|
|
| Greetings!
Friday notes is a weekly update from Superintendent Gary E. Maestas on the happenings within the Plymouth Public Schools.
|
Plymouth Public Schools School Committee Meetings:
The next Plymouth School Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 22, 2010 at Plymouth Community Intermediate School. The meeting starts at 7:00 P.M.
|
|
Weekly Quote:
"You miss 100% of all the shots you never take."
Wayne Gretsky - Ice Hockey Coach
|
Food Pantry "America's Hometown Express" at the Parade
The America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will be collecting nonperishable foods items during its 15th annual parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.
A new float entitled "America's Hometown Express" will be chugging along Main Street collecting donations from parade goers before reaching its final destination, the South Shore Community Action Council's Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse.
The huge 36-foot long train is being built to haul a large amount of food to benefit many area food pantries. People attending the parade are urged to take a nonperishable food item with them and then, when the "America's Hometown Express" comes by, hand it to a Warehouse volunteer.
All nonperishable food items are welcome but the ones in the biggest demand are peanut butter, cans of tuna, cereals, paper goods (like paper towels and toilet paper), diapers and juices.
Thank you! |
Plymouth South Middle School News
Media Matters Conference
On November 20th twenty students from seventh and eighth grade classes attended the 3rd Annual "Media Matters" Conference on the UMass Boston campus. Students had the opportunity to choose and attend a number of workshops that support writing and communicating in the 21st Century. A sampling of the workshops attended by our students included "News for Your Neighbors: Writing and Presenting Local TV News, "I Want My MTV: Music Videos and Media Literacy", and "Editorial Writing for Middle School Students."
Students felt they were given the opportunity to choose from a long list of workshops and select from their areas of interest. One student reported, "It was really cool-it was interactive because the presenter came around to all of us." Another seventh grade student, after receiving an invitation to the Geography Fair, commented, "Hey, those are the five questions of broadcast journalism!" It was great to see him connecting to what he had learned at the conference.
The bus ride home was abuzz with the excitement of shared stories of their day. Experiencing a college campus and attending workshops presented by professionals and celebrities left impressions on both students and teachers.
Mrs. Mathews, Mr. Joyce, Mrs. Rooney and Mrs. Mitchell accompanied their students and felt it was a highly productive and educational day.
Plymouth South Middle School Students Donate ther Halloween Candy!
Students from Plymouth South Middle School donated their unopened Halloween candy for the troops overseas. Several boxes of candy were collected, which will reduce cavities and make the troops happy! Thank you to all that donated.
Pictured Front: Kelsey Green, Back Left: Vanessa Townsend, Back Right: Hannah Whalen
PSMS GRADE 7 GEOGRAPHY FAIR
Students from Mr. Murphy's geography class presented their Geo Fair displays on Tuesday, November 9th. The theme was "Water" and the local winners will be attending the Regional Geo Fair at Bridgewater State University on Saturday, November 20th. Pictured are the following winners:
- Hanna Bailey & Lauren Pelzer "Acid Rain"
- Andrew Shortall, Tom Gallerani & R.J. Cast "California Aquaducts"
- Andrew Fernandes & C. J. Gustafson "Freshwater Sharks"
- Brianna McCarthy "The Hudson River"
- Kathleen Bowering & Brenna O'Leary "The Quabbin Reservoir"
- Madison Cyr & Veronica Holmes "Wells and Clean Water in Africa"
Congratulations!
 
Plymouth South Middle School has elected new Student Council officers!
They are pictured below as follows: Front Left, President-Diedre Gunning, Grade 8; Front Right: Treasurer-Dylan Finlay, Grade 8; Back Left: Secretary-Jill Korkutis, Grade 8; Back Right: Vice-President-Griffin Condon, Grade 7. Congratulations to these worthy students!
|
Plymouth North High School News
A Milestone in the Building of Plymouth North High School
Construction of the new Plymouth North High School passed a major milestone last week with the installation of the last piece of structural steel. State and Local officials joined students, administrators and contractors at the construction site last Wednesday morning to mark the end of this important phase. Young and old alike signed the beam with permanent markers before a giant crane hoisted the beam and ironworkers fitted it into place above what will be the main entrance to the new school.
The school is being constructed as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority's Model School Program. The program models buildings on proven cost-saving designs and passes the saving on to communities in the form of reimbursement. The MSBA will reimburse Plymouth for nearly 60 percent of most construction costs.
Student Council President Carissa Brown, along with class presidents Brandi Diaz (2011), Christina Noyes (2012), Vicky Gilmore (2013) and Pat Fey (2014), helped commemorate the milestone. It is especially exciting for Gilmore and the sophomore class since they will be the first seniors to attend the school when it opens as well as the first class to graduate from the new school.
|
PCIS News
Students at Plymouth Community Intermediate School joined more than 2 million others across the country to cross social boundaries on Tuesday, Nov. 9. This was PCIS's third annual Mix It Up at Lunch Day, an event designed to foster respect and understanding in schools. Mix It Up encourages students to sit with someone new in the cafeteria for just one day. Many classes held activities and lessons that focused on promoting unity and breaking social boundaries throughout the week. PCIS is one of more than 5,000 schools to participate in this year's Mix It Up at Lunch Day. When students came to school Tuesday morning, they received a bookmark with their table number and a question to ask their new tablemates when they arrived at lunch. Members of Falcon Pride, a student organization designed to foster a positive climate at PCIS, also circulated the cafeteria to helping students start conversations. Despite students' initial apprehension, great conversations and new friendships were made. Staff members joined students in the cafeteria and Mix things up as well. They sat at different tables in the cafeteria and engaged in conversations.
PCIS's third annual Mix It Up day was a great success due to the enthusiasm of its staff and students.
|
Plymouth High School Science Fair News
The 2011 Plymouth Public Schools High School Science Fair is being held on Tuesday, February 15th at Plymouth South High School. As in the past, this year's science fair will showcase the talent of high school students in science and technology/engineering from both Plymouth North and Plymouth South High Schools.
Volunteers play a critical component in the success of this annual event. If you are interested in volunteering (e.g., judges, hallway guides) please click on the link below, complete the form, and click on submit when you are finished.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFIwMHpMV0lhOFpoM2w0cXNDRHQxNUE6MQ
Please note that most volunteers are needed between the hours of 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Volunteers are also invited to dinner and the awards celebration, if interested.
Thank you for your time in considering this outstanding opportunity to support our district's science program.
_________
|
Plymouth South High School News
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PSHS Girls Soccer Team.
It has been an exciting state tournament for the girls. They won two consecutive games in overtime 2-1 against both New Bedford and Silver Lake Regional High School. The Lady Panthers will take on Franklin High School tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Oliver Ames High School in the south sectional semi-final game. This is the farthest the girls soccer team has gone in tournament play in school history. Good luck to the girls and their coaches!
Flu Clinic: Students who have signed up for their flu shot, the clinic will be Tuesday, November 16th. We will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.
School Presentation: Plymouth South High School has been asked to present at a New England Conference sponsored by the Center for Secondary School Redesign on Monday, November 15th. The presentation is focused on the many changes that have occurred over the past six years at PSHS to improve school culture. Students involved in this presentation are: Stephen Whyte, Tom Wells, Mike Usher, Kari Cannon, Kaleigh Roberts, & Hannah Shepherd.
November is a very busy month at PSHS.
The following are the events that will be happening next week at PSHS. Please mark your calendars. We hope to see you soon! Monday, November 15th at 7:00 p.m.: Meet the Coaches Night -Mandatory meeting for all winter athletes and their parents at PSHS
-please bring necessary paperwork. Tuesday, November 16th at 6:00 p.m.: Annual Powder Puff Game vs. Plymouth North; come support the girls! Wednesday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m.: Financial Aid Night at Plymouth North High School
This is recommended for parents of seniors! Wednesday, November 17th at 6:30 p.m.: School Council Thursday, November 18th- 7:00 p.m.: Annual Marketing Fashion/Talent Show at PSHS
|
Plymouth North and South High Schools Band and Chorus to Tour and Perform in Washington!
The School Committee endorsed plans last week for the combined Plymouth North and Plymouth South Concert Band, Vocal Point and Vocal Jazz Ensemble to travel to Washington, D.C., in April. 109 students will attend the trip from April 14-19th. The students will help defray the cost of the trip through fundraising efforts.Band Director Bonnie Holmes, Choral Director Jonathan Richter and Vocal Jazz Ensemble Director Brian Raymond as well as a nurse and nine parent (or guardian) chaperones will travel with the students.The trip will include three performances: the National Basilica, the World War II Memorial and the Old Post Office. The students will play a program of patriotic and folk songs and music by American composers.The trip will include tours of many national landmarks and monuments, from Arlington National Cemetery and Monument Park to the Capitol, White House and Smithsonian.The Plymouth musicians will attend a concert at the Kennedy Center and participate in a clinic run by conductors of Pershing's Own Army Band and Chorus in Fort Myer, Va."I think it's a really great opportunity for students to experience a different environment and an opportunity for them to represent the town of Plymouth," Superintendent Gary Maestas said. Plymouth North and South High School Bands Perform at Parades!The Plymouth North and South High School Bands performed at the Veteran's Day parade in Plymouth this past Thursday. They did a fantastic job. They will also be performing at the Thanksgiving parade on November 20th. Come out to watch and support our High School Bands!
|
Manomet and West Elementary News
Great Strides Community Service Project
Second-graders taught by Laurie Galop at Manomet Elementary and Deb Bostwick at West Elementary are giving back to the community. They do this by walking daily for short periods of time with rewards from their families - the donation of socks to the Taskforce. The project, conducted throughout October, gave students an understanding of what homeless people endure in their daily lives by endless walking.
There will be a project for November as well which will focus on collecting canned goods for a Thanksgiving dinner. The students will create festive placemats for the dinner guests at Christ Parish Episcopal's Thanksgiving feast. The second-grade classes at both Manomet and West schools are accepting canned goods that are consistent with a Thanksgiving meal. This collection will continue through Nov. 18, and will then be donated to the Taskforce for the Homeless.
For their December project, the children will be collecting hand and foot warmers, as well as men's hats and gloves.
If you would like to contribute to this worthwhile community service project please contact Deb Bostwick at West Elementary School or Laurie Galop at Manomet Elementary School.
Laurie Galop's Manomet Elementary second-grade class walks for the homeless.
|
|
|
|
The Arc of Greater Plymouth is offering Inspired Teacher Grants!
The Arc of Greater Plymouth is offering Inspired Teacher Grants - each of $500.00- to faculty of Post Graduate SPED programs in our greater Plymouth area. There will be two grants awarded in the
Post Grad category this year.
The purpose of these grants is to benefit a Special Education educator interested in promoting further inclusive activities for his/her students within the community. This grant may be used to purchase classroom supplies to enhance inclusion ofstudents during community activities, to purchase outside presentations to enhance community inclusion within the classroom, or for professional development in the area of inclusive education.
The Arc of Greater Plymouth was founded in 1966 as a private, non-profit organization committed to providing creative, flexible, and diversified supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The guiding principles that guide The Arc's mission are that individuals with developmental disabilities are people first, and that they are to be respected, treated with dignity, and valued for who they are and what they can accomplish.
We are lucky to have such a great organization providing funds for deserving teachers!
Click here to read more details about these grants!
Click here to open the grant entry form!
|
|
Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D Superintendent
Plymouth Public Schools
|
|
|
