March 25, 2010

Dear Parent / Guardian:

Here is a list of the major events for the rest of this academic year!

On Tuesday, April 27th, the seventh graders are attending a guided tour of Ancient China: Tombs and Temples at the Asian Art Museum. Many thanks to Ms. Michelle Holcomb, our room parent, for planning and scheduling this field trip! We will need one chaperone for every ten students; that is, a minimum of three parent chaperones. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. We will leave the school grounds by 9:00 a.m. and return to school in time for lunch.

On Friday, May 21st, the seventh grade will host a Renaissance Faire in the school auditorium from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The entire student body will attend this event. Before the faire, the students will be working on their Renaissance projects. Please help your child by assisting him / her to the library to continue researching their particular topic on the European Renaissance; and by gathering art materials for the art section of the project. Donations of art supplies are always gladly welcomed!

On the day of the Renaissance Faire, refreshments, baked goods (not so sugary) and apple cider, could be sold to further help increase the seventh grader’s account. Again, we are asking for parent help on that day. The St. Andrew’s Guild, an organization consisting of adults enthusiastic about the European Renaissance, will be our visitors for the day. They will come dressed as Renaissance characters and share their expertise on their particular area of interest. The members of the St. Andrew’s Guild are taking time and effort to come and enrich our Renaissance Faire; each student is to donate $1.00 to express a token of appreciation.

In order to add to the Renaissance Faire atmosphere, if possible, the students are to dress in Renaissance style. I have a few costumes to lend, although sizing is limited and they may need to be dry-cleaned, since they were in storage from last year. Students in the past have borrowed costumes from stores, created a Renaissance style from what they already have at home, and / or borrowed from friends and family. If you have suggestions, please share your ideas with us!

On Friday, May 28th, our eighth graders are graduating! The evening graduation mass is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The seventh graders are responsible for the graduation reception in the school auditorium from 8:00-9:00 p.m. (approximately). We will need parent helpers to prepare, serve refreshments, and clean-up. The reception for your own child’s graduation next year will hopefully be as supported and festive. The cost of the graduation breakfast occurring before graduation and the graduation reception will be deducted from the seventh grade account. Due to the help from parents, the seventh graders should be able to cover the costs. The need for fundraisers and parent involvement was mentioned at the back-to-school PTO meeting and reminded at PTO in-class meetings during the academic year.

Mrs. Sharon Owyang-Lee
Grade 7 Teacher @ Mission Dolores School