Friday File - Updated October 31, 2008
Updated
MCDS NEWS FOR THE WEEK
Get the November Calendar Here
Updated
WEEK AT A GLANCE- for the Week of November 3rd
- MCDS Open House- Saturday from 10 a.m..- 1 p.m.
- Fall Play Set Building Work Day- Saturday from 9 a.m..- 1 p.m.
- ABRSM Theory Exam- Saturday
- Sweet Sophie's- Monday & Wednesday
- MS/HS Instrument & Voice Recitals- Monday (see details below)
- IB Art and 12th Grade Students Field Trip- Tuesday
- IB Art Students "In School" Studio Field Trip- Wednesday
- 2nd Grade Field Trip- Thursday
- Bake Sale- Thursday during lunch periods
- Veterans Day Recognition- Friday Morning Assembly
- NO SCHOOL- Monday, November 10th (Faculty In-Service)
UPDATES FOR ALL FAMILIES
New
2009-10 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Classes
Do you have a child, not currently enrolled at MCDS, applying for admission into the Pre-K or Kindergarten program this next year? If so, now is the time to start thinking about the admissions process. Please contact Jen Klug by at (608) 850-6375 for a copy of the application form and/or to learn more about the admissions process for your child. Readiness Days sessions for Pre-K and Kindergarten applicants will be held in January.
New
Sweet Sophie's Survey:
We are nearing the end of the first trimester and are interested in Parent and Student feedback regarding the Sweet Sophie's lunch program. Your feedback is essential to guarantee a successful program. Based on the information we receive we will adjust the lunch offerings to suit the demand. Please take a few minutes to review and fill out the surveys. Completed surveys can be dropped off at the LS and MS/HS front desks. For those parents who have not participated in the program, there is a section for you. We would like to here from you to better understand what parents want from an MCDS lunch program. Click Here for a copy of the survey.
Much Ado About Nothing!
Mark your calendars! The MS/HS students will be performing Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on November 14th and 15th in the gymnasium. Show times are as follows: November 14th at 7pm, and November 15th at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $5 for adults and $2 for students. We hope to see you there!
New
Tuxes Needed!
Time to clean out your closets! Do you have any spare tuxedos that you could lend or would like to get rid of? Or do you have any connections to tuxedo rental shops that would be willing to cut a deal for school usage? Ms. Kiser is in need of some tuxedos for a number of cast members for the upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing. Please let her know if you can help out with this particular costume need. Sizes range from 5th grade to 12th grade students. Thanks!
Updated
Set Items and Props Still Needed!
In just one month, the Middle and High School students will be presenting an adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing on Friday, November 14th at 7pm and Saturday, November 15th at 3pm and 7pm. We are therefore in full swing with building the set and collecting props, and we need your help! If you have any of the following items below, and are willing to lend/donate them for the show, please contact Rachel Kiser. Thanks very much!
- 1 wooden or nice-looking chaise lounge chair
- Big artificial floor plants
- Lots of BIG artificial flowers (that we can destroy)
Thank you to everyone who participated! Orders will be arriving in early December.
New
Halloween & Homecoming Pictures Wanted: The Yearbook would love to include some of the Halloween/Homecoming activities photos in this year's book. If you have any to share, please send them to Mrs. Swatzak or drop off a CD in her mailbox. Thanks!!
Snow Closing Procedures:
It never seems too early to think about winter in Wisconsin. Please Click Here for an update on the snow closing procedures for MCDS.
Missing an Autographed Baseball?
An autographed baseball was found near Little Strokes. To claim, please call or email Beatrice Jones 850-6000 with identifying information.
Lunch Dates:
Milio's Will be served on the following Tuesdays:
- November 11th
- December 9th
- January 13th and 27th
- February 10th and 24th
- March 10th and 24th
- April 21st
- May 5th and 19th
- November 21st
- December 19th
- January 23rd
- February 20th
- March 20th
- April 17th
- May 15th
It may be too early to be thinking about snow, but not about skiing! This year for ski club, we’ve signed up for the Cascade Club list, which gives us 30% off all season passes until November 30. Kids 12 and under ski free (an 8-hour flex ticket) with a paying adult, pass holders included. The under 12 season pass is for those that wish to have a direct to lift pass (rather than stopping to pick up a pass at the window) or plan on skiing more than 8 hours in a day.
To see a listing of pass descriptions and prices, Click Here. To purchase season passes go to Cascade Mountain's member login page or click on club-login at the very top of the Cascade Mountain home page. Our user name is Madison Country Day School and the group name is mcdschool. The password is prairiehawks for both, no capitalization or spaces.
Please feel free to pass on the club information to other family and friends that may be interested. They are welcome to purchase passes with the club discount. If you have questions, please contact Hope Koprowski at 242-1938 or thkop@hotmail.com.
Get the 2008-2009 School Year Calendar Here
Get the 2008-2009 MCDS A-E Calendar Here
PARENT GUILD UPDATES
New
Books & Bagels:
Make Time For Reading!!
Tuesday, November 11th
7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
Lower School Lobby
- 7:00 – 7:20 a.m. - Grab a bagel and get ready to read!
- 7:20 – 7:40 a.m. - Mr. Felker reads aloud in the POD
- 7:20- 7:40 a.m. - MS/HS Activities in the LS Music Room
Lower School and Middle School children must be accompanied by an adult.
New
Parent Guild Meeting & Head's Coffee:
The next Parent Guild meeting will be Tuesday, November 11th at 8:00 a.m. in the Lower School Lobby following Books & Bagels. After the meeting there will be a Head’s Coffee which will give an overview of the MCDS High School and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
New
Winter Celebration:
Save the date for the Winter Celebration on Friday, January 16th from 4-6 p.m. Details will be posted soon.
New
Faculty Lunches:
Did you know that a different grade provides lunch for the school’s Faculty and Staff each month? If you are a parent of a student in one of the remaining grade's lunch dates listed below, please be on the lookout for e-mail updates for volunteer help. Below is a list of the coordinators for the upcoming lunches:
- November 20th, 3rd Grade—Jodi Shehadi
- January 15th , 2nd Grade—Elizabeth Eaton
- February 19th, 1st Grade—Laura Dedrick and Denise Bellcock
- March 19th, Kindergarten—Tracy Maloney
- April 16th, 7th & 8th Grade--NEED A COORDINATOR
- May 7th, High School—Mary Kaye Harlan
Thank you to Jenner McLeod (6th grade), Elizabeth Eaton (5th Grade), Eileen Balmer and Kayte Cunningham (4th Grade) for coordinating the meals in August, September and October. Our Faculty and Staff really enjoy these meals and your contributions are truly appreciated!
WISH LIST
New
Mrs. Petzold is collecting paper towel or wrapping paper tubes, empty plastic thread spools, and small sturdy boxes (roughly from 2”x2”x5” up to shoebox size).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
New
The Lower School Music Department is looking for one or more parents who could assist with some behind-the-scenes work prior to the coming recitals and programs. The first task is the design and writing of a recital program for the coming November 17th recitals. Simple word processing and use of clip art are the skills needed for this task. If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Danika Rzentkowski at to schedule a time to meet with them next week. The deadline for completion of the programs is November 11th.
New
The music department could also use some parent help with hanging informational signs prior to the events. If you volunteer to help now, there is no obligation to help in the future. However, know that piano recitals and choral programs will also be scheduled throughout the year, and if you cannot help now, perhaps you can offer your services later in the school year.
Mrs. Raabe is looking for a parent volunteer that would be interested in helping in her Middle/High School art room. If you have a few hours a month to dedicate to helping with organizing art supplies, then this is the job for you. Please contact Heather Raabe for more information.
LOWER SCHOOL UPDATES
New
New Extra-Curriculars:
Many of our extra-curricular classes are winding down. It is time to think about upcoming classes! Below are the descriptions for the classes that are starting before the winter break. We will also be sending out information soon on classes starting after the winter break. It looks like these will include another dance class, a babysitting class, a class that teaches students how to be home on their own, and a cooking class. If anyone is interested in coaching Odyssey of the Mind,We’d love to help you get started.
f you have any questions or further suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact Shelley Petzold, Coordinator of After School Activities.
ChessThe MCDS Chess Club is going strong for a second year! It is open to first through twelfth graders, whether or not you have participated before. We hope to field a team of 4 (or more!) in State Scholastic competition in March. The Wisconsin Chess Academy, led by Alex Betaneli, will be doing the instruction. Mr. Betaneli is a National Master of chess and has been coaching at West High School since 1994. This class is open to beginners and to those with experience who wish to improve; you do NOT have to have participated in the first session to sign up for this one. Fees include cost of materials. To register, fill out the registration form, and turn it in with the fee to the LS front desk. A third session will start in late February.
For 1st through12th graders
Minimum students: 10. Maximum: 30.
Fee: $85
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dec. 3, 10, 17, Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28.
Space Stars!
Your child's interest in Outer-space and aeronautics will "skyrocket" when they join Mrs.VanBrocklin for hands-on space adventures with rocket building, a sampling of astronaut food, and more! Checks should be made out to Mrs. VanBrocklin and can be left at the LS front desk.
For grades 1-3
Maximum 12 students
Fee: $100
Mondays 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 10, 17, 24, Dec. 1, 8 and 15
Tinker-Tots
Tinker-toys, Erector sets, and building with miniature wrenches and child-centered engineering kits develop spatial and logical problem-solving abilities. Mrs.VanBrocklin is leading this club after surveying local engineers to learn that these were the toys and experiences that led them to become mechanical and electrical engineers. Checks should be made out to Mrs. VanBrocklin and can be left at the LS front desk.
For students gr. 1-3
Maximum 12 students
Fee: $100
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, and 17
Weather and Outerwear Changes from Kate Jones, Assistant Head for the Lower School
We all have noticed the coming of cooler weather, but we are seeing children who seem oblivious to the changes. While the staff members have chosen to wear heavier coats and some wear hats, scarves, and gloves, some students are going outside in short-sleeved shirts. The staff feels that it is important to have children wear warm clothing to outdoor activities. We would like to “act in place of parents” while children are here at school. When we believe it is in children’s best interests, we want to require them to wear jackets or hooded sweatshirts.
We realize that individuals have differing needs with respect to outerwear. If you would prefer that staff not monitor your child’s outdoor clothing choices, and not require children to wear jackets, please let me know your individual wishes. Otherwise, all children will be required to wear jackets when weather dictates the need to so, which should likely be from now until warm days in spring. Please contact Kate Jones with any questions.
2nd – 4th Grade Piano Recitals:
2nd – 4th grade piano recitals will be held on Monday, November 17th. Students should be wear their formal uniform and bring their music on this day! Families with siblings will be contacted about which recital they would like them to perform in.
- 3rd Grade: 8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
- 2nd Grade: 9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
- 4th Grade: 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Madison Country Day School was one of six schools chosen to participate in an exciting musical event called Up Close and Musical. This is a program run by the Madison Symphony and we will be visited by the Hunt Quartet four different times this school year. They will be coming to classrooms of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students. Each visit will include a 20 – 25 minute mini lesson on one topic followed by a mini-performance, lasting approximately 25 minutes. Each class will be visited by a different quartet member every time they visit MCDS. The first visit will be on Wednesday, October 22nd and the topic of discussion will be Expression. The lower school music teachers have received lesson plans from the Madison Symphony Orchestra to help prepare the students before each visit. The final visit occurs in March and then all students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade will go to the Overture center to hear the Madison Symphony Orchestra perform a concert called Symphony Soup on April 15th. Parents are welcome to attend the mini-performances on the day of each visit by the Hunt Quartet. The performance will most likely take place in the Lower School Music room or the Lower School pod starting at 9:45 a.m..
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
New
Chess Club Registration:
See details in the LS Updates. Chess club is open to students in grades 1st through 12.
MS/HS Instrumental/Voice Solo Recitals!
The MS/HS Instrumental/Voice Solo recitals are quickly approaching! They will be held in the MS/HS music room on Monday, November 3rd. The 5th/6th grade students will perform at 9:30am, the 7th/8th grade students will perform at 11:00am, and the 9th-12th grade students will perform at 1:00pm. Just a reminder that not all MS/HS students are performing in these recitals; only those students who have opted to take semi-private lessons on an instrument or voice. We hope to see you there!
High School Newsletter:
Don't miss the first edition of the High School Newsletter from Assistant Head, Kathleen Franzen. Click Here for a copy.
MCDS Student Guild:
For more information on the MCDS Student Guild and the upcoming Homecoming events, Click Here.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
New
Printer Cartidges Wanted:
We are pleased to announce a new fundraising opportunity for printer cartridge recycling. Please click Here for details. This offer is only good at the Middleton Cartridge World location. Please continue to save your ink cartridges and cell phones. There are drop off boxes for these items located in both school lobbies. Please contact Denise Bellcock with any questions about the program.
Updated
SCRIP:
We are off to a super year with Scrip! It's been great to reconnect with you all. The Scrip table is open for business on the first and last day of the week (usually Mondays and Fridays) at 7:45 a.m. We are typically there until at least 11am on Mondays and 10am on Fridays. You may always turn in your orders to Beatrice at the Lower School front desk at any time if you miss us.
If we have a 4 day week, Scrip will always be open for business on the first day and pick-up will be on the last day. If we have a 3 day week we will be there on the first and last day but no order will be placed until the following week. You can still purchase cards we have in stock. Please remember that we need payment on Monday mornings EVEN IF you place your orders on-line unless you use PrestoPay.
Important Notice: In order to expedite the Monday morning process, beginning Monday Oct. 13th all orders must be received at the Scrip desk or placed on ShopWithScrip.com by 9:00a.m. instead of 10:30a.m. each Monday.
Updates
Jiffy Lube is now available! The denomination is $30 with an 8% contribution.
Current Bonuses:
Cabelas - 14% (reg. 11%) Ends 11/28
LL Bean - 17% (reg. 14%) Ends 12/12
Bed&Breakfast.com - 15% (reg. 10%) Ends 12/31
Starbucks, Gap (Banana Republic, Old Navy) Hollywood Video and CVS Pharmacy are now offering RELOADABLE cards through ShopWithScrip.com! More retailers are sure to follow. Visit ShopWithScrip.com for the latest updates.
For details about the Scrip program Click Here. It's a good idea to print a new form or pick-up a current form at the Scrip desk each time you order since percentages and denominations change frequently. For a current Scrip form Click Here updated10-29. Please contact Lubna Azad at 235-1287 with any questions or for more information.
GET YOUR JAVA...AND SUPPORT MCDS!
MCDS Coffee
Only $10 per Bag?
What a Bargain!
Store labels of our MCDS coffees now retail for $11.99!!!
Save Money and Support Your School.
(what a deal.)
Download an order form Here or grab one in the LS lobby.
Orders placed on Monday afternoons are ready for pick-up (or delivery via “backpack mail”) by Friday morning.
BOX TOPS:
Make a difference with BOX TOPS for Education. BOX TOPS for Education makes it easy for our school to earn the extra cash it needs. Find BOX TOPS on hundreds of products you probably already buy! Each BOX TOP is worth 10 cents to MCDS. Turn your BOX TOPS in to your child(ren)'s classroom. A Parent Guild volunteer will collect them 2 more times this year--February 13th, 2009, and May 15th, 2009. BOX TOPS will send MCDS a check worth 10 cents for each BOX TOP redeemed, up to $20,000 per year! If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer to help with the program at MCDS, contact Deborah Grunwald.
Also, here's another tip to help our school: When you purchase school uniforms from Lands' End.......
1) Purchase a Lands End gift card through our SCRIP program.
2) Sign on to www.boxtops4education.com and go to MARKETPLACE
3) Go to the Lands' End site from there, purchase your uniforms, use our preferred school # 900035213 and your Scrip card.
4) WIN - WIN situation because you get the uniform you need, you don't have the risk of putting your own credit card out on the internet (SCRIP card instead), and MCDS gets $ through Scrip, Box Tops, and the preferred school program!
Recycling Helps Fund MCDS:
Do you work in a business that uses printer ink cartridges? Last year we had several area businesses that donated their used ink cartridges which helped to raise a lot of money for the MCDS Parent Guild. Empty printer cartridges and cell phones are worth money for our school… And recycling helps the environment. Please help the Parent Guild by saving your empty printer cartridges (or, if you’ve purchased a new printer recently, we’ll take the cartridges for your old printer—empty or not!) and your used cell phones. We send them in and raise money for Parent Guild-sponsored activities and purchases. It’s an easy way that we can earn money (and help save the earth!) just by recycling items we no longer need or use! Look for the collection boxes in the LS and MS/US lobbies. Please contact Denise Bellcock with any questions about the program.
BULLETIN BOARD
New
Winter CSA Opportunity:
Keewaydin Farms has teamed up with MCDS to be a local drop-off site for produce shares. They are currently taking orders for their Winter Share. The Winter Share is a good way to stock up on storage crops during the winter months. There will be Four Large boxes estimated at $50/box delivered twice in November and twice in December just in time for the holidays. It will be a heavy box including storage crops such as potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, winter squash, cabbage, beets, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, turnip, sweet potato, celeriac, and diakon radish as well as cold hardy leafy greens like spinach , kale, and swiss chard. All produce is 100%Certified Organic and comes from either our farm or our neighboring Amish farms. We will also email newsletters to go with each box that will include recipes and storage tips. The cost is $200 per share. The Winter Deadline is October 31st limited space available. Click Here for a registration form. Click Here for a copy of the Keewaydin Farm Newsletter.
Updated
Pack 329 Cub Scout Meetings the week of October 27-November 7th. Cub Scouts should wear their Cub Scout uniform to school and to the schedule den meeting. Any boy who is interested in joining scouts is welcome to come to our meetings at any time to see what scouting is like.
- Tiger/Wolf/Bear/Webelo Den Meeting: No den meetings are scheduled these two weeks.
- PAL Meeting: The Parent and Leader (PAL) meeting is Tuesday, November 4th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. under the stairs at Christ Presbyterian Church. Address: 944 East Gorham Street Madison, WI. There will be a movie and snack for the kids. Come and help plan our next pack meeting. The theme is: Seeds of Kindness
- Veterans Day Flag Ceremony: Friday, November 7th at 7:45 a.m. All MCDS cubs to meet their leaders in full dress uniform outside the High School gym for morning assembly. We will be honor guard for the Veterans Day school ceremony.