Cold Spring School News

"Poetryguy" Coming to the Hedge Elementary School and Cold Spring Elementary School!
 
The young writers at the Hedge Elementary School and Cold Spring Elementary School will be fastening their seatbelts, loosening up their 'laughers,' and sharpening their poetic pencils in anticipation of a residency by Vermont children's poet Ted Scheu on Monday and Tuesday, October 3-4, 2011 at Hedge School and Wednesday and Thursday, October 5-6, 2011 at Cold Spring.

Scheu, a nationally-known children's poet, will zoom south from Vermont to work with the Hedge students for a fun and productive two days of writing and smiling.  As he does in all of his school programs, Scheu will present some his own work in an opening assembly for kids and teachers, and then head off to classrooms for a series of writing workshops. A culminating highlight of the residency will be a special Family Poetry Night when the children will share their poems with their families, and maybe even write a poem with them! This special evening event will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday night October 4th at Hedge School and Thursday night October 6th at Cold Spring. Mark your calendars!

Ted Scheu's own poems, published in over a dozen anthologies and poetry collections in the US and UK, are borne of his childhood memories, as well as from his experience as an elementary teacher and parent.  "I try to capture in my poems the silliness and sadness, the worries and the wonders of being a kid--whether it's school life, or the surprising things that happen at home and with friends," said Scheu recently.  "My goal in my own writing, and especially in my teaching, is to help kids find their own voices. Poetry is the best way I've found to get kids revved up about their writing.  Its simple format and easy emotional connections seem to open hearts and get pencils dancing."

Scheu, (pronounced "shy"), 57, lives in Middlebury, Vermont, and travels all over the world as a visiting author.  His published works include his own companion collections-"I Tickled My Teachers," "I Froze My Mother and Other Seriously Funny Family Poems," and "I Threw My Brother Out," (Young Poets' Press, 2009), as well as the popular US anthologies, "I Invited a Dragon to Dinner" by Philomel, NY (2002), "If Kids Ruled the School" by Meadowbrook Press, MN (2004), and "My Teacher's in Detention" by Meadowbrook Press, MN (2006), and in the UK in numerous anthologies published by Macmillan Children's Books and Scholastic. Information about Scheu's work may also be found at his web site at www.poetryguy.com.

If you are anywhere near the Hedge or Cold Spring in early October, you may hear the quietly-happy sounds of great poets at work.  And, if you're really lucky, you might see and hear some sparking-fresh, heart-opening verse being shared by the kids on October 4th at Hedge or October 6th at Cold Spring.

 

Nathaniel Morton Elementary News 

Teachers Honored and Received Teacher Rewards Cards during Award Presentation Ceremony at Nathaniel Morton Elementary.

Plymouth South Middle School News

PSMS Advanced Learning Opportunities Program

The PSMS Advanced Learning Opportunities Program is just underway for the fall 2011 semester. This intensive program, which is under the direction of Amanda Hough and Sharon Cumiskey, meets for 10 Monday afternoons from 3:00 - 5:30 pm to challenge students with learning a new skill or body of knowledge. The classes that students could choose from include: Electronic Engineering, Cartooning, JAG-TV production, Green & Gold Gazette, The Math & Science of Sewing, Model UN, and Mathletes.

MCAS scores in ELA and math were used to determine a pool of 300 students from grades 6 - 8 who qualified to apply. These students were notified by mail in August and given seven classes from which to choose. Their application also included a hand written essay and a selection of their top three choices from the classes offered. Interviews and teacher recommendations were also considered in the student's qualifications. From the 150 students who applied we were able to accommodate 102 students in the class offerings.

Students were notified this week of their acceptance and which class they were assigned to attend. The ALO classes begin on September 19th and end with a Parent's Night Exhibition on December 5th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. Each class will showcase the student's accomplishments during their 10 weeks of learning.

Plans are already in place for our winter 2012 ALO offerings for the eligible students in grades 5 - 8. Some of the classes will be repeated, but there will also be some new offerings. Notices for the next round will go out to the students in early December 2011.

Cave Paintings

As part of their study of ancient humans, Kelly Browne's 6th graders created "cave paintings" to represent their lives today. After a virtual visit to the famous painted caves in Lascaux, France, students discussed the motivations of these ancient people to leave their mark upon the world. What did they want us to know about their culture and values? Students crawled into their "caves" and left their own marks through symbols of their daily lives. Images of family, holiday celebrations, sports, music, theater and pets represent the things they love most.

Challenge One of "The Imagine..." Project:

On Opening Day of the 2011-2012 school year, Superintendent Gary Maestes challenged teachers, students, staff and fellow administrators of the Plymouth School System to imagine... and to work toward the positive goals of our collective and personal dreams. On the first day of classes, seventh grade art students at Plymouth South Middle School were instructed to imagine positive actions in a Post 9/11 World. Students worked in pairs quickly creating posters illustrating those positive "imaginings". Some of the ideas expressed were: "Imagine a world in which no one is lonely", "Imagine if we all worked together.", "Imagine a world without poverty.", "Imagine a world in which everyone who needed medicine could get it.", "Imagine a world where everyone had family.". Students had very altruistic ideas.

Challenge Two of "The Imagine..." Project:

On the first day of classes, eighth grade art students were asked to imagine an accomplishment they hope to have in their futures. Students wrote these aspirations on a paper mortar board complete with graduation tassel; students then had to illustrate a pencil on which was written a tangible plan to get to the goal. Student work may be viewed on a bulletin board at Plymouth South Middle School.

Challenge Three of "The Imagine..." Project:

Homework given at the Plymouth South Middle School for the weekend of 9/11: The evil things that happened that day were well planned. The responses to that evil were not planned; regular people had to go deep into their hearts and just react with kindness and bravery. Last weekend, in tribute to that, students were to perform one act of kindness no matter how tiny that act may be, and they must report back on their action.

PSMS FALL HONORS BREAKFAST

As a result of last year's parent survey, Plymouth South Middle School will hold its first Fall Honors Breakfast on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. This is something that has been missing at PSMS and we are pleased that parents have asked us to add this celebration.

One hundred and fifty-nine students who achieved honor roll status based on last year's 4th quarter grades will be acknowledged for their academic accomplishments. Parents are invited to join their child in the cafeteria at one of the following sessions:

• Grade 7 @ 8:30 AM
• Grade 8 @ 9:15 AM

Refreshments will be served and the guest speaker will be a current senior from Plymouth South High School who was a former PSMS student.

This Honors Breakfast will be the first of four this year as we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students from each of the academic terms.

Plymouth South High School News

Upcoming Events:

Oct. 7th - PSHS Octoberfest

Nov. 5th - Homecoming     

Open House will be held at Plymouth South High School on September 29th, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  Informational letters have been mailed home this week.
 
The Car Show that was held on Sept. 10th at PSHS by PSHS Skills Group was very successful.  The purpose was to raise funds for the program.
 
All sports at Plymouth South High School are in full swing right now and are going well.  Please check out the sports schedules and come support the teams! 

REMINDER     

All students should have turned in their PROFILE, HANDBOOK SIGNATURE PAGE (Signed) and EMERGENCY CARD. Beginning next week students will be called to the office for missing documents and detentions will be assigned until documents are returned. Students will NOT be allowed to purchase Homecoming Tickets until this paperwork is returned.

There will be a Students Against Destructive Decisions meeting after school on Friday in the cafeteria. All students are welcome.

Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, October 1st from 7:00 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. Tickets on sale Monday, Sept. 19th through Friday, Sept. 23rd. The cost of a ticket is $15.00 or $12.00 with two canned goods. All obligations must be cleared up with Mrs. Follette in the Main Office. Any student wanting to bring a student from another school must pick up a permission slip from Student Service Office or the Main Office.

Octoberfest for Seniors is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th. T-Shirt orders will be taken at all lunches from Tuesday, Sept. 20th through Friday, Sept. 30th. Cost is $20 each payable with CHECK ONLY made payable to PNHS-SAF.

SPORTS

Please note due to the fall weather it is important for students to listen for any cancellation announcements at the end of the day.

Abbreviation Key:

Senior College Planning Evening for Parents: Wednesday, September 28 from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Plymouth North High School Auditorium

The Plymouth High Schools' Guidance Departments (North and South) are inviting parents/guardians of our seniors to a combined College Planning Information Meeting on September 28th, 2011, from 7:00-9:00 PM, at the Plymouth North High School Auditorium.

This will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn how the guidance counselors are assisting students through the application/admissions process. Also, we will share helpful information to guide you, as you assist them in this challenging process.  The final year of high school can be both exciting and stressful. Working closely together will ensure a more productive and positive experience for seniors and parents!

Since the counselors have already met with students last year, and we are presenting a "College Application Process" workshop in senior classes this fall, we have designed this evening program specifically for parents/guardians.

Should you be unable to attend, please be aware of the following:

1. Transcript Requests are due in the Guidance Office two weeks prior to the application deadline set by the college.

2. NCAA Clearinghouse Applications are required to play Division I or II sports in college. Students who intend to play a collegiate sport should see their counselor and got to www.ncaa.org.

3. CSS Profiles (financial aid forms) are required for those students planning to apply to private colleges that require them; go to www.collegeboard.com.  

4. Access PNHS and PSHS Guidance Websites via www.plymouth.k12.ma.us for a calendar of events, including SAT exam dates, upcoming financial aid workshop, scholarship information, and informational websites and resource links.

5.  Plymouth High Schools' Annual College Fair, Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 6:00- 8:00 pm; All Cape College Day College Fair, Wednesday, October 19, 3:30-5:30 pm; Financial Aid Night, Wed., Nov.16, 7:00-9:00 pm; Local Scholarship Evening /Senior Parents Night, March TBD, 7-8 pm.

The Guidance Department looks forward to seeing parents of seniors on September 28th. Please save the date on your calendar!