Willard Weekly 12/03/09

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Willard School Newsletter

3 December 2009

Issue 12

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

DECEMBER 2009
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
29	30 Parent-At-Lunch Day	1 Early Release	2	3	4 Family Game Night, 6:30-8:00, Cafeteria	5
6	7	8	9 Assembly: Opera To Go (K-5)	10	11 Superintendent's Tea, 3:30, Thoreau Library	12
13	14 Principal's Coffee, 11:30, Conference Room PTG Board Meeting, 12:30, Conference Room	15 Early Release METCO Late Bus	16	17	18	19

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

I hope that all Willard families enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends. Staff and students returned to school looking refreshed. Students' Thanksgiving Reflections are hanging up throughout the building. It is always fun to read students' writing. It is particularly enjoyable to read their reflections about how grateful they are for family, friends, nice homes, pets, and of course their new school.

On November 20th, Willard School held an Evacuation Drill under the supervision of School Safety Officer Scott Camilleri. At 9:30, I made the announcement signaling the drill. Students and staff exited the building and boarded buses that were waiting to bring us to the Sanborn Building. Upon arrival at Sanborn, students and staff exited the buses and proceeded to the auditorium where teachers took attendance. I am leased to tell you that the students did a fantastic job throughout the drill. They left the building in a very orderly fashion. They boarded the buses and road to Sanborn very quietly. Detective Camilleri and I were so impressed. As in a fire drill, we have high expectations for a quiet and orderly dismissal process. This is necessary because in a real emergency it would be necessary to give instructions and adapt to a range of circumstances that could occur. The teachers did a fabulous job preparing students for the Evacuation Drill.

This week Mrs. Penney announced the names of the Willard students who participated in the November Math Challenge, As you may know, each month, Mrs. Penney posts a Math Challenge on the Willard Math Page. Each month more and more students are participating in this challenge. In addition to the Math Challenges, the Math Page has many links to a variety of math games and other resources. If you haven't checked it out recently, I encourage you to do so. Mrs. Penney is planning a Parent Workshop for an evening in January. Details will follow soon.

Speaking of the Willard website, I am sure that you are aware that most teachers have a web page on the Willard website. Their webpages provide parents with a great way to stay informed about the curriculum and classroom events. By the end of the school year, all teachers will have a webpage. This is a work in progress.

Punch list work continues at Willard. We had some landscape excavation work done this week to improve a drainage problem in the front of the building. In fact, you may have seen the John Deere tractor next to the main entrance at drop off or pick up. Some additional interior signage has been added this week. Beautiful silver signage has been added above the Gymnasium and Auditorium. In the past week, another contractor has installed stainless steel plaques which identify the various "green" elements of the building. Just inside the main entrance, you can now view an informational display of the new Willard. Installed this week, the display features a Site Plan, Building Plans, and a description of the various elements of sustainable design that have been incorporated into the new Willard School. This information captures all of the relevant design information of the new Willard and provides visitors with an overview of the school, the site, and the sustainable design elements. I suggest that you check it out the next time you visit.

Our Lost & Found containers are overflowing. Please be sure that your child's outerwear is labeled.

December has arrived. I am looking forward to seeing many families at Family Game Night this Friday evening.

As always, thank you for all you do for Willard School.
- Pat Fernandes

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

PTG NEWS AND NOTES

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and long weekend. We want to remind everyone of the Family Game Night tomorrow evening in the Cafeteria from 6:30-8:00 PM. Last year's was a huge success. Please come and bring the whole family! On Monday, December 14 at 11:30 AM we will have our first Principal's Coffee in the conference room. This is a nice opportunity to talk with Pat and other parents. Following the coffee the PTG will hold it's monthly meeting at 12:30 PM. All are welcome to attend. We hope to see you at one or all these upcoming events.
- Kate Olney and Aimee Cupp, PTG Co-Presidents

FAMILY GAME NIGHT - FRIDAY!

Family Game Night
Friday, Dec. 4th, 6:30-8 p.m. Willard Cafeteria

Come one, come all to Family Game Night this Friday, Dec. 4th, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Willard Cafeteria! There are GameWright games for every age from Wig Out to Slamwich to Sleeping Queens to Zeus on the Loose to Go Nuts to Combo King. Game gurus will be on hand to teach you how to play and every family that comes will get a raffle ticket to win one of four great games. Games will also be available for purchase to bring home for your family, to donate to Willard teachers, or to give to Toys for Tots. If you have questions, please contact Debbie Osofsky (debbieosofsky@hotmail.com) or Kathi O'Neil (kathioneil@gmail.com).

WILLARD WEAR

Willard Wear has arrived! Those who pre-ordered items should see them in backpacks TODAY. If your order was to be a surprise, Jean Webster (jeanpwebster@comcast.net ) will contact you to arrange a pickup time.

And Willard Wear will be available for sale this Friday night at game night 6:30-8pm. In case you missed the order - Camelback water bottles & sports bags a plenty to stuff the stockings. Also a limited amount of pajama pants and sweatshirts are for sale.

FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE

Winter is almost upon us and as our children spend more time indoors it seems that, as always, strep throat and flu follow. Please remember to let Mrs. Gaudreau, our school nurse, know if your child is diagnosed with either strep throat or the flu. They can come back to school after 24 hours on an antibiotic for strep. When they are diagnosed with the flu and have had a normal temperature for 24 hours, without fever reducing medicine, they may return to school. Please call Mrs. Gaudreau with any questions at 978-341-2558.

SHOP WILLARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Please remember when you are purchasing gifts online to start your shopping experience at Shop Willard (www.shopwillard.org). The Shop by Retailer page provides links to many major online shopping destinations, including amazon.com, bodenusa.com, espnshop.com, lego.com, and shoppbs.org. Every time you start your online shopping at www.shopwillard.org, a portion of your purchase price goes to the Willard School - at no cost to you!

PTG MEETING MINUTES

The minutes from the November 16th PTG Board Meeting are now available for your reading pleasure! Click here to read about the exciting discussions of trips to Japan, PTG funds, and room parent communications.

COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS

SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTES

The School Committee meets twice each month - the schedule is posted on the website (www.concordpublicschools.net) - and welcomes the participation of interested Concord, Carlisle, and Boston families. Cheryl Kirkpatrick provided note from the most recent School Committee meeting held on November 24th; to read these note, click here.

CROSS COUNTRY SKI CLUB FOR KIDS

Parents and their children ages 5-13 interested in cross country skiing are invited to attend a meeting of the Great Brook Bill Koch Ski League on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 9:00 at Great Brook Ski Touring Center, 1018 Lowell St., Carlisle. The Bill Koch Ski League offers children the opportunity to learn to cross country ski, to have fun participating in skiing games and activities, and to compete in races if they choose. All ability levels are welcome. Participants are strongly urged to have their own ski equipment. The group will meet Saturday mornings from 9:00-10:30 in December, January, and February. Parents who are interested in volunteering are sought for group leaders in the program. Contact gbbillkoch@gmail.com for further information.

HOLIDAY GIFTS NEEDED

The Concord-Carlisle Community Chest will be collecting unwrapped gifts for local families in need (children, teens and disabled adults) at the Concord Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 6th in Concord Center. (Parade begins at 4:45 p.m. Gifts will be collected at the time of the tree lighting at the base of the tree, at about 5:00 p.m.) The Chest office will also gratefully accept presents and distribute them before the holidays through the many local agencies we support. Gifts may be brought to the Chest office at the Community Agencies Building (brick building) at Emerson Hospital, 111 ORNAC, by December 7. Collection boxes will also be placed at Middlesex Bank locations in Concord until December 7. Thank you!

PATCH ADAMS IS COMING TO CONCORD

You may have seen Patch as portrayed by Robin Williams in the movie as the compassionate, irreverent, funny, and visionary physician, who brought real humane reforms to our health care system. On Monday, Dec. 7, you will have the opportunity to see and hear the real "Patch Adams" as he travels to Concord to speak about: "What Parents and Children Can Do, TOGETHER, to Serve the Healing of Our Health CARE System." This program will take place at the Concord Carlisle High School at 7PM.

The public (of all ages!) is invited to attend. We particularly encourage parents and students to attend together. Donations, as one's fortunes allow, are gratefully received in support of the building of Patch's hospital in Pocahontas County, West Virginia - A labor of love. Come hear more...Lend a hand? To learn about Patch Adams and his mission, please visit www.patchadams.org. For further information on Patch's visit, contact Stuart Weeks, Founder of The Center for American Studies at Concord at stuartbweeks@gmail.com or visit: http://www.concordma.com/blog/ and scroll down for the "Good Doctor"

FAMILY TREES - A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

A love of books and reading is a lifelong treasure passed from adult to child, from generation to generation. The 14th annual "Family Trees: A Celebration of Children's Literature" at the Concord Museum is sure to bring out the kid in everyone! Giving Concord's renowned literary tradition a creative twist, from December 4, 2009 through January 3, 2010 the Museum's galleries are filled with fanciful trees of all shapes and sizes, decorated with original ornaments inspired by acclaimed children's storybooks and contemporary picture book favorites. Life-size costume characters from classic picture books welcome visitors each weekend afternoon. Visit www.concordmuseum.org for more information

CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION PANEL

What Does Childhood Depression Look Like?: An Evening for K-12 Parents
To learn more about childhood depression, come to a panel of experts on Thursday, December 10th at 7pm in the CCHS auditorium. You will learn the signs, symptoms, and manifestations of depression as well as what is available at school and in the community for kids in grades K-12 and their families. Speakers include school psychologists and counselors from Concord elementary, middle, and high schools, the CCHS school nurse, and Bart Wendell, a Clinical Psychologist and consultant to the clinical staff at CCHS. The panel will be moderated by Peter Badalament, Principal of CCHS. This event is co-sponsored by the School Health Board and the Concord Carlisle Parents Initiative (CCPI).

DECEMBER EVENTS AT THE CONCORD LIBRARY

The following programs for children are taking place at the Concord Public Library this month. For more information: (978)318-3358 or www.concordlibrary.org

Super K: A program of stories and activities for Kindergarten students. No Registration require. For Ages 5 & up.
- December 15 @ 4pm - Ho! Ho! Ho! Holiday!: Holiday Cookie Decorating
BookEaters: A BookTalking Club For Third Graders
- December16th @ 4pm. Theme: Gifts For Giving. Bring some favorite books to share. What books would you like as a gift? What books would you give to others as a gift? Enjoy a Concord Library Treasure Hunt and Cookie Decorating. No registration required.

CONCORD CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC WINTER REGISTRATION

Registration for The Concord Conservatory of Music's winter semester group classes is now open. The music school offers group music classes for infants to school age children, as well as adults. Private instruction is also available. For more information click here. Registrations are accepted online, in the office and by mail.