Back to School eNewsletter
August 2017
Headmaster Letter Dear Latin Families, There is nothing like the excitement at the end of summer, leading to the first day of school. All over campus people are painting, cleaning, setting up and getting ready for the students to arrive on campus. Teachers are meeting as divisions and departments, as well as being part of technology and website training. Fall athletics teams have been practicing over the summer and are well-prepared for competition. We’re ready!
Words Matter “Words Matter” is this year’s theme, chosen for numerous reasons. The first reason is how we use our words. Our students’ use of their speaking and writing skills speaks for itself through:
WORDS MATTER
• Feedback from college admissions counselors about the speaking and writing abilities of Latin graduates throughout the application process. • Latin’s award-winning journalism program that includes Hawkeye TV, Eyry (our yearbook), The Hawkeye (newspaper), and The Blue Review (literary magazine). • Our foundational phonics program that starts in kindergarten, providing the foundation for our student’s lifelong love of reading and learning.
This year’s theme also acknowledges that the words we choose when we speak matter. Sonja Taylor, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, will lead a new program on civility and civil discourse with students and teachers. We will be sharing more information on this new program later in the fall.
Back to School eNewsletter
August 2017
Headmaster Letter (continued) In addition to this year’s theme, I want to highlight the following: • The campus security cameras have all been upgraded from analog to digital, meaning that Major Greene can better monitor and secure our campus. The new system includes more memory, allowing a much longer review of past footage. • Our facilities staff has put in new stadium lights, renovated the kitchen in Founders’ Hall, installed energy-saving LEDs throughout campus (100% of our lights are now LEDs), repaired sewer lines leaving Lower School and replaced HVAC in several locations around campus. • Founders’ Hall has been completely renovated. The decor now includes Latin Blue clouds and all new lighting. Counter tops will be stone and the new designs will improve efficiency, site lines and access to dining options. The Action Station will have both hot and cold wells and an induction burner allowing for more live cooking. The new salad bar will increase in size and allows for salads to be chopped and tossed to order. A new area will also accommodate diners with special dietary needs. • The kitchen renovation includes a walk-in freezer that allows us to better prepare, store and order food, as well as create a safer food environment. We’ve converted cooking to gas, becoming more energy efficient and the new state-of-the-art oven gives us healthier “fried” food, without the grease. • MyLatin and the website have been completely updated to improve your user experience.
WORDS MATTER We’ve also implemented a new system across all divisions that allows me to stay informed of parent meetings at the division level. This systems lets me hear your concerns and questions, even when I am not directly involved in the meetings. Last, but not least, we’ve hired 37 new employees in a variety of positions. You’ll learn more about Fredrik Akerblom, our new Director of Development in this newsletter and you may read about each of our other new hires on the website. Please join me in welcoming these new additions to our Latin family when you meet them. Be sure to check MyLatin frequently for important information at the start of school and look for the first Wednesday Watch envelope to come home with your student, which will include the CLS Family Handbook, Family Directory and other important publications. Here’s to a great year! Sincerely,
• Teacher class pages in Middle and Upper School have been brought into alignment, with unified means to see and find homework, quizzes and tests. Arch N. McIntosh, Jr., Headmaster
Back to School eNewsletter
August 2017
Q&A with Fredrik Akerblom, Latin’s New Director of Development I think being a parent adds to one’s understanding of the community and will certainly enrich my understanding of Latin as Director of Development.
We welcome Fredrik to Latin! He brings a long history of service in education and the nonprofit sector in the areas of major gifts, fundraising, operations and project management at organizations in the Northeast and in Sweden. Swedish by birth, Fredrik’s wife, Tanja, was born in Asheville, and their move to Charlotte brings them close to family in North Carolina and Tennessee. Q: What are your priorities as the new Director of Development? FA: Priority number one is getting to know and understand the culture of the school, what Latin values and how the community supports the mission. It’s important that we continue building onto the solid foundation of community engagement and generous giving that have been part of Latin’s fabric since its beginning. We need to ensure that our alumni and friends find a variety of ways to stay in touch and engage with the school. We will also focus on promoting a philanthropic culture to help meet both the immediate and long-term needs of the school. Q: How will you get to know the Latin community? I very much look forward to meeting parents, students, alumni and other friends of Latin as part of everyday work. I am also looking forward to getting to know Latin from the parent side, as well as the Development side. Our son, Erik, starts in first grade this fall and our youngest will be in The Nest. Tanja and I look forward to meeting teachers and other parents through our children.
Q: Why Latin? FA: Latin is an excellent school! It’s a place where the teachers have a genuine desire to see every child as an individual and to provide many opportunities of growth. It was easy to get excited about promoting a school that is rooted in great academic tradition, yet is progressive and agile about how best to educate its students. Personally, my family and I have enjoyed eight years in Sweden, the country where I was born, but now really embrace the opportunity to return to the U.S., where I previously lived for thirteen years. My wife was born in Asheville, where her twin sister and her family lives. In Charlotte, we have another one of Tanja’s sisters with her family, as well as my brother-in-law’s extended family. We’ve spent a lot of time in North Carolina, and across the Great Smoky Mountains, in Knoxville, where my parentsin-law live. Q: How will you adjust to life in North Carolina? FA: With joy and ease, I believe! I have already experienced so many expressions of the welcoming and inclusive spirit at Latin. What is particularly impressive is that so many include my family in their invitations and thoughts. We are all looking forward to Charlotte. Q: What do you like to do in your free time? FA: I like to explore and look forward to experiencing both Charlotte and North Carolina with Tanja and our kids. Our family loves hiking, going to the beach (who doesn’t?), and a variety of sports including tennis and soccer. Tanja and I are avid readers and enjoy visiting museums, attending concerts and other cultural events. We also like to meet new people, so if any of these things are things you like to do too, please let me know! You can reach Fredrik at fakerblom@charlottelatin.org or 704-841-7463.
Back to School eNewsletter
August 2017
How Latin Communicates with You MyLatin is the #1 place to look for school information. Log into MyLatin from the home page of the website. Here you will find: • Calendars
• Links - to key information sites like Magnus Health
• News and announcements - both all-school and department/grade specific
• Parent Resources including Parents’ Council, Latin Arts and Boosters
• Resources and electronic filing cabinets that hold the Family Handbook, publications, forms and policy documents
• Directories
• Athletics information • Photos • Groups, e.g, classes, teams • Classroom links to class pages, homework, tests and quizzes
Tip
You can set alerts for news and announcements, calendar and athletics on the website by clicking on the bell icon and the information will be pushed to your email or via text. MyLatin App for iPhones and iPads. You can access an abbreviated version of the website from the MyLatin App. The app is free from the App Store.
Try a password keeper (like LastPass, 1Password or Dashline) that securely saves your username and password if you do not want to input it yourself each time you login.
Welcome to the Week
Each Sunday morning you will receive the Welcome to the Week in your email. This communication gives you a heads-up about what is happening in the coming week. This is a macro-look at school events with links for additional information and related forms.
The school will email you time-sensitive and important information throughout the school year.
Emergency Notifications
The school will notify you via email, text and voicemail in case of an emergency. We will test the emergency system in the first two weeks of the school year and will provide information for you to change your notification preferences, if necessary. Emergency notifications include school delays and closings due to inclement weather.
Calendar
The simplest way to access all calendars is from MyLatin. From MyLatin you can access all school calendars and classroom calendars for your student.
Wednesday Watch
Wednesday Watch envelopes provide a timely method of disseminating information to Latin’s families. An envelope containing printed communications from the School is sent home periodically during the school year via the youngest student in each family. This information system eliminates the need for regular bulk mailings to the parent body and is coordinated by CLS Parents’ Council volunteers. In order to operate effectively, this system is dependent on the student being responsible for delivering the envelope and its contents. Please make your student aware that the envelopes must go home and be delivered to you. 2017-18 Wednesday Watch Dates: August 23, September 13, October 25, January 31, April 4, May 2
Back to School eNewsletter
August 2017
How Latin Communicates with You (continued) Social media
MyLatin is the primary channel for school news and information. Social media is a secondary channel. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any important school news, check MyLatin. If you’d like to see Latin from a slightly different perspective, connect with us via the following:
Teacher Class Pages
In Middle and Upper School, teachers’ class pages provide an overview of each class showing major assignments, quizzes and tests. Lower School classroom page formats vary by grade.
Facebook - news, events, student accomplishments, fun things seen around campus. We have a general Charlotte Latin Facebook page, an Athletics Facebook page and an Alumni Facebook page. Be sure to “like” us and share Latin content frequently. www.facebook.com/CharlotteLatinSchool Instagram - Latin life in photos. We have a general Charlotte Latin Instagram account and an Athletics account. charlottelatinschool Twitter - short bits of information, video and text. We have a general Charlotte Latin Twitter feed that includes Athletics. @charlottelatin
What the School Expects from You • That you will read the Welcome to the Week delivered to you by email each Sunday, and use it as a prompt to check MyLatin for further details • That you will access your student’s class information via MyLatin • That you will read emails that come from the Headmaster and Division Heads Need assistance or have a question? Contact Susan Carpenter, Director of Marketing and Communications.
LinkedIn - professional networking. We have a Latin Alumni LinkedIn group. Charlotte Latin School Alumni
Food, Fun and Football!
Mark your calendars for the 6th annual Touchdown Tailgate, Latin’s kick-off community event of the new school year. Make a family-friendly night of it. Join us for the catered meal (food from New Wrap Order) before the game. You’ll be able to customize your meal at the event! There’s fun and fellowship for the whole family. Bring your camera for photos with Latin athletes and Victor E Hawk! The event is held rain or shine, and this year we’ll have tenting for shade! Click here for more information.
2017
BUY TICKETS WHO: Everyone in the Latin community is invited! WHEN: September 15, 2017, before the Hawks take on the Carolina Pride TIME: 5-7 p.m. LOCATION: SAC Parking Lot Hosted by Parents’ Council