TNN • Tiger News Network • 10 March 2023

 

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Safe travels to any teams with preseason plans over Spring Recess, and here's to a great sports season when student-athletes return. Go, Tigers! 

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

Enjoy the Break!
Wishing Thayer families a safe and relaxing Spring Recess. Classes resume Monday, March 27. 

Spring Sports Virtual Info Session Is April 3
The Athletics Department will host a (virtual) spring sports informational meeting for parents and guardians Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting welcomes both Middle School and Upper School families and will include breakout sessions for each sports program. 

The info session will provide parents and guardians the opportunity to learn about spring sports programs, hear from the head coaches of each program, and then move into breakout sessions to learn from individual head coaches what to expect for the spring season. For more information — including the Zoom link and the specific number of each breakout room — please contact Associate Athletic Director Brad Peterson ‘11. 

Twenty-One Days of Learning and Reflection
Join the DEIB Office in a 21-day CommUNITY Equity Learning Journey. For 21 days, take at least one action per day to further your understanding of diversity, equity, power, privilege, and belonging. If you have any questions, reach out to Assistant Director of DEIB Sarah Miller. 

Follow the DEIB Office
Be sure to follow the DEIB Office on Instagram (@ta_deib) for updates, resources, and joy!

American Red Cross Babysitter Training Program
An American Red Cross Babysitter Training Program will be held Thursday, March 23, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Thayer Middle School. The program is for students ages 11-16 interested in preparing to babysit and learning pediatric First Aid and CPR and/or learning how to keep themselves safe when home alone. Cost is $65 per student, and registration is required. 

A course description is as follows: 
The American Red Cross Babysitters Training Program is the perfect opportunity for students ages 11-16 to gain formal training in child care and emergency preparedness before starting on their babysitting journey. Students will learn all the hands-on knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly give care for children and infants, from resolving sibling conflict to life-saving techniques. Topics covered in this course include feeding, bottling, changing, diapering, being safe and responsible on the job, responding to choking, managing behavior, pediatric First Aid & CPR, and more. 

Students will finish the course with a certificate from both Boston First Aid and the American Red Cross, certifying them in Babysitter's Training. Boston First Aid guarantees only the highest quality training in all of Massachusetts, with our licensed preschool and K-12 educators training students, providing expert advice on child care and safety. There is a 30-minute break for lunch at noon, so please bring a lunch! 

Thayer Academy Film Festival Is May 5
The inaugural Thayer Academy Film Festival (TAFF) will take place Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m. in the CFA's Hale Theater. 

The festival will show a select group of short films created by community members. Submissions are open to students (both Upper School and Middle School), faculty, staff, and parents/guardians. Organizers encourage everyone to attend the event and support our filmmakers.

Submissions are due Friday, April 14. Please visit the TAFF website for more information about submissions. 

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.  


 

Who We Are Screening March 28 for All Grade 9 Students
As part of the Academy’s anti-racism and social justice curriculum, all 9th grade students take Anti-Racism and Social Justice, a one-semester course. For the course’s unit on the historical roots of racism, 9th grade students are required to attend a screening of Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America on Tuesday, March 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the CFA. Parents and guardians of 9th grade students are encouraged to join us! Pizza and dessert will be provided. 

Who We Are is a powerful documentary by Jeffery Robinson, a former ACLU deputy legal director and a trial lawyer for over 40 years. The subject of the documentary was a catalyst for The Who We Are Project, founded by Robinson to help "correct the narrative of our shared history." His talk on the history of U.S. anti-Black racism is interwoven with archival footage, interviews, and Robinson's story, exploring the enduring legacy of white supremacy and our collective responsibility to overcome it.  

For questions and/or to RSVP for this event, please contact Upper School Director of Studies Lynette Sumpter.

College Counseling Meetings for Sophomores
Attention, parents and guardians of sophomores: each sophomore has been scheduled to meet individually with a college counselor over the next month, starting the week of Feb. 27. Sophomores will also participate in a career exploration activity after Spring Recess. Keep an eye out for an email with more information.

Photos from Winter Wars
Photos from February's Winter Wars among the Upper School classes are available on the school's website. 

Term 2 Ends
Today (Friday, March 10) is the end of the second term at the Middle School. 

Showstoppers Info; Volunteers Sought
The Middle School’s Showstoppers performances are coming up in May. 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: 

  • Thursday, May 18: 1:50-3:45 p.m.
  • 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.

Middle School Spring Sports Info
Middle School spring sports begin Tuesday, March 28. Coaches and teams are excited for the warmer weather and the chance to get outside.

This winter Middle School students signed up for their spring sport options. Please refer to the Parent Portal for any equipment and supply questions. With the ever-changing New England weather, all students should be prepared each day with layers because coaches will do their best to be outside for practice daily. 

Blazers, Suit Jackets Sought for Project
Blazers and and suit jackets are needed for a guest fashion designer-led student workshop later this month. If you have any blazers and/or suit jackets you are willing to part with, please bring them in!

If you have any questions, reach out to Assistant Director of DEIB Sarah Miller or Middle School Arts Faculty Destiny Palmer.

Books Sought for Middle School Library Book Exchange
The Middle School Library has decided to create a Book Exchange mini-library. The library's fantastic movable (Hogwarts-style) bookshelves will be the location for the Book Exchange.

To fill the library bookshelves to the brim, the Middle School needs the support of the Thayer community. If you have middle grade or young adult books in great or good condition that you would like to donate to the Book Exchange, please drop them off there. Both fiction and nonfiction books are welcome. There will be a donation bin near the library's front door. Ms. Jimenez, the Middle School's CDL director, designed and created the book exchange labels. 

Middle School DEI Conference at Shady Hill School April 1
The Thayer Academy DEIB Office looks forward to bringing a group of Middle School students to the AISNE Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference. The conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Shady Hill School in Cambridge.

The DEIB Office encourages families to talk about this exciting opportunity at home. If you have questions and/or think your student(s) would be interested in attending, reach out to Sarah Miller or Destiny Palmer.

TAPA Board Positions
TAPA is responsible for so many community events held around school. 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; 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.

TAPA Scholarship Applications
TAPA proudly allocates a portion of its funds to provide scholarships for a few senior students who have shown exemplary work in the area of community service. The awards are distributed at Last Chapel at the end of the school year.

Applications will be available right after Spring Recess and are due Friday, April 21. Seniors, please take time over break to work on your résumé and a personal essay identifying your work in the area of community service. With those items completed, you’ll be all set to submit when the application form opens up after break.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Ms. Gately or TAPA Vice President Caroline Kuhlman P '25, '28.

Spring Athletics Alerts
As spring sports get underway, be sure to sign up for Athletics Alerts on your phone. If you have any questions, contact PAC Representative Nicole Arnold P '24, '25. 

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.

Remaining BIPOC Affinity Group meeting dates (All meetings begin at 7 p.m.): April 5; and May 3. 

Remaining LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group meeting dates (All meetings begin at 7 p.m.): April 6; and May 10.

Thanks for a Great Workshop
A huge thank-you to those parents and guardians who attended this week’s workshop with Dr. Ali Michael. Dr. Michael shared with the Thayer community her knowledge of and experience in building a healthy multiracial community, creating inclusive spaces, and helping our children to acquire the racial competency skills to do the same. The lessons learned will benefit Thayer's ongoing effort to improve our community.

For more information about Dr. Michael, please read her award-winning Independent Schools Magazine article ”What White Children Need to Know about Race."

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 An Atlas of Extinct Countries by Gideon Defoe and Selected Poems by Robert Browning. 

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

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