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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hi All!
 We have NO SCHOOL tomorrow because it's a Teacher Record Day. This is in preparation for the March 1 and March 2 parent-teacher conferences. For this conference, you will receive a full progress report, but there are no narratives.
The sign-up board with conference times is in the front hall, just outside the advancement office. If you can’t physically come in to sign-up for your conference, please call Deb so that she can do it for you.
There is also NO SCHOOL on Monday 'cause it's Presidents Day. We'll see you on Tuesday! |
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Pursuing Diversity at New City School |
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| A couple of folks have asked me about the professional development session that we had a couple of weeks ago during an Early Dismissal. It dealt with one aspect of diversity -- race -- and it was very productive if not always very comfortable. Our staff met and shared perceptions of race, how we’re seen and how we see. We all come to these situations from different backgrounds, so it’s natural that we see things differently. Perception is reality! The goal, of course, is to share those perceptions so that we can understand one another. We wanted to talk candidly about race, and we succeeded. Hats off to Sheryl Reardon for facilitating the discussion and to Jessica Brod Millner and Joyce Gray for their assistance. |
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May we do a coffee at your house? |
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 Do you know neighbors, friends, or colleagues who would like to know a bit about New City School? How about hosting a coffee for us?
As part of our admissions outreach effort, Melanie and I are trying to meet potential prospective parents in the homes of current families -- you! It's simple.  You invite your friends or neighbors, and we'll come to your house to make a mini-presentation and chat (we'll provide the refreshments). For some folks, learning about New City School in this way is an attractive, low-key way to begin the process and get some in-depth knowledge. It's always an enjoyable evening. Please let Melanie or me know if you're interested in helping us.
From Joe: For each board-game tournament, we have a contest to give our spatially adventurous students a chance to show their stuff by creating a t-shirt design. The winner of the recent Boggle competition was Meg Corbett. Congratulations to Meg, and thanks to all those who entered designs. |
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Socio-economic Diversity at New City School |
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Socio-economic diversity is one of the qualities that sets our school apart. In the current school year, for example, 35% of our students are receiving need-based scholarship; we will award $800,000 in need-based scholarships. Kids of all races and zip codes benefit from our commitment.
Another strategy we use is to award Middle Income Scholarships to families whose incomes do not warrant receiving a need-based scholarship. For next year, we’ve made two changes that offer an additional component to the scholarships, providing more support to these families. First, in an effort to help ameliorate tuition increases, families which receive a Middle Income Scholarship in consecutive years will now be “held harmless” for a portion of the annual tuition increase (i.e., If tuition is increased by $650 in a given year, then the scholarship will increase by a portion of that amount ).
In addition, we have also expanded the income ranges at which families can qualify for a Middle Income Scholarship. If a family’s gross income is less than $100,000 with one child, or less than $145,000 with two children, then the family qualifies for a Middle Income Scholarship. (Families with three or more children should contact Melanie or Shawn to determine the eligible income ranges.) Middle Income Scholarships will range from $1,000 to $2,400 for first-time applicants, then continue to grow throughout your child’s New City School career – as long as a family meets the income eligibility requireme nts. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to families who meet the stated guidelines. We hope that this program will help New City enhance our socio-economic diversity.
As fifth grade students learn about invertebrates and animal adaptations, they get a chance to dissect squids!Students made many great observations as they examined the anatomy of this unique creature.
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From Sheryl, our Diversity Coordinator: You are invited to join me for our next Families of Color Discussion group session on Thursday, February 23, at 6:30pm in our library. This informal discussion group encourages New City families of color -- families with a member or members who might self-identify as other than Caucasian (including: African-American, Multiracial, Asian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American) -- to gather, connect and share experiences, ideas and questions.
Free childcare is available and pizza will be served (at a cost of $3 per person) at 5:45 in the Dining Hall. RSVP to Sheryl (sreardon@newcityschool.org) if you need child care and/or pizza.
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You are coming to the March 3 auction, right? |
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From Laura and Ellen: CONGRATULATIONS to Manoo Mofidi and Mina Charepoo for being the winners of the 32gb iPod Touch. They returned their auction RSVP card by February 10 to win! Did you return your RSVP card? If you misplaced yours, please stop by our office to pick one up so that you can give it back to us! 
Remember Craft OutLoud? Several of the artists from Craft OutLoud have so generously donated items to the auction!Need a night away? Several local hotels have donated a night in their accommodations, packaged with your favorite restaurant – a PERFECT night away! Please don’t forget to bring your bottle of wine in for the wine grab!
This photo is from the art room on Valentine's Day: "I mustache you a question- will you be my Valentine?"
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Get out of that comfort zone!
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Do we protect our kids too much? Here's an interesting article from theHuffington Post, sent to me by New City parent Lori Boschert. What do you think of it?
Over-protecting?
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Our fourth grade studies government.
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 In the fall, the fourth graders started looking at the early development of democracy through their study of Ancient Greece. Next, in order to understand how local government works, they visited St. Louis City Hall, and attended a Board of Aldermen meeting. They visited with Mayor Slay and New City parent Robbyn Wahby, executive assistant to the mayor. During that trip, 4th graders also experienced the federal level of government by visiting the courtroom of former New City parent, Judge Catherine Perry. All students participated in a mock trial, complete with a trip up to the Federal Court of Appeals. Fourth-grade citizens then worked on legislation for their own classrooms by drafting bills and voting. To experience the role of the judicial branch, all fourth graders also were trained as mediators.
To complete their study of government, students and parents journeyed to Jefferson City to experience our state government. They watched the Senate in session, and then met state senator, Joe Keaveny (who represents the area in which New City School is located). Here, the group is seated on the grand staircase at the Missouri State Capitol with him. The next day, Senator Keaveny came to New City and answered questions for an hour (a shorter time than the filibuster that he’d just been involved with). This is all part of the fourth grade's theme, Citizens Make A Difference theme. |
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| From MICDS: Izzy Howerton was selected to participate in Youth Leadership St. Louis. Youth Leadership St. Louis educates our region’s youth to become future leaders. The program provides high school juniors with an opportunity to gain problem-solving skills and strategies, develop awareness of issues in our region, and learn how they can make a positive difference. |
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 Here's my latest column from Educational Leadership, a piece on Steve Jobs. I decided to write it after reading Walter Isaacson's biography, Steve Jobs. The book was both interesting and disturbing. Jobs was remarkably talented but with some remarkable flaws too. I'd welcome your reactions: Steve Jobs article
The book by Michele Norris to which I referred last week, one I enjoyed and recommended, is The Grace of Silence. Apologies for the wrong title! I just finished another book that you might consider if you're interested in life in China, Peter Hessler's book, Country Driving. This is Hessler's third book on living in China, and it's a good read.
The books about Jobs, Norris, and Hessler are all quite different. What they share is that each of them is a reflection on life and values. While they vary greatly, they each cause me to think a bit differently about the world and my place in it.
TOM
Thomas R. Hoerr,PhD
Head of School
trhoerr@newcityschool.org
Quote of the week, from Virgina Woolf: "For most of history, Anonymous was a woman."
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