We are looking forward to our first Quaker Friday of the year. We set aside our regular start of the day for a parade and snack in the Preschool and for the traditional Halloween Guessing for PreK-8th grade students. They will arrive at school disguised in costumes and masks. They will stand on stage and we will all try and guess who is behind the mask. Later we will gather in mixed-age groups and decorate pumpkins. As is the practice, each 8th grade student will lead a group of younger friends. Every alum remembers being the younger student enjoying and looking up to the older student. Every former 8th grader remembers being the older student responsible for the success of a group of younger kids. Lunch will include apples and ginger snaps. These traditions have evolved, as all traditions do, to adapt to the times and make space for the ideas and practices of this community at this moment. The year my brother was born, Elvis Presley and Frankenstein costumes were popular. In the 1970’s Star Wars and Michael Myers costumes dominated every Halloween parade. In the early 2000s, each new Harry Potter movie inspired new kids to dress up as Hermione or a Dementer. Last year we had a run on Ninja’s, Unicorns, and Incredible Hulks. Behind those masks are students learning to embrace their authentic selves and care for those around them.
I hope you have enjoyed the Middle School Drive By Bake Sale. The proceeds will offset the cost of the raw materials for the 75-100 sandwiches and bagged lunches Middle School students will make for Cathedral Kitchen.
We have begun our campus student trash pickup. 7th grade did a campus trash walk last week and this week 2nd grade students helped us keep our campus looking clean. The Bread of Life Food Pantry flash food drive will be next week even as the bake sale continues. All of these activities take support from all the wonderful parents, guardians, grandparents, alumni, and friends of the school.
This weekend if the weather cooperates, we will see some of what this community creates together at Saturday’s BOOOOOOth Bash.
I am looking for people who enjoy fundraising or/and organizing events. If you are interested in being a parent ambassador for the school’s Annual Fund, please let me know. This year’s goal for the Annual Fund includes reaching 70% parent participation. For grades that reach 80% parent participation, we will provide a pizza party for the class.
Three years ago the community launched its first ever “A Taste of Our Towns” spring fundraiser. This year we are looking forward to a live, on campus event mid-May AND we need people who would like to take on the planning for this opportunity to bring together our community and showcase local restaurants. If you would like to chair the planning committee or be a part of planning this event, please let me know.
Warmly,
Margaret
_____________________
What I am Reading:
We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell |
One Big Table By Molly O’Neill |
 Fry Bread by Kevin Maillard |
 Hope Matters By Elin Kelsey |