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Willard School Newsletter
25 March 2010
Issue 25
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
MARCH/APRIL 2010
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 'SATURDAY
21

22
MCAS - ELA (Grades 3&5)

Science Fair Registrations due

 23
MCAS - ELA Long Composition (Grade 4)

24
MCAS - ELA (Grades 3&5)

Principal's Coffee, 6:30pm, Teacher's Lounge

Internet Safety Training for Parents, 7:00pm, Library

25
MCAS - ELA (Grade 4)

Willard Food Drive ends

RSVP for PAL (on 3/29)

 26 27
28

29
MCAS - ELA (Grade 4)

Parent-At-Lunch Day

30
Staff Appreciation - Spring Luncheon

Yearbook Committee Meeting, 10am, Conference Room

 31 1 2
NO SCHOOL 		3
4 5
Spring Book Swap - collection begins		 6
Early Release		 7

8
NO SCHOOL
Spring Conferences

 9
Superintendent's Tea, 2:30-4pm, CCHS Library		 10

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Students is grades 3 - 5 participated in English Language Arts MCAS testing this week. Third and fifth grade students finished on Wednesday. Fourth grade students will complete ELA testing on Monday, March 29th. Fourth grade students who were absent and missed the MCAS Long Composition on March 23rd will take the Long Composition make-up on April 7th. The next phase of MCAS testing is scheduled for May.

Last night, Genoveva Matheus, Erica Chicco, and Detective Scott Camilleri offered a wonderful parent presentation on Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying. The presentation was very informative and interesting. Participants learned about a variety of Web 2.0 tools. They also provided strategies for internet/Web 2.0 supervision. Suggestions were also offered about how to help a child handle cyber bullying. Detective Camilleri discussed the legal ramifications of cyber bullying as well. Parent feedback was quite positive.

Last Friday, the 12th Annual Willard Talent Show was held at CCHS. As always, the Talent Show was a huge success! More than 100 students participated in this year's show. Several Willard teachers opened the show with an energetic performance. The children always enjoy watching their teachers perform. Thank you to Jane Spalding, Kathy Madfis, Jacqui Turner, Liz Merrill, Rachael Morris, Kate Mullen, Erica Chicco, Charlyn Bethell, Kristin Saunders, Mike Germond, and Jon Smith. Thank you to the many adults who contributed to the success of the show: Emcees Charles Spofford and Alicia Cleary, Talent Show Committee Co-Chairs Sally Bowen and Liza Carey, the Talent Show Committee and the many stage parents who support staff.

Students are gearing up for the next Willard event - the Science Fair on April 11th. The Carnival Committee is actively planning the Willard Carnival. Stay tuned for more details.

You may recall that one of the design features that was planned for the new Willard was an analemma. An analemma is the design that is recorded, over the course of a year, as the sun passes through an aperture. Last week, a special aperture was installed in a skylight outside of the Library. The specifications and measurements for the aperture were devised by Will Andrewes, a local scientist who studies time and designs instruments to record time. This aperture will allow us to measure the movement of the sun over time as we record the spot on the floor where the light hits. We are currently looking at the curriculum to determine the appropriate connection to the grade 3 Astronomy curriculum for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Annual Willard Food Drive is drawing to a close. As usual, Willard families have been very generous about sending in a variety of foods for Open Table. School counselor Julee Vitello has facilitated all aspects of the food drive. Our 5th graders have worked with Ms. Vitello assisting with all aspects of the project: collecting food, advertising the drive, organizing the contributions. They will also help to transport the items to Open Table. I know that Open Table will appreciate Willard's contributions. This project provides all students with an appreciation of the needs of those less fortunate in our local community.

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

SCIENCE FAIR - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Science Fair Planning is well underway! Eighty-five children have registered, with a particularly strong showing by the Third Grade (24 kids). While the children are busy asking questions and searching for answers, adult volunteers are still needed to help make the fair a big success. The committee is looking for:

  • Parent Scientists: Adults, especially those with a science background, to visit projects at the beginning of the fair, discuss them with the individual child or team, and present a ribbon (all ribbons will be the same).
  • Extra hands: A few more people to help set up tables on Friday night and fold them up on Sunday after the fair.
  • Bakers: Parents or kids who can bring in home-made snacks for the refreshments table.
  • Help on Saturday during set-up: Check kids in, assist as they lay out their displays.
  • Help on the day: Sell refreshments, assist the Mad Science presenter, pitch in where needed.

If you can help - a little or a lot - please email Sara Laschever, sklasch@gmail.com, or Deanna Vincent, deanna@aol.com.

WILLARD CARNIVAL - SILENT AUCTION
willard carnival

Willard Carnival Silent Auction and Raffle are coming!

Do you have an item you would like to donate? In addition to soliciting many local businesses, the silent auction committee would welcome donations from Willard families, neighborhoods, individual classes, and businesses beyond Concord. Here are some ideas:

 
  • Use of a vacation home
  • Golf Four-some
  • Tickets to Sporting Events
  • Fine Wine
  • Kids Birthday parties
  • Limo Rides into Boston
  • Theatre Tickets
  • Professional Services; landscaping, organizing, pet care, catering
  • Electronics; DS, I pod, Radio
  • Themed baskets (books, sports, handyman, beach, pampering)
  • Do you have a talent? Donate a cooking class, design class, art class for kids or adults
  • Kids Birthday Party packages
  • Gift Certificates to your Favorite Restaurants, Shops, or Salons!
  • and more!

Please complete the Auction Donation Form on the return it to the school by Wednesday, April 14th. Questions? Or need an idea of what to donate please contact: Kim Piculell, 978-318-0527, kfpiculell@comcast.net or Becky Lopresti, 978-369-2109, beckylopresti@hotmail.com. The entire Willard community thanks you for your donations!

YEARBOOK COMMITTEE MEETING

The Fifth Grade Yearbook Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 30th at 10am in the Willard Conference room. All fifth grade parents are welcome! Help is needed in the design of the book, the collection of pages and photos, and the final assembly later in the year. Help as little or as much as you want. Let's make a yearbook our kids will really treasure! If you are unable to attend the meeting, but have ideas or want to help, contact Christine Evans at yearbook@willardptg.org.

WWW.WILLARDPTG.ORG
You are reading the Willard Weekly, so you know something about what is going on at Willard. Want to know more? Check out the latest news and information on the PTG's website, www.willardptg.org. If your child keeps forgetting to bring home backpack flyers (or they come home a crumpled mess), find out what you are missing on the Forms & Flyers page. View all of the Willard-related calendars, including the 2010-2011 Approved K-8 calednar, on the Calendars page. Find Science Fair resources and information on the Science Fair page. And much more! New information is being added to the site daily. If you have information to add or suggestions on how to improve the site, send them to webmaster@willardptg.org. Thanks!


COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS

FAMILY FOLK DANCE - FRIDAY!

You're invited! Move your feet to music and have some family fun - especially for K-8 students and their families. No experience necessary - come and learn some circle and square dances. No sign-up necessary. Led by teacher/musician Anna Anderson. Free and open to the community. Friday night, March 26, 7:30-8:30 PM at Alcott.

CCHS MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION - MONDAY!

Please join us for a presentation of the final report and recommendations of the CCHS Facilities Master Plan Committee on Monday, March 29th, 2010 in the CCHS Library at 7 pm. Click here for more information.

The upcoming school requests for the April Concord Town Warrant will be discussed as will the 2010-2011 school budget! The April Concord Town Warrant requests appropriation of $1.3 million for a Feasibility Study to develop options, create design and complete schematics to continue the process towards state reimbursement of a portion of planning and future construction costs. Additional information regarding the CCHS Facilities Master Plan can by found at www.cchsmasterplan.org/.

CPT PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS

The Center for Parents and Teachers is offering several programs of interest to parents of elementary-aged and pre-teen children.

  • Raising Your Challenging Child
    An 8-week series for parents who feel challenged by their bright but uncooperative 2-5year old child. Meets Monday evenings, starting March 29, 7:30-8pm at Ripley. Contact First Connections directly at 978-287-0221to register. No fee but space is limited. More information,
  • You Can't Make Me
    3 Wednesday evening workshops that will offer practical advice for dealing effectively with a variety of conflicts with your 3-9 year old child. Registration required. March 24, 31, and April 7, 7-8:30pm, Ripley. Sliding fee $60-75. More information..
  • Support Group for Parents of Adolescents with Eating Disorders
    Discussions of signs to look for and how to support your child and yourself. Meets Wednesday, March 31, 7:30-9pm, Ripley. More information.
  • Guiding Good Choices
    Four sessions on how to Parent Pre-teens and Teens through a Healthy Adolescence" April 13, 27, May 11 and 25, 7:30-9:00PM, Ripley Pre--registration required. Slide fee $65-$80. More information.

Please contact the Center for Parents and Teachers at amartinez@colonial.net or 978-202-1143 for more information or to register for any of these programs

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The Concord-Carlisle Community Chest is hosting its gala on April 10th beginning at 6 PM. This year's theme is "Back to Basics"; it is a cocktail party and raffle evening to benefit the over 35 programs supported by the Community Chest at 300 Baker Avenue in Concord. You can buy your tickets on line at www.cccommunitychest.org or call 978-369-5250. This year we will also have an online auction beginning March 19th - April 9th. Visit our website to link to over 100 items!

The Beede Swim & Fitness Center will be offering a Special Needs Aquatic Training Program for Concord-Carlisle residents age 8 & up. Participants will work on technique and endurance throughout this program as they increase their level of physical fitness. Focus will be on participant's ability with an emphasis on safety, having fun, social interaction and developing positive self-image through successful participation. Tuesdays, starting April 6, 4:30-5:30pm. Class size is limited. Check out the flyer for more information. Call 978-287-1003 to register.
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