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| Willard School Newsletter | 8 April 2010 |
Issue 27 |
| MARK YOUR CALENDAR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK |
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Flooding and road closures have made travel to and from Willard quite challenging over the past week. Fortunately, we are now back to normal bus routes and a normal bus schedule. Warm temperatures have helped the flood water recede. In fact, Boston and the surrounding suburbs broke temperature records yesterday. Despite record high temperatures, Willard students and staff were able to stay focused on teaching and learning in our comfortably air conditioned school. It is a wonderful advantage to be able to concentrate on learning, particularly when outdoor temperatures soar. This is yet another example of how we are reminded every day how fortunate we are to have this remarkable new school. With this week's warm temperatures, many students have opted for warm weather attire. This is certainly to be expected when temperatures exceed 80 degrees! However, I would like to urge all parents to monitor your child's choice of footwear. As you know, sneakers must be worn for gym. Flip flops should not be worn to school since they do not provide adequate foot protection on the playground. Good foot protection is essential on the playground for safety reasons. In fact, in contrast to the old Willard which was a single story building, all students are going up and down stairs daily to get to the various locations (art, library, music, and gym) in the new building. As a result, wearing flips flops can be quite hazardous in the school setting. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to ensure your child's safety. Tomorrow, CCHS Chemistry teacher Ms. Carla Sechman and 40 of her students will visit Willard. Ms. Sechman teaches a course entitled Chemistry in the Community. As part of the course curriculum, they study renewable energy options and "green" initiatives. The group will be touring Willard to learn about the elements of sustainable design that contribute to Willard's energy efficiency. Dave Anderson, Director of Facilities for the district, will join me in leading the tour. He will share some technical data about Willard's energy performance. I look forward to welcoming Ms. Sechman and her students and showing them Willard's green features. Many students are preparing to participate in the Annual Science Fair, on April 11th. It is always interesting to see the projects that students prepare and to witness their excitement about their topic. I look forward to seeing many families at the Science Fair on Sunday. As mentioned in the last edition of the Willard Weekly, I will be leading a Book Group for interested 4th and 5th graders this spring (see the flyer and permission slip). We will be reading and discussing Three Cups of Tea (Young Reader's Edition) by Greg Mortenson on three early release Tuesdays. This highly acclaimed book tells the story of Mortenson's life changing experience in Pakistan and his subsequent commitment to change the lives of children in Pakistan through the power of education. His book has inspired schools and communities across the country through the work of his Central Asia Institute. Willard will sponsor a Pennies for Peace initiative later this spring. Members of the Book Group will help to plan this initiative and the May All-School Assembly. Just a reminder that Kindergarten Registration for Willard School is scheduled for April 27th and April 29th. We look forward to hosting the Registration in the new Willard Auditorium. All families who have pre-registered have received their K Registration packet. If you have not received your packet, please call the Willard Office right away. If you know of a family who has a child eligible for Kindergarten and the family has not been contacted, please encourage them to contact the Willard Office. As always, thank you for all you do for Willard School. |
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| LINKS OF INTEREST |
| WILLARD HOME |
| WILLLARD PTG |
| LUNCH CALENDAR |
| SHOP WILLARD |
| CONTACT EDITOR |
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 - SUNDAY! |
The 2010 Willard School Science Fair will take place this Sunday between 2 and 4 at Willard! Bring your children to support their fellow student scientists, get excited about science (and maybe resolve to participate next year), watch Mad Science's entertaining and educational presentation on air compression, and enter the raffle for passes to area science museums, a beginner's telescope, portable microscope, Scientific Explorer science project kit, and more! |
SPRING BOOK SWAP |
And don't forget to stop by the Book Swap during the science fair (this Sunday, April 11 from 2-4)! Pick up a few "new-to-you" books for Spring reading! There is still time to donate books for the swap. Bring your used children's books and paperbacks to Willard and place them in the drop boxes in the front lobby. We'll also be swapping books for adult readers, so bring those in too and we'll set up a table for parents to browse. Please limit your book donations to those you would share with a friend. Any books remaining will be donated to the Concord Public Library for their next book sale. Questions? Feel free to contact Suzanne Hogan by phone or at suzanne.hogan@comcast.net |
METCO LATE BUS DAY - TUESDAY |
| Make your playdates now for next Tuesday's (April 13th) late bus day. Concord families are reminded to bring Boston students to Alcott by 4:15 p.m. to meet the late bus. Questions? Contact Debbie Osofsky (debbieosofsky@hotmail.com), Tanika Moody (tanika261@hotmail.com) or Grace Ryan (graceryan9@comcast.net), Willard METCO Family Friends Committee |
5th GRADE CELEBRATION AND YEARBOOK |
It's hard to believe, but the end of the year is fast approaching. And with that the end of Willard for our fifth graders. We will celebrate in June with a 5th Grade Celebration that will include an informal ceremony, yearbooks, t-shirts, lunch and fun activities. Fifth graders should receive a packet of information about the Celebration and Yearbook on Friday. The packet includes blank paper on which to create a yearbook personal page. Instructions are included and sample pages and ideas are available on the www.willardptg.org website. The personal pages, along with a baby photo are due on Tuesday, April 27th. Return them in the original envelope to the box in the front lobby. If you have any questions, contact the yearbook committee at yearbook@willardptg.org. The packet also includes information about the Celebration and a form for specifying t-shirt sizes. Note that many kids tend to order them a little big and they autograph each others on celebration day. The Willard PTG requests a contribution of $20 per fifth grader to cover the costs of the celebration, t-shirts, yearbook and class gift. Please return the t-shirt form and a check (payable to Willard PTG) in the yearbook envelope. For any questions regarding the Celebration, contact the 5th Grade Celebration Chair, Michelle Ernst, at 5celebration@willardptg.org. |
CONCORD HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE |
On Sunday, April 11, 2010 the Concord Board of Selectmen will host the annual Holocaust Memorial Observance at the Town House at 7:30 PM. The event is coordinated by the Concord Carlisle Human Rights Council. This year's speakers will be Robert Gerzon, a Concord resident, and Dr. Martina Emme, an ethics professor from Potsdam University, Germany. Robert Gerzon lost 44 members of his extended family in Holland in the Holocaust. He will speak about his journey of discovery and healing, and the relevance of the Holocaust to today's global crisis. Martina Emme is the daughter and granddaughter of Nazis. She co-founded the non-profit organization One By One which invites members to heal together in dialogue and by telling their stories. Please join fellow citizens at this year's Holocaust Memorial Observance. |
WORKSHOP FOR EARTH DAY PARADE |
Join art teachers and friends from Musketaquid Arts and Environment for a 2-session workshop and make something to carry in the Musketaquid Earth Day Parade! Raindrops, snowflakes, birds or bats, there are plenty of options for creative discovery. The workshops will take place in the Thoreau School cafeteria on Thursdays, April 15 and 29, after school until 4:30 pm. Willard School students are invited to come on over to Thoreau after school and get ready for fun! Then, bring your finished creation to Musketaquid Earth Day on Saturday, May 1 and join the parade. The two-session workshop costs just $25. Register by calling the Emerson Umbrella at 978-371-0820. Parents of children under age 8 are encouraged to attend the workshop with your child. Co-sponsored by the Concord Youth Art League. |
COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES |
| Spring is a time of renewal, and the Concord-Carlisle Schools are offering
a variety of continuing education courses to inspire you and your family.
Spring and summer courses and workshops are currently enrolling for adults
and for students in grades K-12. More than 100 classes for all ages and
interests - from first aid to dance to bike repair - can be searched
online at www.ace.colonial.net. An additional 100 online courses
(www.ed2go.com/concord) are available, for those who want to have fun or
advance their careers. Visit the website or call (978) 318-1432 for
information. |
CONCORD'S BIRTHDAY KICK-OFF |
Save the Date! Join us for a Family Fun Day. Spring over to Emerson Field to kick off the Celebration of Concord's 375th Birthday on Sunday, May 16, 2010. CCHS Varsity Baseball plays Concord Fire/Police in a charity game. There will also be carnival rides and games, food, and more for the younger set. Game starts at 2 p.m., gates open at 10 a.m. See the flyer for more information. |
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT |
The Presentation of the final report and recommendations of the CCHS Facilities Master Plan Committee has been rescheduled. The presentation will now be held as a coffee on April 14 at the home of Linda Miller- 300 Main Street, Concord. 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! Additional information regarding the CCHS Facilities Master Plan can by found at www.cchsmasterplan.org/. A group of Concord Carlisle High School students have created a website in order to provide a resource for finding tutors for students in the Concord Carlisle area. Tutoring is available free of charge; the students receive community service hours only. Each student has chosen the fields that they thought they could best teach. For more information, see the website www.cares4communities.webs.com Annie the Musical at Sanborn Middle School on Friday, April 9th at 7:00 pm; Saturday, April 10th at 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 11th at 2:30 pm. General Seating tickets are now on sale for $10 and are available either by printing and filling out the order form found on the CMS Website - cms.colonial.net/ - using the Annie Ticket Quick Link, or at Fritz & Gigi's in Concord Center. Tickets will be sold at the door - subject to availability - but due to Annie's wide appeal, best not to put off buying tickets until tomorrow! Questions? Please email kecono@comcast.net. Patriots' Day at the Concord Museum. On Monday, April 19th from 9:00-5:00, explore the Concord Museum's outstanding collection of treasures from April, 1775 including the famous "one, if by land, two, if by sea" Revere lantern. Travel back in time and make your own decisions about politics in 1775 by visiting with a British Redcoat and a colonial Militiaman and hear their spirited discussion about the events of April 19th. Enjoy patriotic music by The Jolly Rogues with their intriguing repertoire of 18th-century songs that invite listening, clapping and foot tapping or singing along. A special Patriots' Day Museum Hunt leads families through the Why Concord? history galleries. All Patriots' Day Concord Museum activities are free with admission. Visit www.concordmuseum.org for more information. The Concord Library at 129 Main Street offers several programs for children in April. Programs include a 4-5th Grade Book Club meeting with a movie theme (April 13, 7pm) and BookEaters Club for 3rd graders with dirt pudding and video making (April 21, 4pm) For more information call (978)318-3358 or visit www.concordlibrary.org |