“What magic potion did you use to avoid a snow day this year?” a parent recently asked. I immediately replied that while there’s hardly any snow on the ground, winter is not yet over! I grew up in New Hampshire and still recall having snow days in April, much to my delight at the time. But with the warmer temperatures last week, it seems that we are quickly headed into our region’s infamous mud season.
Now that I work in schools, I have to admit if there was a magic potion to avoid snow days, it would be tempting to use it. Why? The faculty wants more consistent contact and class time with our wonderful students. The Core Knowledge and Core Virtues Programs are rich in content, and there’s a lot of material to cover during each academic year. Class time is a precious commodity for all of us. But there’s another reason, too. The faculty truly enjoy their interactions and teaching opportunities at Crossroads and bring that joy to their classes.
In a time when many schools are cutting back, Crossroads is investing in our program and striving to make it even better. This is one of the reasons next year’s calendar will have three more class days, unless, of course, it snows and snows and snows.
—Yours truly, Brad
Follow me on Twitter @CrossroadsHead
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* Head’s Note: Snow Days
* Note from your Crossroads Annual Fund Leaders
* Admissions Office News
* Virtue for This Month: Honesty
* School News
– Hats Off
– Share Your News
– Passport to Winter Fun Ending Soon (3/16)
– Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart (3/18)
– Summer Programs 2016
– Classroom Clips
* Parent Association News
– Lunch Program
– “Most Likely to Succeed”
– Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon (3/24)
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* NOTE FROM YOUR CROSSROADS ANNUAL FUND LEADERS
Big news! As you may know, a generous friend of Crossroads has agreed to give us an amazing $10,000, if one hundred percent of our parents give to the CAF. We are well over halfway there, but we definitely don’t want to leave half of his gift on the table. Every donation of whatever size generates roughly $100 in challenge money!
If you have not had a chance to make your gift to the Crossroads Annual Fund yet, we are counting on you to help us collect every penny of this wonderful challenge. Please be as generous as you can be, and click here to help reach our very important goal!
—Gratefully, Angela, Rhonda, Laurel, and Posie
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* ADMISSIONS OFFICE NEWS
Greetings from the Admissions Office! The snow is almost gone, and as I sit here at my desk overlooking the fast-flowing Hewes Brook and feel the cool spring breeze play across my face from the open window, I am thankful that we’re moving into an early spring this year. We were still in the grips of winter last year at this time; piles of snow were on the ground, temperatures were hovering around zero, ice encrusted every surface… You get the picture, and I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of the yearning we all had for the bright, warm days of spring that seemed far-reaching into our future.
I’m grateful for an early spring year, especially as I take visitors on tours from building to building, —sometimes without even a coat on my back! Spring is the busy admissions season, and I have enjoyed the many visitors that have come through the doors at Crossroads. Fresh new faces are looking into our classrooms with wonder, marveling at the attentive and happy students working with dedicated and engaging teachers, all of whom are focusing on academic work that matters. One visitor recently wondered aloud why all schools can’t be like Crossroads!
I encourage you to remember back to the first time you set foot on the Crossroads campus and how you felt about your first experience here. What were your thoughts and questions? After your visit, what did you discuss about Crossroads and with whom? Going back in time like this can be helpful as you encounter prospective families, and I know they are eager to talk with you and gain your perspective. Many of you have willingly reached out to new families, and I thank you for the countless ways you have been positive ambassadors for Crossroads.
So, here’s to a hopeful and strong spring admissions season. May the seeds of all our hard work be fruitful!
Reminder…
Our next Crossroads Brown Bag Café will be held on April 19, the Tuesday morning following spring vacation. 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. Maybe we can even take a nice spring walk around campus…wear your walking shoes! I hope you can join us.
Have a wonderful week! —Warmly, Marilyn
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VIRTUE FOR THIS MONTH
* March: HONESTY
Honesty is truthfulness: loving the truth, telling the truth, and living truthfully in word and deed.
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* SCHOOL NEWS
* HATS OFF…American Women in Mathematics Essay Competition Results
The Association for Women in Mathematics and Dartmouth Mathematics Department sponsor national and regional essay contests for biographies of women in mathematical careers.
Maxine Park and Reilly Uiterwyk submitted essays from Crossroads. Reilly received Honorable Mention in the middle school national competition for her essay of Professor Vicki May. Maxine received first place in the middle school regional competition for her essay of Professor Petra Taylor. The first place winner in the regional high school division was Hannah Lang, Crossroads Class of ‘13.
Thank you to Alison Gorman and Steve Glazer for supporting Maxine and Reilly in pursuing this opportunity!
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* SHARE YOUR NEWS…
We would love to share all of the great things that our students are involved in both inside and outside of school with the Crossroads community. Please don’t be shy and share any news that you might have about your child, or any news about classmates, with Darlene Gautreau.
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* PASSPORT TO WINTER FUN ENDING SOON
Passport to Winter Fun is coming to an end. Please remind your student(s) to return the grand prize entry form to Mrs. Grenier by March 16 (back flap of the passport). Be sure it is filled out completely and includes how many Family Stars were completed. I hope everyone enjoyed the program! —Mrs. Grenier
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* 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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* 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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* CLASSROOM CLIPS
Classroom Clips is a weekly space for students and teachers to share their writing with the Crossroads community. Today’s piece is by second grader Maddie Kebalka. The lower school classrooms each have their own saying-of-the-month, and this is Maddie’s illustrated response to the literal and metaphorical saying, “Two heads are better than one.” Please click here to read more.
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* PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS
* 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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* MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (3/13)
Kudos to Gwen Martin for coordinating the screening of Most Likely to Succeed this past Sunday. It was a wonderful event with a fascinating discussion. And thank you to Amy Kreuzburg and the eighth graders for providing babysitting for the event. Finally, another thank you, as always, to Dick Louzier and Gene Martin for their invaluable help with setup and cleanup. We’re looking forward to more such PA-sponsored community events next year!
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* CROSSROADS FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON (3/24)
The Crossroads Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon will take place on Thursday, March 24, from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. This is a very special event at Crossroads that honors our children’s wonderful teachers and school staff. We will need volunteers to assist with food, beverages, appreciation cards, setup and cleanup, and classroom coverage. If you haven’t done so already, please go to the Google Docand volunteer. Your support will help make this a successful event. Please contact Claudia Adami or Maggie Hanson with any questions. Thank you very much!
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KEY LINKS: http://www.crossroadsacademy.org/
* Teacher pages for assignments
* Crossroads Parent Association
