MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

2009-10 School Calendar Dates Now Available
The main school calendar dates for the next school year are now available on the Latin Web site. (Also see the downloads section of this newsletter for a PDF.)  The biggest change to note for next year is, after much discussion, we have decided to coordinate the openings of the middle and lower schools.  The first day of class for both divisions will be Tuesday,
September 8. 

We are comfortable that there are enough teaching days in the school year to accommodate this adjustment and it will allow us time to fit in some important professional development work with our faculty. 

This change is planned for a one-year trial.  We hope to make it permanent if all goes well.

AUCTION 2009

Auction 2009
We are preparing for a spectacular Auction 2009 and your invitation is in the mail!

This year, with more than 600 auction items at all price points, there will be something for everyone. Just to give you a taste, here are some of the exiting items you can look forward to bidding on:

• A catered Air & Water Show party on the middle school green roof
• Tickets to a taping of "CSI"
• Seven spaces on a St. Patrick's Day float
• Overnighters in the middle and lower schools
• Much, much, more!

Also, don't forget about the Tiffany & Co. raffle.

Make sure to join us on Saturday, February 21 for Auction for All at the Fairmont Chicago for a night of fun, festivities, and school spirit.

Visit Latin's Web site for more Auction information and to view the promotional video starring Latin lower school students!

SCHOOL NEWS

Inclement Weather
Just a reminder to please check the Latin Web site for information about weather-related school closings.  Although we have historically followed the Chicago Public Schools' decisions, given the distance many of our students, faculty and staff travel to get to school, there are times that we may vary from CPS.  Parents, if you have entered your information in the Emergency Contact section of your RomanNet profile, you will be automatically called if the school is closed (or for any other emergency.)  You can fill in your emergency info by logging in to RomanNet and clicking on My Profile.

MLK Day of Service
Thank you to so many of you for helping us gear up for Latin's eighth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service activities. Dozens of families have already volunteered to participate in food preparation and service at Uptown Baptist Soup Kitchen on Monday, January 19. Many others have donated toiletries and will be participating in the toiletry bag assembly on Saturday, January 17.

You still have time to get involved! We will be collecting soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, disposable razors, socks, combs and brushes through Friday. Drop off bins are located in the middle or upper school reception areas.

For more information on the toiletry drive or the MLK Day of Service activities, contact Tim Cronister, director of Student Life.

Summer at Latin
Online registration is now open! For the first time, new and returning Latin day camp and summer program participants can register online. We offer a variety of recreational, athletic, and educational activities for tots to teens. Check out Summer at Latin on our Web site, or call (312) 582-6080 for more information. Programs are filling quickly, so make sure to register soon to secure a spot!

Traffic Safety Reminder
With the wintery weather, please drive with extra care near the school. Remember to abide by all traffic regulations, brush up on your Latin School pick up and drop off policies (see Downloads), and avoid using cell phones near the school. A little caution and patience will go a long way to ensuring that our students, faculty, staff and neighbors remain safe during the winter months.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Pioneering Artist Kip Fulbeck to Speak
Please join us on Friday, January 30 to hear nationally acclaimed artist, author, filmmaker and poet Kip Fulbeck speak to middle and upper school students about race and self-identity. Parents are invited to the middle school portion of this presentation, which begins at 1:50 p.m. in the Wrigley Theatre. Seating will be available in the theatre balcony.

Fulbeck, who is of mixed race and has published a number of books on identity politics, will give a talk titled: "What are you? The Changing Face of America." He will challenge students to explore how their ethnic stereotypes and opinions on cultural identity are formed and call on them to closely consider "What am I?"

The event, which is sponsored through the Office of Multicultural Affairs in commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, will be supplemented with faculty-led student discussions.

Mr. Fulbeck also will be signing copies of two of his books, Permanence: Tattoo Portraits and Part Asian, 100% Hapa, beginning at 3:15 p.m. in the Wrigley Theatre lobby.   

For more information about this special event, please contact Latin's Dean of Multicultural Affairs, Esther Pandian-Riske.

Alumni Week 2009
Alumni Week 2009 officially is February 2-6. But this year we are celebrating our alumni throughout the entire month of February. If you would like to become involved and you are a Latin alum, you can participate by sharing your expertise in a subject area with middle or upper school students or by reading to children in the junior or senior kindergartens during Alumni Week. Then, throughout the rest of the month, all alumni are invited to visit the NEW Latin Vault (www.latinalumni.org), submit their favorite memory from Latin, and upload their photos. Alumni stories will be shared online and around the school as we celebrate all of you and your contributions to the Latin community.

Please contact Abigail Humphrey in the Alumni Relations Office to find out more.

ARTS

Now Showing in Gallery 2: Urban Spaces
Please take a moment to view the newest collection of artwork now showing in Gallery 2 (Upper School 2nd floor). 

Kathleen Eaton is a Chicago area artist whose work is an interpretation of city and suburban environments. Her paintings and mixed technique editions reflect a fascination with architectural spaces and the unexpected solitude as well as human activities that occur in them.

Her technique involves the building up of areas of color through the application of many thin layers of transparent paint to achieve vibrant color effects. The artist's mixed technique editions are a combination of stencils and oil painting techniques.

Further information about the artist and individual pieces can be found on her Web site at www.eatonart.com.

SPORTS

Family Basketball Night
Bring your family out to enjoy an evening of sports, games and entertainment at Latin's annual basketball night at Loyola University's Gentile Center.  The girls take on U High at 6 p.m. and the boys will face off against Parker at 7:30 p.m.  The Latin School band will be performing, our mascot will be there to greet the kids, and a variety of activities will be offered for the enjoyment of Romans of all ages.

To get everyone into the spirit, T-shirts for the evening will be available through the Athletics Office the week of January 20.  You also may purchase tickets ($6 for adults, $3 for children) in advance through the office.  For more information, contact Latin's Assistant Athletics Director, Liz Tortorello-Nelson.

FACULTY NEWS

Harris' Work Selected for Exhibit
Congratulations to MS/US art teacher Russell Harris who has had two paintings selected for a group showing at the renowned John Pence Gallery in San Francisco. Mr. Harris will be among about 30 artists who are being featured in the exhibit "Trompe L'Oeil," which will run from February 12-March 21. His painting titled "Revelation" is showcased in the exhibit invitation.