A Weekly Roundup of All Things Pingree
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" Preview
Photos by David Goff.
The Week Ahead
Head's Up: Tim's Weekly Letter
Dear Pingree families,
Three signs spring is near: a green shoot sprouting through the mulch in front of school, flocks of geese returning for their seasonal Pingree exchange program, and (drum roll, please) the opening of our spring musical production, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat! The cast and crew look forward to seeing many of you tonight and this weekend.
Our health office and administrative team continue to monitor the domestic flu and COVID-19 (coronavirus). Recognizing that health updates are fluid, we continue to track the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and state health officials. We will be in touch as necessary in the weeks ahead....
Events & Announcements
Have a talent to share? Consider getting involved with Local L.A.B. or Senior Projects!
If you have a particular skill, hobby, research interest, or area of expertise (or know anyone who does) that could enrich student learning, we invite you to consider sharing your talent. There are many opportunities to get involved, whether it be in a workshop this winter (February 6), in a trip this spring (April 28), or by helping out with Senior Projects (May 18-29). Our students love these experiential-learning opportunities and look forward to them! Please fill out the form here or contact Jessica Moore (jmoore@pingree.org) for Local L.A.B. or Meg O’Neill (moneill@pingree.org) for Senior Projects. Thank you!
Academics Updates
PPN Updates
On Wednesday, February 26, the Pingree Parent Network welcomed noted speaker, author, and comedic storyteller Cindy Pierce to Pingree. Thank you to all who were able to join us for her talk. Click here for sexuality and healthy relationship resources and click here for social media and screen time resources.
L.A.B. Updates
College Office Updates
The Common App essay prompts will remain unchanged in 2020–2021. Read on to learn more about how Common App arrived at this decision.
In a recent op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, associate director of college counseling Nicholas Soodik asks a pointed question: are you good enough at paperwork to apply to college? His article examines some of the drawbacks to recent changes in the college application process.
American Student Assistance Education and Career Planning Centers provide free one-on-one assistance with completing financial aid applications or any aspect of college planning. Services are available either in-person, on a walk-in or appointment basis, or over the phone. See flyer for more details.
Inside Higher Ed recently published an article with tips from college professors detailing how to write a proper email. Both the article itself and the comments section below offer great insight—a rare find!
Health Updates
Many pediatricians and family practitioners have been immunizing our students against meningitis for years. Starting with the 2020–2021 school year, it will be required to attend a day school in Massachusetts.
What will change is that you will be asked to update your student's immunization record along with the health physical annually or every 13 months in your Magnus health portal. This will give Allyson Larsen, our school nurse, access to immunization records to assure your student has been covered.
Thank you in advance!
Are you concerned about how to discuss the issues of vaping? Here is a link to some fast facts if the subject should come up around the Thanksgiving table! Making sure everyone has accurate information at their fingertips helps support the goal to educate as many people as possible to stop nicotine addiction and lung illnesses.
Treat yourself to a FLU shot! Help ensure your student doesn’t miss out on school!
Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect yourself and your family from flu and its potentially serious complications. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated by the end of October.
The latest statement from the FDA, released on October 4, warns consumers to stop using THC vaping products amid ongoing investigations into lung illnesses.
If you want to learn more about this epidemic, the Weston Board of Health is working collaboratively with Weston Public schools offering workshops and resources to the public. Click here to read their latest published alert.
Arts Updates
Paradise Lost: Views from the Holy Land
This series is informed by photographs from McLeod’s travels through Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 2012–2016. McLeod translates his photography into silk-screened imagery printed on glass, hand painted and realized through multiple kiln firings. The focus of the work is to present the viewer with an intimate perspective of a historically war-torn region through the eyes of the artist. In the series, the geopolitical lines are obfuscated and each image is left to tell a story of a place that could easily exist on either side of the line. Below the surface of every conflict is a complex narrative with multiple perspectives where the participants and observers often have more commonalities than they care to admit.
Learn more about James McLeod and the exhibit on the Bertolon Gallery page.
For Seniors
This year's baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies will be videotaped by David Medzorian of Daval Video Productions in Arlington. Mr. Medzorian has been recording special events for both private and public schools for the last 25 years.
Your DVD set or HD video file will include both the baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies recorded from multiple angles and will include the names of the graduates and those participating in the ceremony. Please click here to view the form.
Mark Your Calendars
Our spring meeting of the Pingree Parent Book Club will be on Friday, March 27, from 8:00–9:00 a.m. in the Harte Room of the Library Learning Commons. Join fellow parents and co-facilitators Joanne Lynch P’17, ’20 and Amy Tardy P’20 to discuss the hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Coffee, tea, and pastries will be served.