We invite EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU to join us for our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast under the tent outside the theater on Friday, May 18, from 7:45-9:45. Each and every one of you give to your child's education in so many ways. We look forward to having this opportunity to thank you in person for helping to make our student's and your child's IDS experience so enriching! Please join the Faculty, Staff and Administration for coffee and treats as we salute you, our parent volunteers!
On Wednesday, May 23 we invite all parents and students (grades K-8) who will be NEW to IDS in September, 2012 and CURRENT PARENTS of students entering Kindergarten and Grade 6 in the fall to an orientation in our Galluzzo Theater. Please begin your day with us in the Galluzzo Theater at 8:10 for our All School Meeting followed by an orientation, to be concluded by 10:00 AM. Visitation morning will end at 10:00 for new 2011-12 Kindergarten through second grade students. New students for next year’s grades 3-8 will remain the entire day with their current grade level peers.
The Coyote Cave
The Independent Day School Student Government is sponsoring a project known as the Coyote Cave
What:The Coyote Cave is similar to a snack shack where students can purchase snacks and refreshments during after school IDS home sport’s games.
When:The Coyote Cave will be at every IDS home Lacrosse game on May 10, May 22, and May 23.
Why:The Coyote Cave is a student run project. In addition to providing tasty snacks, the profits from the Coyote Cave will be used to support our school.
The free outdoor education programs below are lead by Lucy Meigs (her daughter Charlotte Meigs just joined Mrs. Dickerson's 5th grade class). For more information or to register please contact
Lucy@EveryoneOutside.org or 860-395-7771 (or visit
www.EveryoneOutside.org).
Frog Fridays! - May 4, 25 & June 8 at 4 PM, Field Forest, Durham
People of all ages (0-100) are invited to join Everyone Outside this spring as we observe the amazing transformations that occur in vernal pools. Over several outings we will see frogs, frog and salamander eggs, tadpoles, salamander and insect larvae, etc. This outing is suitable for anyone who can walk 1/3 mile to the vernal pool and return. Registration Required.
Next Year's School Calendar is available at this
link. Please keep these dates in mind as you plan family events for the next school year.
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, May 17 Blue/Green Lunch
Friday, May 18 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast/Field Day
Saturday, May 19 IDS 50th Gala
Wednesday, May 23 New Student Orientation/Step Up Day/New Parent Orientation
Thursday, May 24 Spring Concert
Friday, May 25 All School Photo
Monday, May 28 Memorial Day-No School
Friday, June 1 Early Childhood Outing (Beginners, Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade)
Monday, June 4 Lower School Outing (Grades 2, 3, 4, 5)
Thursday, June 7 Last Day of School-12:00 Dismissal
Friday, June 8 Graduation
This months article comes from the Scholastic website for parents, http://www.scholastic.com/resources.
Wrapping Up the School Year
Celebrate accomplishments and ease separation anxieties.
The end of the school year brings the expected joy at finishing another year, and perhaps some sadness at leaving behind a year filled with great experiences, teachers, and friends. Consider that this may be a bittersweet time for your child, and help him celebrate as you ease any anxiety associated with the end-of-school days.
- Communicate and Connect
The daily life and structure of school your child has grown used to is about to end. She may be simply overjoyed to enter the free and easy days of summer, but more likely, she is probably experiencing some nervousness about leaving the familiar world of school. Will she see her friends over the summer? Will she ever see her teacher again? She may even already be worried about the unfamiliar name she's heard teaches the next grade.
- Let your child know that he doesn't have to feel unequivocally happy about school ending even though his classmates may seem through-and-through ecstatic about the prospect of summer vacation. Relate a personal story about a time you were sad to leave school, or ask him to tell you what he'll miss about being in school.
- Help your child keep in touch with classmates. Ask her which friends she'd like to keep seeing over the summer, and gather contact information for them. Before school is out, arrange some summer playdates for her so she knows that she can look forward to seeing her class friends weeks after school ends. If your older child has an email account, encourage her to keep in touch by computer.
- If your child is attached to his teacher, have him write an end-of-year thank-you letter or card, or create some other kind of remembrance. Working on the project will help him feel connected to his teacher, and he'll appreciate the idea of giving something that will last beyond his attendance in class.
- Finally, if your child is anxious about a new building or new grade, try to arrange a visit while this year's still in session. If that's not possible, schedule a time during the summer to make the trip or find out if there will be an orientation. Letting your child know that she doesn't have to walk into a new situation sight-unseen will help ease first-day-back worries.
- Celebrations and Closure
Your child's school probably has an assortment of end-of-school activities and celebrations. Encourage her to take part in rituals and parties so she can gain a sense of closure and accomplishment while commiserating with her peers about feelings concerning the end of school. Don't forget to tell her yourself how proud you are! If your child is graduating from elementary to middle school or finishing junior high, have a special celebration to commemorate the event.
- Spend time remembering the year with your child. Consider making a scrapbook of memories or remembering and writing down some of the year's major events and accomplishments. To get him started, have him write a letter to himself, telling his September self about what it's like to be finishing school now.
- Finally, remember that however your child does on her report card, it is vital to praise and encourage all she has learned and how she has changed over the year.