December 4, 2009

Dear Parents of Middle School Students,

I trust that you each enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving break and are looking forward to our Winter Holidays beginning Friday, December 18th at noon.

• In the few weeks between our two breaks from school, the children are busy with all manner of activities and projects. At the recent Jets’ Football Banquet, Everett Robertson (8^th) won the Spirit of Southfield Award given for sportsmanship and commitment. Tristan Hebert (8^th) was selected onto the Junior All American Team. (Only 44 students nationwide make this team!). Ryan Downey (8^th) won the Leadership Award for the eighth grade Jets team, and Jake Wyss (7^th) won the Most Valuable Player Award for the seventh grade team. Well done, boys!

• On ‘super’ Tuesday, November 10, middle school students elected this year’s Student Council members: Steele Netterville (5A), Dresden Dilts (5B), Jack Collum (6A), Lilly Perkins (6B), Amy Beth Shirley (7A), Lane Craig (7B), Sabrina Mashburn (7^th), Abby Hogan (8A), Hunter Hoogland (8B) and Kyle Berney (8^th). Congratulations to these successful candidates!

• It has become a tradition in Middle School during December for students, teachers and families to collect money for our wonderful maintenance staff and a local needy family. We set no monetary guidelines and at a recent Middle School assembly, I encouraged students to either earn the donation by doing extra chores or choose to donate part of their regular allowance (if they have one). Please encourage your child to bring donations to your child’s advisor or Mrs. Janet Campbell in the Middle School office. Thank you.

• Upcoming events in middle school include:
  • Girls’ basketball playoffs (see website for details).
  • H1N1 flu shots on Friday, December 4. (Consent form due 12/2)
  • 8^th Grade Field Trip to Robinson Film Center on Friday, December 4.
  • Eagle Singers perform at Live Oak retirement home, Tuesday, December 8.
  • French Plays by 7^th & 8^th grade students, December 9 and 11 at 8:20 in the Kytle Theatre.
  • The Magazine Drive VIP Mega Show, Thursday, December 10, at 8:15am in the gym.
  • 5^th Grade Field Trip to Dallas on Friday, December 11.

• January is traditionally the month for spelling and geography bees. On Thursday, January 7 at 10:15am our qualifier for the Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee will be held in the MSD Theater. Our finalists are being determined this month and the winner will go on to represent Southfield at LSUS University Center in February 2010.  This year’s National Geographic Geography Bee qualifier has been scheduled for Friday, January 15 at 10:15am in the MSD Theater.  All qualifiers and winners will be recognized in our January letter.

• For our eighth graders, the end of the first semester completes an important period of academic study. Their GPA’s will be used for high school applications in January. The Algebra I students will be taking their semester exam on Wednesday, December 16^th, and Geometry I students will take their semester exam on Thursday, December 17^th. All middle school families will be receiving grades and report cards for the second quarter on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

Seasonally yours,

Gordon Walker,

Associate Headmaster