January 7:        Staff Day - No School
January 8-9:     Grinnell Sessions
January 10:      Grinnell Sessions Wrap Up (AM), Seniors' "This I Believe" speeches, 12pm-3pm
January 11:      Second semester classes begin
                          Girls' Night In

On January 8th and 9th, our students will engage in the first "Grinnell Sessions," an exciting two-day exploration of a topic offered by faculty. Topics include Protest Art, First Aid, Audio Recording, Mythology & Theater, Museum Exploration, Choreography, Fermentation, and Hispanic Cultural Studies. On January 10th, we will be sharing out about our two days and listening to seniors' This I Believe Speeches. The first day of second semester will be Friday, January 11th.

Recreational skiing will begin Tuesday, January 8th, assuming Berkshire East is open. Skiers can bring their gear to school and leave it in the athletic shed. Each day, interested skiers can sign-up on the ad hoc board and should be ready to go to the mountain immediately following chore. Skiers will return to school in time for the 5:15 PM buses each day. Contact John Schatz with any questions.

We hope to have report cards published to NetClassroom by Monday, January 14th. We will notify the community when they are available. If you do not have your NetClassroom login information, please contact Jen Mitchell. 

10-12th grade students interested in pursuing online opportunities through either Virtual High School or EdOptions Academy should contact Neale Gay before January 10th. 100% of the cost of the courses will be passed through directly to families (estimate is $350-$425 per course, per semester). There are many wonderful options available!     

In 1951, Edward R. Murrow invited listeners of the CBS radio network to compose short essays about their personal beliefs and read them on air, on a program fittingly titled “This I Believe.” Murrow’s invitation was an attempt to expand participation in national discussions about morality, fear, love, social upheaval, and the nature of truth. He believed that abstractions are powerful, and that sharing what we value can help forge common ground, or simply offer solace in times of flux and change. 

Each year, we extend Murrow’s invitation to the senior class. The class of 2019 will present their “This I Believe” speeches on Thursday, January 10th, 2019 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm.

The Academy's senior women are continuing the tradition of hosting a Girls’ Night In, following its recent revival. First established by alum Gracie Hall (2012), Girls’ Night In is an opportunity for all of the women at The Academy to get to know each other better, boost each other's self-esteem, and have tons of fun. Activities will include movies, a potluck dinner, games, and bonding exercises. Seniors and faculty will provide breakfast in the morning, and each student is responsible for bringing her own pajamas, toiletries, and sleeping bag/pillows (in addition to a potluck assignment). The event will be chaperoned by female Academy faculty and staff members, and all female-identified and non-binary Academy students are welcome. Attendees are requested to spend the night, but in recognition of the fact that conflicts are a part of life, individual students should talk with Mrs. BZ if arrangements need to be made to participate without sleeping over.

Students who plan to attend should RSVP to one of the senior women. Please be in contact with any of them, or with Mrs. BZ with any questions.

Thanks to so many of our parents who have made calendar year-end donations to The Academy. If you intend to itemize your charitable giving for tax deduction purposes, know that we're working on gift acknowledgements and you should receive yours in the mail shortly.

The school's fiscal year ends June 30, so if you haven't yet made a gift, please visit our secure donation page to make a pledge or a gift – one time or recurring - online. We are aiming for 100% parent participation this year, as you know. It's inspiring to other donors to know that parents support their children's school, so thank you for your consideration.

Thank you! 

Lunch will not be served on campus on Tuesday, January 8th. All students should bring a lunch on Tuesday. "Museumtopia" students should bring lunches on both Tuesday and Wednesday. (Grinnell Session groups can be found here.)

Vegetarian and gluten free options will, as always, be available next week, for the following menu. Items are served with the chef's choice of salad or fruit.
  
Wednesday:  Penne pasta, foccacia bread
Thursday:  Cheese, chicken, and potato quesadillas
Friday:   French toast and homefries, with or without sausage