Babushka picked up the little doll and put her back on the high shelf. “It looks like you had quite a day,” she said softly. Babushka’s Doll by Patricia Polacco.

And it WAS quite a day--the day master storyteller, author and illustrator of more than fifty children’s books, Patricia Polacco, came to GA. There are people in the world who connect with children and then there are people like Patricia who really and authentically connect with children. If you have a daughter in CC-Group IV, chances are you heard every last detail of Patricia’s magical visit last week--and will continue to hear about it!

Brought up in a family steeped in the oral tradition of telling stories (her mother’s family were Russian and Ukrainian, her father’s family were Irish, her extended family African American), Patricia grew up “HEARING wonderful stories, not SEEING them. We did not own a T.V.; we couldn’t afford one. So our evenings were spent sitting in front of a fire (her grandmother called it “fire talking”) and listening to glorious stories being told by the people we loved.” She urged our aspiring young authors to turn off the electronic screens and listen more to that “voice” inside of them.

There were many profound and poignant moments during Patricia’s talk to our girls but probably none so moving as her personal story about being teased for not being able to read until she was fourteen. She spoke of having a “terrible time” because she wasn’t good at math, and about being teased because she wasn’t “pretty enough”, “thin enough”, “rich enough”. As a result, she grew up feeling “dumb” in school. It was only later in her life that she learned she had a different learning style than that of her peers. Her book, Thank You, Mr. Falker, is all about her struggles in school and a tribute to the real Mr. Falker, her fifth grade teacher.

You can read Patricia’s first-hand account of her reading difficulties at http://www.ldonline.org/firstperson/7017. In that article, she also includes the three rules our girls had to follow to make their wish on Patricia’s piece of meteor.

Another book familiar to our girls is The Keeping Quilt, so you can imagine everyone’s delight when Patricia carefully unfurled the original quilt, now somewhat worn, which is the subject of her book. If you haven’t yet read this book, you ought to add it to your summer reading list. It could lead to a very worthwhile summer project with your daughter--coming up with a way to honor and preserve your family memories.

For more information about Patricia and her wonderful books, check out her official web site: www.patriciapolacco.com.

Beatlemania!
We Love You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah -- Marie France Kern, Haley Elmlinger, Audrey Schaus and all the Lower School parents who worked tirelessly on this year’s auction. Thank you for all your hard work!

PC Mother’s Day Tea: A Report from Kelly Gaudet and Jamie Costa
The PC Mother's Day Tea was a highlight of our year. A mom or an aunt represented every girl. The walls were adorned with painted peonies, interviews about 'My Special Mom or Aunt' and journal pages chronicling 'I love my mommy/aunt because..." Girls each had two speaking parts. Every girl held up a portrait of her mother or aunt and announced, "I love my mommy/aunt because..." (a reason different from that on her journal page). The second speaking part was either part of a "Welcome" or part of the "Recipe for a Fabulous Mom or Aunt" presentation. Because being fed by moms was a common theme amongst our girls, it seemed only fitting that we give them cookbooks as a memento. Indeed, we have already heard from several girls that during the weekend they tried out one of their classmates’ recipes! On Monday, Maya said: “We made Kitt’s pasta salad for Mother’s Day” and today Madison proudly announced: “We’re making Grace’s chicken nuggets for dinner tonight!” Yum!

Reviews of Group IV Poetry
Recently, Nina Phillips (Group IV intern teacher) showed her father, Warren H. Phillips, some of Group IV’s poems. Prior to holding a top leadership position at Dow Jones & Company, Warren Phillips was a Managing Editor, Foreign Desk Editor and a domestic and international reporter for The Wall Street Journal. He also served on the Pulitzer Prize committee for many years where he was responsible for choosing winners in the categories of fiction and non-fiction. Phillips has taught at the Columbia Journalism School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He and his wife currently run a successful small literary publishing company, Bridgeworks, a venture they created together as a retirement dream fifteen years ago. Many of Bridgework’s titles have been awarded prestigious literary recognition. Here’s what he had to say about Group IV’s poems:

“…advanced beyond their years!”
“…some showed strong literary promise. These poets could be way above average writers and poets if they continue to write in later years.”
“…beautiful thoughts and images.”
“…many high school students and adults would be hard pressed to do work of this caliber.”
“…observant of details around them and then doubly talented in their ability to put these observations into descriptive and visual words.”
“…impressive!”

Wow! Our girls were understandably thrilled with their first “official” review of their work!

Edible Sentences in Group I
Before eating their alphabet cinnamon cookies at snack time, Miss Delp and Mr. Walsh’s girls used the cookies to spell out a sentence. Here are some of their creative efforts:

Run faster, Joe!
I love school!
Sofi had 8 cats.
Hope had 4 cookies. (She really did!)
Toes have nails.
As I was running, I fell. (L)

Serendipity/ Friday Afters Last Days!!
Our after school Serendipity program ends for the year on WEDNESDAY, MAY 23.
There is no Serendipity on Thursday because of Graduation, and no Serendipity after Memorial Day. Thank you to Leesa Singleton and all the Serendipity teachers for all the exciting classes this year. Friday Afters ends this week on FRIDAY, MAY 18. Many thanks to Kelly Fischetti and all of her Friday Afters teachers for another terrific year!

Flower Girl Update from Julie FitzPatrick
Parents of Flower Girls should have received a letter last Wednesday with details for Graduation. In the letter, we requested that you send in two sandwiches tomorrow (5/17) for the Senior/Flower Girl Lunch—one for your daughter and one for your daughter’s senior. The letter had an attachment that noted the senior’s sandwich request. Please remember that peanut butter may not be a sandwich option, due to the number of peanut allergies here at GA. Please utilize the two decorated lunch bags sent home today to send in the sandwiches for tomorrow. We are hoping for a sunny day, despite the forecast, so the girls may eat outside, but we’ll dine in the classrooms if need be. If you did not receive the letter dated May 9, please call the office at 625-8906 and Julie FitzPatrick will send you another copy.

Final Community Service from Beth Barr
Thank you to all of you who have responded so generously to our Adopt-a-Dog food and toy drive. We will continue to collect dog and cat food, toys, bones, towels and newspapers until Wednesday, May 23. We will celebrate a year's worth of wonderful projects on that day at our Community Service Assembly. At that time, we will discuss our goals for the year, and if we think we have met those goals. After playing a special Community Service game, the girls will be treated to ice cream on the LS playground. Again, many thanks for your never-ending enthusiasm and support this year!

GA Yearbooks
If you ordered a yearbook from the GA website this spring, please note that the yearbooks will not be available for pick up until the last week of August. At that time, you may either come to the LS Office and pick up your copy, or we will send it home in your daughter’s backpack the first week of school.

Medical Forms
Just a reminder from Nursie to be sure to send in your daughter’s medical forms following their annual physical this summer. All LS girls must have an updated medical form on file by the first day of school.

End of Year dates to remember . . .
Thursday, May 17            Senior/Flower Girl Lunch, 12 Noon, Harrison Courtyard (or LS Classrooms, if raining)
Monday, May 21                    Flower Girls’ Graduation Rehearsal, 10:15AM
Tuesday, May 22                    Graduation Rehearsal, 1PM
Thursday, May 24                        Graduation, 4PM
MONDAY, MAY 28                    MEMORIAL DAY--NO SCHOOL
            Tuesday, May 29            PC/CC “Stepping Up” Assembly, Ridgeview Ave. Campus, 8:15 AM
                                                            Regular dismissal times for PC/CC
Group I/II Spring Concert for LS students, Massey, 8:15AM
                        Group III/IV Spring Concert for LS students, Massey, 1:30PM
Wednesday, May 30                        Group I/II Spring Concert for Parents, Massey, 8:15AM
                        Group III/IV Spring Concert for Parents, Massey, 9:30AM

Thursday, May 31 Groups I-IV “Moving Up" Assembly, Massey, 1:00PM

Last Day for PC-Group II, Regular dismissal
Friday, June 1 “Farewell to IVs”, Massey, 8:00AM; Group IV Parent Reception in Jacobs Lobby to follow ceremony. Group IV Dismissal after reception.
9:30AM dismissal for Group III
(Last day for Groups III and IV)

Gratitude to Our Teachers
We think of the effective teachers we have had over the years with a sense of recognition, but those who have touched our humanity we remember with a deep sense of gratitude. Anonymous

Sometime in the future (if not already), your girls will look back on their Lower School years and remember all the teachers who “touched their humanity”. Please join me in recognizing and thanking our outstanding group of Lower School teachers for their passion and dedication, their enthusiasm for teaching, and for the loving care they bestowed on all of our girls this year:
Head Teachers--Kelly Gaudet, Parinaz Pahlavi, Audrey Esmond, Bradley Sill, Mariana Casanova, June Delp, Elana Bailes, JoAnne Vicidomini, Stephanie Seidel, Susanne Levine, Dana Johansen, and Melissa Wilson.
Intern Teachers--Michelle Mollicone, Kara Banahan, Susan Burns, Ben Walsh, Veronica Pass, Julie Chalfant, Kate LaBella, Melissa Maier, Nina Phillips and Doug Rendell.
Specials’ Teachers--Deb Mason, Gabriela Salazar, Lee Mayfield, Lynn Bendish, Beth Carney, Leesa Singleton, Dianne Ellis, Lauren Lukason, Jamie Brower, Laurie Downs, Jane Finch, Moe Tarrant, Nancy Wasserman, Guillermina Casanova, and Ana Gallegos.
Support and Other Key People: Amy Dolan, Kaysie Goodenough, Nancy Hoffmann, Andrea Anker, Mary “Nursie” Snediker, MaryLynn Loomis, Jamie Costa, Julie FitzPatrick, Maggie McGirr and Beth Barr.

Final Thanks
Parents play a key role in determining the success and happiness of their children at school. Your involvement and support helps make GA not merely a good school but a great school. Thank you, parents, for all you did to make this a very special year for all of our girls. Barb Morris and our class reps. deserve an extra round of applause for all their hard work this year. We look forward to recognizing and thanking them at our “Moving Up” assembly on May 31st.

This is my last Wednesday letter for the year. Watch for our mailing this summer with all the information you need for next school year. I wish you and your daughters a relaxing, fun-filled summer with lots of wonderful books to read! Don’t forget to check out our summer reading list on the GA web site.

See you in September!

Sincerely,

Jeanette Tyndall
Head of Lower School