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IN THIS ISSUE:
message from the board / re-enrollment / march 1st art preview / guild quests / parent conferences / gardner market / 100 day celebrations / early auction sponsor thank you / klickitat at islandwood /welcome baby ophelia / campus snapshots / upcoming events
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Hello Gardner Families,
This month, as part of our board meeting we had a lively discussion of what constitutes a romantic comedy. Our more mundane business as usual included establishing quorum and voting on the consent agenda and the minutes from last month.
Our Governance committee presented the new board composition matrix, which represents a step toward our long term Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals as well as a guide to help orient the board toward more inclusive membership and greater DEI awareness. We are excited about this next step in Gardner's progress towards inviting on new committee members and trustees.
Peter Bryant reviewed the strategic plan to be shared on the Gardner School website. Our goal was to reflect as board members on how our activities support the Gardner Strategic Plan that's begun this year. The full strategic plan is now on the Gardner website, so when you have a chance please take a look!
Our Development committee shared updates pertaining to our upcoming Auction and sponsorships. We are still open for sponsorship opportunities, and if you haven’t purchased tickets yet for the Auction, they can be purchased online. I heard a rumor that one of the coveted Gardner School blankets will potentially be raffled off; there are currently only four in existence and they are all the rage!
The Board also heard a presentation from our Head of School, Emily Davis, with updates on the financial aid policy, which now better reflects some of the changes with the new payment system, our student demographic, and the needs of families in our communities, to help us build a more diverse and inclusive student body.
Have a wonderful week, hope to see you at the Gardner Market and the upcoming Auction!
-- Ben Petersen
Gardner Board Chair
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Re-Enrollment Packets are Live!
The Gardner School’s staff is looking forward to another wonderful year with your family! Financial aid awards and re-enrollment packets are now available in FACTS Family Portal to review and sign. You will be prompted to complete the registration paperwork and submit the $1000 non-refundable deposit to secure your child(ren)'s spot(s). Registration paperwork and deposits need to be submitted by Friday, March 1st.
Enrolling a sibling? Check your email and the Portal in the coming days for their enrollment offer as well.
► To access Family Portal:
- Please go to FACTS Family Portal
- Type in your username and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, please click on the link provided
- Go to left-side Navigation Menu
- Click on Apply/Enroll
- Click on Enrollment/Reenrollment
Please contact our Lisa Linderman for any registration questions, and Sheila FitzPatrick for any financial questions. We're here to help!
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You're Invited!
March 1st - Auction Art Gallery Opening and Parent Coffee Social
For our regularly-scheduled First Friday Parent Coffee Social, this month we're featuring the class artworks created by our student body! These gorgeous pieces are collaborations by each homeroom, guided and framed by Teacher Millie. These pieces are truly one-of-a-kind, capturing the spirit of each classroom and the thematics they have been exploring. Our Farmhouse will become a temporary Art Gallery where you can view and appreciate each piece before they go up for auction at our annual Gardner Auction on Saturday, March 16th!
If you don't have your tickets for the Auction, they are still available for purchase online. (We also have Auction Sponsorships available!) Don't miss out on the opportunity to support the mission of Gardner School, experience fun Gardner-style activities, and bid for a chance to own some of the most unique, personal, and amazing artwork you can find! |
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Learning in Action
Gardner Quests
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At our Community Meeting on Friday, February 9th, students discovered that they would be going on a Quest! Specialists divided the school into four mixed-age Guilds, which met to decide on their Animal Symbol and to design their Guild Shields. These Guilds will take part in an epic three-day quest and tournament around Gardner campus, led by our Specialists, from February 20th - 22nd. While this specialist-led time was originally designed to allow our homeroom teachers time to conduct parent-teacher conferences, it's become a fun challenge for our student body!
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Parent Conference Details
Our Winter Parent Conferences are scheduled for the afternoons of Tuesday, February 20th through Thursday, February 22nd. School hours are normal for all of those days, including the usual early-release at 1:45pm on Wednesday, but homeroom teachers will be engaged in conferences after lunch each day. While teachers meet with parents, students will be occupied with an epic Tournament and Guild Quests, led by our specialists.
If you are here meeting with a homeroom teacher and wish to take your child(ren) home early, please be sure to check out with the specialist in charge of their Guild. After Care is available as normal. If you are here meeting with a homeroom teacher and need care for your student, there will be no charge during the time you are meeting.
If you have not yet scheduled a parent conference, please contact your child's homeroom teacher!
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Gardner Market is next week!
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Monday, February 26th from 2:0pm - 3:30pm is our Annual Gardner Market! Our K-6 students have been working hard on their various projects, creating unique handmade goods to offer to the Gardner community. Our Kalama and Pahto classrooms have been getting their first tastes of the Market by working on collaborative classroom projects that they will market and sell as a group in our Great Room. Our Loowit, Wy'East, and Klickitat students are ready to present their own individual booths, alone or with a partner, and will be setting up in the Great room and both portables for your shopping enjoyment!
Students will have the opportunity to close their booths for short periods in order to shop. They may bring up to $20 (preferably in one dollar bills) to spend at the event. Adults are invited to come shop and to spend as much as they like! A few booths will be offering food and beverage options, so grab a quesadilla and prepare for a fun afternoon of selecting Gardner-made products!
Students entrepreneurs have the choice of donating 50% or 100% of their proceeds to this year's student-chosen Non Profit Organization, the Vancouver Bee Project!
This is a cash-only event, and while we will have change available on site, we'd love it if you brought small bills.
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Our whole school, and our Kalama, Pahto, and Loowit classrooms in particular, love celebrating our 100th day of school! They count down the days, and have a celebration of all things 100. This year we had a few days of snow and ice to account for, but after a careful counting and consensus among classes, our celebration this year will be on Thursday, February 22nd. Expect students to be finding lots of ways to incorporate and celebrate the number 100 as we hit the milestone this year!
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Volunteers Needed for Gardner Auction
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Our Gardner Auction is fast approaching! This fun and engaging annual event is our primary fundraiser for the year, featuring student artwork, unique activities, and an entertaining Auction and Paddle Raise.
The amount of work to put on a top-notch event is considerable, and we couldn't do it without our Community Volunteers. If you have time and energy, we would greatly appreciate any help you can offer on Friday, March 15th or Saturday, March 16th to help us put together this important part of Gardner's year!
Sign up here to help!
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Sponsor Spotlight
Thank you to our early sponsors!
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Experiential Learning
Klickitat at IslandWood Outdoor School
On Monday, February 12th, our 5th and 6th Grade Klickitat classroom headed off to Bainbridge Island on an adventure to IslandWood Outdoor School. For the next four days, students tested their physical and emotional skills in numerous settings and learned a lot about themselves and their abilities! The beautiful Bird's Nest Lodge became home, where students could relax in their own bunks (which each boasted a private small window into the forest), play games in the great room by the fireplace, and pack their gear for the day.
On the 200+ acre campus students faced a variety of challenges, including a suspension bridge, an impressive Bog Tree House, a hike to the bay to study marine creatures, and the above-pictured Canopy Tower, which required a stair climb of 160 feet into the treetops! Students also made their own herbal tea blends in the spacious and artistic gardens and greenhouse, created artworks in a unique cob-built art studio, went on a night hike in the dark, and worked together to conquer the "Whale Watch" balance platform on the Teams Course. The week was capped off the last night with skits and songs around a campfire, and the next morning featured a trip across the Salish Sea on a ferry to Seattle before heading home, tired and full of lifelong memories!
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Congratulations, Teacher Julia!
Welcome Baby Ophelia
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Ophelia Fern Lazaroff is here!
Born on February 15th, Ophelia weighed 7 pounds exactly, and was 19 and a 1/4 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well.
Join us in sharing our congratulations with Julia and Torin on their growing family.
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Campus snapshots
What's happening on campus
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, February 20th- Thursday, February 22nd
K-6 Parent Conferences
Our schedule is the same as usual (including early release pickup at 1:45 on Wednesday), but students will be participating in fun all-school activities while our homeroom teachers meet with families to discuss their child's progress. Make sure you've booked your time by emailing your homeroom teacher directly.
Monday, February 26th
Gardner Market 2:00- 3:30 pm
Families and friends love this opportunity to see the creativity and community of our students as they have their wares on display for sale. The event will take place in the Great Room and portable classrooms, and don't forget cash (small bills appreciated!) for any purchases you'd like to make.
Friday, March 1st
Art Auction Preview and Parent Coffee Social
Join us at drop-off time in the Farmhouse for coffee, tea, pastries, and an exciting preview of the student artwork we will be featuring at our Gardner Auction!
Saturday, March 16th
Gardner Auction 5:00pm - 8:00pm
The annual Gardner Auction is our key fundraiser, supporting all our student programs, facilities, and educational goals for the coming year. Attendees will enjoy a variety of charcuterie and drinks, attend unique Gardner-style activities, and raise money for the school through an Art Auction and Paddle raise. This year we have some fun new twists, so be sure to get your tickets soon!
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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