Dear Parents,
Thank you for participating in Parent Night and joining us for Hopes and Dreams Conferences. As I popped into the classrooms and the Multipurpose Room (MPR) last Thursday night, I was reminded of the professionalism and dedication of our faculty. They are wonderful teachers and I am excited about the experiences your children are going to have this year. Our focus on leadership is in full swing. We are currently helping our children learn the importance of unsung heroes, who are everyday leaders. Eighty children in Grades 3-5 have committed to active membership in the student service council. The D day group will have its first meeting onTuesday, September 10, from 7:30-8:00 am in the MPR. TheThursday afternoon group will have its first meeting from 3:00-3:30 pm in the second floor atrium. Their activities will revolve around International Housekeeping Week, which is celebrated September 8-14. Leaders are people who are accepting of others regardless of their race, faith, culture, or physical differences. We are excited to continue our Fifth Grade Diversity Book Clubs this year. These book clubs are led by Lower School administration and faculty and revolve around a topic of diversity. The leaders of the book clubs will “pitch” their book to the boys and girls on September 12 and fifth graders will have the opportunity to select a book they would like to read and discuss. The book clubs will meet later in the fall for a lunchtime book discussion with pizza, Gatorade, and wonderful conversation. Leaders are people who take care of our environment. One way Lovett promotes “Being Green” is to hold several “Walk to School” days during the year. Our first one will be held onFriday, September 6. The Lower School will have a NUD (non-uniform day) that day to celebrate this important initiative. Leaders are people who do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Lower School students come to understand how to be a leader through our Leader in Me and Character Education programs and by reciting and living out the Lovett Character Pledge each day. “. . . We pledge ourselves to develop these ideals with courage and integrity striving to do what is right at all times.” To demonstrate our shared commitment to the honoring of the Character Pledge, we will have our annual character signing chapel on Friday, September 13. Leaders are people of all ages. During the next few weeks, I will be taking our youngest leaders to the cafe for warm cookies and milk. It is a wonderful way for me to get to know the Kindergarten children, and the cookies are always a hit. Mr. Peebles dropped by during my recent cafe visit with Mrs. Buce’s class. The children enjoyed chatting with him, seeing his office, and saying hello to Mrs. Lange and the Lovett Admission Staff. Leaders are people who generously share their time and talent. We would like to thank our parent leaders who serve as grade level representatives. Their first meeting, with the Lower School administration, will take place on Thursday, September 12, at 8:30 am in the Lower School Multisensory Room (MSR). If you have any questions, concerns, or positive things to share, please reach out to your grade level representatives so they can bring those issues to our attention. We will discuss these matters, and your grade rep will follow up with you after the meeting. I hope your child is having a wonderful year. Please do not hesitate to let me know how I can be of support to you and your family. Warm regards, Mary Baldwin Principal The Lower School Dear Parents,
A new year has begun, and we are off to a great start. Your child’s teachers have spent countless hours preparing a successful launch to a new school year. It was heartwarming to experience the excitement during Sneak-A-Peek. Your children are clearly ready to begin! Billy Peebles reminded the faculty, at our pre-planning meeting last week that schools provide something unique for both faculty and students. Every year, we have a fresh start. With that in mind, I am optimistic that the 2013-14 school year will be a wonderful one—for all of us! We congratulate Rebecca McGhee as she dons a new hat as coordinator of services in Lovett’s Academic Resource Center (ARC). We welcome our new Lower School Administrative Assistant, Elisa Cordell. Her workstation is in the main office, directly behind Darlene Walls. Elisa is your contact person if you would like to meet with me. Her telephone number is (404) 262-3032, ext. 1345, and her email address is [email protected]. Kindergarten parents have received an invitation to attend one of the coffees the Lower School Administration will be hosting in August and September. Assistant Principal Edi Houghton, Counselors Gayle Greenwood and Yasmine Schmid, and I are looking forward to getting to know the parents of the Class of 2026 and answering any questions you may have. We want to help you and your child have an easy transition to Lovett, and we hope this will be one way to support you. As we begin the year, I would like to mention a few things that will be happening in the next couple of weeks. On Thursday, August 15, we will have two informational sessions to introduce our laptop program to the parents of fourth graders. These will take place in the Lower School Multipurpose Room (MPR) at 8:30 a.m., and in room #206, on the second floor of the Lower School, at 6:00 p.m. We ask that at least one fourth grade parent attend one of these meetings, so you will be informed of our expectations for your child. Appropriate use of technology is important to all of us, and our partnership with you is paramount. We are looking forward to meeting our room parents in the faculty dining room at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, August 19. Our first Lower School grade rep meeting will be at 8:15 a.m., onThursday, September 12, in the Multi-Sensory Room (MSR). We appreciate those of you who are serving as room parents and grade reps. Your work is instrumental in making the Lower School hum. Parents, please direct your questions or concerns to your grade reps. They serve as liaisons to the Lower School administration. Our shared goal is to resolve issues and strengthen our parent-school partnership. This kind of communication is key. Of course, we always appreciate when you share good things that are happening, so we can celebrate our successes. In the next two weeks, the Student Service Council (SSC) will have information available for third, fourth, and fifth grade students posted outside of Yasmine Schmid’s office. If you would like to have your child participate, please read the letter your son or daughter brings home and return the attached permission slip with your child. This is an opportunity for Lower School students to learn the joy of service learning, and we hope there will be a great deal of interest in SSC. We are planning to have monthly Lower School assemblies again this year. This is a time when we share important information about our school and members of our community and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals or groups. Lower School Parent Night is Thursday, August 29. We will have a flexible schedule again this year, so you can choose times that work best for you and your family. This schedule also allows families with multiple Lower School children to hear from resource teachers and visit more than one classroom, since homeroom teachers present twice that night. You will receive a schedule for Parent Night in advance so that you can plan your evening. Our optional Hopes and Dreams conferences are the next day, Friday, August 30. The purpose of this conference is for you to share your dreams for your child and any information that may be helpful to your child’s teacher. You will be receiving scheduling information soon. Again, we have the highest hopes for an amazing school year. Thank you for entrusting your most cherished treasures—your children—into our care. We take this role very seriously and will do all that we can to make your child’s Lovett experience all that you’ve imagined. Warm regards, Mary Baldwin, Principal The Lower School |