Thursday, November 9, 2017
NEWSLETTER
FEATURES
MacARTHUR CAMPUS ORGANIZING QUESTIONS HIGHLIGHTED IN MAESA PUBLICATION
The Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association featured St. Patrick's new MacArthur Campus program in its monthly newsletter, MAESA Matters, published this week: St. Patrick's helps its graduates answer: How can I make a difference in the world?
BOOK FAIR KICKS OFF SUNDAY WITH FREE PIZZA LUNCH AND FAMILY GAMES!
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The Book Fair opens this Sunday, November 12, at 1:00 pm, with family games and a free pizza lunch sponsored by the Parents Association. The Book Fair will be open through Tuesday, November 14, at 4:00 pm. Please join us to shop our wonderful collection of books and games—perfect for holiday gifts!
SPOTLIGHT ON PARENT AUTHOR KARA ARUNDEL: CHECK OUT Raising America's Zoo AT THE BOOK FAIR
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One book that adult readers should not miss at this year's Book Fair is Raising America's Zoo: How Two Wild Gorillas Helped Transform the National Zoo, by Kara Arundel, a journalist covering national special education issues for LRP publications whom you might know as the mother of Nathan (7C) and Jack (4A). The book tells the story of the evolution of the National Zoo across 100 years from an animal park to a conservation-driven, internationally respected zoo.
FROM COFFEE TO COMPOSTING, ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS HEAT UP ACROSS ST. PATRICK'S CAMPUSES
Something new is brewing in the Whitehaven Campus School Office. St. Patrick's broad-based environmental effort leads to reduced landfill waste, environmental educational opportunities, and a return of the beloved Jamaica Me Crazy coffee.
SAVE THE DATE: EPISCOPAL SCHOOLS SUNDAY AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19
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Join us Sunday, November 19, at 10:30 am for Episcopal Schools Sunday. The themes this year are "All Are Welcome" and "Be Transformed, Through the Renewing of Your Minds."
VARIED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ENGAGE FACULTY OVER THE SUMMER
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of undertakings in the summer of 2017, and the returns are evident in the classroom. Here is a sampling of the kinds of work pursued by our faculty.
A WORD ABOUT OUR PARTNERS, HORIZONS ST. PATRICKS AND HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON
Karen Kelliher, parent and Horizons Greater Washington Board Member, takes a moment to discuss Horizons, recently featured in Bethesda Magazine, and invite your engagement. http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/November-December-2017/Guide-to-Giving/Give-a-Child-a-Chance/Horizons-Greater-Washington/
ALL SCHOOL NEWS
RSVP FOR THE AUCTION KICKOFF AND WINE PARTY ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
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Please join our entire community for the annual Auction Kickoff and Wine Party to be held on Thursday, November 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the home of Bridget and Greg Nikodem.
STUDENTS SHARE THEIR SCHOOL WITH GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
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We look forward to welcoming some very special people to our Grandparents & Special Friends Visiting Day for Kindergarten to Grade 5 on Tuesday, November 21, from 8:00 to 11:00 am.
SAVE THE DATE! GIFTS FOR GOOD ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9
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Students and teachers have been working hard to prepare for the Day School's eleventh annual Gifts for Good alternative holiday gift fair.
THIS WEEK IN THE LIBRARY – Get Ready for Book Fair! November 12-14
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Check out some of the titles we are excited to see at Book Fair, including those from our recent author visits. Many more titles will be available for purchase and to sponsor for our Nursery School, Whitehaven Campus, and MacArthur Campus libraries through the Library Giving Tree. To learn more about this year's Book Fair, look here! https://www.stpatsdc.org/community/volunteer/book-fair
NEWS BY DIVISION
GRADE 3 STATES INQUIRY PRESENTATION
Grade 3 parents and friends, please join us on Thursday, November 16, from 8:30 to 9:30 am to learn about students' interdisciplinary study of the United States. We are pleased to invite you to a presentation to celebrate the conclusion of this inquiry study.
WOLFHOUND WATCH
THIS WEEK WITH THE WOLFHOUNDS
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The Grade 5 boys and girls soccer teams finish the season with wins.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY NEWS
PRE-ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY HOUND SHIRT NOW!
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Get in the holiday spirit the Wolfhound way! Pre-order your Holiday Hound tee-shirt here by Friday, November 10. They'll be delivered to your child's bag by tomrrow, Friday, December 1. LINK: https://www.stpatsdc.org/cf_forms/view.cfm?formID=115
THREE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT ST. PATRICK'S YOU'RE SURE TO LIKE!
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Earn money for our school when you buy any of three exciting new offerings!
MAKE YOUR PLEDGE OR GIFT TO THE ANNUAL FUND TODAY!
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November is upon us, and we are encouraging all of our current families to thoughtfully consider pledging or giving to the Annual Fund before Thanksgiving break begins on Tuesday, November 21, to help achieve this year's goals of 100% parent participation and $1.27 million to directly benefit Day School students and teachers. We are grateful for St. Patrick's generous community of givers—we cannot do this without you! Please visit our secure online giving form to make your 100% tax-deductible gift or pledge today, and remember that pledges can be fulfilled through June 30, 2018. You can email Megan Maturo, Director of the Annual Fund, or call 202-342-7010 with questions.
MAKE-UP DAY FOR SCHOOL PICTURES
Wednesday, November 15, is make-up day for school pictures. If your child was absent when school pictures were taken in October, s/he can have a picture taken that day. Contact Elizabeth Owens if you want your child photographed. If you would like to help with this session, please contact Elizabeth at owense@stpatsdc.org.
BOOK DRIVE: SHARE THE JOY OF READING
BOOK DRIVE: SHARE THE JOY OF READING Help your child's old favorite books find a new home! Donate new or gently-used children's books for the benefit of various organizations, including Reading Partners, the Bishop Walker School for Boys, and Bridges Public Charter School. A collection bin will be available in the gymnasium during Gifts for Good (Saturday, December 9) and in the main Day School entrance until December 20. Want to donate after December 20? Contact Ann Rakestraw (ann.h.rakestraw@verizon.com) to arrange a pick up. Thank you!
. SECOND LOOK
INTRODUCING SECOND LOOK
We know you're busy. So we're introducing a new category to HoundsTruth. Articles that have run once but remain relevant, discussions of upcoming events that have been highlighted but have not yet happened, and other reminders can be found here. If it's not in this category, it's new, urgent, or both.
UPCOMING ADMISSION PARENT PROGRAM: INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING
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On Friday, November 17, from 9:30 to 11:30 am, the Admission Office will host an Admission Parent Program on Inquiry-Based Learning. Many current parents have already posted information about this season's admission events on neighborhood listservs. We encourage you to forward information about the event (below) to anyone who might be interested in considering St. Patrick's!
PLEASE COMPLETE CLIMATE SURVEY BY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Last week, parents received this climate study by email. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Stpatricksparentsurvey We encourage all parents to complete the anonymous survey. The feedback you provide here will be carefully reviewed by Day School faculty and administrators as part of the required self-study portion of our reaccreditation process, conducted once a decade through the Association of Independent Maryland and D.C. Schools (AIMS).
GRADE 5 PARENTS: SAVE THE DATE FOR A MacARTHUR CAMPUS ORIENTATION COFFEE
Please join us on Tuesday, December 12, at 8:15 am for a coffee orienting you to the MacArthur Campus experience. The program will include a presentation from a panel of faculty, an administrator, and students; a tour of the facility; and a question-and-answer session. More detailed information will follow in a dedicated email to Grade 5 parents. Parents at other grade levels who are interested in learning about the program should reach out directly to Dan Spector, Assistant Head of School/Head of Upper School.
"YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE" FOOD DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK
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The Grades 6 and 8 Community Service Clubs are asking for your help. According to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), in Washington, D.C. and its six surrounding counties, more than "540,000 residents are at risk of hunger. That's 12% of the region" (CAFB, 2016). Now through Monday, November 20, the Grades 6 and 8 Community Service Clubs will be hosting a canned food drive in support of the CAFB. Drop-off boxes will be located in each homeroom classroom and in the reception area of the MacArthur Campus.
EXTENDED DAY COVERAGE FOR PROFESSIONAL DAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Interested in a field trip for your child during the Professional Day on November 27? Let us know.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LUNCH MENUS
GO WOLFHOUNDS!
Thursday - November 9, 2017
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
St. Patrick's
CALENDAR
November - 2017
St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School
4700 Whitehaven Parkway, NW • Washington, DC 20007-1598 • 202-342-2805