Parent Newsletter: September 2006

Dear Blair Parents and Families,
Greetings from our student-filled campus and a warm welcome to new parents! It’s great to have the campus bustling with activity again after a quiet summer. We are delighted to have your sons and daughters back with us for another exciting Blair year! Their energy refreshes us all. For opening of school pictures taken by Jean Perlee P’09 and Candy Low, go to: http://www.blair.edu/News_Events/2006_2007/news_ev_newschoolyear_2.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/News_Events/2006_2007/news_ev_newschoolyear.shtm

It was a pleasure meeting so many new parents and greeting returning families during last week’s registration. Now that your student is here, moved in, and has started classes, I wanted to pass along some information that I hope will be useful to you. Although classes began Tuesday, the school year officially began with CONVOCATION on Wednesday, September 13, with Headmaster Chan Hardwick and Senior Council member, Jared Platt ’07, welcoming students to the campus.

School Meetings
The first school meeting took place on Tuesday with Chan Hardwick, David Low, Carm Mazza and others welcoming students to the 159th year at Blair. 436 students representing 22 states and 12 countries began their classes with enthusiasm. Mr. Hardwick explained how school meetings are structured. There are two meetings each week; the Monday morning meeting is run by the administration, and the Friday morning meeting is run by the senior council. Since they are community meetings, anyone is invited to speak. If a student or faculty member has a short announcement, such as: “We hope you come out and support this Saturday’s soccer game…I’m missing my IPOD, did anyone find it…,” they may stand near the front of the stage and wait their turn to speak, or, raise their hand at the end of the meeting. For longer announcements, students need to make arrangements with Mr. Low or Mr. Mazza.

Parent Volunteers And Meeting
THANK YOU…to all the parents who helped welcome parents to the school and who came to the Parent Volunteer Group (PVG) meeting and lunch on September 6. Fifty enthusiastic and willing parent volunteers were on hand to discuss upcoming events and ways they can help support programs at Blair. The car for this year’s PVG fundraiser was announced at the meeting…more details will follow. For photos of the meeting and parent volunteers helping with the opening of school, click on http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_volunteers.shtm.

Underclass Photos
Photos will be taken of underclass students during the week of September 18-21 during lunch. The pictures will be taken, weather permitting, outside of the dining hall. Parent volunteers will be on hand to help. Please note that students are not required to get their pictures taken, so if you’re interested in purchasing photos, a little coaxing from home would be appreciated. Proofs will be sent directly to you from the photographer, Jim Rimi, sometime in October.

Monday, 9/18 Freshman - 11:30 – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 9/19 Sophomore - 11:30 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday, 9/20 Junior - 11:00 – 12:30 pm
Thursday, 9/21 Make ups – 11:30 – 1:00 pm

Senior portraits will be taken by Justin Baiter Photography during the month of September and October.

Parents’ Weekend
I hope your calendar is marked for Parents’ Weekend: Friday, October 27–28. You will receive an invitation in the mail within the next few weeks. Parents often ask me the best time to arrive and leave. If you have the time, I encourage you to arrive on Friday afternoon and to stay through the football game on Saturday afternoon. For details of the weekend and schedule go to http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_par_weekend.shtm.

Please consider making hotel reservations well in advance! Contact information for hotels and restaurants can be found here: http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_par_weekend_acc.shtm (hotels) http://www.blair.edu/Campus_Contact/cam_area_info.shtm (restaurants).

Speaking of restaurants, check out…the Gourmet Gallery on Main Street in Blairstown. It opened last May and is a rare “gourmet” find in Blairstown. It’s a great spot to get a delicious take-out meal or a gelato.

Society Of Skeptics
One of the School’s untapped treasures is Blair’s Skeptics Series. No matter what your son or daughter says, please feel free to join students and faculty on Tuesday evenings. All lectures begin at 7:00 pm in Cowan Auditorium/Bogle Hall or in DuBois Theatre (check the Blair Web site for last-minute changes). For this fall’s schedule go to http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_skeptics.shtm.

September 19 – "A Career as a Foreign Service Officer" - Beth Wilson Webster ’91 (presently the political officer in Kazakhstan and recently involved in the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon's war zone)

September 26 – "Every Day is as Good as it Gets!" - Adventurer Robin Davie speaks about sailing around the world three times…solo.

Chapel And Vespers
The entire Blair community meets for Chapel on Thursday mornings in DuBois Theatre to hear a speaker (Chaplain, student, faculty member or guest speaker) discuss a topic of moral importance or on an individual issue of faith. It is a time of sharing and learning with an emphasis on respect for the diverse cultures represented at Blair. Vespers, a more traditional religious service, take place Sunday evenings and during holidays. For the fall’s schedule, go to http://www.blair.edu/About_Blair/ab_spiritual_life.shtm.

Fine & Performing Arts
This year’s wonderful array of cultural events can be found at http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_performing_arts.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_exhibits.shtm

Please join us for the opening reception of this month’s show on September 14, 7:00–8:00 pm in Romano Gallery. Annie Shaver-Crandell (plein-air landscape artist) - September 11 - October 7.

Blair Bakery Specialities
Looking for a way to let your child know you’re thinking of them on their birthday or other special occasion? Go to http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_bakery_specialties.shtm. Our own Catering Services Department will bake a cake or cookies or send your student a special care package. Your child will be very popular on their hall when they share their delicious treats with their friends.

Trip to San Gennaro Festival
Ryan Pagotto will be taking a group of students to the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy on Sunday, September 24. Students are encouraged to sign up by contacting Ryan. Students will also be given some time to shop and explore some of the surrounding areas (SoHo, Tribeca and Chinatown).

CROP Walk
Blair's community service program will sponsor a three-mile CROP walk on campus on Sunday, October 15, at 1:00 pm. CROP Hunger Walks are "Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty" – communities walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world, raising awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting. Parents are encouraged to participate! Please contact Kaye Evans at evansk@blair.edu or 908-362-6121, ext. 5055 if you would like to participate.

Parent/s Needed To Help Make Costumes
Anyone interested in making costumes for any of the six plays this year should contact Craig Evans, director of performing arts, at ext. 5682 or evansc@blair.edu.

Upcoming Weekend Activities (as of September 14)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Freshman Retreat (9/15-16)
Post Graduate Dinner at Sharpe House

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Fan buses will take students to North Warren for the Varsity and JV Boys Soccer Game (under the lights).
Welcome Back Dance – outside Campus Center following soccer game

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
SUPER SUNDAY – BBQ on Health Center lawn, grease slide, games, and more… 2:45 – 7:00 pm in the Bowl

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Fan buses will take students to North Warren for the Varsity and JV Girls Soccer Game (under the lights). The band, “The Monkery” will perform in the Dining Hall following the soccer game.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
Harlem Wizards, a trick-hoops basketball team, will perform in the Gym. $12 tickets will be sold to the public. Contact Carm Mazza at ext. 5775 or mazzac@blair.edu for more information.
I hope you've enjoyed this first e-newsletter of the year…feedback is always welcome. I look forward to a great year. Please feel free to stop by my office when you're on campus, or call me with questions at 908-362-6121 ext. 5653.

All my best,
Sue Habermann
Director of Parent Relations

Let us know if you have any e-mail address changes by contacting lists@blair.edu.

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