Dear Parents and Caregivers,
It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached our first interim break! We’re looking forward to connecting with each of you during Parent-Teacher conferences this Thursday and Friday. These conferences come earlier in the school year by design so we can share baseline data, talk about how your child is settling in with friendships and classroom routines, and set meaningful goals together for the months ahead.
We’ll be sharing hard copies of assessment reports with you during conferences. In some grade levels, this includes nationally normed assessments that help us measure growth and progress in key academic areas. Together with classroom observations and in-class work, these assessments help us form a complete picture of each child’s learning. This information helps teachers tailor instruction and set goals that support each child’s continued growth. We’re excited to share that our students continue to shine and show growth, confidence, and curiosity as learners.
A few tips as you prepare for your conference:
- Arrive on time so we can make the most of our time together.
- Come with an open mind; this is a partnership built on trust and shared goals.
- Bring any questions you might have about your child’s learning or experience so far.
- Work together with your child’s teachers to help your child become the very best version of themselves.
A Note About Smartwatches
A quick reminder that smartwatches are not permitted at school in Early Childhood and Lower School. This simple ask helps us protect students’ attention and keep their focus on learning and play. If a student forgets and wears one, their teacher will kindly ask them to place it in their bag for the day. Thank you for helping us create a calm, focused learning environment for all students!
Learning Highlights for September
Across the school, students have been diving into exciting learning experiences:
- Fourth grade visited Carillon Historical Park to explore innovation as part of their social studies learning. They even saw the 1905 Wright Flyer III, a powerful connection between past and present discoveries.
- Second grade took to the stage with a grade-level performance of superhero stories, weaving in our Wellington values of curiosity, responsibility, and ambition. It’s always inspiring to see how quickly our students shine with courage and creativity in the first play of the year!
- LEAP Day was super successful! Once a month, first through fourth students join mixed-age family groups to learn about teamwork and community. They also take part in playful exploration, whether outdoors or in group games, and passion classes such as Food Science, Wellington Publishing Co., Traveling to Japan, and Dynamic Dancing. Students are engaged, joyful, and learning alongside new peers, which is a win for everyone!
- Forest Fridays have launched for our early childhood classrooms, with students heading off campus to local metro parks to explore nature and the joys of unstructured play. It can feel uncomfortable at first to be “bored,” but soon imagination takes over, and our students negotiate, create, and play with purpose. Kindergarteners even ended the day with fishing adventures! And now, Second Grade has joined the fun with their first Forest Friday, marking an exciting step toward bringing this outdoor program to more Lower School students.
- Mark Your Calendars
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday & Friday, October 9 - 10
- No School: Friday, October 10 & Monday, October 13 for Fall Break
- Lower School Ski Meeting (grades 2 – 4): October 23 at 8:15 – 9:00 a.m. in the Doerschlag Den
Join us to learn more about our ski program and hear updates about renting ski equipment through a local vendor instead of through Mad River. - Fall Classroom Parties & Costume Parade: October 31
Little Jags & Kindergarten Parade/Parties: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Lower School Parade/Parties: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Students may bring costumes for the parade; details to come from classroom teachers. - Late Start: November 4 for Election Day
School will begin at 10:00 a.m. - All-School Learning Showcase: November 11 at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
An open-house style event where students share their learning with the community.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We can’t wait to see you at conferences this week and celebrate all the learning still to come this school year!
Best,
Shelley