Memorial Buzz
News from Manchester Memorial Elementary School!
October 14, 2016
Principal's Message
Dear Memorial Families,
Last week, you received parent reports regarding your child's Spring 2016 MCAS performance. We view MCAS as just one measure of your child's academic growth. Standardized tests are helpful to see how your child is learning academic skills, but it is just one measure that we look at to determine the success of our school. These tests do not report on a child's creativity, empathy, character, work ethic, personality, or social skills. It is important to keep these results in perspective as just one piece of the puzzle. It is important that we embrace the development of the whole child including stimulating and appealing to multiple intelligences (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences).
That being said, we were very pleased to see the results of our school last year. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released new tools to view how schools performed across the state. The tools can be found here: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/. Check out the "What's New" links. We uncovered some areas where we would like to focus our improvement efforts, and also found some really great successes. Here are a few of the successes:
AS A SCHOOL:
Our mathematics growth was 34th in the state
Our ELA growth as a school was 19th in the state
Our mathematics CPI was 94.1/100 (33rd in the state)
Our ELA CPI was 94/100 (25th in the state)
GRADE 4:
Our grade 4 ELA growth was #3 in the state!
Our grade 4 mathematics growth was #1 in the state!
Our grade 4 mathematics % of students scoring "Advanced" was #1 in the state!
This is the result of hardwork on the part of our students, staff, and families. The partnership that our teachers have with our students' parents is second to none. That partnership enhances the work that the teachers do each day. Thank you for being our partner in education!
Enjoy the weekend!
John
Last week, you received parent reports regarding your child's Spring 2016 MCAS performance. We view MCAS as just one measure of your child's academic growth. Standardized tests are helpful to see how your child is learning academic skills, but it is just one measure that we look at to determine the success of our school. These tests do not report on a child's creativity, empathy, character, work ethic, personality, or social skills. It is important to keep these results in perspective as just one piece of the puzzle. It is important that we embrace the development of the whole child including stimulating and appealing to multiple intelligences (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences).
That being said, we were very pleased to see the results of our school last year. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released new tools to view how schools performed across the state. The tools can be found here: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/. Check out the "What's New" links. We uncovered some areas where we would like to focus our improvement efforts, and also found some really great successes. Here are a few of the successes:
AS A SCHOOL:
Our mathematics growth was 34th in the state
Our ELA growth as a school was 19th in the state
Our mathematics CPI was 94.1/100 (33rd in the state)
Our ELA CPI was 94/100 (25th in the state)
GRADE 4:
Our grade 4 ELA growth was #3 in the state!
Our grade 4 mathematics growth was #1 in the state!
Our grade 4 mathematics % of students scoring "Advanced" was #1 in the state!
This is the result of hardwork on the part of our students, staff, and families. The partnership that our teachers have with our students' parents is second to none. That partnership enhances the work that the teachers do each day. Thank you for being our partner in education!
Enjoy the weekend!
John
Upcoming Dates...
See www.mersd.org for additional dates...
OCTOBER
26 - Noon Dismissal (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
NOVEMBER
3 - PTO "Dinner and a Show" Family Fundraiser
13 - Spaulding "Night of Stars" (3pm @MERMHS)
14 - Picture Retakes
DECEMBER
21 - Winter Concert @9:30 AM
JUNE
6-9 Camp Merrowvista Trip (Grade 5)
OCTOBER
26 - Noon Dismissal (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
NOVEMBER
3 - PTO "Dinner and a Show" Family Fundraiser
13 - Spaulding "Night of Stars" (3pm @MERMHS)
14 - Picture Retakes
DECEMBER
21 - Winter Concert @9:30 AM
JUNE
6-9 Camp Merrowvista Trip (Grade 5)
Photo Retakes
Monday, November 14, 2016 is Retake Day!
Forgot to smile? Hair out of place? Absent on Picture Day?
Any student in grades PK-5 can have their school picture retaken by Lifetouch School Portraits. Pictures will be taken indoors. Please bring to Retake Day the portrait package that you are returning.
If you were absent on Picture Day, you can order a portrait package on the Lifetouch website, Lifetouch.com, as early as 2 weeks before the scheduled Retake Day.
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Kent at sdd_davenport@yahoo.com or (617)512-4201. Thanks!!
Forgot to smile? Hair out of place? Absent on Picture Day?
Any student in grades PK-5 can have their school picture retaken by Lifetouch School Portraits. Pictures will be taken indoors. Please bring to Retake Day the portrait package that you are returning.
If you were absent on Picture Day, you can order a portrait package on the Lifetouch website, Lifetouch.com, as early as 2 weeks before the scheduled Retake Day.
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Kent at sdd_davenport@yahoo.com or (617)512-4201. Thanks!!
Veteran Photo - Reminder
I am grateful to all the families who have sent pictures of great grandfathers, grandfathers, moms, dads, sons, daughters, grandmothers, brothers, sisters, and nephews.
Many others have mentioned that you want to get a picture to me, so may this serve as a reminder. I would love to get a least one picture per family. The deadline for submitting pictures is Wednesday, October 26. Some of you may have a conference that day so just bring it along.
Thanks again to all that are participating.
-Joanne Grella
Many others have mentioned that you want to get a picture to me, so may this serve as a reminder. I would love to get a least one picture per family. The deadline for submitting pictures is Wednesday, October 26. Some of you may have a conference that day so just bring it along.
Thanks again to all that are participating.
-Joanne Grella
Note for "Walkers"
If your child typically walks or bikes to school and used the footbridge in the past, you will notice that the footbridge is closed currently. A truck hit it during the summer and the district is working with insurance companies to get it repaired. In the meantime, students who used the footbridge in the past, should walk or ride to our new crosswalk in front of the school. They can push the button to signal the lights so that they can cross the street safely and then walk up the new island sidewalk to the front of the building. There is a beautiful new bike rack located in front of the school for their use. Please review this with your child if it impacts him/her.
Help NEEDED!
5th grade parents-
We are in need of 5G parents to take the lead and chair the following:
*Yearbook
*5th grade play
*Slideshow for Crossing the Bridge Ceremony
Please contact Alli D'Andrea or Syndi Zaiger if you are interested and would like more details on what these positions involve.
We are in need of 5G parents to take the lead and chair the following:
*Yearbook
*5th grade play
*Slideshow for Crossing the Bridge Ceremony
Please contact Alli D'Andrea or Syndi Zaiger if you are interested and would like more details on what these positions involve.
Notices From our Friends...
From MERHS...
Tickets for tomorrow night's Movie Night will be sold after school at MMES for those interested in pre-sale tickets. Proceeds to benefitt the MERHS Global Issues program. Note: This is NOT a drop off event.
Spaulding Education Fund's Night of Stars TALENT SHOW
Mark your calendars for Spaulding Education Fund’s 8th Annual NIGHT OF STARS TALENT SHOW to be held on Sunday, November 13 at 3:00pm in the Manchester Essex Regional Middle-High School Auditorium.
As the only local community wide event of its kind, it features the best and brightest talent from throughout Manchester Essex playing music, singing, dancing, performing comedy, awing the audience with magic and much, much more — all in an effort to help make their great schools even better!
Kindergarteners through High School seniors from Manchester and Essex are invited to audition as well as parents, teachers, and all talented members of the Manchester and Essex community! Adults can perform with their children or alone. The organization is also auditioning for the Master of Ceremonies, which is open to one or more High School age students.
There are two audition dates from which to choose:
Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30-7:00pm or Saturday, October 22 from 9:00 -11:00am
To register for an audition visit: spauldingeducationfund.org.
The “Night of Stars Talent Show” is Spaulding Education Fund's largest fundraising initiative of the year, raising the vital funds needed to support their mission of advancing educational excellence in the Manchester Essex regional schools.
As the only local community wide event of its kind, it features the best and brightest talent from throughout Manchester Essex playing music, singing, dancing, performing comedy, awing the audience with magic and much, much more — all in an effort to help make their great schools even better!
Kindergarteners through High School seniors from Manchester and Essex are invited to audition as well as parents, teachers, and all talented members of the Manchester and Essex community! Adults can perform with their children or alone. The organization is also auditioning for the Master of Ceremonies, which is open to one or more High School age students.
There are two audition dates from which to choose:
Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30-7:00pm or Saturday, October 22 from 9:00 -11:00am
To register for an audition visit: spauldingeducationfund.org.
The “Night of Stars Talent Show” is Spaulding Education Fund's largest fundraising initiative of the year, raising the vital funds needed to support their mission of advancing educational excellence in the Manchester Essex regional schools.
Manchester Bike & Pedestrian Safety Committee
Halloween is coming soon!
From www.safekids.org
As you plan for a fun night of trick or treating for your children please consider safety first!
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
2016-2017 District Calendar
Please click the link below for the 2016-2017 District Calendar
MMES is on Facebook!
Send us a friend request!
Memorial School:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009186193553&hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf
MMES Library/Technology:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007713044842&fref=ts
"Like" our friends:
MERSD:
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterEssexRegional/?fref=ts
MMPTO:
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterMemorialPTO/?fref=ts
Memorial School:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009186193553&hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf
MMES Library/Technology:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007713044842&fref=ts
"Like" our friends:
MERSD:
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterEssexRegional/?fref=ts
MMPTO:
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterMemorialPTO/?fref=ts