Community Newsletter

August 18th , 2006

Dear CDSG Community,

Welcome back for another school year!  Students are in their classes and getting into their studies, a full calendar of activities is being planned, and the faculty and staff are looking forward to another excellent year with your support.

A few points to cover with this first letter to the community:

• New faculty:  We are pleased to have the following faculty and staff joining us this year:  Ms. Kristina Holland is teaching 3^rd grade; Ms. Jami Pascucci is teaching 2^nd grade; Ms. Kerry McClennen is teaching Upper School English; Mr. Abel McClennen is teaching P.E.; and Ms. Alexis Del Vecchio is teaching Art.  Joining our boarding program is Ms. Regina Simeone and Mr. Jonathan Hanson.  Additionally, Ms. Ivette Gomez has joined our Spanish program as a permanent substitute until Ms. Gabby returns from maturity leave, and Ms. Maria Barrientos has returned as the Spanish teacher for the Kinder, Prepa, and grade one students.  Lastly, I am very happy to announce that we have added two very experienced classroom aides in the Pre-Kinder/Kinder and Prepa sections; Ms. Cinthia Carvajal and Ms. Charlotte Denis respectively. 

• A reminder that this coming Monday, August 21^st, is a school holiday.  Please do not bring your student to school!

• We received our Middle States midterm accreditation report over the summer, and the feedback is quite positive.  More details of the report will be shared with the community at the next parent meeting.

• Some changes and improvements in the curriculum for this school year, include the following:

• A Modern Business and Personal Finance course in the Upper School
• An Honors Marine Biology course in the Upper School
• An Honors Human Anatomy and Physiology course in the Upper School
• A Health Education component in the Upper School P.E.program
• A commitment to set aside one assembly, per month, for guest speakers on health issues, particularly with the Lower School students
• The introduction of the Six-Plus-One program in the writing program

• The AP and Iowa tests results arrived during the summer and the results from both are quite good.  Parents will receive their student’s individual scores within a few weeks.

• A reminder that Friday, September 1^st is our first open house, and chance to sign up for activities in the after-school program.  Pot-luck desserts and beverages will be served.   This will be an excellent opportunity to meet our new and returning staff, and to see the new resources, equipment, and materials that were added to our program.

• Our campus wireless and high speed internet system is now installed and functioning.  We hope that the new administration and grading software programs will be in place for the start of the second semester.

• A reminder that campus security remains an issue and that all Upper School students should have and use a lock for securing their lockers.  All locks should have a second key or combination turned in to the office.

• Student response to the new uniforms seems to be quite positive.  We are eager to get the entire student-body into proper uniforms, as soon as possible.

• Another reminder, this one about lunch tickets.  Our younger students are often traumatized when their ticket expire or are lost, and they do not have a replacement at hand.  Please, purchase sufficient replacement tickets in a timely manner and help us reduce the stress level in the lunch line.

A final note: our faculty and staff wish you all, a Happy Mother’s Day!    

As always, my door and telephone remain open for comments, suggestions, and even complaints.  

Welcome back,

Stephen Butler

Director

CDSG