Kids Shopping @ Outta the Box: Saturday, December 4 from 2:30-4:00, OTB will be holding a special shopping and crafts event for young children. We need 3-4 student volunteers to help out with this event. Students will serve refreshments, help young shoppers make some holiday crafts, and also help young shoppers make purchases. Volunteers will need to be available form 2:00-4:30 to help with set up and cleanup.

The New School and the School Around Us have been selected to participate in an Art Show at the Kennebunk Library in February. Students are invited to submit artwork for display in the Speers Gallery. We are looking to collect 25 pieces from student artists. Two-dimensional work will be matted and framed for display. All media forms considered: drawing, painting, digital art, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture etc. Submission deadline is December 21. Talk to Christine if you have questions.

As you know, money raised through Outta the Box goes directly toward The New School’s operations, and helps keep the cost of tuition down.

Consider giving an OTB gift card this holiday season as a way to help The New School's fundraising while also sharing this hidden treasure with someone you think might love thrifting.

Outta the Box has eGift Cards for sale online HERE, and you can purchase a physical card at the store.

Events Team | On Saturday December 18th, The New School will host a craft fair in our parking lot. TNS will be open for tours (and heat), and folks will be selling small food items and offering cider for shoppers. This is a great opportunity to tap into an existing event and promote The New School to the broader community.

Admissions Team | The Admissions Team is coordinating to have parents and students at the school on December 18th to give tours and answer questions. Please let the Admissions Team know if you can volunteer!

AUGUSTA TRIP: The Public Policy class will be traveling to Augusta on December 8 to tour the State House and meet some of the members of our state government -- the President of the Maine Senate, the Assistant Majority Leader in the House, and others. We will not have an early release on the day of the trip.

While members of the public don't necessarily have to abide by the strict dress code in the State House, students should still dress nice. Comfortably, but nice. We will be representing The New School in a space where business attire is the norm. Colors, funky clothes, all good. However, you may feel out of place in a tshirt or sweatshirt or with (unintentionally) ripped clothing.

More details to follow soon!

LEAP FEEDBACK TEAMS: LEAP Night is our end of semester celebration of learning. Join us on Tuesday, December 21 for an evening of Learning Exhibits and Performances. Students will share what they have been learning with the community on LEAP Night. We are currently recruiting people to interview students and serve on LEAP Feedback Teams. Interviewers team up with another community member and talk to students about their semester. Being on a LEAP Feedback Team is a terrific way to support students and to find out more about the exciting things we are engaged with here at The New School. If you would like to be on an Interview Team, contact Susan Blaisdell ASAP.

Our first short Intensive during our Winter Intersession will be focused on career exploration. During Career Week we will investigate job skills and potential career tracks. We would love to tap into our community network and take advantage of the diversity of work experiences that folks have. Please fill out this survey, if you are willing to share your connections. Thank you!

Olie, Reny, Ian, Hunter, and Scott collaborated to produce a 30 second Public Service Announcement for the Maine Kids COVID-19 Vaccination Video Contest.

More info about the contest here.

Great team effort making this all come together. Renee bravely took sunscreen to the face (and mouth). Olie took one for the team by "accidentally" falling into Marylyn's November pond. Ian came out unscathed, but was a huge help with the whole shoot. Props to Hunter for laying down a great ukulele soundtrack in like 5 minutes.

Check out the video below.

Fingers crossed! Winners will be announced on December 1st.

Our non-food drive for COS wraps up this week. If you have been waiting to bring in your items, don't delay much longer!

The donation pile (pictured here) has been growing, so thank you to everyone who has already brought in non-food items for our donation drive to assist Community Outreach Services (COS). COS extends a helping hand to individuals and families in the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel by assisting with food, fuel or specific needs.

We hope that students will reach out beyond their immediate family to solicit much needed items for families in need. Below is a list of items we are trying to collect. Items may be dropped off at The New School or at Outta the Box. Questions may be directed to Susan in the office.

• Pet Food Supplies

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• Tissues

• Napkins

• Dish Soap

• Laundry Detergent

• Multi-purpose cleaners

• Hand soap

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Deodorant

• Toothpaste

December's All School Meeting will be held in person on Monday, December 6 at 6:00 at The New School. One major agenda item for December's meeting is the 3-week Intensive currently scheduled for February.

Reminder: anyone in the community can submit items for our agenda prior to the All School Meeting meetings. When submitting an agenda item, please include a brief description of the topic and an estimate of the amount of time you would like to devote to it. Agenda items should be submitted on Fridays before an ASM.

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

• Saturday, December 4: 2:30-4 Kids Shopping "Extravaganza" at Outta the Box
• Monday, December 6: 6:00 All School Meeting
• Wednesday, December 8: Trip to Augusta. No early release
• Saturday, December 18 Last Minute Shoppers Craft Fair in The New School parking lot
• Tuesday, December 21: LEAP Night
• December 23-January 4: No School, Vacation

The New School is an independent, democratically run private high school in Kennebunk, Maine. We learn by doing, and encourage not just academic achievement, but development of the mind, body, and spirit. Our goal is to give TNS students the tools they need to be active, informed citizens of a democracy.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.

Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.”

― John Dewey

Email: thenewschool@tnsk.org
Website: thenewschoolmaine.org
Location: 38 York Street, Kennebunk, ME
Phone: (207) 985-3745
Facebook: facebook.com/TheNewSchoolMaine