Memorial Buzz
News from Manchester Memorial Elementary School!
May 6, 2019
Principal's Note...
Screentime, social media, and technology...oh my! A MMES parent recently shared the following with me about a show that was aired this weekend. My wife and I were lucky enough to catch it live, but you can still watch the special report on Youtube. It is 2 hours long, so it is broken up into small segments on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGhTZrv49Fw). It is not easy to raise children in this digitally-saturated era (as I type this on a laptop and am about to post online...lol). Here is more information...very eye opening!
[04/29/19 - 04:12 PM]
ABC News Announces Diane Sawyer Television Event Documenting the Impact of Screen Time, Technology and Social Media on Families Across the Country, Friday, May 3
"ScreenTime: Diane Sawyer Reporting," a two-hour special, airs Friday, May 3 at 8:00/7:00c.
[via press release from ABC]
ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES DIANE SAWYER TELEVISION EVENT DOCUMENTING THE IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Two-Hour Special Report Features Solutions for Families
'ScreenTime: Diane Sawyer Reporting' Airs Friday, May 3 (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC
Today, American adults spend the equivalent of 49 days a year on their phone and tablets. For six months, Sawyer and her team traveled across the country talking to families, teachers, doctors and even tech insiders to pursue questions, answers and solutions. From coast to coast, a question: People love the wonders of technology, but have they become too consumed with the little screens in their pockets?
· After sending out a call to families across America, Sawyer and the team received messages from parents including a mom from the Midwest who said she felt so disconnected from her kids who were always on screens. ABC News brought in cameras and documented her family's use of social media throughout a weekend, and therapists from the renowned Gottman Institute guided the family toward change.
· The report highlights experiments including one showing the potential impact on babies and toddlers when parents are on their screens for only two minutes; actors posing as job candidates who are distracted by their phones, and how this behavior creates distrust in hiring managers; and college students feeling pressure to retouch and edit photos for social media in an endless quest for likes and comments, and its effect on self-esteem.
· As games like Fortnite and Overwatch explode in popularity, the average teen gamer now spends almost 12 hours a week playing video games. How do parents know that their kids are in trouble? The special reviews the latest research and interviews top experts to help guide parents through this highly charged minefield.
· Studies have found that students do better when phones are not a distraction in the classroom. ABC News visits schools across the country to report on the variety of solutions that help students learn without the distraction of technology.
· 70% of teens use social media multiple times a day. The report shows new research that suggests there can be a hidden psychological toll from this selfie habit.
· The special talks to experts who say tech companies design habit-forming apps to encourage users to stay on the screen and interviews experts about online privacy, and the buying, sharing and selling of personal data.
· Apple CEO Tim Cook sits down with Sawyer to talk about a range of topics, addressing families' concerns about screens, and what he calls a crisis in online privacy.
The ABC News team searches for practical solutions for families. "ScreenTime: Diane Sawyer Reporting" airs Friday, May 3 (8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on?ABC.
David Sloan is senior executive producer. Claire Weinraub is senior producer.
Best,
John
Building Project Update
5-6-19: Staff in C-wing will need to move all items out of the wing so that it can be taken down this summer to make way for the new 2-story classroom wing. To achieve this, staff will work overtime (after school, weekends, etc.) to box everything up in preparation for moving in early to mid-June.
5-6-19: In early June, some site work will begin including the construction of fencing and erosion control around the jobsite. The jobsite will encompass a fairly large portion of the property including the path to Brook Street, the back playground, and Brook St. parking lot/tennis courts. Students and families will still have regular access to Brook St. for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year.
5-6-19: The Brook St. field, path, parking lot, etc. will be inaccessible for the 2019-2020 school year between the hours of 7AM and 3:30PM. This means that back walkers will need to go over the footbridge and down Vine street to access the Brook St. neighborhood. All car pick up students will need to be dismissed via the front car line. We are hoping that families can ride the bus will ride the bus next year and/or carpool to lighten the number of vehicles in the front drop off/pick up line. If students live close enough to walk/bike safely (and they are old enough to do so), we encourage them to walk/bike.
5-6-19: We are currently working to schedule a parent meeting to discuss the logistical impacts and safety planning for the 2019-2020 school year. Stay tuned!
Mrs. Heslop's field trip to MERMHS
Spring 2019 MCAS Testing Schedule
Spring 2019 MCAS Dates
Grade 3
Thursday, May 16, 2019 Mathematics Session I
Friday, May 17, 2019 Mathematics Session II
Grade 4
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Mathematics Session I
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Mathematics Session II
Grade 5
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Mathematics Session I
Thursday, May 9, 2019 Mathematics Session II
Monday, May 20, 2019 Science/Technology I
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 Science/Technology II
Upcoming Dates...
MAY
13 - 4th grade concert
17 - Hit the Street for Little Feet
23 - 7PM Band and Chorus Concert (at MERMHS Auditorium)
27 - School Closed: Memorial Day
28-31 - Grade 5 to Camp Merrowvista
29 - Noon Dismissal: Professional Development
JUNE
5 - 9:30 AM - Grade 2's The Great Kapok Tree
6 - 5-7 PM Art Show at the Manchester Community Center
11 - 5th grade "Crossing the Bridge" ceremony
14 - Last day of school
Notes From Nurse Seaman...
Just a few reminders:
1. If your child is going to be absent or arriving late, please call either 526-1909 or 526-1908 to let us know.
2. If your child has a temperature of 100. F or over, they need to be temperature free for 24 hours (without relying on Tylenol or Motrin) before re-entering the school.
3. If your child is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, we recommend that they are symptom free for 24 hours and are able to tolerate solid food before they return
4. If your child has a contagious illness such as conjunctivitis or strep throat, it is the school policy that they are on medicine for 24 hours before re-entering the building.
5. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL CLASSROOMS ARE PEANUT/NUT FREE
Physicals:
Updated physicals and immunization records are due for grades one and four. Also 5th grade students will need updated physicals and immunizations for camp trip in May. An updated physical is one that is not older than one year. Any physical completed or to be completed on your child since July 2018 and July 2019 is acceptable. Please do not go and make a new appointment. Just send me a copy of the physical when it is completed
Extra Clothing: ALL GRADE LEVELS
Occasionally a spilled drink, a fall in a puddle or even a ride down a wet slide occurs, if each child could have a change of clothing (head to toe) that would be great.
Thank you for your co-operation and continuing support.
Joanne
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A LIBRARY VOLUNTEER?
Ms. Silag is looking for a few good men or women to give an hour at the beginning or end of each weekday to shelve books, clean up projects and pack up iPads.
Hours are:
8:45-9:30 am each school day (M-W)
or
2:00pm - 2:55pm each school day (M-F)
If you are interested in signing up to be a Library Volunteer, please email Ms. Silag at: silags@mersd.org
You will receive a response with directions on how to sign up for an available time slot.
***IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE: ALL volunteers must be CORI'd PRIOR to working in the school. See Mrs. Dodge or Ms. Silag for a CORI form. The CORI checks expire after two years so you may need to update your CORI.
Help Wanted!
We are currently searching to build our substitute pool for the 18-19 school year. Do you know someone locally who has experience working with children in a school setting? Please have them email Mrs. Dodge directly at dodgec@mersd.org and we can take them through the application and screening process. Thanks so much in advance!
Notices From our Friends...
The Musary Music Lending Library
MMES is on Facebook!
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