Kimberly Putzer
President, Parents Association
November 2008
There is a chill in the air and leaves on the ground-autumn has arrived, and with it all the fantastic fall activities. From sporting events to academics, it is inspiring to watch the St. Bernard's boys settle into the school routine. With all there is to look forward to, the boys' excitement is palpable.
I hope you had a chance to enjoy the myriad sporting events last month; there are still more games to attend. If you have any questions, or want to cheer the boys on (it's always fun to bolster school spirit!), please contact the superlative Athletic Chairs Sharon Greenstein (Upper School) and Caroline Gottschalk (Middle School).You can also check the school website (www.stbernards.org) for the latest details, including times and locations of games.
The Parents Association would like to thank the St. Bernard's community for an informative and warm Parents' Evening. Everyone loves the experience of sitting in their sons' classrooms and hearing from their teachers about the curriculum for the year. Additionally, Parents' Evening is a wonderful chance for parents to see each other and gives us the opportunity to participate in the boys' academic experience.
Another highly successful event was the Sports Equipment Exchange, organized by wonderful Chairs Elaine Gilde and Maria Manuche. We were all so glad to be able to clean out our miniscule closets and pass on equipment to others' miniscule closets. It also allowed us to purchase sporting gear for our rapidly growing boys at amazing prices.
As this monthly mailing is sent, we would like to thank Dawn Helene and Darice Fadeyi for helping to organize the mailing. You will find information enclosed about the skating party on Tuesday, January 13. Rabia de Lande Long and Catherine Osborne are the chairs; please contact them if you have any questions. Due to popular demand, the skating dogs will be back this year-don't miss them!
Additionally, you will find a sheet listing all the Class Representatives and Parents Association Chairs. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you'd like to volunteer your time to the committees, or if you have any concerns or new ideas. If parents have any non-academic issues they'd like to raise, please contact our marvelous Parents-in-Action Committee Chairs, Maureen Sherry Klinsky (Middle School) and Sheila Aresty (Junior School) who serve as liaisons to the PIA organization.
The St. Bernard's community is certainly creative, and the upcoming season gives our boys a chance to show their artistic sides. We would like to extend our appreciation to the Singers Committee, Sharon Chantiles and Joanna Delson, for all their hard work as St. Bernard's begins preparations for the winter holidays. Rehearsals continue for the fall play, Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and our gratitude goes to sartorial Shakespeareans Cynthia Rhea and Kalliope Rena as well as to Allison Gray and Lieta Urry, who are in charge of the costume room. It's never too late for a new career in costume design. Please contact them if you want to volunteer.
The next PA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at 8:20 AM in the cafeteria. Join us for the chance to see friends and enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry along with an informative meeting. There are still a multitude of possibilities for involvement. Dedicated Volunteer Committee Chairs Betsy Maas and Karen Shaw deserve our thanks for their organization of the new committee cards. When you receive the card via mail, please send it back as soon as you can.
St. Bernard's has a long tradition of community service which you can help continue by participating in the UNICEF and Halloween Candy Collection on November 3rd and 4th. The Thanksgiving Collection will begin November 11 and end Nov. 13; please start saving your canned goods for donation. For more opportunities to help others, please contact the Community Service Committee.
Looking ahead, I know we are all excited about the Used Book Sale on November 5th and 6th, and plan to fill our shelves with volumes we have yet to read, due to the extraordinary efforts of Kate Cannon, the Library Chair. Though raffle kickoff is not until February, the Raffle Committee, Anna Caspersen, Blakely Griggs, Melissa Rhodes (Journal) and Helena Skarstedt are already hard at work gathering prizes to ensure that it will be a great event. You will find a raffle donation form included in this mailing.
Though it seems like fall just started, the winter holidays are around the corner, and December/January events will appear in the next letter. In the meantime, enjoy this exciting season at St. Bernard's!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Putzer
President, Parents Association