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Letter from Donna |
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Dear Parents,
“If you eat that bagel, you’re going to get fat.”
“If you can pinch your thigh, that means you need to lose weight.”
“I can’t eat that Rice Krispy treat because it has too many calories.”
“I can’t run because it makes my calves look too big.”
Reading these statements, you might make the assumption that they were made by a health-conscious adult. You might even wonder if the individual was too extreme in her (in our society, it is usually the hers of the world who make comments like this) attention to food and body image. Here’s the kicker—in my almost five years in the Lower School, these comments were overheard coming from girls as young as six and seven. The number of elementary aged girls exhibiting signs of eating issues and an inappropriate occupation with body image and food are steadily on the rise in our country, and for various reasons my gut feeling is that this national rise is above average for our girls here on the Main Line.
This is why PE Department Chair Michele Kane and I have invited individuals from A Chance to Heal to join us on Wed. 1/25 from 7-9 p.m. in the Lower School music room. This Philadelphia based non-profit organization will be discussing the messages about body image girls are receiving from society and yes—their parents—as well as providing us with the language and tools to help foster a positive sense of self-worth in our children. The planned agenda includes a conversation about the unspoken and well-intentioned, but sometimes unintended, messages we send to our children that impact how they perceive food and good health. I do hope you are able to join us.
Parents are always welcome to attend our community assemblies, which are held on Friday afternoons. This coming Friday, 1/20, we will have a special assembly in conjunction with One Book Agnes Irwin. Charlotte Blake Alston is a storyteller and will be telling tales that illustrate an important theme of this initiative; namely, that the stories we know, tell and live connect us all. The assembly will start a little earlier than normal, at 1:45 p.m., to insure that none of our students need to leave the performance early to begin dismissal. If you are thinking about attending, please call Carol Hillman at 610-525-7600 so that we can make sure to have enough chairs for everyone to be seated.
Have a wonderful weekend,
- Donna |
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Coming Up at AIS... |
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Mon. 1/16 NO CLASSES, MLK Day of Service Wed. 1/18 “One Book” Author Firoozeh Dumas, 7-9 p.m., West-Wike Theatre Tues. 1/ 24 Grade 1 Parent Coffee, 8-10 a.m., Assembly Room Wed. 1/25 Grade 2 Parent Coffee, 8-10 a.m., Assembly Room
** LS Parent Workshop, 7-9 p.m., LS Music Room
Tues. 1/31 Grade 3 Parent Coffee, 8-10 a.m., Assembly Room |
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MLK Day of Service |
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 A variety of community service projects are planned for each grade level at our annual MLK Jr. Day ON - Mon. 1/16. Please plan to arrive in the Owl Lobby by 10 a.m. to sign in. Parents and siblings are welcome, but students may also just get dropped off and picked up. If someone other than the student's parent is picking her up, please bring in a note. Activities and clean-up will end by 11:45 a.m. for pick-up from the Owl Lobby. Click here for a complete schedule and more details. |
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 A SPECIAL ONE BOOK AGNES IRWIN EVENT FOR LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES will be held on Fri. 1/20 at 1:45 p.m. Master Storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston will visit to show students how stories connect us all. Inspired by African oral tradition, Alston’s stories promote an understanding of our common human experience by engaging the hopes, fears and funny bone of each individual. This dynamic, interactive presentation is sure to be an unforgettable experience for all. Please see the flyer for more One Book details.Don't miss the chance to meet our featured speaker for the first-ever One Book Agnes Irwin highlight event. Join us on Wed. 1/18 at 7 p.m. in the West-Wike Theatre for an evening with Firoozeh Dumas, author of national bestseller Funny in Farsi. Click here for more information on the program.
Phase II of the Grade 4 Food Drive
will begin on Mon. 1/16 and continue through Mon. 1/30. At this time of year, food pantry shelves are especially empty.
Please help the fourth graders make a difference and assist those in our area
who are in need. We thank you in advance for your generosity. For a recap of the All-School Town Hall Meeting on Thurs. 1/12, please click here to read the remarks given by Head of School Dr. Mary F. Seppala. Please log in and visit the AIS Parents page to view the updated version of the 2011-2012 Family Directory and for current forms, news and notes. |
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Community Service News |
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The Kindergarten Mitten/Hat Tree still has room on its branches for donations. The hats and mittens collected will go to Family Support Services. Our PreK and Kindergarten students will pack up these items on Mon. 1/16 for MLK Day.
Gently used and new shoes are being collected for Soles4Souls. This collection also culminates on MLK day. (Adult and children's shoes in good condition, please!) |
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