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| Willard School Newsletter | 29 October 2009 |
Issue 8 |
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Life is full of surprises and we've had our share at Willard so far this year. Yesterday, shortly after 3:00, the fire alarm activated and students and staff were forced to evacuate the building. Despite the rain, students and staff exited the building quickly and quietly and waited patiently for the fire department to arrive. Just before the fire alarm activated, a control panel sounded indicating a problem with water in the basement. The contractors and custodial staff responded to that alarm and were in the process of investigating the problem when the fire alarm sounded. The issue was caused by run-off water flowing into an unsealed manhole cover. The water filled the underground tank to capacity triggering a back flow of water into the basement. In the process, an electrical conduit became wet and triggered the fire alarm. The good news is that the manhole cover was sealed and the problem appears to be solved. There is never a convenient time for a situation like this to occur. I am sure that you would agree that 3:00 on a rainy, windy afternoon is probably the worst scenario for such a situation. Fortunately, our emergency evacuation plan worked well; all staff and students exited the building safely. The fire department responded in a timely manner and quickly assessed the problem. Staff and students were able to enter the building in about 6-7 minutes and dismissal ensued. This past Monday, students began to use a new piece of playground equipment the Nexus Core with Bannister. This piece of equipment had been back ordered piece. Most of the students that I have spoken to have expressed a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm for this new piece of equipment. Ask your child to tell you about it! The Shade Structure will be delivered today. The site work preparation, which includes the installation of footers, concrete pad, and grading, will require several days before the installation is completed. Purchased by the PTG, the shade structure will provide students with additional recess options offering a setting for a range of quiet activities. I am very grateful to the PTG for their generosity. At the beginning of this week, students who choose to purchase dessert after lunch need to pay for their dessert with cash. By requiring students to pay for dessert with cash, we feel that parents will have greater oversight over their child's food choices with particular attention to the frequency that children are eating dessert at school. Dessert costs $1.25. Thank you for your cooperation. Over the course of the next few weeks, I plan to address some of the topics that emerged as areas of concerns or questions in the Spring 2009 Parent Survey. One topic that 23% of parents had questions or concerns about is Math. The district's K-5 math curriculum follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The program that we use for the delivery of the curriculum is the Revised Investigations program. Unlike a traditional math program that many parents experienced as children, Investigations offers a hands-on approach to mathematics that promotes student engagement, inquiry, and math problem solving through a variety of games, activities, and classroom discourse. One of the hallmarks of the Investigations program is the expectation that students develop the ability to explain their math thinking. Although the focus of the program is is on problem solving, students are expected to develop fluency with their math facts. Parents can help their child achieve this goal. Investigations is a research based math program. In fact, the revised program was funded in part by the National Science Foundation. At all of the district's elementary schools, principals and the math curriculum specialists meet with each grade level team to discuss the curriculum and review student work and common assessments. I encourage interested parents to visit the Investigations website (http://investigations.terc.edu/) to learn more about the program and to access resources for parents. The program develops the kind of math thinking that is required for success in the 21st century. Willard's Math Curriculum Specialist Laurie Penney has developed a wonderful Math webpage that can be accessed through the Willard website. She has identified a variety of Math Websites that children can access at home for fun and skill development. Each month, she encourages Willard students to participate in a Monthly Math Challenge promoted on her webpage. In addition, Mrs. Penney offered a successful Parent Workshop last winter that was well received by parents. Plans are underway for another Math Workshop in the near future. Plans have been finalized for the Willard School Dedication Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, November 1st at 1:00 PM. The 5th Grade Chorus will sing two songs during the Ceremony, including the new Willard School song. Our Technology Specialist, Mrs. Matheus has worked with the Earth Care Club helping students prepare for their important role at the Dedication. The formal program will begin at 1:00 PM in the auditorium. CCTV will be filming the event and will proved a live feed of the Ceremony into the cafeteria and the auditorium. Refreshments will be served in the cafeteria after the formal program. An Open House will follow. A slide show of the Green Elements of the Building, prepared by the Earth Care Club will loop in various locations throughout the building: auditorium, cafeteria, library, and classrooms. I do hope that many families can be present for this festive celebration. As always, thank you for all you do for Willard School. |
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| LINKS OF INTEREST |
| WILLARD HOME |
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| LUNCH CALENDAR |
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| Willard Library |
| Willard Math |
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Kindly submit articles for inclusion in the Willard Weekly to the editor, Christine Evans, at willardweekly@willardptg.org
Deadline for submission is Wednesday at 4pm.
WILLARD NEWS AND EVENTS |
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WILLARD SCHOOL GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION |
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Come celebrate our new building at the Willard School Grand Opening Celebration on this coming Sunday, November 1st at 1:00 PM! During the ceremony, the 5th Grade Chorus will sing two songs, including the new Willard School song, and the Earth Care Club will inform us about the green features of the building. Afterwards, there will be a DJ on the playground and cake and beverages for all. Come, have fun with friends and neighbors, and enjoy! |
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ANNUAL APPEAL UPDATE |
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WILLARD WEAR - LAST CHANCE |
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BOO! This is your last chance to place an order for WILLARD WEAR. Keep your little monsters warm in new Willard hooded sweatshirts and flannel pajama pants. And all creatures must have a Willard Camelback water bottle, sports bag and car magnet. Order forms are due this Friday October 30th. Contact Sherin Spofford sherinspofford@hotmail.com or Jean Webster jeanpwebster@comcast.net with any last minute questions. |
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PTG MEETING MINUTES AVAILABLE |
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The most recent PTG Board meeting was held on Monday, October 19th and the minutes from that meeting are now available on the Willard PTG website, www.willardptg.org and on the Willard PTG Bulletin board across from the nurse's office. The next meeting will be held on Monday, November 23rd at 12:30pm in the Willard Conference Room. All Willard parents are welcome to attend. |
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CHESS CLUB - "CHECK" IT OUT! |
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Willard's Chess Club meets on Tuesday mornings at 8:15 in the cafeteria. Come play some chess, or learn to play, and meet new friends and old ones. All grades K-5 welcome, and all levels from Beginner thru International Grandmaster. Please send an email to organizer Jim Kuchar (jkkuchar@earthlink.net) so that you can be sure to receive any chess club announcements and schedule changes. Hope to see you there! |
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SCHOOL PHOTO RETAKE DAY |
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Classroom teachers sent school photos home this week so be sure to check backpacks. The optional School Photo Retake Day is on Tuesday, November 17th. Please take advantage of this free service if you are unhappy with your child's photo. Retake registration instructions are included with your child's photo package. Questions? Contact Jennifer Clarke at jbp.clarke@yahoo.com or 978.369.0910. Thanks. |
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GAME CURUS NEEDED FOR FAMILY GAME NIGHT |
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Come join the fun! Family Game Night is just around the corner (Dec. 4th) and parent volunteers are needed to become Game Gurus! Being a Game Guru involves learning how to play several GameWright games in a particular age group and then teaching others how to play on Family Game Night. Guru training will be held on Friday, Nov. 20th at 7 p.m. Please contact us if you are able to help or would like additional information. Thanks! |
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STAFF APPRECIATION |
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On Friday, October 23rd, the first Staff Appreciation lunch of the year was held in the Staff Lounge. Bouquets of sunflowers decorated the tables and the menu included a variety of sandwiches, a salad bar, apple cider, and a lovely array of desserts, including a cake featuring the Willard logo. We want to thank all of the parents who contributed to this special event to celebrate our wonderful Willard staff. |
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NOVEMBER EVENTS AT THE CONCORD LIBRARY |
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The following events for children and families will be held at the Concord Public Library in November. No registration is required for these events.
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41st ANNUAL SPORTS SALE AT FENN |
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The Fenn School will sponsor its Annual Sports Sale on Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the School's New Gym. Sporting items typically available include previously owned hockey and figure skates, helmets, pads, sticks, cleats, bats and gloves, tennis rackets, bicycles, and exercise equipment. Young men's and boys' navy blazers, dress pants and dress shoes will also be on sale. In addition, specialists from Hardy's Ski Emporium will be on hand to offer a wide selection of brand new skis, poles, boots and helmets at great pre-season prices. Donations of gently used sporting goods and navy blazers can be dropped off at the New Gym on Thursday, November 5, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. or on Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Come early for best selection. The Fenn School is located at 516 Monument St. in Concord. Please use the second Fenn entrance north of Carr Rd. and proceed to the parking lot adjacent to the Connolly Dining Hall and the Boll Family Building. |
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HELPING BOYS COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT |
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Please join us at The Fenn School at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9th for "Helping Boys to Communicate and Connect," a presentation by Dr. Adam Cox, a keynote speaker at educational forums, author of two books (Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect and No Mind Left Behind: Understanding and Fostering Executive Control), and a board-certified clinical psychologist. Dr. Cox is on The Fenn School's campus to conduct a school-based project commissioned by the International Boys School Coalition, "Locating Significance in the Lives of Boys." If interested in attending this free event, please RSVP to Marilyn Schmalenberger at 978-318-3606. |
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IT'S BACK AND YOU SHOULD B-E-E THERE! |
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The 2nd Annual Kids' Community Spelling Bee is being held on Saturday November 21st. This fun afternoon of spelling will take place at the Fenn School, 516 Monument Street, Concord. The event will run 12:00-2:00 for Grades 2 & 3. 3:30-6:00 pm for Grades 4 & 5. Eligibility: Students in grades 2 through 5; each team may have between 2-4 students; team members must be in the same grade; team members do not have to be from the same school; teams can be co-ed; team spellers must live or attend school in Concord or Carlisle. Form a team of spellers from your school, neighborhood, sports team, scout troop or whatever you choose! BEE CREATIVE! Entry fee of $40 per team, proceeds benefit the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest and the Concord Education Fund. All participants are entered in a raffle for exciting prizes such as free camp weeks at Star Sports Camps, SummerFenn, Camp Thoreau, MSSA Camp, Concord Academy Summer Camp as well as other prizes such as games and gift certificates. In addition, all participants receive a Spelling Bee Tshirt. This fun event is designed to celebrate spelling and community spirit. Over 230 students comprising 60 student teams participated last year--come join the fun! Concord Public Schools own Superintendent Diana Rigby will be one of the "Judges" for this year's event! TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration instructions can be found under the 'News & Events' link at www.fenn.org or in the attached flyer. Questions? Please contact SpellingBee@Fenn.org. Willard Families - Please note that this Spelling Bee is IN ADDITION to the Willard Spelling Bee which will be held in the Winter. Practice at the Community Bee to be sure to win at Willard! |
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LACROSSE REGISTRATION OPEN |
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| Concord Carlisle Youth Lacrosse registration for the spring opens on November 1st for boys 1st - 8th grade and girls 3rd-8th grade travel teams. Please go to the website www.ccyouthlacrosse.com to register or for more information. | ||
POND HOCKEY |
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CCYH Pond Hockey will be offered to all Mite (6-8yrs. Old) and Squirt (9-10 years old) kids who are residents of Concord/Carlisle. If already participating in CCYH, there is no fee. If a boy or girl is interested in playing in the Pond Hockey games and Beanpot Tourney, a fee of $100, plus USA Hockey registration is required for insurance purposes. You can register your child at www.ccyh.org through November 5th. The first Pond Hockey games will be held November 7th and 8th at Middlesex, and the games will run through January 30th and 31st. If you have questions, you can contact Mike Moore (moore.michael@yahoo.com) or Paul Nelson (ptnelson@me.com).
Check out this clip from YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJvPDtppZtI&feature=relate |
