Parents E-News October 2014

Parents E-News October 2014

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October 2014

Dear Church Farm School family, An important resolution for our new school year is greater communication with our constituents, particularly YOU: the parents, grandparents and caregivers of the 193 boys from across the globe that you entrust to our care. This new mid-month parent e-newsletter intends to share highlights of your students' experiences at CFS. I am already hearing positive things about Marvin Garcia's regular contact and updates with more daily and weekly events and trust that this is a welcome addition to the current communications you receive from us.

As always, we appreciate feedback on how we can do better. Please alert us if there is news that you are not getting that you would like to!

Sincerely, The Rev. Edmund (Ned) K. Sherrill II esherrill@gocfs.net

Parents Weekend and Important Dates

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Parents E-News October 2014

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Parents Weekend is scheduled for October 17-18, and we are ensuring that there is a greater focus on one-on-one time with teachers and advisors on both days. There will also be opportunities to shadow your child, sports contests and college guidance sessions for juniors (Friday) and seniors (Saturday). Other highlights will include: Friday: Art Show in the Link at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday: Luncheon in the Pavilion at noon featuring speeches and student performances Friday and Saturday: Krista Peterson will be available for hands-on tutorials on accessing NetClassroom and Moodle.

Friday and Saturday: The CFS Parents' Association will host a hospitality suite in the former Art Gallery (next to the library). Stop by to say hello, learn more about the CFSPA and its fundraising efforts and drop off items or monetary donations for the Griffin Clothes Closet and the 11th-grade sponsored Halloween Haunted House. A list of needed items for the Clothes Closet can be found at the bottom of this page. Contact cfspa@gocf.net to learn more about items requested for the Haunted House.

The full agenda and Parent Teacher Conference Schedules can be found here.

Questions about Parents Weekend? Feel free to contact Carol Houck at chouck@gocfs.net.

Upcoming dates of note: Parents Weekend: Friday, October 17 - Saturday, October 18 First Marking Period Ends: Friday, October 24 Admission Open House: Saturday October 25 ACT Exams: Saturday, October 25 Haunted House: Friday, October 31 Find out what's happening any time at www.gocfs.net/CFS-calendar.

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Click here for the NEW transportation schedule!

College Guidance Resources Many of you might have had the opportunity to meet our new Director of College Guidance, Tiffany Scott, at Orientation Weekend or around school. She recently helped create a new College Guidance section of the website that is a great reference for parents. The site includes information on ACT and SAT dates and locations, planned college visits to CFS, links to other websites and more.

Upcoming events: Oct. 25: ACTs at Collegium Charter School Oct. 28: British Columbia University visit Oct. 28: College of Wooster visit Oct. 28: St. Mary's College visit Nov. 4: University of Scranton visit

Faculty Profile: Mr. Robert McHale Each newsletter we will profile a different faculty member at CFS we'd like you to get to know better. First up is new mathematics and SAT prep teacher, Mr. Robert (Bob) McHale.

Mr. McHale comes to CFS from Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School in Philadelphia, and The Pennington School in New Jersey before that. In addition to teaching Algebra I and Geometry, he will be coaching baseball and basketball at CFS. Most exciting however, is McHale's vast experience in SAT prep, which is being offered as an elective for the first time at CFS for 11th and 12th grade students.

McHale focuses on writing, English and mathematics and all of the tips necessary to do well, drawing on ample examples from about 42 different SAT tests, he says. The most important strategies covered are building confidence, time management, guessing and skipping, reading and not reading passages and vocabulary.

SIX TIPS FOR TAKING THE SAT: 1. Take the SAT at least twice.

2. Get a good night's sleep.

3. Eat a good breakfast.

4. Bring extra batteries and a calculator.

5. Don't study the night before.

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6. Go in confident.

Student Congress Elections

Student Congress is now fully staffed with representatives from each grade after elections were held on Tuesday, September 30 for open slots (elections for all others were held in the spring).

President Mohammed Bappe '15 (pictured second from left) says reps serve as the liaison between their grade and faculty and staff, organize activities including Spirit Week, pep rallies and other fundraisers and generally advocate for their peers and any issues that might be affecting the student body. We are proud to announce this year's class representatives (with the newly elected noted with asterisks)!

Middle School: Sebastian Corrales* and Joel Gilgeous* 9th Grade: Judah Wilson* and J. Daniel Kim* 10th Grade: Timothy Thomas and Kenan Can* 11th Grade: Donald Albritton and Kareem Holmes 12th Grade: Khizar Qureshi and Awes Choudhary Mohammed Bappe (President); Uche Egonu (Vice President); Ced Moise (Secretary)

Tall Tower Challenge Students in Mr. Jeff Holton's 9th grade Conceptual Physics class have been using their design, planning and teamwork skills to construct towers from a maximum of six pieces of paper and Scotch tape that must stand on their own for at least 10 seconds. Holton says the

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"Tall Tower Challenge" lasts days, as the students work together in random groups to conceptualize the best way to utilize their allotted paper before beginning to construct their structures. Winners are allotted extra credits. The winning tower, which used only five sheets of six paper and measured 119" tall was created by Gino Guo, James Mann and Wantierre Harris. Congrats, guys!

Middle States Reaccreditation CFS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. Accreditation is an external, objective evaluation of school quality and student achievement, with the goal of continuing to improve CFS. As a school community, we believe this is an essential tool to help us to provide the best educational experience possible.

Our current seven-year accreditation term ends in 2016. During the 2014-15 school year, we are completing a school-wide self-study, in preparation for a Middle States team to visit next fall. Part of this process involves getting input from all of our stakeholders, of which you, our parents, are a most important group.

The CFSPA meeting on November 30 will be your opportunity to participate. We will be giving a survey, seeking your opinions about all aspects of Church Farm School's program, leadership, facilities and many other aspects of school life. For those unable to attend the meeting, the survey will also be available online. Stay tuned for additional information about this important process!

Athletics

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There are many ways to keep in the know when it comes to CFS athletics: Follow CFS sports schedules via Schedule Star.

Receive Director of Athletics Greg Thompson's "This Week in Athletics" email bulletin of CFS by subscribing at gthompson@gocfs.net.

Follow @CFSAthletics on Twitter.

Admission Open House

An Open House is planned for Saturday, October 25 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Most CFS students are here because another family told them about the school. Help us spread the word!

Interested parties may register online or contact Director of Admission Brandon Zeigler at bzeigler@gocfs.net or 610.363.5346.

Annual Fund The 2014-2015 CFS Annual Fund drive is underway and we are looking for increased rates of participation among our parents and friends. Income from tuition covers less than 10% of our annual operating expenses. Contact Director of Development Peter Corrado at pcorrado@gocfs.net or you can make your gift online at www.gocfs.net/give.

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Give While You Shop Did you know that you can donate to CFS and/or the CFS Parents' Association when you shop at Giant, Target and Amazon? And that your box tops can be turned into dollars? Visit our new web page for details on these programs.

Crafters Wanted The 10th grade class is hosting a Holiday Craft Show on December 6 in the Pavilion from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Would you like to exhibit your wares or know someone who would? Tables are $25 each and proceeds benefit our sophomores. Contact Kristen Boone at kboone@gocfs.net to inquire!

New Multimedia

Orientation Weekend 2014 Video by Mr. Aaron Schnittman, Art Dept. Head

CFS Golf Classic Album

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Grade Level Day Photo Album

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Looking Ahead SAT Exams: Nov. 8, Awards Assembly: Nov. 12, 7:00 p.m.

Thanksgiving Vacation: Nov. 21 (Noon dismissal) - Nov. 30 (school resumes Dec. 1)

1001 E. Lincoln Hwy., Exton, PA 19341 | www.gocfs.net | 610-363-7500

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Church Farm School | 1001 E. Lincoln Highway | Exton | PA | 19341

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