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Friday notes is a weekly update from Superintendent Gary E. Maestas on the happenings within the Plymouth Public Schools.
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Plymouth Public Schools School Committee Meetings: The next regular meeting of the Plymouth School Committee will be Monday, April 4, 2011. School Committee meetings are held at
Plymouth Community Intermediate School in
the Little Theatre. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.
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Weekly Quote: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." - Albert Einstein
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Cold Spring School
The second graders at Cold Spring school have created biography projects about important American men and women. Ms. Amy Ready and Mrs. Marita Terranova are the teachers who oversaw this project. Samples of the students' work can be found below. Nicely done!
Joe Norris created this biography about Jackie Robinson.
John DeAngelo's biography was about LeBron James.
Anthony Loranger created this replica of a log cabin.
Kailey Hobart's biography was about the pilgrims.
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West Elementary News
Andrew Young's grade 1 class at West Elementary School recently completed a six-week study of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska. Mr. Young was able to tie much of their daily studies to the Alaskan competition.
The students started preparing for the competition in early February by studying Alaska and its people and traditions. Mr. Young taught his classes about the geography of Alaska, especially its extreme natural geology and habitat. Students tracked temperature differences between Alaska and Plymouth and wrote poems about the state and the race. They watched videos about the Arctic. They welcomed visitors who had experience in the state.
Earlier this month 62 mushers and their teams of dogs prepared to set out from Anchorage for Nome.
Students experimented with different layers of gloves and liners to get a sense of how sled dogs are specially adapted to race in extreme conditions because of the extra layers of skin on their paws.
Before the race started, each of the 19 students randomly selected one of the mushers as their own. They wrote letters of encouragement in English class and made Popsicle stick sleds with molded clay dogs in art. The students personalized their sleds with their own photographs, making each miniature sled look as if they were the musher.
It was very important to Mr. Young that the students learn the spirit of the race. He said, ""They learned a lot of different skills, but for me, I wanted them to learn that the spirit of the race is not about winning but about challenging ourselves and overcoming obstacles."
Sophia Espinola and classmates Nick Dortona, Carly Schofield and Eric Pantoni display the dog sleds their class made.
Mr. Young's class
pictures courtesy of The Old Colony Memorial
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Manomet Elementary News
Manomet Elementary School's 3rdgraders were well prepared for M.C.A.S. testing this past week. Healthy snacks of fruit and cheese were enjoyed before the children in Mrs. Jen Kenny's class participated in a session of 'Brain Gym'. The movements in the 'Brain Gym' exercises are said to help with concentration and focus, memory, academics: reading, writing, math, test taking, physical coordination, relationships, self-responsibility, organization skills and attitude! These are all important areas of focus, especially during this stressful time of the school year.
Anna Tamulionis enjoys a healthy snack.
Amanda Publicover follows Mrs. Kenny during the 'Brain Gym' activity.
Jane LeBlanc, Kevin Dyer, Caroline Mortell and Siobhan Wilson gear up for MCAS tests.
Edward Perryman, Morga Utera and Julia Cheesman are enjoying the various moves!
Harrison Lassige is ready to get started on the test!
Kara Power and Mrs. Jen Kenny model the moves!
Oliver Trask participates in the 'Brain Gym' exercises.
Ian Worden enjoys these exercises before taking a test.
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Plymouth South Middle School News
ARL SHOWCASE
Over 300 parents visited the first ARL After-School Showcase this past Monday. Ninety-five students participated in one of six of the following unique courses:
- Engineering/Robotics
- JAG TV
- School Newspaper & Lit Magazine
- Travel Through Technology
- Speech & Debate
- Cooking with Culture & Class
Parents were able to view individual course displays while being served refreshments prepared by the cooking class students. There were also live debates, robot basketball games, student readings, Power point vacation presentations and a video of our first JAG TV News program.
The purpose of ARL is to:
- Provide enrichment learning opportunities that are intellectually challenging and stimulating.
- Develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and team-building skills.
- Spark curiosity, creativity, a love of learning and responsibility.
Parent and student survey feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to offering this ten-week program again next fall and winter with additional course offerings.
Thank you to the ARL Co-Directors, Mrs. Hough and Mrs. Cumiskey and our ARL teachers: Mrs. Mitchell & Mrs. Rooney (School Newspaper & Lit Magazine), Mrs. Colby & Mrs. Reed (JAG TV), Mrs. Ramsay (Travel Through Technology), Mr. Hall (Speech & Debate), Mrs. Palladino & Mrs. Scott (Cooking with Culture & Class), and Ms. Hough (Engineering/Robotics).
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PCIS News
PCIS 6th Grade Talent Show
This past Friday, PCIS hosted the first annual 6th Grade Talent Show. Family and friends of PCIS gathered for twelve amazing performances put on by some of PCIS's best 6th grade talent. Apollo house's Christopher Ferrante won the 1st place prize with a guitar performance of "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. Mary Delos-Reyes from Apollo house came in 2nd with her vocal and ukulele rendition of "All About Him" by Auburn, and Jordan Costa of Gemini house was the second runner-up with her rendition of "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" by Chris Brown.
Other performers included Chris Nolan, Lily Colbert, Owen Colbert, Madison DeCoursey, Isabel Kierstead, Nora Healy, Shalynne McGrath, Eilleen Turner, Madison Crowely, Anna Kiley, Ciandra Furtado, Angela Pearson, Morgan Whitfield, Haley Robertson, Emma Stillman, Tori Getz, and Thalles Nunes. 6th grader Max Tripp paired with PCIS teacher Jen Reiss as the event's emcee.
The event was directed by 6th grade ELA teacher Kellianne Campbell, and judged by PCIS teachers Jess Vaitkus, Paul Bonfilio, Kara Graves, and Kathleen Shaw.
All Town Music Festival On Wednesday, select Choral and Band students in grades 1 through 12 from around the district participated in the All Town Music Festival at Memorial Hall. This was a wonderful opportunity for Plymouth's most outstanding music students to showcase their talents. Students underwent an audition process before being accepted into this festival. Hundreds of students participated in this event. Throughout the day, guest conductors came and worked with the many different ensembles in preparation for the evening's performance. This year's festival had an "Americana" theme and concluded with a grand finale of "America the Beautiful" performed by all of the festival participants. Thank you to Kathy Tosolini and all of the Plymouth Music Teachers for organizing such an eventful day of music making.
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Plymouth South High School News
On March 29th, Culinary Arts students Travis Lanoie, Graham Lebica, Lacey Donahue, Kerry Nault and Kelsy Leger, along with their instructor, Barry Levy, had the pleasure of traveling to the Boston State House to work with over twenty other schools within Massachusetts to provide service and meals for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees which numbered approximately 600 people. This opportunity allowed these students to view other schools' foods and presentation, as well as afforded them the opportunity to meet other culinary arts students from other schools. A planning session took place earlier in the month at Assabet Valley Regional Technical School to develop the plans to assure that the day went smoothly. And it did - the day was truly a success!
Plymouth South High School students Hayley Frizzell and Danielle Ketterer traveled to the Boston State House with Dr. Maestas for the above event.
Tickets to the Junior Prom to be held May 6th will go on sale Monday, April 4th.
If you didn't see it already - check out the great article attached to this link in the March 30th Old Colony Memorial.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/topstories/x855935503/PLYMOUTH-SOUTH-HIGH-SCHOOL-Wall-of-change#axzz1IIEAqcTQ
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Plymouth North High School News
During the month of March, Ms. Gravelle's Life Skills class has been studying the Iditarod. They read books about Alaska and sled dogs. The students paired up and followed the daily progress of 5 different mushers on-line; graphing the checkpoints, the mushers' positions, time in/out, and the number of dogs competing on the trail. Students placed their mushers on their 'daily points' on the map of the trail. The class also learned Iditarod mushing and lead dog moves during their physical therapy time with Mrs. Hood. With Ms. Josephine, the occupational therapist, the students created 'checkpoint' signs. The unit wrapped up by learning team skills as they planned, created teams, and ran their own Iditarod race in Ms. Motyka's adapted physical education class.
Social Host Program Make-Up Dates
Juniors who are planning on attending the prom - the makeup night for the mandatory Social Host Meeting is April 5th at 6:00 pm in the Plymouth North Library - students must attend with a parent or guardian.
3rd Term Report Cards
Third term report cards will be issued on Friday, April 8th. Students will receive their report cards during their last period class on Friday, April 8th. Best Buddies Prom 2011
What an amazing night!! All the stars were out!!! The Best Buddies prom took place at Babson College on Friday, March 25th from 6:00PM - 9:00PM. It was a red carpet affair with beautiful people, outfits that sparkled and amazing food. It was a night filled with greetings and conversations with new friends and peers from Best Buddies programs from all around Massachusetts. There were 400 people in attendance including chaperones and advisors. Lucy Shea and Jen Robinson made the Best Buddies prom court and received a hand shake from Miss Massachusetts for their exemplary friendship which mirrors the Best Buddies' mantra. The dance floor was never empty and there were smiles that could be seen from every spot in the venue. 
North Students Give Enrichment
The 19th Annual Enrichment Day at Nathaniel Morton Elementary School took place on Saturday, March 19th with the help of 25 students and two advisors/coaches from Plymouth North. It was noted in a letter of gratitude from Ms. Mahoney, Principal of NMES, to Ms. McSweeney that NMES had 75 volunteers for this event with North students equaling one third of the group. |
NMES Enrichment Day Volunteers
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Tyler Marcotte - Basketball
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Maggie Burt - Cake Decorating
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Kaila Brailey - Creative Story Writing
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Steve Ness - Basketball
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Brandi Diaz - Cake Decorating
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Erika Prince - Creative Story Writing
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Ricky Weathers - Basketball
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Allison Dries - Cake Decorating
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Dana Boudreau - Dodgeball
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Mike Cahill - Baseball
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Cara Goodman - Cake Decorating
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Allan Burgess - Dodgeball
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Doug Maccaferrie - Baseball
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Samantha Levange - Cake Decorating
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Dan Gordon - Dodgeball
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Matt Walsh - Baseball
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Cassandra Varo - Cake Decorating
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Nick Tosi - Dodgeball
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Zach Zaniboni - Baseball
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Brendan McCrae - Karate
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Erin Studholme - TV Dinner Cupcakes
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Carissa Brown - Floater
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Florence Gonsalves - Floater
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Kasey McMann - Floater
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Courtney Talbot - Floater
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Ms. Mary Humberd - NHS Advisor
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Coach Dwayne Follette
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Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D Superintendent
Plymouth Public Schools
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