BIO 20: Don’t forget to click on the attachment to see the Crossroads celebrity highlighted in this week’s BIO 20 page!
Head’s Note
Dear Parents,
While schools are always in process, there are distinct moments when I feel as though we have arrived. Sometimes this happens in a big way. It happens when I am at a whole school assembly, and we are in our spacious, well-lit campus center. I look up and see our entire student body, and I think to myself, “We’ve arrived; we are a mature school now.” I had the same feeling when we received our accreditation from the National Association of Independent Schools, and I feel this way each time our ERB testing is returned to us with glowing results. These are big, unforgettable moments in the life of a head of school, and from these I derive joy and satisfaction. Each one of these moments is the result of the efforts of our Board, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and students to keep the focus on character and content.
Sometimes these moments are “small.” They involve the actions of just a few members of our community. Nonetheless, they result in that same, powerful feeling. Sometimes this involves one of our graduates. Newly engaged Chris Dwight, a Crossroads alumnus, is now working in a KIPP school. Ben Hancock, another alumnus, is serving as a soldier in Afghanistan. Often though, our youngest students are inspired to take our mission beyond the walls of the school, and isn’t this the whole point? Last week first graders, Gianluca
Audia, Daniel Schaner, and Daniel’s sister Laura took it upon themselves to make and deliver Easter baskets to the children at CHaD. They filled the baskets with Easter treats as well as handmade paper airplanes. Gianluca took it upon himself to create step-by-step directions so that the children learn how to make their own airplanes. This idea came from a first grade boy who thought to share the experience with one of his buddies.
Knowledge and Virtue; Strong Minds, Kind Hearts; Scientia Virtuesque. Yes indeed, I believe we’ve arrived— and we’ll practice it all again tomorrow. — Warmly, Jean
Community Service, Virtue, and Psalm for This Month
April Virtue: Self-control is stopping to think about my actions before I enact them. Self-discipline is giving the best of ourselves and saying “no” to our weaknesses. Psalm 37:1-8 and 19:14
School News
Daniel and Laura Schaner, Gianluca Audia and Holly Gaspar (CHaD certified life specialist)
Congratulations to Tanner Coffin for winning the American Legion NH Junior Oratorical Competition held at St. Anselm’s College Institute of Politics.
Sixth grader Alexandria was asked to be part of the opening ceremony for the International Ice Hockey Federation 2012 Women’s World Championship. On April 7th, to a sold out crowd at Gutterson Arena in Burlington, VT, she participated in the pre-game ceremony for the United States vs. Canada game. Alexandria was asked to skate with the Canadian flag. The photon on the left shows her skating her lap and heading to center ice; in the one on the right she is standing next to the US flag carrier just before lining up to hit the ice.
News from the Health Office
We are reviewing our current wellness policy that was initially put into place in 2006. It is helpful to gather input from parents on this important issue. If you are interested in joining a committee to review this policy, please email Kathy Barth, school nurse, at kathy.barth@crossroadsacademy.org. Thank you.
We have an early tick season this year. To prevent Lyme’s Disease while enjoying the outdoors, consider the following tips from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control):
- Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
- Walk in the center of trails.
- Repel ticks with DEET or permethrin. Use repellents that contain 20 percent or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on the exposed skin for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
- Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and remains protective for up to seventy washings.
- Find other repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/
For information on ticks and Lyme’s Disease, please visit the following CDC websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/ http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html