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Letter from Donna |
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Dear Parents,
This week, I organized my calendar—again— and began to list the events in the Lower School that are occurring between now and Spring Break. There are many. As each event was documented, my jaw became more clenched and my breathing more shallow. By the end of the list my mind was whirling and honestly, I was feeling a little cranky. From who-knows-where in my head I suddenly remembered a quote I heard recently:
When feeling urgent, you must slow down.
I continue to be struck by how in tune our girls are to our adult emotions and stress. We think that we are doing such a great job of keeping it altogether, but children know. They know when we are “off”, they know when we are worried or anxious, and they act accordingly. Sometimes the acts resemble undertakings of defiance or mischief, and sometimes they look like temper tantrums or melodrama. I believe deeply that young people are just like adults in many ways. They feel as we feel, they hurt as we hurt, they stress as we stress. The primary differences, in my opinion, are that children do not always have the words to articulate the feelings that they have, and they are not able to process what their feelings are really about without help. But the feelings are there, and are even more confusing when they arise as a result of children sensing dis-ease in the adults they love.
As we start to feel the pace increase between now and Spring Break, and each react in our own ways, so must that pace and reaction exist for your daughters. When feeling urgent, slow down. Change the tempo. Bake. Go for a walk. Breathe. If you find it hard to do for yourself, do it for your daughter.
Spring Break is coming. In the meantime, have a great weekend.
Donna
Photos are from Read Across America week - guest readers included Mary Seppala, Tom Drennan from the Bryn Mawr Fire Department, and Sergeant Joe Pinto from Radnor Township Police Department.
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Looking Ahead... |
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Sunday, March 13
Daylight Savings Time - Spring Forward
Monday, March 14
1:15-2:45 p.m. 4th Grade States Fair - Laura Thomas Buck '49 Pavilion
2:45 p.m. 2nd Grade Brownie Troop 5030 Meeting - MS/US Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 15
8:30-9:30 a.m. Kindergarten Invention Convention - Laura Thomas Buck '49 Pavilion
7:00 p.m. Spring Instrumental Concert - West-Wike Theatre
Saturday, March 19
10:00-11:00 a.m. Tumbling Tots - Lower School
We are planning an outreach event to attract new families and their daughters to our campus. Tumbling Tots is an hour-long gymnastics course for 3, 4, and 5-year-old girls and their parents. AIS Physical Education teacher and Elite Gymnastics Coach Curtis Lee and Michele Kane, AIS Physical Education Department Chair will lead this course. Please mention this event to your friends, as this will be a fun morning. RSVP to bmassaro@agnesirwin.org. There is no admission fee for this event.
Saturday, March 19
6:00 p.m. Winterfest Dinner Dance and Auction - Philadelphia Country Club (See Announcements for more information.)
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Coming Up at AIS... |
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Sunday, March 6
Crew Chili Bingo Night - 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Laura Thomas Buck '49 Pavilion
See the downloads section to view a flyer for the event.
Monday, March 8
3rd Grade Brownie Troop #5060 Meeting - 3:15 p.m. - MS/US Cafeteria
Monday, March 8
LS Parent Internet Safety Presentation with Stephanie Newberg - 7:00 p.m. - Lower School Music Room
Thursday, March 10
Parents' Council Meeting - 8:00-10:00 a.m. - Assembly Room
Thursday, March 10
New Parent Event with Mary Seppala - 7:00-9:00 p.m. - at the home of Mary Seppala (See Announcements for more info.)
Friday, March 11
PreK Parent Visiting Day - 9:00-11:00 a.m. - PreK Room
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Announcements |
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RSVP TO WINTERFEST 2011!
RSVP to Winterfest by March 11th. Space is limited so return your card as soon as possible. For more information, or to RSVP, email Cathy Ferguson at cferguson@agnesirwin.org.
Congratulations to second grader Libby Ronon and fourth grader Isabelle Manning, both of whom were winners in the Gladwyne Library League’s Junior Author Contest! Libby won first prize in the category of poetry for her piece entitled Snow and Isabelle Manning won an honorable mention in the category of poetry for her piece entitled A Land in Winter. Both girls were recognized at a special awards ceremony, and their poems will be included in a published book of winners.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, March 8 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Lower School Music Room, where Stephanie Newberg will be presenting on internet safety and children. If you plan to attend, please respond to Carol Hillman at x1716 or chillman@agnesirwin.org so that we know how many people to expect.
Attention NEW Lower School Parents - Please Save the Date!
On Thursday, March 10, 2011 Dr. Mary Seppala will be hosting an evening of conversation with new Lower School parents. The event will be held from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Mary’s home. Mailed invitations will be arriving at your home shortly. Please contact Brooke Record at 610-526-1674 or brecord@agnesirwin.org with questions or to RSVP.
 Many thanks to those who attended the Empty Bowls Supper. Many parents could not make the event and have asked Ms. Siembora if it would be possible to donate to the cause by buying their daughter's tableware (bowls, placemats or table runners). The Lower School  Service group and the Upper School SOS Board will be on hand after the Spring Sing to sell all of the leftover Empty Bowls’ products. The money collected will be added to the fund for combating hunger locally.
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"Extra" Session |
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Have your daughter spend an hour after school with friends learning a new skill, exercising her athletic abilities or discovering her creativity at “Extra” Session, a new seven-week after-school enrichment and recreational program for girls in grades PreK-4. This must-do after-school program provides constructive activities supervised by Agnes Irwin faculty and popular local instructors in a familiar environment. Don't miss the newest happenings in Lower School. Come out for "Extra" fun!
Visit www.agnesirwin.org/ExtraSession for more information and to register. After you fill out the registration form, return it to the Lower School Office or lsullivan@agnesirwin.org by Friday, March 18, 2011.
For more information, visit: www.agnesirwin.org/extrasession. |
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