Doherty Blast Feb 20, 2026

Key Dates
What to Know Now
Parent Community News
Announcements

Key Dates

Friday, Feb. 20 — Tubing at Perfect North for Grades 1-5
Wednesday, March 4— Parent Community Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 5 — Grades 1-5 Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m. Conferences from 12:30-8 p.m. Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten Regular School Day. Conferences from 4:30-8 p.m.
Friday, March 6 — Lower School Conferences. No School
Sunday, March 8 — Daylight Saving Time Begins (move clocks ahead one hour)
Thursday, March 12 — Unit III Musical, 1 p.m., The Schiff Center
Friday, March 13 — Spring Break Begins at 3:15 p.m.
Monday-Friday, March 16-27 — Spring Break. No School
Monday, March 30 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No School
Tuesday, March 31 — School Resumes

Photos of the Week

The pre-kindergarten for 2-year-old students learned about Lunar New Year from their classmate Naomi as she and her family shared how they celebrate.
Unit II students createad and shared timeline posters about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Unit I students ended their poetry presentation for their families with a poem about a gaggle of geese recited by the entire class.
With the warmer weather students were able to enjoy a basketball game during outdoor recess.
Kindergartners Asher and Briana and their families taught the kindergarten classes about the customs, food, decorations, and importance for family during their Lunar New Year celebrations.

What to Know Now

Join us for our next LEAD Together event with David Yeager — Thursday, Feb. 26

If you’ve ever wondered how to push your child toward their potential without it feeling like pressure, or how to give feedback that actually lands, we have an evening designed for you.

We’re bringing parents, faculty, and staff together for a webinar on Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Lotspeich Library with David Yeager, one of the country’s leading researchers on adolescent motivation. His work centers on a powerful idea: young people thrive when the adults in their lives hold high expectations and communicate genuine belief in their ability to meet them. There’s real science behind what makes it work … and real practices you can bring home.

This isn’t a presentation. It’s also a conversation we’re having together, because the most powerful thing we can do for our students is to be on the same page about how to support them.

Free childcare and dinner is available. Please register now!

Parent Community News

Early Childhood Parent Community “Think Tank” Meeting — Feb. 24

Please join us on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9-10 a.m., for the first meeting of the Early Childhood Community “Think Tank.” We will have coffee and discuss how to make the Early Childhood Parent Community a success in 2027!

Where? Doherty Campus, Jones Hall

When? Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9-10 a.m.

How much of a commitment is this? Attending one meeting does not require attendance at future meetings. Even if you can only come once, we would love to have you and hear your ideas.

Can’t make it? We will offer at least one more meeting date in the afternoon or evening this semester. You can also join virtually on Google Meet. Email Lauren Burns. for the Google Meet information.

Questions? Also email Lauren Burns.

Volunteer for Carnival Planning

Carnival planning is underway! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Aloah Duke.

Announcements

Lower School Conferences — March 5-6

Lower School conferences will be held on March 5-6. We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you and share more about your child’s progress.

Information has been sent with details on how and when to sign up for conferences.

Thursday, March 5
- Grades 1-5: Early dismissal at 11:30 a.m., conferences from 12:30-8 p.m.
- Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten: Regular school day, conferences from 4:30-8 p.m.
Friday, March 6
- No school for all Lower School students.
- Conferences from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Please note the following regarding Mrs. Bird’s availability:

Lotspeich Campus: March 5
Doherty Campus: March 6

When registering, we kindly ask families to double-check that they are selecting the correct campus.

Thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to seeing you at conferences!

Holiday Care in March

We will have Holiday Care the following dates in March if we have enough interest:

Thursday, March 5 for Grades 1-5, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten have a regular school day and ATB)
Friday, March 6
March 23-27
March 30

We had to switch out the registration link for Holiday Care so if you registered prior to Feb. 15 for Holiday Care, it won’t show your registration if you click on the Holiday Care registration link. But you are registered, so you do not need to register again. Be on a lookout from us to confirm your registration. Sorry for any confusion!

Unit III Musical — March 12

Unit III parents are invited to join us in The Schiff Center on Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m. for a dazzling performance of “Winnie the Pooh.” An information packet will be coming home early next week with a dismissal form attached. Please remember to turn that in by Tuesday, March 10.

Field House Parking Lot — Temporary Traffic Flow Changes

During Spring Break, work will begin to prep the future Lower School site for construction to begin in April. Beginning March 14, you will only be able to enter and exit the Field House lot on the Hillsdale Campus from Bufler Lane. The exit onto Ellmarie Drive will be closed through summer 2026.