| Barnesville Basement | | Just a reminder that we're still collecting donations today until 6pm and tomorrow until 5pm. We're also looking for a few more volunteers on Sunday if you are available to help out-please email Janine at janinebhuber@hotmail.com. |  |
| From the BPC | | Thank you to the many parents who provided a fabulous fall lunch on the 21st. Contributions were made by Michelle Sullivan, Caroline Semancik, Gay Butz, Amy Slattery, Lynn Brown, Michelle Pappas, Princina Drazan, Flo Meit, Jen Hegarty, Shaun Min, Sabrina Kontner, Angel Rutsch, and Deb Weiss-Collins. The BPC would also like to thank the parent volunteers who provided our wonderful faculty and staff with a special appreciation afternoon on Friday, October 16th. Tricia Nolan, Beth Andochick-Meyers, Kathy Nichols, Sabrina Kontner, Deb Weiss-Collins, Lynn Brown, and Melissa Sabad provided a delicious buffet and Lynne Rasmussen and Gay Butz provided the supplies and expertise for a fun-filled couple of hours of Bunco. There was a lot of laughter and joy! | |
|   |
| | From Our Head of School | | At this year’s August in-service for the faculty, I introduced a theme for our entire school year – Mighty Mouse! Perhaps a silly theme, but I thought it was most appropriate for who we are this year. We are small but mighty, and our faculty and staff members have incredible powers. We even went so far as to create costumes for a school-wide scavenger hunt. Alas, I have pledged to our teachers not to reveal these photos publicly in order to protect their secret identities, otherwise I would love to share with you their joy and energy! You the parents place enormous faith and trust in us to care for your children. This faith and trust also extends to the school as a whole. Given that, how can you be sure that Barnesville as an institution will be there for your students in the years to come? How can you tell that we are small but mighty? Let me share with you four important measures of our stability: - Our budget is balanced. As schools and non-profits face budget challenges, they have chosen a variety of different approaches to manage their finances. At Barnesville, we have sought to be both proactive and conservative in our approach. We have made difficult but fiscally prudent decisions last spring, allowing us to start the year on stable footing. Marie Mehala (our Business Manager) and I, along with the entire Board Finance Committee, have worked diligently to ensure that our budget is both balanced and sustainable.
- Our community is generous. With 100% participation from both the board and the entire faculty, we again hold this participation goal to the parent population. We can do it! For those parents who have already made their pledges to the Annual Fund, thank you! The increased generosity of many of you has been truly extraordinary, and it will be put to good use as we look to grow and build for the future. And for those of you who haven’t made your pledge yet, be sure to do so before October 31st. Our extensive parent involvement in both Annual Fund and our fundraising activities (such as Spring Fling and Basement) has been wonderful, a sure sign of support for Barnesville.
- Our investments are conservatively managed. At our quarterly Investment Subcommittee meeting this past week, we reviewed our priorities – to minimize risk and exposure for the School’s holdings, and protect our core investments. Our endowments and restricted funds, though a bit battered this past year, have been well preserved in order to serve the School’s present and future needs. We continue to be expertly advised by Bob Collins, former Barnesville parent and Board Chair, and Managing Director at Collins Investment Group.
- Our school is well governed. Though our trustees may be too modest to say so themselves, we have a truly incredible Board. Barnesville’s Board of Trustees, comprised of current parents, local educators, and community members, provide their expertise and wisdom to secure Barnesville’s future. They provide strategic oversight for the School, and their vision leads us to a new and exciting future. And, should you wish to learn more about Barnesville’s governance, I invite you to attend our annual Parent-Board Gathering, coming up in February.
Thank you all for your faith, your support, and your generosity. You give us the strength to be Mighty Mouse! John Huber | |
| The Annual Fund Campaign Needs YOU! | | We are well on our way to reaching this year's Annual Fund goal of $250,000! But to get it "Done In 31" we need everyone to take a minute to make their pledge by October 31st! Remember, if we meet our goal of $250,000 by the 31st, the school will realize a most generous matching gift of $30,000 (and still growing) from key donors. By doing your part, the school with enjoy this incredible additional donation! Drop your Annual Fund envelope in the mail today or call the Advancement Office with your pledge. Thanks, as always, for ALL that you do for Barnesville! | |
| From the Health and Safety Corner | | Students who have been ill should not come to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours. Please notify Karol Nave if your child is not coming to school or will be coming in late by 9 a.m. Please refer to pages 20 and 21 of the Student Handbook for information on Health and Safety. As cooler weather is just around the corner, please remember to have your child wear the proper outdoor clothing labeled with his/her name. Please refer to page 16 for the guidelines for inclement weather. | |
| Dress Code Survey | | Tomorrow, parents will be receiving, by kidmail, a Dress Code Survey created by the Dress Code Task Force. This will be a helpful tool for the Task Force in determining their recommendation regarding the School's Dress Code. We ask that you complete the survery and return it to Nicole in the Communications Office before October 30th! | |
|
|