Date: Friday, February 26, 2014

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

-

February 26, 2014

Wednesday Packet

Important Dates/Information

New Parents’ Breakfast – Friday, March 7th, 8:00-9:00 AM in the RCC

TCS 29th Birthday – Monday, March 10th

No School - Friday, March 21st – Administrative Office Open

GLITTER – Saturday, March 22nd, 6:00-10:00 PM

2

Feel the routine returning? I know we have all experienced the stress related to having our schedules turned upside down and trying to keep some consistency in our lives and jobs. Our students are afraid they will fall behind and our teachers are reworking all their lesson plans so we can get the material covered without piling too much on at once! Kudos to our Basketball teams and all the volunteers needed to make last week’s tournament such a success! Win or lose, we can be proud of our teams’ determination, skills and sportsmanship! I love that our coaches keep their eye on the tone of the game, not just the score. The entire experience of our athletic program builds self-esteem, courage, endurance and camaraderie. As I looked around during the recent games I was so thankful for the staff, parents and students who took on a role so the event would be efficient and successful! Thank you! As basketball season winds down, we are gearing up for track and field, baseball, tennis and golf! At TCS, there is something for everyone! We are blessed to have talented and generous staff that give their all during the day and still have energy and heart to coach sports, direct plays and chaperone trips! This week we welcome Lynn back after her maternity leave. Baby Jack is happy and healthy and Mom is ready to come back to all her other kids! Of course, she has stayed in touch during her leave so she and Abby will continue to provide the excellent counseling services our families deserve. We are so grateful for the contributions that Michael, our interim High School counselor, has made over the last five weeks. He jumped right in and made himself a member of the team. We wish him luck as he moves on to his next school home. We are surrounded by the most generous people! Last week a local business man offered to purchase the remaining landscaping plants needed to dress up Hagan Hall! The plants were delivered last week and we will be planting them this week! Middle School parent, Christy Hood-Cree, has been working with our landscaping staff and Eric from the Nursery to design and secure plants to beautify our newest building. Thank you, Christy, Charlie and Eric, for partnering with TCS to beautify our space! This generosity is greatly appreciated! Recent events in local and national news bring home to me the importance of communication! We forget how carefully our kids are watching the adults who surround them. We often miss those opportunities to clarify our values and the importance of conflict resolution, communication and forgiveness. One area the TCS staff is committed to is problem resolution on a timely basis. When we become aware that a student is uncomfortable, reacting in an uncharacteristically negative manner, or confused, we make time immediately to begin the resolution process. Not only does it decrease the amount of time our students’ spend in anxiety, but it also models for them the most efficient way to manage difficult circumstances. Once a problem goes unaddressed, it can take on a life of its own and the resolution can be less successful. None of us like unpleasant situations, but we really don’t like it when a small problem becomes a much larger one. Learning to address conflict or confusion when it arises is an important skill best learned early! Thank you for returning your enrollment contract! We are making plans for next year as we speak!

February 26, 2014

Jacque’s Note

The TCS Advancement Angle

News you can use to help raise money for The Cottage School

Glitter is March 22nd! Do you have Falcons or Braves tickets to spare? Seats at the

Atlanta Opera or Ballet? A box at Philips Arena? A time-share in

South Carolina that you never use?

We need these items for our Glitter auction!

All donated items must have a minimum retail value of $50.

Questions? Need a donation form? Contact Lesley at Lesleym@cottageschool.org

Do you think TCS is a great school? We do too! Post your opinions on

GreatSchools.org and let the world know! Prospective parents read this web-

site for honest feedback about schools. Let’s tell the world how invaluable a

TCS education is!

Remember! It’s Re-enrollment Time!

The TCS staff is busy creating the foundation on which our annual

programming depends. As you know, a major component in this process is

student enrollment. Since we tailor such a large portion of our program to

the individual student, we need to know for whom we are planning.

Please return your re-enrollment contract and fee to Sandy McKinney at your earliest

convenience. If you did not receive the original email containing your contract or if it has

been misplaced, please contact Sandy at sandym@cottageschool.org.

We look forward to a continued partnership as we work together to build a successful future

for your student.

Parent Affiliate Group Forming TCS Parents have expressed interest in forming a Parent Affiliate Group for those families and

students who identify as Hispanic/Latino, to promote Hispanic/Latino culture and traditions on

campus. For more information, please contact Leann Fabian at leann_fabian@msn.com.

The Top Ten Reasons to Give to the Key Annual Fund

(And if you’ve already given, we thank you!) 1. Our Students Annual Fund dollars enhance student life in countless unrecognized but crucial

ways providing necessities such as books, microscopes, maps, computer software, art sup-plies and much more!

2. Our Teachers Great teachers make a great school. When you give to the Key Annual Fund, your contribution supports the work of professional educators who are shaping young minds!

3. Our Attention Giving to the Key Annual Fund ensures that we maintain the resources to re-cruit and retain the best educators for every grade/subject ensuring class sizes stay small and student/teacher ratios low.

4. Our Programs Key Annual Fund dollars go towards enriching arts and athletic programs, fac-ulty teaching and professional growth, financial aid, technology, campus enhancements.

5. Our Impact: We would need over $2,000,000 in endowment revenue to produce the benefits made possible by just $100,000 in Key Annual Fund donations.

6. Our Traditions Pay-Off days, Middle School Sock-Hop, Grandparents Day, Homecoming, Sen-ior Night, Prom, Graduation-these are traditions that are the lifeblood of The Cottage School.

7. Our Community Over 40% of TCS Families receive need-based tuition assistance which is funded in part by the Key Annual Fund.

8. Our Parents Annual Fund Parent Participation Percentages serve as the measurement by which foundations rate community support and factors into their level of giving.

9. Our Commitment Because one student, educated at The Cottage School, can positively im-pact the lives of many. As our Executive Director Jacque Digieso says, “Never put a lid on a kid.”

10. Engage, Empower, Excel Because you entrusted us with your children, we continue to strive in engaging them in a meaningful way, empowering them with knowledge so that when they leave, they excel at their dreams.

Its Not To Late To Give To The Key Annual Fund!

We know that in the hustle and bustle of life, its easy to

over look your Key Annual Fund

donation. You have till May 31, 2014 to make your

donation. Click here to donate today!

From the Counseling Team:

Standardized testing will begin March 17, 2014 for both Middle and High

School students. TCS will administer the Stanford 10 on the following

dates:

Middle School: March 17-20 & March 24-25, 2014

Make Up Day- March 26, 2014

High School: March 17-20, 2014

Make Up Day- March 24, 2014

New or returning parents who have questions about our testing program such

as why we do it, how we use the information, or when test results are made

available to students and parents, may contact your respective counselor for

discussion. Please emphasize the importance of these test results with your

student. They in no way have any impact on their individual course grades

nor are they a factor used for promotions from grade to grade, however

they nonetheless need to reflect the student’s best effort. Please

encourage them to take these tests seriously.

**Please be sure that your student gets plenty of rest, eats a

well-balanced breakfast, is here on time on the days of testing

and brings a calculator.**

The PAC

Cordially Invites New TCS Families

to the

New Parents’ Breakfast

on

Friday, March 7, 2014

8:00am-9:00am

Join us in the RCC

Mix and mingle with TCS parents

from the Middle and High School,

TCS Leadership,

and

Learn more about the PAC.

Coffee and bagels will be served.

TCS Transition…

Getting Ready for the Next Chapter!

Rising 9th Grade Families

As you know, we are in the process of assisting students in their transition up to TCS High School. Please note the upcoming planned

activities and dates. *These activities are specifically designed only for students who have returned contracts for 2014-2015 enrollment at TCS.

Week of March 10th – On assigned days, students will observe

selected HS 4th and 5th period classes and then join the HS for lunch.

Students who have previously purchased Tasty Touch will be provided

with lunch at the HS. If students do not order Tasty Touch, please

have them bring a lunch. Counselors and selected HS students will

assist in this process.

March 14th - Students will attend part of a Levels Meeting at the HS.

March 26th - Students will attend a “Pizza Luncheon” with High School

students who transitioned from the Middle School. This luncheon is to

help answer questions in a more relaxed environment.

MS February Activities

DATE TIME Activity RAIN-

OUT

TCS$ Things to bring

Friday

2/28

Clubs $156.40 Club Materials

Friday

2/28

Academics $165.60 Academic Materials

*Remember to bring an

independent reading book if you

complete your work early.

High School February

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

Friday

2/28

Academics

8:15

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Levels

Academics

Lunch

Academics

Homeroom

$299.46

Skiers

$149.73

Academic material to complete

work and spare reading

materials, if you will be in

academics all day!

Off-Campus

10:00-

2:00

2:40

High Museum of

Art Homeroom

$289.80

Skiers

$144.90 Real money for lunch

On-Campus

10:00

12:00

12:45

2:40

Name That Tune Lunch

Improv Comedy Homeroom

$280.14

Skiers

$140.07

(Details to Follow)

High SchoolD A T E

APR I L 1 7-PROM-

SAVE THE

2 0 1 48pm - 11pm

Post-Secondary Acceptances and

Scholarships

Congratulations! Rebecca Custer on her acceptance to St. John’s University, Texas Christian University, Birmingham Southern College,

Agnes Scott College, Mary Baldwin College, and Brenau University.

Ryan Delaney on his acceptance to Young Harris College.

James Dorsey on his acceptance to the University of Louisville.

Spencer Glenn on his acceptance to The University of Alabama, Jacksonville State University, and Reinhardt University.

Michael Kurland on his acceptance to The Art Institute of Atlanta.

Arthur Leach on his acceptance to Beacon College & The Art Institute of Atlanta.

Stan Long on his acceptance to Reinhardt University.

Tyler McDonald on her acceptance to KSU Academy for Inclusive Learning.

Ray O’Brien on his acceptance to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Matthew Smith on his acceptance to South Florida State College.

Patrick Thompson on his acceptance to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Marquis Victor on his acceptance to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Barbara Womack on her acceptance to The Coastal College of Georgia.

Senior Scholarships 2013-2014

Rebecca Custer – St. John’s University- Scholastic Excellence Scholarship- $92,000

Texas Christian University- Faculty Scholarship- $48,000

Birmingham Southern College- Presidential Scholarship- $108,000

Agnes Scott College- Honor Scholarship $68,000

Mary Baldwin College- Scholarship Award $80,000, Agnes R. McClung Honor Scholarship $1,500

Brenau University - Trustee Scholarship Award $50,000

Ryan Delaney – Young Harris College - Faculty Scholarship $48,000