Please remember to attend Town Meeting Monday, April 26. The 7 town warrant articles pertaining to Concord Public Schools and CCHS will be discussed. The High School Master Plan is among them. Be there to be informed!

Also, the Minutes from the most recent PTG Board Meeting, held this past Monday, April 12, are now available on the Willard PTG website.

Vacation's next week;which means I'm going to empty the Lost and Found, Thursday, April 15th. There are a lot of jackets and lunch boxes and even hats and mittens (remember them?). So come on down and get yours back before I donated all to charity! Any questions, email me as usual: sgates22@gmail.com
- Sarah Gates

Willard's 11th Annual Science Fair was a resounding success (the din of happy voices and whirring machines in the cafeteria was booming at times). Over 60 students presented their research in colorful, informative, and entertaining displays. Project topics ranged from the dangers of high fructose corn syrup in our foods, the lives of black-capped chickadees, and the functioning of bathroom scales to the mysteries of tsunamis, geysers, optical illusions, rockets, and spoons. Many Willard families showed up to support their friends and learn from their classmates' investigations. The Mad Science presentation on the workings of air compression drew a large audience, and the event concluded with a raffle of science prizes and passes to area museums. Special thanks go to all of the hard-working and creative young Willard scientists, as well as to the committee members who brought baked goods to sell, visited every exhibit to discuss their projects with the kids, and helped break down tables and clean up afterward. As always, the school administration and staff, led by Pat Fernandes, made it all possible, especially Bev Lucas, Ann Fossett, Carl Sweeney, and Zeb Serra. We hope to see many students at the fair next year. Happy experimenting!
-Sara Laschever and Deanna Vincent, co-chairs

The Carnival is coming to Willard Sunday June 6, 2010. A huge Thank You to all who have generously donated an item to the Silent Auction/Raffle. Your efforts are so greatly appreciated. It's not too late to donate. If your family, business, neighborhood or class would like to donate an item please contact carnivalauction@willardptg.org or read more on the website (www.willardptg.org/events/2009-2010/carnivalAuction.shtml). Stay tuned for more Carnival details and a sneak peak at Silent Auction items...

Litter-free lunch week is coming! May 3 to May 7. Remember your reusable containers!

Highlights from the School Committee meeting, held on March 23, 2010 are now available on the Willard PTG website at www.willardptg.org/community/meetings/2009-2010/SCNotes_03-23-10.pdf. Read all about the improvements that former Willard Librarian, Robin Cicchetti has made to the CCHS library, the middle school trip to China, and the school related articles to be presented at Town Meeting on April 26th.

Come see it rain on stage - with real water! Don't miss the Emerson Umbrella presentation of Singin' In the Rain.; the last two shows are this Friday and Saturday night at 8pm. Emerson Umbrella is offering a special discount to Willard families for this Friday (4/16) only - an extra 25% off regular priced tickets (so that would be $15 for Adults/$10 for students and seniors). See the flyer for more information.

With summer approaching, please consider helping a New York City child who may never have swum in a pond, hiked in the woods, roasted a marshmallow, ridden a bike, or simply been free to be outside. For one week this summer, July 12th to 19th, you and your family can open your home to such a child by becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family. As a host family, you can choose the age of the child (6 to 12) and whether you'd like to host a boy or a girl. For more information on becoming a host family, please contact Nancy Burnham at nancy.burnham@friendlytown.org or at 978-369-5832. To learn more about the Fresh Air Fund, please check out their website, www.freshair.org or view the story of Brandon Mendoza, a Fresh Air Alumni at their YouTube site, www.youtube.com/thefreshairfund.

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.

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.

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.