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Letter from Lynne ... |
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Dear Parent(s),
With the exception of our sixth grade girls, who are off campus enjoying their Echo Hill adventure, all middle school students heard an exceptional speaker yesterday, Dr. Michael Fowlin. Dr. Fowlin spoke to 7th-12th grade girls in the morning and 3rd-5th in the afternoon. The two performances were different; he is trained as a psychologist and knows full well the enormous developmental changes that occur between ages 8 and 18! But many of the underlying themes were the same. Storytelling, monologues and comedic anecdotes all encouraged listeners, young and old, to revisit their automatic thoughts about who “belongs,” who is “different,” and how we can all take care of ourselves and one another.
Dr. Fowlin is, truly, a performer. I feel certain that the older girls would not have jumped up to offer an immediate standing ovation when he concluded had he simply “presented” his thoughts. Instead, he assumes the voices of a number of characters, characters who either are different from those around them, or at least have perceived themselves to be so. With our younger girls, he was assisted by a guitar-playing assistant; for both audiences, he had rapt attention!
Through his masterful characterizations, Dr. Fowlin chipped away at assumptions about people with physical disabilities, children in foster care, people of various religious, geographic, ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientation (with older girls), learning differences, varied family structures (i.e. two moms or two dads, being raised by grandma, etc), and more. He challenged all of us to consider how we respond to those that may not appear to be “like us,” but who are, in fact, like us in so many ways.
Finally, one of the messages that stuck with me the most was that of sticking together. For the younger girls, he offered the model of a non-invitee to a party inviting other non-invitees to her own party! It was a great way to get at the idea of not having to be alone in your “different-ness.” For the older girls, with the visual of a herd of zebras standing by and watching while one of their own is attacked by a lion, he appealed to the girls to look out for one another and develop a sisterhood of caring.
Our conversations around assumptions/stereotypes/myths will continue in December with some lunchtime discussion for our 7th and 8th graders, led by faculty and Upper School student leaders working in tandem. The Upper School Honor Board is working on scenarios and role plays to facilitate interaction with Middle School CCs, and those will help us explore further what Dr. Fowlin expressed about “doing what you need to do,” as opposed to what you’re “supposed” to do, meaning, what your peers may expect. Our work is about building and sustaining an intentionally caring community, and about each of us asking ourselves, everyday, what a truly caring community looks like. More examples of older and younger girls learning and growing together, certainly, and more examples of the value we at AIS place upon the curriculum that goes beyond readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmetic!
Lynne
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Coming Up at AIS ... |
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Mon., Nov. 8: Book Fair in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 9: Book Fair in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 9: FluMist Vaccination 8th grade and Make-up Day, Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 10: Book Fair in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 11: Kick-off Events:
· Hot Dog Dinner in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
· Faculty vs. Volleyball Game in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
· Bonfire and Pep Rally on the Lower School Fields, 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 12: AIS/EA DAY!! WEAR YOUR BLUE AND GOLD!
· Half Day of classes for Middle and Upper School: Noon Dismissal
· Spirit Assembly in the Upper School Gym, 8:05-8:25 p.m.
· Cross Country Race starts at 12:30 p.m.
· Hall of Fame Induction starts at 1:15 p.m.
· Soccer and Tennis both start at 2:00 p.m.
· Field Hockey starts at 3:15 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 13: Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 13: AA Board Can Dance at Episcopal Academy, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Looking Ahead …
Wed., Nov. 17: Campus Improvements Information Session in the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 18: Dining 101 Complimentary Kick-off Breakfast at Merion Cricket Club, 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Thurs., Nov. 18: Upper School Musical starts! First performance begins at 7:00 p.m. in the West-Wike Theatre
Fri., Nov. 19: 7th grade Culture Fair, Middle/Upper School gym, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 19: Trustee Day Classroom Visits, 11:00 a.m.-12:40 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 19: US Musical in the West-Wike Theatre, 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 20: US Musical puts on two performances in the West-Wike Theatre, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
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Downloads |
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Community Service Update
Check out the 8th graders’ recent visit to St. Ignatius here.
An Invitation to 8th Graders
Please view this invitation to the Upper School Musical from Upper School Student Government.
Holiday Chorus Schedule
Please read this letter from Dr. Latham and Mr. Savar with regards to some important chorus performances.
It’s Here! The Middle School Musical!
Please read this informative letter from Ms. Ramsey to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this year’s musical.
Go Owls!
Download this Flyer to make sure you are ‘in the know’ for next Friday!
8th Grade Chorus and “Jingle-bels”
Please download this permission slip to participate in Narberth’s A Christmas Carol. Due November 12th! |
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Announcements |
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IMPORTANT EA DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS
· No 4 o’ clock Study on Friday, November 12, EA Day.
· Buses will run on usual schedule.
· Spirit Gear on sale ALL NEXT WEEK leading up to the event! Make sure you’re Blue and Gold dressed!
· See the calendar for a breakdown of events and start times.
Affordability Workshop
Affordability Workshop, Saturday, November 6 10:00 – 11:00 AM in the Assembly Room
Sally Keidel, Director of Admission and Financial Aid will be making a presentation about affordability and the process of applying for financial aid. Any interested families are encouraged to attend. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP directly to Sally (skeidel@agnesirwin.org)
AIS Book Fair
Kicks off Monday, November 8 in the Laura Thomas Buck '49 Pavilion. Stop and check out a variety of books for all ages. The book fair ends Wednesday, November 10.
Dream Flag Project Important Schedule Update
Saturday, May 7, 2011 AIS Dream Flag Project Celebration
The Philadelphia Kimmel Center
6th Grade Students: 2:30-4:30 (Attendance not required but recommended!)
Parent and Student Event Volunteers: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Program: 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Dining 101 is fast approaching. Please buy your Dining Card now! Click here for a download form. Also, an invititation to our kick-off breakfast will be arriving in your inbox early next week.
Volunteers are needed during next weekend. Please email Athletics ( tkepp@agnesirwin.org) if you are interested in volunteering. |
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