ATC Principal's Newsletter
December 2016
Important Dates
December 22nd - Holiday Concerts (Grade 3 - 8:45AM, Grade 4 - 9:30AM, Grade 5 - 10:15AM)
December 23rd - Early Release 12PM
December 26th to January 2nd - Holiday Vacation
January 16th - No School (Martin Luther King Day)
January 18th - PTO Meeting 6:30PM
January 25th - Specials Change
Holiday Fair Success!
The ATC Holiday Fair was a tremendous success! The mission of the fair is to raise funds for Winthrop families in need. Thanks to the efforts of many parents, students, teachers, and community members, we were able to raise nearly $4,000 that is going directly back to families in the form of Target gift cards. Winthrop is a special community for many reasons and taking care of one another is certainly at the top of that list! A special thank you to Kristen Buonopane and Linda Straccia for the hours of behind the scenes work they put in to make the fair a success!
Below: Santa stopped by the fair!
Writers' Workshop
Students in grades 3 and 5 had a wonderful experience sharing their published work with one another. Students were sharing their informational writing final drafts and remarked it felt terrific to share their work with the older or younger students and receive feedback. We are going on our second year of full implementation of the Writers' Workshop model. The philosophy behind the workshop model is to focus on volume and engagement as we provide students with daily mini-lessons that help improve quality and plenty of time for independent practice. Integrating time for students to publish and share their work with others is also extremely important to prepare students for always writing with an audience in mind.
Drama Club and the Grinch!
Today students enjoyed a performance from the newly formed ATC Drama Club. Each grade collaborated to perform various acts and students were highly respectful audience members. Following the performance, we had a surprise visit from Superintendent Macero as he read Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the students. With Mr. Macero's enthusiasm and delivery even the 5th graders loved the book!
40 Book Challenge!
We have more and more students reaching the 40 Book Challenge goal! On 12/20/16 we had author and NFL agent Sean Stellato share his journey and talk about hopes and dreams. A player from the Pittsburgh Pirates also spoke about perseverance and hard work. Students were slightly disappointed when we told two Patriots' players were attending but due to a last minute meeting called by Coach Belichick, the players could not make it. We are told they are returning in January but we will keep our fingers crossed!
Below: Students that reached the 40 Book Challenge goal all received a signed copy of No Backing Down, Mr. Stellato's Salem-based sports book that is slated to become a Hollywood film.
Arthur T. Cummings Elementary School
Where Learning Has No Limit!
Email: rheraty@winthrop.k12.ma.us
Website: cummings.winthrop.k12.ma.us
Location: 40 Hermon Street, Winthrop, MA, United States
Phone: 617-846-5543