Notes from the Headmistress-October 2011

We are off to a fantastic start for the new school year.

 The excitement of our newly designed Toddler Room, and the unanticipated renovation of the Preschool Classrooms following the flood in July, has given us a fresh new look and an exciting start to the school year.  Many thanks to all who helped with these two projects, especially Sharon and Peter Exley of Architecture is Fun and Fun Finders, for their creativity and expertise, also to our faculty and staff; you worked long hours and weekends to get everything back together-and most importantly to our parent body who donated so generously to make this project possible.  The Toddler Room is transformed into a room of pure magic for two year olds.  Everywhere you look there is something to delight the eye and to encourage learning experiences and the children are loving every moment of class time.   We are waiting for some additional cabinetry to be delivered next week from Germany and when that is in place the room will be complete.  We will be scheduling a Sunday in December to dedicate the room.

The Preschool classes are also taking full advantage of classrooms that have new carpet, new tile, new windows, all new play equipment, toys and furniture, plus an exciting new loft.

We welcomed a new member to our faculty-Mrs. Claudia Rozenberg.  Claudia is working in our Morning Fours and JK classes assisting Amy Blythe.  She has developed a Spanish Language Curriculum for our JK classes and the children love her and are and enjoying learning to speak Spanish.  Claudia is a native of Chicago and was educated at The University of Chicago Laboratory School and Scripps College. Claudia earned her Master’s Degree at the Erikson Institute of Child Development.  She is a most welcome addition to our talented faculty.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cole and Meggan Needham for planning the very successful Kickoff party held for parents at Vintage Pine and to Stacey Cavanagh, Maribeth McElveen and Shelia Troy for the wonderful Fall Family Hoedown.  A good time was had by all at both events.  Pictures from the Hoedown can be seen on this website.

Parents are being mailed a packet of information to assist planning for school applications for next year.  If you have any questions please contact me at the Day School Office.

The Holiday Faire and Auction Committees are both very hard at work under the very able leadership of Hadley Denny, Sarah Graham and Kristin Quinn.  The Faire promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a varied and exciting selection of vendors from all over the country and charming, free entertainment for children.  The Preview Party on Thursday evening, Nov. 10, is followed by two days of additional shopping.  Don’t miss the Saint Chrysostom’s Bake Sale and Santa’s Toy Shop. 

The Auction co-chairs Vanessa Copans, Karen Krehbiel, and Claire York have been working since last spring and are well on their way to assembling an astounding collection of items for the January 21^st Auction.

Special Thanks to Danielle Thompson, Associate Rector, who officiates at our monthly chapels and who does such a wonderful job.  For the November 16th Chapel Service we will have an ingathering of donations for the Christmas Stockings our families are giving in cooperation with The Women of Saint Chrysostom’s to be given to the children at the Schubert Preschool.  A team of The Women of Saint Chrysostom’s and Day School Mothers headed by Katie Benson and Katie Heaton have been working since last Summer making 80 hats for the Schubert children.  Day School classes will be responsible for bringing forward during chapel the other items to be included in the stockings as an offering during chapel.   Special thanks to our Class Captains, under the leadership of Eileen Murphy, who will make the phone calls and send the necessary emails to make this happen.  As always the loose offering taken up at chapel is sent to our sister school Saint Simeon in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti.

I am also delighted that Charlotte York will be heading our Haiti Project committee this year and she is planning a sale of Saint Chrysostom’s “gear” at the Holiday Faire and a second Annual Haiti Evening in April.

Special thanks to all of you volunteers, unsung heroes and generous donors who are so faithful in your support of all we try to do. And most especially to that anonymous donor who gives the meat each month for the Neighbors in Need Dinner.  Your faithful and quiet support has a tremendous impact on those in our community who are most in need.  It is such a wonderful example of the power of kindness which is something we work hard to teach the children.

In closing I would like to share with you the Prayer of Saint Paul’s School which my good friend, Dan Heischman, Executive Director of NAES recently shared with me,: “Grant O Lord that in the joys of life, we may never forget to be kind.

Mary Ellen