Date: Wednesday – April 10, 2013

Important Messages from The Cottage School are attached. Please sign this form indicating their receipt and return to the school

with your student tomorrow. Thank You!!

Parent Signature________________________________________

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April 10, 2013

Wednesday Packet

Important Dates/Information

8th Grade Lock In – Thursday, April 11th 7:00 PM-7:00 AM Friday

CAMPUS APPRECIATION DAY – Saturday, April 13th 9:00 AM to Noon High School Prom - Thursday, April 18th 8:00-11:00 PM in The Cougar Center

Middle School Sock Hop – Thursday, April 25th 7:30-9:30 PM in The Cougar Center *Mandatory* Senior Cruise Meeting – Thursday, April 25th 7:00 PM in Media Center

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Welcome back! There is an audible sigh of relief just before Spring Break begins, primarily from teachers, and one of equal intensity just before Spring Break ends, coming from parents! Our job moving forward is to keep our eyes on the prize and get the most out of the next 6 weeks! Every year we say we are going to spread out the events and celebrations and we run out of school! In the long run, I look forward to the continual stream of recognition and benchmarking that marks the upward trajectory of another banner year! This is also the season when our alumni return having had their post-secondary plans in place for several months or even years. Of course we look to our students’ grades and demonstrated skills to determine the progress they have made, but it is what they do when they leave us (and you) that speaks to the power of the TCS program. Fall is packed with stories from other academic settings of students who cannot make it at their selected schools or jobs. We read the articles about the skills that our young work force lacks in communication, organization, punctuality and initiative. I have to say, we revel in the stories we hear about how well our alumni are doing in their post-secondary settings. And we rejoice as we receive the graduation invitation from their colleges, news of their job promotions, marriages and other positive life events!! You will be receiving a link for our annual parent survey. Veteran parents know that we value direct and honest communication. This is the message we teach our students and we live by that standard. Problems cannot be fixed if we are unaware they exist. Valuable program aspects may not be enhanced if we are not aware of the positive impact they are having on our students and families. Education is a field of continual evaluation and adjustment…the administration is no exception. Please take time to let us know what you value about our program and areas you would like to see improvement and enhancement. Believe me, if you asked us, we would be able to fill both categories, as well! We are well aware that capital improvements need to be made and are continually looking for the funds to accomplish that. In fact, we are confident that Building A will be replaced by the addition to the Cougar Center in time for next year’s classes! We are also well aware that the magic that occurs each day is delivered by our staff, so that is where our first investment lies. With your feedback and support, we will continue to work through our list of to-dos. Having a healthy response from our parents allows us to present our case for both the value and the challenges within our TCS program to our Board of Directors and the foundations who want to support us. The time you invest in completing the survey will not be wasted! I have noticed that the indicator on our Annual Fund parent participation thermometer seems to be stuck at just over 50%. Everyone who drives on our campus sees that the staff and Board of Directors support TCS at a 100% level. When we speak with charitable foundations about our school population we are proud of our diversity and our community spirit. This current level of participation in our Annual Fund is not a good reflection of that spirit! Any capital improvements we make to our campus will require support from the large philanthropic foundations that have supported us in the past. They need to see that our families support (in percent of participation, not necessarily in large financial gifts) our mission and future growth. If you have already contributed to the Annual Fund, THANK YOU!! If you have not sent in a pledge or check toward our goal, please do so as soon as possible. We will begin our calling campaign in the next few weeks and those who have not given will receive a friendly reminder call! We are looking forward to the next few months of packed activity and celebrations! Glad you are on this journey with us!!

April 10, 2013

Jacque’s Note

Character Education

Making the Most of

Note Taking

Take a look below at what we will be discussing with your student and take some

time to continue these discussions at home!

Objectives:

Take effective notes on a middle school or high school text.

Take effective notes while listening to a class lecture.

Discussion questions for you and your student:

What strategies can we use to understand complex material?

How can we improve our note-taking skills and reading retention?

Key Term to discuss:

Elaboration questions

Volunteers needed!

Saturday, April 13th 9am - Noon

Please make room in your schedule to help plant, clean, and prepare the campus for graduation festivities. Students receive “attendance hours.” Water and snacks provided! Bring your gloves, rakes, shovels, and weed eaters to the gazebo & join in the fun! To RSVP or for more info, contact Vinette. vinetteg@cottageschool.org

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All-Star Student Achievers Program

Presented by Chick-fil-A

The Atlanta Braves are pleased to invite students to participate in the All-Star

Student Achievers Program presented by Chick-fil-A. The program rewards

students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia for their hard work and dedication to

academic excellence. In recognition of their accomplishments, All-Star Student

Achievers receive two complimentary tickets to a 2013 regular season home game

and Chick-fil-A coupons. Additional tickets may be purchased at a discount price.

Students who would like to become an All-Star Student Achiever must meet

one of the following criteria for the 2012 Fall Semester: Straight A's

(including A-), Honor Roll, or Perfect Attendance.

Students participating in the program will be entered into a drawing for the

opportunity to participate in a special pre-game presentation. Students may register

online at braves.com/achiever or may mail the order form to Atlanta Braves Ticket

Office, P.O. Box 4064, Atlanta, GA 30302 by June 30, 2013.

Additional information: Ordering tickets online will allow you to choose your game,

seat location and print your tickets at home. Orders are subject to availability. No

refunds or exchanges. Chick-fil-A coupons are not redeemable at Turner Field. If

your game date is rained out, you may exchange your tickets for any remaining

All-Star Student Achiever dates during the 2013 season based on availability.

Students may submit one form online or via mail.

Attached is an All-Star Student Achiever order form for mail-in orders.

MS April Activities

DATE TIME Activity RAIN-

OUT

TCS$ Things to bring

Thursday

4/11

8th Grade Lock-in

$320.16 Must earn off campus. All eighth

grade students who signed up should

report to the MS cafeteria at 7:00.

Please eat dinner before arriving.

Friday

4/12

Clubs $312.80 Club Materials

Friday

4/12

Academics $331.20 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent

reading book if you complete your

work early.

Friday

4/19

Off Campus

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Allatoona

Lunch

Allatoona

Homeroom

$160.08 All students going off campus must

bring a sack lunch unless

pre-ordered through the lunch

program. There will not be

microwaves.

Friday

4/19

Academics $165.60 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent

reading book if you complete your

work early.

Thursday

4/25

Middle School Sock Hop $156.40

($10 cash) Additional information is posted

in this Wednesday Packet.

Friday

4/26

Academics $165.60 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent

reading book if you complete your

work early.

Are you the parent of an 8th grade student?

Do you have adorable photos of your 8th grader as a baby that you’d love to share with the world?

Please surprise your 8th grader by sending in 2-3 photos in a sealed envelope to your student’s homeroom

teacher by April 26th. If possible, send a progression of photos, showing your 8th grader’s growth from baby to teenager. We’ll add in a current photo from this year’s

yearbook.

The photos will be assembled into a slide show for all to see at our Middle School Awards Banquet on May 21st.

Digital photos can be emailed to laurene@cottageschool.org. Photos will be returned directly to parents.

Middle School Annual Sock Hop

Thursday April 25, 2013 7:30-9:30 PM

All students are invited to The Cougar Center to dance the night away. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided. Dressy

casual is the attire for the evening. We will have a

photographer on site.

If you do not have academics and attend the dance, you do not have to come to school on Friday, April 26, 2013. If you earned academics, join us at the dance and report to school

at 8:00am.

Please call Lauren - 678-250-5124 or e-mail

laurene@cottageschool.org with any questions.

Tickets on sale from April 8th until April 18th

ONLY $10.00 and

TCS money-$156.40!

April High School Payoffs

DATE TIME ACTIVITY RAIN

-OUT

TCS$ Things to bring/U.S. $

Friday 4/12 1:10-2:40 Clubs Materials for your club

Saturday

4/13

Saturday School

for students who owe

Attendance Hours

All textbooks, notebooks, planner,

lunch and a change of clothes for

P.M. work detail

Friday

Academics

4/19

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Academics

Lunch

Academics

Homeroom

$336.89

Spare Reading

materials, if you will be

in academics all day!

Off-Campus

Thursday

Night

4/18

Prom

In order to be eligible

for the day off you must

have purchased a ticket

for, attended the Prom

& earned off campus.

$326.03

Bring $ for portraits

Friday

On-Campus 4/19

10:00

12:00

12:45-2:40

Coloring and Music Lunch

Scrapbooking

Challenge Homeroom

$315.16

Friday 4/26 1:10-2:40 Clubs Materials for your club

Don’t forget about Beach Trip!

Students must have their money & permission

to Ivan by April 25th!

Join us in the Media Center

Thursday, April 11th during lunch

Learn what makes a good resume, the Do’s and

Don’ts of resume building, and how to put it all

together!

Students will be given one attendance hour for

attending the presentation.

Juniors and Seniors are strongly encouraged to

attend.

Resume Building Workshop

May 8th, 9th, 10th

Where? St. Simons Island

Emergency Phone #: (grounds) 912-638-8688 (school cell) 770-883-1582

Departing: May 8th @ 8:00 A.M.

Returning: May 10th @ 3:00 P.M.

*Students must have their

money & permission to Ivan by

April 25th!

Academic Sign-off Sheet due to

Ivan by May 3rd

REQUIREMENTS

$155.00 Real money

$186.70 TCS $ savings account

Must be at least a Level I

Must owe no hours

Have earned less than 2 “behavior related”

Pink Slips Spring semester

Must be academically current

Must have work re-contracted or complete

prior to the trip and be signed off by their

teachers. Students will be issued a sign-off

sheet that will be due to Ivan by May 3rd

.

COSTS

$155.00 fee covers transportation, 2

nights in cabins, 6 meals,

recreational services: (half-basketball

court; two lighted tennis courts; open

field for baseball, football and soccer;

football and volleyball equipment;

outdoor swimming pool; off shore fishing

and other island activities)

Students need to bring their own

sleeping bags or bed linens, blanket,

pillows and towels.

Permission Slip- Return this portion only!!!

(please print student’s name clearly) has

my permission to attend the school beach trip May 8th

– 10th

, 2013. I have

included $155.00 check and understand that he/she may need some extra

spending money for personal purchases. There will be NO REFUNDS after

April 25th

.

As with all school functions cell phones are not allowed.

Guardian Signature_______________________

Daytime phone #______________

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Dunwoody Chapter

MJCCA/Blonder Family Center

College for Learners with Developmental Disabilities? YES!

Register for Club College-Bound Dunwoody! Follow this link!

Sunday April 7, 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

What to expect: High-School aged young adults and their parents gather and hear from

professors, graduates, advocates, and current college students who know about Inclusive

programs. They plan fund-raisers, recognize personal growth in each other, and believe in a

fantastic future that includes college. They might do a scavenger hunt at a nearby campus,

practice social skills by participating in a group game, or listen to a club member give a

presentation on how she advocated for herself. They recite the College-Bound Creed together,

and celebrate accomplishments that lead to a full life. It's awesome!

**Mandatory**

CRUISE MEETING Parents & Seniors

* Passports to be given to Ashley * Important information to be discussed

Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:00 P.M.

Media Center

Bring your passports & your questions!

Senior Scholarship Awards 2012-2013

Please congratulate our seniors on their scholarship awards so far. We are so proud!

Evan Robertson – Young Harris College – Dean’s Scholarship Award $52,000 Mars Hill College – Mars Hill Scholarship Award $40,000 Queens University – Academic Scholarship $36,000 Simon Hirschhorn – Queens University – Academic Scholarship $48,000 Queens University – Trustee Scholarship $15,000 Jake Neuber – University of Alabama – Collegiate Scholar Scholarship $56,000

University of Mississippi – Academic Excellence $22,000 Auburn University – $6000 for 4 years University of South Carolina Sims Scholarship $33,400

Davey Ison – Oglethorpe University Scholar $48,000 Young Harris College Sharp Scholarship $56,000 Berry College – Academic Scholarship $9,500 Ben Brown – Andrew College – Drama Scholarship $6,000

College Acceptances - Congratulations!

Ben Brown on his acceptance to Andrew College

Jake Neuber on his acceptance to Ole Miss, Auburn University, University of South Carolina and University of Alabama

Simon Hirschhorn on his acceptance to Southern Polytechnic State University, Queens University of Charlotte, Georgia College, Oglethorpe University & New College of Florida

Davey Ison on his acceptance to The University of Alabama, Oglethorpe University, Southern Polytechnic State University, GA State University, Berry College and Young Harris College

Andrea Kershaw on her acceptance to Savannah College of Art and Design

Desi Levan on her acceptance to Brevard Community College

Evan Patterson on his acceptance to Beacon College

Evan Robertson on his acceptance to Young Harris College, Mars Hill College, Queens University of Charlotte and Limestone College

Dion Schmidt on his acceptance into the AmeriCorps program

Chip Sheffield on his acceptance to Southern Polytechnic State University

If your senior has a post-secondary acceptance letter or has been awarded scholarship money please contact

Kristen Bell at 678-250-5113 or KristenB@cottageschool.org so we can share their accomplishments!