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IN THIS ISSUE:
message from the board / survey responses /
spirit week/ building blocks / conferences / apple math / snapshots /events
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On Thursday, October 19th, 2023, the Board of Trustees met virtually. At the meeting, the Board of Trustees:
- Reviewed Quarter 1 Financials
- Learned more about the Annual Fund and the Board's role in it
- Received an Investment Account update
- Reviewed and voted to finalize the Charge to the Head of School
We would like to share our immense gratitude to Lori Cohen as she steps down from her role as Board Chair and for her incredible commitment to our Board and the transformative changes she brought to our school. Her Board service began the month before the pandemic started, and she’s remained steady and visionary through various challenges and celebrations. We are thankful that she will continue to be on our Board of Trustees, and continue to serve on a variety of committees as well as support the Board Chair transition process with Head of School, Emily Davis.
Our Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce that Ben Petersen was voted on to be our new Board Chair. Ben's served on our Development committee and co-hosted our highly successful Greater Vancouver Chamber Business After Hours event last year. Ben will help lead the implementation of our Strategic Plan, and we will include details of that in upcoming newsletters.
If you are interested in learning more about our Board and its committees, please contact Emily Davis and Ben Petersen for further information.
Ben Petersen, Board Chair
Anamaria Bambaren Call, Vice Chair
Peter Bryant, Secretary
Brian Gilstrap, Treasurer
Lori Cohen, Trustee
Sarah Grenert-Funk, Trustee
Susan Melton, Trustee
Adriana Baer, Trustee
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Welcome our new Board Chair, Ben Petersen!
Benjamin Petersen is honored to lead the Board of Trustees at the Gardner School of Arts and Sciences. A former high school English teacher and current Gardner Parent, he now runs K&B Benefit Advisors in Portland, Oregon.
He has served as the Legislative Chair for the National Association of Insurance Professionals, both in Oregon and Washington. In this role, he advocates for health care policy in Washington D.C. and Olympia, WA.
Holding a M.Ed. from Lewis and Clark College, and MBA from The University of Oregon brings a unique perspective to his work as Board Chair.
In his spare time, he enjoys all the Northwest has to offer taking his son Paul to OMSI, the zoo, and the coast. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
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What do we do with your answers to the weekly questions? We bring it up with our staff, reach out to community organizations, and review options! Our admin team is currently reviewing these topics, and will share as soon as we have some updates for our families. Thank you for taking the time to share with us!
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This is a great way to start off Spirit Week, and we love the chance to be a little extra playful this week!
Reminders for the week
Tuesday- Tutu Tuesday
Wednesday- Crazy Sock Day
Thursday- Hat Day (and Pajama Day for Tues/Thurs. Tumtum class!)
Friday- Pajama Day
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Building Blocks of Learning
Fine Motor and Gross Motor Skills
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In our play-based preschool classes, our teachers provide many opportunities for fine motor and gross motor skills to be developed and strengthened. These skills are reinforced with outdoor play time, art activities, PE classes, and more. In class, observations around these developmental milestones are added to parent conferences, and also used to create and enhance activities in the classroom. Research shows that fine motor skills leads to increased readiness for writing and academic achievement. You can learn more about gross and fine motor skill development here.
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Parent Conferences
Connections and Conversations
Last week, we had the opportunity for parent conferences and we appreciate all the time and thoughtfulness that goes into these meetings! Thank you to our teachers for their time in preparing assessments and observations, and thank you to parents for making the time to meet. Our specialist teachers get a thank you, too, for running afternoon activities for students so families could meet, and care was provided. It's wonderful to have a supportive community to care about the unique individuals, and to celebrate their growth as well as make plans to support their future learning.
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Learning in Action
Apple Math
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Second grade students get to use apples as a way to practice math concepts! After taste tests, votes, charts, and fractions, students got to make homemade applesauce! Hands-on learning with a sweet twist!
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Will Hornyak Returns
Thanks to Clark County Green Schools and storyteller Will Hornyak for sharing environmental education through humor with our students. During our Community Meeting on Friday, students learned about managing food waste, composting, and more.
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Campus snapshots
Collaboration and critters this week!
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Upcoming Events
Monday 10/23- Friday 10/27
Spirit Week
A fun week of special dress up days and activities. Every year, students and staff get excited to share their school spirit and their individual personalities during Spirit Week! This is an optional activity, but participation is encouraged. Note that our Early Childhood teachers will send out what best fits for the younger students' schedules in their weekly newsletters.
Tuesday, 10/31
Costume Day
Students who wish to wear costumes to school can, but they are required to be able to get in and out of them on their own. All props should be left at home (including fake weapons), and no scary or gory elements, please.
Wednesday, 11/1
Día de los Muertos
Students learn about the tradition of Día de los Muertos in their Spanish classes and in presentations.
Friday, 11/3
First Friday Parent Social, 8:15 am- 9:30 am
Come join other parents and staff in the Farmhouse after drop off for baked treats and hot beverages for conversation, questions, and connections!
Friday, 11/10
Veteran's Day, No School
Monday, 11/20- Tuesday, 11/21
Teacher In-Service Days, No School
This year, in response to past attendance trends, our teachers will have in-service meetings on Monday 11/20 and Tuesday 11/21. Important topics around assessment, support of neurodiversity and learning differences, and NWAIS accreditation work will be covered. No student attendance these days.
Wednesday- Friday 11/22-24
Thanksgiving Break, No School
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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