Tuesday News - January 31, 2012

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All submissions for the Tuesday News should be sent by Friday, 3:00 pm. to publicrelations@merriconeag.org

Upcoming Events

Student/Faculty Basketball Game

This Friday, February 3, 6:30 p.m.

Pineland YMCA

Free Admission! But make a donation! Proceeds benefit Model UN, Siddhartha School in India, and The high school athletic program. Refreshments will be sold during the game! The faculty team will be bolstered this year by newcomers Lucie "the French Firecracker" James, "In Your Face" Ingrid Merrill, David "Raise the Bar"-ham, and Will "His Jumps Lack" Hight. Be there or be square!

SAVE THE DATE:

Simplicity Parenting

Using the Extraordinary Power of Less

to Raise Calmer, Happier and More Secure Kids

with Kim John Payne

Tuesday, March 6, 7:00 p.m.

   57 Desert Road, Freeport

        $10 at the door

To learn more, click here.

From the Finance Office

Re-enrollment packets: We are in the midst of this school year but Faculty and Board have been working diligently to plan the budget for school year 2012-13. All families should receive their re-enrollment packets this week. Please return these forms by February 10th as this allows us to have a clear enrollment picture to plan supply and personnel needs.

Financial Aid (Tiered Tuition): We are continuing to use TADS as our financial aid assessment and tuition management company. Please refer to our website at Admissions, Financial Aid for information regarding the process. This webpage also includes the worksheet to gather financial data and the link to TADS that allows a family to apply. Please submit all requested documentation directly to TADS by February 17th. Those who are able to submit data sooner, please do so as it takes TADS twelve business days to process an application.

Thank you, Shannon Combar (businessmanager@merriconeag.org, 865-3900 ext. 101)

From the Admissions Office

Upcoming Admissions Events

     We invite prospective parents to learn more about Waldorf education by attending the following events. Information sessions and classroom observations/tours are intended for adults only. Our new offering, Tea & Play, is fast becoming a popular way for prospective early childhood parents to visit, along with their young children. Please call 207-865-3900, ext.103 to register.

Early Childhood Information Session
Wednesday, February 1, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Observe High School Classes
Thursday, February 2, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Tour Grades 1 – 8
Tuesday, February 7, 8:15 – 10:30 a.m.

Tea & Play (at the Early Childhood Center)
Fridays, February 3 & 17, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

While your child plays near you, share a cup of tea

with our Early Childhood teachers and learn more

about our programs for young children.

From the Development Office

2011-12 Annual Appeal Update:

     Generous donations arrive each week for Merriconeag’s 2011-12 Annual Appeal. We are making very good progress toward our goal of $65,000 – let’s keep the momentum going and finish this important fund drive! There are still many families who have not yet contributed to this year’s Annual Appeal and you can help close the gap! A gift from every family demonstrates this community’s collective commitment, and is extremely important as we seek outside funding. Please help us get to 100% participation by making a gift today! Remember, gifts of ANY size count!!

     If a high quality education isn’t incentive enough, the first class to reach 100% will get to enjoy a decadent chocolate dessert by Lynne Espy.

Class participation rates (as of today) :
ECC Classes – below 40%
Grade 1 – 54%
Grade 2 – 43%
Grade 3 – 45%
Grade 4 – 40%
Grade 5 – 29%
Grade 6 – 43%
Grade 7 – 36%
Grade 8 – 29%
Grade 9 – 67%
Grade 10 – 70%
Grade 11 – 54%
Grade 12 – 36 %

     PLEASE help us get the participation rates up by making a gift today using PayPal (on our website), check, credit card, or cash. Not sure if you’ve made a gift yet? Contact me!

In gratitude, Lynne Espy 865-3900 Ext. 116, developmentcoordinator@merriconeag.org

Businesses support Merriconeag: Quite a few Merriconeag families are

raising money for the school through their businesses. We would like to thank these families, and everyone who takes advantage of these creative fundraising opportunities:

Buy a Car – Merriconeag gets $250: Thanks to the Waldron and Curie families,

each time a new or used car is purchased from one of their Waldron Motor Group dealerships, Merriconeag receives $250. Just mention that you are a friend of Merriconeag. This fall, three families purchased cars, resulting in a gift of $750. The dealerships include Portland Volvo-Saab, Southern Maine Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, plus Nissan and Kia of Saco.

Make money for Merriconeag by referring: If you, or a friend, use Tami Goodrich, an EC parent, as your realtor, she will donate a minimum of 2% of her commission to Merriconeag’s Annual Appeal. She will also offer a free market analysis of homes. Details of her offer are found in this week's Community Classifieds (click to link).

Photos for Funds: Tricia Toms, an EC and grade school parent, volunteers as school photographer. She donates 50% of net photo sales to support tuition assistance. Photos from school events are on her website: http://triciatoms.zenfolio.com/merriconeag.

Send your United Way dollars our way: Several parents make their donation to the Annual Appeal by naming Merriconeag as the beneficiary of their United Way giving. If you give to United Way through your business, consider directing the monies to Merriconeag,

Corporate Matching Gifts and Honorariums: Several Merriconeag families work for companies that offer employee matching gift programs, matching your personal donations to the Annual Appeal. Honorariums, where a business makes a gift in honor of an employee, have also benefitted Merriconeag. Last year, we have received over $450 from such programs.

High School News

Magnificent Metamorphoses! Congratulations to the 9th and 10th grades for the gift of Metamorphoses and a big "Thank You" to David Barham and Rose Mary Burwell for their efforts in creating this rewarding experience for these classes. Well done!

Thank you to Tricia Toms for her wonderful photography. These photos and more will soon be availble for purchase on her website: http://triciatoms.zenfolio.com/merriconeag. (She donates 50% of net photo sales to support tuition assistance.)

11th Grade French Class Studies in Lewiston

     On January 10th 2012, the 11th grade French class went to the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston to lead an interview with Franco-American people of the region.

     This was done in the context of their first semester study focused on French America. After studying Acadian and Quebec History, the class worked on the history of the Franco-Americans in Maine.

     Thanks to the help of Rita Dube, the Coordinator for the Center, each student was partnered with a Franco-American volunteer whom they interviewed in French. It was wonderful to witness the multiple conversations held at separate tables ! Merriconeag students stood out by their respectful and kind demeanor and their efforts to conduct the conversation solely in French. These interviews will be recorded as an oral history project, part of their French America booklet.

     After the visit to the Center, the group led by teacher Régine Whittlesey and her assistant Lucie James went to the French Archives Center at the USM, Lewiston where they were warmly welcomed by James Myall. James showed the students some ancient photos from the Franco-American Maine archives. The students observed these photos and tried to imagine their context and the stories they depicted.

     This project enables a better understanding by these young American students of their French Canadian neighbors. Let’s not forget that according to a 2000 statistics, 5.3% of the Maine Population still speak French at home.

     I would like to thank Mrs Rita Dube and the kind and generous partners from Lewiston as well as my students for their patience and hard work. Régine Whittlesey

On Tuesday January 24th, MWHS hosted its first Forum of the New Year. We welcomed Mark Tipton and Peter Mezoian, two Maine musicians who improvised music while old black and white silent movies from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were projected in front of the students.

     Mark Tipton is Professor of Trumpet at Colby College, Waterville, and also part of the Jazz Faculty at USM, Gorham ; he is also a Trumpet Instructor at the Portland Conservatory of Music and Director of “Les Sorciers Perdus” Chamber Ensemble (Classical/Jazz/Word), Leader of the Mark Tipton Trio, Quartet and Quintet and the Leader of the Tipton Brass Quartet as well as Director of the Colby Brass Ensemble. An impressive list of accomplishments ! Peter Mezoian is a freelance banjo soloist who tours the world most of the year, in spite of the fact that he wanted to be a standup comedian !

     Mark Tipton writes his own scores for ancient movies found in archives. He showed us old films like “Mc Kinley at Home” or “Airplane flight and wreck” and the very funny “the fatal sneeze”. The students loved these vaudevilles.
Afterwards the students were invited to pick any film they wanted and they could also choose the musical mood with which the musicians improvised. We watched old films by the Lumière Brothers.

     Another great Forum at the High School in the midst of a grey winter ! Régine Whittlesey

School Community Updates

Dear Merriconeag Community: Between March 24 and March 31, I will be heading down to Mexico to work with the teachers and parents at the Ak Lu'um Waldorf School, a young initiative in the Yucatan jungle.
      The school has requested that I bring 5 tins of Stockmar block crayons. I am writing to see if any members of our community might be open to purchasing a set of these crayons and I will bring them down with me when I go.
      The school is also looking for copies of the various Roy Wilkinson books.

Thank you for any support you are able to give to this striving school. David Barham

Craft Afternoons with Sandy Pearson: Wednesdays 3:30- 5:00 p.m. in the new Handcraft Building.
These afternoons are for 4th graders and up. Please sign up with Lisa in the Grade School office. Watch for more classes after February Break. Please note: If childcare is an obstacle, please contact Lisa in the grades school office (officemanager@merriconeag.org). There are plenty of sitters available!

Wednesday, Feb 1, 8 - Knitted Rugs

The entire rug is made from one long knitted strip that you then coil and sew together. Easy! Yarn provided. Bring size 10 or10 ½ single pointed knitting needles. $25.00

Wednesday, Feb 15 – Open Craft Afternoon
Anyone welcome! Bring a project and enjoy working in the Handwork Room. Free.

Athletic News - Sports Updates

High School Nordic Skiing: Sassi Race Recap
      Thanks to the parents supporting the Nordic Team at The Sassi Race Saturday as well as the earlier races this year. I have noticed the days are staying lighter longer as we practiced last week, a telling sign that we are into the important period of the ski season.

     This week is the last regular season race followed by the WMC races and then the State Races. Despite a low snow season so far we have had five races and have had on snow practice most days. The team has worked hard and we are getting good results and efforts from both the boy's and girl's team members. A few highlights so far are our first NIGHT race at Mt Cranmore in N.H, two trips to Rumford, one to Starks Hill in Fryeburg and a fun Sprint Race at Pineland. I have been pleased with the many top results on both girl's and boy's teams. But as gratifying as these results are it is most pleasing to see the level of commitment by all team members. Our Girls Team is well known and they have attained a high level of expectation in the WMC, the boys team is also improving and I look forward to continued development from them as well.

     This past Saturday we did the Sassi Race at Black Mountain. Thanks to all parents who helped out, driving, supporting the team at the race and waxing, it would be impossible to do this type of event without help. I read the race report from the Chisholm Ski Club stating there were 480 racers at the Sassi. This continues to be one of the largest HS ski races in NE. Despite very challenging track conditions the team performed well. We qualified four J 2's for the Maine Team who will represent the State at the NE J2 Festival. This is a great event and one that has started many young skiers on a great path in skiing. Congratulations to Samantha Pierce, Jesse Saffeir, Graham Roeber and Eli McCurdy.

     Other high and low lights from the race: Zoe Chace-Donahue placing 4th against the best high school girls in Maine, Carlin Tindall, John Burgess and Ben Tindall all benefited from OK skis and had great races, Lars Gundersen skied a solid race and placed well in the J2 race. Unfortunately Lily Tupper missed her start and gave up lots of time. Lily has shown real improvement this year and she will be charged up this Wednesday I am sure. Emelie Chace-Donahue and Teagan Wu skied well in a strong girls field. I know they would have had even better results had the wax worked. The wax team tried many different wax combinations, however, changing conditions and no good test track worked against us nailing the right mix on Saturday.

     Despite less than stellar wax the girls were a strong 4th (out of 34 teams) and the boy's, 9th (out of 37 teams) - a good result against the best teams in the state. Coach John Tarling

To see Sassi race results, click here.

To see photos from the race, click here.

Please note: Due to the weather, this week's race at Starks Hill in Fryeburg has moved from Wednesday to Thursday, February 2. Race time is still 3:30, departure from Pineland is 1:30.

Get your ski ties soon: Need to hold those cross-country ski ties together? We still have snazzy Merriconeag ski ties available in the main office. $5 each. A pair for $8.

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

The Joy of Quiet
By Pico Iyer, The New York Times, December 29, 2011

The Importance of Child's Play
In striving to make our kids super safe and super smart we have turned them into bored blobs.
By Lenore Skenazy, The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2012

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