MHS/WES Newsletter
Thursday, June 6, 2019
News from the Principal
Pie in the Face Assembly - June 14th
It’s happening! This assembly was the incentive for our students to reach our Boosterthon fundraising goal. We will have a random drawing of 1 student from each class. The child’s name who is drawn will get to put a pie in the face of one of our “volunteer” staff members. I have a feeling I may need to bring an extra change of clothes that day...
MHS & WES Donation Bins - Bay State Textiles
Please keep filling up our donation bins and spread the word. From September, we have raised $233 for MHS and $290 for WES. This money goes to help families pay for field trips and to provide fun programs for our schools.
Great East Festival
Congratulations to Mr. Lucander and his 4th/5th grade Concert Band and Jazz Band students. On Friday, May 31st they participated in the Great East Festival in New Hampshire and were awarded 2 Gold medals for their performances. This is a wonderful accomplishment!
Anti-Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Kindness Presentations
This week we were fortunate to have Eileen Kneeland from District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. office visit students at each grade level. She spoke to our students about the anti-bullying law, empathy, and kindness. She also spoke about the dangers of cyberbullying with our older students. Eileen is planning to return next fall to speak with parents.
Step-Up Day - June 13th (9:00-9:25 a.m.)
Class lists for next year are currently being developed. Unlike other area schools, we devote several hours, even days to creating class lists. Academic abilities, social peers, and combinations of personalities is considered and revisited multiple times by various staff members. A tremendous amount of thought and consideration is given to this process. On June 13th, students will have an opportunity to meet their new teacher and classmates. Our goal is to relieve some of the anxiety and build excitement for the next school year.
PTO Board News
Thank you to Barbara Dupuis who is finishing up her 3rd year as our PTO president. As much as we would love to hold onto her, her son is moving on to the middle school. Thank you also to Trina Brasili, our PTO treasurer who is also ending her term on the PTO board. Fortunately, she will be around for one more year to volunteer. We so appreciate their support and dedication to our students. Barbara and Trina’s positive impact on our schools are sure to be long-lasting!
Looking ahead, we do have a full PTO board in place for next year. Yahoo! Stay tuned for more information this fall. Our cultural events, field trips, and playground improvements are a direct result of the PTO’s hard work.
***Friday, June 7th is a FULL day of school***
Retirement News
Sandy Fowke - Kindergarten Teacher
Amy Kendall - 3rd Grade Teacher
Marcia Sharkey - MHS School Nurse/ District Nurse Leader
MassCUE - Massachusetts State House
On Wednesday, four of our 2nd grade students (and some friends from JRB) traveled to the Massachusetts State House in Boston to demonstrate how technology is used for learning at the educational MassCUE exhibition. Our WES students demonstrated how to create geometric wall drawings using Root Robots. They were accompanied by Mrs. Courtemanche, Mrs. Perrett, Ms. Davis and their parents.
Walk to School - Safe Routes to School Exemplary Program Award
Westminster Summer Recreation Program
The Westminster Recreation Department offers a free summer program to students that reside in Westminster. This year it will run from July 8th through August 9th, 9:00 - 12:00 each day. Families must register ahead of time to participate. Sign-ups will be held at MHS on Tuesday, June 11th and Thursday June 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
- June 10: WES Spring Music/Chorus Concert for students only
- June 10: WES Spring Music/Chorus Concert at ORHS 6:30 p.m.
- June 12: Field Day! Grades K-4
- June 11: Fifth Grade Promotion Night 6:30 p.m.
- June 13: MHS/WES Step-up Day 9:00 a.m.
- June 14th: Last Day of School - 1/2 day of school, Noon dismissal
Kindergarten News
Kindergarten children have enjoyed so much this year…. from George Hill, to The Mount, to our most recent trip to Davis Farmland. We couldn’t have asked for a better day! Thank you to all those who volunteered to make it most memorable for all.
We also had the opportunity to venture off, on Thursday morning, to JR Briggs for a wonderful puppet show!
The fun doesn’t stop there! Next Wednesday we will be joining the other Kindergarten classes for our annual Field Day.
Enjoy time with family and friends and have a wonderful summer!
2nd Grade News!!
Second Graders will be saying good-bye to The Superkids, the K-2 reading program they’ve worked with since the beginning of Kindergarten! Our students truly enjoyed connecting with the Superkids and the many lessons they taught, both academic and social!
We are concluding our study of the seven continents by learning about Australia and its many wonders. Be sure and ask your kids what they know about The Land Down Under! Koalas, Kangaroos and Crocodiles, OH MY!!!
A reminder that Second Grade Field Day will be held on Wednesday, June 12. Children are invited to wear our class color of YELLOW that day. Ms. Creonte is looking for parent volunteers to help that day. Please email her at ocreonte@awrsd.org if you are able to lend a hand.
Field Day - K-4
Student Council
Fun Summer ideas from the Learning Center
The lazy days of summer are perfect for relaxing however, students can lose about a month of learning during the summer months – particularly in reading and math. Keep kids’ minds sharp with these fun-filled brain exercises:
· Gather activity books – give children their own books filled with crossword puzzles or number games specific for their age. Assign a “due date” to keep them on track, but let them work at their own pace.
· Initiate a writing project - have your child keep a summer journal, write letters to family members or friends. Make-up a play to perform with siblings or neighbors. Start a family cookbook with your favorite recipes, instructions and even shopping lists.
· Assign a daily block of time for all family members to turn off all electronics and play a board game together.
· Go Global - set aside some nights during the summer to have an international evening. Together, cook a meal with recipes from a different nation and learn basic words in that country’s language. Find the country on a map and then research what life is like there.
· Sneak learning into family trips. If your family is able to take a vacation, include stops at zoos, children’s museums or historic sites. Have your child help you plot out the journey using maps and keep a journal along the way. Read about the local history or the museum before you go. Older children can tally up miles, keep track of expenses or compute gas mileage. Read aloud traffic signs, billboards and notices as you drive.
o Below is also a link for Free Fun Fridays for the summer of 2019:
o https://www.boston.com/travel/arts/2019/05/10/free-fun-fridays-highland-street-foundation
· Get moving - build physical activity into your child’s summer days. Even if he or she can’t participate in a local sports league or community-based team, encourage activities such as jumping rope, playing catch, and taking family walks.
“And into the forest I go, to leave my mind and find my soul.” ~ Unknown~
Getting outdoors is good for the mind and good for the soul…and the body! www.sandfordhealth.org/childrens/play-outside gives you the top 5 benefits of outdoor play.
· Save your pennies - when you save enough stop by a local bookstore for a treat.
· Read a book that is also a movie. After you finish the book, watch the movie together. Discuss the similarities and differences between the book and the movie.
· Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook of all your family’s summer activities. Use postcards, ticket stubs, photos even souvenirs. Have your children write the captions and read them aloud as you look at the book together.
***Ideas from National Association of Elementary School Principals (naesp.org) & Reading Rockets***