Archers in Action: News & Events ~ December 3, 2025

Dear Families,

In keeping with their love of storytelling and books, Icelanders have a lovely Christmas tradition called Jolabokaflod, where, on Christmas Eve, they exchange books and spend the rest of the evening reading together, drinking hot chocolate, and enjoying treats. You can read more about it here. For years, one of my friends and I had a similar tradition. We exchanged picture books at Christmastime–ones that our children loved, and that we wanted to share. We lived states apart, so reading them together on Christmas Eve wasn’t an option, but some of my favorite children’s stories come from those years, and as you know, a good children’s book is not just for children. So this week, I am sharing one of my favorites with you. I believe it reflects the spirit of this time of year, and most of you have probably read it, but it is worth a re-read. It is called “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, and you can find it here. If you have time, please share one of your most-loved children’s stories here. I will send out a list next week.

Warmly,

Tabitha Loy

Headmaster

Save the Dates

January 19- Martin Luther King Jr Day; School Holiday

January 21- Picture Day (Clubs, Orchestra & Theatre)

January 23- Muffins in the Morning

January 30- House Meetings & R&R Weekend

January 31- Upper School Winter Dance

Important News To Know

House Meetings! December 5 ~ Approved House Spiritwear may be worn!

Spirit, Pizza and Denim Friday! December 5 ~Denim cards must be carried

Lunch (Coffee) with the Headmaster-Remote ~ Friday at Noon ~ Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/esj-cnzg-tge

Virtual Christmas Wish Tree for Faculty & Staff ~ Sign up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4FAAAE22A0F85-60906557-2526

Founders Book Fair ~ December 2-5

Volunteer Opportunity! Founders Book Fair Volunteers! See below

Merry & Bright - A Fine Arts Night ~ Tomorrow! December 4 See below

Thanksgiving Luncheon and Car Line Coverage Thank You! See below

Thank you to All Our World History Day Volunteers See below

Fall Sports Awards & Banquet ~ See SportsYou for Details

December: House of Euclid Stocks the Lounge! See below

Grandparents Breakfast- Call for Volunteers

Reminders From Last Week

Student-Led Tutoring Now Available See below for details

Yearbooks on sale for $40! Price goes up to $45 on February 21

2025-26 Calendar of Events ~ALL Dates are Subject to Change See below

2025-26 Parent/Student Handbook Available: https://live-responsiveed-founders.cleancatalog.io/

Got Pictures? Share with the Yearbook Class See below

2025-2026 Tutoring Now Available See below

Open Enrollment Applications ~ Not for currently enrolled students See below

Buy your 2025-26 Spirit Tee here!

⭐ Founders Book Fair

Founders Book Fair

Our school will be hosting an Ignatius Book Fair!

Dates: December 2-5

Time: Open Daily (See Graphic For Details)

Location: B3 Library

The book fair is a special opportunity to expand your family library, while also helping us earn new books for our classrooms and library. Every purchase benefits our school!

We’d love to see you at the fair, but if you can’t attend, you can still participate and shop online.

How to Shop Online for Our Book Fair

Sign into the Ignatius Book Fairs Online Store at https://store.ignatiusbookfairs.com?signup=true&schoolId=2663

Enter your child’s name.

Select your child’s classroom.

Confirm and add additional children/classrooms as needed.

When finished, click “Get Started” to explore the wonderful book selections!

Additionally, we need our community's help so things run smoothly. Please sign up below to volunteer for our book fair:

Founders Book Fair Volunteers

We appreciate the support and we look forward to seeing you at the Founders Book Fair!

⭐Merry & Bright: A Fine Arts Night

🎄✨ Merry & Bright: A Fine Arts Night ✨🎄

Join us, December 4th for an evening filled with cozy Christmas cheer and the incredible creativity of our Fine Arts students!

✨ Here’s what you can look forward to:

5:00 PM – Theater Vignette in Sherwood Forest

Enjoy scenes from A Christmas Carol and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, performed by our theater students.

Followed by a Cozy Christmas Stroll – Grammar School Entrance

Your family can:

Take a Christmas photo with Archie
Write & mail a letter to Santa
Sip free hot cocoa
Enjoy free cookies
Listen to live music from our student string quartet

Then stroll over to the Upper School Visual Arts & Floral Design Showcase

The Upper School halls will be filled with student artwork and 🌸 Don’t miss the Floral Silent Auction! These holiday arrangements make perfect centerpieces and gifts—and every winning bid supports our Fine Arts programs.

Book Fair Open Late

Swing through the Book Fair (B3 Library) during your stroll to pick up Christmastime reads for your family.

7:00 PM – High School Orchestra Performance

We’ll close the evening with a Christmas concert performed by our orchestra students—a perfect way to end a magical night together.

This evening is truly designed for all ages—a chance to support student artists, celebrate the season, and enjoy time together as a Founders family.

We hope you’ll join us for this joyful school-wide tradition!

Merry & Bright Florals

letter to santa

⭐Thanksgiving Luncheon and Car Line Coverage Thank You

Thanksgiving Luncheon and Car Line Coverage Thank You

Thank you to every family who donated, volunteered, and stepped in during carline the Friday before Thanksgiving to support our FCA Staff Thanksgiving Luncheon. Your generosity made it possible for our teachers and staff to enjoy a warm, abundant meal together—and it meant more to them than you know. Events like this remind us how deeply our community values the people who pour into our students each day. We are grateful for every act of service and every contribution that helped make this luncheon a success.

⭐Thank you to All Our World History Day Volunteers

Thank you to All Our World History Day Volunteers

Thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time, creativity, and energy to making World History Day a tremendous success. Your efforts brought history to life in meaningful and engaging ways, and our students had an unforgettable experience because of you. This event has become a beloved tradition for our community, and it is your commitment that ensures it continues to inspire our students year after year. We are grateful for the impact you made.

⭐Grandparents Breakfast- Call for Volunteers

⭐December: House of Euclid Stocks the Lounge!

Stock the lounge

💙December: House of Euclid Stocks the Lounge!

Each month, one grade level “Stocks the Lounge”—filling our teacher lounge with grab-and-go snacks and drinks to keep our teachers fueled and feeling appreciated all year long. November is the House of Euclid's month to serve!

This is more than just treats. It’s a simple, meaningful way to say thank you to the teachers who pour their hearts into our children every single day.

Every $10 in donations = 1 Archer Hour, so your gift not only blesses our teachers but also counts toward your family’s volunteer hours.

Let’s surround our teachers with the same care and encouragement they show our kids—help us fill the lounge and remind them how much they mean to the Founders family! All donations can be dropped off in B1 or B3 offices.

Below is a list of some of our staff’s favorite snacks:

Coffee Pods

Mini Creamers for Coffee

Sodas

Sparkling Waters

Chips (Pretzels, crackers, popcorn, nuts)

Granola Bars

Trail Mix

Gluten Free Snacks

Fresh Fruit

Bagels and Cream Cheese

⭐Student-Led Tutoring Now Available

⭐Yearbooks are on sale now! $40!

⭐2025-26 Calendar of Events

⭐Got Pictures? Share with the Yearbook Class

⭐2025–2026 Tutoring Now Available

2025–2026 Tutoring Now Available

We are pleased to share the 2025–2026 tutoring opportunities! Skilled teachers are available to support students in a wide range of subjects. Recommended rates are $40–50 per hour, with advanced subjects ranging from $70–100 per hour. Please note that tutoring cannot take place on campus; families should arrange alternate meeting locations directly with the tutor. Click below for more information:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VLrUQeXwnrxh6_qWaW1Hd9hjj3PK-hs6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105639595887529560620&rtpof=true&sd=true

⭐Open Enrollment Applications ~ Not for currently enrolled students

⭐Ongoing Reminders...

*New Attendance Reporting Procedures

Reporting an absence and other attendance related issues just got easier. You can now report early dismissal for athletics, early dismissals for student drivers, make alternate arrangements for student pickup, and report absences, all through our new online forms found here.

When the need arises, go to our school website at foundersleander.com. Navigate to one of three places - the Archers in Action page, Attendance page, or For Our Families tab to find a “Report an Absence” button. Simply click that button, find and complete the appropriate form for your situation and upload documents and correspondence directly to that form. Done! It’s that easy.

Please contact [email protected] if you have further questions.

Please note these changes in our 2025-2026 Family Handbook.

*Uniform Closet Donation Guidelines

The following school uniform items will be accepted as donations to our uniform closet:

Items with the school logo (including polos, jackets, spirit wear);
Plaid Wednesday formal skirts;
White Oxford shirts;
Girls jumpers;
Uniform ties and bows;
Belts

All items must be in good condition (clean, not stained or faded)

*Apply to be a 2025-2026 Volunteer!

Volunteers must be approved each school year to be on campus.

Each school year, ResponsiveEd requires every volunteer to complete an online volunteer application and undergo a background check. Once you are approved, you must review the guidelines for Founders Archer Volunteers and sign a confidentiality agreement. Applications remain active for the current school year. A volunteer must reapply each school year regardless of their date of application. Please allow up to two weeks for processing of your application.

Click on the links below to access applications and information:

* Follow us on Instagram & Facebook:

School Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FoundersClassicalLeander

Athletics: @FCArchers

Archers Council: @fcaarcherscouncil

Travel Groups: @archersaimfar