Week of July 30, 2012

The summertime publication for The Williams School community

The Williams School builds with each child the foundation for academic, moral, and social success. A Williams School student embodies confidence, discipline, integrity, and a love of learning.

It is with pleasure and sincere gratitude that we welcome Michael C. Spencer to The Williams School as Head of School. Since our founding in 1927, The Williams School has had only five heads of school Mike will be our sixth. Selected by a Search Committee comprised of Board members, parents, faculty, community leaders and alumni who met weekly for an entire year to explore candidates from across the nation, Mike was chosen because he is most definitely the right person for the job. Its as simple as that, and as complex, for although the search process was involved and comprehensive, the decision was clear. At The Williams School we know who we are and where we plan to go. Small by design, we are committed to serving approximately 200 children in grades K-8. Our students are selected and taught with each individuals character and needs always at the forefront. Known and loved, here our children really like to go to school. They excel academically, socially, and morally and are sought-after by our areas secondary schools. Teachers at The Williams School, in a ratio of one for every seven children, know and love their students as their own and make learning meaningful and fun. Parents and families, welcome and appreciated, are actively involved, often on a daily basis. Daisy the dog greets everyone in the library, and a fire-engine-red clawfooted bathtub filled with pillows in the front hall is a favorite reading spot. Into this mix must come the right leader. Fortunately for us, Mike Spencer fits the bill in every way. With close to forty years of experience as an educator and administrator, he brings the professional and personal skills so important to collaboration, integration, advancement and success. An intent listener, Mike seeks input from all stakeholders. He sports his signature bow ties as visual evidence of the value he places on creative thought. He makes informed decisions and implements policies fairly and firmly. He is honest, highly intelligent, curious, steadfast, and wise, with an enlightened sense of humor and a flair for fun. Interested and interesting, he has a natural way with children of all ages and responds to and resonates with everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Dedicated to his chosen mission, Mike is an amazingly hard worker, devoting his hours to ensure the job is done well. Our entire school family enjoyed his advice practical and profound - given in June as our Graduation speaker. Our students were moved; they took his words to heart; and they will take his words with them as they begin the next phase of their growth and experience. Mike and his wife, Karen, both respected educators raised in respective families of educators, have continued that valuable tradition. As residents of Ghent, they honor the legacy of our historic neighborhood where they and The Williams School are so fortunate to reside and where Mike and his grandson will be able to walk together each day to school. The Williams School is meant to feel like an extension of each students home, where every student can find his or her place - a secure, welcoming, environment in which to learn and grow. Mike shares our commitment to preserve our architectural heritage, to be good stewards of our neighborhood, and at the same time, to offer our students the most advanced tools and technology to meet the challenges of our rapidly-advancing world. Moderating our Race to Nowhere showing, he demonstrated his keen understanding of the complex issues our children face. Sensitive to the positive and negative impact the drive to succeed can produce, we strive together to provide a true balance for our students.

Above all, Mike Spencer is a man of integrity. Combining intelligence and grit, integrity demands respect for oneself, for ones ideals, and for one another. A hallmark of The Williams School, integrity is the quality of character most required and most appreciated. Polished and accomplished but without artifice, Mike is true to himself and what you see is what you get. We hope you will join us for a welcome celebration on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 6 to 8pm at the school. An invitation will be coming in the mail very soon, and together we will shape the next chapter in the history of The Williams School.

Main Office Summer Hours

Monday Friday 9am-12:00pm

Spanish, French or Academic Resource

Parents of students new to the middle school and first-time foreign language students, please check your email for an important message from the school regarding your childs selection of Spanish, French or Academic Resource. Please Melanie Bird if you have not received an email concerning your childs class selection.

Summer Reading Lists To see the summer reading lists for students, please visit www.thewilliamsschool.org . Select Academic Life and then click on the Summer Reading link on the left. Select the appropriate grade. Middle school students should also click Middle School Summer Reading Assignment as well.

School Supply Lists For your convenience, supplies may be purchased through Coastal or, if you prefer, you may purchase the supplies on your own. If you purchase the supplies on your own, please purchase the supplies as described on the supply list. We are requesting that all supplies be labeled and dropped off on orientation day. Supplies purchased from Coastal will be delivered to the school, labeled by teachers, and distributed to students on orientation day. Directions for ordering from Coastal follow:

SUMMER READING INVITATION

As a community of learners, The Williams School faculty and staff would, once again, like to extend an invitation to parents to join us in our summer reading. We have added a few more titles to last years list. Please let us know if you have additional suggestions that you would like to add to the list. To help you with your selection, each book listed is hyperlinked to a book review. Happy Reading!
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Dr. Wendy Mogel The Blessing of a B- by Dr. Wendy Mogel The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine Building Resilience in Children and Teens by Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg Doing School by Denise Clark Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-indulgent World by Dr. H. Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelson The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap by Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld M.D. and Nicole Wise Putting Family First: Successful Strategies for Reclaiming Family Life in a Hurry-Up World by William J. Doherty and Barbara Carlson lol...OMG!: What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying by Matt Ivester The Parent's Guide to Texting, Facebook, and Social Media: Understanding the Benefits and Dangers of Parenting in a Digital World by Shawn Marie Edgington Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children by Michael Thompson, Cathe O'Neill-Grace, Lawrence J. Cohen and Catherine O'Neill Grace The Pressured Child: Freeing Our Kids from Performance Overdrive and Helping Them Find Success in School and Life by Michael Thompson Ph.D. Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World (Motherhood Club) by Jill M. Rigby Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents [Paperback] by Betsy Brown Braun (2008)

TWS Library Summer Hours!

The library will be open to students for hours on select Wednesdays this summer. Please come by and enjoy the library, check out books, share some stories and fun. Wednesday, August 1 from 10-1 Lots of Summer Reading Books are available. Missed Signing up for the Reading Incentive Program on Festival Day? Anyone in grades 1-8 interested in the librarys Book A Summer Reading Trip- come pick up your passport in the library with instructions, or please let me know if I can mail you one!

bmiller@thewilliamsschool.org

Check out our bloghttp://thehouseowlhoots.blogspot.com

Piano Lessons
Summer is the perfect time to begin private piano lessons. Its a great way to relax and enjoy learning a new skill at your own pace. Lessons schedules are the most flexible during the summer. For more information please email Edna Broadhurst at: ebroadhurst@thewilliamsschool.org

RenWebs ParentsWeb is a private and secure parents portal that will allow parents to view academic information specific to their children, while protecting their childrens information from others. You can see your childs grades, order lunch, view homework assignments as well as other useful school information. You can also communicate with teachers and other school staff online whenever necessary. All you need is an Internet-capable computer. Heres how to access our easy-to-use RenWeb ParentsWeb:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Go to Internet Explorer and enter the address www.renweb.com. Click ParentsWeb Login in the red box. Log in as follows:

Type WILLIAMS for your School ID. Click the Submit button. Click the First Time Users tab if you have not logged in to RenWeb before. If you have, skip to Step 6. Enter your email address that you provided to the school. Click the New User button. You will receive an email containing your password within 3 minutes (to the email address you entered, which must be the same email address that you provided to the school). 9. Click the Parents tab. 10. Enter the password assigned. 11. Click the Parent Login button. 12. Please contact the main office should you require additional assistance.

School of Rock @ THE ACADEMY Summer Camps

See you this 2012 summer!! 3 Sessions -- Let's ROCK!! Call 757-461-1787, email kslocke@schoolofrock.com, or visit www.schoolofrock.com/norfolk for more info! Cost: $265 per week SoR Rock 101 camp July 30-Aug 3

THERE IS NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY the camps are tailored to meet the needs of all ability levels. The camps are for boys ages 7 and up, from 9am-3pm and lunch is provided. Two more sessions coming up August 6-9. See more information - http://www.marlinlaxcamps.com/virginia-lacrosse-camps.html