Nov. 26, 2013

Dear Families,

HARVEST FESTIVAL: As you’ve surely heard, the forecast is for serious rain tomorrow, the day of our annual Harvest Festival. Your children have brought in an abundance of cans and other foods, but more is always welcome, and you can bring things in tomorrow morning for delivery to the soup kitchen following our celebration.

In the very likely event of rain, here’s what will happen:
1) Indoor arrival—students will go directly to class at 8:30 a.m.
2) The Harvest Festival will begin at 8:50 a.m. in the auditorium–any and all parents are encouraged to attend.
3) The performance/celebration will end by 9:15 a.m., and parent volunteers will load up the cans into two cars and take them to the soup kitchen at Trinity Church at E. 9th St. and Avenue B. Extra hands and arms and backs are always welcome for this job.

Thanks for all your help with our food drive and festival. It’s one of my favorite EVCS events, and if your children don’t get the chance to be part of the procession and visit to the soup kitchen tomorrow because of the rain, there will be other authentic ways for our students to be of service to the community in the months and years to come.

AUTHOR! AUTHOR! ILLUSTRATOR! One of our alumnae, and kindergarten teacher Roberta Valentine’s daughter, Madeline, has just published a gorgeous, touching children’s book which she both wrote and illustrated (she’s been the illustrator on others, too). It’s called “The Bad Birthday Idea” and I won’t say any more so as not to spoil it. Here’s a link to the book, andanother to the glowing Kirkus review which ends with the affirmative line: “Reading this book is good idea.” Congratulations, Maddy!

HELMETS: As a fellow rider, I need to say this: I’ve seen many of our parents commuting to school and braving Avenue C and B traffic on their bikes, with their children well-helmeted and strapped in on the back. But often, the adult is not wearing a helmet. I used to do the same, until a dear friend was hit by a car and killed on his bike; his son survived, but it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be doing my kids much good if I don’t survive a crash, or suffer brain damage or other serious injury as a result of one. Forgive this in-your-face tirade, but please, folks, wear your adult helmets. It could make the kind of difference that shapes the rest of your lives.

And on that preachy note, I wish you a lovely, peaceful Thanksgiving. I am truly grateful for all of you—for your generosity and engagement with EVCS, for your friendships, and especially, for the opportunity to know your miraculous children.

With every good wish,

Mary Talbot
Parent Coordinator