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Letter from Donna |
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Dear Parents,
We have had a glorious return to school this week! I thank you for your patience and good humor as the kinks typical of September continue to work themselves out.
When your daughter attends Agnes Irwin, she is embarking on a journey of self-discovery, guided by adults who are trained in and continue to educate themselves about what girls need and how they learn. The Center for the Advancement of Girls (CAG), a new initiative of AIS, is dedicated to fostering those areas we believe will lead to the empowerment of girls. The four key areas of focus, or pillars, are Global Citizenship, Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century, Leadership and Wellness.
Wellness is an area of particular interest to me. As a parent, I see my daughter exposed to images and themes every day which communicate a misleading and unclear message about the importance of her physical and emotional self-care. As hard as it is for my daughter to recognize the onslaught, I can only imagine what it must be like to support a daughter who is experiencing those same messages at a younger age.
In the Lower School, we are addressing these issues head-on in very concrete, specific ways. All coaches and physical education teachers were trained this summer in protocols to prevent ACL tears in girls, and our Lower School P.E. teachers use many of these standards with our students in class. Our P.E. teachers also teach wellness classes in grades 1-4, focusing on nutrition, physical self-care and how to be a good consumer. Our "Let’s Care" course, taught in grades K-4 by Liz McCaffrey, addresses friendship/bullying issues, self-esteem and self-advocacy. Mrs. McCaffrey is also available to see girls one-on-one and as a resource for parents. Finally, this year we will be offering a series of presentations on the health of young girls for interested Lower School parents. More information will be available on this exciting initiative in the coming weeks.
I encourage you to check out the AIS website for more information about the exciting work of CAG and hope you will be able to join guests for the Official CAG Launch at the Constitution Center on October 14. Newsweek editor Tina Brown will be our honored guest, and it promises to be an exciting night for The Agnes Irwin School.
Happy New School Year!
- Donna
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Coming Up at AIS... |
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Sun. 9/12 New Parent Dinner, 5:30-7 p.m., Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion
Mon. 9/12 Lower School Picture Day - Barksdale Individual Photos
Tues. 9/13 *AIS CONNECTS: Dr. Michael Fowlin Presentation, 7:30 p.m., West-Wike Theatre
Wed., 9/14 LS Coffee, 8-11 a.m., Assembly Room
Tues. 9/20 Lower School Parents Night, 7-9 p.m., Lower School Lobby
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Meet Our International Students |
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The Agnes Irwin School community welcomes four International Students. Leilei, Angela, Olivia and Elena are thrilled to be attending AIS and are eager to fully acclimate into our school community. The best way for these girls to learn more about United States culture is to spend time with current AIS families. We hope that you will invite one, two or all four girls to join you and your family on the weekends. The girls would enjoy having the opportunity to spend time with you and your families, either for an afternoon or overnight, and participate in any events you have planned - a dinner, a Fall Festival, apple picking or even an evening at the symphony. (Pictured above from left to right: Angela Zhang ’14, Lynne Myavec, Elena Su ’15, Olivia Mao ’14, Leilei Liu ’14, Mark Myavec)
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New "Extra" Session Activity |
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Books and Cooks - This interactive and engaging session for first grade girls will include experiencing fun literature and creating a delicious treat every week. It will be offered on Mondays, and the instructor is Miss Kaufmann, AIS Kindergarten Assistant.
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Opening Day Assembly |
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Alexandra Conway '20 spoke at the All-School Assembly on Sept. 7. Representing the Lower School, she offered the following advice to her classmates:
- It doesn't matter if your friends are in the other class because you can still play on the playground and make new friends.
- If you didn't get the teacher you wanted, give it time because you will love your teacher.
- Always try your best, and never give up!
- Don't be afraid to ask for help from teachers, friends and older girls.
- Have fun, and enjoy the school year.
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Announcements |
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Two truths about September: children always arrive on the first day of school and car line will be a frustrating experience. Thank you for your patience as everyone, parents and staff, adjust. Know that girls are not marked tardy for the first two weeks of school in recognition of this annual event. A friendly tip for morning car line is to arrive between 7:45 and 8 a.m. in order to ensure that your wait is not as long. Please remember that girls may begin arriving and will be welcomed into the building no earlier than 7:45 a.m. If you have a situation that requires you to drop your daughter off earlier for any reason, please call Donna Lindner at 610-526-1671. AIS CONNECTS will present acclaimed actor and psychologist Dr. Michael Fowlin in “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me” on Tues. 9/13 at 7:30 p.m. This inspiring one-man show is organized by the AIS Board & Staff Diversity Committees, the AIS Parents’ Council and the Center for the Advancement of Girls. See you on Tuesday night in the West-Wike Theatre for this empowering presentation!
RenAISsance donations will be accepted in the Development Office until Thurs. 9/15 and at the Class Coffees on Mon. 9/12, 13 & 14. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Heather Niedland at hniedland@comcast.net.
The 12th annual Agnes Irwin Golf Outing will be held at Gulph Mills Golf Club on Mon. 9/26 at 11:30 a.m. All are invited to participate in this wonderful event that supports a terrific cause. Please contact Beth Coyne or Peter Hill if you are interested in participating.
The Agnes Irwin School will have the privilege of hosting a special pre-screening of “The Mighty Macs,” a film based on the inspiring true story of CAG Advisory Board member Cathy Rush and her successful basketball coaching career. Coach Rush will even be making a special appearance that evening! If you would like to attend this exclusive event, you must R.S.V.P. by Fri. 9/16 to Cathy Ferguson at 610-523-7983 or cferguson@agnesirwin.org.
Please visit the newly redesigned AIS Parents page for current forms, news and notes. |
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