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IN THIS ISSUE:
message from the head / gardner market / snow ball 2023 / summer camp interest survey / meet the staff / snapshots / health screening reminders / events
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From the Head of School
Dear Gardner families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you last week as we returned to campus. I'm always amazed by how students come back from Winter Break enthusiastic, ready to learn, and seemingly older and taller than when I saw them last! One of the special joys in being part of the Gardner School for this many years is that I see children grow, families grow, and friendships form.
Something many of you mentioned in the recent parent survey was that you are at the Gardner School because you want a school for your child where they could be recognized as an individual and nurtured in a small school environment. After the last few years, the difference of the Gardner School's environment has stood out as even more unique and valuable in Clark County.
As we look ahead to the next thematic and to the variety of events we have scheduled, I see that opportunity for community and connection at every turn. Our Snow Ball event, Gardner Market, Celebrations of Learning, overnights, field trips, and more all provide a chance to see what your child can do when surrounded by caring adults, curious classmates, and authentic learning opportunities.
Thank you for what you do to support the programs here at the Gardner School. It makes a difference for your child, and it contributes to the culture here at the Gardner School that allows all children to shine and thrive.
With gratitude,
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Hands-On Learning for Gardner Market
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Gardner Market is a hands-on learning opportunity for our students to create and market a product for sale to our community. In the process, we get to see individual creativity shine, with a wide variety of items made by students.
Our kindergarten and first grade students work together on a group store, allowing age-appropriate chances to brainstorm products, create items, and practice the whole process. Our 2nd grade and older students can work individually or with a partner to conceptualize and create items or services to sell. Older students were sent home with planning packets, and their product proposal is due this Friday, January 13th.
Gardner Market provides opportunties for students to present to others, take pride in craftsmanship, to consider their audience, and to learn and apply financial literacy skills. It's a unique tradition that families look forward to and we're excited for our 2023 market!
Invite your friends and family, and join us on Monday, February 27th at 1:30 pm.
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Don't miss out!
Snow Ball 2023
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Our students are buzzing about the upcoming Snow Ball, held Thursday night, January 26th! This event is going to be a blast, and we hope your child can attend! RSVP here for your child(ren) to attend this evening of dancing and playing.
Have questions? Read below and reach out to Peter Pickett at ppickett@gardnerschool.org for more information.
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What about After Care?
After care is still available for all students from the end of the school day to 5:00 pm. At 5 pm, we will sign out all children from After Care, and sign them in to the Snow Ball.
Will dinner be served?
Yes, but we need your RSVP! We're placing our dinner order for Olive Garden and need to have a close count for mouths to feed.
Can siblings attend?
Siblings that are older than Kindergarten are welcome to attend. We are not able to include siblings that are younger than Kindergarten. *All enrolled students are welcome, Tumtum and Mazama included
Who will be supervising & what will they be doing?
We have many of our teachers volunteering to supervise this event and quite a few activities happening! This is a drop off event, and we want parents and caregivers to go out and enjoy the evening.
Children will have options that include:
Dancing in the Great Room
Creating crafts in the Art Room
Playing games in Loowit & Kalama
When do I pick up?
On the RSVP form, you can indicate what time you plan to pick up your child. We recommend no earlier than about 6:30 so your child has time to finish their dinner.
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Program Spotlight
Summer Camp Interest Survey
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Summer camp at the Gardner School is an opportunity for children to stay connected, dive into areas of interest, and have a blast while learning and playing! We are working now to finalize plans, staffing, and offerings, and we would love to hear from you. Currently enrolled families will have first priority for summer camp enrollment, but this will also be a great opportunity for you to invite friends to enroll for a week of fun and exploration!
Please fill out this survey to share what you're looking for in a summer camp for your children!
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Meet the Staff
Carli McInerny
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Carli came to Gardner this year with almost 10 years of experience in the Early Childhood field. She likes to joke it’s closer to 20 years, because her mom ran an in home childcare out of their home until she was 12. She earned her Associate’s of Early Childhood Education from Clark College and has experience as a lead teacher, nanny, peer mentor, and assistant program manager.
Carli believes in the importance of learning through play. One of her favorite quotes is “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”― Fred Rogers. Working with children is one of her greatest passions, and that comes through in the creative and child-led learning opportunties she creates in Mazama.
When not working Carli enjoys spending time with her husband Alex and two sons Hyland (4) and Remington (1). She enjoys camping, yoga, and candle making.
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Campus snapshots
It was great to be back together last week, and our students were excited to see one another, too. We held our first community meeting of 2023, and our K-6 students got started on their next thematic.
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Keeping all of our students in school depends on our families following the requests below for screening for symptoms.
1. In the last 72 hours, has your child had one or more of the following symptoms: fever > 100.4 F, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of smell/taste?
2. Has your child been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 or has a public health or medical professional told your child to self isolate or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection?
3. If any of the answers to these questions are yes, have you emailed health@gardnerschool.org and been cleared to be on campus? If not, please remain off campus until cleared.
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Upcoming Events
Friday, January 13th
RSVP Deadline for the Snow Ball!
Please submit your child's RSVP information here so we can plan for the food order and activities. We hope they can make it!
Friday, January 13th
Loowit-Klickitat Students Gardner Market Proposals Due
Make sure your child has finalized the proposal page from their Gardner Market packet by today to get quick approval so they can start working on their plans!
Monday, January 16th
No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Thursday, January 26th
The Gardner School Snow Ball, 5:00- 8:00 pm
Previously known as the Yule Ball, we're bringing this fun kids-only event back to Gardner! Register your child here, and look for the flyer in your child's backpack this week!
Friday, January 27th and Monday, January 30th
No School, Teacher In-Service Days
Teachers will complete report cards for the end of the first semester grading period.
Tuesday, February 1st
Tuition Assistance Applications for 23-24 School Year Due
All families currently receiving tuition assistance, or those interested in applying, need to complete the application by Tuesday, February 1st. Any applicable awards will be shared with your child's re-enrollment contract mid-February. Any questions about this process can be directed to Director of Business Operations, Sheila FitzPatrick. Sibling applications are also due by today.
Friday, February 3rd
Report Cards Sent Home
K-6 families should receive electronic copies of their child's report card via email by the end of the day.
Saturday, February 11th
Early Childhood Applicant Playdate 8:30 am- 12:30 pm
Are you applying for a sibling to attend our preschool or Pre-K class in the 2023-2024 school year? Look out for the invitation to our visitation playdate for new applicants on Saturday, February 11th. Depending on age, your child's visit time will be between 8:30 and 12:30.
Friday, February 17th
No School, Teacher In-Service Day
Monday, February 20th
No School, President's Day
Tuesday, February 21st
Photo Retake Day
Did you child miss the original photo day at the end of September? Today's the day for makeups! Note- no new class pictures will be taken at this time.
Monday, February 27th
Gardner Market 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm
Students in our 2nd-6th grade classes create items individually or with a partner to sell, and our Kalama and Pahto classes work collaboratively to create and sell items. We set up booths in our portables and Great Room and students practice customer service, making change, and speaking with guests. Our students choose a charity to donate the proceeds of the event to, and families and guests come and shop the market on the day of the event. More information will be sent home from your child's classroom soon.
Wednesday, March 1st
Re-Enrollment Contracts Due
Make sure to submit your child's re-enrollment contract and $1000 non-refundable deposit by this date. After this time, spaces will be offered to newly applying families.
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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