Camelot Update 8/26/12

Greetings!

What a full week we had!  We finished orienting the parents and also oriented our students. We learned rules, designed intricate class banners and learned about the legend of Camelot and King Arthur across the grade levels. It was my pleasure to take the Upper School to the theatre at the Durham Arts Council for a screening of the classic musical Camelot and for some discussion and reflection about the themes central to the film - "might for right, " the quest to be civilized and the reality of living one's dreams in the face of many challenges. Special thanks to Upper School teacher Lori Hilliard who coordinated all three days of the Upper School orientation including the seniors teaching the rules, 55 students assembling outdoor furniture and a Friday pizza lunch for the entire school!

Thanks to Mr Scott for capturing and posting some of the highlights in photos - now found in the gallery on our website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/camelotacademy/sets/72157631227776486/

On Monday, Kindergarten and MAPP students will cap off their orientation experience with a trip to Bull City Gym. Please remember to outfit youngsters in appropriate attire.

Our Middle Grades Sound to Sea trip is fully enrolled and on Monday we will finalize Middle and Upper School participation on the Asheville trip. In the first decade of our school (wow - I can't believe I'm writing that phrase!) Michael and I took the school on many trips to the mountains. It is a glorious time to enjoy the colors and scenery of our state and we look forward to exposing our high school students to two well- respected NC institutions of higher learning - UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College. In addition, the trip includes white water rafting for students of all ages. If you'd like your student to be included, please send in the deposit on Monday.

Speaking of colleges, this week we will welcome our first college rep - American University (DC) will visit on Wednesday at 1:30 PM. Interested Upper School students will be allowed to sign up to learn more about this popular college option.

Another first this week will be our home soccer game on Friday at 4:30 PM versus Woods Charter School. Our "home" field is at Piney Woods Park - check the Camelot athletics calendar on our website for directions: www.camelotacademy.org/students-athletics.php

We will transport both the team and fans to the game - parents should pick up from Piney Woods Park at 5:30 PM. Please send me email permission for your student to attend as a spectator.

Another highlight of the coming week will be our launch of programming at the new building. Once again,Ms Lori has taken the lead on a thousand details to ready the building and she has been supported byMs Jill on the carpeting and Ms Roni, Mr

Glenn, Mr Dan, Ms Judith, Ms Krista, Ms Teresa and - of course - Mr Mike on individual room set up. Talk about teamwork!

Ms Jill is planning an Upper School evening out at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on Wednesday, October 3rd, to see War Horse. She has a few tickets left to sell this week.

Congratulations to senior Josh Stallings who was recognized for placing 4th in the state on the National Spanish Exam, a standardized assessment used all over the country to measure students' achievement. It should be noted that Josh, who always seeks a challenge, signed up for the 5th level of this test, two levels above the test he was slated to take!

Thank you to National Honor Society students Josh Pettway-Hinton, Meg Rusconi-Warner and Rachel Roush for offering babysitting services during the Monday parent orientation. It was a much-appreciated feature for the parents and the young people!

Upper School students may still sign up for Latin (for those with "specials" 5th period - meets on Tuesday and Thursday) or for the SAT prep class that will be starting in a couple of weeks. Please contact me about either option.

We are awaiting our England tour sign-up link with Casterbridge Tours. As soon as I have it I will send it out in an email.

Last, but not least, please link your Harris Teeter Vic card to our school - to participate in the easiest fundraiser ever! You must relink your card each August/ September and you can do so online (on the Harris Teeter website) or at the store - our code is 3343.

Have a great week!

Best,

Thelma

Camelot Update 8/9/12

Greetings!  This is your first Sunday email of the 2012-13 school year!

The teachers returned on Monday and we have had a great week. Among the joys of having a full-returning faculty is that there is time to move beyond the discussion of routine matters to more philosophical and reflective exercises. Our meetings this week have included a daily discussion of how the principles of the Camelot legend have inspired the structure of our school as well as personal sharing about goals and past experiences we had as students that have shaped who we are and who we strive to be.

In addition to these precious exchanges, we took two afternoons to meet with each of the eleven members of the Class of 2013 to learn of their plans and ideas. To a person, each of these young people was genuine, articulate and inspiring. I felt very proud to share this class with our new member of faculty, Amy Cummings. Amy will be joining us in a few capacities - coordinating the university coursework many of our juniors and seniors are undertaking, working with Middle Grades students and helping me to put together alumni/reunion events that will be a part of our Big 30th Year! Amy is the Executive Director of Crayons2Calculators - a non-profit that has received much press in the past few days for its important work of seeing that all Durham school children have the supplies necessary for a good year.

In addition to all of these meetings, we moved classrooms, worked to set up the Specials House, prepared review and pre-testing materials and organized for our parent and student orientation events. It is amazing what a small group of people with focus and passion can pull off in a short time!

We are excited to bring on the students this Wednesday!

Following are some important reminders:

Last Friday (August 17) was the due date for summer AR tests to be completed and passed. If for any reason your student did not yet pass all of the required tests, please try to get it taken care of BEFORE Wednesday. The teacher letters that were sent home with the AR assignments spelled out what steps would be followed for students who do not complete this assignment. If you have extenuating circumstances, please let us know before Wednesday.

Monday, August 20 - Lower and Middle Grades Parent Orientation at 5:30 PM Monday, August 20 - deadline to set up NEW accounts for Lunchworks orders being placed this week

Wednesday, August 22 - Students return!

Wednesday- Friday, August 22-24 - Student Orientation - special hours, agenda, etc

Wednesday, August 22 - 10 PM - deadline for lunch orders for week of August 27

At Parent Orientation you have/will receive information about the many upcoming school trips. Following is a list of sign up deadlines/reminders:

Upper School - night out at DPAC to see War Horse (OCT 3) - Jill selling 30 tickets starting Wednesday- first come-first served

Middle and Upper Grades - Asheville Trip (Oct 17-19) deposit due Friday, Aug 24 Middle Grades - Sound to Sea Trip (November 5-7) deposit due Friday, Aug 24

All School (parent/guardian required for younger students) England Trip - (March 20-28) - deposit due ASAP for Silver Booking benefits

Also, please remember we are looking for several items to outfit the new building. Among these are:

-counter height stools

-Rubbermaid tubs with lids (any size)

-CD players for listening to books on tape

Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Glenn will be scheduling auditions this week for students who wish to try-out for our instrumental or vocal groups. Look for a sign-up sheet in the Big Hall on Wednesday!

I look forward to seeing you this week. We are going to have a great year.

Best,

Thelma