Newsletter: January 29, 2010

January 29, 2010

Dear Pilgrim School families, First Church members, and Friends close and far,

Today I write to you from New York City where I am in classes all day with some of the finest faculty at Columbia University’s Teachers College.  In between homework, I am dropping everyone an update (brief, for a change!).

I am living like a real New Yorker, and walk about 35 blocks to school (through Central Park).  It snowed yesterday morning and the Park was like a holiday card.

The program is rigorous!  When we are not in lecture sessions, we are with the Klingenstein Masters Degree students, who hail from all over the country. I am studying educational philosophy, visiting New York City schools of all types, and discussing and observing best practices.  I am pleased to report that at the toniest New York Schools, the program is quite similar to Pilgrim.  That being said I do have some ideas about expanding our program (that is of course not a surprise!)

The rest of the time I am doing research for required papers, as well as my major research assignment.  Last night I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Klingenstein, who funded my fellowship.  They are a very impressive couple who have had a huge impact on independent schools in the United States.

I understand from reports that the week has gone well at Pilgrim, and that author Patricia Polacco’s visit was a huge success with our elementary students and the teachers and parents who heard her.  She was equally impressed with our students’ good manners and I also heard that the Tasty Tuesday program introduced local dates for our students to try.  It’s hard to imagine a palm tree right now as I am bundled up and the city sidewalks are frozen!

I miss you all, and will see you when I return, filled with new ideas and inspirations, on Monday, February 8.

Mark A. Brooks
Head of School

PS:  I just found out that I am going to miss yet another great Pilgrim event – STOMP, the internationally acclaimed performers, will give an assembly next Wednesday to kick-off Black History Month and two community service projects.  Thank you to BHM Co-Chairs Anthony Sparks and Marlo Afflalo for putting together a great schedule for the month.  More school news follows.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, January 31
New student admissions applications due

Wednesday, February 3
1:25:  STOMP performance, Stuart Hall

Thursday, February 4 – Saturday February 6
High School trip to Cedar Lake

Friday, February 5
High School field trip to “America I Am” exhibit
5 – 7 pm:  Elementary Sock Hop (Grades 3 to 5)

Saturday, February 6
Noon:  “Pilgrim School Day” at “America I Am” exhibit, California Science Center (Exposition Park)

Tuesday, February 9
Tasty Tuesday!

Thursday, February 11
8 a.m.:  Coffee and Conversation, Grades 1 -4

ATHLETICS SCHEDULE

Monday, February 1
3:30:  Boys Varsity Soccer at Cornerstone Christian
4:30:  Boys Varsity Basketball at San Gabriel Academy

Tuesday, February 2
4 pm:  Girls Varsity Basketball at Vistamar
4 pm:  Hollywood/Wilshire Elementary Basketball Game vs. Hollywood Schoolhouse at Pilgrim        

Wednesday, February 3
3:30:  Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Newbury Park Adventist

ELEMENTARY ART NEWS

Miss Alexy reports:
Last Friday I took the 1st graders to see the work of Wayne Thiebaud at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.  Wayne Thiebaud is most famous for his rich oil paintings of sweets such as pies, cakes, and other items found at a bakery.  The 1st graders enjoyed looking at his bright food paintings, but were equally impressed with his massive cityscapes.

We headed over to My Sweet Cupcake in South Pasadena after the museum visit to get the feel of being in a real bakery in order to draw desserts like Mr. Thiebaud does.  Even with the rain pouring outside, the 1st graders were very focused as each one received a cupcake to draw in detail.  I was very proud of the 1st graders for not even touching the icing on those cupcakes until they had finished their observational drawings.  As a reward, they each were allowed to consume their cupcakes upon completion of their drawings. Look for these scrumptious pieces of art in the hallways soon!

Thank you to all the parents who volunteered as chaperones and a very big thank you to the folks at My Sweet Cupcake for accommodating my art class for an hour. They are located in South Pasadena on Mission Street if you'd like to try their cupcakes!

On another note, the Haiti Houses our students made are Sold Out!  Thank you to all who helped us, especially the fourth graders who created these artworks.  We made $600 to send to Haiti.

LIBRARY CORNER

A new addition to the Secondary Library is Charles and Emma: the Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman.  This book describes the debate within Darwin’s marriage between his wife’s religious convictions and his controversial theory as he wrote Origin of the Species.

The Secondary Library also has purchased the first five books in the very popular Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. This was in response to requests by our wonderful seventh-grade readers.

Parents, the next meeting of Pilgrim’s book group is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10.  We are reading the popular and wonderful Steig Larsson book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Join us for wine, snacks, conversation and discussion!  Please contact Librarian Marjorie Clifton if you would like to be in on the enjoyment!  (mclifton@pilgrim-school.org)

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The first phase of our school's Haitian Relief Fundraiser is winding down and we are preparing a big check for Doctors Without Borders. Of course the tremendous need for support in Haiti will remain for years.

In conjunction with Black History Month, we will be working on two new community service efforts in the month of February.  We will be collecting gently used shoes of all kinds and sizes to send to Haiti.  When the earthquake hit many individuals were left without any personal belongings other than the shoes on their feet and the clothes on their backs.  Look though your closets and imagine your shoes brightening someone's day in Haiti.

We also want to remember our local needs here in Los Angeles. Unemployment is at a record level and our own food banks are crying for our generous donations. We will make this a Pilgrim Colony effort to see which colony can contribute the most to help both Haitians and our own neighbors in need. We ask that students bring staples like peanut butter, canned soups, canned meats, healthy snacks, tuna, cereal, pasta, applesauce and baby formula. We appreciate the efforts of everyone in the Pilgrim community.