December 2, 2022

Dear Lower School Families,

We enjoyed the arrival of our students on Monday morning returning from the weeklong Thanksgiving holiday refreshed and ready to engage for the final three school weeks of 2022!

Academy Welcomes Dr. Michael Thompson on Monday Evening

All Academy families are invited and encouraged to join us and hear Michael Thompson on Monday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m. in our Schoedinger Theatre (RSVP here). For those that have been part of our Lower School Parent Book Club, we read his book “Best Friends, Worst Enemies” a few years ago. I have also recommended several other of his titles. He will also be meeting with our fourth- and fifth-graders. I echo what Mrs. Soderberg said about him in her letter on Wednesday that there is no better person to offer advice on raising healthy children!

Fourth Grade Musical

Our fourth-graders will be presenting Disney’s “Frozen” (kids’ version) on Friday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the theatre. This capstone performing arts performance in the Lower School involves the entire fourth grade, and all families are welcome to join and share this popular and magical musical!

Lower School Parent Coffee on Wednesday: Fly 5 

Please join Director of Academic Programs Gabriel Paynter along with classroom teachers Beth Klug and Elizabeth Sinclair to hear more about the Fly Five curriculum and how it is integrated into the school day and beyond. We ask that you use this form to sign up if you haven’t already. Coffee and scones will be available at the forum, which will take place in our dining hall (fireside) from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7.

Winter Closing Program

We look forward to welcoming you to our Winter Closing Program on Friday, December 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mackenzie Gymnasium. Come listen to the lower-schoolers perform songs they have learned around the theme of Wintertime Community. You will also hear some old favorites. Students should come to school in dress code on December 16. When you arrive for the program, please park in the parking lots near the athletic entrance or in the upper school lots near the dining hall. Following the program, students will return to their classrooms for dismissal. Please go to your children’s classrooms to pick them up immediately following the program. Busses will be also be running if your child is going home by bus.

Parent Book Club

Our next selection is entitled “Hunt, Gather, Parent” by Dr. Michaeleen Doucleef. We will meet on Wednesday, January 4, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the dining hall (fireside) to discuss chapters 1-8. It can be found online as well as in local libraries. Please use this form to RSVP.

Parenting Article

This week’s article is written by Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff and is entitled “Turn Your Demanding Child Into a Productive Co-Worker.” Dr. Doucleff is the author of the book we are currently reading in our Parent Book Club (“Hunt, Gather, Parent”).

Mark L. Hansen

Head of Lower School