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December 07, 2007
Printable version
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Upcoming events 12-7-2007
ALL SCHOOL EVENTS:
• December 12–Board of Trustees, 5:45-8:00 PM
• December 13–Alumni Dialogue Circle - Childcare by reservation - 6:00-8:00 PM
• December 19–Follies
• December 20–January 6–Winter Break - School Closed, No childcare
Click here for a downloadable calendar of events for December.
Click here for a downloadable 2007-2008 School Year Calendar
Announcements 12-7-2007
Ordering School Pictures
This is the week for Ordering Holiday Prints!
Holiday Cut Off Dates*
Product Type First Class Mail Priority Mail FedEx Overnight
Standard prints 12/12/2007 12/17/2007 12/19/2007
This years school photos have been a great success. This is just a quick reminder that the photography site will not be up permanently. It is important to place your holiday order as soon as possible to avoid any last minute delays. http://photographicproof.com/projects/presidio-hill-school
Average order time for prints and specialty items takes approximately 4 to 6 business days. Specialty items added for the holiday season include, Calendars, Photo Mouse Pad, Photo Puzzle, Key Tag, Refrigerator Magnet, Apron, Tote-bag, Coasters, Luggage tag, Photo Button. Please contact Michael Angelo directly if you have any questions about ordering: http://photographicproof.com/contact
FOLLIES
December 19, 2007 7:00 PM Herbst Theater
Follies is almost here. You should have gotten your invitation in the mail. Get your reply card to Martin to pre-order tickets. Download a reply card by clicking here if you need a new one. Click here to download information about parking and transit. Click here to download a map of parking sites. Click here to download information about kid-friendly restaurants near the Herbst Theater.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!
Even though there will be no reception this year, we still need parent
volunteers for:
- Check-in/will call; Hand out prepaid tickets - (8) volunteers
(4) 6:00 to 6:30
(4) 6:30 to 7:00
- Check-in/will call alternates; fill in at will call table or hand out
programs for any no-show volunteers - (2) volunteers
(1) 6:00 to 6:30
(1) 6:30 to 7:00
- Greeters/Information and directions; direct people to will call lines or
ticket purchase windows - (2) volunteers
(1) 6:00 to 6:30
(1) 6:30 to 7:00
- Programs; hand out programs at theater entrance - (2 - 4) volunteers
(1-2) 6:00 to 6:30
(1-2) 6:30 to 7:00
Please email or call Martin if you are able to volunteer or if you have questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation in this year's Follies.
AFTER-SCHOOL ON FOLLIES DAY: In preparation for Follies, after-school will be closed at 5pm on December 19, 2007. Families will incur late fees after 5pm. We encourage parents to pick their children up as early as possible so they may get some rest and eat dinner before their call times.
FOLLIES PROPS STILL NEEDED
If you have any, please bring into the lobby and sign them in, or email sue.
Many thanks.....The Middle School
Xylophone - one
Picnic table cloths
Old fashion shoes - one pair
3 Old fashion headsets
One old fashion pill bottle
6 table top old looking radios (30's)
10 old looking suitcases or reg. rectangular shaped that we can decorate
10 wooden chairs
Plastic swords
2 lightweight portable card tables
PHS Cookbook!
Get your holiday shopping done and drop off your kids -- all at the same time! Pick up copies of the PHS Cookbook, What San Francisco Families Eat! at next week's Friday coffee/talk (Dec. 14). You can always purchase copies of the book at any time from Martin at the front desk. It makes an exceptional gift while also supporting our school!
An invitation to join us for the next Dialogue Circle
December 13, 2007, 6:00–8:00 PM
Please join the PHS community for our next Dialogue Circle. We will have a group of recent PHS graduates come and speak to us about their experiences in high school. They’ll discuss how they are doing now, how well PHS prepared them for where they are now, and how can we make what we are doing well so that all PHS graduates are successful at the next level. Light refreshments served. Childcare is available by reservation only on Thursday, December 13, 2007 during the Dialogue Circle from 6:00-8:00pm. A light snack will be provided.
Childcare for the Dialogue Circle: Reservations must be made by Monday, December 10, 2007. Please contact Raymi at raymi_orozco@presidiohill.org or 751-9318 x.130.
Soup
Winter is coming and it is a great time to eat soup. If you are interested in making warm, delicious, and nutritious soup to help keep our PHS staff and teachers going through the cold winter days, please contact Leslie Jones at:
Leslie Jones at leslie_jones@mckinsey.com
Thanks in advance for your support.
Reminder: The PHS email groups is to be used solely for PHS-related communications. Please do not use the published PHS family emails or email groups for other purposes.
High School Placement 12-7-2007
Ann Meissner Jennifer Franklin (Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher)
Friday Letter
High School
December 6, 2007
As winter break draws near, students should be actively engaged in the essay writing process. Students applying to SOTA should be compiling their portfolios. All students should remember the importance of careful revision and editing when writing application essays. If family members, teachers, or advisors have offered students feedback on their drafts, it will benefit them to pay close attention to their suggestions.
Several families have asked why we ask for a prioritized list of schools. We use the prioritized list to help make sure families are on the right track and that the schools selected are a good match for students. Occasionally, a school will contact us when they are down to the final decisions and choosing between several students for one spot. It helps the school to have a sense of how likely the student is to accept the spot if offered to them. This is also true if a school begins to work with their wait list.
A flexible tuition workshop will be held at Lick-Wilmerding High School on Monday, January 7 from 7:00-9:00 PM. No RSVP is necessary. More information is available at <http://www.lwhs.org/podium/default.aspx?t=51085>
As always, feel free to call or email Ann or Jennifer with questions or concerns as the process approaches its close.
Take care,
Ann and Jennifer
From the Office of Philanthropy 12-7-2007
How is Presidio Hill School Funded as an independent school?
Tuition provides the largest segment of revenue to the school. Other funds are derived from tax-deductible contributions, such as annual gifts to The Annual Fund, and special fundraising events, such as the auction and Walkthon.
Doesn’t tuition cover costs at presidio Hill School?
Not quite. Tuition covers most operating costs such as salaries, benefits, supplies, utilities and maintenance, but The Annual Fund closes the gap between tuition and expenses. In order to provide special enhancements for the students and faculty, parents, past-parents, alumni, corporations and foundations all support the school by their contributions to The Annual Fund.
What does The Annual Fund provide for the school?
Some of the many enhancements provided in the past from The Annual Fund have included:
* Professional workshops and training sessions for faculty and staff
* Support for Financial Assistance
* Teacher salaries and benefits
Are gifts to The Annual Fund considered tax-deductible contributions?
Yes! Presidio Hill School is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions to The Annual Fund are tax-deductible. When you send your donation to the school, your gift will be confirmed in a letter that should be kept for tax purposes.
What am I expected to contribute?
Each Presidio Hill family must determine what amount they are able to contribute and each gift is important. When PHS seeks funding from other sources such as foundations and corporations, it is important to be able to illustrate the support of its parents and others by the percentage of individuals who contribute to PHS. Consequently we stress the importance of 100% parent participation. Most of PHS’s parents appreciate the school’s efforts to provide a solid educational program for its students and participate in The Annual Fund. All contributions are recognized each year in the Presidio Hill School Annual Report, which is printed in the fall.
Many companies have matching programs for their employees and every year we are the grateful recipients of corporate matching gifts. Please contact the Development Office if you feel your company may participate in a matching gift program. We are eager to increase our annual support by participating in as many matching gift opportunities as possible.
May I make a gift of appreciated stock?
Yes, stock gifts can be of great benefit to both the donor and the institution receiving the gift. You may be able to avoid capital gains tax by making a gift of appreciated stock. Please contact the Development Office for instructions on how to transfer stock to PHS.
If I have questions, whom do I call?
Questions about The Annual Fund may be directed to Namrata in the Development Office at 415-751-9318 ext 106 or email namrata_gupta@presidiohill.org
Namrata Gupta, Director of Philanthropy
Save the Date: Art for Kids' Sake
From the Associate Director and Middle School Dean 12-7-2007
Friday Letter
Ann Meissner,
Associate Director and Middle School Dean
Now is the time of year when some of us look around and think, “Follies – oh my, what have we gotten ourselves into!”
It is also the time when we can begin to observe the magic of such a huge undertaking coming together. The theater, library and any available classroom transform into rehearsal halls as singing, dancing, and acting abound.
There is something palpable in the halls when all the students and adults in the building are engaged in creating this one night of magical performance. Enjoy the photos of the show in rehearsal and make sure you have Wednesday evening December 19th on your calendar!
Curriculum Spotlight: 3rd grade 12-7-2007
Do you remember being in the third grade? I don’t, but when I tell people that I’m a third grade teacher, they often launch into stories about what third grade was like for them. Rarely do I hear about learning multiplication, paragraph writing, or learning cursive. Although I occasionally hear about a cool project or field trip, it’s more likely that I’ll hear a story about a third grade teacher or something that happened with classmates. The relationships that existed within the third grade community seem to be what people think of when they hear the words “third grade.”
This always reminds me of how important our daily meetings are. In third grade we have meetings first thing in the morning, almost every day. The students come through the door one by one and greet me with a special handshake or high five. Then they read the morning message that tells them what their next step will be and what to expect from the day, and they head into the “annex” for a meeting with the whole class. This routine sets the tone for the day.
Our meetings begin with greetings. The children have already been greeted by me, letting them know that I have noticed them, but it is just as important (and maybe even more important) to a third grader that their classmates acknowledge them. So as the meeting begins, each student greets another student. It could be a student sitting right next to them, somebody sitting across from them, or somebody whose name was picked out of a cup. This ensures that every individual has the chance to be recognized by a classmate at the very beginning of her/his day.
After greeting, we have a discussion about an important topic. This could be something that I bring to the group or something brought by a student. If it’s a topic that I am bringing to the group, I might read a story and ask the kids for the moral. I might also bring up something that I’m noticing during other class times or something with which I need help. Recently I read them a story about a donkey that was trying to pretend that he was a lion. We discussed being comfortable with who you are and what can happen when you try to be someone that you’re not. During these discussions I pass around Zeus the dragon, our talking piece, so that everyone has a chance to be heard.
When a kid brings a topic to the group it is often a problem that they need help solving. In this instance, the student who brings the problem to the group speaks first, then anybody else who is involved gets a chance to hold Zeus and say their piece. Next we open it up to anyone who might’ve observed the situation. After everyone has held Zeus once and had his/her say, I reiterate what I think I heard and give the parties involved the opportunity to correct me if I’ve misunderstood. Then the class takes a few moments to think about what they’ve heard and consider possible solutions. We pass Zeus around and everyone gets a chance to voice his/her idea. Once everyone has either given an idea or passed we vote on a solution. That solution is then acted out in a role-play so that the kids actually get a chance to practice what it would be like to use the solution, and for others to actually see how the chosen solution might work.
At the end of the meeting we have time to share. Kids might share what they did over the weekend, a triumph or loss in a sporting event, a birthday, visits with family and friends, something they are looking forward to, a personal tragedy, etc. This helps us to get to know more about each other and our lives outside of the classroom, as well as giving us the opportunity to support each other in joy and in sorrow.
Beginning our day this way makes numerous powerful statements. It lets the kids know that their presence and involvement is important. It sets expectations for how we interact with one another, both individually and as a group. It invites thoughtfulness and caring. It reminds them that I am a figure of authority, but also part of their community. It communicates safety, both in the right to be heard and the right to pass.
Though I don’t remember third grade, our meetings make me wish that I did, and that I remembered it this way.
Tanya Finley, 3rd grade teacher
Curriculum Spotlight, Spanish 12-7-2007
Friday Letter
¡Hola! PHS Community,
It is with great pleasure that I begin to write my first Friday letter for the PHS community. In today’s email interactive society, I find a bit of nostalgia in writing a letter, even if it is for a website.
As the saying goes, “One learns something new every day.” Well, I have learned a great deal working as a Spanish teacher at PHS this year. In retrospect, I have to also admit that I have grown as a teacher and as a human being.
What is most interesting is that in some ways, I have relearned how to teach Spanish classes to my students. I think that this has improved not only my teaching strategies, but it also has helped students to better their own ways of learning a second language.
At the beginning of the school year, I had the opportunity to go to a Spanish symposium at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, where I became acquainted with the concept of “interculturalidad” which integrates aspects of art, culture, history and literature. When I came back, I began to put this idea of inter-culturality into practice. I am also adding the concept of ecology into Spanish teaching which will be emphasized beginning in 2008.
As the end of the year is fast approaching, I would like to wish you “Felices Fiestas y Próspero Año Nuevo.”
Cecilia Foote
Spanish teacher