• PPC: First Friday Fitness & Fun: Please join us this Friday, October 3, for a Pirate Parent Club-hosted walk along the shoreline path in Pacific Grove. We'll gather at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Snack Shack, 618 Ocean View Blvd. We will walk right along the water's edge starting at 8:45 a.m. and ending back at the Snack Shack at Lovers Point at approximately 9:45 a.m. This is a flat walk on a paved pathway off the road. Please stay for some visiting time after and enjoy a beverage at the Snack Shack. Dogs are welcome on leash. Please register here.
• Fall Family Weekend: Save the dates – October 15-21 – for Fall Family Weekend & Fall Break! You can look forward to community events and social gatherings where you can connect with fellow families. It's also a great time to schedule a conference with your child's teachers. Check out the full daily schedule on our Fall Family Weekend webpage. Registration is now available on your Pirate Page. Please note: there will be no classes October 16–21, with classes resuming on Wednesday, October 22.
• Say YES to Stevenson: October is the month that we ask all Pirate parents/guardians to support the Annual Fund with a gift to the school. This month, you will be receiving emails, seeing social media posts and viewing inspiring stories of remarkable moments that are made possible when our community says YES. Please consider making a gift today – your participation matters!

Lower and Middle Divisions

• Regular Late Start this Wednesday, October 1: School starts at 8:45 a.m. for Lower Division and 9 a.m. for Middle Division.
• Grounds for Giving: Grab a cup of coffee and join us for a casual, informative chat about Stevenson's Annual Fund, Monday, October 6, 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., at the Carmel House. Whether you're new to giving or just curious about how your support makes an impact, this is a great opportunity to connect with our Advancement team, ask questions and learn more in a relaxed setting. No pressure – just good conversation and great company. We hope to see you there!
• Flu Clinic: We will host our annual flu clinic on Monday, October 13, 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., on campus. Please complete and return the Immunization Informed Consent Form and provide a copy of your child's health insurance card. More information has already been shared; if you have questions, please contact Jeanette Vela.
• Fall Picture Make Up Day: Make up day is Friday, November 7. To schedule your child's individual photo with Generations School Photography, please contact Jackie DiYanni. A communication with picture ordering instructions will be shared within the week.
• Visitor Check-In: As a reminder, when coming to campus during the school day, please announce yourself at the front office. Other than during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, parents should not enter classrooms directly. This procedure helps us maintain a safe and secure environment for all students by ensuring we know who is in the building at all times.
• Car Line Safety: To keep our carline running smoothly and safely, we ask that all parents remain in their cars. Students will be escorted to your vehicle and helped inside. Walking through the parking lot during this busy time is unsafe. We appreciate your support in keeping all of our children safe during arrival and dismissal.

Lower Division

• Parent/Guardian Roundtable Meeting: Thank you to all the families who joined our Pre-K – Grade 2 Parent/Guardian Roundtables. Your participation and thoughtful conversations have made these sessions truly informative and meaningful. We invite Grades 3 and 4 families to our final fall Parent/Guardian Roundtable, this Wednesday, October 1, 9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m., at the Carmel House. We will discuss developmental milestones and explore how parents/guardians and the school team can partner to support each student's growth and success. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the school team and fellow parents. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.
• Grade 4 Public Land Passes: Our Grade 4 students have received their passes, courtesy of our generous parents. These passes provide free access to national parks and public lands. This is a wonderful way for students to extend their classroom learning through meaningful connections with nature and place. We hope this inspires families to continue exploring the outdoors together.
• Lunch Menu Support: We've received feedback from families that some of our younger students aren't always familiar with the lunch options by sight alone. Parents, please take a few moments each week to review the updated lunch menu with your child (posted on your Parent Pirate page). Talking through the menu in advance helps students feel confident in their choices and ensures they are taking advantage of the full meal options provided.

Middle Division

• MAP Testing: Fall MAP testing will take place the mornings of October 7 and October 9. These will be the only days set aside for MAP testing. More information will be shared next week.
• A Successful Outdoor Education Week! Welcome back, Middle Division students and faculty. We are so proud of all the kids and grateful for the teachers!

• Senior Programming: University of California Application Workshop: This optional application workshop is this Tuesday, September 30, during community time (9:40 a.m.) in the Learning Commons. It will cover the structure of the UC application, including how to complete each section (academic history, activities, awards, etc.); the UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs); UC-specific policies; and how course requirements are evaluated. Students will get tips on meeting deadlines, avoiding errors and making their applications stand out.
• Community Curriculum: This Tuesday, September 30, guest speaker Khang Ho, MPH, RDN, a clinical dietitian with a specialty in diabetes and nutrition therapy, will come to campus to speak with Grades 9 and 10 about nutrition, how to fuel your body and other pertinent information. Please reach out to Sarah Koshi, director of student leadership and wellness curriculum, with any questions.
• October 1 Programming for Seniors: Seniors taking the October 1 SAT at Stevenson received an email with detailed information on their test time and location.
  • Programs for Seniors Not Taking the SAT: From 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., resident students not taking the SAT are required, and day students are invited, to Reid Dining Hall to work on college applications and receive counselor support from Ms. Allen and Mr. Burke. At 10 a.m. there will be an optional essay-support workshop with Mr. Burke in science classroom 105. Also during this day, students may meet with their college counselor and should contact their counselor to schedule a meeting.
• October 1 PSAT Test Day: All sophomores and juniors are required to take the PSAT: The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Students received an email with details on the test time and location.
• Grade 9 Community Curriculum: This Wednesday, October 1, Grade 9 students will join forces with local organizations across the Monterey Peninsula to serve the community through various on-campus and Peninsula-wide projects dedicated to giving back to the community. Students should plan to arrive at 8:30 a.m.; the day will finish with plenty of time for students to attend their after-school co-curricular commitments. 
• Reminder – X-Term International Trip Applications: As part of our X-Term program, Grade 10 and 11 students have the opportunity to apply for one of three international courses this year: Sea of Cortez Marine Science, Camino de Santiago and Japan: Timeless Traditions & Modern Wonders. Student applications are due Wednesday, October 1, at 11:59 p.m., and parent/guardian approvals are due Friday, October 3, at 11:59 p.m. Please note that both steps must be completed for students to be considered.
• First Friday Bonfire: At the beginning of each month, we host an extra-special weekend activity to bring boarding and day students together. Our October First Friday event is a beach bonfire this Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. We will enjoy s'mores, play games and tell stories by the bonfire! Shuttle service to and from the beach will be available at Douglas Hall. Additional weekend activities are updated each Friday morning and can be seen here. A reminder that weekend activities are open to both boarding and day students.
• Lifeguard Certification Course: Stevenson is hosting an American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Course at the Pirate Pool, October 4–5, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. The fee is $340, and students must sign up independently. Participants must be at least 15 years old and complete ~6 hours of online content beforehand. Once certified, students join Stevenson's lifeguard list to work open pool events or use this credential for summer jobs. Students can sign up here.
• Health Center: Stevenson, along with Central Avenue Pharmacy, will be hosting two flu clinics on campus this year. They will be held on October 8 and 27. We highly recommend having your student vaccinated. If you would like your student to participate in the clinic, please fill out the consent form and return it to the Health Center at [email protected] by October 26. We will be using student medical insurance so there will be no cost to you. 
• School Photos and Retake Day: You may now view your student's photo, taken on Thursday, September 4, on the Generations School Photography website. You will need to find your online code by entering your student's 9 digit ID number, which can be found on your Pirate Page on the "Student" tab. Picture packages that are ordered will be mailed directly to your home. Students who did not have their picture taken on that day will need to have their picture taken on retake day – Wednesday, October 29, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Reid Dining Hall. If you have questions, please contact Michelle Boatman.
• Airport Transportation for Residential Students: For all major breaks (Thanksgiving, winter and spring), shuttles will be available to reserve from campus to San Jose and San Francisco airports for residential students. If you wish to reserve a spot on the shuttle for your student, you can use this form. Signups for the shuttle are due by November 17 at 4 p.m. Please note that Stevenson does not reserve shuttles for the return from break. If you wish to reserve a shuttle, you can do so using Groome Transportation.
• Course Changes: The last day to add or change a course was Friday, September 26. Students may still drop a course or change down from an advanced course until the Friday after Family Weekend, but early changes are strongly recommended.