Pleasant Street School News
building a community of learners that strive for excellence
December 20, 2015
Let's Try Again! "Winter Holiday Colors" spirit day will be on December 22nd
We don't have snow but... 'Tis the Season!
Retelling Stories and Recognizing Holiday Shapes in Kindergarten
Students in Mrs. Goldthwaite's kindergarten have been busy learning about different holiday traditions as well as learning how to retell and sequence stories.
One winter day I looked to see all of the holiday shapes were around me.
Two triangle trees standing in the snow.
Three square gifts with Christmas bows.
Four diamond cookies just made to eat.
Five round latkes for a Hanukkah treat.
Six star shapes in the winter night.
Seven rectangles shine with Kwanza light.
Grant Funded Winter Break Reading Challenge!
We are excited to be introducing the Pleasant Street Winter Break Reading Challenge!
Your child is bringing home a book that will be his/hers to keep! He/she is also bringing home a Response Activity to go with the book. Please encourage your child to read his/her book either alone or with you during the Winter Break and complete the Response Activity. When your child returns to school after the Winter Break and turns in his/her completed activity, he/she will receive a small prize and be entered into a drawing for Walmart gift cards. We will accept responses Jan. 4-8th. Thank you so much for supporting your child’s literacy growth.
Happy Holidays!
Mrs. Winters, Reading Specialist, Pleasant Street School
**This project was generously funded through a grant from the Athol-Royalston Education Fund
The importance of student math talk
As we are approaching the half way mark of the school year our teachers have been working quite diligently on not just the content teaching in math but also engaging students in "math talk." Having children develop and use math language and practice explaining their thinking will help them become better problem solvers. Setting expectations for student math talk is part of a gradual release of responsibility that takes place as students learn to work in small groups and within math centers. Pictured is Kylah in Mrs. St. Jean's third grade class explaining how to solve a math prblem.
We encourage families to use this website that breaks down math lessons with step by step guidance.
Monday Science Program Week #8
Please click on the link below to see a short video of images from this session.
https://animoto.com/play/oerNriCjkKvWF9W6JBDCDQ
Many thanks are due to Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Robinson for volunteering their time and offering this program to our 3rd and 4th grade students. Thanks as well to Miss Leesha who also helped.
Mad Science -Week #10
https://animoto.com/play/zV4JcG01OL9U1pYSBe0b0w
This concludes our ten week Mad Science program. Thanks to Kim Leesha, Sheila Webb, Linda Robinson for their respective efforts to help out, to RaeAnn Trifilo, our Title one director, for allocating the use of Title one funds, and to our school PTO for funding snacks and drinks for our student participants.
Caught Being Good!
Winter Coats Are Available at Pleasant Street School for Children in Need
The Knights of Columbus, and Kevin Murphy of Fiske, Murphy and Mack Funeral Home just donated wonderful winter coats for children in need in the Athol-Royalston elementary schools. The Knights of Columbus also obtained beautiful hand knitted children's hats and mittens from the elder knitting volunteers from Sunrise Assisted Living, "Charity Stitch Night." If you have a financial need, please contact Rachel Schwab, Guidance Counselor at (978) 249-2405, Ext. 306, or on Email: rschwab@arrsd.org or Dianne Ellis, Principal, at Pleasant Street School, to let us know your child's first and last name, the size coat that your child needs, and whether your child also needs a hat and mittens. You could also write a note in your child's school Agenda Book, or Homework folder, and your child's teacher will give the note to Mrs. Schwab, or Mrs. Ellis.
Free Breakfast & Lunch
As part of the 2010 Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act, Athol-Royalston Regional School District, along with other districts, now offers free meals to all students this school year.
Menus
- Breakfast menu for December
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DEC-2015-District-BREAKFAST-revised-1.pdf
- Lunch menu for December
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Dec-elementary-2015-lunch-revised-2.pdf
Community Events & Postings
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 :)
Mother Goose on the Loose Playgroup-Thursdays 10am—11:30am Valuing Our Children 217 Walnut St. Athol. For more information contact: Jen: 978-249-8467 x 22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PG-and-MGOL.pdf
Athol Public Library- Starry, Starry Night- Tuesday December 29th 5:30 pm In the Program Room. Join the members of ATAC to create papier mache stars for the Starry, Starry Night parade on December 31. If enough stars are created, the town of Orange will earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records! Cocoa and cookies will be served
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/starry-starry-night-stars-2.pdf
Petersham Playgroup- Beginning on Thursday, Sept. 17th from 10-11:30 at the Petersham Center School. For more information please call Jennifer at Valuing Our Children 978-249-8467 x22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Petersham-playgroup.pdf
For other local events, happenings, and resources in this area... you can also check the North Quabbin Community Coalition website below:
These are not school sponsored events but are posted here as a public service for families in the greater North Quabbin community.
Upcoming Events...Mark your Calendars!
- December 22- Winter holiday spirit day! Students can dress in red, green, white, blue, gold, and silver. Sponsored by our student council. Optional donation of $1.
- December 23, district half day, noon dismissal, bagged lunch will be served
- December 24-January 3, Winter recess, no school
- January 4, School resumes
- January 4, PTO meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm, note time shift back to 6:00 pm
- January 15- Full day district professional development-no school
- January 18- Martin Luther King Holiday, no school
- January 20, 21, 22- dental program visits Pleasant Street
- January 22, School Improvement Council, 1:00 pm
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CALENDARFOR2015-2016a.pdf
News from Principal Ellis
Email: dellis@arrsd.org
Website: arrsd.org
Location: 1060 Pleasant Street., Athol, MA 01331
Phone: (978) 249-2405