Support Today, Shape Tomorrow: The Power of Our Annual Campaign
Dear Soundview Families,
We are grateful to all who have contributed to Soundview’s Annual Campaign so far. Your generosity helps ensure that our school continues to be a place of ethical leadership, academic rigor, and compassionate learning—now and for years to come. If you haven’t had the chance to give yet, there’s still time to make a meaningful impact. To explore ways you can support our community, please visit HERE.
Want to see why Soundview matters? Take a moment to hear from Sabrina, one of our fifth-grade students in Mr. MacCully’s class, HERE.
Every year, the Soundview Annual Campaign supports vital programs and initiatives, such as:
Outdoor School for 5th–8th graders is a $35,000 annual commitment that provides our students with life-changing outdoor experiences.
Forest and campus maintenance is a $68,000 annual expense to care for our campus and preserve our forest, an essential part of the Soundview experience.
Classroom supplies and field trips are $3,800 per class to ensure enriching educational opportunities for all students.
Library books and materials are a $2,500 annual investment to maintain a dynamic and relevant collection for our learners.
It was a shorter week for students because today is a faculty and staff work day. Our School Counselor and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Coordinator Travis Wood led an activity about racial stress and trauma, and we worked through case studies of interrupting common microaggressions. Our teacher teams also met today and worked on curricular planning. Learn more about the benefits of the International Baccalaureate curriculum HERE.
Yesterday, our fifth through eighth-grade students had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Salt of the Earth, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Their mission is to foster understanding and create safe spaces where individuals can come together to shape a new, unified narrative, focused on collective liberation. Guided by the belief, “let’s fight together, not against each other,” Salt of the Earth envisions a future where non-violent resistance paves the way for mutual respect and recognition of diverse perspectives. You can learn more about Salt of the Earth HERE and follow and support them HERE.
Director of Enrollment Management Victoria Nunes has been busy with tours and applications for the 2025-2026 school year! If you know families who might be interested in an education that is ethical, rigorous, and compassionate, we’d love for you to spread the word about Soundview. We love the opportunity to share our school. For more details or to schedule a visit, please feel free to contact Victoria HERE.
Please note: Soundview’s early admissions process for siblings of current students, which gives them priority consideration, starts now. The deadline for sibling applications is December 6th, 2024. For all other applications, the deadline is January 31st, 2025.
Here are the October reminders and opportunities to look forward to:
Weather reminder: the forecast shows rain all next week, so please make sure your students come to school with proper shoes and clothing to help them stay dry. We’ll be outside rain or shine!
Conference sign-ups went out on Tuesday, October 8th via Toddle. The parent-teacher and student-led conferences will be on Thursday, October 31st and Friday, November 1st. There will be no school for students on these days. Childcare will be available for the time(s) of your in-person conference(s).
Our first ParentMap ParentEd Talk will take place on Tuesday, October 15th, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, the topic is The Anxious Generation with renowned social psychologist Jonathon Haidt. The live viewing for current Soundview parents will be in the Soundview library, with an optional discussion until 1:30 pm. Space will be limited. If you're unable to join us in person, you can register to watch the live stream. Here are a few helpful details:
Soundview community members can register HERE.
The password for complimentary ticket access is SOUNDVSCH
After the talk concludes, all registered attendees will be emailed a link to watch the recorded session at their convenience.
8th-grade students and their families are invited to an important high school application work session on October 17th from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Humanities room. Please bring your devices and be ready to work. Tasks may include application help, essay writing support, signing up for required tests, finalizing your list of schools to apply to, and more. Childcare is available for 8th graders and their siblings after school until the start of the work session. Please RSVP by Monday, October 14th by visiting HERE.
We are thrilled to announce that Soundview's first Spirit Week of the school year will take place from October 21st-25th. Each day will feature a fun and engaging theme, designed to celebrate our vibrant community and build school spirit. You can find the daily themes in the attached flyer HERE.
No need to buy new items. To keep things fun and stress-free, families are not expected to purchase anything new for Spirit Week. We’ve chosen themes that offer plenty of flexibility, encouraging students to get creative and make the most of what they already have at home. Whether it’s reusing favorite costumes, mixing and matching outfits, or crafting something entirely new, we can’t wait to see the inventive looks our students come up with!
The Middle School Fall Ball dance is on Friday, October 25th, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the PAC. Look for more details regarding this event in next week's Friday letter.
Join in celebrating a successful Annual Campaign and mark your calendars for the Soundview Parent and Guardian Association’s upcoming event, BOOLING!, which is on Saturday, October 26th. BOOLING! combines bowling with costumes and features a fun-filled trunk-or-treat. It’s one of our favorite community gatherings, and we encourage all Soundview families, current and alum, to join in the festivities. RSVP HERE.
Around the world and in different communities, October is a month of recognition and awareness:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. It is called "Pink October" as people around the world adopt the pink color and display a pink ribbon to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and routine screening for the early diagnosis of breast cancer, now the second most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. You can learn more about this HERE.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October, on October 14th this year, to honor the cultures and histories of Native American people. The day is centered around reflecting on their tribal roots and the tragic stories that hurt but strengthened their communities. It is a day to honor and celebrate the history, culture, and teachings of Native American peoples, and to recognize the challenges they continue to face. You can learn more about this HERE.
Enjoy the fall weather,
Chris
Chris Watson, Soundview Head of School
One more thing…
On October 11, 1984, Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. Sullivan, a geologist and oceanographer, spent three and a half hours outside the Space Shuttle Challenger with fellow astronaut David C. Leestma. Their mission was to demonstrate that satellites could be refueled in orbit, a key step in servicing and continuing to use satellites. Sullivan was one of six women selected to be shuttle astronauts, and the third woman to go into orbit. She has held several senior executive positions since leaving NASA, including Chief Scientist and Undersecretary/Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Learn more about this HERE.
