 |
 | http://www.stmsaints.com/site.php | Send to a Friend | Unsubscribe | | SAVE THE DATE... | | | | 11/6 | Mothers' Club Mtg; 8:10 a.m.; Saints Hall | | 11/6 | MS Parents -Homework link Talk; 6:00 p.m.; Peyton Ctr. | | 11/7 | St. Martin's Day!; 12:30 dismissal | | 11/10 | Guild of Fine Arts Mtg.; 7:00 p.m.; Merrick Conf. Rm | | 11/11 | US Parenting Perspectives/10th grade; 7:00 p.m.; Saints Hall | | 11/18 | Pre-K and Kindergarten Open House; 9:00 a.m. | | 11/19 | MS and US Open House; 6:00 p.m. | | 11/25 | GRANDPARENTS DAY! | | 11/26-11/28 | Thanksgiving Holidays! |
ANNUAL GIVING 2008-2009 Goal: $425,000
As of 11/3: $177,840 - Still needed: $247,160
Parent Giving by Class (as of 11/3/08)
2009: 15%
2010: 25%
2011: 22%
2012: 27%
2013: 21%
2014: 40%
2015: 20%
2016: 30%
2017: 15%
2018: 11%
2019: 24%
2020: 22%
2021: 21% George Cottage: 16% Overall Parent participation to date: 20% Since its founding over 60 years ago, St. Martin’s has provided the best in academics, arts, athletics and the “whole child” education that is so unique in our community. Philanthropy has always played a vital role in the development of our school, and today we continue to depend upon the generosity of our parents, alumni and friends. The Annual Giving Campaign helps students and faculty alike realize their full potential. When you give to the Annual Fund, you support more than St. Martin’s—you support the St. Martin’s experience. A few of the many specific uses of the Annual Fund include: *Faculty salaries
*Faculty professional development
*Supplies for performing and fine arts
*Athletic equipment
*Technology in every classroom
*Chapel services
*Community service projects Even in trying economic times, we must continue to raise the bar on our expectations of the school and on ourselves, so that our students will continue to receive the finest educational experience possible.
The goal of this year’s Annual Giving Campaign is $425,000. St. Martin’s is in a most exciting and optimistic place in its history, and we thank you in advance for your support. Donations at or above the Founders’ Level may be paid monthly ($100) or quarterly ($300) on your Visa or MasterCard. Pledges are payable through the end of the Annual Giving Campaign, which is June 30, 2009. To donate, please visit www.stmsaints.com/ag or call the Lisa Sibal in the Advancement Office at (504) 736-9910.
Important Message from the Head of Upper School... A Revised Honor Council I hope your first quarter has gone well. It may be a good time to remind you of some changes Mr. Marsalis and I made to the Upper School policy. This year in the Upper School, we have established two different groups which are part of the discipline process. All major disciplinary offenses as defined in the handbook may result in an Honor Council or Discipline Committee hearing. The Discipline Committee is comprised of three faculty members and conducts hearings concerning student behavior that exhibits a lack of self-discipline. The Honor Council is comprised of nine students; students elect eight members (two from each grade) and the Student Council appoints a president. A faculty sponsor leads the Honor Council but does not vote on recommendations. The Honor Council conducts hearings concerning student behavior that exhibits a lack of honor, defined for our purposes as incidents of dishonesty or other damage to our community. There is one goal of Honor Council hearings: strengthen our community by revealing to students the effects of their behavior on others. All recommended consequences should be informed by this goal. The weight of their responsibility is balanced by training and support. Please note that more violations will be sent to the Discipline Committee or the Honor Council than in recent years. As Mr. Marsalis and I brainstormed over the summer, we identified some general problems within the school culture and decided to focus our efforts on them. To that end, we divided the one existing committee into two in an effort to clarify the difference between a lack of self-discipline and a violation of honor. We also relaxed some rules, such as the dress code, and we balanced that with a commitment to enforce the rules in the handbook. I know this is a significant change from previous years, but both Mr. Marsalis and I believe that the health of our school culture desperately needed attention. Thus, we plan to address acts of dishonesty of all kinds. The implementation of our vision may cause stress at first, but over time it will begin to positively impact the way our student community relates to each other. Both the Honor Council and the Discipline Committee serve a primarily instructional function; they strengthen our community by clarifying the effects of student behavior. Both groups merely recommend consequences to the Head of Upper School, who may revise, reject or accept their recommendations. Sometimes, the process of being held accountable for your actions by a group of peers is consequence enough. Additionally, the Honor Council will function as a proactive, community-building agent on campus by working to identify and address general behavior problems. The Honor Council is part of our pursuit of a student-led Upper School. Because we empower them, our students on the Honor Council learn to negotiate the responsibility that comes with real power to shape their environment. Such experiences challenge a student to deepen in integrity and, in turn, benefit the whole community. Michelle D. Scandurro
Head of Upper School
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS... Why do teachers give homework?
How much time should my child spend each night on homework?
How can I help with homework?
When I ask my child if he has homework, he says it is finished or that he doesn’t have any homework. How can I make sure he is really doing his work? HOMEWORK – THE LINK BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH - 6:00 P.M.- PEYTON CENTER
A PRESENTATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS
GIVEN BY DR. BILLIE ANDERSSON
If you are interested in helping your child get the most out of doing homework, join us for this presentation. You should find answers to some of the questions you may have about homework, as well as specific advice for helping your children.
Upper School Parenting Perspectives 2008-2009
-a series of presentations and discussion opportunities for parents of Upper School Students
Tuesday, November 11th (Saints Hall) 7:00 p.m.
An Evening of Dialogue between 10th Grade
Students and their Parents
-Enhancing communication about provocative topics
such as sex, drugs and alcohol
-Encouraging mutual understanding and respect
-Promoting trust between 10th grade students and
their parents through small group discussion
by Carolyn Wanek, M.Ed., LCSW
Psychotherapist
Private Practice
TCTC Consultant Questions? Please contact Dr.Bill Rosenbaum 736-9937 or william.rosenbaum@stmsaints.com
FROM THE MOTHERS' CLUB... Thanks to all who made Family Fest such a huge success! It was fun for all ages. The STM Ladies Tennis Tournament is Nov. 11 at Beach Club. Great prizes have been donated so be sure and buy your raffle tickets. Christmas Greens orders are due this week so hurry to get your orders in for the holidays. We have substantially lowered the prices this year! The Lower School Original Works art has arrived at STM. We will be sorting the precious work over the next several days. You will be contacted re: how to pick up your orders. In December, Santa's Secret Workshop is back and bigger than ever. This event gives the children in PK-12, an opportunity to shop for their loved ones right here at school. Over 20 local artists will be featured. Merchandise will include embroidered tea towels, candles, earth friendly bags, beautiful photographs, numerous jewelry designs, and Kidcents coupon books, just to name a few. Items will range in price from $3-$35. This event will take place December 9, 10 and11th in the lobby of the Solomon Theater. To volunteer to help or for questions contact Tara Doyle at 214-3609. Donations have started coming in for the Spring Gala, if you would like to volunteer to help with the Spring Fundraiser, please email Diana at dgibso22@bellsouth.net. Committees are now being formed. The November MC Meeting has be re-scheduled to Thursday, Nov 6th due to Tuesday being election day. We hope to see you at the meeting! Regards,
Diana Gibson
Mothers Club President
FROM THE DADS' CLUB... The StM Dads' Club wishes to thank all the Dads who attended our recent Pre-K/K Dads' Breakfast in the Lower School library. We had a very nice turnout - as always - and will be looking to repeat this event with other Lower School grade level Dads in the spring. We appreciate the efforts of all the staff and school personnel who worked very hard to make this happen. Thank You !
We encourage all available Dads to come out and help grill hamburgers for St. Martin's Day, Friday, Nov 7. at school. Our final home football game of the season is later that evening - and we look for a big turnout as the
team closes out the regular season at Porter Field. We look forward to see everyone there.
As always, we remain committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our Dads to participate and serve in the school lives of their sons and daughters. We encourage and welcome all StM Dads to join us at any or all of our monthly meetings and service events. For more information, please contact Everard Marks, Secretary, at everard@martin-marks.com if you
wish to be updated on the Dads' Club schedule of events.
Kelly Williamson
President
StM Dads' Club
Guild of Fine Arts November is a huge month for the Guild of Fine Arts. Our all girl cast is gearing up for three fantastic performances of "Song of Survival." Tickets go on sale soon and will be available in all school divisions. Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM Friday, November 21, 2008 at 7:00 PM Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM • Help prepare meals for the cast the week of the production • Sell tickets for performances • Sell concessions before the show or during intermission • Sell flowers before the show or during intermission If you are able to help, please contact Maria Noya, 835-1641 or noyacmg@cox.net Also premiering at the Fall production will be our new Guild of Fine Arts Christmas ornament. The ornament will sell for $10 and features the STM logo and shield. The ornament will also be available at the Winter chorus, band and hand bell concerts. There is a limited supply so make sure you get yours early.
Faculty/Staff News Transportation and Housekeeping Director Doris Boos has retired after 20 years at St. Martin’s. Doris worked tirelessly for the school through many challenges and long days, and she always kept the best interests of our students in mind. Says Assistant Head of Operations Barbara Ryan, “Doris embodies the qualities that are so unique to our school—the sense of community, loyalty and selflessness.” Doris will be greatly missed and we wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. Angela Day has been named to succeed Doris as Transportation Director. Mary Brown, parent of Katherine Brown ’10, has been named Advancement Office Administrative Assistant to succeed Angela.
From the StM Book Group
STM Book Group's next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Martin Family Library on the St. Martin’s campus. We will be reading The Messenger by Daniel Silva. We will not be meeting in December. For more information on the StM Book Group, please contact Linda McDermott at 737-4035 or lmoderm144@aol.com.
|
| @ Copyright 2007 St. Martin's Episcopal School | 5309 Airline Dr., Metairie, Louisiana 70003-2499
Phone (504) 733-0353 - Fax (504) 736-8802 |
|
My Favorite Thing About St. Martin's
"My favorite thing about St. Martin's would have to be the teachers and how nice they are to us. They make learning fun and we are always happy to come into their classrooms."
|
|
Tia Schlesinger, 7th grade student
|
|
