On Board Newsletter, Fall 2021
A very warm welcome to our new and returning GCS families!
As we start a new school year, it is hard not to look back at this past year and celebrate how far our school community has come. Our children, families, and staff have demonstrated remarkable resilience, patience, and flexibility as we navigated many changes and we truly appreciate the support shown by each of you. It was wonderful to see all of you during the first days of school and share in your smiles, laughs, and tears. I am very excited for the upcoming school year, for more normalcy, and for all the fun that awaits.
As we all look for more ways to connect with one another, we invite you to explore volunteering within the school. Volunteerism is a cornerstone of GCS. It helps families to feel more connected to the school and each other and helps us build an even stronger sense of community. There are a number of ways to volunteer and if you are interested, we are happy to find you just the right opportunity. Please attend our Annual General Meeting on October 4th to meet our Board of Directors and hear how you can become involved.
Are you looking for a fun, outdoor, family friendly activity? Please join us for our Groton Community School Community Tour on October 16th! The Community Tour is a community scavenger hunt that takes place in Groton and the surrounding communities. You won’t want to miss out!
Sincerely,
Cindi Lane-Hand
President, GCS Board of Directors
boardofdirectors@grotoncommunityschool.org
Want to have fun and help GCS grow? Join the Board!
If you missed the GCS Annual General Meeting we welcome you to attend any of our monthly Board of Director’s meetings. Ask questions and learn about all of the exciting things happening at GCS! We’d love to meet you.
Prefer to meet a member one on one prior to a full meeting? Email the Board of Directors and we will arrange a casual, socially-distanced coffee date.
Have you heard about GCS’s biggest fundraising event?! The Groton Community Tour scavenger hunt on October 16th!
A huge thanks to those who have already or plan to contribute to our “Chance” prize baskets! See your child’s room parent for details. More info on the event and to reserve tickets visit: www.grotoncommunityschool.org/home-tour
Don’t forget to pre-order your gourmet boxed lunch before Friday 10/8 at 5:00 PM.
Volunteer to help the day of the event HERE
If you would like to make something sweet for to the Community Tour bake sale fill out a yellow slip at the front desk!
Grotonfest 2021
The Board of Directors had a great time representing GCS at Grotonfest! It was a wonderful day meeting community members, current GCS families and it was fun to catch up with GCS alumni who have moved on!
Buildings and Grounds Update:
The Fall Fix Up is a great way to get outside and meet other GCS parents while completing some simple gardening and landscaping tasks around the school. Swing by and lend a hand! Timeslots are flexible, we’ll take as much (or as little) help as you can offer!
Saturday, Nov. 13th from 9 AM to 3 PM (raindate Sunday, Nov 14th).
Thank you from the GCS Building & Grounds Committee, your help ensures that we are able to keep expenses (and therefore tuition) lower. If you are interested in helping with any task/project or have suggestions, please reach out to buildingandgrounds@grotoncommunityschool.org
Parent Representative Update:
We are so thrilled to be starting another wonderful school year at GCS! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to take on the important role of Room Parent. Room Parents play a vital role in supporting our dedicated teachers and also provide a tremendous amount of help to the classrooms, the school, and our families. Please familiarize yourself with your classroom Room Parent(s) and keep your eye out for periodic email updates. We look forward to a fantastic 2021-2022 school year with your much appreciated help! Thank you for being a part of our community.
Questions? Reach out to Beth Christoforo and Christina Sutherland, Parent Representatives at: parentrepresentatives@grotoncommunityschool.org
Fundraising Update – Every Bit Counts!
As many of you know, GCS relies on fundraising to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and operating costs. There are several opportunities for you to take part in our 2021-2022 fundraising efforts, including the following events happening this fall:
- The 2021 Groton Community Tour. We can’t wait to see you October 16, 2021!
- The Annual Fund. Don’t forget to see if your employer has a matching gift.
- The GCS Holiday Apparel Sale. We will have another apparel sale in time for the holidays!
- Scrip Gift Card Fundraiser. When you order the gift cards you normally buy through the Scrip program, a percentage of your purchase goes back to GCS!
- Don’t forget to use amazon.com or scan your grocery receipt for BoxTops! BoxTops has made it even easier to help GCS. These services are free to use and earn funds for our school!
- Mabel’s Labels – Can be purchased anytime. They make labeling everything for school so much easier. Don’t forget to label cold-weather gear! GCS earns 20% back on all orders.
Please click HERE for a Year at a Glance for all opportunities.
On behalf of GCS, we thank you so much for all of the ways you support Groton Community School in our fundraising efforts. Our success relies on the c
Questions? Email Kaitlyn Brokaw, Fundraising Chair at Fundraising@grotoncommunityschool.org
2021-2022 Board of Directors
Cindi Lane-Hand, President
Laura Cummings, Vice President
Linda Kosinski, Director
Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director
Terri Martin, Full Day Coordinator and Summer Camp Director
Colleen Neff, Treasurer
Caera Monahan, Secretary
Brie Weider and {open}, Public Relations
Kelly Lopez and {open}, Buildings and Grounds
Kaitlyn Brokaw and {open}, Fundraising
Beth Christoforo and Christina Sutherland, Parent Representatives
{open}, Members-at-Large