Parent Newsletter: December 2007

DEAR BLAIR PARENTS and FAMILIES,
   This newsletter contains information concerning recent and upcoming events and other items of interest to parents and families. To further keep you informed, you will receive the Parents’ Post and Blair Bulletin in the mail. I also suggest that you visit “Important Dates” (located at the bottom right section of the Parents’ page on the Blair Web site.) This section provides weekend highlights and other dates of interest. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions for future newsletter items or questions.

Sue Habermann P’07, ’04, ’02
Director of Parent Relations
habers@blair.edu
908-362-6121 ext. 5653 or 888-542-5247 (option 4)

RECENT EVENTS

HOLIDAY CONCERT
To view photos from our annual holiday concert, including instrumental, vocal and dance performances by students, click here.

CHRISTMAS VESPERS
Blair’s traditional Christmas vespers services at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street were held Sunday, December 9. Included were music and readings by members of the Blair community. Click here to see photos.

COACHES vs. CANCER GAME
Blair’s Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball competition against Northfield Mount Hermon School (Northfield, Mass.) was held December 8 in Walker Gymnasium. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Coaches vs. Cancer Fund. For photos, click here.  

EVERY ALWAYS CAMPAIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Three weeks ago, the bulldozers and cranes arrived to begin clearing the area behind the gym for the expansion of the new Activity and Athletic Center. Winter athletics will not be interrupted, but as soon as the final game of winter is played, we will close the gym until the metamorphosis is complete. Click here to see the progress and changes taking place on campus and to read about other Campaign news.

FALL ATHLETIC AWARDS
The fall athletic awards were recently awarded to student athletes. To view, click here.

PEDDIE DAY
Blair played its arch rival Peddie last month and ended the fall season on a cold day in Hightstown, NJ. While Peddie won a majority of the contests, Blair tennis and girls’ cross country won and the football team took home The Big Three Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the football rivalry among Lawrenceville, Peddie and Blair.
    Once again, Blair parents know how to throw a party – even if the party isn’t on their own turf. Thank you to all who went above and beyond the call of duty by providing an incredible array of sandwiches and desserts and hosting the hospitality tent. A special thank-you goes to Susan Allen P’09, Nancy Klein P’11 and Tom Gilmartin P’08 for top–notch organization and Janice Hedden P’09 for being our roving photographer. For photos of the day, click here.

Check out the newly designed parent volunteer page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NYC BOY’S CLUB HOLIDAY CLASSIC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
December 14 & 15 
Come cheer on the Boy’s Varsity Basketball team December 14-15 when the Bucs participate in The New York City Boy’s Club Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament held at Fordham University. Some of the schools participating: Lake Forest Academy, Worcester Academy, Peddie School and Hotchkiss. Out of the nine years Blair has participated, Blair has won the tournament twice. There is an admission fee for the tournament. Schedule is as follows:
December 14
Blair vs. St. Marks School, MA, 4:00 pm
Blair vs. TBD in the Semi-Finals, 7:30 pm
December 15
Championships - TBD
 
INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND
January 5 & 6
Students return from holiday break to International Weekend, an annual campus event. Food, games – including Chinese fan dancing – and a fashion show are some of the activities planned, many of which are arranged by Blair’s foreign language teachers. Boys and girls from 22 countries attend the School; this event allows them the opportunity to showcase their traditional costumes and feel a bit closer to home.

STUDENT/FACULTY/ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME
January 5, 2 pm, Chillout Sports Arena, Hackettstown, NJ
Mark your calendar now to come watch the highly anticipated annual Blair student/faculty/alumni hockey game (free admission).
 
ART EXHIBITION, ROMANO GALLERY
December 3-29
Kenneth Metcalf “River Sanctuaries and Island Temples” 
January 7-February 2
Paintings by John Goodrich and Ken Kewley (Reception: January 10, 7-8 pm)

SKEPTICS SERIES
COWAN AUDITORIUM
January 8: Young Blair Alumni Forum
January 15: Phil Levy presents monologues from The Exonerated, the play in which he starred. "The Exonerated," is culled from 40 interviews with former death-row inmates who were eventually proven innocent and released.
January 22: Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program
(Blair student presentation/ discussion)
January 29: Keith Hodges, former Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps Officer
“Guantanamo: Incarceration of Terrorists”

BARTOW SERIES
THE DISCOVERY ORCHESTRA
January 17
Experience classical music in a whole new light! Hosted by Artistic Director George Marriner Maull, Discovery Concerts are educational, entertaining, and interactive. Each program deepens the experience of classical music by teaching just what to listen for during live performances. Discovery Concerts are recommended for ages 13 and up. The concert will be held in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts at 7:15 pm. Free Admission.

JUNIOR PARENT COLLEGE MEETING
January 26, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts
The College Counseling Office will present a symposium on the college admission process for parents of eleventh grade students. This year’s guest speaker will be Bruce Chamberlin, Associate Dean of Admission at University of Pennsylvania. Contact Linda Klesik at klesil@blair.edu for further information.

JUNIOR PARENTS
Winter Long Weekend, January 31 – February 5
Take advantage of this long weekend to visit colleges and universities with your son or daughter. It’s a good opportunity to see a few schools when they are in session. Also, plan your Spring Break trip/s keeping in mind that most colleges are also on Spring Break in March. Make sure to check their academic calendars.

ST. EDWARD’S WRESTLING MATCH
January 26, 7:30 pm, Walker Gymnasium
Come and watch the Blair wrestlers at home as they go head-to-head with nationally ranked St. Edwards of Ohio.

SADIE HAWKINS DANCE
February 9, A Winter Wonderland
This year’s Sadie Hawkins dance will be held Saturday, February 9. Please note that it was originally scheduled for January 26. The girls from South Cottage, along with parent volunteers, will be in charge sof decorating. Valerie Tozzi P’08 and Debbie Devenny P’08 are chairing the decoration committee. If interested in helping, contact Valerie.

To view photos from last year’s Sadie Hawkins’ dance click here, and to see decorations click here.

BLAIR SUMMER SCHOOL IN SPAIN
This summer Don Morley, chair of the foreign language department, will be venturing to Segovia Spain with students from June 21-July 22. The school is open to all students, whether they are in Spanish 5 AP or are brand new to the language. Our host institution offers courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. For more information, click here.

SUPPORT BLAIR
Show your support for all the positive things happening at Blair by investing in the Blair Fund, our unrestricted annual fund.  We value and honor all gifts, large and small. Send your gift today or give securely on-line.

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