MHS/WES Newsletter
Friday, January 10, 2020
News from our Administrators~
AWRSD Math Pilot
In math news, during January and into part of February, we are piloting new math curriculums for grades K-5 in both Ashburnham and Westminster.
Two classes per grade level at each school will be using Bridges math curriculum and the other classes will be using San Francisco Unified School District math curriculum.
This pilot is part of a long and careful process that has been going on district wide to develop a math vision and choose a curriculum that best meets the needs of our students.
Our hope and plan is that official long term implementation would begin next school year. For now this just means that the format of math work that comes home may be a little different and students may describe new math activities that they are trying.
Both curriculums meet our district and state standards. If you have any questions about the pilot, please feel free to contact your building administrators.
Technology Reminder!
Digital devices that take photos, record or play videos (ipods, phones, VTECH watches, etc.) should be kept at home please. They are not allowed at school.
If your child brings a device to school, we will kindly ask them to put it in their backpack to take home. Thank you for your cooperation.
From our student handbook:
Electronics: I-pods, Cell Phones, Etc.
These items are not allowed in school or on the bus. If a student should bring any electronic device, cell phone, or multi-media device etc. to school, WES/MHS is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Important Dates
- Jan 15th - PTO @ 6:30 pm
- Jan 20th - MLK Jr. Day No School
- Jan 27th - Half Day- Professional Development for Teachers
- Jan 30th - School Improvement Council Mtg. @ 4:15pm
- Feb 6th & 13th - HALF DAY Parent Conferences
News from your secretaries at MHS and WES
Kathi McCarthy, Ina Carey and Liz Maillet
Kindergarten News
In kindergarten, we are eager to explore the new year developing and fostering independence within our classrooms.
Children have daily jobs and responsibilities, helping them to improve their independent success while contributing to our rooms.
Please encourage your child by giving them a job or chore at home. You can also teach your child independence by aiding in the development of their self-help skills (zipping, buttoning, etc.). These skills help us with our daily routines and as we prepare to play outdoors.
Thank you for your continued support at home.
Fourth Grade News
As we return from winter break and begin the “unofficial” second half of the school year, fourth grade is continuing to focus on building the skills we started earlier this school year. In the same way a snowman is built piece by piece, fourth graders have been building on their writing paragraph by paragraph, to create longer stories. The subject of their first narrative was based on the story “Snowmen at Night”. Students were asked to write a five paragraph narrative with their own take on what snowmen might do when no one is looking.
In fourth grade math, we have been examining different ways to multiply large numbers. We have also been applying those strategies to real life examples such as area and perimeter of a room or playground. Fourth grade is full of future civil engineers!
Destination Imagination Appraiser
There's still time for you to volunteer to represent AWRSD as a Destination Imagination Appraiser!
Appraisers are the volunteers who act as officials and judges at DI tournaments. Being a volunteer appraiser is only two days:
- A Saturday training in February (you choose between two dates).
- The Destination Imagination tournament in March, where you get to see team performances and score them! (You may choose the tournament where you volunteer)
If you are interested, please let Jenna Morin (JMorin@awrsd.org) know ASAP! All volunteers need to be registered by January 10th. We are short 4 volunteers, so please consider giving your time to this wonderful organization.
Thank you!
Jenna
MORE INFORMATION:
WHO CAN BE A VOLUNTEER? Any adult! Especially anyone interested in STEAM, creative problem solving, learning more about Destination Imagination, or in seeing what our kids can do when we let them push their imaginations to the limit. Even high school students may volunteer at a tournament and earn service hours - though they WILL NOT fulfill the team appraiser requirement. (Please see me if you work with students that might be interested in volunteering - we would love to have them and I can get you more information.) WHAT CAN I DO AS A VOLUNTEER? You choose! When you register, you can pick your top 3 choices of any challenge and role you prefer: Challenges change every year. This year the 2019-2020 Challenges are: Technical: "The Big Fix" Scientific: "First Encounter" Engineering: "In The Cards" Fine Arts: "Picture This" Improvisational: "To The Rescue" Service Learning: "It's About Time" Early Learning/Rising Stars (preschool - 2nd): "Blast Off!" You may pick the Volunteer/Appraiser Role that interests you the most: Challenge Official Prep Official Timekeeper/Announcer Appraiser Team Organizer (ATO) Instant Challenge Appraiser WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT? A total of 2 days: There is a one-day training. (MADI provides two identical trainings so you may attend the training date and place that is most convenient for you. You only attend ONE training.) February 1, 2020: Grafton Middle School OR February 8, 2020: Innovation Academy Charter School The regional tournament is one day. (You are automatically registered for our local tournament, but you may request to appraise or volunteer at a different tournament if a different day in March and/or a different location works better for you!) March 1, 2020: Blake Middle School, Medfield March 7, 2020: Plymouth South Middle School, Plymouth March 7, 2020: Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury March 8, 2020: Chelmsford HS (our local tournament, where our AWRSD teams will be competing) March 14, 2020: Greater Lawrence Technical School, Andover March 14, 2020: Beverly Middle School, Beverly Destination Imagination is an incredible organization and the solutions the kids create are phenomenal. If you volunteer, you won't regret it.
Scores part of a challenge during the team’s performance. After each performance, you will interact and talk to the teams to better evaluate their solutions. This person should interact well with kids and be able to speak to kids on their level of understanding.
An outgoing & friendly person who greets the team and gives the team instructions. Checks over a team’s paperwork, answer last-minute questions and relaxes the team. You should be good with details and excellent with kids. This job does not score teams.
Gives directions to teams in the Launch Area and introduces the team. Keeps the audience entertained between performances, crowd control, and keeps track of all timed elements in the challenge. This person enjoys performing to an audience and should have an upbeat and loud voice. This job does not score teams.
Collect and sort paperwork, check for omissions, prepare papers for Head Appraiser and score room. This person is well organized and detailed. This person may have to bring score sheets back and forth from the site to the score room. This job does not score teams.
Works with one or two other appraisers in a quiet classroom. Each team that enters your room will be given the same challenge, directions, and materials. You will score a team’s solution for creativity, teamwork and other criteria. You will set up the room for each team. This person must interact well with children.
Physical Education News:
Happy New Year!!
K-1: This week kindergarten and first graders are going to learn how to build “igloos”, using hula hoops. Students must work together to accomplish this goal! Once their igloo is built, they will be given various challenges to try out. It is a great way for students to use team work and problem solve. Once students get a hang of building their “igloos” they will play a game involving trying to knock down the other team’s “igloo” by throwing or rolling pom poms! We will also be doing some review of how to move safely in the gym while playing a game! January/February is a busy time for K+1! We will be focusing on jumping and landing. This includes jumping and landing on 2 feet, landing on 1 foot, taking off on one foot, taking off on two feet, jumping further distances, jump roping, as well as skipping. We will be playing lots of activities that involve jumping while using lots of imagination!2-5: Whenever we return from a school vacation I think it is important for students to play an activity that involves team work, communication, cooperation and trust. This week students are playing a game called “Battleship!” Students must work together to try and get down the other team’s pins, all while being challenged. Each team will need to come up with a strategy and use communication. Throughout January and February, we will be working on our bowling (underhand rolling) unit, as well as hockey unit (stick handling.)
Faculty Basketball Game:
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped out with our second annual faculty basketball game!! It was a BLAST! It was a real nail biter at the end, with the 5th graders winning by ONE POINT! Thank you to the students’ coaches Mark Dellasanta and Sean Nally! Thank you to our very own faculty coaches, Liz Maillet and Shannon Divoll as well as team captain Merle!! Thank you to our referee Greg Taylor! Lastly, thank you to Ben and Erica Ewing as well as Kenny Heffernan for helping out with the scoreboard. We could not put this even on without all of you!!!!
Spaghetti Dinner @St. Edwards Church ~ Fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 33
Spaghetti Dinner
Fundraiser for
Boy Scout Troop 33
Saturday, January 18th
5:00 to 7:00pm
St. Edward’s Church Hall
Spaghetti and Meatballs,
Salad, Roll and Dessert
Adults: $10.00
Children under 12: $5.00
Children under 6: Free
Tickets at the door