As an incentive, the school will have a drawing for families meeting the July 1 deadline and present one award of $50.00 to the organized and lucky winner!  Your name will be entered if and when you send in complete paperwork for each student (and his/her parent(s)) on or before the due date!  If you have more than one child, your name can be entered more than once… according to the number of complete sets we receive.  So attend to these “Back to School” papers in a timely and organized manner and the award can be yours!

Included in your packet is information for the 2012-2013 school year:

• 2012-2013 School Calendar and August 2012’s Dates & Definitions
• Extended Program Guide – for before and after school options at Chance
• Student Supply List – In addition to shopping at local stores and at Chance’s School Store, elementary parents are able to shop online for Kindergarten through Intermediate 5.  Refer to Student Supply List for details.
• School Store Order Form

Please put these papers in a SAFE spot so as not to misplace them. To replace any papers in the packet, you will print what you need from the “Admissions & Tuition/Back to School” section of the website – www.chanceschool.org  – public or private.  To access the private site, enter user name and password via Parent Login.

• Returning Chance families will continue to use their established user names and passwords.
• Each “New to Chance” parent will receive an email in July, giving instructions to set up a private account.

If you have questions, contact the office at the following:
Mailing address:  4200 Lime Kiln Lane    Louisville KY   40222
Phone:  502.425.6904                 Fax:  502.326.5462

Staff
Lindsi Swenson, Office Manager                            office@chanceschool.org
Debbie Houston, Interim Head of School          debbie@chanceschool.org (as of June 1) 
Gerin Ballard, Director of Finance & Operations  gerin@chanceschool.org
Margaret Droste, Director of Admissions          admissions@chanceschool.org
Debbie McCoy, Director of Development          deb@chanceschool.org
Amy Fowler, Director of Communications       amy@chanceschool.org
Sue Musson, Program Coordinator                      sue@chanceschool.org    (avail. Aug-May)        
Kim Tabler, Extended Program Coordinator    kim@chanceschool.org

Office Hours:
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for the remainder of the school year
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for the summer months (May 29–August 16)

School Store Hours:
From 8 a.m. – 12noon on Opening Conferences days (August 17 & 20)
During regular schools hours when classes are in session.

Our Camp Brochure is now available. Come check out all the things we have to offer Under the Trees! There are outdoor camps for every age (2 yrs through 5th grade) as well as specialty camps for elementary friends. Camps fill quickly so be sure to complete your registration and return it today!

2012 Summer Under the Trees Camp Brochure

After securing a child’s enrollment at Chance for the upcoming school year (by returning the Registration Form and $100 refundable registration fee), the next step is to complete an aid application online according to the 2012-2013 Financial Aid Outline, linked here and made available in registration packets. Information is posted on the internal website as well with a direct link to FAST (Assess via Chance School’s website in the Admissions & Tuition section, Tuition and Financial Aid.).

It is important that the required FAST application and supporting documents are submitted to FAST – Financial Aid for School Tuition – by March 15. A decision will be rendered by May 1, after the Financial Aid Committee has received a financial analysis and recommendation from FAST and reviewed the information. An enrollment contract will be drawn, reflecting the aid the school can offer based on a family’s qualification and funds available. All applicants completing the required steps by March 15 are included in first-round decisions when maximum funding is available. Applicants providing required paperwork after this due date are considered if funds are still available.

All information submitted for the purpose of making financial aid decisions is strictly confidential. Financial aid decisions are awarded on a year-by-year basis. All recipients must reapply for each school year in order to be considered for financial assistance. Direct your questions to Gerin Ballard, Director of Finance and Operations, at 425-6904 or gerin@chanceschool.org.

We intend to conduct a thorough, transparent and community supported search for a head of school.  This process is expected to take roughly 12 months.  Our goal is to have a permanent head in place no later than June 2013 so that he/she can be fully on-boarded ahead of the 2013 – 2014 school year. While the search for a permanent head of school is largely managed by the search committee, it is a community-wide endeavor to find a head candidate who is passionate about the school’s mission and philosophy.  Key steps and an outline of ways you can support this process in the coming months is included in the attached update.

Update from Search Committee Chair 3.5.12

Chance School is pleased to announce that Debbie Houston has been named the Interim Head of School for the 2012-2013 school year.  Debbie has a decades-long relationship with Chance School and she will provide continuity of mission, philosophy, and values during this transition time.  With roles as Chance teacher, Chance teacher-trainer, as a Chance parent, as a President of the Board of Trustees, and as a Parent Education Trainer, Debbie brings a wide-range of experiences to the interim position. As a lifelong learner herself, Debbie holds an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Virginia, and two master’s degrees, one from Vanderbilt University and one from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The school community will certainly benefit from Debbie’s experiences, her quest for knowledge, her drive and leadership, and her passion for the principles of Chance School. With information about upcoming opportunities for meeting Debbie Houston forthcoming, please join the school in welcoming Debbie back to Chance!

Announcement of Interim Head

If you are just beginning the school search and are interested in learning more about Chance School, we would be glad to send information and schedule a tour. Please contact us at 502.425.6904 or admissions@chanceschool.org.

As a comprehensive search is conducted, further information will be communicated to the Chance community and posted online.

Letter from the Search Committee Chair

Her passion for the education of young children has served so many so well and for so many years. Under Gail’s guidance, the school has grown and evolved, reflecting best practices and addressing the needs of parents and families. Of the many, many accomplishments over the past 19 years, additions have been made to the campus (acquisition of 25 acres across Lime Kiln Lane and the construction of the new Media Center) and to the regular and extended programs (adding full-time specialists – PE, Media, Art, Music, Spanish, Technology and Outdoor; expanding enrichment offerings to include cross county). Gail is most proud of the school’s expansion to include the 4th and 5th grades, completing the early childhood experience and solidifying the preparedness of Chance graduates.

In total this is Gail’s 35th year at Chance – 16 years as a teacher and 19 years as Head of School. Her roles have also included being a parent and a grandparent at Chance. After leading the school through completion of this school year, Gail will have the opportunity to pursue her many other passions in life.

Throughout the spring, there will be opportunities to celebrate Gail and honor her service at Chance. Updates will be posted online so that the community can join together in this celebration.

Letter from the Head

Letter from the Board

Executive Committee Contacts

Registration will begin in early March. Campers will be able to register for one or more weeks.

Be on the look out for camp updates throughout the next few weeks!

Please make plans to attend a panel discussion led by parents of Chance graduates and elementary students. Chance parents (current and previous) gather to share their wisdom with you. Discussion will include experiences at the elementary level, the value of completing the program through Intermediate 5, and how Chance graduates transition to middle schools. Bring your questions for an open and honest session among peers.

Location: Media Center, 3rd floor in the main building with Chance parents

RSVP for adult attendance by Jan. 23; child care is not available at the school.
office@chanceschool.org or 502.425.6904