PHS Friday Letter: April 04, 2008 Archives

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April 04, 2008

Printable version

If you want to print today's Friday Letter, click here for a printable version.

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May Festival

Click here for a downloadable flyer about this wonderful annual event!

Upcoming events 4-4-2008

ALL SCHOOL EVENTS:

•    April 10–MS Parent Conferences, 12:15 PM MS dismissal
•    April 11–MS Parent Conferences, No MS Classes
•    April 14–18–Spring Break - No classes - Spring Camp by reservation
•    April 21–27–TV Turn-off week
•    April 24–Family Night
•    April 25–Pajama and Books Day
•    May 1–Dialogue Circle
•    May 2–May Fest Rehearsal Day
•    May 4–May Fest, 10:30 AM-2:00 PM
•    May 5–Day of Rest, No classes; Childcare by reservation only (9-6)

Please check the announcements below for more information about many of these events.

Click here for a downloadable calendar of events for April 2008
Click here for a downloadable 2007-2008 School Year Calendar

Please click below for a copy of the DRAFT 2008-2009 School Year Calendar. Please note, the later start date is due to construction on the second floor (installing new flooring) which predicates a three-day later start to the school year.

Click here for a downloadable DRAFT 2008-2009 School Year Calendar

Announcements 4-4-2008

ART FOR KIDS' SAKE BOOKS!
It is time once again for the Art For Kids' Sake Book!!! Gigi Obrecht and Nicole Leong have worked their magic to bring the art and poetry of our kids to us in these amazing books. With special thanks too to Adra Valentine, Rebecca Magill, and our wonderful teachers who help guide the projects featured below. Click on the following links to have a special
sneak preview of the fun:

These books are available now (through the order form listed below) http://www.posttool.com/gigi/Book_Order_Form.pdf

You can still sign up for the Director's Book Club!
There is still time to sign up for the Director's Book Club at $100. Just call or email Namrata (x106) if you are interested.

Ever wished you could sit down for a long conversation with the author after reading a really great book? Don't miss your chance to do just that in the cozy PHS library! Join the Director's Book Club and talk to 8 exceptional writers about their critically acclaimed books over wine and dinner in front of the fireplace. Among the guest authors who will come to the 6 bimonthly gatherings over the next year will be celebrated cultural thinker Susan Griffin (May 12), award-winning novelists Harriet Chessman (September 15) and Peter Orner (November 10), popular journalist Peggy Orenstein and film critic Mary Pols (January 15 2009), a surprise author (March 9), and special guests/friends of PHS, father and son David & Nic Sheff jointly discussing their just-published memoirs (date TBA). Click here to download a flyer about this opportunity.

From the PHS Parents Association:

* A reminder to please fill out the nominating form (click here to download - or click the link below for a way to complete the form online), which asks people within the PHS community to help nominate others or one’s self to work on important community projects, tasks, and events. Click here to download a cover letter about the form. Please complete this form and return it to PHS by April 11 or complete the form online by clicking on the link below: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=a6bPYdYcb1U8E9LYuY7flg_3d_3d. Please make sure you participate and help us initiate this new process. Please feel free to email Kimberley Spears kimberleyspears@yahoo.com or Regina Casciato at CasciatoReggae@aol.com for specific questions about the Presidio Hill Parents Association.

* Also, our next Parents Association Meeting will be on April 10 from 8-9 a.m. Please feel free to join us.

* Check out the latest PEN (Parents Education Network) Newsletter by clicking here.

FAMILY NIGHT!
PHS families are invited to enjoy a wonderful evening exploring space in all it’s various meanings through participating in a variety of activities at PHS. This fun event will take place on Thursday, April 24th and will be led by a few of our fantastic teachers. The evening will begin at 6:45 and will end at 8:30, though you do not have to stay the whole time if bedtime calls. In order to make sure you have a space at this popular event, please RSVP with your name, your child’s name and grade, and how many family members will be attending by Wednesday, April 9thth. You can RSVP to Tanya through email: tanya_finley@presidiohill.org or by phone by calling 751-9318, extension 115.

From Raymi Orozco
Spring Break: April 14-18
Reserve a spot for April Camp!

Open to K-5th graders, April camp will be held on April 14-18, from 9-4pm daily. Reservations MUST be made no later than 12 noon on April 7 to confirm a spot. Drop-ins will not be allowed. Camp fees are $70/day for 1-2 days and $60/day for 3-5 days, (financial assistance rates are available). An additional minimal field trip fee may be required on certain days. When making a reservation, please specify the exact days of attendance with approximate pick-up times. All children are required to arrive no later than 9:30 am and to bring a lunch. Field-trip/activity details to follow; check back next week or visit the after-school webpage.

*Camp will be offered contingent upon a minimum enrollment of 10 students.

Please contact Raymi at raymi_orozco@presidiohill.org or 751-9318 x.130 to make a reservation or if you have any questions.

Follies DVDs are here!"The Secret of Sparkly Shine" is now available on DVD!Much thanks to Carla Leshne, David Donnefield and crew, who shot and edited the video. Each DVD is $9.; You can pick up your Follies 2007 DVD from Martin at the front desk. (There are plenty to go around).In case you did not get a copy of the 2006 Follies show (Follywood), we also have some available for $6.

Dialogue Circle Save the Date:
At our next Dialogue Circle on Thursday, May 1st at 6 PM, “Built to Last: PHS, Progressive Education, and What’s Next,” we will discuss the practical nature of how we can continue to push the edges of the envelope of progressive education for the next 90 years. Alfie Kohn's article, Progressive Education: Why It's Hard to Beat, but Also Hard to Find which appeared in the NAIS publication Independent School will be a jumping off point for our discussion. This article appears in this issue of the Friday letter and has been mailed home. It can also be accessed by clicking here.

AFKS

Dear PHS Families, Friends, Teachers and Staff,

It was another roaring successful and fun filled Auction night! With the Theater wrapped in glorious red velvet and perfumed by gardenias, it set the stage for celebration!

An outrageous 1920's Auction night filled with inspirational dance by the Isadora Duncan Dance company, fueled by the rock and roll vibe of the 6th Grade Band "Swift" and elevated by the glorious voices of the a cappella middle school group, "The Wash" !

Thank you to all our parents, friends, families, teachers and staff for coming out to celebrate and support our school. We raised over $100K! We couldn't have done it without our amazing roster of committee chairs, hardworking parent volunteers, teachers and staff.

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions for next year's Auction. Check out the AFKS Survey by clicking here. It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with such a dedicated Auction Committee. I look forward to supporting and assisting the new Auction Chair in every way that I can.

With heartfelt gratitude and good cheer,
Grace Angel

From the Director 4-4-2008

Brian%20T%20for%20web.jpg THIS LETTER/ARTICLE HAS ALSO BEEN MAILED HOME

Friday Letter
April 4, 2008

Dear Presidio Hill Community Members:

From time to time we want to share good resources that speak to the core concepts of progressive education. The current issue of Independent School Magazine is devoted to “Education and Democracy, Today.” Not bad timing for a Presidential election year. The feature article in the magazine is by Alfie Kohn who came to the Bay Area to talk about progressive education: what it is and what it isn’t.

Attached to this letter (click here) is Kohn’s fabulous article, “Progressive Education: Why It’s Hard to Beat, but also Hard to Find.” I spoke with Alfie Kohn by phone two days ago to ask for permission to send this article to all of you. He graciously agreed. As you read the article, as many of our teachers have already done, I hope that it will generate questions that I hope will spark agreement, debate, and interest in what we do as a school. Also as you read, please recognize what we do and perhaps what we could do better as a progressive school in the early Twenty-First Century. Also know that in our work together in helping to facilitate the learning of all the children at PHS, we invite conversation and feedback about philosophy but also about making the abstract real as a progressive school.

At our next Dialogue Circle on Thursday, May 1st at 6 PM, “Built to Last: PHS, Progressive Education, and What’s Next,” we will discuss the practical nature of how we can continue to push the edges of the envelope of progressive education for the next 90 years.

Sincerely,
Brian Thomas,
Director

Curriculum Spotlight: Art 4-4-2008

News from the art room!

Rebecca Magill: Already into the second semester, the 7th graders have accomplished so much. They completed their colorful Oaxaca wood creatures that were displayed in the front lobby. Students had their first Open Studio class where they were free to move around the room from one work- station to the next, exploring the various materials. Students worked on music response paintings for the AFKS group project...a great success!

We went on a field trip to Center for the Book and came away with a printed hand made book. Students are now working on two projects simultaneously. They began the first phase of their clay project creating a Claus Oldenburg: Every day object. They are now ready to glaze them and I look forward to the final results. Concurrently, they are working on a cross-curricular Humanities project- the Apartheid Memorial Project, producing 3D structures from their designs. A big thank you to Elizabeth Morris, Architect, Emily’s mother who visited the 7th grade art classes to introduce and give her expertise on building 3D structures.

The 8th graders successfully completing their Family Portraits project which were displayed around the school. Students have been busily working on a cross-curricular Humanities project painting shoes reflective of the Harlem Renaissance period. The shoes have been transformed into works of art, as many of the shoes are symbolic and rich in imagery. The students had earlier created an AFKS painting of PHS in the style of an artist of their choice, and many of the students participated in creating Eliasson inspired sculptures. I encourage parents and faculty to visit the art room or to look around at the artwork on display. I’m amazed at what I’m seeing.

Adra Valentine: Wow! Does it ever slow down around here?

Now that the ArtRageous AFKS auction has passed, it is time to gear up for TV turnoff week- woo hoo! Stock up on those art supplies and dust off those museum memberships- it is time to do all those family activities you always meant to do.

In art we have been keeping busy- here is a little taste of what is happening K-6!

K- Glazing clay, fingerpainting and exploring texture rubbings

1st - Weaving two paintings together, drawing flowers with chalk