Hundreds of PDS Alumni Gather for Alumni Luncheon in Honor of Fred Smith '56

We have had such a great year! As the school year is quickly ending, I want to remind you that you may pick up any medications in the nurse's office this week or Monday and Tuesday of next week between the hours of 8am-3pm.

The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department policy states that children may not transport any medication. All medications must be picked up by an adult.

This includes all prescription and over the counter medications, except for inhalers. Inhalers will be sent home in student backpacks.

Medications that are not picked up will be discarded.

Have a happy, healthy summer!

Dale Hill, R.N.
PDS School Nurse

Our After-School Adventures Theatre Class performed "Treasure Island" this week. Meeting together every Wednesday after school, the boys in this semester-long class were directly involved in the production of this play down to the painting of the backdrops. 4th graders Whit Cook and Fawwaz Omer and 5th graders Andrew Bragorgos and Kyle Koester were involved in writing the script for this particular adaptation, though all the boys at some point had input in their characters' lines and choreographed their own fight scenes. Cast of characters in order of appearance included...

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PDS sent seven teams of students to participate in the Fifteenth Annual YMCA Middle School Youth Legislature Conference on Wednesday, May 8th, in City Hall Council Chambers. This conference, a part of the Youth In Government program, is a one-day educational competition in which students grades 6th through 8th have a hands-on experience with the legislative process. Creating a law for the state of Tennessee, researching the fiscal impact on the state, and determining the consequences of violating the chosen law in terms of a fine or jail sentence are only a part of the process. Students have the additional opportunity to develop leadership and speaking skills while debating under the rules of parliamentary procedure.

The PDS teams included:

• An Act To Require A Consistent Minimum Wage Across The State of Tennessee—Andrew Gibson, Bailey Keel, and Walker Upshaw
• An Act To Require All New Homes Built In Tennessee To Contain Carbon Monoxide Detectors—John William Farris and Trey Fussell
• An Act To Require All New School Buses In Tennessee To Be Equipped With A Crossing Arm—Garrott Braswell, Walker Crosby, and William Pollard
• An Act To Require All Manufacturers Of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs To Fund A Recycling Program—Anders Croone, Lee Linkous, and Matthew Rogers
• An Act To Require All Persons Riding A Bicycle To Wear A Helmet—Stuart Grow, Peyton Murphy, and John Rack
• An Act To Prohibit All Citizens Under The Age of 16 From Driving A Motorized Boat—Robin Coffman and Thomas Hayden
• An Act To Require Armed Security Guards In All Public Schools—Jacob Curlin and Ethan Lam

Awards received:

• Outstanding Statesman: Walker Crosby
• Outstanding Statesman—Honorable Mention: Bailey Keel
• Outstanding Statesman—Honorable Mention: Trey Fussell

“PDS 6th graders spent the morning presenting amongst the more experienced 7th and 8th graders. Each PDS boy presented a wealth of information based on authoritative research in a manner becoming an older student. We can be proud of all of our boys,” said Nina Haley, Youth Legislature Sponsor and Coach. PDS boys received kudos from the attending sponsors at the Youth Legislature Conference for their research, knowledge, and debating skills. A job well done—Congratulations!

Friday, May 10, 2013 marked the beginning of a new tradition at Presbyterian Day School.

The Class of 2013 and their parents gave PDS a beautiful brass bell which was placed by the school's main entrance. On the bell was inscribed Psalm 121:8, "The Lord watches over your comings and goings, now and forever." The bell will be rung at the beginning of school and other special school occasions, including special times when boys are leaving campus or graduating.

As part of the dedication ceremony, each 6th-grade boy was invited to share what he was most thankful about from their PDS years. Each boy then rang the bell.

Thanks to 6th grade mother Mary Call Ford and the other parents who helped make this happen.

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What does a philanthropist look like? At PDS, donors and donations come in all sizes. Every year the boys of 2B (Mrs. Diaz’s class) create a company called Worm Depot, with the idea of raising money to support a charitable cause. After selling 750 worms in just two days, the Worm Depot's net profit totalled $106.85.

This year, the Worm Depot employees, aka the boys of 2B, voted to donate the profits and join the u.knight challenge. They specifically want to support the new Media Center.

On May 2 representatives of the Worm Depot presented Headmaster Lee Burns, Chief Information Officer Cathy Kyle, and Director of Major Gifts Cynthia Graham with their donation.

Join the boys of 2-B and accept the u.knight challenge.

An investment in the PDS u.knight challenge is an investment in the future of PDS, Memphis and beyond.

Join the challenge. Let’s u.knight for the future of PDS.

Contact Cynthia Graham at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (901) 842-4694.

PDS Alumnus Paul Tudor Jones '66 is featured on tonight's episode of CBS 60 Minutes.

The focus of the piece is Jones' philanthropic work, which was inspired by New York businessman Gene Lang's pledge in 1981 to a Harlem 6th-grade class to pay the college tuition of any student who graduated from high school.

Lang's pledge inspired Jones' founding of the Robin Hood Foundation, which works to fight poverty in New York City.

Jones' philanthropic work in education was the focus of the feature article in the Winter 2009 issue of PDS Spirit.

Preview:

Paul Tudor Jones '66 was PDS' 2012 Distinguished Alumnus.

As in prior years, PDS will order your son’s school supplies allowing us to take advantage of bulk pricing and to ensure conformity. The costs of these supplies were estimated on your enrollment contract to be from $35-$150 depending on the grade level, but will not be finalized until this summer at which time your son’s account will be billed.

Your son’s supplies will be ready for him on his first day of school in August!

Enjoy your summer!

Jill Kauffman
Chief Financial Officer

PDS boys learn from doing science.

We want to encourage PDS boys to be interested in science by providing more time in an interactive science lab.

For too long, science instruction consisted mainly of a teacher standing in front of a class reading a book. At PDS, we make science fun, as well as educational. Science sparks the imagination and allows students to relate to and appreciate the world around them.

As part of the u.knight challenge we will add an additional Science Lab.