The Willard PTG welcomes you back to a new school year. We hope that you and your families had restful and relaxing summers and are ready for the whirlwind of activity that invariably accompanies the start of a new school year.

At the September 2nd Open House, many parents had the opportunity to volunteer to serve as room parents, to assist in the library and to help with the the many PTG Committees and Events. If you didn't get a chance to stop by but would like to lend your time and talents, please email us at president@willardptg.org.

The PTG is presently putting the finishing touches on the School Directory. If you noticed an error in your listing last year, and have not already made changes, please email Directory Editor, Dee Richardson at deirdre_richardson@comcast.net. If you have paid your PTG Dues ($20), a Directory will automatically be sent to you as soon as it arrives from the printer. Extra copies are $5.00/copy. If you haven't paid your PTG Dues and want to make sure you get one, please bring a your check payable to The Willard PTG to the Treasurer mailbox in the school office. Or visit www.shopwillard.org and click on the "Pay Dues" tab.

The PTG sponsored two events already this year. The Willard faculty and staff were treated to a luncheon on their first day back. The staff was grateful to have the opportunity to enjoy lunch with one another as they prepared their classrooms for the arrival of the students. Our Social Committee, chaired by Polly Meyer and Kim Piculell will host a coffee on Thursday, the 10th at Polly Meyer's house. We'd like to extend our thanks to Polly and Kim for their efforts in putting this event together. We look forward to a great year, as we enjoy our new Willard School!!

- Aimee Cupp and Kate Olney, PTG Co-Presidents

Looking for a wonderful way to get involved at Willard? The Willard PTG is pleased to present another exciting year of cultural enrichment. Included in the roster are several all school cultural assemblies and curricula-related assemblies and the annual Author's Fest.

We are having our one (and only!) meeting of the year and everyone interested in getting involved is welcome to attend! The meeting is on Wednesday, September 16th at 1 o'clock at Carolyn Gill's house - 66 Fairhaven Road. Please contact Carolyn Gill at gillsnyc@yahoo.com or 371-1302 if you are planning to attend. If you can't make the meeting and are still interested in getting involved feel free to contact Carolyn Gill at gillsnyc@yahoo.com or Alex Kuchar at akuchar@alum.mit.edu

We are currently creating the 2009-10 Library Volunteer Schedule and appreciate your patience during this process. We are thrilled with the new library/media center and know that you will look forward to volunteering there just as the kids will enjoy learning in such a beautiful space. You will be notified by email once the schedule is approved and in place.

In the meantime, please take this opportunity to attend a brief training led by Library Aide Ann Fossett. This training is mandatory for all volunteers, both new and returning, to ensure that all goes smoothly while library classes are in session. Training times are listed below, or you may contact Ann via email to set up training for a future date. Training will last approximately 15 minutes.

• Friday, Sept. 11 from 9:45 -11:00am
• Monday, Sept. 14 from 8:45 - 9:20am
• Monday, Sept. 14 from 10:45 - 11:45am
• Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 8:55 - 12:10pm

When coming in to the library for training, remember to first sign in at the office as a visitor. We also ask that you sign in at the library so we know you have attended a training session. Thanks.
-Suzanne Hogan and Kristin Piper

The Willard PTG will once again be offering a Family Photo Day fundraiser in association with Coffee Pond Photography. Family Photo Days will be held at the Old Manse in Concord on Saturday, October 17 (rain 10/18) and Sunday, October 25 (rain 11/8). The fee for participating in this event is $35, which is donated to the Willard PTG (an additional administrative fee of $35 is required at the time of booking). If you wish to participate, please send a check for $35 payable to the Willard PTG to:

Madeleine Pooler
49 Indian Pipe Lane
Concord, MA 01742

Please include your phone number on the check. After your check is received, you will be given instructions for scheduling your sitting with Coffee Pond Photography. Please contact Madeleine Pooler (madeleine@pooler.com) if you have any questions or need additional information.

Welcome to new and returning students, families, faculty, and administrators! On day one of school, faculty and administrators welcomed 3,106 students to another year of learning. We also welcome the 28 new members of the faculty and staff who are joining in the effort to shape young lives of students from Boston, Carlisle, and Concord who are enrolled in the K - 12 schools.

Anyone who has been in or near any one of the Concord or Concord-Carlisle Schools has noted the tremendous amount of work done over the summer - upgrade work to our facilities, install work for new classroom technologies, and staff development work for our faculty and staff to design and to enhance curricula. Thanks to all who labored during the summer months to bring these improvements to our schools. And thanks to generous donors, including the Concord Education Fund, who made some of the technology investments in classrooms across the system possible. We are confident our students will benefit greatly from their efforts in the 2009 - 2010 school year.

While on the subject of new and improved space, we hope you have had a chance to visit the fabulous new Willard School. Thanks for the wonderful facility, which we expect to reshape elementary education, go far and wide. First and foremost, the citizens of Concord who had the vision to support the new elementary school. Second, the team of volunteers, the Willard School Building Committee, who worked tirelessly over two years to bring this dream to fruition - on time and on budget! Third, to the faculty and staff who worked (up to the last minute) to have each room ready to welcome students. And finally to the Willard students who have thought long and hard about the many ways Green can be Greener as they prepare to occupy this bright, efficient, and inviting new space. The new building will be dedicated on Sunday, November 1 - please plan to be part of these festivities.

Voters in Concord and Carlisle voted last spring to support a CCHS Facilities Master Plan. In late June the School Committee appointed members to the Master Plan Committee and created a charge for the committee's scope of work. The committee began its work in July; to date they have issued a Request for Proposal to secure the services of a firm/team of firms to conduct the Master Plan. The committee reports serious interest in the project and was pleased with the number and quality of proposals received. The Master Plan Committee meets twice monthly, and we will report on their progress over the coming months as the work of the committee unfolds.

Last year Diana Rigby, Superintendent of the Concord and Concord-Carlisle Schools, introduced an informal monthly tea for community members interested in learning more about the schools or sharing their observations. Diana can be found at one of the school sites, usually on the first Friday of each month, and encourages anyone and everyone - parents, faculty, staff, students, neighbors - to stop by for tea, conversation, and time to share your thoughts. The schedule she has planned for this year follows - we encourage you to add one or more to your calendar.

• Friday, Oct. 9 2:30-4:00 CCHS Library
• Friday, Nov. 6 3:30-5:00 Alcott Library
• Friday, Dec. 11 3:30-5:00 Thoreau Library
• Friday, Jan. 8 3:30-5:00 Willard Library
• Friday, Feb. 5 2:45-4:00 Sanborn Library
• Friday, March 5 2:45-4:00 Peabody Library
• Friday, April 9 2:30-4:00 CCHS Library
• Friday, May 7 3:30-5:00 Alcott Library
• Friday, June 4 2:45-4:00 Sanborn Library

The School Committee meets twice each month - our schedule is posted on the website (www.concordpublicschools.net) and we welcome the input of interested Concord, Carlisle, and Boston families. Please feel free to attend any meeting, or contact us through the Chairs with any questions or concerns you may have.

We look forward to a great year ahead - and welcome your involvement in our deliberations.
- Jan McGinn, for the Concord and Concord-Carlisle School Committees

Willard Pack 149 has two opportunities in September for boys in grades 1-5 to learn more about the scouts. New and returning scout families are invited to participate in an easy hike on September 20th at Fairhaven Bay on the Sudbury River (an easy hike) from Noon - 2 p.m. The kickoff Pack 149 meeting is September 24th from 7-8:15 p.m. at the Alcott School cafeteria (due to Willard construction). There will be entertainment for the boys and scout leaders on hand to answer questions. For more information, contact the Pack 149 Cubmaster, Drew Clarke at cubmaster149@gmail.com. Financial aid is available.

Back-To-School Shopping Event, September 17-19th -10% of Sales Donated to the Local School of Your Choice!
Girls Sizes up to 14 at Fritz and Gigi, and Boys Sizes up to 7 at Fritz and Gigi, sizes 8 and up at Blue.

Kick-Off Reception
Thursday, September 17th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Blue Dry Goods, 16 Walden St., Concord
Wine & Cheese Provided by The Concord Cheese Shop
Participating Schools/Organizations: Alcott, Thoreau, Willard, Carlisle Public School, The Fenn School, Concord Middle Schools, and the Concord Ed Fund. Donated sales includes any purchases made at Blue Dry Goods or Fritz & Gigi between September 17-19, 2009 when you mention this promotion.

Girl Scout registration will take place for all new and returning members who are not currently in a Girl Scout troop on Thursday evening September 17th 7:00pm- 8:30pm and Saturday September 19th from 10am-2:00pm at the Concord Scout House 74 Walden Street. Girls Scout membership is open to all adult and girls in kindergarten through grade 12. Registration requires a parent/guardian signature and an annual fee of $12 per registration. For more information call 978-287-5484.

Love the library? The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library need your help.

Every year, the Friends raise more than $50,000 to support the library. Children's programs, museum passes, movies, author talks, poetry readings, and concerts all are provided through Friends memberships and book sales. Right now, the Friends need volunteers to help with publicity, graphic design, and scheduling volunteers for author events. There are jobs large and small: If you have two hours, you could help sell books at an author talk. If you have more time, you could help with marketing for the book sales or moderate the Friends Facebook page.

To volunteer or learn more, email friends@concordlibrary.org or call Claire Greene, (978)369-6285.

Join us for a fresh and delightful theatrical experience for all ages! Actors from Concord Youth Theatre, a local non-profit organization, will inspire you with their new and improved versions of familiar children's stories, complete with ample opportunities for audience participation. Outgoing audience members may even join the actors on stage to make their debut with a favorite song, joke or unusual trick or talent. So put on your performing hat and come play with us! Appropriate for all ages. Performances are most Saturdays at 10:30am, $5 per ticket. There are no advance sales for these shows. Go to the following link to see the show schedule: http://www.concordyouththeatre.org/HTML/playtime_theatre.htm

Registration for The Concord Conservatory of Music's fall semester group classes is now open. The music school offers a broad array of developmentally appropriate group music classes for infants to school age children, as well as adults. Registrations are accepted online, in the office and by mail.

• One of the several children's classes, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, (ages 5 mos. - 6 years) teaches children the fundamentals of music through movement, singing, games and improvisation. This dynamic and experiential approach to learning music helps children improve social interaction and also enhances ensemble skills, body and spatial awareness, coordination, balance, concentration, listening and imagination. This class is wonderful preparation for later instrumental study. Depending upon the child's age, classes are offered with or without parent involvement.
• The Group Keyboard curriculum (ages 5 - 7) is a comprehensive music program designed to help children learn about music through movement, music games, ear training, Solfege singing, and keyboard performance. This is considered a multi-year course of study; CCM provides keyboards for the group lessons. Classes are structured in small groups, and carefully organized according to the children's age, and skill level.
• Broadway Babies, (ages 6 - 8 and 9 - 10), is an introductory course into the singing of Broadway repertory for young singers, and for students new to lessons. The class will focus on the development of the young voice in the context of singing age appropriate songs from the Broadway repertory.
• Singing for 11 and 12 Year Olds This course is geared toward the issues of the changing voice. Both boys and girls are going through dramatic changes and the class will be structured to those concerns.
• The Vocal Workshop Series for Teens (ages 13 -16) provides teens with the experience of singing a variety of repertory from Broadway, pop standards, jazz, folksong, and classical. The focus is on vocal technique and performance, or audition preparation as needed by the student.
• Adult Vocal Class: This class is designed for the adults who would like to improve their voices for choir singing, for fun, or for the shower!

For more information about these music classes as well as private instrument lessons, call The Concord Conservatory of Music 978-369-0010 or visit www.ConcordConservatory.org. All classes and lessons are held at the West Concord Union Church, at 1317 Main Street in West Concord.