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Bulletin
January 20, 2017 
Volume 36, #19
NetClassroom and Report Cards
We plan to publish Semester 1 report cards to NetClassroom by Tuesday, January 31 and will email students and parents when they are available to access online.  Paper copies are not mailed, but those who would like to receive one should contact John Schatz.

Between now and January 31, as spring schedules and report cards are updated and finalized, you may notice that your NetClassroom account is unavailable for brief periods of time.  Thank you for your patience.

From the Desk of Dr. Bloomfield

Walking into Sumner Recital Hall, we are greeted by a sea of colorful banners. These flags represent countries from which The Academy has welcomed students and staff as members of our community over our 36-year history. The wide array of flags represents a curious and exciting constellation of locales, and makes our sweet, small school in rural Western Massachusetts feel a little bit bigger.

We have long been proud of our International Student program. Under Madame Mauri’s steady hand, this program reaches out all over the world – to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East – to locate like-minded students. These students come from families who seek an experience for their children unlike anything they can find in their homelands. We screen our international students just as rigorously as we do our local students to make sure that they will be happy, contributing members of our Academy family. And unlike most other independent schools, who look to international students and their tuition merely to balance their budgets, we seek out these students to make our community a more diverse, interesting place for all students.

But having them here requires us all to help. We always need families who are willing to host a student. This experience is like none other: it grows your family and introduces a new child and sibling into your lives. Besides the financial and logistical support we provide to host families, we do everything we can to make sure this experience becomes one you cherish forever.

For those families who cannot host, we need your help too. Invite an international student for dinner one night, or to a movie, or to join your family for a dance recital. Go to MassMOCA or just hang out at the mall. The APC is currently brainstorming such opportunities on their Facebook page. I ask that each and every Academy family invite one student to join them once per year for some such family activity. These students want to get to know you and share in your family’s life.

As of next week we will have four international students. They are not our guests: they are our friends, our neighbors, our students. Let’s all do our part to make them feel at home in our wonderful, large family.

Izzy Brenizer ’19

Artspace Teen Exhibi Opening

January 27th, 5 – 7 pm

Several Academy students will have artwork featured in the upcoming Annual Franklin County Teen Show at Artspace Community Arts Center (15 Mill Street in Greenfield, MA). The Academy will be represented by the work of Izzy Brenizer, Emily Comeaux, Lilah Feitner, Lila Goleman, Yilin Luo, and Connor O'Brien.  The media include photography, drawing and painting. Art will be on display January 23 - February 17. We hope community members can join us at the opening on January 27, 5-7 PM. The gallery is also open Monday-Friday, 12-2:30 PM and 4-6 PM.  

Save the Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival in China, is China's most important traditional festival. It is the most important celebration for families, and a weeklong official public holiday. It starts on January 28, 2017. The coming year will be the year of the rooster!

On Wednesday, February 1, we will observe the Chinese New Year with a special celebration at The Academy. Highlights include authentic decorations, fun facts about this important cultural holiday, a PowerPoint presentation on Chinese cinematography by our own Yilin, and a delicious meal prepared by Mr. Langston and the members of the Arts and Cultural Exchange Council

Our two new students from China, who arrived yesterday and who we will welcome into our community next week, willl be there to support us in our efforts to celebrate as authentically as possible.

Transportation Reminders

We ask that vehicles dropping students off in the morning do so in front of Grinnell Hall, entering via the easternmost side of the drive and exiting to the west. This helps ensure safety for those who are parking in and walking through the faculty and student lots.

We also ask that parents wishing to grant permission for students to leave campus via the FRTA bus or with a student driver with whom they do not typically ride during the 3:15-5:15 afterschool activity period do so directly to the Main Office, either by calling the school or emailing Jen Rizzi. Students must also sign out during this winter activity time if leaving before 5:15, Monday-Thursday

Buses will return to a late (5:15 PM) schedule next week.

ALL SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT for SEMESTER TWO

In the coming months, the Community Service Council will be promoting and organizing a drive for school supplies to fill 20 backpacks for students in need.  These will be assembled and donated prior to the 2017-2018 school year.  Half of the backpacks will be donated to the United Way of Franklin County's Women's Way "Blooming Backpacks" project, and the other half to students from newly-arrived refugee families from all over the world that are supported by Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts.
The Community Service Council will be collecting specific supplies during 7 two-week periods.  Students are encouraged to talk among themselves and watch the tallies for each period so we can be sure to have the requested amount of each item.  In order for families to plan and shop for items that may be on sale during the course of the semester, please consult this list.

Sports Update

In The Academy's only competition of the week, Kyle Nitzsche finished 34th in the Giant Slalom at Berkshire East on Wednesday. The ski program and basketball team jump back into full swing next week.

March Break Trip to Cleveland!

In addition to our trip to France during Spring Break this year, we are offering a chance to travel to another, more local destination: Cleveland, OH. Aside from being Dr. Bloomfield's home town, Cleveland offers a wide array of cultural experiences from art, to performance to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The cost for this 4-day, 4-night trip (March 12-16) will be $575, which includes all meals. A packet of information is available to download HERE. Forms and payments are due back by Friday, February 3. Contact Dr. Bloomfield with any questions (or if you are a parent interested in being a chaperone).
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