Camelot Update 2014-09-28

Greetings!

We had a very successful week.  Many schedule tweaks were made in response to retreat feedback that have resulted in things humming along quite smoothly.  Club Preview Week was a great hit and everything from science to sewing has been explored!  The Upper School had its first of six Extended Opportunities Fridays that included chemistry labs, a trip to the Nasher Art Museum and career speakers.  Many thanks to parents Mitzi Johnson,Jonathan Holt and Susannah Goldwater for their wonderful contributions. In addition, we held Back to School Night for the Upper School (thanks to Jim Arges, Becky and Chris Wilkes and Xiaojing Chen for serving as Parent Ambassadors). We look forward to hosting Lower and Middle Grades families on Thursday night.

You will be receiving a separate email to sign up for a Family Conference the week of October 6.  During the conference, you will meet with your student's academic teachers to discuss pre-test results and plans for the year. Please note that classes are not held on these days, Optional Care is available for Lower and Middle Grades students - contact Ms. Wendy at wendy@camelotacademy to reserve space.  Family Conferences are a required school event.

During conference week, Camelot Academy offers a unique experience for our high school (Grades 9-12) students. Several Camelot Academy parents have offered to host a “JOB SHADOW” in their place of business for our students to witness life in the professional world. A list of descriptions is on the Camelot website here:

http://www.camelotacademy.org/admin/editor_assets/job_shadow-1415f.pdf

Parents are asked to please look over the list with your students and encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity. If your student is interested and available during the timeframes indicated, please return the interest form by Wednesday, October 1st or email amy@camelotacademy.org the necessary information.  You will receive a confirmation of job shadow placement and details by Friday, Oct. 3.  Please note the possible dates and times of the opportunities and make sure to have transportation to and from arranged. Also, be sure NOT to schedule your Family Conference at the same time!   Our oldest students will be given priority in filling these opportunities, we will do our best to accommodate as many requests as possible.

Here is the Plan for the Upcoming Week:

Monday -

Final Deadline for Club Sign Up!

You can download a form here:

http://www.camelotacademy.org/admin/editor_assets/club_signup-1415f.pdf

Boston College Rep

Colgate University Rep

Home Soccer Game at 4:30 PM

Wednesday -

Job Shadow Forms Due

Hofstra University Rep

Thursday -

Lower School Back to School Night 5:30 - 7:00 PM

This is a required parent event that provides class-specific info and expectations.  Your attendance allows us to spend time at your family conference exchanging info that is just about YOUR student rather than reviewing general information.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is offering child care for Lower and Middle Grades students on Back to School Night. Service will begin at 5:20 PM. Please use the following link to sign up for the child care,http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0845a8af22abf49-childcare. A five dollar donation is suggested, which will be used to help the NHS buy canned food for the food bank.

Friday-

Elon University Rep

Upcoming:

Week of October 6:

Upper School -

- No classes all week - Family Conferences Monday-Friday

- Job Shadow Opportunities as noted above

Middle Grades and Lower School:

- No classes Wednesday- Friday - Family Conferences

- Optional Care as noted above

Have a great week!

Camelot Update 2014-09-21

Greetings!

Thank you for your Retreat Feedback - we had 100 percent family participation, which set a tone of effectiveness and collaboration that lasted all three days.  We are deeply appreciative of the time and support our families extend us for this important work.  We will be responding to all feedback via email, phone call, Back to School Night conversation or in your upcoming Family Conference.  We are eager to embark on the next phase of the school year.

Congratulations to junior Cameron Stell who is being recognized with a Mayor's Award for his volunteer work over the summer.  Way to go!

Congratulations to our Soccer Knights who had their first win of the season in the Wednesday game vs. Fletcher Academy!

Ms. Judith's Upper School art classes are currently working on Dale Chihuly-inspired recycled plastic sculptures. We are in need of empty water and soda bottles, milk and plastic juice jugs. If you have any of these in your recycling, please bring them with you to school.

This week is Club Preview Week.  Students will be given Sign-Up Forms or you may download a form from our website (posted tomorrow). New clubs will run Tuesday through Friday.  Throughout this week students may stay after school for any club on a trial basis.  Regular after school fees apply.  Official sign-up is due by Friday and regular club sessions start next week.

Back to School Nights!  These are required parent events that provide class-specific information and expectations.  Your attendance at this event allows us to spend time at your family conference exchanging info that is just about YOUR student rather than reviewing general information.

This Week:

Monday -

- Virginia Tech visit

Tuesday -

- Furman University visit

- Upper School Back to School Night for parents 5:30-7:00 PM

Wednesday -

- University of Vermont

Thursday -

- Davidson College

Friday -

 - Stetson University

- Club Sign-Up Forms Due!

Coming Up:

Thursday, October 2 - Lower and Middle Grade Back to School Night - 5:30-7:00 PM

I look forward to seeing you at one of our evening events!

Camelot Update 2014-09-14

Greetings!

We had a productive week and now find ourselves rapidly coming to the end of our pre-testing and assessment period.  It was wonderful that The New York TImes recently ran an article about the value of this approach.  We have already discussed this a bit in Morning Meeting and individual classes.  Parents may want to read the article and join the dialogue!  (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/magazine/why-flunking-exams-is-actually-a-good-thing.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140904&nlid=50116131&tntemail0=y&_r=1)

All students K-12 took home a Retreat Feedback Form on Friday.  Please be sure to complete this form and RETURN IT BY MONDAY.  This is the right time to comment on how things are going, ask a question, make a suggestion, etc.  Even if you have no feedback at this time, we ask you to sign and return the form so that we know you were aware of the invitation to do so.  You can download and print a copy of the form here:

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

Also due on Monday is the paperwork sent home with Upper School music students for First Semester participation.  Please contact Mr. Glenn with any questions at glenn@camelotacademy.org.

The students have a short week next week.  The faculty has a long week as we gather to reflect and plan for each of our students - one by one!  Please note that most students will have homework over the long weekend.  When we return to classes on Monday, September 22 we will be deep into the semester and ready for Back to SchoolNIghts and family conferences.

Following are details of this week:

Monday -

- ALL STUDENTS return Retreat Feedback Forms

- Upper School Music students return sign-up forms

- Hollins University (VA) visit

Wednesday -

- Hampshire College (MA) visit

- Upper School (K-11) dismissed at NOON

- 12th graders dismissed at 12:30 PM

- Lower and Middle Grades dismissed at usual times, after school runs as usual

Thursday and Friday -

- NO CLASSES for all grades

- Optional Care for Lower and Middle Grades students (must sign up in advance - contact Ms. Wendy atwendy@camelotacademy.org)

Upcoming-

Week of September 22 - Club Preview Week - look for more info this week!

Back to School Nights!  These are required parent events that provide class-specific info and expectations.  Your attendance at this event allows us to spend time at your family conference exchanging info that is just about YOUR student rather than reviewing general information.

Tuesday, September 23 - Upper School Back To School Night - 5:30-7:00 PM

Thursday, October 2 - Lower and Middle Grade Back to School Night - 5:30-7:00 PM

Job Shadow Hosts and Speakers Needed:

Those of you who indicated on the Going Forward Survey a willingness to host students for Job Shadow experiences or to come to Camelot as a speaker have received an email from Ms. Amy with information about how to sign up to offer these opportunities.  Others willing to invite students to come to your work place during Conference Week (Oct. 6-10) or willing to come speak to Upper School students (about your career, interests or other experiences) please fill out the Job Shadow and Speaker Sign-Up Form linked to the Camelot website or email amy@camelotacademy.org to get more information.

Have a great week!

Camelot Update 2014-09-07

Greetings!

Although we had a four-day week, we packed five days' worth of activity into it!  It truly amazes me how many things we can figure out, tweak and improve in such a short time.  It is a brisk pace for all, but you can sense a rhythm of things falling into place. Our students have been wonderful and our faculty is full of superstars who have worked long (and hot!) hours with excellence and enthusiasm.

This week will be our first five-day week - here is some of what is planned:

Monday -

         - Deadline for Juniors and Seniors to sign up for on-campus SAT class

         - Tufts University (MA) Visit

Tuesday -

         - Rhodes College (TN) Visit

Wednesday -

         - Deadline for lunch orders for next week

Thursday -

         - Patriot Day

         - Middlebury College (VT) Visit

Friday -

         - Upper School students will do service activities in the afternoon - in observance of Patriot Day (Thursday, September 11).  Parents - please watch your email on Monday for more info.

         - Home Soccer Game at 4:30 PM.  Middle and Upper School fans needing transport please email by 5 PM Thursday - Parents pick up at the field at 5:30 PM.

Upcoming:

Next weekend we will be asking parents to submit a form with their feedback for our Faculty Retreat. 

School will be closed for Faculty Retreat as follows:

Wednesday, September 17-

         - Upper School dismissed at Noon

         - Lower and Middle Grades run full schedule

Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19-

         - School closed for All

         - Optional Care for K through Middle Grades by reservation, on space-available basis (contact Ms. Wendy -wendy@camelotacademy.org)

On the Going Forward Survey that we conducted this summer, many families expressed an interest in a running. We thought we would let you know that Bull City Running Co., a local running store, is hosting a 5-week run-focused training program for kids ages Pre-K through 8th Grade on Sunday evenings at 4pm at Northgate Park. The next program starts on September 28th. Information and Registration can be found here (http://www.bullcityrunning.com/events/kids-run-durham/).

I look forward to seeing you this week - and enjoying some fall-like weather!