I. Welcome – Sharon Mankovich, AIS Parents’ Council Middle School Coordinator
II. Upcoming School Events, 2nd Half Focus and News
Dr. Wendy Hill, Head of School
- At the midpoint of our celebration
- Regional event held in NYC for alumnae in New York; more planned in the coming months in other cities
- Excellent example of how the sisterhood continues in the future
- End of school year highlight is the Tory Burch and Billy Jean King interview (more details to be provided shortly)
- New Head of School
- Sally Keidel, next Head of School announced just before holiday break
- Former Director of Enrollment at Agnes Irwin
- Currently Head of the Montgomery School
- Board of Trustees working on a meet and greet for parents to meet Sally prior to her start in July
- Dr. Hill will be working over the next few months on the transition; She has maintained a relationship with Sally and will build on that to ensure Sally is prepped to take over this summer.
- Reaccreditation of Agnes Irwin
- Happens every five years; Due this year; Does not involve parents
- Administration/faculty wrote a 65-page self-study for it;
- Small external team will come to the school to evaluate
- Radnor Speaker Series Event
- Tuesday, January 14 @ 7:00 PM (Radnor High School) – Ryan Leaf, Heisman trophy winner and former NFL quarterback is the speaker. Topics include resilience and his experience with sobriety and other challenges that he has overcome.
- Cintra Horn, Middle School Director
- Schedule/Discovery Blocks
- Exciting year so far for collaboration
- Schedule change has been dramatic vs. last year
- Wednesday “Discovery Blocks”- remarkable time for students to come together across disciplines and for teachers to collaborate
- Team building for 6th grade happened in the Fall which was pivotal as 1/3 of the 6th grade students are new
- Teachers - reporting that even though Discovery Blocks take a lot of time to prepare, they’re excited to bring the girls together
- Parents encouraged to give feedback on what they are hearing
- January 29 – Wednesday Discovery Block
- 5th/6th Grades – Session on Leadership (Center for the Advancement of Girls)
- 7th/8th Grade – Information about/the effects of vaping
- Upcoming Events
- Monday, January 20th 10AM-12PM Student Life Center– Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – Middle and Upper School Students
- Middle and Upper School students will be making PB&J sandwiches (other options available if there are allergies)
- Travel size toiletries also being collected
- January 21-23 – Middle School CTP Testing
- Different from Lower School MAP test
- Comprised of English and Math sections
- Results provide insight on where student is compared to class and compared to other schools; Also provides insight on where Agnes Irwin ranks versus other schools; Results to be mailed to parents in April.
- Not a test that students have to study for; It is a test that they have to be rested for. It is a snapshot of what they know that will not counteract their current path
- Reminders from Jennifer White, 5th and 6th Grade Dean
- Uniforms – wearing things “inside out” is not considered in compliance with the uniform
- Cell phones – must be turned off and in locker until the end of the school day
- School phone in the Middle School office can be used if your daughter needs to reach you (Heather Kalodner, the new Middle School Assistant, can help)
- Lost and Found – please have students check this ASAP. It is located by the Middle School lockers. Unclaimed items are donated at the end of the year.
- Other
- Robotics – Only offered in 5th grade during period 7; More formal this year with a competition; Communication went out to students in the beginning of the year for sign-up; Cintra checking to see if students could still sign up to participate.
Megan Flinn, Development
- Exciting 150th year – regional events have been successful for connections with more to come
- Fun things planned for students this spring
- Billie Jean King and Tory Burch Event
- Email going out with date and details soon and link for registration/tickets
- May 2 Celebration of the Decades @ AIS
- Open to the entire AIS Community who are 21 years of age and older (not for students)
- Tents for each constituency (alumnae, parents, past parents,etc.)
- Food, open bar, dancing and more on the lawn of the Lower School
- 150th merchandise will be for sale -Hats, pullovers, scarf, necklace, etc.
- Cindy Bell, Assistant Athletics Director
- Basketball unit; Squash and fitness to follow; After Spring Break --- we move on to lacrosse and tennis
- 5th Grade Wellness
- Focus currently on systems of the body; About to get into stages of growth
- 6th Grade Wellness
- Taught by Megan Haberstadt (also teaches PE); Similar topics to 5th but more advanced
- 6th Grade Athletics
- Winter sports end 1/30
- Spring sports start on 3/9; Lacrosse, softball and a new track/running club will be offered.
- Gap is to accommodate the musical – 7th/8th grade girls work with Ann Ramsay for the musical during the month of February. 6th graders will go to study hall during the gap month.
IV. Parents’ Council Events – Alison Hastings and Erin Hinckle
February 12: Upper and Middle School Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon
- Event Chairs: Charlotte Pride and Kate McCallister
- Sign up to help decorate, bring food supplies, make a monetary donation or help with the lunch for those who do so much for our girls every day
- Sign-Up Genius and more information to be provided and posted soon
February 21: RaisE (on the Road) – Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard
- Join us for this evening of fabulous food, entertainment and a live auction at Terrain Gardens in Devon
- Live auction items needed and appreciated!
- Opportunity to donate to support advancing STEAM at Agnes Irwin
- 3-year Parents’ Council initiative/focus
- Benefits all grades and spans expanding capabilities, program and facilities related to design thinking, hands-on STEAM, robotics, architecture, engineering, science and much more.
- Keep an eye out for tickets as this is one event that sells out (limited capacity at Terrain)
- Click here to sponsor, donate and purchase tickets to the February RaisE event
April 15 and 16: Spring Market
- Open to the public as well as AIS parents/faculty/staff @ 672 Conestoga Road
- Wednesday, April 15 – Hours are 12-9PM
- Doors open at 12:00
- 4:00 – 6:30 Family Shopping – Bring the Kids
- 6:30-9:00 Preview Party* - Adults only shopping and cocktail party
*Preview Party Ticket also gets you into the Spring Market to shop on Thursday
Additional message from Development: GIVE DAY for the Agnes Irwin Annual Fund is March 10th.
IV. Class Breakouts
- 5th Grade – Rachel Skyman
- Cintra Horn and Cindy Bell spent time with the 5th grade parents covering more on athletics and middle school happenings
- Parents discussed possibility of robotics getting rolled into a Wednesday block for part of the year
- 6th Grade – Kara Chisholm, Lindsey Marshall Pierce
- Cintra Horn and Cindy Bell also stopped in on the 6th grade parents covering more on athletics and middle school happenings
- Class Parents, Kara Chisholm and Lindsey Marshall Pierce, covered specific details for 6th grade parents regarding Medieval Night scheduled for April 23rd from 6-8PM.
- Evening includes performances by the 6th grade students, entertainment, a medieval meal and more
- Students will work during school hours with the art, music and history teachers to create artwork, study the period and work on their program for the evening
- Students will make their own costumes with detailed guidance from their History teacher(s). They will receive simple patterns and volunteers will help them with assembly.
- Parents are encouraged to have fun with the event (can dress up as well)
- Parent volunteers will be needed for set-up/decorations, some food preparation and take-down
