Parents and teachers are encouraged to join together, on a monthly basis, in an effort to identify the progress made by students within the pillars of the Graduate at Graduation document and make strategic plans to augment the work that is being done at home and in the classroom. Ideally, this is supposed to be a non-crisis type interaction between the parent and teacher on behalf of the student. The time for this collaboration is open ended and scheduled between parent and teacher.

Eleven students came and worked in the art room to create special masks to enter into a contest presented by The Ghent Business Association. Students- thank you for participating in the mask making workshop! We were amazed by each student’s unique ideas and so impressed by the great artistic discussion/ collaboration that the artists shared during the open studio time. Mrs. Voorhies and I greatly enjoyed working with these students and feel strongly that we should each celebrate their gifts. The true prize is this experience and we feel that each student has already won. The masks are on display at various Ghent businesses until the 24th of October. See the amazing masks at the following link:

http://www.stpcs.org/news/wordpress/wp-admin/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/stpcs-masks.pdf

For more information and to vote for the masks online, the link to the Destination Ghent website is below:

http://www.destinationghent.com/maskmaking2.php

The public is judging these pieces by submitting votes at the display locations or at the link listed above. Please hop over and support our artists. Prizes will be awarded at the 9th Annual Masquerade in Ghent; this event will be held Friday, October 24th from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. A silent auction will be held that evening to sell masks that the artists have decided to donate. Currently, none of our students have chosen to donate their masks. The chairperson of the committee wanted me to share that there have been many requests from people who want to bid on our students’ masks!!! The chairperson wanted me to let them know that if they do donate them, the money is given to a great cause, The Hope House, and they could add a huge contribution just by auctioning off their art! Contact me if anyone changes their mind on the status of keeping or donating.

Please attend if you can make it! We would like to display all masks at the Grandparent’s Day Art Show. Please keep these masks safe until needed for this event.

MASK LOCATIONS, NUMBERS, and NAMES

The masks located in the lobby in the Gateway Bank office on 21st street are:
27= Tyler Old
49 = Morgan Hudgins
53 = Kathleen Kelly
126 = Scarlett Neese Saunders

The masks located at Harbor Gallery on Colley Avenue are:
50 = Calli Zarpas
52 = Sarah Kopso
54 = Cameron Musgrove
56 = Bret Barney

The masks located at Garden Gazebo on 21st street are:
51 = Erin DeMane
55 = Bailey Riales

The masks located at Decorum on 21st street are:
125 = Meredith Cheatwood

Sincerely,
Jacki Voorhies
Suzanne Voorhies

Six weeks into school. Routines are grooved. Expectations are established. There is a comfort level in the community that feels good. The school family knows much better who it is inside the mission. A non-coercive school learning environment based on total formation of each child through guided reflection in close collaboration between home and school.

Our graduated 8th graders (now 9thgraders!) have been visiting the school. It is such a joy to see them! One by one or in small groups – they are dropping by…just to say “hi.” Their visits are perhaps the best expression of gratitude we could receive as teachers. You know, they grow up so fast. Only a few months and they’ve changed so much. They are more “grown up.” They approach others…more confidently, more wisely. It is wonderful to see.

We’ll have a cookout for them soon. Throw some burgers on the grill. We can’t wait to hear what they are doing and how they are doing. We are just so proud of them we can hardly stand it.

With their parents, in the tender time between childhood and adolescence – this school has provided them a clear signal that they are ultimately responsible for their own destiny; that excuses, whether true or not, do no good; that a balanced, faith filled life, leading to the service of others, will guide them steadily to happiness and productivity.

And then I look at these little ones. Oh, my gosh. They have such a beauty about them. Just looking at them, you don’t whether to laugh out loud or to just cry for their sheer beauty and innocence. Made in God’s image to be sure. We’ll have a decade with some of these little ones and I don’t doubt for a moment that they will grow into strong, faith-filled, compassionate leaders who will make a difference in the world.

It really does take a village, doesn’t it? A community, working closely together, speaking with one voice in the most important mission in the world…assisting children to reach their highest destiny.

Now, that’ll get you up in the morning!

Where: STPCS
When: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Parents are encouraged to attend an information session about Choice Theory.

Starting on Oct 15, students are required to wear their winter uniforms to school.

The Hound Down Shop will take place in the lobby on Wed, Oct 8th.  Please join other STPCS parents in donating your gently used uniforms for the sale. The plan is to have parents drop off uniforms (cleaned) at school in the HOUND DOWN SHOP bins available in the office 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. the week of September 29 – October 3, 2008.  STPCS will change to the winter uniforms effective October 15th; come early, popular sizes go quickly. Cash or check will be the only form of payment accepted. All monies collected will be used towards the Scholarship Fund.