1

h -

Table of Contents Page

Jacque’s Note 2 Community News 3-9 MS News 10-12 HS News 13-14

Senior News 15

March 4, 2015

Wednesday Packet

Important Dates/Information

1. 1. 1. *AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM has begun

for March. Be sure to submit your payment online or directly to the Business Office.

CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION Saturday, March 7 9:00am-12:00pm

FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION Tuesday, March 10 1:30-2:45pm

GLITTER – Back to the Future! Saturday, March 14 6:30-11:00pm TEACHER WORK DAY Friday, April 3 No School SPRING BREAK Monday-Friday, April 6-10 TCS Office Open

1. Please return your

re-enrollment contract

as soon as possible.

2

The Cottage School seeks to provide a wide base of knowledge from which our students can benefit. Like other schools we excel in our approach to individualized instruction, adherence to best practices and our accreditation standards, and creating a safe environment. In addition, we are particularly good at recognizing that success in life is more than good math and language skills. Although it is essential that our students learn the specific academic skills that are required for continued success in life, there are equally important non-academic skills that serve our teens well as they move into the adult world of work and relationships. The reality of how well TCS prepares its graduates for the challenges and opportunities that await them as adults was brought home in a marvelous manner this week. Almost ten years ago a young lady enrolled in our high school. Like many of our new students, she arrived with below grade level academic skills and a social awkwardness that stems from not feeling accepted in her previous setting. Also like many of our students, she adapted to our program quickly. Day by day, year by year, her academic skills improved and she became more self-confident and socially agile. Although her family assumed that college was not in her future when she enrolled, she had several college acceptances from which to choose before graduation. Since she was interested in becoming a teacher, she selected Shorter College. There she was invited to join a sorority, successfully navigated the college courses and graduated in the allotted four year span. She enjoyed working with preschoolers and the children definitely loved her. However, in the course of interacting with parents and peers, she became aware of a job opening at a downtown major corporation….Coca Cola. With some “to be expected” anxiety, she set up an interview. She carefully selected her clothes, she practiced her answers with her parents and she was hired! She is now in the training module and doing very well! I know that academically, this young lady accepted the challenge that the TCS teachers provided and graduated prepared for the intellectual challenges she will face. However, her real strength is that she also absorbed and put into practice the social and work related expectations that TCS emphasizes every day. Beginning with the courage it takes to reach for a goal that seems daunting, to the discipline and attention to detail that allowed her to compete with and be selected over the other candidates, the skills learned here on this campus gave her an edge. Of course we want our graduates to do well in their next phase of life, but more than anything, we want them to leave TCS with the skills they will need to recognize opportunities and rise to the challenge of the next, best thing. These are subtle skills and the process is not as easily evaluated as a score on an exam, but the proof is there in action and accomplishment. That is the promise that every one of our students has within them and that TCS helps them identify and unleash!

March 4, 2015

Jacque’s Note

The TCS Advancement Angle

News you can use to help raise money for The Cottage School

Remember! It’s Re-enrollment Time!

The TCS staff is busy creating the foundation on which our annual

programming depends. As you know, a major component in this process is

student enrollment. Since we tailor such a large portion of our program to

the individual student, we need to know for whom we are planning.

Please return your re-enrollment contract and fee to Sandy McKinney at your earliest

convenience. If you did not receive the original email containing your contract or if it has

been misplaced, please contact Sandy at sandym@cottageschool.org.

We look forward to a continued partnership as we work together to build a successful future

for your student.

Do you work for ADP, Verizon or GE? These are just a

sample of companies that participate in a matching

gift program.

Many companies want to support the causes that their

employees care about, so they set up charitable giving

programs through which they match employee

donations to eligible nonprofits. Matching gift programs are offered by many companies,

ranging from Fortune 500 corporations, such as Coca-Cola, to start-ups, like LinkedIn.

How it usually works is very easy:

1. A donor donates $25 to TCS .

2. The donor then submits the proper matching gift forms to his employer's HR department

or through an exclusive employee portal.

3. The employer receives the request and matches the donation 1:1 by writing a check for

$25 to the same nonprofit. The $25 check written by the company is the matching gift,

and it's an example of how corporate giving can provide a major boost to any fundraising

campaign.

For more information, please contact your company’s HR department.

The TCS Advancement Angle

News you can use to help raise money for The Cottage School

On Friday, February 27th, members of the TCS

Administrative Team attended the North Fulton Partners

in Education Expo hosted at the DeKalb Office Corporate

Furniture Dealer in Alpharetta. This initiative, sponsored

by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce,

aims at partnering local businesses with local schools to

improve our community!

TCS is specifically looking for partnership opportunities in these areas:

What We Are Looking For

Internships for students

Job shadow opportunities

Career Café/Day Speakers

In kind donations

Tutoring

Teaching elective classes

Technology related fields

Music, Art, Drama

Athletics

Auto Maintenance

Printing and promotional items

Sponsorship of campus events and fundraisers

Donations to campus fundraisers

What We Can Do For You

Press releases promoting partnership

Paid advertisements

Drive traffic from our website to yours

Social Media announcements

Event sponsorship opportunities

Announcements and mentions during special events

Promotion in weekly communications

School vendor opportunities

Opportunities to host your event on campus

Opportunities to attend campus events to promote your business

For more information on TCS Corporate Partnership opportunities,

please contact Tracy Ballot, Director of Advancement, at

Tracyb@cottageschool.org

Wear Purple to

show

school spirit !

Jeans can be worn

if you wear purple

shirts Organization

MARCH 10, 2015 Time: 1:30PM TO 2:45PM

Music provided by:

DJ Tod Peavy

FOUNDER’S DAY

FOOTLOOSE

PAC PICKS THIS WEEK

CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION Join us on Saturday March 7th, for TCS Campus

Beautification from 9 – 12. We are going to tidy up for Glitter and see what else we have

in store for the campus this spring! *Please bring your gloves, pruning shears and clippers with you.

Have you been wondering what that plant with those strange white buds is at the entrance?

Learn a bit about the flowery show that is coming to our entrance with the arrival of spring.

Paperbush is a deciduous plant reaching 6' tall and wide. They are a plant that if they avoid full afternoon sun, they are happy as a lark. Soil requirements are minimal, just make sure not overly wet or dry. It is easy to grow with no insect or disease issues.

-Autumn Hill Nursery

Thank you to everyone who collected and sent in Box Tops for Education. We have raised

$253.40 by participating in the Box Tops for Education Program.

Did you forget to send in YOUR Box Tops with all the snow days we've had? Don't worry!

Keep clipping. We are planning to have one more collection drive before school is out for

summer to get a jump start on collecting for next fall.

When you send them in, don't forget to write your student's name and homeroom on the outside

of the baggie or envelope.

2014 – 2015 Parent Survey

Watch for an email later today with a link to the

2014-2015 Parent Survey. Your feedback is extremely

important to us. Your answers are confidential. Once the

results are tallied, we will share this information with

you.

We also want to encourage your participation this year by

offering an incentive. Upon completing the survey, please print the confirmation

page. Return it to school with your student. They will be get credit and you will be

entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Thank you in advance for communicating

with us through the survey.

Summer is almost here…

Wondering how your students can fill

their days? Want to know about the

best camps?

Please visit the

Summer Opportunities

Display in the Media

Center

MS March Activities

DATE Activity TCS$ Things to bring

Friday

3/6

Off Campus

Lazer Tag $377.58 Adjusted for

weather days.

All students going off campus must bring a sack

lunch unless pre-ordered through the lunch

program. There will not be microwaves. Students

are allowed to bring money for a snack bar and

arcade games.

Friday

3/6

On Campus

On Campus Activity $368.90 Adjusted for

weather days.

Friday

3/6

Academics

Academics $390.60 Adjusted for

weather days.

Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent reading

book if you complete your work early.

Tuesday

3/10

1:30-2:45

“Footloose”

Founder’s Day Dance

The Cougar Center

All school dance in the Cougar Center to

celebrate The Cottage School’s 30th

Birthday!

Friday

3/13

On Campus

Clubs $210.80

Club Materials

Friday

3/13

Academics $215.76 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent reading

book if you complete your work early.

Friday

3/20

Off Campus

Hiking-Red Top

Mountain

$215.76 All students going off campus must bring a sack

lunch unless pre-ordered through the lunch

program. There will not be microwaves.

Students will need to dress accordingly for

the activity.

Friday

3/20

On Campus

Spring Activities $210.80

Friday

3/20

Academics

Academics $223.20 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an independent reading

book if you complete your work early.

Monday-

Wednesday

3/23-3/25

8th Graders Observe

High School Classes

On an assigned day, students who have returned

contracts will observe classes at the high school

and then have lunch with a high school buddy.

Thursday

3/26

On Campus

“Masquerade!”

Middle School Sock Hop

7:00-9:00 PM

$210.80

($10 cash) Flyer with additional information will be posted

in the next Wednesday Packet.

Friday

3/27

Academics

Academics/

Campus Beautification

$223.20 Students who earn Academics will be allowed

to attend the dance but will need to come to

school on Friday, March 27th.

*Remember to bring an independent reading

book if you complete your work early.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL

CHARACTER EDUCATIONCHARACTER EDUCATIONCHARACTER EDUCATION

“Ambitious”“Ambitious”“Ambitious”

During this month, we will discuss what During this month, we will discuss what During this month, we will discuss what

ambitious means:ambitious means:ambitious means:

“A strong determination to “A strong determination to “A strong determination to

accomplish challenging goals while accomplish challenging goals while accomplish challenging goals while

at The Cottage School “at The Cottage School “at The Cottage School “

—————————–––————————————–––————————————————————————

8th Graders Observe High School Levels: March 138th Graders Observe High School Levels: March 138th Graders Observe High School Levels: March 13

8th Graders Observe High School Classes: March 238th Graders Observe High School Classes: March 238th Graders Observe High School Classes: March 23---252525

MARCH

MMM asquerade!asquerade!asquerade!

Middle School Middle School Middle School

Annual Sock Hop Annual Sock Hop Annual Sock Hop

Thursday, March 26, 2015 Thursday, March 26, 2015 Thursday, March 26, 2015

7:007:007:00---9:00 PM9:00 PM9:00 PM

All MS students are invited to the Cougar Center to dance the night away. Hors d’œuvrés and drinks provided. We will have a photographer on site to

capture the exciting moments.

Pictures will be available at hpaphotographers.com

Dressy casual is the attire for the evening but don’t forget to bring your socks! A collared shirt, khakis or dress slacks for the boys (a tie would be

preferred). A skirt, dress or nice pants and a dressy shirt for the girls.

NO t-shirts or jeans!

If you have not earned academics and attend the dance, you do not have to

come to school on Friday, March 27th.

If you earn academics, join us at the dance and report to school by 8:00am

on Friday.

Please call Lauren- 678-250-5124 or e-mail laurene@cottageschool.org with

any questions.

Tickets on sale from March 9th until March 20th.

ONLY $10.00 and

TCS money-$210.80!

DATE TIME Activity TCS$ Things to bring/U.S. $ Friday

3/6

Afternoon Clubs Bring Needed Club Materials

Tuesday

3/10

1:30-2:45 Founders’ Day Celebration All School Sock Hop Dance in the Cougar Center

*students need to wear socks

“Reward Off

Campus”

Thur

3/12

6:30 pm

8:00 pm

to

6:00 am

7:00 am

Bus Departs Campus

Escalade Lock In

Night of repelling and rock

climbing fun

Pick Up at I Building

*Students Excused from Fri

$732.38

*Pizza Supper Provided

*Bring additional food items and beverage

*Rescheduled from 2/26 – students signed up for the

2/26 reward payoff will attend this event

Friday

3/13

Academics

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Academics

Lunch

Academics

Homeroom

$756.79

Academic material to complete work and spare reading

materials, if you will be in academics

all day!

Off-Campus

10:00-

2:00

Disc Golf

*outdoor disc golf at East Roswell

Park

$732.38

Fully enclosed outdoor athletic shoes and socks

*Bring a bag lunch and water

On-Campus

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Scavenger Hunt

Lunch

Minute To Win It

Homeroom

$707.96 Appropriate jeans to change into with TCS spirit shirt

Saturday

3/14

Saturday School

For students owing attendance

hours

Your planner, notebooks, textbooks, lunches and a

change of clothing for PM work detail

Friday

3/20

Afternoon Clubs Bring Needed Club Materials

Academics

Friday

3/27

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Academics

Lunch

Academics

Homeroom

$454.07

Academic material to complete work and spare reading

materials, if you will be in academics

all day!

Off-Campus

Friday

3/27

10:00-

2:00

Southern Civil War & Rail Road

Museum

$439.43

Fully enclosed shoes

*change into athletic pants or shorts with a Spirit

Shirt

*Bring a sack lunch and money for lunch/ souvenirs

On-Campus

Friday

3/27

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Video Games

Lunch

March Madness Basketball

Homeroom

$424.78

Shorts to change into with TCS spirit shirt

HS Activities for March

Congratulations to the Class of 2015

on their acceptances and scholarship awards to the following

post-secondary programs!

Austin Baker: Andrew College

Asa Branch: Fort Valley State University, Alabama A&M University

Diego Cervantes: Culinary Internship

Courtney Connell: Kennesaw State University, The University of Alabama, Columbus State University,

University of North Georgia & Georgia Southern University.

Mary Anna Faulk: Coastal College of Georgia

Will Hall: University of West Georgia, University of Mississippi - $6,000 scholarship, Louisiana State

University, Georgia Southern University, University of Alabama, Valdosta State University & Auburn

University

Zak Kitzler: Hood College - $60,000 scholarship, Young Harris University - $52,000 scholarship & Eckerd

College - $68,000 scholarship

Alex Lee: Southern Polytechnic State University, Reinhardt University & Wingate University - $64,000

presidential scholarship

Noelle Mace: Kennesaw State University Academy for Inclusive Learning

Ethan Menaker: Georgia College and State University, Kennesaw State University, Elon University,

George Mason University - $32,000 scholarship, High Point University - $40,000 scholarship

KJ Powell: Piedmont College - $36,000 Piedmont Pride scholarship & $2,800 Georgia Tuition Grant

Kyle Simon: KSU Academy for Inclusive Learning, College of Charleston REACH

Noah Storm: Green Mountain College & Colorado Mountain College

Joseph Thompson: CAPStone Program

Victoria Wood: Coastal College of Georgia