Date: Wednesday – December 5, 2012

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________________________________________

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December 5, 2012

Wednesday Packet

Important Dates/Information

HS Play – Two Plays About Plays – AND Chorus Performance Monday, December 10th - 7:00 PM in Cougar Center

MS Play - The Adventures of Nate the Great – Thursday, December 13th – 1:45 in RCC HS Half Day Exams – December 17th-19th – Dismissal each day at Noon (HS Only)

MS Only Teacher Work Day – Wednesday, December 19th – No School for MS All School Teacher Work Day – Thursday, December 20th – No School

Winter Break – December 21st-January 4th Second Semester Begins - January 7, 2013

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Whoa….Here come the celebrations!! This month is chock full of multicultural reminders that we live in a cycle of loss and renewal. Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of the temple lights, begins this week. Advent, the Christian preparation for the birth of Jesus leading up to Christmas, has begun. Bodhi, the Buddhist celebration of Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment, occurs in early December. Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday that honors Abraham’s spirit of sacrifice, and is celebrated with ritual and gifts, also occurs this month. Kwanzaa, a non-religious celebration, is in late December with an emphasis on food and family. Regardless of your religious or cultural traditions, the month is filled with family, food and rituals. The month of December always puts me in a pensive, almost melancholy, mood. Personally, it is packed with family memories and expectations for the future. Joe’s Italian heritage comes into full swing this month and our family soaks in every colorful, tasty detail. The chilly nights bring us inside to sit by our roaring fire. Preparing for the holiday cards and gifts adds an extra layer of awareness that so many people fill our lives with joy and love. The season fills my heart! And my calendar! At school, too, this emotional surge takes over. We have been together as a “family” for almost six months. The staff has gelled. The students have settled in and the pattern of success and pride has begun to emerge. What begins each year as an unknown slowly takes shape and becomes an organic expression of the talents and promise of our community members. We move through the semester picking up speed as we go. What we strive to keep in focus is that all the activity is bound by relationships. Individually, each community member is quite special. Together, they are spectacular! The calendar of each school year is very repetitive. Our staff is working on next year’s calendar as we speak. Setting up the first day of school, scheduling the pay offs, sports events, Homecoming, Glitter event, and finally, graduation. What we are involved in now for next year is impersonal and rote. Once the school year begins, however, what was routine becomes charged with an energy I cannot describe. Relationships form between student to staff and student to student. Goals are set into motion and, step by step, become reality. Class schedules shift into a progression of activity and challenge. Every day is full of the drama of adolescence, mitigated by the guidance and appreciation of those more experienced and wise. There is an exchange of unseen energy that fills this campus and spills into the homes and jobs of our families. As you enter this time of reflection and celebration, I encourage you to share your thoughts with your family. Too often we become consumed with the details and distractions of the commitments and activities. What really feeds us is the emotional ties and significance of our times together. Our teens are experiencing some of these feelings as well and it is a huge benefit to them to know they can share them. Learning to take time to appreciate what we have and the people who fill our lives with meaning is a very important lesson!

December 5, 2012

Jacque’s Note

Character Education

Setting & Achieving Goals

Take a look below at what we will be discussing with your student and take some

time to continue these discussions at home!

Objectives:

Develop personal and academic goals.

Predict obstacles that may interfere with goal attainment and identify ways

to overcome them.

Discussion questions for you and your student:

Why set goals?

What makes for a good goal?

How do we overcome obstacles to achieving our goals?

Key Terms to discuss: Long-term goal, situational obstacles, emotional obstacles, short-term goal

MS Girls Basketball vs. Swift School 1:00 PM- 2:00 PM

MS Boys Basketball vs. Swift School 2:00 PM- 3:00 PM

JV Basketball vs. Greater Gwinnett 3:00 PM- 4:15 PM

VW Basketball vs. Greater Gwinnett 4:30 PM- 6:00 PM

VM Basketball vs. Greater Gwinnett 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM

Alumni vs. Staff Ultimate Court Challenge VIII 8:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Limited Edition Greeting Cards

“River of Painted Rocks” by local artist Nita Burge

Commissioned by

First Landmark Bank

Great Gifts!

Available from Donna or Sandy

100% of the proceeds benefit

the First Landmark Bank Employees’ fundraising efforts for

The Cottage School

$10 for 12 Cards (Inside Blank) Suitable for framing (Includes 12 cards, 12 envelopes and gift box)

Make checks payable to “The Cottage School”

FINAL WEEK!

Calling All Coats!

Please bring in gently used coats to be donated to North Fulton Community

Charities. The coats can be brought in from

November 26th to December 7th.

Toys for Tots

FINAL WEEK

November 26th to December 7th

We are collecting NEW toys for

children of all ages.

Please bring in your unwrapped

toy to your homeroom teacher.

The homeroom with the most

toys will win a prize!

Spirit T-shirts Available immediately

$15.00 each

Tear it up Cougars

Get your shirt and show your spirit!!!

Great for Payoffs and Sports Events

Name _________________________

T-shirt size ____________________

Quantity _______________________

Available in Adult Small, Medium, Large, and Extra-Large

100% Cotton T-shirts

See Julie in the Middle School------See Wilfrid in the High School

MS December Activities

DATE TIME Activity RAIN-

OUT

TCS$ Things to bring

Friday

12/7

Off Campus

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Roller Skating

Lunch

Roller Skating

Homeroom

$160.08 All students going off campus must

bring a sack lunch unless

pre-ordered through the lunch

program. There will not be

microwaves.

Friday

12/7

On Campus

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Winter Activity

Lunch

Winter Activity

Homeroom

$156.40

Friday

12/7

Academics $165.60 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an

independent reading book if you

complete your work early.

Thursday

12/13

1:45 Middle School Drama

Presents:

“The Adventures of

Nate the Great”

1:45 in the RCC

Parents welcome!

Friday

12/14

Clubs

$156.40

Club Materials

Friday

12/14

Academics $165.60 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an

independent reading book if you

complete your work early.

*Make sure you have all savings checks turned into Lauren before you leave for break!*

12/19 Middle School

Teacher Work Day

NO SCHOOL

12/20 All School

Teacher Work Day

NO SCHOOL

12/21-1/4 Winter Holiday

NO SCHOOL

December 13th, 2012 December 13th, 2012 December 13th, 2012

1:45 in the RCC 1:45 in the RCC 1:45 in the RCC Parents welcome! Parents welcome! Parents welcome!

High School December

Date Time December Rain out TCS $ Things to bring/US$

Friday 12/7 1:10-2:40 Clubs Materials for your club Monday

12/10 7:00 P.M. HS PLAY

Earn additional hours

to buy-off your finals

Friday

12/14

Academics

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Academics

Lunch

Academics

Homeroom

$336.89

Academic material to

complete work and spare

reading materials, if you

will be in academics all day!

Off-Campus 10:00-

2:40

2:40

Cooler (roller skating

and basketball)

Homeroom

$326.03

Jeans to change into, and

money for food and games

to play

On-Campus 10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Wreath Making

Lunch

Holiday Ornaments

with Movie

Homeroom

$315.16

Saturday

12/15

7:59-12:00

12:00-3:30

Saturday School For students who owe

hours

All textbooks, notebooks,

planner, lunch and a change of

clothes for P.M. work detail

Monday,

Tuesday,

Wednesday 12/17-12/19

8:00

12:00

HS EXAMS Early dismissal for

Exam days!!!

Pencils, pens, calculator and

all other necessary items

needed for exams

Thursday

12/20 No school - Teacher

work day

*Don’t forget 12:00 dismissal for exam days.

Make ride arrangements!

Enjoy the break: December 20th

to January 6th

! See you on January 7

th.

The High School Drama Class presents:

Two Plays About Plays!

Geoff Bamber’s Exit Stage Left

Bruce Bonafede’s Advice to the Players

This event will start with an additional performance by Ashley’s Chorus Class.

There will be a brief intermission between the two plays.

Date & Time: 7:00 P.M., Monday, December 10th

Location: The Cougar Center

Bonus:

High School audience members will be awarded 3 attendance hours!

(That’s an extra exam buyoff!)

ATTENTION HS Parents and Students: In an effort to help our teenagers learn the concept of Sick/Personal Leave in the work place, we have a system that tracks their attendance hours as if they were on the job. Each student earns 8 hours (1 day) every 4 weeks and can use or accumulate up to 32 hours (4 days) per semester. If they are absent more than their allotted hours, they make them up. If they save the hours, they can cash them in for days off during exams- like we save days for vacation at work. Please check accumulated/negative attendance hours with your student, and verify with their homeroom teacher during weekly calls. Students who have saved hours are eligible to take early exams and buy-off their exam days for an extended break! Students who are eligible to buy off exam days will bring home an Exam Buy-off Form with their positive hours listed and they will need your signature to be able to take advantage of this privilege. If your student has negative hours, it is imperative that they make-up negative hours prior to Saturday School on December 15, 2012. If they fail to do so, they will have to attend Saturday School. Students who owe hours and who do not attend Saturday School will be suspended for the three days following December 15th per our school policy. This means that suspended students will miss all three days of exams and will receive a ‘0’ for those exams. For students who owe hours, they may come in early from 7 to 8 A.M. or stay after school from 3 to 4 P.M. We strongly encourage them to make up their hours daily, so they can avoid Saturday School all together!

Thank you,

High School Monday/Wednesday Elective Choices Spring 2013

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 HAAS ASAP, PARENT SIGNATURE REQUIRED FOR ANY CLASS WITH A COST. 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

$100 Roller Skating *Have fun learning the art of roller

skating!

$45 Ceramics *Make your own ceramic art to keep

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

Roll

World Cultures Through

Film

Major cinematic works from Latin America,

Asia, Middle-East, Europe, and Australia in

relation to contemporary topics such as

globalization and migrations. Cinema as a

global art form.

PE Uniform Track and Field *Spend the afternoon running and

improving your endurance.

$100 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

$450 Driver’s Education with

Nathan’s Driving School

*Students earn ADA certification, learn

laws, and practice driving skills.

Low Ropes Initiative *Challenge yourself and sharpen your

leadership and communication skills.

$150 Self Defense

Aikido and Judo

Techniques

*Learn Self Defense techniques and learn

to balance your body and mind

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 2013

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 HAAS ASAP, PARENT SIGNATURE REQUIRED FOR ANY CLASS WITH A COST. Student Name: ___________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________

Rank

1-6

Cost &/or

Special

Course Description

PE Uniform Personal Fitness *Survey physical education and personal

physical fitness techniques

5 days of after

school practice

in May

Drama *Learn acting techniques while you plan,

rehearse, and perform the Annual Spring

Play

$250 Climbing *Have fun climbing the walls and learn

the essential skills of indoor rock

climbing

Staff

Recommendation

Study Skills *Learn to get organized and assist you in

improving your study skills and test

preparation

$50 Ballroom Dancing * Learn the art of ballroom dancing

BIKE in good

working order

Mountain Biking *Ride on TCS trails while increasing

mountain biking skills

$450 Horseback Riding

*Learn & practice basic equestrian skills

Forensic Science *Learn & practice basic forensic science

techniques

Abs/Core Training *Learn & practice core and abs exercises

Computer Animation

with ALICE

*Learn how to do computer animation and

become acquainted with the ALICE

program

$150 and your

own Camera

Digital Photography *Learn how to take digital pictures and

manipulate images on photo shop from a

professional photographer

Global Music

Appreciation

*Learn about the different types of

music and their relationship to cultures

around the world and their similarities

and differences to western/classical

music

Create-A-Country *The ultimate strategy game, build a

country and take over the world

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

and work in a real world work setting

You Are cordially invited to the

Senior Holiday Party

Hosted by

The Isons, Ashley, Nathan, and Ryan

4590 Gilhams Road

Roswell, GA 30075

Thursday, December 13, 2012

6:30 o’clock ‘till 8 o’clock

Share the holiday spirit…

Bring a “Toys for Tots” gift, unwrapped

&

Bring a co-ed gift for “senior swap”

RSVP to your Homeroom Teacher

Senior Ad Order Form (please return this form with Ad submission)

Senior Parents, this is your chance to acknowledge your hardworking senior!

Place an advertisement in the yearbook that will be a permanent tribute to your senior as well as a wonderful surprise when they receive their Yearbook this spring.

Ad Cost: 1/4 Page Ad $ 75.00

Half Page Ad $ 150.00 Vertical or Horizontal Full Page Ad $ 200.00

Submission Guidelines: By: e-mail_______ CD_______ Envelope_______

(Materials will be returned to the parent during the second part of the semester) Just submit photo(s) and your message.

Due to a strict yearbook deadline, all senior ads are due no later than January 30th, 2013!!!

1st Choice Ad Size: _______________________________ (Space is limited and is on a first come first serve basis. We will do our best to accommodate your ad size)

Please circle the template you have chosen and return it with this order form to Ali. If you have further questions, please contact Ali by email: alim@cottageschool.org

Student Name: Parent Name:

Cash Amount: Credit Card #:

Check # & Amount: Expiration Date:

Credit Amount: Security Code:

Please Circle One:

¼ Page Ad ($75) ½ Page Ad ($150) Full Page Ad ($200)

Please CIRCLE the template of your choice on the second page!

Please CIRCLE the template of your choice!!

Return this with your order form!

College Acceptances

Congratulations Jake Neuber on his acceptance to Ole Miss, Auburn

University, and University of Alabama

Simon Hirschhorn on his acceptance to Southern

Polytechnic State University, Queens University of

Charlotte, Georgia College & New College of Florida

Davey Ison on his acceptance to The University of

Alabama

Desi Levan on her acceptance to Brevard Community

College

Evan Robertson on his acceptance to Young Harris

College, Mars Hill College and Limestone College

Chip Sheffield on his acceptance to Southern

Polytechnic State University.