So, the March weather pattern seems to be spinning the old saying on its tail so to speak. With snow in the upcoming forecast, it will be interesting to see how the weekend develops. My advice to students hoping for a snow day has always been to do your homework! You don't want to plan on not having school and then get caught off guard, but the joy of already having your work completed is monumental and increases the potential relaxation of a snow day exponentially! Occasionally, I still need to explain what exponentially means...
This week had a number of special occasions that added some additional exuberance to our typical enjoyable Stony Brook atmosphere.
Monday was Pi day and Albert Einstein's birthday.
Tuesday brought us the Ides of March (exuberance might not be the right word for descendants of Julius Caesar but it makes for great discussions in social studies and Latin classes).
Wednesday provided our SB Chorus students the opportunity to join the WA Choir and the choruses from Abbot and Day schools in the Town-wide Choral Concert. Congratulations to Ms. Watson and all of the students for a wonderful performance and special thanks to Ms. St. George and the WA students for hosting such a collaborative event and making all of our students feel so welcome.
Thursday was filled with the wearing of the green which strangely enough blended in nicely with our 8th grade Periodic Table Element Fashion Show. I had no idea that many of the elements had a strong base of Irish ancestry.
Most importantly, the students were all giddy with anticipation for this afternoon's publishing of the report cards! They are now available in the iParent portal.
In addition to the specific dates from the calendar, our 7th graders participated in our annual SoS assembly which focuses on providing students with strategies to help them reach out to adults if they are worried about any of their friends or if they themselves are feeling extended periods of being overwhelmed or sad. Information was mailed home to all of our families regarding the presentation a few weeks ago. I would encourage you to talk with your 7th graders about the assembly and use it as an opportunity to check-in with them and or open communication with them about their reactions to the assembly. Adolescence is a turbulent emotional roller-coaster for both the teens and parents of which many of you are already well aware. It is for that reason that fostering strong communication through this journey is paramount. It is too easy for adolescents to default to an isolated place of shutting people out and developing a sense of invincibility or that they can handle everything on their own. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Shifting gears somewhat, we move to the upcoming events. The scheduling process for the 8th grade students transitioning to WA for next year is coming to an end as we are beginning to look at math placements for students transitioning to 8th grade for next year. The students have been reminded daily that Monday, March 21 is the last day to turn in override requests for WA scheduling. Today, letters were given to all 7th grade students regarding 8th grade math placement for next year. Please ask your 7th grader for the letter and return the signed copy if necessary. Not all students need to return the letter, but it is important that you are aware of the process of placement for 8th grade. If your student has misplaced the letter or if you have any questions regarding the information or process, please email your child's math teacher.
Next Tuesday, March 22 is the fundraising event at Five Guys to benefit the Washington DC Scholarship Fund. All of your support thus far has been greatly appreciated and if you can swing by for a burger or shake next week, it will help continue the successful run of events!
As I finish this email, I am listening to the hail storm roaring outside. A lion indeed.
Hopefully, the weekend is enjoyable!
Chris
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