Well before Angela Duckworth made the concept of “grit” mainstream and other educators took up the cry for perseverance, Crossroads Academy developed a Core Virtues Program that highlighted the signature importance of perseverance. And since 2016 is a Leap Year, we have one extra day this month to practice this important virtue! Another fortuitous aspect to the appearance of perseverance in our calendar? Students who have worked hard since the fall to establish strong foundations of knowledge in their classes stretch to learn some of the most challenging components of our curriculum during the winter trimester.
Of course, teachers understand that cultivating perseverance is an important life skill, too—one that will help our students dig deep as they encounter inevitable obstacles in school and in their personal and professional lives. An essential ingredient to making this virtue work is to provide the right degree of challenge balanced with an appropriate level of support that builds confidence. This nuanced approach takes many forms at Crossroads, from learning to sound out new words in kindergarten to making sophisticated connections between the work of Yeats and Dickens in the eighth grade. But regardless, it’s inspiring to see the students being challenged and challenging themselves to face new difficulties and discover new strengths in the process, grappling with what it means to persevere.
—Yours truly, Brad
Follow me on Twitter @CrossroadsHead
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* Head’s Note: Perseverance
* Crossroads Re-accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
* Enrollment Contracts (3/14)
* Admissions Office News: Discover the Difference (3/1)
* Virtues for This Month: Diligence and Perseverance
* School News
– Grammy nominated, Sandeep Das to Perform at Crossroads (3/2)
– National French Contest (3/10)
– Classroom Clips
– Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart (3/18)
– Summer Programs 2016
* Parent Association News
– March PA Meeting (3/3)
– Lunch Program
– Family Arts Night (2/26)
– NH Homebuilders Lego Build (3/19)
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* CROSSROADS REACCREDITATION FROM THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (NEASC)
We are delighted to report that our school was reaccredited through NEASC! In reaching their decision, the Commission on Independent Schools reviewed several documents including our Self-Study Report and the Visiting Committee Report generated last year. While there were many areas for commendation in their findings, one line from their letter that granted our re-accreditation stood out: “It is obvious that the whole school community is dedicated to the success of the students at Crossroads Academy.” We couldn’t agree more!
Thank you to all who were involved in our reaccreditation process and for your continued support of our school.
—Yours truly, Brad
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* ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS (3/14)
Enrollment contracts will be distributed electronically early this week and will be due back by Monday, March 14. Enrollment contracts for families applying for financial aid will be distributed at a later date.
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* ADMISSIONS OFFICE NEWS
Greetings from the Admissions Office! We are very excited that our new Crossroads viewbook publication has arrived. It will be a wonderful tool to help prospective families understand the depth and breadth of a Crossroads education. Please let me know if there are families you would like us to send the publication to, or stop by my office and pick up a few to hand out personally to those you think might be interested. Thanks so much for your help!
Our second Discover the Difference Open House is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1. Please invite your friends, neighbors, and colleagues who have young children to our lovely campus so that they may find out more about our incredible program and see our classrooms in action. The Open House will be held in the Lora Robins Library between 9:00–11:00 am. Preregistration would be appreciated. If you would like to help greet and chat with our prospective families on March 1, please let me know. Thank you for helping to get the word out about our special school!
Reminder…
Our next Crossroads Brown Bag Café will be Tuesday, March 8. Please bring along a friend and join us for coffee and conversation between 8:00–9:00 am in the multipurpose room in the Klee Building. I hope to see you there!
Have a wonderful week! —Warmly, Marilyn
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VIRTUES FOR THIS MONTH
February: DILIGENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
Diligence is doing what needs to be done with devotion, dedication, and determination.
Perseverance is pushing on despite difficulty and hardship.
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* SCHOOL NEWS
* GRAMMY NOMINATED SANDEEP DAS TO PERFORM AT CROSSROADS (3/2)
On Wednesday, March 2, Crossroads will be hosting an artist who is scheduled to perform at the Hop this week. Sandeep Das is an Indian tabla player and one of the founding members (along with Yo-Yo Ma) of the Silk Road Ensemble. This Grammy nominated performer will be accompanied by two traditional dancers; one will demonstrate Odissi dance and the other will perform Kathak. The assembly will be in the gym from 11:00-11:45 am; parents are welcome to join us.
* NATIONAL FRENCH CONTEST (3/10)
Crossroads Academy French 7 and 8 students will participate in the National French Contest known as Le Grand Concours, “The Big Contest,” on Tuesday, March 8. (The snow date for the contest is Thursday, March 10.) Le Grand Concours is an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students of French in grades 1-12, in all fifty states and abroad, take a written test, which includes listening, reading, and grammar sections. Students compete against others with similar educational backgrounds (i.e., the length of time studying the language and hours of exposure to the language each week).
We wish all the French students in grades 7 and 8 bonne chance et bon courage as they participate in this year’s Grand Concours.
* JUMP ROPE AND HOOPS FOR HEART (3/18)
Save the Date for Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart! Friday, March 18, 12:30-2:55 pm (an early release day). More information and specific details about the event will be available soon. Please sign your child up to join in the fun. Thanks, Mrs. Grenier
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* CLASSROOM CLIPS
Classroom Clips is a weekly space for students and teachers to share their writing with the Crossroads community. Today’s entry is written by third grader Laura Schaner. The third graders were assigned a book report that required them to make a puppet of the main character to go along with the book they read. Laura chose Stuart Little. Please click here to read more.
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* SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE…PLEASE JOIN US FOR A GREAT SUMMER AT CROSSROADS!
We are delighted to share course descriptions and registration information for the 2016 Crossroads Summer Programs. Taught by Crossroads faculty, other local teachers, or in collaboration with educational organizations in the Upper Valley, all of our programs are designed to be both engaging and fun. Most programs run from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm daily with a free extended-day option from 3:00-5:00 pm, but please see the program descriptions for the exact times. All programs are open to both Crossroads students and others in the area. Please click here to sign up.
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* PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS
* MARCH PA MEETING (3/3)
Please join us for our monthly PA meeting this Thursday, 3/3 at 8:15 am in the art room in Bancroft. We’ve received petitions for many wonderful projects from our faculty and staff, and will be voting on how to allocate the remainder of the PA funds raised last year. Come and be part of this important process. Feel free to contact Deb Hoffer with any questions.
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* LUNCH PROGRAM
This week follows the “Week B” menu. Please be sure you are following the correct week. In addition, please consider sending in a set of silverware for your child to keep in his/her cubby; we are trying to avoid the waste of disposable silverware.
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* FAMILY ARTS NIGHT (2/26)
A huge “thank you” to our kindergarten room parent, Juliette Madan, and our seventh grade room parents, Julie Leonard and Elisabeth Hammer, for coordinating this year’s fabulous Family Arts Night. And, as always, we are grateful to Bruce Freeberg for preparing the students for their performances and to Gene Martin and Dick Louzier for their tremendous help with set up and clean up.
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* NH HOMEBUILDERS LEGO BUILD (3/19)
Would you like a fun opportunity to build houses with LEGOS? The NH Homebuilders Association, in association with FLL, is sponsoring a competition for 5-12 year olds. The event is Saturday, March 19, at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester; ages 5-8 participate 10:30 am-1:00 pm and ages 9-12 from 2:00-4:30 pm. All materials are provided, and first, second, and third prizes will be awarded. For more information and a contest entry form, click here.
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KEY LINKS: http://www.crossroadsacademy.org/
