From the Head - Jim Burger

The Merry Month of May!
       The month started with a delicious and gracious Teacher Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the 9th grade and their parents.  All faculty and staff were invited to enjoy an elegant repast in the Board Room and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food and attentive service provided by the students.  Our thanks to all the ninth grade families for this very special occasion.  All of us felt very appreciated!
        There are so many events crammed into the next five weeks of school that I want to devote this lead article to highlighting a few of the major ones that affect our oldest students.  The sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth grades will embark on major field trips this week.  Sixth graders will combine science with an introduction to the Upper School; seventh grade will travel in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson, Tom Brown, and Robert E. Lee; and the eighth and ninth grade will participate in an extraordinary community service program in New York City.  All of the above are explained in greater detail in this edition of The Menuscript.
       The Annual Art Show will open on Monday, May 12, and will be available for viewing for the entire week.  Classes will visit the show throughout the week to discover what younger and older artists have created.  Everyone is welcome during the week and at Field Day.
        On May 15, the Annual 9th Grade Dinner with the Board provides the TPS Board of Trustees the opportunity to talk with our eldest students about the school.  This has been one of the most memorable evenings for our Board members because they can see first hand the results of a TPS education.  All of us come away impressed by and proud of these outstanding young men and women.
        Field Day, Saturday, May 17, is one of the great traditions of Tuxedo Park School dating from 1942 when Headmaster Tony Barber inaugurated this event at the Race Track.  While students in grades three through nine compete for Green and Gold points, all children will participate in appropriate games for their ages.  We hope all our families can come to this very special day.
        The Sports Banquet, at 6:00 p.m. on May 22, is our final opportunity to honor the captains, coaches, and athletes who have worked hard and represented TPS proudly over the past year.  The Sports Banquet is for Upper School athletes and for those who won major awards on Ski Race Day. 
        The Upper School Semi Formal, on Friday, May 30th, returns to the Tuxedo Club after a one-year hiatus due to construction.  All Upper School students and faculty attend this elegant dinner dance (with disc jockey), and it is a glorious party for all.  And, yes, we have returned to semi formal dress!
        On Wednesday, June 4, at 10:00 a.m. the students will dedicate the yearbook and the ninth grade will offer its Last Will and Testament.  Parents are welcome to attend.
       The Eighth Grade Dinner on June 4th, is our opportunity to celebrate and recognize the entire class of 2009 in front of their families and peers.  Mr. Heard will have “gentle” comments about each student, and all will receive their TPS Diploma and a gift.
        Class Day, June 5, (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon) is the time we award prizes to Upper School students who have excelled in specific academic and co-curricular areas.  In addition, Mr. Heard will ask all in attendance to recognize and congratulate our 8th graders for their accomplishments over the years. 
        The Ninth Grade Pink House Dinner on June 5th, for our graduates and their parents, features the traditional roast of each student led by Mr. Heard and the Upper School faculty.  Teachers have already begun to collect the anecdotes that will gently remind us of the progress each student has made. 
        Graduation, Friday, June 6th, in the Pamela McLean Garden completes the year for all our students.  The pre-kindergarten begins the procession, and the ninth grade completes the circle of their years here at TPS.  Rachel Cannon, TPS ’02, will give the Graduation Address.  Through music, speeches, and by gathering together one last time this year, we will honor all students who have made Tuxedo Park School’s 108th year one of our best ever.  We hope you can join us!                                                                                     Jim Burger