From the Headmaster
On September 11, we paused as a community to gather in our "WOW" groups and focus on the importance of patriotism. In addition to placing over 1,100 American flags in the ground in the front of our campus, we also had brief discussions in our groups. Our Preschool students participated by placing 150 flags at the entrance of the Preschool. This day was special to me and so many others on our campus. I am thankful to Patty Mozley for planning this WOW activity.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Helen Sanderson Earns Gold Award
Helen Sanderson, a senior at Walker, recently earned the Girl Scouts' highest honor, the Gold Award. To learn more about Helen's accomplishment, please read the MDJ article.
Katherine Oudin Writes Blog for The New York Times
Katherine Oudin, a senior at Walker, wrote an article for Straight Sets, a tennis blog posted by The New York Times, on her sister Melanie Oudin's success at the U.S. Open this month. Click here to read Believing in Yourself Will Take You Places.
Grace Teborek Competes in U.S. Rowing Regatta
Lower School Media Specialist Grace Teborek won top honors amongst her fellow competitors at the U.S. Rowing Masters National Regatta held August 13 - 16 in Camden, New Jersey. Teborek placed second in the Women's Doubles and placed third in the Women's Quad. Congratulations!
Melissa Tulloch Named Teacher of the Future
Melissa Tulloch was named one of 25 educators nationwide to receive the Teacher of the Future award by NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools). She was selected from a large pool of nominees who inspire academic excellence in students and who serve as opinion leaders among colleagues and peers. She will work to contribute to an online community. The community includes blogs and wikis that cover everything from best practices for enhancing science lessons with technology, to a Tuareg Tea Ceremony that introduces students to a Craftmanship course. Math, science, globalism, Web 2.0, journalism, art, and music are among the many topics of discussion. Tulloch will lead her own online discussion forum designed to share innovative ideas and teaching techniques and she will create a demonstration video to inspire others.
DEVELOPMENT
2009-2010 Annual Fund
The 2009-2010 Annual Fund drive has begun! We are pleased to announce our faculty and staff have already reached 100% participation. We encourage our parents to join them in making a tax-deductible gift to the 2009-2010 Annual Fund today. Alumni are also encouraged to give to support their alma mater.
Annual Fund dollars make up the critical difference between tuition income and the full cost of a Walker education. It is through Annual Fund dollars that Walker can attract and retain excellent faculty and staff, provide state-of-the-art technology to improve classroom instruction and maintain our campus facilities. In short, Annual Fund dollars help to make Walker one of the best college-preparatory schools in the Atlanta area. Contact Cathy LaClaire, Director of Development, with any questions regarding your commitment to the Annual Fund at cathy.laclaire@thewalkerschool.org. Also, donors to the Annual Fund receive a Walker Community Card. It offers discounts at many business owned by members of the Walker community. AROUND CAMPUS
Alumni: Register for Homecoming & Submit Award Nominations
On Friday, October 16, Walker's alumni and their families will gather to cheer on the Wolverines as they take on the Gordon Lee Trojans at Homecoming 2009. Great food and old friends will make for another memorable Homecoming celebration under the tents. Alumni must register for Homecoming via the alumni website by Friday, October 9.
At Homecoming, the Alumni Association will also present its annual awards to two distinguished and deserving alumni. The recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Award and the Walker Alumni Service Award are selected by the Alumni Board from a pool of nominations submitted by Walker alumni. Alumni are encouraged to visit the alumni website to read the award criteria and submit a nomination for a deserving alumnus/a. Nominations are due by Wednesday, September 23.
For more details on Homecoming or the alumni awards, contact Kaleb McMichen ('01), Director of Alumni Relations, at kaleb.mcmichen@thewalkerschool.org.
Help Wanted: Admission Office
The Admission Office is asking for volunteers to work at Admission Open Houses. The Sunday events are scheduled for November 15, January 10 and February 7 at 1:30 p.m. The Preschool also has Wednesday Open Houses scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Those dates are: November 11, December 2, January 13 and February 3. It would involve an hour or two of your time to help meet and greet prospective parents. Volunteers would be asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the open house.
In the past, Walker parents have also hosted parent coffees or dessert parties for families in their area that may be interested in Walker. The Admission Office also welcomes volunteer hosts for these types of events.
To volunteer, email Patty Mozley, Director of Admission, at patty.mozley@thewalkerschool.org. Thanks for your willingness to spread the word about the wonder of Walker!
Patrons of the Arts
Patrons of the Arts is off to a great start with their second year of working to build an organization that will be a source of strength and pride for Walker's fine art teachers. The membership count has already surpassed last year's. Those who become a Patron prior to September 25 will have their names included in the fire arts souvenir program. With that $75 membership, patrons will also receive a travel mug showcasing student artwork and two tickets to The Music Man performed by the Upper School's NSA Players in February.
Another opportunity involving the souvenir program is advertising. If you are interested in advertising your business or creating a tribute ad to show support for a student, group or teacher, please check out the links provided or contact Meg Daniel at 404-309-1909 or tapcovp@bellsouth.net.
Our parent-teacher liaison program provides yet another volunteer opportunity. You may volunteer in a fine arts area where you or your child are most passionate. For more information, check out the link provided or contact Susan Merrick at 770-590-9553 or susanmerrick@att.net. The Patrons of the Arts encourage you to keep the fine arts calendar close by and join them at the many and various performances to be awed and entertained.
Walker Backers
It has been a wonderful start to the school year - and to the new Walker Backers. Thank you to all who have joined our Backer membership! Your generous support is already providing much-needed equipment and resources for all our Walker sports teams as well as our school's physical education program. And there are more opportunities ahead - look for our Walker Backers Annual Golf Tournament. Want to spend some time on the golf course? Sign up to be a tournament volunteer. Email David Richardson at drichardson@kingrealty.net. Thank you again and know that you are making a tremendous difference in Walker athletics, and the health and fitness of all our students. Go Wolverines!
PRESCHOOL
Preschool Students Enjoy Teddy Bear Picnic
On September 11, our Preschool students enjoyed a special treat, a Teddy Bear Picnic. Students were allowed to bring in their favorite stuffed animal to hold during the story read by Karlyn Zimmerman, Preschool Media Specialist.
Parents Support Preschool Library Endowment
Our generous Preschool parents donated $950 in new books to the library during registration and the Preschool parents' night. Thank you for your support and the new worlds these books will open up for our students!
Dave Holland Visits
Dave Holland, a percussionist with Young Audiences at the Woodruff Arts Center, visited the Preschool on August 28 to kickoff the character education program for this school year. He explained the importance of exhibiting respect for ourselves, others and the school.
LOWER SCHOOL
Laptop Cart: A Hit in the Lower School
Last year, the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools each received a laptop cart which contains 24 laptops for use in the classroom. Why is this essential to our teachers? According to Kathy Piques, Lower School Technology Integration Specialist, "It allows for more flexibility, since the lab is frequently booked."
Piques went on to explain that "It is important that we model the appropriate use of technology for our students at an early age. They are learning to synthesize the information that they obtain through utilizing safe, free search engines."
The teachers use their LCD projectors to display on-screen information to the class and students follow along on their own laptops. Teachers have also found the laptops convenient for use during math rotations and special area lessons, and collaborative web based projects such as the fifth grade's Walker Waterworld wiki.
Lower School Chorus
It's time for the Lower School Chorus to begin rehearsals! On Sept. 29 the first rehearsals will be held. If your child is interested in being involved, please click here for more information and access two forms required by Sept. 18. This year the boys and girls choruses are separate and there are no auditions necessary. If you have questions, please email Sonya Peebles.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle School Retreat
The Middle School's annual retreat, held on Friday, August 21, at Laurel Park, was featured in the August 24 edition of The Marietta Daily Journal.
Students of German Inducted into National Junior German Honor Society
We are very proud of the 13 Middle School students who were, in May, inducted into the Association of Teachers of German (AATG) National Junior German Honor Society: Delta Epsilon Phi. The students qualified for membership on the basis of their outstanding scores in written and spoken German. They were honored and received their membership certificates at an assembly held in May.
The students, who were in Mr. Selzer's and Mrs. Ward's German classes, are: Caleb Adams, Amy Collerton, Ansley Fantaski, Alexander French, Vincent Gregoire, Isabelle Haslam, Johnny Knox, Alex LaDue, Chelsea Morris, Austin Newsome, Jordan Strother, Wilson Wood, and William Wynn.
UPPER SCHOOL
Rotary Interact Club volunteers at Extension
Walker students rolled-up their sleeves to prepare dinner at the Extension earlier this month. From shopping to serving, several of our Upper School students were there to help. Click here to read the article as published in the Extension's newsletter.
Honor Convocation
On Friday, August 21, the entire Upper School gathered together for the first Honor Convocation. The students heard the peers they had elected to serve on the Honor Council speak about what the Upper School's newly revised Honor Code not only says, but truly means. Afterwards, all of the students and faculty filed out of their seats to sign a book of honor attesting that they will uphold the school's Honor Code. The convocation was conceived and designed by the student members of the Honor Council.
The wording of the new Honor Code, the convocation and the advisory meetings that preceded it were intended to clarify the kinds of actions that are considered acceptable under the new Honor Code. Most importantly, the focus is to to promote that an Honor Code is not a set of rules enforced by the adults, but a set of principles to guide the community with the students foremost in promoting those principles.
Summer Visit to Germany
Eighteen of Walker's German students spent 15 days this summer staying with German families and touring in Germany and Switzerland. The students were accompanied by Janet Ward and Ayren Selzer. Read more about this exciting educational excursion...
Upper School Counselors Launch New Programming
The Upper School's counselors, Jessica Eaton and Anna Kennedy, have launched two new programs in the Upper School. They have begun a girls forum that meets six times per semester and includes sophomore and junior girls. The purpose is to build character and forge strong, positive relationships with one another. The forum's inaugural session was held during the first week of school.
The counselors have also initiated a monthly "Cupcakes with the Counselors." Students and faculty who have a birthday during that month are invited to enjoy cupcakes in celebration of their birthdays. Those who have birthdays in the summer will be treated during their "half birthday" month.
|
