Dear Parents,
March Madness has been great!!! So far, as a school, the students have earned close to 7,000 points. That is over 100 hours of reading and writing about books and we still have this weeks reading to tally!!! Today, I will be collecting reading logs and book responses for this final week. Students will have until Monday, April 2nd to hand in any logs or responses that were left home (please remember that weekend reading is not tallied).
Thanks,
Ali Newman
If you plan to signup your kindergarten student for spring Memorial Spaulding Kindergarten soccer please do it now. Teams are filling-up fast and we plan to get the league started on Saturday April 7th. You can access a form online here or email me directly at kyle@tager.com and I can send you an application.
If you can not send your application in on time please let me know of your intentions to sign-up your player (via email to kyle@tager.com) so I can include them now on a team and you can give me your application on the first day of play. Forms can be left in the front hall mail boxes at school (one should be labelled “Soccer”.) Or drop a form off at my house at 203 Greenwood Street in Newton.
I am still looking for coaches. No real skills necessary… just a good attitude and a lot of patience (whistles will be provided this season!!!)
Thanks.
Kyle
Dear Memorial-Spaulding Families,
We started MCAS testing last week with 4th grade taking their long composition test and the 5th grade taking the reading comprehension test. I want to commend all the children for their hard work and perseverance during these testing days. This week the 4th and 3rd graders will both take the reading comprehension tests. The best way for you to help your child is to ensure that he/she gets a good night’s sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and arrives at school on time. MCAS directions will be given at 8:45am and students will begin the tests at 9am. Thank you for your continued support. Please remember that one test is not the whole child!
Budget Information:
Please stay updated regarding the NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE FY13 BUDGET CALENDAR. Below are the meeting dates and times for this week:
March 26 (Regular & Special Meeting – FY13 Budget) – Ed Center
Monday Superintendent’s Report – 7:30 p.m. Further Discussion/Final Vote on FY13 Budget
March 29 Extra Date for FY13 Budget Discussion/Final Vote
Thursday (if necessary) 7:00 p.m. Ed Center
Literacy Morning
This week we sent everyone an invitation to our literacy mornings.
Grades 3-5 will be Monday April 2 8:45-9:30
Grades K-2 will be Tuesday April 3 8:45-9:30
School Council meeting
Monday, March 26 Conf. room 4:00-5:30
Discuss Theme B of the School Improvement Plan
Theme B: PROMOTE LOCAL AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP THROUGH COLLABORATION
Alla Mantsur ELL teacher
Sergio Furtado Parent of two children in the ELL program
Student Council School Climate Survey
Teacher Inclusion committee survey and next steps
Budget SY12-13
Technology Update
School Committee visit- April 27th at Principal’s Coffee
Parent Information: The Cinnamon Challenge
From Mayor Setti Warren and Newton Health and Human Service Department
There have been recent reports of young people engaging in an activity called “The Cinnamon Challenge.” This practice is being promoted via social networking and in You Tube videos. The challenge involves an attempt to eat or swallow a tablespoon of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking. This often causes coughing, choking, gagging, watering of the eyes and burning of the mouth and throat. Dr. Karen Sadler, Newton’s School Physician, said the fad is dangerous, particularly for children with asthma or other respiratory conditions. “For many kids this is probably just a game that would result in coughing and gagging, but others could inhale cinnamon into the lungs and require emergency care,” she said. Another concern is an ingredient in cinnamon called cassia that may affect blood clotting, blood sugar levels, or worsen liver disease. “I encourage parents to talk to their children about why this is an unsafe game,” Sadler said. “This is one of those hidden dangers children may be unaware of. We want all of our children to remain healthy and safe.” Please call your school nurse if you have any concerns or questions.
Upcoming Important Dates:
ELA MCAS Gr. 3-5 March 20-April 2
Grade 4 Monday, March 26 ELA I 9-12
Wednesday, March 28 ELA II 9:00- 12:00
Grade 3 Thursday, March 29 Reading I 9:00 – 12:00
Friday, March 30 Reading II 9:00 – 12:00
Book Fair April 2,3, and 4
Literacy Morning
3-5 Monday, April 2 8:45-9:30
K-2 Tuesday, April 3 8:45-9:30
Dear Parents,
Understanding Our Differences is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Newton Public Schools to teach elementary school children an understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities in our schools and in our community. The Understanding Our Differences Deafness and Hard of Hearing unit will take place in your child’s classroom on May 31, 2012, and we invite you to join us in the classroom.
There are several themes central to this unit:
§ Hearing loss is only one of the many traits that contribute to making a person the individual that he or she is.
§ Individuals can experience varying degrees of hearing loss.
§ Technology is playing an increasingly important role in enabling people with hearing loss to communicate and do everyday tasks more easily and independently
§ People have a variety of communication choices. Interpreters are often used as a link between those who are Deaf and the hearing world.
§ Without communication a person can feel isolated.
During this unit, students will participate in a variety of activities where they get hands-on experience with fingerspelling, sign language and lipreading. They will learn about sound, frequency, communication and the anatomy of the ear. Students will discover that assistive technology can enhance both communication and independence.
For many students, the high point of each unit is the speakers who share their personal experiences and answer the students’ thoughtful questions about living with a disability.
The Understanding Our Differences program is presented by parent volunteers. Many parents find the experience of helping to implement the program to be very rewarding. Please contact Ydelsa Cassidy and Doreen Rachal, 3rd grade coordinators at ydelsacassidy@gmail.com or 617-877-0462 and dmrachal@yahoo.com or 617-795-2082 if you would like to join the volunteer team or if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, Doreen and Ydelsa
Dear Parents,
Needed: help with reshelving library books in their proper places. Whether you have done this before or not it can be a relaxing task, with a friend or on your own, especially if you like things to be orderly. It means a great deal to the students to keep the library ship shape. If you have an hour to spend, just come in and Mrs. Holzheimer will show you the ropes. THANK YOU!
The Oak Hill/Brown Speech Team Night
Tuesday, April 10th from 6pm – 8pm
Oak Hill Middle School Auditorium
This special event will showcase our talented students’ performances in several categories, including prose, poetry, children’s literature, duo/multiple interpretation, original oratory, declamation, demonstration and impromptu.
We look forward to sharing the results of the team’s hard work and dedication, earning accolades and honors in both practice sessions and tournaments throughout Massachusetts.
Speech Team provides students with skills that last a lifetime – the ability to present oneself in small and large groups, overcoming the fear of speaking in public, being a part of a competitive yet supportive team environment and experiencing the excitement of major tournament competition. The Oak Hill/Brown Speech Team is a proud member of the Massachusetts Middle School Forensics League (MMSFL) and competes in MMSFL Tournaments throughout the state during the school year.
Come see why our students earn top honors in state-wide competitions!
Questions? Email Coach Robyn Steinberg at robyn@massallergy.net.
Kim Vanaman, Robyn Steinberg, Jeff Bodner and Kathy Goldberg
Oak Hill/Brown Speech Team Coaches
Please join the PTO as we host Engaging Minds on Wednesday April 11, 7 pm
Creating Successful Students
Every child can be successful in school. Unfortunately, for some success doesn’t come as easily or quickly. Research has shown that many students who struggle academically are not less intelligent than their peers; instead, they often times do not possess the learning tools and strategies they need to effectively organize, prioritize, and manage their learning. Join Dan Levine and Louisa Pitt of Engaging Minds, an after school learning center located in Newton, for a discussion about these “executive functions” and how you can help your child strengthen these important skills and strategies at home.
Thank you!
Sharon, Megan and Monica
Attention 5th Grade Parents – OPEN HOUSES FOR HIGHLANDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open Houses for interested families on: Tuesday, March 27 from 5:30-6:30 P.M. at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands.
This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year.
Please join us and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit our website highlandsafterschool.org
Dear Memorial-Spaulding Families,
This was a busy week at Memorial-Spaulding School with teacher–family conferences getting underway and MCAS consuming many hours for our Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders during the next two weeks. March Madness is also in full swing, and our graph in the front lobby shows the intense competition between our Buddy Reading Teams! Our Student Council posted the school climate survey online and students in grades 3-5 have been completing it during their library time. We will be tallying the results over the next few weeks and sharing it with students and families. Kindergarten families joined their children for recess and lunch in the café this week. The children were very excited about their families visiting our school and getting the opportunity to each lunch with them. Thursday Night was our wonderful International Festival. The children and families were so proud to share food and cultural traditions from their countries. The performances were filled with children from all grades showing their talents and the joy of sharing their heritage. I’d like to thank all of the volunteers who made this event possible, especially Pauline So Lee, Angelique Dittrich, and Caterina Krug. A special thanks to our custodians, Ed Stella and John Mitchell, who helped the families set up tables to start the night, and for all the work they did to clean up so we had a clean school when we returned Friday morning.
Have a good week.
Lisa
Budget Information:
Please stay updated regarding the NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE FY13 BUDGET CALENDAR. Below are the meeting dates and times for this week:
March 20 (Special Meeting – FY13 Budget) Tuesday Public Hearing re: FY13 Budget 7:00 p.m. Location TBA
MCAS Switch Day
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is being administered to all fourth grade students in the Commonwealth on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Newton’s dismissal time on Tuesday is normally 12:30 p.m. In order to administer the test at the same time as all of the other schools in Massachusetts, we must extend school hours to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 for all students in grades K through 5. On Wednesday, March 21st school will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Newton after-school programs have been informed of this change. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this change in the length of school days may cause your family.
Last Day of School
It will not be official until the school committee votes sometime in April, but if we do not have any snow days the last day of school will be June 15th. Since many camps start a week or two later, some of you may need to think about making plans for your children for the week after school gets out.
Important Upcoming dates
March Madness Read-a-thon March 5-April 5
MCAS Switch Day for ALL Students. We must extend school hours to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 for all students in grades K through 5. On Wednesday, March 21 school will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.
ELA MCAS Gr. 3-5 March 20-April 2
Grade 3 Thursday, March 29 Reading I 9:00 – 11:00 Friday, March 30 Reading II 9:00 – 11:00
Grade 4 Tuesday, March 20 Long Comp. ALL DAY
Monday, March 26 ELA I 9:00 – 11:00
Wednesday, March 28 ELA II 9:00- 11:00
Thursday, March 29 Long Comp. Make up
Grade 5 Thursday, March 22 ELA I 9:00- 11:00 Friday, March 23 ELA II 9:00- 11:00
Book Fair April 2,3, and 4
Literacy Morning
3-5 Monday, April 2 8:45-9:30
K-2 Tuesday, April 3 8:45-9:30
Dear Parents,
We had a great week with the March Madness Read-a-thon! Please check the basketball barometer at the front of the school for team scores. Please also note that the reading log is for Monday-Thursday. I apologize for any confusion over this issue.
If your child did not get a reading log at school, please feel free to print one off the PTO website or even have your child make one that allows them to count minutes of reading for each night of the week (Mon-Thurs).
Thank you for encouraging your children to read and participate.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Ali Newman
newmanyoga@hotmail.com
