Family Bulletin – October 19, 2018
Upcoming Events
Friday, October 26 – Inservice day: no school!
Tuesday, October 30 – “Give Back Tuesday” at The Filling Station
October 29-November 1 – Midterm conferences
November 2 – Community meal; Discovery Days
November 5-9 – High School WA state history trip part 2
“Getting the kids up early Saturday morning to kick off the Blisterama season was not easy. They were ready for some rest but stumbled into the day unsure of the experience ahead. We knew the idea behind the Blisterama and we were ready to work. What we did not expect was to spend an incredible morning with an inspiring woman who changed our perception of the world. We worked on a property that is an evolving wildlife refuge. We dug and mulched and planted and ate fresh crunchy apples and raspberries right from the source. We learned how to scythe and the many ways to harvest and cook a quince. We spent time not just with our own kids, but with another EA student which strengthened our ties to the EA community. Our host said when we arrived, ‘this is a place where all beings are welcome and there is no looking back only forward momentum.’ We left better for having arrived.”
High School Students Return This Afternoon
High school students have been in Seattle since Wednesday, and will return this afternoon. Please plan on a 4:00 pm pick-up.
Earlier in the week, students attended an anthropology class at University of Washington. The course is focused on global nuclear issues, and the topic for the day was Hanford (which students visited on their eastern Washington trip). Here, Riley chats with Professor Holly Barker during lecture.
Inservice Day
There will be no school next Friday, October 26 for an all-staff inservice day. Inservice days are valuable time for us to connect on trip-planning, policies, and the culture of the school. If there is anything you would like us to add to our schedule, please contact Bacchus.
All-School Midterm Conferences
Midterm conferences for middle and high school students will be held Monday, October 29 through Thursday, November 1. Details went out in an email, and here is a reminder about the process for families. Your student’s advisor will be in touch with you about their availability during that week so that you can schedule a 20-30 minute meeting time with them. Conferences are a chance to check in about goals, expectations, achievements, and your child’s progress so far this year. Advisors will have notes from other teachers and a “snapshot” grade of each class to share. Students are welcome to attend, but their presence is not required. If you haven’t yet heard from your student’s advisor, contact them directly to arrange a time. If you’re not sure who yours student’s advisor is, contact Bacchus.
“Give Back Tuesday” Gives to EA
If you are unable to volunteer at any upcoming Blisterama events, we have another opportunity to help the school. Explorations Academy will be the thankful recipient of The Filling Station’s weekly “Give Back Tuesday” event later this month. On October 30th, The Filling Station will donate 10% of all food sales to Explorations. Come support a local business (whose owners are proud parents of a former EA student), enjoy a fantastic meal, and help raise money for our school. The restaurant has a full menu of American-style mains, salads, and starters, plus drinks. The Filling Station is in Fairhaven, at 1138 Finnegan Way.
Next Community Meal
Save the date! Our next community meal will be Friday, November 2. Join the Explorations students, staff, and families for a hearty, seasonal, house-made meal. We will serve at 11:20.
Clean-up Changes
Starting next week we will have both high school clusters pitch in for cleaning every day, rather than switching off. We set aside time at the end of the day for cleaning, and with everyone putting in good effort all clean-up jobs should be done by 4:00. However, we expect students to stay until the job is done and they have been checked off by staff, even if it is later than 4:00.
Discovery Days
About once a month we open our campus and classrooms to students interested in enrolling at Explorations. Our next Discovery Day will be Friday, November 2. Prospective middle and high school students will join us for morning meeting, math and Spanish, our community meal, and cluster classes in the afternoon. Help us welcome them to our school!
WA State History Trip Part 2: Western Washington
On November 5, high school students will leave for the second half of their Washington State History class. Details are still being finalized, but we expect visits to Olympia, Mount St. Helens, and the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula. As before, this trip will last a full week and students will pack from the front-country packing list.
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