Scheduling Changes and Honors Contracts: Due Friday
Please note that we will be making second semester elective scheduling changes through this Friday, January 20. This deadline is especially pertinent for our 7th grade students enrolled in one of our World Language rotations—please let us know by this deadline if you would prefer to enroll in a Study Skills and Organization class during Period 3 for this academic quarter. After this date, students may withdraw from a class and enroll in Study Hall, but not a different elective course. Additionally, Friday, January 20 is the deadline for submitting completed Honors contracts for the second semester to Alicia Tembi. Students who successfully completed Honors in a year-long class during the first semester do not need to submit a new contract should they wish to continue with Honors for the second semester.
Parent Association Presents: New Years Hike This Friday, January 20
All parents are invited to join the Parent Association this Friday, January 20 at 9:00am for a New Years Hike! We will meet at Bird Rock Coffee in Del Mar and then hike Torrey Pines State Park, which is approximately 3.5 miles and will take roughly 1.5 hours. You may also choose to walk the beach. Please RSVP here and feel free to contact PA Co-Presidents Julie Silvaor Diane Zeps for more information. *Note: unfortunately, the coffee and intention setting practice has been postponed. Please be on the lookout for this at a later date.
The High School ASB Presents Ping Pong Tournament: Week of January 23
The High School ASB will be hosting a Ping Pong Tournament the week of January 23. It costs $5 to participate and the winner will win a big portion of the prize pool. If you would like to participate, Ethan D. '23 and Adrien C. '23 will have a sign-up table outside of Dana's room throughout next week.
The Middle School ASB Presents Middle School Dance: February 3
Attention Middle School students! Middle School ASB is hosting a Middle School Dance on Friday, February 3, in Meyer Hall from 6:00-8:30pm. The theme is “Blast From the Past.” Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided. Tickets will be on sale for $10 beginning Monday, January 23.
PA Meeting Minutes
Thank you to all parents who joined the PA meeting on Tuesday, January 10, where we started to brainstorm for our annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. If you missed it, click here for the meeting minutes. The next PA meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 7. Questions? Please email PA Co-Presidents Julie Silvaor Diane Zeps for more information.
Gala Committee Meetings - Join us!
Our annual Spring Gala will be held on-campus on Saturday, May 6, and we welcome all parents to join us in planning the grooviest celebration ever. Please mark your calendars and reach out to Lindsay Zickler with questions or ideas. Gala meetings will take place on-campus in Meyer Hall:
Friday, February 3 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Friday, March 3 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Friday, March 24 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Friday, April 14 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Our Reputation Matters: Please Leave a Review on Niche
What our current parents and students say about The Grauer School ensures our reputation and drives new families to look at the amazing education we offer. The Niche school ranking service has informed us that "The Grauer School is once again a top school in the San Diego area", and we have an A+ rating on their school ranking service. Please click here to leave a review for us on Niche, describing what makes our school and your student's experience so unique. We are deeply appreciative of your time and comments.
Graduation 2023: Friday, June 9
It is hard to believe that we are finished with our first semester and thinking about how we will be celebrating the incredible accomplishments of this year’s Class of 2023. Graduation will be held at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living on Friday, June 9. Our 8th grade ceremony will be held at 11:00am and our 12th grade ceremony will be held at 2:00pm. We have never limited the number of attendees each graduate can invite (which is why we host our ceremonies off campus); please note that we do not offer any reserved seating for these ceremonies.
Order Your Yearbook Now
Students and parents can click here to order your Grauer yearbook now for $70. The price will increase to $75 in February.
CALENDAR
View the 2022-2023 Grauer Academic Calendar Overview: Click here
View the Grauer Public Calendar on our website: Click here
Add the Grauer Public Google Calendar to your calendar system: Click here
Thursday, January 19
~ Discover Grauer Tour, 9:15-10:30am (please RSVP to attend) Friday, January 20
~ Odd Day (1,3,7)
~ Last Day for Scheduling Changes and Honors Contracts
~ Parent Association Presents: Torrey Pines Hike, 9:00am (Bird Rock Coffee) Friday, January 20-Saturday, January 21
~ Girl Rising Club Presents: 12-Hour Dance Marathon, 8:00pm to 8:00am (Meyer Hall) Monday, January 23
~ The High School ASB Presents: Ping Pong Tournament
~ The High School ASB Presents: Game Pigeon Tournament Wednesday, January 25
~ Discover Grauer Tour, 9:15-10:30am (please RSVP to attend) Thursday, January 26-Friday, January 27
~ The Theater Department Presents: "Little Women", 7:00pm Wednesday, February 1
~ Priority Admissions Applications and Financial Aid Applications Due for the 2023-2024 School Year Friday, February 3
~ The Middle School ASB Presents: Middle School Dance, 6:00-8:30pm (Meyer Hall) Saturday, February 4
~ Campus Beautification Day, 8:00am-1:00pm (Grauer Garden) Thursday, February 9
~ Discover Grauer Tour, 9:15-10:30am (please RSVP to attend) Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24
~ Ski Week (No School) Saturday, May 6
~ Annual Grauer Gala Saturday, May 13
~ High School Prom (please save the date)
IMPORTANT LINKS
~ Attendance Office: Tracy Ahrens, tracyahrens@grauerschool.com, 760-944-6777 option 5 - refer to the Parent Portal on the school's website for detailed Attendance Policy information
~ Daily Lunch Program:ChoiceLunch through 1/27, Ki's School Lunches starting 1/30
~ Yearbook Orders:Jostens Store
The Grauer School will be switching hot lunch service from Choice Lunch to Ki's School Lunches starting on Monday, January 30. Grauer parents can set up an account and submit orders now, for the week of January 30 and beyond.
Ki's menu provides a healthy, natural and delicious lunch which will be delivered every day to the school. Their menu offers many selections for all dietary needs. Click here to find out how to sign up for Ki's lunches and a preview of the menu, and you can click here to learn more about Ki's lunch program, set up an account, and start ordering lunches for your student on their website.
Prior to COVID, The Grauer School had partnered with Ki’s for over ten years. As with many small businesses, Ki's had to put lunch delivery on hold during COVID. We are very happy to be back with Ki's and help support a local business! If you have any questions, contact Tracy Ahrens.
Girl Rising Club Presents 12-Hour Dance Marathon: Friday & Saturday
The Girl Rising Club will be hosting a 12-hour Dance Marathon this week, from Friday, January 20 at 8:00pm through Saturday, January 21, at 8:00am. Tickets for students will be $25 per person, and they will be sold at lunchtime - cash or Venmo is accepted. Each person will register with a dance partner, and the club members can help pair you with someone if you don't have a partner. Students can wear their pajamas. Dinner, snacks and breakfast will be provided. There will be a professional DJ, games, karaoke and a movie playing throughout the night in the Music room.
This event will help the club raise money for Daraja Academy in Kenya, which is an all-girls school that provides education to girls who would otherwise not be able to go to school. The Girl Rising Club has already raised just over $2,000 of their $2,500 goal this year, and they hope to raise the rest during a fun night of dancing! The Girl Rising Club and Daraja are extremely grateful for any sponsors and donations. Sponsor sheets are being passed out at school or you can directly donate through Venmo (@Alicia-Tembi). Any donations are greatly appreciated!
Grauer Theatre Department Presents: "Little Women": January 26-27
Grauer's High School Theatre Department is excited to present the play "Little Women" next week on Thursday, January 26, and Friday, January 27 in Meyer Hall. The talented cast of student actors and stage crew includes:
Jo - Melissa R. '23
Meg - Lily T. '24
Amy - Adele F. '24
Beth - Amy W. '25
Marmee - Ezri R. '25
Laurie - Charlie T. '25
John Brooke - Ronin M. '25
Aunt March - MJ C. '26
Mr. March (Father) - Charlie M. '25
Professor Bhaer - Jonas D. '25
Hannah - Keira N. '25
Costume Designers - Samara D. '25 and Laurel M. '23
The performances will start at 7:00pm on both evenings, and the play will be directed by Erin Langen, Grauer Theatre Teacher. Entry is free, and donations to the Theatre Department are appreciated. The play will have musical accompaniment by student musicians from the Music Department, led by Isaac Langen and Tom Hopper. The GSA Club and the Senior Class will be selling refreshments. Thank you to everyone in our Grauer community for attending our student productions and giving your support to our student performers!
Grauer Campus Beautification Day: February 4 - Join Us!
Grauer students, parents, family members, alumni, teachers, staff, and community members are invited to join our Grauer Garden team on Saturday, February 4, from 8:00am to 1:00pm for an opportunity to help us beautify the landscape on The Grauer School's campus. Your whole family can sign up for jobs including cleaning up the native trails and clearing dead wood and trash from the Native Habitat area, planting a new Rose Garden, sanding and painting the potting bench, moving rock in the upper parking lot, processing the compost bin, and more. Grauer students will earn community service hours.
Please click here to view the SignUp Genius list and determine which beautification projects you might want to sign yourself and your family up for on February 4. If you have more than an hour to spare on that day, please sign up for more than one task - we'd love to have your help for the entire event.
We will also need to borrow garden tools to make sure we have enough tools for everyone to use, and you can find more information on the tools needed in the signup list. Loaner tools will need to be dropped off in the garden during the week before the event (please be sure to put your name on all loaners). There will be NO PARKING in the upper parking lot during this event, as many of the tasks encompass this area.
Please mark your calendars and spread the word about this Grauer community event, and thanks in advance for lending a hand. We hope to see you there!
Annual February Faculty & Staff Appreciation:
The Parent Association Needs Your Help!
The Grauer School Parent Association (PA) is excited to host its annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, February 17. This is a wonderful Grauer School tradition and an opportunity for parents to show our teachers and staff just how much we appreciate them before we head into Ski Week. To show our love, we are kicking off the appreciation week with a Valentine's Dessert Exchange on Tuesday, February 14, and will end with a Faculty Fiesta Lunch on Friday, February 17.
Please click on the button below to sign up! There are several ways to get involved including: bringing in a sweet treat for our teachers and their families on Valentine's Day, making a financial contribution for gift cards, or helping to set up/clean up on February 17.
Parents may drop off a check made payable to "The Grauer School Parent Association" in the Grauer office, or you can Venmo our PA Treasurer (@Jonell-Tibbitts) by February 10, who will then purchase equal value gift cards. Thank you to all families for helping to celebrate our amazing Grauer faculty & staff!
Grauer parents are, by far, our best source of referrals for new families. We know you want your kids to be surrounded by other great kids, and we take your recommendations to heart. Do you know a friend or a family that would make a great addition to our Grauer community? Please invite them to sign up for one of our remaining Discover Grauer Tours on January 19, January 25, and February 9 from 9:15-10:30am.
Please ask your friends to RSVP for a campus tour at www.grauerschool.com. You can also use the "Welcome Your Friends to Grauer" page on our website to tell us about friends that you'd like to invite to a Discover Grauer Day event. Just fill out the brief referral form, and our Admissions team will contact your friend to start a conversation about their visit to Grauer. Thank you!
Weekly Columns
Principal's Desk
Senior Graduation Defenses
In 2010, our seniors calculated that in their high school career at The Grauer School, they had compiled approximately 75 portfolios; for students that have been at Grauer since the 6th grade (back when we had a 6th grade), they estimated that they had organized over 100 portfolios. They successfully petitioned that they could write a Grade Defense, could easily answer portfolio questions, and were capable of organizing their work into neat, usable sections. They asked our Leadership Team if they could do something different during the second semester of their senior year—and the idea of our comprehensive Senior Portfolio and Graduation Defense was born.
The Senior Graduation Defense asks our students to reflect back upon their entire time at The Grauer School and to think about their growth into resourceful, compassionate, perseverant, self-advocating, accountable, and intrinsically curious individuals and group members that are prepared for college next year. For their last Core Value Portfolio, we request that they defend themselves to a panel that includes teachers, parents, and administrators and to petition to graduate with distinction in one of the following areas:
The Arts (Music, Studio Art, Photography, Theater, or Film)
Global and Humanitarian Studies
Social Justice/Activism
STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math
Ecological Studies
Expeditionary Education
Leadership
Athletics
Liberal Arts
Senior Portfolios consist of nine sections and will be presented to a panel during ERB standardized testing week (May 8-12). In order to graduate with The Grauer School’s UC-Approved, College-Preparatory Diploma, each senior must compile and defend their Portfolio to mastery.
Our annual Senior Graduation Defense Presentation week will be here soon and our Class of 2023 will be working diligently alongside their advisers to create these comprehensive, capstone projects. Presentations run in 30-minute increments from 9:00am-noon daily and are open for viewing in Meyer Hall. We will publish the schedule in mid-April; however, if you are on or near campus and would like to observe one or more of these presentations, please stop by—we are sure that you will be impressed by the talent, growth, and reflection that our seniors have engaged in during their time at Grauer. It is sincerely one of my favorite weeks of the year.
Deans' View
A Message Worth Repeating - A Message Worth Believing!
"Success consists of going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Winston Churchill
From Dean Trevor Olson:This week's message is simple yet profound. It's a quote, and while we don't know the specific origin, we believe in it whole-heartedly.
Are you ready for it? Are you ready to believe it? Here it is:
"In life, we have winners and learners."
When we lose, fail, miss or struggle, we learn. Losing creates opportunities for reflection and growth, and in many ways, it's what fuels learning. One thing I know as a parent, a former collegiate athlete, and an educator, is that one of the most paralyzing things a human being can do is to operate out of fear. I've been hypersensitive to a fear-based mindset my entire adult life, and I would hate to see any of us, or our students, miss out on our dream lives because of fear. Fear in life, in my opinion, comes from focusing on results instead of focusing on the process. And oftentimes, I would argue, that it is us as parents that don't value our kids losing enough or that view our kids losing as failure. Kids have to fail and parents need to allow this to happen.
To all of our students: Get out there and go for it, because even if you lose, ultimately you are learning from the experience. Go, Gorillas!
Click here if you'd like to subscribe to Dr. Grauer's weekly column!
Propinquity
Propinquity refers to the physical or psychological proximity between people. The Grauer School's campus layout was intentionally set up to foster close propinquity. Our students interact with each other while walking through the central quad, swirling into small gatherings forming like eddies. What does your school's propinquity look like?
Archery Program
Archery Season is now underway for Middle School and High School students. Practices will be held every week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00pm on the Grauer archery range (weather permitting). OAS (Olympic Archery in Schools) competitions will take place in March and April - click here to view the season schedule.
High School Co-Ed Soccer with Coach Morgan Brown
High School Co-ed Soccer with Coach Morgan Brown will be starting later than usual this year, with practices starting in February and games in March. Games will take place at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas.
Middle School Winter Season Sports
The season is underway for Middle School Girls Soccer with Coach Paulina Davis-Fisher (click here to view the season schedule) and Middle SchoolBoys Basketball with Coach Johnny King (click here to view the season schedule). Go, Gorillas!
Archery Season is Underway!
Archery practices started last week for the Middle School and High School Archery teams. At the first practice of all of the Archery students on Wednesday, January 11, Coach Trevor Olson demonstrated the basic elements of archery with the students who were new to the team, including safety measures and rules of the Grauer range, putting their feet in the correct stance, holding the bow and grasping the bowstring correctly, understanding their anchor point near their chins, and techniques for shooting arrows safely. Trevor said, "We have a lot of student athletes fired up to participate in the program this season. It is surely going to be an incredible team experience for everyone - Go, Archery!"
In The Garden Stephanie Murphy and Sally Grauer will be working in the garden on Wednesdays and Saturdaysfrom 8:00am to 11:00am, unless a garden event is happening at that time and if the weather permits. Volunteers are welcome to come on campus and join them in the garden on those days.
We have not been able to complete very much gardening in the last week due to all the rain. The rain gauge in the soon-to-be Rose Garden overflowed after recording 5", which is double the January average of 2.7 inches. While we believe most of the storms have passed for the moment, we are keeping an eye on February, as February is typically the most rainy month in Encinitas. We have been busy researching Kumeyaay plants to add to our native habitat as well as solidifying tasks for our Campus Beautification Day on Saturday, February 4 (read more about this event above in this newsletter). In between storms, we were able to trim up the artichokes and do a little weeding and deadheading. We also harvested Baby Pac Choi and Turnips to share with staff.
For those following our rose journey, there is a "Comprehensive Rose Care Seminar" in Balboa Park this Saturday, January 21. Click here for information.
Reminder: Stephanie will not be working in the garden this Saturday, January 21st.
Upcoming Events Campus Beautification Day - Saturday, February 4, from 8:00am to 1:00pm
(See the event description above in the newsletter.)
Native Verge Garden Tidy-Up - Friday, February 10, from 9:15am-11:15am
Join alumni parent Jesse Giessow in the Native Verge Garden where we will be weeding, placing plant labels on plants that don't have them, removing stakes where plants have died, transplanting anything that is crowded, and generally tidying up the area. You can simply show up, there is no sign-up list for this event. If you don't see us in the Natives Garden on Tennis Club Drive during this timeframe, please go to the other Natives Garden by the basketball court. We may also be planting new native Kumeyaay plants in this area, as well as the Native Habitat area.
Persian New Year Celebration - Thursday, March 23, from 12:30-3:00pm - Save the Date!
Our very own Grauer Math Teacher Fariba Farah will be teaching us how to make two types of baklava, as well as Persian teas using Persian spices. Please save the date. A SignUpGenius invitation will be sent to those on the Garden Club email roster soon. If you'd like to be added to the roster, please contact Stephanie.
Events & Activities at The Grauer School
Environmental Science Students Learn About Biodiversity
From Nick Scacco, Science Teacher:
The Environmental Science class is learning about conservation biology and biodiversity. Students started this unit by connecting to a place in nature where they have been or that they want to visit, and reflecting on 3 visceral experiences they have had that connect them to their special place. We will use these reflections as we talk about how we attempt to value ecosystems and nature. The students were also asked to create an art piece inspired by this place, and some of them created their own artwork or photos while others used Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to generate images. Some examples of the student's descriptions and artwork are shown below:
Carson B. '24 (AI-generated artwork of a Bison): "A place in the world that I feel very connected to is the Teton Valley in Idaho. For the past 10 years, my family has been visiting this valley every year, giving me a truly western experience. What also makes this place so special is the difference in wildlife that they have in the valley. For example, on a normal everyday drive, you may encounter a bison crossing, which is scary to most, but for me it is a beautiful sight."
Livia S. '23 (Artwork of a cow in a meadow): "I feel very connected to the Austrian Alps, since I have been going there for as long as I can remember. My three visceral experiences are: 1) The day after it rains, my aunt sends us out and tells us to come back only when we have a basket of mushrooms. So I have many memories of going through the forest trying to find our dinner with my cousins. 2) Every summer when we go swimming in the town lake, we try to throw each other off of this little island in the middle of the lake. 3) The meadow surrounding the cabin always has tall grass in the summer and is usually cut down at the end to make hay to feed the cows on the farm above us. So we are never allowed to run across the meadow down to the woods below our cabin because if we did we would trample the grass for the cows. This type of mindfulness about the process always makes me appreciate the care people put into nature. Leaving the meadow up and keeping it undisturbed for the spring and summer months allows for all types of insects to dwell there and keep the meadow healthy."
Embry R. '23 (AI-generated artwork of a forest scene): "A place where I feel very connected to is anywhere in the trees, but deep forests in particular. My three visceral experiences are: 1) When I was younger, I went to the Sequoias forest and saw the biggest Sequoia tree in the world, General Sherman. 2) Another experience was when my family was in Tahoe and we chopped down a small pine tree. 3) Once in the Redwood forest, I was exploring inside a tree stump and stumbled upon a banana slug slithering through some mushrooms.
Samantha H. '23 (Photo of a camel): "An area of the world that I have a personal connection to is the Middle East, more specifically the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. I moved there when I was 12 years old, and went to school there from grades 7 to 10. My three visceral experiences are: 1) I was petting camels that were walking by deep in the desert, and I remember thinking about how tall they were. I’d only ever seen pictures of camels, though now right in front of one, it was a little intimidating to have them looking down at me. Though smelly, it is something I will remember forever. 2) Another visceral experience is digging for desert roses. Desert roses are sand crystals that have been shaped into the image of a rose from the wind and sandstorms knocking around particles. It was so exciting looking for them and really brought my family together as it was a fun activity that really connects to Saudi Arabia’s roots. 3) One final visceral experience that connects me to Saudi is something I experience all the time; how hot it is. Though heat cannot be shown through a picture, the day I saw that camel in the photo it was not only smelly, but extremely hot and humid. It is especially interesting how my body has evolved to be able to withstand the heat. When I first moved to Saudi, I couldn’t go outside for over 10 minutes without almost passing out from heat exhaustion. Now, as long as I have water, I can stay outside for long periods of time, which I find really interesting."
High School ASB Presents Pet Contest
The High School ASB presented the 2023 Grauer Pet Contest last week. Students and faculty/staff shared adorable photos of their pets, competing for a cash prize of $20 and a picture of the winning pet in the yearbook. Students, teachers, and staff voted on all of the entries through a Google Form. The top 3 pets who received the most votes were brought to campus on Friday, and the judges awarded the following prizes:
1st Place: George (Kate Z. '25)
2nd Place: Bud (Tate S. '23)
3rd Place: Tyrone the Rock (Shaun B. '24)
The ASB would like to thank everyone who participated in this fun contest! Special thanks to Sage S. '23 and Embry R. '23 for coordinating this fun contest for our Grauer community.
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon: 9th Grade
The Grauer School Faculty and Staff would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our wonderful 9th grade parents. On Thursday, January 12, the 9th grade parents treated us to a delicious salad bar! We are grateful to all of the parents who contributed towards the lunch. Special thanks to room parent Meighan Brisbois for organizing and Meredith Garner and Rachel Lukens for helping to set up, serve, and clean up. Our faculty and staff thoroughly enjoyed it and felt sincerely appreciated. The next luncheon will be our school-wide Faculty & Staff Appreciation event in February.
Counselor's Corner
From Shelley Joslin, Director of Counseling:
Summer Programs
Summer programs are open and accepting applicants - click here to learn about many offerings for the summer of 2023, from domestic programs in the United States to programs where you can travel abroad, including both academic and service program options. This is a working list and will be edited and updated as needed throughout this semester. Please reach out to Shelley with any questions.
We will spotlight a few of the programs on the list each week. This week's spotlight programs are:
Summer Program Spotlight:Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Programs
Girls Who Code offers free virtual summer programs for students in grades 9-12, including a 2-week immersion program or a 6-week self-paced experience. The program teaches girls and non-binary students the Computer Science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in technology. Click here to learn more.
Summer Program Spotlight:Lehigh University - Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive High School students can join a group of emerging leaders from across the U.S. and around the world for an in-person summer program at Lehigh University. You will learn how to think like an entrepreneur and recognize problems as opportunities, expand your leadership potential and global network, and work with a diverse team to solve a real problem facing a company or organization. The program runs from June 25 to July 22, and the early decision deadline is February 19. For more information and to apply, click here.
Community Service
From Jessi Brown, Humanitarian Service Coordinator:
Surfrider Foundation Beach Cleanup at Moonlight Beach, Encinitas: Saturday
Join the Surfrider Foundation for a Beach Cleanup at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas this Saturday, January 21 at 9:00-11:00am. Have a fun day in the sand with family and friends while removing trash and raising awareness about plastic pollution. In addition to cleaning the beach, Surfrider can use the data you collect to influence laws that reduce pollution at the source. Click here to learn more and sign up to volunteer.
February Critter Camp: Ski Week (February 21-24)
Helen Woodward Animal Center is looking for volunteers for their Critter Camp during Ski Week on February 21-24. They need Junior Volunteers (age 14 to 17) to assist their teachers with activities for campers. If you are interested, click here to view the application and learn more.
Middle School Fridays
From Patricia Young, Expeditionary Learning Program Director:
Middle School Friday electives start this week, with our students busily engaging in our sports teams (Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball) and our winter mini-electives of Dungeons & Dragons, Pure Fun! activity rotations, and our brand-new program offering, Introduction to Design with Ryan Stevens. Check our weekly schedule so students can be prepared with appropriate gear including clothes/shoes, a water bottle, and sunblock.
MS Friday Winter Elective Cycle
1/20 - Mini-elective session #3 and sports practices ** This week's Pure Fun rotation is Hiking with Frida LeBreton (see below).
1/27 - Mini-elective session #4 and sports practices
2/3 - Mini-elective session #5 and sports practices
2/10 - Mini-elective session #6 and sports practices
2/17 - No Middle School Friday activities (due to after school departures for ski week)
2/24 - Ski Week
3/3 - Mini-elective session #7 and sports practices
3/10 - Mastery Learning Day – MS Noon Dismissal, sports practices
3/17 - Mini-elective session #8 and sports practices
Hiking with Frida LeBreton
Let's go hiking! Pure Fun activity students are requested to meet in Frida in classroom #215 at 1:30pm before we head down to the trail. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. The van will bring us back to school at 3:00pm. Please reach out to Frida if you have any questions.
Middle School Friday Boba Tea Activity
From Paul-Michael Ogburn: Middle School students who attended last Friday's Pure Fun activity had a great time learning new things about the popular drink Boba Tea, including what exactly Boba Tea is made of, and the history behind the drink. They also got to explore the tea-growing culture in Taiwan and sample different teas from the region. The students had to slow down and channel their inner food critics by tasting and experiencing each element shown in the menu list below individually, before putting all of the components together in a drink. They loved getting to make their own creations, and they sometimes learned the hard way what the proper ratios should be!
The Boba Tea Menu
Teas: Black, Green, Oolong
Milks: Regular, Soy, Coconut
Boba: Regular and Golden
Flavors: Unsweet or Brown Sugar
Additional toppings: Aloe Jelly, Mango Jelly, Grass Jelly
Student Spotlight
Parents, please let us know if your child is doing something newsworthy, so we can congratulate them in our Student Spotlight section! Please send submissions to newsletter@grauerschool.com.
Grauer Student Actor
Congratulations to Inder C. '27 for for performing the role of the Ghost King in the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, produced by JCompany Youth Theatre. The show will be performed on January 21 and January 22 - click here to purchase tickets. This is Inder's 11th show with JCompany Youth Theatre.
Grauer Student Athlete
Congratulations to Nathaniel T. '27 for competing in the 2023 USA Archery JOAD Indoor Nationals at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista last Friday, January 13. Nathaniel ended the competition in 10th place out of 14 archers competing, but he said the competition was extremely strong including one competitor who was an archer on the Junior Olympic team. Nathaniel is also a team member of the Grauer Middle School Archery team, and he assists Coach Trevor Olson with students who are new to the sport of archery during the team's practices.
Happy Birthday!
Zaid K. '25 - January 18
Ethan D. '23 - January 20
