Chartwell School: The Bulldog Bark

What's In This Newsletter

Thank you to all our families for your support and engagement in this first week of the 2022-23 school year! If you missed previous issues of the Bulldog Bark, you can find the archives here.

What's New This Week:

LMS Homeroom Photos from First Day of School!
Updated: COVID Guidelines for Week of August 22
New Tuition Management Service
2021-2022 Yearbooks Available Next Week!
Uniform Guidelines Reminder

Upcoming Events (Details in articles below):

Chartwell Workshop: Thursday, August 25 (5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Zoom)
Monterey FC Back to School Night - Discounted Tickets (see flyer below)! (August 27)
Chartwell Community Coffee: Wednesday, August 31 (8:30 am - 10:00 am, On Campus)
Back to School Nights in September (LS -September 8; MS/HS - September 15)!
AIM for Mental Health Walk - Join the Chartwell Team! (September 11, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

Repeated from Last Week

REQUIRED: Important Forms to Complete (Docusign)
After School Homework Program Sign-Up Form (LMS Only)
Robotics 2022-2023 Overview of Programs

Week of August 22: COVID Updates

For the week of August 22, here are the current Chartwell guidelines:

Indoor masking will be strongly recommended but not required beginning August 22
Testing will be offered by request. Please send an email to Roz Harris if you would like your child tested for COVID.
If you are new Chartwell family and have not registered your child for on-campus testing and wish to have this as an option, please register here: New Student Testing Registration Link

You can find more information about the CDPH guidelines here and Monterey County metrics here.

If Your Child Tests Positive

Chartwell will follow the California Department of Health Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines for students, faculty, and staff who test positive for COVID.

New Tuition Management Service

Beginning this year Chartwell is partnering with FACTS, one of the nationwide leaders in tuition management service for independent schools.

FACTS makes paying for tuition simple and secure and supports multiple payment options for families.

Within the next few days you will receive an email from FACTS with detailed instructions on how to enroll and set up your account. Please note that enrollment in the FACTS tuition service is required for all families and needs to be completed by August 30, 2022.

There is a $50 FACTS annual enrollment fee but due to late service implementation, it is being waived this year.

Please review the attached informational flyer from FACTS and do not hesitate to contact Alex Kopelevicj at akopelevich@chartwell.org or Katia Stornetta at kstornetta@chartwell.org in the Business Office if you have any questions or concerns.

Important Forms to Complete (Docusign)

Please click on the appropriate button below to review and sign important documents. The forms must be completed for each child.

The documents included are:

Family Handbook Acknowledgement
Emergency Authorization Form
Counseling Consent Form
Photo Release Form
Field Experiences Permission Form (High School Only)

Please email info@chartwell.org with any questions or issues. Thank you in advance!

Uniform Guidelines Reminder

Please review the following clarification regarding the school uniform for Lower and Middle School Students:

Students should wear the school-provided Chartwell color cohort t-shirt every day.
If you need more t-shirts or sweatshirts, please order through the online webstore here.

T-shirts can be altered for creative fashion expression. If your child is having an individual issue with wearing the t-shirt, please contact your division director (Katherine Kanaski, Lower School or Karla Bell, Middle School) to discuss a potential solution.

Also, regarding outside apparel, the external clothing layer must be in the color of the cohort. If students do not have a sweatshirt or jacket in the class color, they can wear their Chartwell t-shirt over their sweatshirt.

Community Workshop: August 25, 5:30 - 7:00 pm (Zoom)

Join Billy Swift, director of student support, and Lisa Benjamin, occupational therapist, for an evening workshop on Thursday, August 25 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm via Zoom.

The topic of this month's workshop is: Executive Functioning and the New School Year: Strategies and Techniques for Staying Organized and Managing Anxiety

Billy and Lisa will provide a brief overview of executive functioning and strategies to help with executive functioning challenges including staying organized, managing time, managing stress, and increasing focus.

This workshop is open to the public and there is no fee to join.

1st Chartwell Family Coffee of the Year: Wednesday, August 31

All parents and guardians are invited to gather as a community on Wednesday, August 31 from 8:30 am - 10:00 am on the Chartwell campus. The theme of this month's coffee is: Being a Chartwell Family: Values and Culture

Danielle Patterson, head of school, and Billy Swift, director of student support, will lead a discussion around key themes and sections of the Chartwell Family Handbook that best define our values and expectations as a community.

Coffee and breakfast treats will be provided and there will be time to mingle with other families.

Back to School Nights - Save the Dates!

All divisions will host Back to School Nights in September. Please save the dates below:

LOWER DIVISION
Thursday, September 8

3:15 pm - 6:00 pm

MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOL DIVISIONS (NEW DATE!)

Thursday, September 15

3:15 pm - 6:00 pm

More details will be provided in the weeks to come.

Walk with Chartwell to Support Mental Health Awareness!

All members of our Chartwell community are invited to join our school walk team on Sunday, September 11 at 1:00 pm as we walk to support mental health awareness in our community.

AIM for Awareness Walk + Rally raises awareness of youth mental health by including resources and services offered by local community organizations. The aim is to help youth NOW with fun activities and critical mental health resources.

This event will feature exhibitors, speakers, food and beverage, games, activities, and more!

All adults and high school students who sign-up for the walk will receive a Chartwell t-shirt to wear for the walk. Our lower and middle school students are encouraged to wear their cohort-colored t-shirt.

There is a $25 registration fee for adults; $10 for children under 18. The event takes place at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove.

Sign-Up for Lower and Middle School After School Homework Program

The After-School Homework Program provides an opportunity to complete homework, classwork, and required reading with Chartwell faculty support. The Program is available Monday - Thursday from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Students may attend on a regular basis or drop-in basis, and the fee ($25 per day) will be billed to the student's tuition account. Please use the attached form if you are interested and return it to Roz Harris is Building 200.

Note: The high school study program has been moved to lunch time and is drop-in or by recommendation of a teacher or advisor.

Robotics 2022-2023 Kick-Offs with Expanded Options

Sandra Varajic, Chartwell’s new Director of STEAM and EdTech, is teaming up with Ultra Robotics to expand robotics options for students this year. All ages will have an after-school robotics option!

There will be an on-campus Open House on Saturday, August 27 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm for Chartwell parents and interested students. Light refreshments will be served.

A very brief description of each program is listed below, along with registration links. To learn more about each program, click here to view a presentation with more information.

Robotics 2022-2023 Overview

FIRST Lego League (FLL) Explore

Ages 6-8

Meets every Saturday beginning September 10 from 1:30 pm -2:30 pm

September - November

Coached by Jenna Jackson, Ultra Robotics

FIRST Lego League (FLL) Challenge (Weekend Practice Team)

Ages 9-13

Meets every Saturday beginning September 10 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

September - November

Coached by Jenna Jackson, Ultra Robotics

FIRST Lego League(FLL) Challenge (Weekday Practice Team)

Ages 9-13

Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning September 6 from 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

Coached by Sandra Varajic, Chartwell STEAM and Ed Tech Director

First Tech Challenge (FTC)

Ages 12-18

Meets every Monday and Wednesday beginning September 7 from 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm

September - April

Coached by Sandra Varajic, Chartwell STEAM and Ed Tech Director

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

Ages 14-18

Meets Thursdays starting 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Saturdays from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Sundays from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Students are typically expected to attend either Saturday or Sunday to have one full work day per week when possible.

January - May

Coached by Matt Lussier and Patric Herring, Ultra Robotics

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Monday, August 15 - First Day of School - HIGH SCHOOL

Tuesday, August 16 - First Day of School - LOWER and MIDDLE

Thursday, August 25 - Community Workshop: Executive Functioning Tips for A New School Year, 5:30 pm (Zoom)

Saturday, August 27 - Robotics Open House, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Saturday, August 27 - Monterey FC Back to School Night, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, August 31 - Chartwell Community Coffee, 8:30 am

Monday, September 5 - Labor Day - No Classes

Thursday, September 8 - Back to School Night - LS, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Sunday, September 11 - AIM Walk for Mental Health, 1:00 p - 4:00 pm

Thursday, September 15 - Back to School Night - MS/HS, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Questions?

If you have questions for us, please contact one of the following Chartwell Team Members:

Head of School, Danielle Patterson: dpatterson@chartwell.org

Director of Teaching and Learning, Jodi Amaditz: jamaditz@chartwell.org

Assistant Director of Lower School, Katherine Kanaski: kkanaski@chartwell.org

Assistant Director of Middle School, Karla Bell: kbell@chartwell.org

Assistant Director of the High School, Amanda Zonghi: azonghi@chartwell.org

Director of STEAM and EdTech, Sandra Varajic: svarajic@chartwell.org

Director of Student Support: Billy Swift bswift@chartwell.org

Director of Campus Management and Safety, John Langrill: jlangrill@chartwell.org

Director of Advancement and Communications, Elena Mueller: emueller@chartwell.org

Director of Athletics: Rory Patterson rpatterson@chartwell.org

Technical Support: techsupport@chartwell.org

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