Dear Parents and Caregivers of 10th graders:
I hope this update finds you and your families safe and well. As we all hold our children a little closer this week, my sincere wish for them is that they find comfort and security in the normalcy of their routines at school. Now that the add/drop period for the fall semester has ended, there is indeed a more steady rhythm to their academic lives; they are moving beyond review and embracing new challenges while forging relationships with a new set of trusted adults.
Next week we embark upon the beloved Upper School tradition of Spirit Week, culminating in the Homecoming Dance on Friday, October 20th in the Modell’s Sports Complex from 7:30-10:30 pm. Students received an email yesterday with information about purchasing tickets online or in person ($15 now / $25 next week / financial aid is available) as well as instructions about what to do if they would like to bring one non-D-E guest. I hope your children will attend, and that this will be a joyous celebration of our community.
Last week Kim Lalli shared information with you about our new attendance protocols. We have adopted a universal “come free” policy, which allows students to arrive at school in time for their first obligation. Most of our 10th graders will still need to be on campus at 8:10 am on most days, and they should never be arriving later than 10 am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, or 9:15 am on Wednesday. Students are still expected to stay on campus until the end of the school day, and you will need to call Ro Florio and have your child sign out if you need to pick them up or have them leave campus early for any reason. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions as we navigate this new process together.
Finally, I encourage you to ask your students about the new Citizen Bulldogs newsletter I rolled out last week. It’s designed to be a civics primer with basic and accessible information about how our government works. The first edition addressed the questions: What is a government shutdown? Why did we almost have one? and What happens next? It’s my hope that this newsletter will complement the civics programming we are working on for the Upper School as we head into the next election cycle, and that it will become a part of how our kids think about what it means to be an engaged citizen and a lifelong learner.
I hope to see you all on the evening Wednesday November 1st for our first Parent Forum of the year. In the meantime, be well.