10/21/2005

The Innisbrook Gift wrap fundraiser for 2005 has come to end. Although we didn’t beat our 2004 best year, we did raise an amazing $8,100 for our school. To all our budding salesmen and women—job well done!

10/20/2005

So far this fall, we have had Toddler, CH-3, EL-1A, and EL-1B potluck dinners—great gatherings with terrific company and delicious food. The conversations with parents have been about how happy their children are (they have transitioned well into the school, new classrooms, new year, etc), our beautiful new campus ("How did you pull that off over the summer?"), our fabulous Arts Festival, and "Donna, when are you going to build that High School?" Thanks so much to our room parents, hosts, teachers, and parents for organizing and attending these informal opportunities to connect with one another. I look forward to the upcoming gatherings. —Donna

10/21/2005

The community service committee will be sending home the Giving Calendar project with students next week. The goal of this project is to develop awareness and build gratefulness for all we have in our families. In addition, the funds generated will be shared with local families for home heating oil. Here's how it will work:

10/21/2005

Inly's upper septic system was on the agenda of this week's Scituate Board of Health meeting as well as the subject of an article in Thursday's Patriot Ledger. Our upper system is located on an easement on the property of a neighbor who has charged that our system is not as environmentally sound as it should be. A very knowledgeable engineering firm hired by Inly has often refuted these charges, arguing that our system functions more than satisfactorily given the flow produced by the school. After a leak was discovered in a pipe joint under our neighbor’s driveway, the Board of Health required further testing of the system. The initial leak was repaired earlier this fall and efforts are already underway to get bids and move forward to resolve this latest situation. The septic story is a complex one that spans five years. If you are interested in the history of our septic challenges and community relations, please feel free to contact Cathy Phillips or Linda Shropshire.

Shelly Sommer's book, John F. Kennedy: His Life and Legacy, just received a terrific review that we would like to share with you. Shelley teaches literature at Inly and is the school librarian.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8—An engaging portrait of our 35th president. In discussing his curious mind, his love of reading, and his sense of humor, Sommer creates an empathetic connection with readers early in the book. She describes her subject's privileged childhood and large Irish family and explains how he used his World War II experiences, especially his role in the PT-109 incident, to connect with a largely poor and middle-class population when he successfully ran for Congress and six years later for the Senate. The author notes that the 1960 presidential campaign was the first in which television played an important role. In addressing his legacy, she notes that Kennedy liked big ideas, and while many were not fulfilled during his term, some, especially the Civil Rights Act, were passed soon after his death. In an easy-to-read style, Sommer does a fine job of painting an interesting and sympathetic picture of a leader who left his mark. The book includes lots of black-and-white photos, a time line, Kennedy's inaugural address, a sampling of quotations, and detailed notes. A solid choice for general reading as well as for reports.
—Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia

Admissions Open House, Sunday, October 23, 1–3 p.m., Meehan Family Artsbarn. If you are available to greet visitors and show them around the school please contact Marcia by e-mail mhumphrey@inlyschool.org or by phone at 781-545-5544, ext. 114. Also, feel free to download an invitation (below) and e-mail it to friends or neighbors you think might like to come.

"Demystifying the New SAT & the the College Admissions Process," Monday, October 24, 7:30 p.m., Dana Hall School, Wellesley. This lecture is sponsored by the Parents' Independent School Network (PIN) and is open to all parents.

Parents/Friends meeting, Wednesday, October 26, 8:45 a.m., in the library. Meet the Inly specialists (art, music, movement, library, and technology).

Assembly. New England Aquarium will be here to present a whale exhibition, Thursday, October 27, in the Meehan Family Artsbarn. Parents are welcome to attend, groups of students will be rotating through stations all day.

Middle School Haunted House, Friday, October 28, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Meehan Family Artsbarn and main building.

"Plug-In" meeting, Monday, October 31, 8:45 a.m., location TBA. This gathering is hosted by the Parents/Friends Group and is for any parent who is wondering about volunteer opportunities at Inly and how to plug-in to the life of the school. The meeting will end in time to see the Halloween parade.

Halloween parade, Monday, October 31, 10:30 a.m., upper field. We celebrate Halloween by allowing the children to come to school that day in their costumes. In the morning, the whole school comes together for a parade around the upper field so everyone can see the costumes. Parents are welcome to attend as well. We ask that parents be involved in preparing the child’s costume so that unnecessary “editing” does not have to happen at school. We need to remember that there are very young children who participate with us, and we do not want to upset them. There are to be no full-face masks.

Level Night, Wednesday, November 2, 7:00 p.m., beginning in the Meehan Family Artsbarn and proceeding to classrooms. Level Night used to be several separate “Transition Nights.” This year, we will have one evening when teachers present an overview of their level’s curriculum, and illustrate how it connects to the levels preceding and following. Teachers may also address transition issues at that time. It is an opportunity to hear about developmental patterns, the "why" of what we do, and how it is the right way to educate a child. Any parent can attend any level orientation they are interested in learning more about. Parents whose children are moving up to a new level next year may want to attend that session.