In This Issue

• Upper School Track Meet: This Friday!
• 8th Grade Jousting Matches & Obstacle Course Races
• Book Return Deadline: June 2
• Needed: Cardboard boxes
• Needed: Paper Bags
• Upcoming Events
  • May 17: Spring Concert
  • May 19: PA Meeting
  • May 19: Spring Parent Outreach Hike
  • May 19: Spring Dance (6-8th grade)
  • May 23: Jump-a-Thon
  • May 24: 7th Grade High School Info Night
  • May 25: Half Day, 12:30pm dismissal (Faculty Work Day; ASC open)
  • May 26: Parent Coffee: Differentiation
  • May 30: 6th Grade Going into 7th "Step Up" Parent/Guardian Info Night
  • May 31: Faculty Appreciation Lunch
  • June 1: Lower School Arts Festival
• Athletics: PE Newsletter

Heads Blog

May SEL Theme

Gratefulness / Gratitude

Upper School Track Meet--This Friday!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. The Mark Day School Track & Field Championship is coming up in a couple of weeks and we need your help! It is an all-day track meet held on the field behind the school. The students in grades 4-8 compete in various running races, as well as in field events such as the high jump and the long jump. Parent volunteers are needed that morning to help set up the equipment on the field. We need to bring out the hurdles, set up the high jump and the tents for spectators and students. We will meet outside the gym at 7:30am and set up should take about an hour. The more volunteers we have, the more quickly we can set up. Email Kristin Dickinson at Kristin@dickinsongraff.com with questions.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Click here for general information about the track meet.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. Click here for information about when and where events will take place.

8th Grade Jousting Matches & Obstacle Course Races

Your 8th grader won't want to miss one of the last events of the year! Your student will test his or her strength and skills in Jousting and in Obstacle Course Racing, and spend the afternoon with fellow 8th graders. They will be held after school on May 26th from 2:30-4:00pm on the Mark Day School field. We will supply the inflatable equipment, pizza, drinks, and tunes. The students will supply strength, skill, and quickness, and they're guaranteed lots of laughs! The winners of each event will go home with a unique victory t-shirt as the "Class of 2017 Jousting/Obstacle Course Champion!" The cost is $40. All funds raised go toward the 2017 auction proceeds that benefit Mark Day School. A minimum of 25 participants is needed.

As part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community at Mark Day School, we strongly believe that every student should be able to participate fully in school community activities. Our Indexed Tuition policy includes coverage for curricular and co-curricular events like this one. For information about this and any other aspect of Indexed Tuition, please contact RhonaLovett in the business office.

Book Return Deadline

The end of the year is approaching! Please ensure that all Mark Day School library books are returned by Friday, June 2.

Needed: Cardboard or Paper Boxes

Second graders will be doing a tinkering activity in the Open Lab next week and are in need of small cardboard or paper boxes. These include shoeboxes, tissue boxes, and take-out style containers.

If you have extra boxes, please bring them to the collection bins outside of the front office. Please bring them only this week and next week. Beyond that, we will not have a need for boxes. Donated boxes should be:

• Shoebox size or smaller
• Clean (no food residue)

For questions, e-mail Tatian Greenleaf at tgreenleaf@markdayschool.org.

Needed: Paper Bags

Art students are in need of paper bags to send work home. Students can bring them to class or drop them off in the Front Office or art room.

May 17

Spring Concert

7:00pm (Gym)

May 19

Parents' Association Meeting

9:00am (After School Club)

After assembly, please join us for updates from the Parents' Association. Coffee will be served! Updates include:

- Introduction of the NEW LUNCH vendor for summer school and possibly beyond

- Preview 2018's SPRING FUNDRAISER ideas and how to raise funds without a live auction

- Vote to confirm the new Parents' Association Exec Board for 2017-2018

May 19

Spring Parent Outreach Hike

9:00am (After School Club)

Please join us for our Spring Parent Outreach Hike on Friday, May 19th after the PA meeting. All parents are welcome! This is a parent social event with exercise. We will hike the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Ridge. This 4.4 mile out and back hike is easy, with about 900 feet in elevation change. This hike should take about 2 hours.

Directions: After the Parents' Association meeting, please drive to the end of the Freitas Parkway and meet us there at trailhead at the end of the road. Parking is available along the side of the road and there is plenty of it.

From Central Marin: If you live closer to San Anselmo and will not be at assembly that morning, please drive from Butterfield Road to Fawn Drive and meet us at the top of Fawn. The trailhead connects between Fawn and Freitas. Please meet us at the Marin County trail sign at the top of Fawn. Limited parking is available on Fawn Dr.

May 19

Spring Dance--6th, 7th, & 8th Graders

6:30-9:00pm (Gym)

Sixth, 7th, and 8th graders are invited to dance the night away on May 19 in the Mark Day gym. All funds from the event support the Upper Division students' participation in the local Adopt-a-Family Program.

Click here to fill out the permission form. 

As part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community at Mark Day School, we strongly believe that every student should be able to participate fully in school community activities. Our Indexed Tuition policy includes coverage for curricular and co-curricular events like this one. For information about this and any other aspect of Indexed Tuition, please contact Rhona Lovett in the business office.

May 23

Jump-a-Thon

For our 10th consecutive year through a voluntary Jump-a-Thon on May 23, we hope to alleviate the cost of food that the Mark Day School community provides for the AIDS orphans at our partner school, eSibonisweni in South Africa. The Jump-a-Thon makes a big difference annually for the AIDS orphans. The event will occur only during PE time and will not change the structure of the students' day. It will work in a similar fashion to any event for which people collect sponsors. In this instance, students will collect a pledge that is given per jump or it can be one amount donated for their efforts. Students will be able to collect pledges for each jump completed during the Jump-a-Thon and will turn their pledge sheets into Mrs. Sigler. At the end of each student's PE class, Mrs. Sigler or Mr. Orwig will record their jump. For more information, email Leslie Sigler (lsigler@markdayschool.org). There will also be coin banks located throughout the school on teacher's desks and in the front office and administration buildings to help raise extra funds. Students can bring in coins to "help change lives at eSibonisweni."

May 24

7th Grade High School Family Information Night

6:30-8:00pm (Music Room)

Seventh grade families, including their 7th grade children, are invited to learn what to expect as your approach the high school decision process. Special guests, including alumni students currently enrolled in area high schools, will also share some perspectives. Together, we will then answer your questions and facilitate discussion. Knowledge is power, and although it may seem early to begin thinking about life after Mark Day School, parents and students have found that preliminary information has helped diffuse concern while setting a constructive course moving forward. We will also address and deconstruct some myths and stereotypes about the high school process. In many ways, the research, application, and decision-making associated with the high school process is a culmination of the skills and attitudes your child has cultivated over the years at Mark Day School. Please RSVP via this link.

May 25

Half Day (12:30pm dismissal): Faculty Work Day

The After School Club will be open 12:30-6:00pm. Lunch will be served.

May 26

Differentiation at Mark Day School (Parent Coffee)

9:00am (Music Room)

David Hickman and Thad Reichley will give a video-based presentation about differentiation at Mark Day School. More information to follow.

May 30

6th Grade Going Into 7th Step Up Parent/Guardian Info Night

6:30-8:00pm (Music Room)

Hear from current 7th grade student presenters, the Upper Division faculty and Dave Hickman about what to expect regarding the transition from Middle Division to Upper Division. After the student presentations, the remainder of the evening will be responding to parent questions. Please bring your inquiries.

May 31

Faculty Appreciation Lunch (Volunteers Needed)

On May 31, we are honoring our fabulous faculty and administration with the lovely tradition of the Appreciation Lunch. It is a special day where parents provide food, beverages, and coverage for the teachers so they can enjoy a delicious and relaxed lunch. There are plenty of ways to help—bring food or beverages, help with set up and clean up, supervise children of all ages during lunch and/or the playground. Please click here to sign up to help. If you have any questions, please contact Houda Silcock. Thank you in advance for your help and contribution!

June 1

Lower School Arts Festival

9:00am (Gym)

This year's theme is "Stars." Kindergarten has a Mr. R poem, 1st graders will perform a piece about the life cycle of stars, 2nd grade has a Chinese Folk tale about stars, and 3rd graders will tell a California native American folk tale about constellations.