TNN • Tiger News Network • 05 May 2023

 

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The girls varsity lacrosse team will host St. Mark's School Wednesday, May 10, at 3:45 p.m. on Main Turf Field #1. Go, Tigers! 

 See all upcoming games, matches, and meets for Thayer teams in the Athletics section.

Thanks for Volunteering!
Thank you to the 40+ members of the Thayer community — students, faculty, staff, alums, and parents/guardians — who volunteered their time last Saturday for Braintree Beautification Day. It was a great day to show some Tiger pride and our support for the community that Thayer calls home. 

Summer Reading Info
Information regarding summer reading requirements for both the Upper School and Middle School is available on Thayer's website. 

Private Music Lesson Recital Is May 9
Thayer's private music lesson recital will take place Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the CFA's Hale Theater. All are invited to enjoy student performances as they venture through rock, jazz, theater, and classical music. This eclectic presentation will feature solo, duo, trio, and group performances by students participating in the Academy's private lesson program.

OMEGA Community Dinner Is May 9
The OMEGA Community Dinner will take place Tuesday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Cahall Dining Hall. We hope to see you there. 

Ninth & Tenth Grade Social: 'Step Back to the '80s' on May 12
Grab your friends, don your best '80s attire, and travel back in time for a totally rad night on campus. There’ll be music, retro '80s games, food, drinks, and even a “Battle of the Bands” lip sync contest! (More info on how to sign up your “band” will be coming soon.) Prizes will be awarded for the lip sync battle and for most creative outfits!

Join us Friday, May 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. (Student-athletes: come after your practice/game!) on the Teardrop. Whether you want to just chill and play lawn games or rock out on stage to your favorite Michael Jackson hit, there’ll be something for everyone! 

Parents and guardians: We need YOUR HELP to make this night a success for our students! Please click here to help with event setup, event breakdown, or the donation of items. Thank you in advance for your support! 

Upcoming PRIDE Events
The DEIB Office would like to share information about upcoming PRIDE parades and festivals in local communities. Check out dates and event information for Braintree, Easton, and Boston. 

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Each year the Thayer parent and guardian community takes the opportunity to celebrate and thank the amazing faculty and staff who play such an important role in students' lives. This year TAPA will host the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon with a delicious Mediterranean-style meal topped off with frozen treats from our local Ellie’s Treat Truck.

On May 10, TAPA volunteers will transform the Tiger’s Den into an on-campus bistro and celebrate the dedication these amazing in teachers and staff members bring to campus each and every day. Your participation will ensure that this year’s event is a huge success! TAPA organizers have created a list of donations needed. 

Feel free to contact Rebecca Baker P ’28 with any questions. Donations can also be sent directly via Venmo to Linnea Holmes P '24, '27 at @Linnea-Holmes-1. Please include "LUNCHEON" in the description. (The last four digits of her phone number are 9135 if needed for Venmo.)

TAPA Board Positions
TAPA is responsible for many community events at Thayer. As a TAPA board member, you are able to learn so much about what's happening and what new events are coming. TAPA is always looking for volunteers to join in this development and management effort by sitting on the TAPA board. Open board seats include: Volunteer Coordinator; Parent Athletic Council Representative; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator; Middle School Secretary; and Treasurer.

If you're interested in a board seat, please contact TAPA President Martha McNally P '22, '24, '27 to learn about the roles, responsibilities, and time commitments of these open seats.

Camp Thayer Seeks Lifeguards
Camp Thayer is looking for lifeguards to work this summer from June 20 until Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. 

Those considered for the position must have Lifeguard Certification and must enjoy working with children. Anyone interested should contact Camp Thayer Director (and Health & Wellness Faculty) Cathy Turpel. 

Summer Opportunities for Middle and Upper School Students
Are you a Thayer student looking for a meaningful summer opportunity? The Pulsifer College Counseling Center has developed a database of summer programs for students in both the Middle School and Upper School. This database will be updated as new information about summer program opportunities is received.

Summer programs are a great way to stay engaged during the summer months, develop a passion, or try something new. Please check the list periodically for new updates. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Shaw in the College Counseling Office.  

Tigers of the Week
Congratulations to our newest Tigers of the Week. Keep up the good work! 


 

Last Day for Seniors
Today (Friday, May 5) is the last day of classes for the Class of 2023. Congratulations to our senior class on a job well done. 

Senior Projects
Senior Projects begin Monday, May, 8 and end Friday, June 2. 

Early Dismissal & Study Hall
The Middle School will have an early dismissal time of 11:30 a.m. from Thursday, May 25, through Thursday, June 1. If your child is staying for extended study hall, please sign up by contacting Middle School Office Assistant Tara Hancock P '30.

Buses will run as normal with 4 p.m. pickup during this time. 

Middle School Sports End May 18
Thursday, May 18, is the last day of sports at the Middle School. 

Middle School Hale Learning Center Lunch & Learn Exam Prep Sessions
The Middle School Hale Learning Center will offer a series of Lunch & Learn sessions geared toward 7th and 8th graders to help them prepare for end-of-year exams. All sessions will be held in the Middle School Hale Learning Center (Room 219) during the lunch/recess period (11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.). To reserve your spot, kindly fill out this form. If you have questions or would like further information, please contact Maryann Shafter P '15. Session dates and topics are: 

Tuesday, May 9 — Time Management and Organization: Managing your time and organizing materials are necessary components of being a successful student. Collecting and organizing class materials and planning a study schedule to prepare for exams are perhaps the most important parts of the process. This session will focus on getting organized and creating a study schedule. Each student will leave with a study calendar so they can avoid last-minute "cramming."

Wednesday, May 10 — Seeing the Big Picture: Graphic Organizers: Graphic organizers are an incredibly useful tool for creating visual representations of material to be studied. There are many varieties (timelines, charts, Venn diagrams, flow charts, triple note totes, etc.), each useful for different kinds of information. This session will use information from exam study guides to fill in the organizers. Students will leave with a variety of organizers to assist them with studying.

Wednesday, May 17 — Active Study Strategies: Many students are not sure how to study. Just as they prepare for math tests by completing numerous math problems (“active practice”), they should also prepare for other tests using active study strategies. This session will provide a number of approaches to ensure that students are actively engaging with the material and not simply re-reading or re-writing their notes. Students should bring study guides and notebooks with them as we will practice these active study strategies.

A reminder: The purpose of Middle School exams is to offer students the experience of preparing for and taking five academic exams in a short period of time. The emphasis is on preparation, time management, and developing strong study skills.

Grade 8 Class Dinner
The 8th Grade Class Dinner will take place Thursday, May 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Cahall Dining Hall. 

Showstoppers Info; Volunteers Sought
The Middle School’s Showstoppers performances are coming up later this month. Planning has begun, and there are plenty of opportunities for parent/guardian volunteers to become involved. 

Snacks and drinks can be donated for the kids to enjoy during rehearsals. Additionally, there is a need for in-person assistance for dress rehearsals and performances. 

The dates and times where assistance is needed are: 

  • Friday, May 19: 1:50-3:45 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 21: 10 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m.
  • Monday, May 22: 1:50-3:45 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, May 23: 1:50-7 p.m. (Evening performance starts at 7 p.m. and is over by 8 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, May 24: 1:30-3:30 p.m. (approximate school performance time)

If you're able to help with any of these volunteer opportunities, please email Jennifer Cedrone P ‘22 ’27, one of the Middle School Hospitality Chairs.

Costume List for Showstoppers
A detailed costume list has been created for the upcoming performances of Showstoppers at the Middle School. 

TAPA Spring Social Is May 24
Come mingle with your fellow parents and guardians at the second annual TAPA Spring Social, which will also include the newest members of the Thayer community. This event will take place Wednesday, May 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hooley Courtyard on Main Campus. There will be food and beverage trucks available for you to purchase some tasty food. There will also be Thayer swag, a raffle, a wine pull, and entertainment. TAPA hopes this event will become a fun time with fellow parents and guardians to celebrate the latest school year, truly catch up with one another, make new friends in the Thayer community, and raise funds for the TAPA-supported activities that take place throughout the year. 

TAPA organizers also hope you will consider contributing to the raffle if you have any items that would be of interest — gift cards to spas/restaurants, sporting tickets, gaming systems, unique experiences, etc. A donations page has already been set up for interested donors.

Tickets are on sale now. If you have any questions about the social or wish to contribute a raffle item, contact TAPA President Martha McNally P ’22, ’24, ’27 or Director of Special Events and Parent Programming Renee Forsythe.

Intro to SEED Is May 18
If you would like to know more about SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) at Thayer, please join us Thursday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Tiger’s Den to hear from past participants and sign up to join next year's group. ​​​​ Please let us know if you are interested in attending the session. 

Leaders Sought for New Affinity Groups
TAPA is hosting new parent/guardian affinity groups and is searching for new affinity group leaders. The new groups are: Men's Group and Faith-Based Group. A reminder: affinity group meetings are intended to be a safe space for those individuals in our community who self-identify as a member of that designated group and are able to speak from the "I" perspective. 

If you're interested in leading one of these new groups, please contact TAPA DEIB Coordinator Sharisse Cail Perry P ‘24 ‘24.

New Women’s Affinity Group
TAPA would like to invite women of the Thayer community to the Thayer Academy Women's Affinity Group on Tuesday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. in Southworth Library. 

TAPA recognizes that self-care is necessary for community care and seeks to create a space for women in the Thayer community to gather for self-inquiry and mutual support. 

If you have any questions, please contact Laurie McTeague P '24 or Brynn Wartman P '30.

Parent/Guardian Affinity Groups
TAPA and the DEIB office welcome participation in upcoming affinity group meetings for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ parents and guardians. Affinity groups are a resource to provide a sense of community and a safe space for parents and guardians to unite and support one another in meaningful conversations and activities.

Please note: affinity group meetings are intended to be a safe space for those individuals in our community who self-identify as a member of that designated group and are able to speak from the "I" perspective. These meetings should only be attended by those individuals; they are not intended for those who identify as allies.
 
For any questions about the BIPOC Affinity Group, please contact TAPA DEIB Coordinator Sharisse Cail Perry P ‘24 ‘24 or TAPA Middle School Secretary JoAnn Brown P ‘27. For any questions about the LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group, please contact Julie Austin-Johnstone P ‘24.

Final LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group meeting date for this school year (All meetings begin at 7 p.m.): May 10.

Here to Help
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at tapa@thayer.org. 

Martha McNally P ’22, ‘24, ‘27: President
Caroline Kuhlman P ’25, ‘28: Vice President
Lee Sentnor P ’21, ‘24, ‘26: Treasurer
Kaityln Aiello P ’26, ‘28: Secretary
Heidi Barry P ’26, ‘28: MS President
Colleen Hernandez ‘90 P ’26, ‘28: MS Vice President
JoAnn Brown P ’27: MS Secretary
Sharisse Cail Perry P ’24, ‘24: DEIB Coordinator
Kim Millian P ‘26: Volunteer Coordinator
Dasan Harrington P ’27: Volunteer Coordinator
Nicole Arnold P ’24, ‘25: Parent Athletic Coordinator (PAC)
Yemi Talabi-Oates P ‘26, ‘29: MS DEIB Coordinator
 

Don't forget to follow us on social! You don't need to download any apps to see pictures and videos of what's happening all over campus every day. Simply click on the icons below to access Thayer's official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click the title of the book to read a review or learn more. 

Upper School Math Faculty Dan Forrest is reading Ward No. 6 and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov. 

Questions about TNN? Suggestions? Please email TNN@thayer.org.

For a complete listing of current events, visit thayer.org/calendar.