Camelot Update 11/25/12

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.

                                                                                                                                                            (Leonardo Da Vinci, 1452 – 1519)

Greetings to All:

I hope this email finds you emerging from a good break.  We're ready to come back for a fabulous end of semester and end of calendar year together.  There's much to do - but  together we'll clear the hurdles successfully!

Before we move on to new business - a thousand thanks to the following for their tremendous efforts in making the Academic Fair/Thanksgiving Feast a huge success - Jill Sugg, Erin Grady, Michelle Banal, Matt Wilhelm, Wendy Morris, Glenn Mehrbach, Teresa Fischer, Dan Hill, Rita Glynn, Scott Mitchell, Judith Kuegler, Krista Moll and the entire Camelot faculty and staff plus parent chairs Melinda Uthus and Frank Roberts and their fabulous parent crew.

Congratulations to the Camelot Basketball Knights who won their first game of the season in a game versus Triangle Collaborative School.  Our next home game is this Wednesday - Middle and Upper School fans who wish the school to provide transportation TO the game should have an email from a parent sent to me by 5 PM Tuesday.  The game is at the Levin JCC at 4 PM - parents must pick up FROM THE GYM at 5 PM!

Also, this Wednesday is the deadline for ordering school pictures.  Ms. Wendy sent home a letter with instructions for ordering directly from the Strawbridge website.  If you need this info resent,  please let us know!

Our collection for the armed services continues through the end of this week.

Please click here for the list of needed supplies:

"http://www.camelotacademy.org/admin/editor_assets/documents/vet_donation.pdf

Please encourage your student to check his/her assignment notebook and book bag to check for homework or other items that should be tended to before tomorrow.  I look forward to seeing everyone!

Best,

Thelma

Camelot Update 11/11/12

Greetings!  We have had another full week at Camelot - from the Sound to Sea trip, to elections, to the start of basketball season and so much more - our days are humming with activity.  Please read this email with special care as there are many important details and announcements.

Congratulations to Module 3 Merit Award students:  Evan MacDonald, Ray Palma, Kathleen Stancil-Sutton and William Whetzel. Also, kudos to Module 3 Honor Roll students:  Christopher Radcliffe, Virginia Bruhn, Brooke Hall, David McShea, Rachel Milkereit, Sarah Fauver, Alex Berro, Fiona Castorina, Zack Milkereit, Spencer Ahn, Olivia Arges, Grace He, Ke Lu, Lyn Mattox, Rachel Roush,Feixiong Zhen, Zachariah Claypole White, Max Fried, Bri Oleson, Josh Pettway-Hinton, Liz Reeder, Meg Rusconi-Warner and Josh Stallings.

Our FLL team known as the Spark Sharks did a great job of competing at the regional qualifiers in Cary yesterday.  Many thanks toCoach Robyn and Coach Chris and the crew of parents who provided invaluable assistance.

The Mid-Semester grade portal will close tomorrow.  If you have a Middle or Upper School student and have yet to access this info please do so in the next twenty-four hours.  Mid-Semester Warnings that were sent home in the mail need to be signed and returned to the office on Monday morning.

Tomorrow is also the deadline for submissions to the first edition of our literary magazine, to be published before the Winter Break. Please encourage your student to submit essays, poetry, artwork or other suitable material.

On Monday after school and all day Tuesday, Upper School crates will be out for parents to review.  Also, Tuesday morning is Advisor Drop-In Day from 8 to 8:25 AM. 

In celebration of Veteran's Day, Monday will be the kick off for a collection of items to ship to our troops in Afghanistan.  The collection will continue until the end of the month.  A list of needed supplies can be found on our website here:

http://www.camelotacademy.org/forms.php

This Wednesday is the deadline for lunch orders for the week of November 26-30 (the week AFTER Thanksgiving).

Wednesday is also a Spirit Day in celebration of the first game for our Camelot basketball Knights (a home game!).  Our theme will be "Twin Day" in which folks may coordinate clothing with one or more friends.  In addition, the school will transport Middle and Upper School fans to the game based on my receipt of a parent request email by 5 PM this Tuesday evening.  Game time is 4:00 PM Wednesday at the Levin Jewish Community Center (1937 West Cornwallis Road).  Parents must pick up from the Center at 5:00 PM. There can be no provision for late pick-ups.

On Friday, we will all gather at the Downtown Durham Armory (220 Foster Street) for the Academic Fair and Thanksgiving Feast. Students in grades 5-12 arrive at 8:00 AM.  Students in Grades K-4 arrive at 10:00 AM.  Please be sure to park in the parking garage across the street as the few spaces around the building will be ticketed by the City.  Please remember that this is a required parent event and that in addition to the presentations by half of the Middle Grades and the Upper School, music and dance students will perform as well.  (Kindergarten and MAPP students should be practicing with their CD's!)  Be sure to bring your Thanksgiving appetite on Friday as a team of parents are hard at work organizing our meal!  Students are dismissed directly from this event to Fall Break.  There are no activities at our buildings on this day.

Please note that school is closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving (November 19-23).  Classes and all activities resume on Monday, November 26.

If you are looking for something special to do next weekend, three of Camelot's Upper School students (Lennon Klinger-Mehrbach,Bri Oleson and Lance Wilkes) are featured in The Community Church production of Godspell.  Click here for more info or see the posters on display at school.

http://www.pizzadreams.com/~C3HUU/Choirs/c3huuhsyggodspel.html

It is a true honor to work with you and your children each day.  I look forward to celebrating our students' accomplishments and all that we have to be thankful for with you on Friday.

Have a great week.

Camelot Update 11/4/2012

Greetings - I hope this email finds you and your extended family and friends doing OK in the aftermath of Super-storm Sandy.  What a difference a week can make...

In spite of the turbulence elsewhere, Camelot students had a productive week.  Middle and Upper School students spent our Morning Meetings stepping back from the current presidential election to reflect - in general terms - as to what the job description for the President of the United States really is and what qualities and qualifications are required   by law and by the actual demands of the role.  Mr. Matt has done an excellent job of keeping us all engaged and on point - and students across all ages have had much to contribute.  It is Camelot at its best when we can take the time to reflect on such issues and my optimism for the future always brightens when I am in the presence of our intelligent and thoughtful young people.

Our week also included a Spirit Day for which students came dressed as their favorite character from a book.  Thanks to Mr. Scott for posting photos for us all to enjoy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camelotacademy/sets/72157631910902809/with/8147638073

Two of our three Lego teams traveled to Greensboro yesterday for a regional competition.  They did an excellent job and learned a great deal.  The third team travels to Cary next weekend to compete.  Many thanks to Coach Robyn, Coach Chris and Coach Amanda and to all of the parents who make these experiences possible for our young people.

Ms. Lynne and I spent much of our week preparing Mid Semester Reports.  Kindergarten, Junior and Senior MAPP students should receive these reports in the mail.  Middle and Upper School families were sent an email with instructions as to how to access these reports via the online Achieve Technology program.  Mid-Semester Warnings for these grade levels have been mailed home and should be reviewed, signed and returned by this Friday.

Ms Wendy is pulling together a fabulous Thanksgiving meal for us all to enjoy together following the Academic Fair on Friday, November 16.  Your student should have brought home with a RSVP Form that must be returned TOMORROW, please! You can print a copy of the form from our website here:

http://www.camelotacademy.org/forms.php"http://www.camelotacademy.org/forms.php

What is Academic Fair/Thanksgiving Feast?

It is a day on which our entire community gathers at the Durham Armory (downtown) to enjoy:

- Academic presentations by many of our Middle and Upper School students (younger students present their projects at the February Pie Supper - another good excuse to gather, celebrate our wonderful students and eat great food!)

- Musical presentations by the Kindergarten, Junior and Senior MAPP classes

- Performances by the Middle Grades and two Upper School musical groups

- Performance by the Tuesday dance club

- all of us sit down to enjoy a great Thanksgiving meal!

Tomorrow morning all of our Middle Grades students depart for the Sound to Sea trip. 

Please note these important reminders:

- arrival is between 7:30 and 7:45 AM

- carefully follow the packing list that was provided

- all medications - prescription or over the counter - must be provided IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER and with written dosage instructions

- all students must have a completed Student Medical Form (provided to us by the Sound to Sea program)

- students who are sick should not attend. 

On Monday, Highpoint University (NC) will be visiting our campus at 1 PM.

On Tuesday, Upper School students turn in rough drafts of their Academic Fair papers.

Juniors and seniors who wish to take a class at UNC Chapel Hill next semester need to see Ms Lynne THIS WEEK to start the registration process.

Senior college application deadlines- we are in the thick of it now!  Thanks to everyone for working hard to honor these deadlines so that we can continue to do an excellent job in a manner respectful of everyone's busy schedules.

- November 15 apps due to me be November 8*

- December 1 apps due to me by November 12* 

- January 1 apps due to me by December 10*

(* these are COMPLETED apps - meaning the editing rounds between me and the student are COMPLETED by this date)

On Thursday, Camelot basketball season begins!  Players who are registered or who have expressed interest will receive a separate email.

Monday, November 12 is the deadline for our first edition of Broken Silence, the school literary magazine.  Students may get a submission form at school or you may request one from me via email.

Late-breaking news about the England trip:

- we can accept additional travelers up until November 20.  Please let me know if you are interested in joining this trip.

- high school students on this trip may earn COLLEGE CREDIT by completing online coursework associated with the itinerary. Coursework must be completed within 6 months of the March return date.  THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BENEFIT TO THIS TRIP AND SHOULD BE GIVEN YOUR CONSIDERATION!

Mr. Mike is continuing to seek parent service workers on Saturdays between now and the end of 2012 to assist with leaf removal. Please contact him directly at:   mike@camelotacademy.org

Finally, please be sure that all clocks that require it were turned back an hour.  Perhaps getting up tomorrow morning will be a bit easier!

Have a good week.

Best,

Thelma

PS - A note to parents who enjoy reading about education issues - today's New York Times includes great articles about online learning in Education Life and about raising prodigies in The Magazine.  "Book Club," anyone?