Our Student Council Members working with their advisors Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Casella had another successful school spirit day! Students planned out the focus and made promotional posters. There were way more students with hats on than time to capture them all on camera. Needless to say the students had a great time and it was our way of tipping our hats to the athletes from all over the world who compete and challenge themselves to run the Boston Marathon.

Please click on the link below to see a very short video of pictures from this day!

https://animoto.com/play/Ss2P8zr71iMKgwP5XGpcKw

This week during our on-site literacy professional development teachers were celebrating successes we have seen within our first year of implementation of Readers' Workshop. Teachers have seen notable gains in reading levels, in confidence, and in students learning to use strategy when reading. We are continuing to closely examine student work and plan instructional groups to lift the level of learning. In addition, most importantly we are seeing children develop a love of reading!

With students, faculty, and staff all voting the design by Cameron T. in Mrs. Robinson's fourth grade was selected to accompany our all school slogan of, "Read, Lead, Succeed." Congratulations Cameron! Thank you to Mrs. Magee for working with art classes on creating design ideas and to Mrs. Winters for working with a vendor to have the shirts printed at an affordable price.

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 :)

You won't want to miss these free events in our local community.

• Wednesday, April 22, 1:00-2:30 pm, Prek and K fair at the Athol/ Orange Elks Club includes a special free performance of DW Counts Down to Kindergarten and free prizes for families attending! Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pre-K-K-fair.pdf

• Thursday, April 23 at 1:30 pm, Bugs, Bugs, Bugs... a special family program at the Phinehas S. Newton Library, 19 On the Common in Royalston, MA. For more information and to register please click on the link below.

http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Bugs.pdf

Big Brothers/ Big Sisters Program is enrolling children for the 2015-2016 school year program. They serve children in the Athol/Orange area with transportation provided from Riverbend and Butterfield Schools. Please click on the link below for more information about this program and how you can be involved.

http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Big-Brothers-Big-Sister-Program.pdf

For other local events, happenings, and resources in this area... you can also check the North Quabbin Community Coalition website below:

http://www.nqcc.org/

Upcoming Events and Dates

• April 20- 24, spring vacation, no school
  
• April 29, Half day, District professional development, noon dismissal, lunch is served.
• April 29 & April 30- District kindergarten screening, by appointment, no school for kindergarten students
• May 4- May 8, teacher appreciation week
• May 4, 6:00-7:00 pm, PTO meeting
• May 4, 6:00-7:00 pm, Family Yoga night- more information to follow
• May 11-15th, MCAS math administration for grades 3 & 4
• May 15, Save the date!- Toy Bingo, 6-8 pm, sponsored by the PTO