Chorus Returns, Virtually

Chorus has always been one of our most popular after-school offerings, but with social-distancing requirements and so many children learning remotely, it didn’t seem possible to offer it this year – until now! Because so many children love to sing and miss being able to sing together, we’ve decided to try a Zoom version.

There will be two choruses, one for Grades K–2 and one for Grades 3–5. They’ll meet after school once a week for half an hour, from home or from their aftercare rooms. Virtual chorus will be similar to in-person chorus, with some singing, some dance moves, and lots of musical games. Laura White will direct both choruses. We’ll try it for four weeks, and if it’s successful, we’ll extend it into the spring.

Look for the sign-up link in an eNote on 2/11.

Family Garden Days

It Takes a Community to Keep Our Gardens Healthy, Productive, and Beautiful

Our gardens need help. For many years, the Butterfly Garden in front of the school has been the crown jewel of the campus, but the volunteers who so lovingly tended it have all retired. That leaves it to our garden teacher, Adrienne Wallace, to maintain, but she’s also responsible for the half-acre Seven Circles Garden. That’s an overwhelming amount of work for one person. And because of COVID restrictions, Adrienne can’t work with different groups of children, so she no longer even has her garden students to help her.

Our Parent Steering Committee is responding by planning a series of Saturday morning family work parties to help keep our gardens healthy, productive, and beautiful. The first one will be Saturday, February 20, from 9 a.m. till noon. They’ll be clearing garden beds, doing some light pruning, and generally preparing the gardens for spring and summer.

To comply with COVID guidelines, a maximum of 25 parents and children can participate each day, all wearing masks. There’s enough that needs to be done that families will be working on projects in different areas of the gardens to ensure social distancing.

We’ll be sending a link to the sign-up form in an eNote on 2/11. Volunteers will be sent a reminder with additional information prior to the event.

If you can’t make the work party this month, no problem! The committee is also planning Family Garden Days for the third Saturdays in March, April, and May. “No experience is necessary,” they say, “just a love of the gardens and the school.”

COVID Testing Here January 16

Our next on-campus COVID testing clinic will be Tuesday, February 16, and is open to students and family members. In addition to the default nose swab, the testing company, PMH Labs, offers an antibody blood test.

PMH will bill your insurance company for the cost of testing. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to learn about your coverage and any copays for the test. The school is not responsible for any testing fees.

Testing hours will be 9 a.m. to noon. See your Wednesday Message email for the sign up link.

While we don’t require that parents or students get tested regularly, we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity.