Bare Necessities
Pierce Newsletter ~ February 3, 2023 ~
Principal's Message
Dear Pierce Families,
Happy Friday! This was our first week working toward our Cool Bean goal of kindness. The Cool Bean project is based on a children's book (click here to have the book read aloud), Cool Bean, by Jory John. "This funny, whimsical story emphasizes positive messages about compassion, empathy, and friendship in a little-kid-friendly way. The narrator is an uncool bean, who misses his friends from the olden days (last year), who have become the cool beans, with awesome shades, fly clothes, and sweet swaggers".
The children are working on reaching a goal of at least 100 acts of kindness noticed by others. Once that goal is reached we will have a whole school earned activity. The students are voting on what that activity will be. Our cool bean challenge will come to a close on Feb.17th. Third grade will be presenting at the assembly on this day at 9:00. I am confident that the children will reach their goal!
Winter Benchmark:
Winter Benchmark Assessments in Reading and Math began this week and we will be finishing up all assessments with all students by the end of next week. The assessments are staggered throughout the school over a two week period. Results from these assessments help us to determine growth made thus far, to identify gaps in learning and provide additional support or to provide opportunities for enrichment. We will send these results home with report cards prior to February break.
Title 1 Literacy Night - February 22nd - Wednesday
Save the date! Wednesday, February 22nd we invite Marty Kelly to Pierce. Times and details to come. Marty Kelly comes to work in classrooms next week to work with the children and prepare writings and illustrations for you all to come see on the 22rd.
Special: Art and Library Media Residency continues
Warmest regards,
Beth Gibney — Principal
Making the Best of a Delayed Opening! Pre-school Breakfast at The Common Place!
Upcoming Assembly - February 17th - 9:00AM - 3rd grade presenting
Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year
The dates for the kindergarten registration are as follows:
February 21 (8am to 3pm) ***snow day of February 23 at AES.
(For Antrim, Bennington, Francestown and Hancock)
March 21 (8am-3pm) ***snow day of March 23 at PES
(For Peterborough, Greenfield, Dublin, Temple and Sharon)
April 12 (8am-3pm) at PES (for all towns)
Bear Den News
2/3/23 - Library Media Relations - Anderson @ 9:15-9:45
2/3/23 - Library Media Relations - Tyler @ 10:00 - 10:30
2/3/23 - Library Media Relations - D'Agostino 10:30 - 11:00
2/3/23 - Library Media Relations - Sutton - 2:15 - 3:00
2/3/23 - Library Media Relations - Germain - 1:00 - 2:00
2/6/23 - Special of the Week - Art
2/7/23 - Cribbage Club with Mr. Tenney @ 8:20 am
2/7/23 - Marty Kelley Assembly & Workshops (Schedule to TBD)
2/7/23 - 4th Grade trip to Bruce Edes Forest with Susie Spikol - NH Mammals @ 1:30 pm
2/8/23 - Marty Kelley Assembly & Workshops (Schedule to TBD)
2/9/23 - 4th Grade trip to GEP Library @ 2:10 pm
2/9/23 - Community Supper @ 5:30 pm
2/13/23 - Special of the Week - Health & PE
2/14/23 - Happy Valentines Day
2/14/23 - Cribbage Club with Mr. Tenney @ 8:20 am
2/14/23 - 4th Grade trip to Bruce Edes Forest with Susie Spikol - NH Mammals @ 1:30 pm
2/17/23 - Assembly - Kindergarten, 2nd & 3rd presenting
2/20/23 - Special of the Week - Library
2/21/23 - Cribbage Club with Mr. Tenney @ 8:20 am
2/21/23 - (Snow date) 4th Grade trip to Bruce Edes Forest with Susie Spikol - NH Mammals @ 1:30 pm
2/21/23 - Kindergarten Registration @ AES 8 am - 3 pm
2/22/23 - Title I Literacy Night with Marty Kelley
2/23/23 - Kindergarten Registration @ AES 8 am - 3 pm (Snowdate)
2/24/23 - Black Bear Day in the afternoon
Kindergarten
Grade 1
In 1st grade we have been focusing on story sequencing. Each week we turn our main focus to one story and we work on putting events in order. We also identify characters, setting, problem and solution.
In math we are working hard on learning how to create number bonds from word problems and how to break down a problem adding and subtracting 3 numbers instead of just two!
Overall we have been trying to remember and follow our core values and be kind to one another.
Learning how to work together as a team to build a giant tower without it falling down!
Second Grade - Ice Cream and Bubbles!
We learned about the states of matter and experimented with mixing solids, liquids, and gases to make ice cream in a bag! The children enjoyed acting out the states of matter. Don't hesitate to have them show you and tell you about solids, liquids and gas.
Our class earned a pet gold fish named Bubbles! We are now doing a research study on goldfish. She them what they have learned so far!
Grade Three - Turtle Update
Valentines Day
Groundhog Day!
6 more weeks of winter!
Grade Four - Cribbage
If you have an extra cribbage board at home, please feel free to donate it to the school.
Susie Spikol introducing the mammal unit!
Update on the Trout - We have some two headed trout!
February Lunch Menu
Bear Den Broadcast
It's official, it is finally here:
Title 1 Literacy Night: February 22rd - SAVE THE DATE
For the Newsletter... a blurb something like this would be great!!
Families... Please Save the Date!
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Pierce School is very excited to announce that the famous Marty Kelley, a local children's book author and illustrator, will be coming to our school. Thanks in part to our school's Title 1 Federal Funds, we will be able to have Marty come to Pierce school on several school days in early February to work with kids on the writing process. In addition to the school day visits, we will have Marty return to school at night for a fun-filled, family-friendly presentation. Marty will share his creative process, do some drawing demonstrations and take questions from the audience. Pierce students will also have the chance to showcase some of their own literacy work with parents as they briefly visit their classrooms. Enjoy some light refreshments prior to the presentation, and tour the classroom doors all decorated to showcase one of many of Marty's Books. Thanks also to the PTO for helping to sponsor a wonderful Raffle Basket!! I free ticket per family for a chance to WIN!!
We can not wait to see you all on Wednesday the 22nd of February.
Stay Tuned for More Details on the exciting ways we plan to prepare our students and staff for Marty's visits!
S.E.L.- Behavioral Support - Corner
Hello everyone!
What a cold weekend ahead! I recently saw something that said we are now more than halfway through the shortest days of the year, and it's now February - we're getting there! In this hard time, remember to find at least one positive thing to focus on to help you get through - it's not easy, but research has shown that smiling results in greater happiness. So, even if you're having a hard time, try smiling, and it just might help! Have a great week ahead and stay warm!
Resource of the Week:
Article of the Week: Family Activity:
Build a Fort! With this cold weekend ahead, I wanted to share some ideas that could be done inside and still be a lot of fun. If possible, spend as much time as you can with your kids having fun over the weekend. It's hard to do this sometimes, but laughter enhances connections and problem solving together can really model so much for how to problem solve outside home too! Here is an article with several ideas for indoor activities. https://www.tlc.com/parenting/fun-indoor-activities-for-when-its-too-cold-to-play-outside. Stay warm!
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Pierce School - Bennington, NH
Email: bgibney@conval.edu
Website: https://bes.convalsd.net/
Location: Pierce Elementary School, Main Street, Bennington, NH, USA
Phone: (603)588-2131