Newsletter: December 11, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dear Pilgrim School Families, First Church Members, and Friends Near and Far,
Well, today is the big day, our annual Holiday program. Our fabulous Pilgrim parents (including a grandparent) have been busy for weeks making our beautiful campus even more beautiful. Our hardworking music and dance teachers are in final rehearsals with our talented students. I hope to see each of you at this evening’s program, which includes some pleasant surprises!
In the event that rain prevents us from using the First Church forecourt, please join us in the Barnum Room for pre-concert festivities including tamales, turkey and cranberry croissant sandwiches, Chinese chicken salad, beverages (including wine) and sweets for a nominal price beginning at 5:30 p.m. TAPPS will be selling raffle tickets for a mere $5 for a chance to win one of three “stockings,” which are stuffed with goodies. Each stocking is valued from three- to five-thousand dollars, and all proceeds go to the TAPPS treasury, which supports Pilgrim!
Remember, a can of food (or more) is the requested “entry fee” to the concert. All items will be donated to Hope-Net, to be distributed to food kitchens throughout the city.
I am sure that your students are reminding you that next week is the last week of school before our Christmas break. All students will be dismissed at 12:30 on Friday the 18th, and the library will be open until 4 p.m. if you are unable to pick your student up earlier. After care for younger students will be available until 6 p.m.
Monday at 4:45 is an early dismissal for Preschool, to allow our wonderful teachers to be part of our staff holiday party.
Congratulations to First Grade artist, Sarah Arim Kong, who is receiving an award from the LA Times. Sarah has been selected as a winner in the 2009 “Dr. Seuss” Art Contest. Sarah’s work is incredible, and many students and parents have admired her artwork around the school. Denise Lopez, Manager of the LA Times in Education program, will send Sarah’s award to Pilgrim School where she will receive her special award.
A quick Fine Arts Center update – we are looking for a February ribbon-cutting, exact date to be determined! The windows and doors were delivered yesterday, the drywall installation is complete, custom, cabinets are ready to be delivered, and the stucco -- a beautiful smooth surface, dark gray in color -- begins any day now. I want to reiterate my thanks for the patience of many who have been somewhat inconvenienced by this project. I have loved having our preschoolers down the hall from my office, but I know they miss immediate access to their playground. Grade 5 has been in a cramped windowless room, and some classes on the fourth floor of Seaver have had to put up with noise at times. I guarantee, when you see the results you will know that our students will have the best arts facility in town!
Have a wonderful weekend, stay dry, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus on Monday.
With all best wishes,
Mark A. Brooks
Head of School
PS: Remember the TAPPS meeting on Wednesday at 8 a.m. in Barnum!
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, December 12
2 and 7 pm: “The Nutcracker” with Pilgrim students Chloe and Junah Taylor, at the Japan America Theatre
Sunday, December 13
Noon and 4 pm: “The Nutcracker” with Pilgrim students Chloe and Junah Taylor, at the Japan America Theatre
Monday, December 14
All school chapel
4:45: Preschool early dismissal
Tuesday, December 15
Deadline for 10th and 11th grade students to sign up for the SAT Prep class in January. The contact info for A-List Tutoring (a Pilgrim graduate!) is info@alisttutoring.com or by phone at 323-692-9568.
Wednesday, December 16
8 a.m.: TAPPS meeting
Friday, December 18
12:30: Early dismissal
Spirit Day for Secondary students (free dress)
January
Financial aid requests due; forms are on our website
ATHLETICS DATES
Saturday, December 12:
10 a.m.: Middle School Boys Basketball at Le Lycee Francais in Los Angeles
Tuesday, December 15
4 pm: Girls Basketball vs. Cornerstone Christian, home game
5 pm: Boys Basketball vs. Cornerstone Christian, home game
Wednesday, December 9
3:30 pm: Boys Soccer at Westmark
Thursday, December 10:
4:30 pm: Boys Basketball at Hillcrest Christian, Thousand Oaks.
Friday, December 18
3:30 pm: Boys Soccer at Rio Hondo Prep in Arcadia
LIBRARY NEWS
Mark Wednesday, January 13 on your calendar for the Pilgrim Parent Book Group. They are reading The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Set in Seattle, it is the story of friendship between a Japanese girl, who is sent to an internment camp, and a Chinese boy. All parents are invited. Refreshments will be served, and future books to read and discuss will be decided.
Thanks to the parents of Emma Yood-Howard, Grade 4, for adopting science books in honor of her birthday. Emma wants future readers to “Enjoy hours of discovery!”
Eli Halbreich’s family wishes “our wonderful son” a happy 15th birthday with the gift of library books for the Pilgrim library.
SECONDARY NEWS
Students have free dress on Friday and they are to wear their Element shirts to school on Thursday.
Students who participated in the Christmas Concert and who came on time at 3 pm to the rehearsal this Friday get free dress on Tuesday and Wednesday.
COMMUNITY SERVICE NEWS
This week students, faculty and administrators met with their colonies and made holiday cards for students at our sister public school, Commonwealth Elementary. The cards were very creative, bright and colorful to add cheer to their holiday season. They will be delivered to Commonwealth School on Monday by representatives of the church and school along with gifts for the children.
Thank you to all of our families who purchased gifts for our Commonwealth neighbors!
