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Quicklinks:November 2006 - Letter from the Head of School
Dear Parents:
It seems incredible but in just another month the first semester comes to a close. We have been busy, very busy on a number of fronts, foremost I believe in many good causes that are marked by the excellent work done by Mrs. Ileana Shub in support of community service projects. The Elementary Positive Action Assembly in November gave perfect expression to our emphasis on giving and what I would like to call "ethical learning". This also comes to us when the work of the National Honor Society culminated in the 12 hour walk on behalf of the "INVISIBLE CHILDREN PROJECT" on Saturday, November 11. The Kaki Tree project, Helping Fridays, Beach Clean-Ups that received front-page news coverage - all this and more are testimony to the importance of ethics in education, as well as the good cooperation between students, teachers and parents. In making a difference in the lives of others, or for our community, we touch our own lives and develop a wider outlook on life.Of course then there was Spirit Week and Halloween. Until the heavens opened as the elementary children stood ready for the Halloween Parade - undeterred we squeezed it in - we had a superb week in which the Middle and High School classes outdid themselves in themes and personal transformations! Most remarkable was the fact that each grade succeeeded in capturing the spirit of their time, and thus a wide range of academic subjects flowed freely through the transformed corridors - history, literature, science, politics, and not a few 'biographies' ranging from graceful queens to somewhat dubious looking hippies.All the while classes continued in full operation: IMPRESSIONANTE!
Sports has had many successes throughout the semester, from minis to varsity. You can follow the news in good detail on the website, and the newly started Athletics Newsletter covers all the teams in great detail. Here too the spirit of cooperation between athletes, parents, and teachers/coaches is strong, especially during tournament time when cooking hamburgers and hotdogs and ice cream and soda sales provide the opportunity for class fundraisers. For all this and more please do frequently check our much improved and enlarged website and see the note below from our website manager, Kelly Rice
As of September of this school year, the Baldwin School Website has gone through some dramatic changes. Not only has it undergone a visual facelift, but it has been restructured for easy navigation, accessible information and regular current event updates. Visitors can access informational sections regarding Admission, Academics, Athletics, Campus Life, Alumni and About Us (Baldwin). On every page of the website there are links to the alumni forum, an interactive school calendar, current events, and the staff webmail.
The goal of Baldwin’s website to act as an inclusive vehicle of communication where parents, students and visitors alike can access a range of information from school events, to teacher websites to sports updates.
As parents, your involvement is key and I encourage you to access the website regularly. You are welcome to share input for improving website communication as well as contribute by means of sharing news and or photographs that add to currently existing pages in the areas such as sports, community service or PTO.
- Kelly Rice, Baldwin School Web Manager
webmaster@baldwin-school.org
Our various campus projects are continuing well. The landscaping for the elementary playground is now being put in place, the outdoor court will receive its synthetic surface in early December, and the elementary classrooms remain on target for completion in December, ready to be moved into on the first day of classes, January 11, 2007.
Finally, I need to point to a couple of matters in which I want to be sure we have complete parent cooperation. ONE is the traffic at pick-up and drop-off time - please, if everyone follows the rules the traffic will flow well. This means, especially, that you never park or leave your car in the areas designated as pick-up and drop-off only. Also, as you drive out of this zone please be sure to do so slowly and noting any cars that may already be in the regular driving lane. THANK YOU!
SECONDLY, the Athletic League recently had a special meeting attended by all Athletics directors, the soccer coaches and school High School principals to discuss irregularities occurring at several soccer games, especially parent spectators interfering with, or questioning referee decisions. THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM with Baldwin, but the League has asked all schools to publicly state that if the rules of the association are not followed (i.e.if parent spectators enter the playing field while the game is taking place) then this will cause the game "to be confiscated". At Baldwin we set a strong standard, but I wanted to be sure you are aware of this matter within the League. Our own standard is clear: referees alone decide games, and should matters need discussion it will be dealt with by coaches and if appropriate, Athletics Directors.
I want to thank the PTO for their strong support during this semester and look forward to giving all necessary support to what is already being worked on for the second semester - the FAMILY DAY, "Baldwin Pirates of the Caribbean", on February 24, 2007.
Dr. Gunther Brandt
Head of SchoolP.S. Baldwin is most grateful to Mrs. Diana Berezdivin for donating six gorgeous FICA TREES which are now gracing the entrance area at the pavilion!!
