15 May 2010
Dear Parents:

Here comes the end of the 2009-10 school year!  In just under two weeks we will be adding nineteen more young men and women to our alumni roll, and I want to reiterate to everyone what a superior group of seniors we have had this year.  If you have a chance to come and share their Commencement Day, please know that you are most welcome.  Friday, 28 May at 11.00AM sharp, we will hold the 39th Commencement Exercises of our school.

Shortly, we will mail out the important information documents for the 2010-11 school year that you will need to complete and mail back to us by the middle of July.  Please make necessary appointments now, and know how much we appreciate having all of these documents filed and ready to go on the first day of school.  AND our Open House for next year will be here before you know it!  Thursday, 12 August at 5.30 PM in the gym will be our first meeting.

Exciting developments will occur over the summer, especially for our Lower School families.  After an exhaustive, year-long perusal and investigation period, we have chosen our new maths and sciences series for grades K-6 and K-8 respectively.  Our teachers will be engaged over the summer learning the new technologies that accompany the two new series, both of which have just been published.  At divisional meetings following our general meeting at Open House in August, parents will have the opportunity to see a sample lesson from the new series.  
 
The results of the Iowa Basic Skills Tests arrived late yesterday.  I am delighted that the results again this year clearly document the progress and success of our students.  Beginning with our first graders whose average score indicates a performance of a student nearly a full grade ahead of expectation, to our eighth graders whose average score reflects the achievement of a student graduated from high school, this is a time to celebrate the partnership between school and home; teachers, parents and students.  Congratulations to all for work well done!   To that end, parents of students in grades 1-6 please come to the Library this Tuesday, 18 May at 5.30PM to receive and review your students’ ITBS report.  Parents of students in grades 7 and 8, please come to the Library this Thursday, 20 May at 5.30PM for the same.

Upper School parents, please check the exam schedule now on the website.  Please come and pick up your students or make arrangements for them after the exam at the time indicated on the website.  We cannot provide supervision after the exams.
Congratulations to the winners of our recently completed Art Show!  If you have a chance, make sure to walk the entire length of the concourse and view the very fine work of our student artists.

Again this year, thank you for your confidence and faith in our work.  Know that from this end, we are committed to continual improvement and to offer all of our students unparalleled educational opportunities.  Best wishes for a productive and happy summer!