March 5, 2010

Dear Pilgrim School Families, First Church Members, and Curious Readers,

Everything Pilgrim is turning up “Fine Arts Center” and “Diamonds Are Forever”!  By which I mean our team of faculty, staff and parents is super-super-busy (as opposed to our typical pace of merely super-busy!).  Let me share a few details, as I am super-super-excited!!

Diamonds Are Forever is one week from tomorrow!  It is going to be the best Pilgrim party ever (including the one I organized when I was a Pilgrim parent – and that was a great party, if I may say so myself!).  I cannot thank the DAF Team enough for coordinating all of the details so beautifully.  Erick Weiss and Jesse Lee’s “look” for the evening will wow you.  Janet Howe’s international cuisine will be delicious, and her sake-tinis scrumptious.  Sheryl Lee Ralph is performing with the six-piece Russ Mullen Jazz Associates.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Ralph, you are in for a treat!  The original Broadway ‘Dream Girls’ star is also the proud Pilgrim parent of senior Etienne Maurice.  Sheryl Lee is a true star!  The winner of the Texas Hold ‘Em tournament will receive a very special prize, and the three highest winners in the other games (roulette, blackjack, craps) will also receive prizes – stay tuned!

Please look through the “Auction Items to Die Another Day For” material that will come home today in your child’s backpack (or in the mail, if your student is in Secondary).  On Wednesday, the entire Souvenir Program will be sent home (or mailed), and it includes all of the auction items that our Auction Team has been busy collecting, as well as congratulatory ads and photos of our wonderful students.  Look for it!  Early Action Bid Sheets are due next Friday, March 12 at 4 p.m.  They can be dropped off in the front office, faxed to 213-386-7264 or emailed to tdevito@pilgrim-school.org.

The spring fundraiser is the biggest event we hold every year.  Every Pilgrim student will benefit from the funds raised, and every community member there is guaranteed to have a great time!

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, April 17, at 6 p.m. for the grand opening of the Fine Arts Center.  Thanks to the generosity of Joan and Jack Quinn, an art show from their collection will be on view in the Fine Arts Center.  Ed Ruscha, Frank Gehry, Robert Graham, David Hockney and Ed Moses are just some of the renowned artists whose works will be on view.  You will not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

All of the final details are coming together in the Fine Arts Center, and it is truly spectacular.  The other evening as I left Pilgrim late, the lights were on in the building and it just glowed atop Seaver!

There is another project that is keeping us extra-busy in the Seaver Building.  As we prepare to move our youngest learners back to their rooms, some renovations are taking place that should delight children and parents alike.  I don’t want to give away too many details, but be prepared for some surprises!  I will miss having the preschool down the hall from my office, and promise to visit them often (and hope they will continue to visit me, along with their parents of course!).

If Mother Nature cooperates and gives us some dry weather, we can seal the finish on the Fine Arts Center, take down the scaffolding, and get our little ones back into their classrooms, so I hope this weekend’s weather is the last of the rain for a while!

Monday is a student-free day (K-12), while the faculty has a professional development day.  On Tuesday, Grade 7 heads out to Joshua Tree for an outdoors education trip; they return Friday evening.  Other Secondary students have a pupil-free day, or can go to Disneyland with Dr. Kidder.  Please contact him for details (jkidder@pilgrim-school.org).

One last note.  The Pilgrim Science Fair is scheduled for March 18.  On behalf of the Science Department, Miss Sarah Hatfield is looking for three more judges.  This is a chance to see what our students are doing, earn some volunteer hours, and perhaps even learn something new!  Thank you for considering this request.

With best wishes for a wonderful weekend,

Mark A. Brooks
Head of School

PS:  Summer school catalogs will be sent home with Elementary students today, and with Secondary students on Wednesday of next week. In an effort to be eco-friendly, we are only sending home one catalog per family. A PDF version is viewable on our website: pilgrim-school.org/summerschool.  Enrollment for summer school begins on March 15th.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Monday, March 8
Professional Development Day:  no school (K-12)

Tuesday, March 9 – Friday, March 12
6:30 a.m.:  Grade 7 trip to Joshua Tree

Tuesday, March 9
Secondary pupil-free day
Tasty Tuesday

Wednesday, March 10
7 pm:  Pilgrim Parents Book Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Saturday, March 13
“Diamonds Are Forever” 6 p.m. to midnight.

Wednesday, March 17
8 a.m.:  TAPPS meeting

Thursday, March 18
Science Fair
5 – 8 pm:  Secondary parent-teacher conferences

Friday, Mach 19
8 a.m. – noon:  Secondary parent-teacher conferences

College Admissions

The 22 members of the Class of 2010 have already been accepted to 27 colleges – and things are just starting!  New York University, Willamette University, Otis College of Art and Design, the University of San Francisco, UC Irvine, University of Iowa and University of Oregon are just some of the schools eager to accept our Pilgrim graduates.

Elementary Art News

Ms. Katrina Alexy reports:

It's mission time in 4th grade, which means that every 4th grader is assigned a California Mission to study. The 4th graders have been working hard on their observational skills creating unique pastels that focus on one aspect of their mission's architecture. Some students chose the bell towers to focus on, while others chose a fountain and courtyard all while employing their knowledge of pastel mixing, blending, and texturizing. These will go on display at the Silver Lake Library in April, but will first be displayed at Pilgrim. Madigan McGillicuddy, the Children's Librarian, tells me that “everyone in the community has been enjoying the art your students have shared in the Library... we get lots of compliments on their pieces all the time.”  I am so proud of our students!

On another note, I know many of you visited the California Science Center in February to see the "America I Am” exhibit.  Please take a moment to contemplate how closely tied art and science are. I know that I personally am inspired by the sciences when creating my own artwork. Here is an inspiring lecture by Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to go into space on teaching arts and sciences together to create bold thinkers for the future:

http://www.ted.com/talks/mae_jemison_on_teaching_arts_and_sciences_toget...

In 1992, Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to go into space. She's become a crusader for science education -- and for a new vision of learning that combines arts and sciences. Mae Jemison is an astronaut, a doctor, an art collector, and dancer.

Library Corner

The Pilgrim Parents Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Secondary Library.  We will discuss The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.  Refreshments will be served and we should have a lively and interesting discussion. Any parent who would like to participate in encouraged to do so.  Please contact Marjorie Clifton, Librarian if you will be attending.

A new addition to the Secondary Library is “It’s Complicated: The American Teenager” by Robin Bowman.  This is a collection of black-and-white photos of teens from around the U.S. with accompanying testimonials by them about their lives.

PRESCHOOL NEWS

The John Tracy Clinic offered a free hearing screening for our preschoolers this past Monday.  Another screening is scheduled for Monday, April 12, 2010.

Each class celebrated Dr. Seuss’s Birthday this past week. The students enjoyed making green eggs and ham and listening to his famous stories. They also worked on special arts and crafts to honor this occasion.

Monday, March 8th, is Pajama Day! Preschool (Toddler, Preschool & JrK) children will have fun participating in a pretend daytime "sleep-over" with their classmates! Have your child come to school dressed in modest pajamas, a robe and his or her slippers. Your child can carry his or her own favorite stuffed animal or favorite blanket. Each class will prepare a tasty treat in the morning to share with the other classes, and we are organizing fun and interactive classroom activities and games for the party.

Big Boys Club and Girl Power Club Schedule
Wednesday, March 10
BBC: Lego Day
GPC: Dramatic Play Day

Friday, March 12
BBC: Soccer Activities
GPC: Hula-Hoop Activities

Wednesday, March 17
BBC: Treasure Hunt
GPC: Rainbow Hunt

Friday, March 19
BBC: Magnet Making
GPC: Jewelry Making

Wednesday, March 24
BBC: Relay Races
GPC: Yoga Day

Friday, March 26
No School
Parent/Teacher Conferences

Wednesday, March 31
Junior Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt