Hello, Friends, and Happy Friday Eve,
Now that Labor Day has come and gone, we will be looking to September to find our school rhythm. For the oldest Friends School students, finding their school rhythm means working from a summer schedule with no responsibilities to a school schedule that balances homework obligations, study time, and fun in ways that allow them to be successful in and out of school. For the youngest Friends School students, their school rhythm comes in finding growing independence from mom and dad at daily drop-off, being good listeners in class, and learning the responsibilities that come with being a full-time student. Regardless of a student’s age, as they find their school rhythm they will also learn to march to the beat of their own drum. This ability is at the heart of a Friends education and what Friends School students learn on a daily basis. For parents, I encourage you as the months roll along, see if you notice your child finding their school rhythm, and more importantly, encourage them to always march to their own beat!
Now, what’s in store for the Friends School community as we look to next week and the rest of September? First, on Tuesday, September 20th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friends School, working in conjunction with the VB Friends Meeting, will be hosting a Quaker 101 Zoom Information Night for parents and other adult community members. For families wanting to understand more about the history of Quakerism and what makes Quaker/Friends Schools so amazing, the event will be a wonderful educational tool. Currently, on Wednesdays in September from 10:45 to 11:15, teachers are working with students helping them to understand Quakerism from a historical perspective as well as getting them used to sitting in silence. The school will begin in-person Meeting for Worship with students in October.
Finally, each month during the school year, Friends School recognizes events associated with that month of school. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. VBFS is very fortunate to have a wonderful resource in our school counselor, Dee Talbert. Dee is available to speak with students and parents whenever needed. It’s important for VBFS families to understand that suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately. If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone you can chat via the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org. Please know and use Dee and Friends School as a wonderful resource to assist your family in and out of school. In October, we will be recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Tomorrow is our first Parent Coffee Meet-up directly after morning drop-off. In honor of this very fun event, I leave you with the best 80’s coffee song ever, Squeeze’s Black Coffee in Bed! Skip coffee in bed tomorrow and meet us at Java Surf for a cup of morning joe!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mike
Head of School
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PARENT PORTAL
Parents are now able to delete previous attendance entries for future absences, tardies, and/or early pickups. Under the student tab–report absence/tardy–if there is an active future attendance record, families will find a delete column. Click the red X, and the future attendance record will be deleted.
Class pages are live! Every Friday, Cottage through 4th grade families can view their child’s homeroom class page, which includes weekly highlights, photos, class reminders, and looking ahead updates. Middle School families will have class page updates every other week, and an email will be sent on the Fridays that the pages are available.
To view your child’s class pages:
Log in to the PCR parent portal, and click the class tab. On the top right hand corner, there is a drop down with your child’s name, and courses that will have class pages. Select your child’s homeroom dropdown to view the weekly class page updates on Friday for Cottage through 4th grade, and every other Friday for Middle School families.
Families will find that there are other courses listed under the student’s drop down. These courses are your child’s special classes, and those class pages will be updated on a rotating basis. Every Wednesday there will be a class page update for a specific special class. Families will receive an email on Wednesdays informing of what class page update has been released for the week, and parents will be able to login and view those updates.
It is important to log in to the parent portal and view the class pages that are available on Wednesdays and Fridays, as this is the main communication between your child’s teacher and their class. Important information and reminders will only be posted through your child’s class page, so please make sure to stay up to date on the parent portal.
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YOU’RE INVITED
The Friends School Back to School Potluck Picnic will be held on Thursday, September 22nd from 5PM-7PM at the Redwing Municipal Park and Playground. Shelter #1 is reserved for the school community!
If your family plans to attend, please RSVP in the PCR Parent Portal. Click the link on the parent home page titled “Back to School Potluck Picnic” to RSVP.
Since this is a potluck event, please contribute by bringing an item to share that is assigned to your child’s grade level (listed on the flyer). Please be sure everything is nut free as there are many community members with severe allergies. For questions, please contact Anna Canada at [email protected].
