed in a learning community with well-trained teachers, up-to-date technology, and financial resiliency. Please consider joining our incredibly generous parents who have given this year by making an end-of-year gift to Foothill today.
 
Enjoy the weekend!

Mike Silva
Head of School
Falcon News
2022-2023 Room Parent Nominations Reminder
If you are thinking of serving as a Room Parent for your child’s classroom next fall, we want to hear from you! Studies show that your involvement in your child’s school makes a difference at all levels. Please use this link or scan the QR code below, to access the 2022-23 nominations form. The process takes no more than several minutes to complete.

Submissions MUST be made by Thursday, May 26, 2022.
4th Grade Tea Continues Tradition
As they recited Jabberwocky, our 4th grade students probably didn't realize they were doing something Foothill students have done for decades. This year, they added a little modern twist with musical performances a group of "Have it All" by Jason Mraz. As is tradition, they used their very best Alice in Wonderland tea party manners!
Upper School Play
Moana Jr. Rescheduled
There are more than 60 students ready to ride the waves to the main stage for Disney's Moana Jr.! For the safety of our cast, crew and guests, the Upper School play has been rescheduled. Maui declares it will be worth the wait! The new performance times are:

Wednesday, May 25 3:45p.m.
Final Dress Rehearsal

Thursday, May 26 6:30p.m.
Friends and Family Performance
Randall Lewis Family Auditorium
Orchestra Takes a Bow for the School Year
The Foothill Orchestra performed brilliantly at the Claremont Community School of Music Performathon last Saturday! Today, they did an extended performance that was live-streamed from campus. Their pieces included "Winter" from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, excerpts from "Pirates of the Carribean", "Clocks" as recorded by Coldplay, and "Lightly Row", among others.

Bravo to this year's Foothill Orchestra:

Beginning Strings Class -- Taylor Sullivan, Director
Violin: John F., Eliana H., Kylie N., Jacquelyn S.
Cello: Astin F., Selina L., Aaron W., Astin F.

Intermediate/Advanced Strings -- Deanna Morrison, Director
Violin: Harry C., Julie Z.
Cello: Evan I., Celia V., Jacob Z.
Art Walk is Back!
Save the Date for Thursday, June 2
and Friday, June 3
Plan to take a guided tour! All our student's art will be on display, museum-style, at Art Walk. Students will be taking tours during the school day, but parents can join the fun as well! Small group tours will be led by Ms. Bleecker at various times throughout the day. Watch for an email next week where you can choose your tour!
7th Visits the Museum of Tolerance
7th grade just finished reading The Dairy of a Young Girl .They closed their unit today by visiting the impactful Anne Frank Exhibit at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

"How wonderful it is that no one has to wait but can start right now to gradually change the world.” Anne Frank
Rising Class Meetings

Join us on Zoom to meet your future teachers, hear about summer expectations and learn everything you need to know for fall 2022. These sessions wil not be recorded, so please do your best to join us! Materials (such as summer reading lists) will be distributed via email after the meeting. If you are unsure of your grade's meeting day, please check with your Room Parent.
Meetings This Week

Tuesday, May 24 5:00p.m.
Rising 7th Grade (current 6th grade students)

Thursday, May 26 4:00p.m.
New Kindergarteners

Thursday, May 26 5:00p.m.
Rising 6th Grade (current 5th grade students)
Debate Team Finishes the Season
Debate had their final tournament of the year last Saturday at the Orange County Debate League Championships! 8th grade students from Fairmont Schools and Pegasus topped the field at this competition, but Foothill still managed to bring home a few trophies. 

Top Speakers (out of 108 debaters)
9th  Simon X. (8th) 
25th Nakai M. (8th)

Distinguished Speakers (places in the top 31-70)
Andrew N. (7th), Brianna S. (8th)

Top Teams (out of 36) 
15th Brianna S., Ben M., Simon X. (all 8th)  

A Season of Thanks
It takes a village to make a successful program happen, especially one of this size. As the year closes, we would like to thank our coaches Zareen Ahmed and Kyle Brodie, who teach our kids on the weekends and evenings, after having very full careers of their own. Big thanks to volunteer judges throughout this year -- we love the small army of parents who and friends who volunteer to spend their entire Saturday working on behalf of Foothill. 

We would like to spotlight the FCDS alumni who returned to support our team as judges and defacto coaching assistants this school year. It is so fun to see them come back as confident, mature high school students!  
Mirabel Raphael `20
Jonathan Rosales Cardenas `20 
Bridget Brodie '19 
Kathy Duan `21
Saira Bhagat '21
Dorothy Ma `21
Regina Jiang `20 

Thinking about Debate Next Year?
We welcome new team members! The Speech and Debate Team is a part of our After School Enrichment program and is open to students in grades 6 - 8. It is challenging and time intensive, but the payoffs are huge -- increased confidence, research skills and sportsmanship. If your child is considering joining the team next year, they will need to make the commitment when school starts in the fall -- we do not allow late arrivals to the program. They typically meet one day a week after school and additional practices and tournaments happen on Saturdays. Please watch the parent email in mid-August for information on debate, and on other co-curricular programs.
Welcome a New Falcon to the Nest!
You know Jesus Blancas as a member of our facilities team. This week, Jesus and his wife Jessica became parents as well! Baby Benjamin arrived on Wednesday, May 18 at 8:20pm. He weighed in at 5 pounds and measured 18.5” long. Everyone is doing well and resting. Welcome to our Foothill family, Benjamin!
Register for Summer Programs Today!
If you've been procrastinating, now is the time to get those summer plans in place! Summer Camp at Foothill, presented in partnership with Parker Anderson Enrichment. is finalizing their camp rosters and you don't want to miss out!

Each week carries a new theme related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. P.S. Seedling has Summer Camps too!
No School
Friday, May 27 and Monday, May 30
We encourage families to take time to celebrate life this weekend, as we remember those who lost their lives in service to our nation (Memorial Day).
We return to school on Tuesday, May 31.