| JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | ||||||
| SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 7pm CPS Transportation Forum, Alcott |
2 | 3 Progress Reports Mailed |
4 |
| 5 | 6 Assembly: Harriet Tubman 12:30 PTG Board Meeting |
7 7:00 Lice Education Talk |
8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 METCO Late Bus |
16 | 17 | 18 | |
Can you believe this weather? Yesterday hardly seemed like February 1st with temperatures in the mid fifties! We have certainly not experienced a typical New England winter. I am certainly not complaining.
The first semester Progress Reports will be mailed home to families on February 3rd. The standards-based Progress Reports will provide families with information about your child’s progress toward end-of-year benchmarks. It is important to remember that students are not expected to master end-of-year benchmarks at this time. Rather, the Progress Reports provide you with information about your child’s progress toward that goal. The Special Subject (Art, Music, PE, & Library) Progress Reports and Special Education Progress Reports (if applicable) will also be included in this mailing.
One of the exciting projects at Willard and across the district is the 5th grade iPad project. With a grant from the Concord Education Fund, 5th graders are learning how to use the iPad as a learning tool. This summer, 5th grade teachers had the opportunity to participate in a district-sponsored training with colleagues. During the training, teachers became familiar with the many features of the iPad. They were also exposed to a variety of apps for use in the classroom. I have had the chance to observe in classrooms where children have been introduced to this digital tool. In addition, I have also had the opportunity to observe in classrooms where iPad use has become fairly well integrated into the curriculum. You won’t be surprised to hear that many students are quite comfortable with the iPad, because they have access to the device at home. The biggest difference that we have found is that the typical student who uses the iPad at home uses it for entertainment. At school, we use the device as a learning tool. In fact, fifth grade teacher Christen Lekorenos, a member of the Willard School Advisory Committee, uses the iPad as a learning tool for the Willard SAC. She shares information with the SAC each month by using the iPad as a digital presentation tool. Digital citizenship is an important part of the curriculum for all grades. Because our students have daily access to technology tools in the classroom, our teachers stress the importance of appropriate and responsible use of technology at all times. We urge you to reinforce that message at home as well.
Willard Kindergarten Registration has been scheduled for April 24th and April 26th. Based on information from the Town Census, preliminary letters have been sent to families who have children eligible to attend kindergarten during the 2012-2013 school year. If you have a child who will be 5 years of age by August 31st and you did not receive a letter, please contact the Willard office. If you know of another family who should have received a letter and did not, please encourage them to contact us. More information will follow.
As always, thank you for all you do for Willard School.
Hint: Some species march in a line, some in a fan- shaped swarm and some all at once. The numbers in the colony can be as large as 500,000 to 2 million of them at a time marching in such synchronization that they operate like the cells of a single organism.
There is just 1 more weekend to finish up your Geography Quest, but a lifetime to uncover the fascinating migrations of other animals. Please turn in to the Geography Quest box in the library by February 6. You will receive a prize when we return the copy to you. Enjoy!!
Answer to the above question is: Army Ant
Got lice? Hopefully not! But by knowing how to check your family regularly you’ll stay ahead of these critters and the stress they can bring. Arm yourself with all the right information and help us keep school lice-free! Attend the Lice Information Session, presented by Berit Prat, RN, MPH and founder of NITWITS, a professional lice and nit removal service (Sponsored by the Willard PTG), on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7 p.m., Willard School Auditorium. You will hear what head lice is – and isn’t; how it travels from human to human; and simple methods to check for and remove at home.
Calling all spellers in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades! The 2012 Willard Spelling Bee will take place on Friday, March 2 from 5-8 p.m. in the Willard cafeteria . Please note that this is a change from the previous years; in an effort to reduce conflicts with Saturday commitments, this year's Spelling Bee has been changed to a Friday night. 3rd graders participate as teams and there is no elimination. 4th graders participate as teams and there is elimination. New this year: 5th graders may participate as teams or as individuals and there is elimination. Each teams needs one parent coach. This is a fun event and we hope to see many of you there! Registration forms are due by Friday, February 24. For more information please contact Madeleine Pooler (madeleine@pooler.com) or Kendra Pavlik (kpavlik@verizon.net).
QuickStart Tennis is returning to Willard this Spring! Program details will be in next week's Willard Weekly, and Registration will begin on Monday, February 27th.
Did you notice that there were even more changes to the Willard Weekly this weel? We would love YOUR feedback. If features that you like are now missing or if you have suggestions for improving the newsletter, please email us at willardweekly@willardptg.org. Ths is your chance to be heard! We would also love Beta testers for the new Willard PTG website. Contact webmaster@willardptg.org now!
As your family changes, so do your needs at home! Your outgrown goods can help a low-income or homeless family in the area. Bag up your no-longer-needed children’s items, towels and linens, and drop them at First Parish in Concord on Saturday, February 11th between 9 am and 12:00pm. Volunteers will be ready to receive your donations. Accepted donations include: infant to teen clothing, footwear, winter outerwear, baby equipment, children's books, games and toys. No furniture and appliances this year, please. All children’s donations will go directly to Cradles to Crayons and linens to HGRM to be redistributed to families in the Greater Boston Area. For more information or a list of accepted items, please contact Abby White at: abbygwhite@comcast.net.
The League of Women of Voters of Concord-Carlisle (LWVCC) will host a Concord Candidates
Forum on Sunday, February 12, 2012, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Town House Hearing Room,
22 Monument Square, Concord. Snow date is February 26.
The League has invited all candidates running for office in the March 6 Town Election to
participate in the forum: Town Moderator candidate Eric Van Loon (incumbent); Board of
Selectmen candidates Paul Mahoney and Elise Woodward (incumbent); School Committee
candidates Philip Benincasa and Jennifer Munn; and Housing Authority candidates Linda
Escobedo and Raymond Snay. The only contested local race on the March 6 ballot is for one seat
on the Concord Housing Authority. Candidates will answer questions from the League of Women Voters
and audience members.
Refreshments will be served. This program is free and open to the public. The LWVCC urges all
Concord residents to attend.
For more information on the Candidates Forum, email VoterService@lwvcc.org, call 978-
254-1598, or see the flyer.
A Visit with Abraham Lincoln at the Concord Museum
Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 20, 2012
The Concord Museum is pleased to once again host Steve Wood and his amazing performance as Abraham Lincoln. Matching Lincoln’s height and beard, Wood bears enough of a resemblance to our 16th president to make heads turn. His first-person historical interpretation, “A Visit with Abraham Lincoln,” includes stories of Lincoln’s early life, his campaign debates, the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and concludes with a stirring reading of the Gettysburg Address. 1:00 - 2:00; recommended for all ages, by reservation only (978) 369-9763; reserve early as space is limited. Nonmembers $10/$5 child; Members $7/$3 child. Be sure to stop by the Museum Shop to purchase your own stovepipe hat! For further information visit: www.concordmuseum.org
Tea for Two: An Adult/Child Tea with Louisa May Alcott at the Concord Museum
Saturday February 25, 2012
Delight your child with an afternoon with Louisa May Alcott, portrayed by Jan Turnquist. Make the day a special outing by sipping cocoa or tea in Daniel Chester French Hall at the Concord Museum while you enjoy tasty treats and listen to stories of Louisa’s adventures and her book Little Women. After tea, make a keepsake to take home with you to remember your trip to the Museum and your visit with Louisa. 2:00; $10/child; $15/accompanying adult; recommended for ages 7 and up; by advance reservation only; (978) 369-9763. For further information visit: www.concordmuseum.org
Solar Fair: The Town of Concord Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Committee (CSEC) invites you to attend a Solar Fair on Saturday, February 4 from 2:00-5:00 PM at the Willard School. This event is free, and is designed to help homeowners decide if solar power is right for their homes and a good investment. Experts in every step of the process will be on-hand to discuss both solar photovoltaic (PV) (for electricity) and solar thermal (for hot water) products. In addition, representatives of the Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP) will have information available on Concord Solar, a program that CMLP is developing to provide you with a convenient and affordable way to take advantage of solar PV. CCHS students will be there to help you determine if your roof is a good site for solar energy, and local banks will be available to discuss loans for solar energy purchases. Brian Foulds, a Concord resident with a solar PV array on his house, will be giving presentations at 2:30 and 3:30 PM, offering the opportunity to ask someone who has already made the conversion to solar energy questions about the process. He will also present at the Concord Public Library from 7:00-9:00 PM on Monday, January 30, and Thursday, February 2. Contact Brian at brian.foulds@gmail.com for more information. On-site child care is available, so bring sneakers for the kids. The snow date for this event is February 11, at the same location and times. It is not necessary to register in advance, but responding at this website (http://concordsolarfair2012.eventbrite.com/) will help us “stay green” in our preparations. We look forward to seeing you there!
Milldam Nursery School: Milldam Nursery School is accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year. Please visit our web-site to download an application and request a tour. http://milldamnurseryschool.squarespace.com/
Milldam is a cooperative preschool located in the Center of Concord, 20 Lexington Road.