Athol-Royalston Elementary News
Teaching Excellence & Bringing Our Schools Together in 2016
February 2016
The 100th day of school is February 3
February is Black History Month
As January comes to an end we wanted to take a moment to encourage families to recognize and to celebrate with us the many contributions of African Americans, past and present, in our great nation. We have included some websites and resources linked below to explore and to share with your children. The Reading Rockets site, in particular, has recommended children's books, family activities, interviews, writing prompts, and more. This is a wonderful way to spend family time and to enhance your child or children's background knowledge of our larger community and world.
http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/blackhistory
http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-history-month/holidays/32871.html
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month
http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/13-ways-celebrate-black-history-month
Welcome to Baby Clara!
Introducing Mr. Samulak, our new elementary music teacher
By way of introduction here is a brief biography of Mr. Samulak.
Nathan Samulak has taught music privately for the past ten years. He earned his BA in music at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where he studied violin in addition to jazz improvisation and composition. Nathan has performed in a variety of ensembles and styles including orchestras, chamber music ensembles and jazz combos. He has a passion for learning and is always studying more effective ways to teach students to understand and to appreciate music through active listening, performance, movement and composition. Nathan’s long term aspiration is to teach general music at the elementary or middle school level.
Hand Prints: Creating Art in Third Grade
- Create a designed hand that has personal imagery
- Choose and use color in a creative and effective manner
- Create a frame for the hand composition that uses repetition of design.
News from Riverbend/ Sanders Street School
Boston Globe Reports on Riverbend Student's Wish
David Karras, third grader from Riverbend School was honored by the Athol Board of Selectmen recently for his part in making a wish come true for his friends. During December David placed a wish on the school Wish Tree as part of a guidance lesson. David wished he could help his friends get their water turned back on at their house. Through the help of Lt. Mike Buzzard of the Salvation Army, the wish was granted and the family has water again at their house. David's story was written up in the Boston Globe in early January and has recently been in the Athol Daily News and the Greenfield Recorder.David is pictured with the wish tree and Lt. Mike Buzzard of the Salvation Army.
Math Stations in Action!
Spanish Club at Riverbend
Pleasant Street School News
Pictured to the right- students in Mrs. Arpide's second grade making observations of fossils which they will subsequently record in their science journals. Fossils were brought in to share with the class courtesy of Mrs. Barbara Adams.
Snapshots of Learning from Pleasant Street School
Dinosaur diorama projects in second grade
Are you afraid of spiders?
Math in Preschool
First Grade Author
Reading Series in Third Grade
Kinder Fun
News from the Royalston Community School
Science Programs at RCS
The Royalston Academy sponsors many enrichment opportunities for students of the Royalston Community School each year. Recently, Keith Michael Johnson provided a whole-school program "Science Isn't Always Pretty." Students were also treated to programs from the Connecticut Science Center. Students in grades K-5 were captivated by the "Science of Suds" while sixth graders engaged in hands-on weather experiments.
RCS Student Council School Spirit Day
Students at the Royalston Community School were invited to dress in New England Patriots attire last week. Student Council organized a school spirit day fundraiser to support the Chapman family relief efforts. Over $250 was raised during this event.
Looking for things to do during February Vacation?
February 17th- 5:00-8:00 pm, Munch & Move at the Athol /Orange Elks, 92 New Athol Rd.
This event is brought to you by the North Quabbin Community Coalition Childrens' Health & Wellness Taskforce and area sponsors and includes dinner, music, games, and much more! For more information please contact (978) 249-3703. (This is not a school sponsored event but is listed as a public service).
We also encourage families to check out the local libraries for events and activities.
Universal Free Breakfast & Lunch
As part of the 2010 Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act, Athol-Royalston Regional School District, along with other districts, now offers free meals to all students this school year.
Menus
- Breakfast menu for February
- Lunch menu for February
Community Events & Postings
Do you have news to share or want to inform members of our school community about family friendly events in our area? if so, please email or forward a flyer or link.
Thank you :)
February 3- Hotel Transylvania 2 (PG13), Athol Public Library, 1:00-2:45 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Mother Goose on the Loose Playgroup-Thursdays 10am—11:30am Valuing Our Children 217 Walnut St. Athol. For more information contact: Jen: 978-249-8467 x 22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PG-and-MGOL.pdf
Petersham Playgroup- Beginning on Thursday, Sept. 17th from 10-11:30 at the Petersham Center School. For more information please call Jennifer at Valuing Our Children 978-249-8467 x22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Petersham-playgroup.pdf
Welcome Baby Baskets- Did you or do you know someone who just had a new baby? Valuing Our Children would love to pay them a visit with a basket full of goodies. For more information please call (978) 249-8487.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Welcome-Baby-Basket-Flyer1.pdf
For other local events, happenings, and resources in this area... you can also check the North Quabbin Community Coalition website below:
These are not school sponsored events but are posted here as a public service for families in the greater North Quabbin community.
Upcoming Events...Mark your Calendars!
Upcoming Events and Dates!
- Feb. 3, 100th day of school
- Feb. 3, district half day, noon dismissal, lunch is served
- Feb. 14, Valentines' Day
- Feb. 15-19, Winter recess, no school
- Feb. 22, school resumes
For more school specific activities and for events and the high school and middle school please check individual school calendars posted on the district website.
For a copy of our school district calendar please click on the link below.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CALENDARFOR2015-2016.pdf
Check back soon for more news!
News from the Athol-Royalston Elementary Schools
Bringing Our Schools Together in 2016
The Athol Elementary Schools: Pleasant, Riverbend, and Sanders Street will come together in our new, state of the art, Athol Elementary School opening Fall 2016.
Email: Elementary-news@arrsd.org
Website: arrsd.org
Location: 1062 Pleasant Street, Athol, MA 01331, United States
Phone: (978) 249-2400