Extra Edition
E A R J Ne w s l e t t e r
Issue # 02
Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro
www.earj.com.br
Gávea: 55 21 2125-9000
Barra 55 21 2495-2485
Macaé 55 22 2763-7320
Date: August 12, 2011
Table of Contents:
Your Weekly Link to School News & Events!
Headline News
Gávea Teacher Profiles
(Barra teachers to be featured next week)
Becky and Scott Berthiaume come from the United States
where they were most recently math professors at a Florida
state college for six years. Both previously taught math at
the high school level. They have lived in Virginia, where
Becky grew up, Miami, Nashville, and Fort Myers, Florida.
Scott grew up in Massachusetts. Becky enjoys reading;
Scott enjoys all sports, tennis in particular, but is looking
forward to beach volleyball here in Rio.
Both enjoy
spending time with their two pups, who travelled with them
to Rio from the US.
Chris Smith is teaching English in Upper School. She is from
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the most beautiful place in the world for
four months of the year, after which it becomes a frozen tundra. She
has two sons, 28 and 30 years old, a daughter who is 25, and one
grandson who shares a passion for eating and sleeping with his
grandmother. Chris spent the last three years teaching MS
Humanities in Taiwan. She loves traveling learning about other
cultures, traditions and the often humorous nuances of daily life in a
foreign land: always an adventure! She is an avid cook and eater and
loves spending time at the beach. Believe it or not, Wisconsin has
some beautiful beaches and the beaches in Rio remind her of her
many happy years relaxing on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Gávea Teacher
Profiles
1-2
The Welcome Back
Barbeque
2
Another PTA
Production—
Welcome Breakfast
3
College Corner
4-5
Athletic News
6
Setor Brasileiro
7-8
Announcements
9-10
Calendar of Events
11
Gávea Menu
From Our
School Divisions
11-13
Christian Prendergast is teaching 9th grade English. He grew up in
Pennsylvania and comes to EA from North Carolina where he also
taught 9th grade English. Before that he was teaching and back
packing overseas for about five years, mostly in Latin America and
Southeast Asia. He loves nature and sports, in particular soccer,
surfing and yoga.
Grace Heim arrived in Rio from San Diego, California
in January. Originally from Michigan, she has
previously lived in North Carolina, California, and
Quito, Ecuador. She has 8 years of teaching
experiencing in fourth and fifth. Grace is married with 3 beautiful
children- twins William and Benjamin and 3 year old Natalia. In her free
time she enjoys reading, traveling, and running.
If you wish to contact the editor write to: [email protected]
Graphic designer: [email protected]
Extra Edition
Page 2
Cont’d...
Gávea Teacher Profiles
Julie Buck is teaching ESL in the Lower School. She has lived in Rio for two years,
having come from Texas where she taught Special Education in Middle School. Julie
grew up in Alaska and is an avid camper and fisherwoman. She particularly enjoys
spending time with her husband and three boys hiking and camping in Colorado
and Alaska.
Ryan Sagare was born in Yakima, Washington, and has lived in Montana, Oregon,
Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico and, of course, Brazil. Ryan studied at the University
of Montana and has college degrees in Forestry, Recreation, Management, and a
Masters in Teaching. He continues to work as an adventure tour guide in Montana
in the summers and taught in Colombia before he came to EARJ. Ryan is a man of
many interests. Some of his outdoor hobbies are surfing, skateboarding, kite
boarding, snowboarding, soccer, and tennis. When he is not enjoying the outdoors,
he enjoys video production and website production.
Samantha Schall is teaching Preschool. She grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and comes
to EA from the African Continent, where she lived and also taught Preschool in Angola
and Mozambique. Before that she has always worked with the younger ones and her
family had a school for twenty years. She loves photography and is a yoga practitioner.
Ursula Rodriguez is teaching 6th grade science. She was born in
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais and earned her biology degree from
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. She has lived and taught
in New Zealand, London, Sao Paulo, and finally Rio. While she
was in Sao Paulo she was a 7th grade teacher at the Chapel
School. She has a wide variety of tastes in music ranging from DJ
to Rock and Roll she loves ballroom dancing. She hanging out
with friends on the beach and being with her family.
The Welcome Back Barbeque
By Katrine Tjolsen, 12th grade
Monday – the first day after a weekend. As many of you parents know, students often don’t feel
particularly ready for school Monday morning, and this is especially the case with high-school
students. After a week of school, many students are already looking forward to Christmas break.
However, Monday, August 8, was no regular Monday. Oh, no.
On Monday, August 8, the Student Council (Stuco) organized a welcome back barbeque for the
whole Upper School. This involved free hotdogs, free drinks, and, of course, free cake. The
Headmaster himself, Mr. Werner, prepared the hotdogs, and the all-famous cake of Dona
Thelma was his treat. A big thank you to our Headmaster!
Stuco seeks to promote unity in the high school, and the barbeque brought students together. It
was social and spiced up an otherwise regular Monday. School events such as the barbeque
distinguish EARJ and promote school pride. Overall, the event went well, but StuCo will
continue to improve when planning future school events.
Extra Edition
Page 3
Another PTA Production — Welcome Breakfast
By Caren Addis
Families from around the
world greeted one another
at
the
MuseOn
last
Tuesday, August 9 for the
biannual PTA Welcome
B r e a k f a s t
extravaganza. Ana Lucia Pinto, newly elected PTA
president, presented a power point (created by her
10th grade daughter Clarisse) highlighed the many
activities and volunteer activities that PTA
supports and how these activities serve to enrich
the lives of the Escola American community
including students, parents, teachers, and
staff. Volunteers and membership dues are key
ingredients that guarantee a successful PTA and
we welcome your support. Families that pay PTA
dues - R$ 150 per family per year -- will receive an
amazing bilingual (English/Portuguese) cookbook of Current, past and future PTA Board Members!
international recipes from our community. The
cookbook also contains very useful information on substituting ingredients that cannot be
found locally, as well as information on measurements.
Parents who are interested in volunteering for and supporting the many worthwhile PTA
activities should contact:
 Ana Lucia, President
[email protected]
 Lisiane Church (Little Shop
Coordinator) - [email protected]
 Leslie Herd, Membership
[email protected]
If parents would like to volunteer at EA's
libraries
 [email protected]
(Lower School) or
 [email protected]
(Middle and Upper School Library).
Ana Lucia in her debut as PTA President
Extra Edition
Page 4
College Corner
Kristine Werner, College Counselor
College Admissions Testing Dates (for Seniors):
For SAT Reasoning Test and Subject Tests, register online at www.collegboard.org.
The CEEB code for EARJ is 910450 and SAT Test Center is 84580
TEST DATES
Oct. 1
Nov. 5
Dec. 3
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Sept. 9
Oct. 7
Nov. 8
Most seniors who plan to go abroad for university have taken the SAT last semester (or
should have taken it). Those who wish to take it again to improve their scores can sign up
online for the above dates. Please note the October test sitting fills up very early, so don’t
delay! EA is the SAT test site for the entire state of Rio, so many students besides our own
test here. Anyone thinking of applying Early Action/Early Decision can only use test scores
for previous tests or for the October test.
ACT is another form of standardized test for college admissions with sign up at
The CEEB code for EARJ is 910450 and ACT Test
www.studentact.org.
Center is 870650. It can be used in place of SAT and some students find it a more userfriendly test as it is content-based. Websites for both SAT and ACT have practice questions
online to preview what to expect on the tests.
TEST DATES
Oct. 22
Dec. 10
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Sept. 16
Nov. 4
University Admissions Recruiters Coming to EA
Once again, many requests are coming in from university admissions counselors in the U.S.,
Canada, and Europe who wish to visit EA and recruit our students. These sessions are
valuable for gathering information about possible college choices and personally meeting the
recruiters. They are open to Upper School students of all grades as well as to parents. They
are typically held during homeroom in the Library. I will always inform you via the Extra
Edition (and via the Daily Bulletin for students) about our scheduled college visitors. We are
fortunate to have so many coming here to seek out our students. EA graduates who have
gone to these institutions in the past have proven themselves and their success speaks well
for the academic program at EA. Encourage your children to attend these sessions if
studying abroad for university is of interest to them.










Aug. 25 – University of Notre Dame, 12:30 pm
August 26 – University of British Columbia, Canada, 12:15 pm
August 30 – Australia College Fair, Sheraton Hotel, 3–9 pm
Sept. 2 – Education USA College Fair in the Tartan, 1:40-3:00 pm (50 U.S. universities)
Sept. 9 – Vanderbilt University, 12:15 pm
Sept. 15 – Pace University (NYC), Florida International U., Ohio University, 12:30 pm
Sept. 16 – Smith College, Amherst College, Wesleyan University, (TBA)
Sept. 19 – Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, 7:15 am!!, Library
Sept. 26 – Florida Institute of Technology, 12:30
Sept. 29 – Brown University, Duke University, Grant MacEwan U of Canada, 12:30
Page 5
Extra Edition
College Corner
Kristine Werner, College Counselor
Common Application and College Essay Topics
As of last week, the Common Application is available online for students planning to attend
university in September, 2012 (our seniors). It can be accessed at www.commonapp.org . The
Common Application organization is an agreement among 450 universities in the U.S. to
simplify the admissions process by using the same application. Looking at this website, you
will also find information as to whether a university requires SAT subject tests, deadlines,
which school forms are required, cost of application fees, whether a supplement is requested by
the university, and a direct link to their institutional websites. The full application is available
online and can be submitted online. Seniors would be wise to start filling it out NOW as they
can be saved and refined. Before pressing the “submit” button and well before the deadline,
students should show their completed application to Mrs. Werner.
A frequent topic of discussion among seniors is what their personal statement or college essay
will be about. In the case of the Common Application, six topic choices are given. Universities
will be looking for good writing skills, creativity and the authentic voice of the student that
gives them a sense of what he or she is about and what distinguishes him or her from among
the thousands of well-qualified applicants beyond what objective data numbers show (such as
the grade-point average or SAT score). Students often use a personal experience that has had
an impact on their lives as a topic. Colleges do not want a laundry list of their achievements for
the essay – there is space for this elsewhere in the application. While a student may ask a
teacher, friend, or parent to read over their essay and provide some feedback, the writing
absolutely MUST be their own original work. Universities check for plagiarism which, if
detected, would cause an immediate denial of admission.
All students doing the Common Application are asked to briefly elaborate about one of their
extracurricular activities or work experiences, plus they are asked to write the above-mentioned
personal statement of 250-500 words on ONE of the following topics:
1.
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma
you have faced and its impact on you.
2.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its
importance to you.
3.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that
influence.
4.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music,
science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5.
A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to
the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that
illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter
that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
6.
Topic of your choice.
I have enjoyed reading college essays that made me laugh out loud, that inspired me, or that
moved me to tears. This very important essay can be the reason that one student is ultimately
accepted to a competitive university over other applicants. In a pool of outstanding candidates
who will all have strong grades and SAT scores, wonderful extra-curricular activities and
evidence of leadership, community service, and awards or honors, the essay can set someone
apart. As food for thought, parents, think about how you would present yourself if you were
going through this process again. It is an important time in a young person’s life when they
explore and reflect upon who they are and what they value on the path to self-knowledge in
young adulthood.
Extra Edition
Page 6
Athletic News
Neíse Abreu, Athletic Director
Greetings from Physical Education & Athletic Department
NEWS FROM THE HOME OF THE PANTHERS
ATTENTION: MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL
STUDENTS ATHLETES AND PARENTS
STUDENTS MUST STOP BY THE PE & ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT TO PICK
UP FORMS AND SIGN UP FOR THE SPORTS OF YOUR CHOICE.
REMEMBER: STUDENTS CAN ONLY PRACTICE ONCE THE PAPERWORK IS COMPLETED.
Basketball and Soccer practices started on August 8 & 9.
Middle School Athletics and Upper School students up to 14 years of age
1st semester:

Boys Basketball: Mondays/Fridays (coach Bernardo Pedro)

Girls Basketball: Tuesdays/Thursdays (coach Vitor Boccardo)

Boys Soccer: Mondays/Wednesdays (coaches Gustavo Quintão & Fábio Figueiredo)

Girls Soccer: Tuesdays/Thursdays (coaches Marcelo Cecchi & Ricardo Marques)
Practice times:

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays: 15:40 to 17:10

Wednesdays: 15:10 to 16:40

Fridays: 15:10 to 16:40

Upper School Athletics – 15 to 19 years of age
1st semester:

Boys Basketball: Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays (coaches Marcos Mendes & Vitor Boccardo)

Girls Basketball: Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays (coach Marcos Mendes)

Boys Soccer: Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays (coach Gustavo Dias)

Girls Soccer: Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays (coaches Marcelo Cecchi & Samuel Wold)
Practice times:

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays: 15:40 to 17:40

Wednesdays: 15:10 to 17:00

Fridays: 15:10 to 16:40 or 16:40 to 18:10
Please make sure to arrange transportation after sports practices.
HAVE A GREAT SEASON!
NEÍSE ABREU - ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Tel: 2125-9111/9222-0829
[email protected]
Extra Edition
Page 7
Setor Brasileiro
Therezinha Fittipaldi, Brazilian Director
Publicada em 23/06/2011 às 10h44m in
Leonardo Cazes ([email protected])
Quais são as notícias que podem ser temas de questões da prova do Enem 2011?
“Você já deve estar até cansado de ouvir dos seus professores: no ano do vestibular, é preciso acompanhar o noticiário,
seja em jornais, revistas, televisão ou internet. E eles estão certos. O Enem é uma prova que exige do aluno bastante
interpretação de textos, gráficos, tabelas e charges. Logo, quanto mais o estudante estiver por dentro do que está
rolando no Brasil e no mundo, mais facilidade terá para identificar o que está sendo pedido em cada questão.
Conversamos com professores e fizemos uma lista dos temas mais quentes do momento. Agora, é meter a cara e
estudar!
CHUVAS NA SERRA: - As chuvas que castigaram a região serrana do Rio no verão podem aparecer no Enem. A prova
privilegia temas ligados à urbanização e ao meio ambiente. O impacto da ocupação desordenada de encostas e a erosão
do solo estão ligados à tragédia.
COPA E OLIMPÍADAS: - Ninguém fala de outra coisa: qual será o legado da Copa do Mundo de 2014 e das Olimpíadas
de 2016? O tema pode estar presente em diversas disciplinas. Na matemática, cálculos de geometria plana, como a
área de um estádio, ou volume, para saber a quantidade de cimento a ser usada em uma obra, podem ser exigidos. Na
geografia é possível tratar de investimentos em infraestrutura nas cidades-sede da Copa, crescimento do turismo e
necessidade de qualificação de mão de obra para os eventos.
ACIDENTE NUCLEAR: - O terremoto no Japão e a consequente tragédia na usina de Fukushima comoveram o mundo
e têm chance de cair no exame. Na parte de Ciências Naturais e suas Tecnologias, a abordagem deve envolver o que
provocou o acidente e as medidas tomadas para minimizar a tragédia, assim como os efeitos da radiação e a
contaminação da água e do solo. Até mesmo em história o assunto pode estar presente, principalmente relacionado à
Segunda Guerra Mundial, durante a qual os Estados Unidos jogaram duas bombas atômicas nas cidades de Hiroshima
e Nagasaki, e ao poder de recuperação japonês após os ataques.
MEIO AMBIENTE: - No ano que vem será realizada no Rio de Janeiro a conferência sobre o clima Rio 20. Nela, serão
discutidas novas metas de redução de emissão de gases causadores do efeito estufa, entre outras medidas. Além disso,
o Código Florestal, aprovado na Câmara dos Deputados e em discussão no Senado, provoca polêmica com suas
propostas de mudança na legislação para crimes ambientais, exploração em áreas de preservação permanente, entre
outras. Os dois temas podem ser abordados nos âmbitos da química, da biologia e da geografia. Questões sobre
energias limpas, combustíveis renováveis, créditos de carbono e também os ciclos da natureza podem aparecer.
MUNDO ÁRABE: - Este ano, o mundo viu explodirem diversas revoltas nos países árabes, no norte da África e no
Oriente Médio. Esses eventos podem ser ponto de partida para a cobrança de conteúdos relacionados ao imperialismo,
influência americana na região, regimes totalitários e até mesmo disputas ligadas à religião. O assassinato do líder da
al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden pelos EUA pode trazer também perguntas sobre terrorismo e as guerras do Iraque e do
Afeganistão.”
VULCÃO CHILENO:- Um vulcão no Chile provocou a maior confusão na América do Sul, com reflexos até na Austrália
e na Nova Zelândia. Na química, questões relacionadas à composição do magma, os gases emitidos e os impactos disso
no solo e nos sistemas hídricos podem cair. O vulcão também pode ser o gancho para falar de fenômenos naturais
também na parte de Ciências Humanas e suas Tecnologias.
DITADURA MILITAR: - A eleição da presidente Dilma Rousseff, uma ex-militante de esquerda que viveu na
clandestinidade e foi presa durante a ditadura militar, gerou grande expectativa, principalmente em relação à abertura
de arquivos do período. Somado a isso, há grande mobilização pela aprovação do fim do sigilo secreto de documentos
do governo e a criação de uma comissão da verdade para investigar os crimes ocorridos naquela época. Ou seja,
assunto quente e atual.
ANO DA QUÍMICA:- Em 2011 são comemorados o Ano Internacional da Química, os 100 anos de Marie Curie, pioneira
nas pesquisas sobre radioatividade, e também os 100 anos do modelo atômico de Rutherford. Olho vivo nesses temas.
CENSO 2010:- O Enem adora um gráfico e uma tabela. Com os dados do último censo divulgados no início do ano, é
bem provável que haja questões ligadas à população, com uso desses recursos.
Não deixe de visitar a página do Setor Brasileiro: http://www.earj.com.br/setor-brasileiro
Extra Edition
Page 8
Setor Brasileiro
Therezinha Fittipaldi, Brazilian Director
Vestibular
UFF (Universidade Federal Fluminense)
Inscricões de 04/08 a 05/09/11
Provas: 15/11 e 18/12/11
Valor: R$ 115,00
Faculdade de Medicina de Petrópolis
Inscrições a partir de setembro/2011
Prova dia 09/10/2011
Fundação Getúlio Vargas - FGV
Início das inscrições: 11/07
Término do período promocional
para as inscrições: 19/08
Término das inscrições: 03/10 (RJ)
Provas: 30/10
INSCRIÇÕES VESTIBULAR
PUC - RIO
Período: 15 de agosto
a 16 de setembro de 2011
PUC - RIO
Período: 15 de agosto a 16 de setembro de
2011
site: http://www.puc-rio.br
valor: R$120,00
Provas:
04 de novembro
06 de novembro
11 de novembro (Relacões Internacionais)
VESTIBULAR - ITA - (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica)
Inscrições apenas pela Internet
Taxa de inscrição: R$100,00
Período de inscrição: 01 de agosto a 15 de
setembro
Provas: 13 a 16 de dezembro
site: www.ita.br
Seniors,
Para aqueles que não conhecem, o site
http://www.descomplica.com.br/ é super interessante para tirar dúvidas em várias disciplinas.
Não deixe de visitar a página do Setor Brasileiro: http://www.earj.com.br/setor-brasileiro
Extra Edition
Page 9
Announcements
Welcome to another Destination Imagination
season!
Parent will soon you will be receiving more
detailed information about this after-school
program. Students who would like to participate will need to sign-up for the Instant
Challenge Workshops which will start on Tuesday, August16. For the third year, our
teams will travel to São Paulo for the Tournament in March of 2012. As happens in
the USA and in many schools around the world, we would like to count on parents to
volunteer as team managers. The number of teams will depend heavily on the number
of volunteers. If you would be interested in volunteering or would like to know more
about the program, please contact Ms. Ana Melo – [email protected] or 2125-9071.
Parents who would like to receive IDs so they
can enter school more quickly should send a
photo taken with a digital camera in jpeg
format to [email protected]. Please
do not send scanned or pdf files. The IDs will
be produced a few days after receipt of photo
and can be sent home through students. Please
include the name and classroom teacher/
advisor/homeroom teacher of the student who
will bring home the ID.
Extra Edition
Page 10
Announcements
The EARJ Drama Production
of this semester is the
Adaptation of "Wicked - the Musical"
The Broadway musical that tells the story of the two witches of Oz before Dorthy came along.
Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:30pm-5pm
We still need actors for secondary roles and to compose the ensemble!
Cast:
Elphaba - Mariana Souza
Glinda - Caitlin Reynolds
Fiyero - Fernando Casablancas
Wizard - Alexandre Sendas
Mme Morrible - Deborah Bernardes
Dr. Dillamond - Angelique Camacho
Chistery - Federico Ivanissevich
Performance dates Oct 20th, 21st and 22nd and 27th, 28th, 29th.
Director: Marta Cotrim
Musical Director: Michael Lovelock
Opportunities for CAS and Community Services hours for backstage, light and sound technicians
Contact: Ms. Marta Cotrim at [email protected]
Jennifer
Dowek,
81530357,
[email protected], ex-EA
mother has an apartment for rent:
Edificio Praia Guinle-São Conrado,
10th floor, 260 square meters, three
suites with closets, unfurnished,
varanda, maids room, 24 hoursecurity, squash court, gym center,
three garage spaces + a visitors space.
Former EA family has Apartment
in Ipanema for Rent
250 m2, beach view, 1 master suite
overlooking ocean, 2 bedrooms, 1 office/
bedroom, large living/dining room, kitchen,
maid’s room, 2 parking spaces
On Av. Vieira Souto, near Caesar Park Hotel,
very well finished, telephone/internet
Ideal for multinational Expat President/CEO/
CFO with significant housing allowance
Call: 8142 0052
Extra Edition
Page 11
Menu for Next Week — Gávea
PROTEIN 1
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Ground beef
with vegetables
Roasted chicken
thighs
Breaded beef
Fish with
tomato sauce
Hot dog
Meat cubes
Chicken legs
Chicken pot
pie
Grilled chicken
breast
PROTEIN 2 Stewed chicken
SIDE DISH
Spaghetti
Cheese souffle
Creamed corn
Julienned
carrots
French fries
DESSERT
Spumone
Flan
Canned
peaches
Squash
compote
Chocolate cake
and ice cream
* Menu subject to last minute changes
Calendar of Events
SCHOOL-WIDE
LOWER SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UPPER SCHOOL
August 17: LS Open House
August 17: MS Open House
August 17: US Open House
August 22: Brazilian Folklore
Day
August 25-27: Leadership
Conference
August 22—24: 9th, 10th & 11th
grades, individual pictures taken
August 30—31: Wrap Testing for August 29: 6th Grade,
grades 3, 4 and 5
Individual and class pictures
taken
August 31: Pre School Open
House
August 25: College Visit:
University of Notre Dame , 12:30 1:20pm
August 30: 7th Grade
Individual and class pictures
taken
August 26: College Visit:
University of British Columbia Stewart Lampe, Homeroom
August 31: 8th Grade
Individual and class pictures
taken
September 1: Seniors class and
individual pictures taken
September 2: Mid-quarter
September 2: Education USA
College Fair, 1:40-3:00 pm.
September 3-5: AASB High
School Leadership Conference in
Campinas
For more information visit our page at http://www.earj.com.br/events
Extra Edition
Page 12
From Our School Divisions
Ms. Cristiana Jurgensen, Lower School
During these past two weeks we have had the pleasure of welcoming many new students to
EARJ. Our new and veteran students have jumped right in and begun working on a variety of
science experiments using our new Delta Science kits, learning about the past with our new
interactive TCI Social Studies Alive! Program and enjoyed reading stories and poems from our
Reading Street series. Teachers have been getting to know their new students and updating
their websites. As you can see, it has been a busy time for us!
Studies show that children who participate in After School Activities:





Do better in school.
Build healthy relationships with adults other than their parents.
Have better social skills.
Become better problem solvers.
HAVE FUN!
Next week you will be receiving a catalogue of all of the After School Activities that will begin
for the Lower School students in September. We have many fun things planned already, but
if you have a talent or interested and are willing to commit to at least one hour a week (after
school) we would love to have you join us! If you would like to find out more, please call or
email me at [email protected] 2125-9044.
On Wednesday, August 17 we will be having our Lower School Open House for Kindergarten5th grade. The Open House will start promptly at 2pm in the auditorium. After a short
welcome session, parents will be invited to join their child in the classroom to learn more
about the Lower School program here at EARJ. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet your
child’s teacher and show your child that you value their education and are a partner in
educational excellence. The teachers will run three sessions (about 25 minutes each) to allow
you a chance to see more than one teacher. Please start with your youngest child and work
your way up to the eldest. The specials teachers will also be available in their classrooms if
you would like to meet with them. Once you are finished, you are welcome to take your child
home. Children whose parents do not come will be dismissed at the regular time at 2:55pm.
Our LS 2011-2012 Student Handbook has been updated and is available on the EARJ web
site (on the left side on the Lower School page). This handbook is a great resource for parents
and students with information regarding all aspects of EARJ Lower School life. I would like to
call particular attention to pages 17 and 18 that review our discipline policy. It addresses
warning tickets, our “Zero Tolerance” for bullying and explains how our students work to be
“Bucket Fillers.”
Parents are always welcome and encouraged to volunteer here on campus. There are many
ways to support our EARJ community. Parents can help in the library, support teachers in
the classrooms and even run After School Activity classes! Please contact Ms. Cris, the LS
secretary if you are interested.
Extra Edition
Page 13
From Our School Divisions
Isabel Baltazar, Barra
Barra Open Houses:
Don’t forget to join us for the first semester Open Houses!
Come meet the teachers and other parents. Visit your child’s classroom. Invitations will be sent
home soon.
After School Activities will begin on Monday, August 15:
A letter and sign-up form have been sent home. Parents are reminded that there will be no
school transportation for students attending the after school classes.
This Sunday, in Brazil, we celebrate Father’s Day!
The children have been involved in different activities to honor their fathers. HAPPY FATHER’S
DAY!!!!!!
We would like to remind you that the bell rings at 7:55 am and it is of great importance that
your child arrives on time in order not to miss important information that is given at the
community circle. We also urge you to plan your holidays according to the school calendar so
that your child do not miss key learning experiences.
Third graders have been learning about the earth’s crust. They enjoyed a hands-on experience with clay.
Kids enjoying lunch at our new cafeteria area.
Preschoolers working on their father’s present.
Page 14
Extra Edition
From Our School Divisions
Luke Walbridge, Middle School
The Via Sapientia trips for 2011 have been introduced at meetings in school. Students have been
provided with an information packet to bring home with specific information about their grade
level trip. Please review this in anticipation of the trips in November.
This week we have been working on our Advisory, Activity, Conference and Study Hall schedules.
We have a nice collection of choices for the Middle School students to choose from for the forty
minute time period following lunch on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Schedules should be
complete in PowerSchool by Monday.
Gávea Campus will be holding our Open House on August 17th, 2011 as announced previously in
the Extra Edition. The format will be similar to last year, with Middle School students guiding
their parents around to their teachers’ classrooms and making introductions from 2:00 until
4:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to put a face to the name of the teachers your child has
been telling you about. There will be a brief welcome from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. in the Ruth Stanton
Auditorium. Following the welcome, you will meet your child in their Advisory and proceed from
there to meet their teachers. We look forward to seeing you!
Picture days for Middle School students will be during the week of August 29th according to the
schedule above. Please remind your child on the morning of the pictures to dress accordingly as
these pictures will appear in the yearbook and make nice gifts for distant relatives.
Leadership Conference is scheduled for August 25th to 27th. Students who were recommended by
their teachers were given invitations to attend.
From Our School Divisions
Erich Heise, Upper School
As the second week of school comes to an end, teachers and students are settling into school
routines. Freshmen and students new to our school are adjusting to life in the Upper School.
School begins each day at 8:00 a.m. It is disruptive and detrimental to the educational process to
arrive late. We all must cope with the challenges posed by traffic in Rio, and many of us travel
some distance to get to school. Parents, please plan accordingly to ensure that your children
arrive on time to school. Parents are also reminded to contact the office by 9:00 a.m. when their
child arrives to school late, is absent, or needs to leave school early. By school policy, students do
not receive credit for work missed during unexcused absences.
Students are required to attend Homeroom each day. To enhance communication and achieve
greater focus on academic matters, we have placed students in Homerooms with grade level peers
and teachers. Students experiencing academic difficulties can receive extra help from teachers
and meet parallel recuperation requirements. A variety of clubs and activities will be meeting at
designated times throughout the week, as determined by the faculty advisor of each group.
The EARJ Gávea Campus Open House is scheduled for next Wednesday, August 17, 2:00-4:00
p.m. Upper School students will be dismissed at 1:45 p.m. on that day, following lunch. Bus
service will be available at regular dismissal time (3:00 p.m.). Parents can receive a copy of their
child’s class schedule at the Upper School office, and teachers will be available in their
classrooms to briefly introduce themselves and the courses they teach. We look forward to seeing
you at Open House.