October Courier

www.swiftschool.com [email protected]

3 104IN THIS ISSUE

Fall 2014

PARENT AND FACULTY MINGLESwift Celebrates the Launch of the Strategic Plan

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKWelcome to our New Families

MIDDLE DIVISION RETREATMiddle Division students had a blast at their annual retreat

COURIER

August 13-14 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

THE ANNUAL FUND FOR SWIFT2014-2015

Twinkle, Twinkle Swift Star;Support our dreams and take us far.

We need your help to achieve great feats;Expansions, enhancements, and

teachers who are neat.Twinkle, Twinkle Swift Star;With your help we will go far.

•AgifttotheAnnualFundisthesinglemostimportantgiftweaskoffamilieseachyear

•Everyfamilyisexpectedtoparticipateattheirlevelofcapacity

•GiftstotheAnnualFundhelpcontroltuitionincreases•Allgiftsaretax-deductible•ThedeadlineforgiftsandpledgesisDecember31,2014

Please make this essential investment in our students! Mail in your gift today, or give online through the Swift website.

[email protected]

nFEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUEHead’sColumn .........................................................................................................2

Lower Division............................................................................................................ 7

Middle Division.............................................................................................................8

Athletics/FineArts.....................................................................................................12

Swift Scene.............................................................................................................. 13

WWW.SWIFTSCHOOL.COM FALL2014 1

COURIERFall 2014

November3 GISAConference(NoClasses)5 SchoolPhotoMake-UpDay6 HighSchoolDecisionNight13 MiddleDivisionOpenHouse14 5thGradeDance17-20 LDHarvestPresentations21 ThanksgivingHolidayCommences24-28 ThanksgivingHoliday

December1 ClassesCommence5 MiddleDivisionWinterFormal9 WinterConcert16 GiraffeAssembly16-18 MiddleDivisionExams19 MiddleDivisionExamMake-Ups22-31 WinterBreak

January1-2 WinterBreak5 ProfessionalDay(NoClasses)6 ClassesCommence8 5thGradeParentMeeting12-16 ConferenceWeek15 NoClasses1-516 NoClasses6-819 MLKNoClasses20-23 MuffinswithMom25 SwiftFamilyBowlingEvent29 7thGradeLuncheon

Follow Swift School on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates and information regarding school

activities.

www.facebook.com/theswiftschool@SwiftSchool_GA

Parent and Faculty Mingle.................................................3

Swift celebrates the launch of the North Star Strategic Plan

New Kids on the Block.......................................................4

Welcome to our New Families

Curriculum Nights...............................................................9

Our parents experienced a day in the life of their student

Middle Division Retreat.................................................................10

Middle Division students had a blast at their annual retreat

SWIFT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE

Dr.RichardPhillips,Chair

LauraRies,ViceChair

PeterWilliams,Treasurer

JeffKudlata,Secretary

TRUSTEES

Dr.PaulCohen

RobertGray

GailSwift,Emerita

RichardWendlek,Exofficio

ADMINISTRATION

RichardJ.Wendlek,HeadofSchool

Dr.AndreaSalapka,AssociateHead

KarenButtermore,DirectorofAdvancement

PaulFoltz,BusinessManager

SwiftSchool

300GrimesBridgeRoadRoswell,GA30075

678.205.4988

2 FALL2014 WWW.SWIFTSCHOOL.COM

nHEAD’S MESSAGE R ICHARD WENDLEKWebegantohearallabouttheeverincreasingpaceofchangeasthe21stCenturycameabout.Itisamessageinwhichcontemporarylifeisfairlywellsteeped.Amongthosewhoponderthepurposeandfutureofschools,itismostoftenmessagedthatduetotheincreasinglyrapidrateofchange,schoolsareattemptingtopreparestudentsforjobsthatdon’tyetexist…usingtechnologiesthathaven’tyetbeeninvented.Thismessagingisratherominous,evenunsettling.However,let’sreflectonthisforabriefmomentwithrespecttokeyneurologicalfindingsconcerningthefunctionofthehumanbrainandSwiftSchool’simplementationofdyslexicbrain-typeprogramming.

Justonecenturyagothesamecouldhavebeensaidaboutthepaceofchange.Schoolsweredesigned,amongotherpurposes,topreparestudentsforwork,andthedominantworkparadigmofanerainfluencedthedesignofschools.IntheUnitedStatesearlygrammarandcommonschoolsfollowedanagriculturalcalendar;thepublicschools–andschoolsingeneral-reflectanindustrialstructurespawnedbytheIndustrialRevolution’sassemblylinemodel.In1957Russia’slaunchofSputniksentAmericanschoolsreelingintotheSpaceRacethathasyettoend.ManyscientificandtechnologicaladvancesarelinkedtothepredominantSpaceRacenotionthatallAmericansmustattendcollegeandacquireproficiencyintheapplicationofscientificandmathematicalprinciples.DuringthisperiodlessandlessemphasishasbeenplacedonvocationaleducationbecauseAmericantechnologicalsuperiorityrequiredphysicists,notplumbers.Acenturyago,technologieswereintroducedthatforeverchangedthehumanexperience.Theautomobile,thetelephone,theradio,theelectriclightbulb,refrigeration,airplanes,andlateroninthe20thCentury,thetelevisionwereallintroducedasinventionsthatreplacedthehorseandwagon,thecandleandgaslamps,iceboxesetc.Thefactisthatthepaceofchangeasguidedbynewtechnologiesisaratherlong-standingphenomenonandcertainlynotexclusivelya21stCenturyhappenstance.

Manynowbelieveweareenteringthelifelonglearningera–anytime,anywherelearningthatistheresultofadvancedtechnologies.Althoughschoolswillnotloseallthevestigesofthepastoverthenextdecades,someinterestingdevelopmentsare

occurringthatrelatetoexperientialeducationassomewhatofaby-productoftechnologicalapplications.Thisisthelinktothedyslexicbrain-typeeducationalprogrammingatSwift.

Nomattertheera,schoolsaretypicallydesignedtoreachleft-brainlearners.Left-brainprogrammingisdesignedforverydifferentkindsoflearnersthanthehighlyright-braineddyslexiclearners.Dyslexicswhoattendschoolswhereleft-brainapproachesarestandardfareusuallyexperiencefrustration,failureandtheresultingsocialandemotionalaccompanimentofexperiencesthatcausethelossofself-confidence.

Experientialeducationistheright-brainedapproachtolearning.TheNorthStarplandirectsSwiftSchool,overtime,tocreateaMakerSpace,designstudios,agreaterfineartsemphasis,andothervaluablelearningopportunitiesdirectlygearedtothestrengthsandtalentsofthedyslexicbrain-type.PasterasoftheAmericaneducationscenefailedtovaluethetalentsoftherightbrain.TheaimofSwift’sNorthStarplanistobethepioneerofarevolutionizedmodelthatcultivatesthestrengthsofthedyslexicbrain-type.Asweconsiderthepaceofchange,theonsetofthelifelonglearningerawitharenewedemphasisontheimportanceandbenefitsofexperientialeducation,weknowmorethaneverthatweareonthebesttrackpossible.Thetruefactofthematteristhatalllearnersbenefitsignificantlyfromrightbrainlearningstrategiesandprogramming.

HeadofSchool

OntheCover:6thgradegirlswearpinkinhonorofbreastcancermonth.

WWW.SWIFTSCHOOL.COM SUMMER2014 3

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Parent and Faculty MingleOnSept.27,SwiftParents,FacultyandStaffmingledattheRetreatatPerimeterSummitandcelebratedthelaunchoftheNorthStarStrategicPlanwhichwillnavigateSwiftthrough2020.Thiswasawonderfuleventandmanythankstoallwhoattended.

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1. (L-R) Anna Fallon, Josh Needle, Anna Needle, and Donna Cherry break from conversation to pose for a picture.

2. (L-R) Alan and Karen Dunbar and Mrs. Campbell share a laugh.

3. (L-R) Lynn Iannone and Lynn Kaplin are all smiles at the Parent and Faculty Mingle.

4. (L-R) Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Laura Ries and Mr. Wendlek toast to the launch of the strategic plan.

5. (L-R) Jennifer Stone, Sharon Gaffney, Mrs. Battoglia, and Mrs. Grodin discuss all the joys of 1st grade.

6. Teachers and Parents had a wonderful time chatting at the Mingle.

7. (L-R) Deborah and Kevin Smith, Ms. Grade, and Ms. Hirsch enjoy each other’s company.


New Kids on the Block

1. Ms. Grade and Ms. Hirsch welcome you to Swift

2. Ms. Felix says hello to her friend Daniel Sullivan

3. Dr. Salapka greets the new families

4. The Tutt family is happy to be at Swift

5. Christopher Phillips gets a piggyback ride from his dad

6. Our 2nd Grade Teachers are ready to welcome their new students

7. Emiliana Lutz and Michael Pozzobon pose in front of Mrs. Lutz

8. Anna Friedrich and Anna Fallon bond over their names

InAugust,wewelcomed90newfamiliestotheSwiftcommunitywithourannualicecreamsocial.Newfriendsweremade,newrelationshipswithteacherswereformed,andfunwashadbyall.

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Curriculum Nights

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1. Krista and Eric Elema listen intently as Mr. Wendlek addresses the crowd.

2. Mrs. Menshon and Miss Shiffman welcome the parents to second grade.

3. Glen and Charlotte Hegwood are eager to learn what their daughter is doing in 7th grade

4. Martha Dodd and Sharon Jones review curriculum in 8th grade.

5. 1st grade parents experience a day in the life of a first grader.

6. Jodi Turnquist and fellow parents watch the presentation in Mr. Lytle’s room.

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7 Habits Safari

Thisyear,asapartofourcharacterinitiative,studentswillbeintroducedtothe7HabitsofHappyKidsand7HabitsofHighlyEffectiveTeens.Bothofthesebooks,writtenbySeanCovey,arebasedonStephenCovey’s“TheSevenHabitsofHighlyEffectivePeople.”ThroughconsistentandfocusedteachingoftheSevenHabitsacrossthecurriculum,studentswilllearntoapplytheseimportanthabitstotheireverydaylives.

LowerDivisionstudentswereintroducedtothe7Habitsyearlytheme-7HabitsSafari-duringthefirstGiraffeassembly.ThroughmonthlyguidancelessonsledbythetourguideschoolcounselorMrs.Molloy,andreinforcedbyclassroomteach-ers,studentswillbeguidedtowardtheirmostvaluabletreasureofall:beinghappyandsuccessful.MiddleSchoolstudentswillalsobeparticipatingin7Habitslessonsthatwillbetaughtbyteachersweeklyduringadvisory.

• Habit#1:BeProactive(I’minchargeofmythoughts,feelings,andchoices)• Habit#2:BeginwiththeEndinMind(Iknowhowtolookattheconsequencesofmychoices.Iknowhowtosetgoals

andworktowardachievinggoals)• Habit#3:PutFirstThingsFirst(Iamresponsible.Istartwiththemostimportantthingsfirst.)• Habit#4:ThinkWin-Win(Iamabletocomeupwithsolutionswhereeveryonewins)• Habit#5:SeekFirsttoUnderstand;ThentoBeUnderstood(Itaketimetolistentoothers,Ishowempathy.Iam

confidentinvoicingmyopinionsandownideas) • Habit#6:Synergize(Iknowhowtoworkasateamandgetalongwithpeoplewhoaredifferentfromme)• Habit#7:SharpentheSaw(Idothingsthathelpmeimprovemybody,mind,soul,andheart)


LOWER DIVISIONnAstheexcitementandnoveltyofthenewacademicyearhaswounditswaytothebroadwatersofthejourney,itispleasingtoobservetheengagementofthestudentsintheirvariouscoursesoflearning.Itseemsjustyesterdaythatwewereabletomeetatthevariouseventsthatlaunchedthisyear.AstheinitiativesofSwift’snewstrategicplan,NorthStar,areacteduponthereisagrowingexcitementamongthefaculty.Strategicinitiativesincludethedevelopmentofarefreshedprofessionaldevelopmentplanwithafocusontherelativestrengthsofourlearnersinspatialandnarrativecognitiveprocessingstyles.Theinvestmentthat’smadeinthefaculty,intermsoftheircontinuingprofessionaldevelopment,hasadirectandlastingimpactontheeducationalprogrammingexperienceofSwift’sstudents.Asalearningcommunityouremphasisonlearningabouttheinstructionalimplicationsofthedyslexicbrain-typeiskeyinthedevelopmentofeducationalprogrammingthatprovidestargetedavenuesforthestrengthsandtalentsofdyslexiclearners.

Astheconclusionofthefirstacademicquarterdrawsnearallstudentsarebeingassessedtodetermineacademicgrowthtrends.Observingstudentsintheirvariousactivitiesisalwaysatreat.Artstudents,musicstudents,dramastudents,theathletes,theengineersanddesigners–theyareallapartofthestudentcommunityhereatSwift.BeforeweknowittheWinterConcert(scheduledforTuesday,December9)willbeuponus!Enjoythisglorioustimeofyear.

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1.Ms.Grade,CarsonPhillips,ReeseNickels,andAlexaIannoneposeforaquickpicturebeforeenteringtheGiraffeAssembly.2.Studentsgetexcitedaboutlearningthe7HabitsofHappyKids.3.AshtonSmithsmilesforthecamerabeforetheGiraffeAssembly.4.JamesHungerbuhlerandSheaJonesannouncethenewspiritwearpolicytheypetitionedtochange.5.ColtonBarduschgetsreadytosingthe7HabitsSafarithemesong.6.The5thgradeambassadorsgetreadytoleadthestudentbodyinthePledgeofAllegiance.

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nMIDDLE DIVISION

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The2014-15academicyearbegansmoothlyinourMiddleDivision.Studentsandteachersweregivenmanyopportunitiestospendtimeinactivitiesoutsidetheclassroomthatallowedustoworkongettingtoknoweachotherandbuildingrelationships.Studentsadjustedquicklytotheirschedulesandtheirattitudeshavebeenpositiveandenthusiastic.Plansfortheextendedtripsarewellunderway.SixthgradewilltourtheCoastalIslandsofGeorgia;seventhgradewillattendanoutdooractivitycampinNorthCarolina;andeighthgradewilltraveltoColonialWilliamsburgandWashington,D.C.StudentstraveledtoseeaproductionofSleepingBeautyatBrenauUniversitySeptember26.Itwasaphenomenalopportunitytoseewhatcanbeaccomplishedonstagewithgreatcostumingandsetdesign.

TheMiddleDivisionRetreatinSeptemberwasameaningfulexperience.Studentsparticipatedinzip-lining,canoeing,andapondecologyclass.Thestudentsweregroupedbytheirhouse;Menelaus,Leonidas,orArchidamus.Eachhousewasgiventwodisposablecamerasandelectedstudentstotakepicturesateach

activity.Ourfirsthousecompetitionwillcenteraroundthedevelopmentofaslideshowbyeachhouseusingthepicturestakenbystudents.Duringtheretreat,studentsalsovotedoncommunityserviceprojectsandnominatedstudentstorunforstudentcounciloffices.OnSeptember24,studentspresentedtheircampaignspeechesandvotingoccurredonSeptember26.Congratulationstothefollowingforbeingelectedtoserveasofficersbytheirpeers:GrantMeyer,president;CarolineHegwoodandTaylorPace,vice-presidents;andConradBrown,treasurer.

OurfirstcommunityserviceprojectkickedoffOctober1.CarolineHegwoodpresentedthedetailstoLowerDivisionstudentsduringthefirstGiraffeAssembly.Studentswillbecollectinggentlyusedshoestodonatetoahomelessshelter.TheshoedriverunsthroughtheendofOctober.Welookforwardtomoreopportunitiesforstudentstoservetheircommunity;includingreturningtothenursinghomewe“adopted”lastyear.

WeareveryexcitedabouttheintroductionofRenWebasourstudentinformationsystem.Allofyourstudent’sinformationcanbefoundonRenWeb.Thisincludesgrades,calendarsandotherdocumentssuchasthefamilyhandbookandextendedtripletters.Pleaseplantocheckyourstudent’sgradesatleastonceaweeksothatyoustayinformedaboutprogress.Teachersarealwaysavailabletoanswerquestions.

Welookforwardtoseeingyouatconferences!CarolMadden

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1.Congratulationstoournewstudentcouncilofficers.ConradBrown-Treasurer,CarolineHegwoodandTaylorPace-VicePresidents,andGrantMeyer-President

2.(L-R)TaylorPace,MarcellaWicklin,andCarolineHegwoodsupportbreastcancerresearcheffortsbywearingpink.

3.TheMiddleDivisionhadapinkoutdaytoshowtheirsupportforbreastcancerawareness.

4.MiddleDivisionstudentshostedashoedriveduringthemonthofOctoberforhomelessmen,womenandchildreninAtlanta.

5.KatieElemadonatesapairofshoestotheshoedrive.

6.AveryHodsondonatedhisshoestotheshoedrive.TheentireMiddleDivisiondonatedthepairofshoestheyworetoschoolthatday.


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Middle Division Retreat

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1. (L-R) Tyler Wardle, Braxton Duncan, and Ayden Nulty paddle down the river

2. (L-R) William Butler, William Fuqua, and Jacob Wright are ready for the ropes course

3. (L-R) Maddi Ariail and Mrs. Campbell strike a pose

4. Julia Northrop roasts her marshmallow

5. Chris Hamill, Lauren Gomez, and Katie Elema are excited to canoe

6. Jameson Listermann climbs a tree


Fire Truck FunTheRoswellFireDepartmentvisitedthe1stand2ndgradeclassestoallowthemtoexploretheirfireengineandfirerescuetruck,Thestudentsweresoexcitedforthisexperienceandhadagreatdaylearningaboutourlocalheroes.

IsabelDavisiseagerforthefiretrucktoarrive

FiremanRandyallowsthefirstgraderstoexploretheinsideofthefirerescuetruck

Thestudentsaskquestionstothefiremen. HarperCareypatientlywaitsherturntoexplorethetruck


FINE ARTS n

Artworks by Caitlin Hayes (3rd Grade, left) and Riley Schutt (5th Grade, above) have been chosen to represent Swift School at The International Dyslexia Association annual conference youth art gallery.

The Lower Division has been working on the art of “Tableau”. They must use team work, body, and facial expressions to create stage pictures based on illustrations from a story. Pictured above: Mrs. Dugger’s class recreated “Where The Wild Things Are”.

Mr. Gillot is teaching his students musical instruments. He is pictured here with 5th Grader Rafaella Shanahan.

nATHLETICS


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Forthe4thyearinarow,theMiddleDivisionreturnedtoRiverPinesGolfClub,toplaythe9Hole,Par3GolfCourse.Thisisagreatintroductionforthenon-experiencedgolferandachallengingencounterforthemoreexperiencedgolfer.

Overasix-dayperiod,MiddleDivisionstudentsfromthe6th,7th&8thgradesenjoyedtheweather,thecourse,thecamaraderieandtheoverallexperienceofthegameofgolf.Therehavebeenvaryinglevelsofsuccessatdrivingtheballoffthetee,chippingtheballfromthefairwaytothegreen,andtheputtingoftheballintothehole.

Butasalwaysonthecourse,asmanypeopleexperienced,theshank-ingoftheballintotherough,theslicedballintothewaterhazard(whatwater!),andthetoohardofabackswingontheputttotheholearejustsomeofthemanyamusingoutcomesoflearningand/orplayingthegame.

Justonegoodshot,oneexpertchip,andoneextra-longputt,cankeepplayerscomingbackformore.Onecannevertellhowmanystudentswillbeattractedbacktothegameforwhateverthereason,wejuststrivetogiveourstudentstheopportunitytotrysomethingdifferent.

Sountilthistimenextyear……………FORE!

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1.BrandonTillsonrunsalapbeforethegame.

2.TaylorPaceexecuatesperfecttechniqueasshedribblestheballdownthefield.

3.MarissaMartinthrowstheballbackintoplay.

4.ConorSchurattackstheballwithhispowerkick.

SWIFT SCENEn


Ahoy! Ms. Grade’s Pirates celebrate “International Talk Like A Pirate Day” complete with eye patches, pirate hats, treasure, and lots of pirate lingo.

UPCOMING EVENTSn

(L-R) Cooper Medved, Trey Jones, Alex Haertel, Jacob Wright and Mr. Lapushin serve as the “Tech Squad” for the school.

It’s the Season to Fall Into GOAL!

Education expense tax credits are being reserved quickly for 2015.

But, there’s still time to take part in this incredible program and rake in the credit.

Be thankful for this opportunity, and submit your form by Thanksgiving!

Are you a Georgia business owner?

Members of limited liability companies, shareholders of “S” Corporations, and partners in partnerships are allowed a Georgia income tax credit for up to $10,000 of the amount they contribute to a SSO, so long as they would have paid Georgia income tax in that amount on their share of taxable income.

Reservations for the Georgia income tax credit are taken on a first-come, first-served basis! Individual taxpayers may redirect up to $1,000 while married taxpayers filing jointly may redirect

up to $2,500 of the Georgia tax they are required to pay anyway. PLEASE make sure that you designate SWIFT SCHOOL on your application, or your funds will go into a general fund to be

divided among all private schools in Georgia. You may apply online at http://tinyurl.com/cxu6a4p or mail the paper form that you received from Swift to school Attn. Karen Buttermore and Swift will

submit the application for you.

October Courier

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