Hi Everyone,
By December of each year, my outfit for managing morning drop-offs in the lower parking lot typically includes heavy duty boots and snowpants to accompany the hat and gloves that have already made an appearance in November. Last week’s blast of cold air probably warranted a clothing timeline adjustment on my part, but I felt like I should hold out purely on principle, and probably fell victim to choosing fashion over function. Those windy mornings last week were not that enjoyable. So I empathize, though still don’t necessarily agree, with our students who are still wanting to come to school in just shorts and/or a t-shirt! Small correction - our students and all three of my own children who were, until a recent and unpopular Shen family summit, amongst the worst offenders. And yet, even with clarification of what constitutes appropriate winter attire fresh in their minds, I found myself having to explain to one of them last night why leaving the house in sandals and no socks was not an option. While I have an inkling that children under 18 have access to a self-generating source of body heat that goes away with aging, I still have a hard time seeing kids enter the school in shorts and t-shirts. I know we all have to pick and choose what battles we fight, and with afternoon temps still a bit higher that might give each of us a psychological escape hatch to not fight about this issue with them quite yet. However, as we inch closer to more consistent winter weather, and temperatures that go even lower, please consider exercising your parental veto powers in terms of what layers of clothing are worn to school each day. Since I’ve recently tried to pay a bit more attention to clothing choices this past week, I’ve also noticed that ripped jeans seems to be making a return to wardrobes and serving as a reminder of how fashion trends often reappear 20-30 years later. So don’t be shocked when I start coming to RJ Grey in all of the oversized flannel shirts that I bought in 1993.
Here are some updates and reminder for this week:
Another reminder that the Fall Trimester closes this Wednesday, November 20th. Report cards will likely be sent to families around December 6 -more on that when we get closer to that date.
Thanksgiving is November 28th this year. We will have school on Wednesday the 27th with an early release at 11:10am.
A note to 8th grade families that I will be sending them an email tomorrow (Monday) introducing an upcoming assembly with Minding Your Mind, a national organization that provides mental health education to adolescents, parents, and educators.
7 Red’s annual Coat Drive continues, so if you have any coats (for adults or children), they can be dropped off in our Lobby.
The tryout schedule for Winter Sports (basketball and cheerleading) has been finalized and is available for viewing by clicking here. Students who plan to try out for our winter sports need to make sure their and updated physical form has been submitted and reviewed by our school nurse.
The annual RJ Grey musical is just around the corner! The students are working hard on this year’s production of James and the Giant Peach and we’re looking forward to another performance that showcases our students’ talents. Five performances are scheduled for the week of December 3rd, specifically on Thursday, December 5 (7pm), Friday, December 6 (7pm), Saturday, December 7 (2pm and 7pm), and Sunday, December 8 (2pm). Tickets are $15 and will be available in the Junior High Main Office starting Monday, November 18. ABSAF holders are entitled to two free tickets and must pick up their tickets from the Main Office. This is always a great family-friendly event and we hope to see many A-B families there.
With the Thanksgiving Break starting later next week, I want to remind families that there will be no homework over the vacation period. This has been a practice at the Junior High for the past four years, and is now a district wide expectation that is part of Acton-Boxborough’s Homework Policy. At the heart of this policy is a belief that school vacations can and should provide students and families an opportunity to rest and focus on time with each other, free from any school-related obligations. The commitment we (parents and the school) have to academics will be ever-present, and yet I think we would be remiss if we ignored what psychologist and author Madeline Levine identified as the need for "honoring the importance of downtime, playtime, and family time." This is not to suggest that addressing those needs can only take place during vacations (that would be problematic as well). Instead, we hope students and families will see these vacation periods as an additional opportunity to cultivate other parts of their family's life, be it in the form of leisure and social activities, or simply quality time with each other.
Have a great week, everyone.
Cheers,
