Willard teachers hosted their grade level colleagues from Alcott and Thoreau at a District Wide Grade Level Meeting on Tuesday. This was the first opportunity for Willard staff members to show off our new school to their peers from across the district. Alcott and Thoreau teachers were quite impressed!

Students are engaged in many exciting learning experiences at Willard this month. Grade 5 students are learning to make technology training videos in library. Some 5th graders are creating podcasts in their classroom with a focus on the Explorers' unit. Fourth grade students recently completed a book assignment which culminated in oral presentations in the
classroom. Students prepared well for their presentations and also made props to enhance their presentations. First and fourth grade students have been involved in flexible grouping in math. The flexible grouping in grade 4 and Math Swap in grade 1 give students an opportunity to work with teachers and peers in a manner that provides an appropriate and exciting learning opportunity for math instruction. Students are enjoying this work. Kindergarten students have been busy with a variety of activities: making cards for their buddies, demonstrating their skills in patterning, and developing their phonemic skills. Under the direction of Ms. Bethell, the 5th Grade Chorus will perform at a Human Rights Council event honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 14th at Sanborn. It is an honor for our students to participate. Additional details will be available in early January.

As mentioned in last week's column, the Lost & Found area is overflowing with many items. If your child is missing items, please encourage him/her to check for lost items at our Lost & Found which is located at the exit to the playground. Please be sure that all of your child's belongings are labeled with his/her name. Over vacation, the PTG will donate the clothing that has accumulated over the past few months to charity.

I am sure that you have noticed the recent media attention relating to the Massachusetts Ethics Law regarding gift giving restrictions for elected officials, public officials, and all public employees, including school personnel. The application of this law to school employees means that no school employee may accept "anything of substantial value". Anything
worth $50.00 or more is considered to be of substantial value. This guideline would apply to a class gift as well. I want to emphasize that no teacher or school employee expects a gift at the holidays or at any time of the year. If gift giving at the holidays is part of your family's tradition, please keep the restrictions of this law in mind.

Math Specialist Laurie Penney is planning a Parent Math Workshop for Wednesday, January 27th at 7:00 PM in the Willard Library. Please mark your calendars. Details of this event will follow soon.

The first semester will conclude on January 27th. Progress Reports will be mailed on February 5th. In addition, Special Education progress Reports and Special Subject Progress Reports will be issued at that time as well.

Punch list work continues at Willard. A subcommittee of the Willard Building Committee is working to prioritize the punch list. Several contractors worked after dismissal this week. It is expected that the contractors will be spending a great deal of time at Willard over vacation week to address this work. I will keep you posted about their progress.

The Holiday Season is a busy time for all families. I wish you all a happy holiday season. I hope all parents enjoy the gift of some quality time with their children over the December vacation. Vacation begins at the end of the school day on December 23rd, which is a full day of school.

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