Date: Wednesday – November 16, 2011

Important Messages from The Cottage School are attached. Please sign this form indicating their receipt and return to the school

with your student tomorrow. Thank You!!

Parent Signature________________________________________

1

h

-

November 16, 2011

Wednesday Packet

Important Dates/Information

“Give Thanks for Grandparents” Day - Friday, November 18th, 8:00 AM Thanksgiving Holiday – Monday-Friday, November 21st-25th

High School Fall Play – Monday, December 12th, 7:00 PM

High School ½ Day Exams – December 19th-21st – Noon Dismissal HS Only M.S. Teacher Work Day – Wednesday, December 21st – No School MS Only

Teacher Work Day – Thursday, December 22nd – No School MS & HS Winter Break – December 23rd-January 6th

First Day of Second Semester – Monday, January 9th

LUNCH MENU SELECTIONS FOR DECEMBER SHOULD BE RETURNED BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH,

FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM The December session begins

Thursday, December 1st. Payment is due by Tuesday, November 29th.

The Lunch Menu and ASP forms are available at the following link:

http://cottageschool.org/school/?page_id=177

2

Last week’s GISA conference afforded the staff at TCS the opportunity to interact with some amazing leaders in our educational community. We were treated to an invigorating and entertaining keynote speech by the acclaimed teacher/school founder, Ron Clark. We rubbed elbows with some of the most esteemed independent educational leaders in our state. However, the educator who spoke the loudest to me was Betty Siegel, past long standing president of Kennesaw College and University. She was the first female college president in Georgia and she charted Kennesaw’s growth from a small junior college to the large and outstanding university it has become. Joe and I have heard her speak many times and each time we are captivated. Dr. Siegel and one of her graduate school professors spoke to the Headmasters’ group to introduce them to the new graduate course of study specifically to prepare educators of independent institutions. It is a new and exciting concept. As the public system, try as hard as it might, continues to experience the challenges of funding, leadership and purpose, the role of independent education continues to grow. There are currently 33,366 independent schools serving over 5.5 million PK-12 students in the United States. Our local Georgia Independent School Association represents 72,480 students in 160 member schools. The diversity, opportunities and academic, cultural and social excellence demonstrated by these independent schools is impressive. Dr. Siegel is always entertaining and inspirational. Her style of speaking in a conversational manner and interspersing her words of wisdom with anecdotes and analogies keeps her audience captivated. One of the themes she highlighted in this most recent presentation was the invitational and intentional nature of independent schools. This message rings particularly true for us at TCS since we use the term intentional on many occasions. It is not enough to value respect, persistence, and courage. A school must intentionally build opportunities to develop those characteristics into their daily experiences. It isn’t enough for a school to want to have a calm and welcoming environment. The entire school staff must actively and intentionally behave in a manner that creates a calm setting and a feeling of warmth. It is the creation and implementation of a specific set of expectations and behaviors designed to achieve that goal that makes the difference. The other term that Dr. Siegel emphasized was “invitational.” She noted that independent schools invite their students to see themselves as able and valued members of their community. The tone in an independent school environment is one that consciously sends a message of high expectations and a variety of supportive services designed to achieve those expectations. The environment is child centered. The staff offers the tools and opportunities to meet the daily challenges and develop the skills needed for success. The end product is the achievement of a future of Promise and Pride. We, at TCS, get that. We repeatedly summon our students to move forward…to stretch farther…to aim higher. Our entire behavioral system is designed to motivate and expand our students’ attitudes and goals. Our academic system provides both the flexibility and the expanse to take a student as far as they are capable in the time we are allotted. There is no better proof of the success that TCS offers than to talk with our newly graduated and veteran alumni. From our freshly enrolled students at Berry College, Chattahoochee Tech and Oglethorpe to our “old” alumni who are gainfully employed and in successful careers, the proof of the pudding is right before our eyes. They are proof that, once “invited”, our kids rise to the challenge and step up to the plate! That’s what it’s all about!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

November 16, 2011

Jacque’s Note

WHO: All parents interested in learning more about the assistive technology we use here at TCS.

WHAT: A training time to get more familiar with the Premier Tools and ClassWeb.

WHEN: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 @ 5:30 P.M.

WHERE: Media Center

HOW TO RSVP: E-mail Nathan Edwards (nathane@cottageschool.org) by Monday, December 5,

to RSVP, so needed computers can be set up for the class.

CAN I BRING MY OWN TECH? Only if it already has the TCS wireless key installed.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to access ClassWeb during the training.

From Bob and the Business Office

Are you aware that if your student has a diagnosis of a special learning need and a

recommendation has been made that you seek a school setting that specializes in

providing services for your student, your tuition may be fully deductible as a medical

expense when you itemize your deductions? For those of you who are not familiar with

this provision, when you itemize your deductions on your tax return, your tuition could

be fully deductible, if you meet the criteria.

For specific information of this provision, please see Publication 502 page 13, under the

topic Special Education, or consult your tax advisor. This site may be viewed online at

www.irs.gov. For those of you who may be able to take advantage of the full tuition

deduction in the 2011 calendar year, please make sure that all payments have been post

marked by December 31, 2011. IRS regulations regarding charitable donations state that

tuition payments are not tax deductible unless qualified as a dependent’s medical

expense. (TCS cannot give tax advice, please consult your tax advisor for your specific

information.)

Premier Tools Training

For Parents!

RosWall is Fun for All!

The Cottage School art students from both the middle and the high school came together with hard work and diligence

on Saturday dedicating their time at the “RosWall.” On a cool, crisp morning, the parents’ presence and enthusiasm

warmed everyone’s hearts. Those attending included Lily Hesketh, Sydney Culver, Jack Hipp, and Jacob Cohen.

Coordinators of the event included Kathy Lenoir from the City of Roswell’s Cultural Arts Board, Phil Parker, and Katja

Burkett. The beautiful tiles the students made in their ceramics classes as well as an eclectic variety of glasses and plates

decorated part of a 100-foot retaining wall along Forrest St. behind the Cultural Arts Center in Roswell. The large colorful

mosaic is truly worth a drive-by if you are ever driving through Roswell. The hard work and creativity is illuminated in

this vast piece of art. A special thanks to the parents and coordinators who helped make this event memorable.

Clay leaves made in Ceramics classes for RosWall

Jacob & Jack ready to smash plates

Lily placing tiles on wall.

RosWall and crew Sydney C. and sister applying pieces

Ceramic pieces before grouting (They have to dry a few days before applying the grout).

Ceramic pieces on wall after grouting.

Now even more ways to get My Coke Rewards points for our school

stack uprewards

Check out NESTEA® in seven simple and refreshing flavors.20 oz. and 1L bottles – 3 Points

Great news – there are two additional brands now participating

in My Coke Rewards – NESTEA® and Seagram’s® Ginger Ale. That

means your family has even more ways to get codes and donate

points to our school.

It’s easier than ever to get anddonate points, here’s how:

1 Purchase participating Coca-Cola beverages to get My Coke Rewards codes

2 Go to mycokerewards.com/schools (register if you are not already a member)

3 Enter your codes to get points – find our school then enter the points you would like to donate

Try Seagram’s Ginger Ale acrisp, clean, non-caffeinated wayto unwind in regular and diet flavors.20 oz. and 2L bottles – 3 Points12-pack 12 oz. cans – 10 Points

My Coke Rewards is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states (and D.C.) age 13 and over. Visit www.mycokerewards.com for details and full list of participating products. ©2011 The Coca-Cola Company. All rights reserved.

for more information and turn My Coke Rewards points into rewards for our school.

mycokerewards.com/schools

Check out

Go to btfe.com/marketplacewhere you can find over175 retailers!

Message from your Coordinator:

Earn *this season with:

™

© 2

011

Gen

eral

Mill

s A

2510

5

*Every qualifying purchase. Please check individual merchant Terms & Conditions

per $10 spent3 eBoxTops

2 eBoxTopsper $10 spent .5 eBoxTops

per $10 spent 1.5 eBoxTopsper $10 spent

Earn for our school when you shop online!

5 eBoxTopsper $10 spent 1.5 eBoxTops

per $10 spent

eBoxTopsper $10 spent66 eBoxTops

per $10 spent 3 eBoxTopsper $10 spent

eBoxTopsper $10 spent5

TCS Student Council &

Interact Club Present

It’s the Coat and Toy

Event of the Season

TCS is teaming up with One Warm Coat and Toys for Tots to

collect clean and gently used coats along with new and

unwrapped toys for the less fortunate this winter season.

Bring coats and toys to your homeroom teacher from

November 14 to December 9. The Middle School and High

School homerooms with the most total donations will win a

free breakfast courtesy of Student Council.

and

Saturday, November 19

Understanding Dyslexia

for Parents

The Georgia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association seeks to spread awareness and understanding of dyslexia.

On November 19, IDA-GA Board Member Brenda Fitzgerald will be teaching a 3-hour class for parents who want to better understand

their children's reading struggles and what the term dyslexia means. Come join the discussion and learn ways you can help your

child.

The School Box at Town Center 50 Barrett Parkway, Marietta, Ga. 30066

Date: November 19, 2011 Time: 9 am to 12 pm

Fee- $30 Register at www.georgiaeta.com

Brenda Fitzgerald oversees the fidelity of reading instruction in public schools

throughout the state of Georgia and teaches classes through the Georgia Educational Training Agency. She is the Georgia Director for the National Right

to Read Foundation.

To learn more about dyslexia and the International Dyslexia Association, visit www.interdys.org. For information about the Georgia Branch and upcoming

events, go to www.idaga.org.

MS November/December Activities

DATE TIME Activity RAIN-

OUT

TCS$ Things to bring

Thursday

11/17

James and The Giant

Peach

MS students will attend a production of

James and the Giant Peach at Georgia

Ensemble Theatre.

Friday

11/18

“Give Thanks for

Grandparents” Day

8:00 AM

Clubs

Academics

$156.40

$165.60

Open to grandparents, aunts,

uncles or special friends of TCS

students.

Mon-Fri 11/21-

11/25

Thanksgiving Holiday

NO SCHOOL

Friday

12/2

Career Day

Clubs

Academics

$156.40

$165.60

Friday

12/9

Escalade Rock Climbing

Holiday Art

Academics

$160.08

$156.40

$165.60

All students going off campus must

bring a sack lunch unless

pre-ordered through lunch program.

There will not be microwaves.

Friday

12/16

Clubs

Academics

$156.40

$165.60

Wednesday

12/21

MS Teacher Work Day

Middle School will not have school. The

high school will still be having exams.

If you carpool with a high school

student, please be sure

other arrangements are made.

Thursday 12/22

All School

Teacher Work Day

NO SCHOOL

12/23

THROUGH

1/6/2012

WINTER BREAK

NO SCHOOL

Monday 1/9/2012

FIRST DAY

2ND SEMESTER

Middle School Elective Classes – Spring 2012

1

Select your TOP THREE CHOICES for Period Six (page 1) and Period Seven (page 2) elective classes. Please make your selections based on the electives you feel that you will most enjoy. DO NOT make selections based on which students you believe may be taking a particular class. Changes to schedules that you have selected are not likely to occur, so please choose carefully and thoughtfully. As you may get your second or third choice, please take as much time with those selections as you would in making your first choice. SELECTIONS ARE DUE TO JULIE BY December 2, 2011. Student Name: ___________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________ Period Six

Choice 1, 2, 3 Class Description

Appetizers and Desserts Culinary

Learn the basics for planning, researching, shopping and preparing a first or last course for your family or for a group. Students will spend several weeks learning the necessary culinary skills to safely prepare tasty treats.

Track and Field Students will learn the basic elements of various track and field events. Students will practice and acquire skills in events such as hurdles, shot put, discus, triple jump, long jump and high jump. Students do not need to have previous knowledge of track and field and they do not need to be on the track and field team.

Scrapbooking: Personal Journey COST $35.00

Students will produce increasingly complex works of art reflecting personal choices and increasing technical skills. FEE $35.00

Public Speaking and Debate

Students will learn the basic qualities of influential public speaking. Students will also be able to research various sides of a selected topic and debate their beliefs.

Newspaper Students will design, create and publish a school newspaper. Students will be responsible for writing all of the editorials, creating the comics, and capturing the events on campus.

Spanish and French Languages and Cultures

Students will study languages from around the world with a focus on French and Spanish. Students will be exposed to the basics of the Romance Languages and the cultures they inspire.

Anne of Green Gables Book Club

Students will cover discovering what life was like on Prince Edward Island in the early twentieth century – cooking, games, fashion, etc. Students will compare a child’s life in the early 20th century to a child’s life now; students will watch the Anne of Green Gables movies and discuss the differences between the book and the movie.

Chorus Express yourself through song. Join the TCS chorus. Great for novice singers as well as experts in the field. Joint HS/MS class.

Introduction to Guitar Students will learn the basic chords and hand positions needed to play songs on the guitar. Students do not need to have previous knowledge of how to read music or play a guitar. Would be great if you have your own guitar, but is not a requirement.

Middle School Elective Classes – Spring 2012

2

Student Name: ___________________________________________________ Period Seven

Choice 1, 2, 3 Class Description

Indoor Sports Learn about various indoor sports. The activities will teach the rules and the play of such games as kickball, scooter ball, soccer, whiffle ball, and other ultimate games. Students will learn the rules and the history of the sports.

Ceramics

This class offers instruction, participation and knowledge of basic skills in both clay-making by hand and through the use of a pottery wheel. Creations will be fired and glazed, some of which will be donated to Glitter. This class is designed for serious students willing to spend time on projects often taking two to four periods to complete.

Drama Students will learn about acting and stagecraft as you perform skits and plays. Students will put on a play in front of a live audience at the end of the class.

Myths and Legends

Students will learn about different counties and their specific myths and legends. The students will use their knowledge of the different cultures myths and legends to compare and contrast the different stories and oral fork lore.

Keyboarding 101 Students will learn the basics of keyboarding. Students will learn about hand placement and key selection. Students will be taught the basics to assist in future typing abilities.

Music and Coloring Appreciation

Lessons in this course are designed for all types of students. There is no previous art classes needed or required to take this class. Students will learn how to color/shade anything from beautiful scenery to portraiture. Beginning with the basics of drawing psychology, students will learn different tips and techniques to perfect your drawing style. Learn how the brain affects drawing styles, and how to set the mood for a drawing atmosphere using different genres of music.

Carpentry Students will learn to employ wood shop tools and carpentry skills through hands on projects. Students will create projects as individuals and as teams.

8th Grade Families,

You are cordially invited to attend the first of our

transition to High School meetings. This is an

opportunity to get the High School Principal all to

yourselves!! We will be reviewing the plan for the High

School transition activities for second semester , and

believe us, it is right around the corner!

Because we are requiring at least one parent or

guardian attend with your 8th grader, we

decided to give you two options for

scheduling:

Monday, December 5, 2011 at 3:15 P.M.

or

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 8:00 A.M.

You should select one meeting to attend.

Please RSVP to Donna with the meeting you and

your child will be attending.

High School Monday/Wednesday Elective Choices Spring 2012

Directions: Select your TOP six CHOICES for Period Six (page 1) and Period Seven (page 2) elective classes. Changes to schedules that you have selected are not likely to occur, so please choose carefully and thoughtfully. As you may get your second or third choice, please take as much time with those selections as you would in making your first choice. SELECTIONS ARE DUE TO LYNN BY November 18, 2011. Student Name: ___________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________

Rank

1-6

Cost &/or

Special

Course Description

PE Uniform Basketball *Learn the fundamentals of Basketball

Interview

required for

New

Students

Yearbook *Help produce the school yearbook—sign up

with Ali for an interview

alim@cottageschool.org

PE Uniform Body Sculpting *Get in shape, learn the techniques and

exercises to tone your muscles at the gym

$35 Art *Learn the fundamentals of several modes

of art, like drawing, painting, ceramics etc.

History of Organized

Crime

* Learn the history behind organized crime

$50 Knitting & Crocheting *Make beautiful art with just a hook and

yarn

ATSS---Assistive

Technology/Study Skills

* Learn to use assistive technology to get

you organized and assist you in your

learning

$185 plus +

your own

digital

camera

Digital Photography * Learn how to take digital pictures and

manipulate images on photo shop from a

professional photographer

PE Uniform Track and Field *Spend the afternoon running through the

woods and improving your endurance.

Project Cost Carpentry *Build something that will last a lifetime

and learn the age old trade of carpentry

Chorus * Express yourself through song, join the

TCS chorus

History of Rock *Explore the origins and growth of Rock &

Roll

$250 Judo *Practice the ancient art of Judo

Required

Level 2

Co-Op/Internship *Gain valuable knowledge, leave campus and

work in a real world work setting

High School Tuesday/Thursday Elective Choices Spring 2012

Directions: Select your TOP six CHOICES for Period Six (page 1) and Period Seven (page 2) elective classes. Changes to schedules that you have selected are not likely to occur, so please choose carefully and thoughtfully. As you may get your second or third choice, please take as much time with those selections as you would in making your first choice. SELECTIONS ARE DUE TO LYNN BY November 18, 2011. Student Name: ___________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________

Rank

1-6

Cost &/or

Special

Course Description

Keyboarding *Learn how to type faster and more

accurately

PE Uniform Personal Fitness *Survey physical education and personal

physical fitness techniques

5 days of after

school practice

in April and May

Drama *Learn acting techniques while you plan,

rehearse, and perform the Annual Spring

Play

$175 Climbing *Have fun climbing the walls and learn

the essential skills of climbing

Literary Magazine

*Write for the literary magazine

$25 Cross Stitch *Make beautiful art with a needle and

thread

BIKE in good

working order

Mountain Biking *Ride on TCS trails while increasing

mountain biking skills

$400 Horseback Riding

*Learn & practice basic equestrian skills

Business Communication * An interactive course with technology,

guest speakers, and field trips

$150 Dance

*Learn different types of dance styles

Creative Writing

*Learn to write creatively

Yoga mat Yoga/Tai Chi *Learn the art of meditation through

Yoga and Tai Chi

Stability Ball *Learn several exercises on a stability

ball to improve your flexibility, balance

and tone your muscles

Required Level 2 Co-Op/Internship *Gain valuable knowledge, leave campus

and work in a real world work setting

$409 Driver’s Education with

Nathan’s Driving School

*Students earn ADA certification, learn

laws, and practice driving skills.

The Cottage School’s

Teenage Driver Education Program

In conjunction with Nathan’s Driving School, Inc.

Nathan’s Driving School, Inc. is pleased to offer a teenage driver’s education course for The Cottage

School. Our teenage driver’s education program has been designed to produce safer, more confident,

and more experienced teenage drivers as well as to combat the problems associated with teenage driving.

Our program is taught by state licensed instructors who are well trained, patient, and understanding.

The basic course is a combination of 30 (thirty) hours of classroom instruction and six hours of private

in-car training. The price for the 30 and 6 program as an elective at The Cottage School is $409.00. We

also offer expanded programs with the same 30 (thirty) hours of classroom instruction but with ten hours of in-

car training ($639.00), fifteen hours of in-car training ($909.00), twenty hours of in-car training ($1,159.00), or

forty hours of in-car training ($1,959.00).

Students who successfully complete the course will earn a Certificate of Completion which will entitle

them to receive possible insurance discounts and qualify for a $150.00 Georgia income tax credit. This

course also meets the requirements of the “Joshua Law” which went into effect on January 1, 2007.

The next available class begins on Tuesday, January 10th

, 2012. Online registration is required and is

available by going to www.CottageDriverEducation.Com. You must register online with Nathan’s AND

choose Driver’s Education on your TCS electives form. Please remember that the class size for each

session is limited to fifteen students. For more information, please call our main office at 770.454.9100.

Yearbook Senior Ad Extension!

Attention parents of TCS seniors…

The deadline for submitting a senior ad for this

year’s Yearbook has been extended! You now

have until the end of this semester to turn in

your materials!

Remember, we need your layout choice,

pictures, message and payment (check made

out to The Cottage School) turned in to Ali

before December 21st, 2011.

If you’d like a new copy of the original requirements/layout choices, email Ali at

alim@cottageschool.org