August 20, 2021

You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party… you think something wonderful is going to happen.”

-       Joe DiMaggio

 Greetings Everyone,

And, we’re off! By all accounts, the school year is off to a great start. There is something about the first day of school that feels like the opening of a season: excitement and possibility, even a little bit of nervousness. On Wednesday, I commented to students that our campus becomes a school when they arrive. This familiar space is transformed by their energy. My hope is, after meeting friends, old and new, and teachers (also old and new) and settling in to a schedule, students begin to feel a sense of rhythm heading into our first full week.

This week we welcomed ninth grade and new students to Orientation on Tuesday. Wednesday began with an opening assembly and continued with a schedule that allowed students to attend each class ahead of our first full day on Thursday. There are plenty of aspects of school life to which Upper School students are becoming accustomed. Tuesdays and Thursday begin with assembly at 8:30 in Stone Gym. Each day brings a mid-day MAC period for a variety of needs (academic support, advisory, club meetings, and recess). And, we are all happy to return to the Dining Commons for lunch. Everyone has shown patience in adapting to the pace of a school day and all its moving pieces.

I hope you enjoy the pictures from this week, which highlight Orientation, Opening Day, German I and III, AP Latin, AP World History, Precalculus, Physics, Human Physiology, and Algebra II, as well as scenes outside of class.

It is really great to have everyone back together!

Go, Griffins!

Kevin Weatherill

Kevin.weatherill@sdsgriffin.org

Reminders…

Athletic Requirement

Students who are not currently on a team or planning to play a winter or spring sport, should see Ms. Phillips. Conditioning class with Coach Buxton and Coach Couch begins on Monday, 7:15 am. Classes will be offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 7:15-8:05. Students are expected to attend 2 classes each week. The class will be offered from August 23rd-November 18th. 

Student Parking

Beginning Monday, student drivers should park in their selected spots. Student drivers are also asked to please drive cautiously on campus and observe the right of way when coming around the circle (cars in the circle have the right of way).

The Week Ahead…

Monday, August 23

*A Day

11:25   9^th (Seminar Room) and 12^th Grade (Dent) Meetings

            *10^th and 11^th grades: Mid-Day MAC Academic Support

Tuesday, August 24

*E Day

8:30     Upper School Assembly (Stone Gym)

11:25   Advisory (all grades, students meet in advisor’s room)

4:30     JV Girls Tennis vs Asheville Trailblazers @ SDS

4:30     Varsity Girls Tennis vs Asheville Trailblazers @ SDS

5:00     JV Volleyball @ Velos Storm

6:00     Varsity Volleyball @ Velos Storm

Wednesday, August 25

*A Day

11:25   10^th (Seminar Room) and 11th Grade (Dent) Meetings

            *9^th and 12^th grades: Mid-Day MAC Academic Support

5:30     Band Parents Meeting (Dent)

Thursday, August 26

*E Day

8:30     Upper School Assembly (Stone Gym)

11:25   Mid-Day MAC: Club Meetings

4:30     JV Girls Tennis vs Broome High School @ SDS

6:00     Cross Country Parents Meeting (Seminar Room)

Friday, August 27

*A Day

11:25   Mid-Day MAC Recess

4:30     Varsity Girls Tennis vs Asheville School @ SDS

4:30     Varsity Volleyball @ Asheville School (**DISMISS CLASS 2:00pm**)

Saturday, August 28

Swimming @ Seneca Invitational 

Key Dates

August 30       Katherine Rausch Art Exhibit Opens (Dent, through Oct. 7)

September 1    Upper School Parents Night (6:30, Dent)

September 6    Labor Day (School Holiday)

September 7    Picture Day

September 8    Drop/Add Period Closes

September 9    Katherine Rausch Art Reception (5:00, Dent)

September 17  Early Dismissal (12:15, Faculty Professional Development)

September 17  First Quarter Progress Reports Available

October 2        SAT (National Testing Date)

October 7        Early Dismissal (12:15, Faculty Professional Development)

October 8        Fall Break (Faculty Professional Development)

October 11      Fall Break (School Holiday)

October 13      PSAT and SAT, School Day Testing; College Essay Workshop

October 15      End of First Quarter