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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, December 19, 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:
". . . a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
-Christopher Reeve
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News from the Elementary Library Media Specialists:
News for k-12 from the Elementary Library Media Specialists:
Correction to the Notes Entry for Friday, 12/2: Last's week's entry offering grant writing assistance to k-12 staff should have read for the Plymouth Education Foundation (not Association). Sorry if this caused any confusion. Elementary staff please see your building Library Media Specialist for information. Secondary staff should contact Ellen Driscoll.
Have you heard of these helpful online resources?
www.joaniegeltman.blogspot.com is a blog about teens by noted development expert, lecturer, and Lesley University instructor, Joani Geltman.
http://childrenonline.org is run by educators Doug Fodeman and Marge Monroe and explores technology's impact on child and adolescent behavior. The site offers information on scams, tools for parents, and ways to teach kids to be media savvy.
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Guidance Department News
Sophomore Planning Night: Know Your Pathway to Success! (this event has been re-scheduled from Nov. 29 - the new date is January 11):
Wednesday, January 11 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Plymouth SOUTH High School Cafetorium.
The Guidance Department at Plymouth North and South High Schools welcomes all parents and guardians to attend our Sophomore Planning Night (students also invited). The topics for the evening will be:
The High School Transcript
Graduation Requirements
Career & College Planning
College Requirements
Early Financial Planning for College
We look forward to your participation in this important information session!
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Indian Brook Elementary School News
Indian Brook lit the tree in front of the school and welcomed in the holiday season. The rainy night didn't keep the big man in the red suit from making an appearance and taking pictures with all the children that visited. The children also made holiday decorations and wrote letters that will be shipped to the North Pole compliments of Macy's. Macy's donated $1 to the Make a Wish Foundation for each letter sent.
Gifts were also collected at the giving tree to be sent to less fortunate children. Raffles were held to raise funds to support local teenagers during this holiday season. After this generous giving everyone was rewarded with a nice cup of hot cocoa and some cookies. Many thanks to the parents, local business and students that donated their time and resources to keep the holiday spirit of giving alive. This was a fun event and a great way for the Indian Brook Community to give to those in the community that are going through a difficult time.
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South Elementary School News
A Night of Holiday Fun
Hundreds of students got cozy in their pajamas to celebrate the holidays for "South Elementary's Night of the Mitten" event on Friday, December 2. Festivities included a reading of Jan Brett's winter classic, The Mitten, along with various crafts and a visit from Santa. Parents and children gathered in the cafeteria for refreshments and a short concert from the school Band. A special holiday shop provided the opportunity for children to purchase small gifts for friends and family in a safe environment. In addition to making for a festive night, the event also included the collection of new pairs of mittens and gloves to be donated to local families in need.
Let the Music Play
A standing room-only crowd enjoyed music at South Elementary's annual Holiday Concert, held on December 8th. The concert opened with holiday classics from the string program, featuring violin and viola players under the direction of Mr. Chaplan. The band, conducted by Mr. D'Ambrosio, followed with festive favorites, including "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" and "Jingle Bells." The concert concluded with an entertaining, energetic show by the chorus, which includes 136 students, conducted by Ms. Dolan. Students performed at two concerts during the day, along with an evening show. For a special video of the concert put together by Technology Integration Specialist Mrs. Kneller, please visit http://animoto.com/play/esbsHmeBs3YlnavgA0CK2Q
Student Raffle Winners Create Gingerbread Masterpieces
Students had fun making gingerbread houses after school with teachers "Miss Christine" Blanchard, Preschool, and Mrs. Infascelli, Speech/Language. The students won this activity as a raffle prize at the Fall Harvest Fair presented by the Parent-Teacher Association.
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Federal Furnace Elementary School News
Holiday Happenings at Federal Furnace
Santa and a few of his Elves trekked from the North Pole to visit Federal Furnace Elementary for their PTA's annual Holiday Breakfast. Guests were treated to a delicious breakfast graciously donated by Water Street Cafe. After breakfast, families visited Santa's Workshop to make yummy Christmas Tree cones and decorated 'Cookies for Santa' plates. Of course the day was capped with a visit from Santa! Many thanks to the FFES teachers and staff who helped make this event such a success!!
 FFES Teachers Kathy Chalas & Erin Donovan help serve breakfast.
 Bila 'Billy', and little brother Danny El Sammak; Luke and Charlie Camarao
Peyton Cohane & Caitlin Reynolds
 FFES 5th Grade Elves: Matthew Scharf, Michael Mitchell, Hannah Harrington, MiKayla Dearing, Helen Fraser, Lauren Garcia, Andrea Sweeney, Jerrianne Newton, Erin Goonan & Callie Macpherson
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West School NewsCommunity Service Learning at West Elementary School The students in Mrs. Haynes, Miss Learning, and Miss Reid's classrooms are engaged in a service learning project. Students and their families are contributing items needed for a local food pantry each month. As the classes collect items, students complete activities across the curriculum. Students create graphs, explore literature, complete journal entries, and develop an awareness of their surrounding community. The students involved in this project have enjoyed the learning aspect as well as knowing how their actions help address the needs of their local community. They are proud participants of the service learning endeavor and are taking action to make positive changes in the world around them!  Students take inventory of the generous donations made by students, their families, and West Elementary teachers. 
Students in Mrs. Haynes' class use their math skills to analyze the data! The children are learning the valuable lesson that "many hands helping can make a heavy load light." By being kind and caring, students can see the power of responsible citizenship. Everyone working together can really make a big difference! News from Homeroon 21 Good habits start early! Students in Mrs. Rogers' class celebrate their "perfect Attendance" from Term 1. Everyone is very proud, as you can see. 
After seeing our Tanglewood Marionettes Cultural Arts Program , Emily went home and made her very own marionette! She used her "Woody" doll, attached strings to his arms, legs and cowboy hat. She attached the strings to two pencils at the top to make him move. Emily can make her "Woody Marionette" walk and wave. How creative! 
Thank You for Your Continued Support!!! On behalf of the West Elementary administration, we would like to say thank you to all of our students, their families, our teachers, the PTA and the event coordinators who made the Great Pajama Drive and last night's Pajama Story Night Celebration a tremendous success. Through your kindness and continued support, we were able to help support our local community (while having a fun time doing it). A wonderful time was had by all. We wish you a cheerful holiday season! Thank you.
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Cold Spring Elementary News
The students at Cold Spring School are busy finding out where they live and where they come from.
Where They Live
The second graders are learning about geography- from continents to home streets! The students started off with a picture of the whole Earth, then zoomed in on their home address. The pictures look like a series of Google Earth zooms!
Where They Come From
Third graders from Mrs. Egan's class have been looking at many traditions throughout the world.The students then found out about their own family traditions and histories. These pictures show their own versions of their families' crests!
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Manomet Elementary School News
On Friday, December 16th, grade four and five students from Manomet School will culminate their six-week after school Theater Workshop experience with two performances of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Please join us for either of these performances at 1:45pm and 7:00pm. Admission is free, and performances are open to the public.
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PSMS News
PSMS Music Department News
Congratulations to the three music students from PSMS that auditioned and were accepted to the Southeast Junior District Music Festival to be held on March 9th and 10th at Attleboro High School. Veronica Holmes was selected to perform trumpet in the Festival Orchestra, Sean Swanton will be performing Euphonium in the Festival Band, and Ramona DiFrancesco will be performing in the Festival Chorus.
The PSMS Music Department Holiday Concert will be on Thursday, December 15th at 7:00PM. Please come and celebrate the holidays with our Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Band, and Chorus.
Write Stuff Stars
As part of the Literacy Program at PSMS, the teachers from the Literacy Support Team selected several students to be highlighted for their outstanding writing in the content area. The Write Stuff Stars is one way to encourage and celebrate student writing and there are plans to have students honored in the future. The following students were recently honored at the Term 1 Honors Breakfast:
- Daniel Ferguson-Grade 8
- Elijah Sullivan-Grade 8
- Sawyer Hagger-Grade 8
- Valerie Tarr-Grade 8
- Emma Esterman-Grade 8
- David Daly-Grade 7
- Fallon Mello-Grade 7
- Julia Studley-Grade 7
- Allysia Tavekelian-Grade 7
- Jessica McWhirk-Grade 7
- Mahema Singh-Grade 7
 Daniel Ferguson, Elijah Sullivan, Sawyer Hagger, Valerie Tarr, Emma Esterman
 Jessica McWhirk, Allysia Tavekelian, Julia Studley, Fallon Mello, David Daly, Mahema Singh
Term 1 Honors Breakfast
Plymouth South Middle School recently held its Term 1 Honors Breakfast on Wednesday, December 7th. The keynote speakers were former PSMS and current PSHS students, Brianna Corsini and Ryan McLaughlin. There were 98 Grade 6 students, 51 Grade 7 students and 91 Grade 8 students in attendance at the three separate sessions. Brianna and Ryan, both seniors, were the highlights of the event each describing their work ethic and motivation for success in school and in life. The high school seniors thanked their parents and teachers for helping them succeed and shared their plans to attend college and pursue careers in business and criminal justice. The student speeches were well received and inspired all of the students and parents in attendance.
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PCIS News
$100 for 100
On Saturday, December 3rd from 7:00am to 10:00am, Joyal Capital Management hosted its annual $100 for 100 event at Dick's Sporting Goods in Plymouth. $100 for 100 is an event where students are nominated to receive a $100 gift card from Dick's Sporting Goods and then they are able to go on a shopping spree that morning. PCIS had 32 students selected to participate in this year's event. Students arrived at the store and were greeted by Joyal and PCIS staff and were helped around the store to shop. PCIS thanks teachers and staff: Carol Atanian, Linda McPeck, Mona High, Penny Tamulionis, Kathleen Shaw, Danielle Basinski, Amy Brown, Jen Reis, Maureen Westgate, Nancy Horwood, Nicole Brine, Deb Burton, Mike Martin, Lisa Murray, Housemaster Paul Duprey and Principal Brian Palladino for volunteering their time to assist at the event. What a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Thank you Joyal Capital Management for your generosity to our students.
PCIS Students represent the state of Massachusetts
PCIS Students Brett Cabral, Justin Cabral, Joey Walsh (Captain) and Kyle Mann will represent PCIS and Plymouth on the Massachusetts All League Football All Star team. All four start for the 8th grade team. PCIS 8th grader Joey Walsh was selected to represent the team as captain. A few weeks ago over 95 grade eight players from across the state made their way to Westwood, Massachusetts to try out for the team. From that group, 35 students were selected to be on the Massachusetts team. The Massachusetts team won their first two games against New Hampshire and Connecticut to win the New England region. They await the winner of the Mid-Atlantic bracket to play for a chance to go to Nationals in San Antonio Texas. Additionally, PCIS 7th grader Mitchell Hennings will represent Plymouth on the grade 7 Massachusetts state team. Best of luck to these students.
PCIS Student Patriots Pen Award Winner
The Patriot's Pen program is sponsored by the VFW and is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study programs in the United States and its territories. For the second year in a row a student from PCIS has be selected to receive an award for their essay on the theme, "Are you proud of your country?" Mr. Martin, grade eight Social Studies teacher in Ranger house, assigned all of his students to write an essay. Reilly Whitehouse was selected as first place winner in Plymouth and came in second place for the district. He will be recognized on December 12th at a VFW in Abington and will be reading his essay at the Plymouth VFW in January. Reilly will be receiving an award for placing in the contest. He has decided to give half of the award to the Wounded Warriors Project and put the rest in his college fund.
Reilly Whitehouse
Toys for Tots
A special thanks goes out to the students and staff at PCIS who collected over 500 toys for the Toys for Tots program. All week staff, students, families, and community members dropped off toys to support the Ambassadors and this service-learning project. The PCIS grade 6 Ambassadors' Toys for Tots project ended this week with two culminating activities. Gemini House hosted a PCIS staff-sponsored breakfast where staff members throughout the building donated toys at this celebration. Lastly, grade 6 Ambassadors loaded all of the donated gifts onto a truck to be delivered to the warehouse where these toys will be distributed to families in need this holiday season. Thank you to all who contributed and supported this project.
PCIS Students Qualify for Jr. Districts
PCIS would like to congratulate the following PCIS Chorus students who qualified for Jr. Districts:
Julia McBride, Alto
Sarah Serrilla, Soprano
Alexa Tiemann, Soprano
These students will perform with other outstanding Chorus students from the Southeast District in a gala concert. The festival will take place on March 9th & 10th at Attleboro High School. It is a great honor to be selected! Good luck!
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Plymouth North High School News
Operation Warm
Senior students Hannah Conley and Gemma Henderson are currently working on a Public Relations project for DECA; together they are completing a written paper for the State DECA Business Conference. Gemma and Hannah are working with Easy 99.1 Radio to raise awareness and money for an organization called Operation Warm. This organization raises money to buy new winter coats for children in need. The goal of their effort is to distribute coats to children
in the Plymouth community.
So far the students have set up donation boxes at Bella Piazza, Crazy Eddies, and The Cornerstone Café. They are collecting monetary donations and currently selling Plymouth North Lanyards for $5. If interested in purchasing a lanyard please use keepachildwarm@gmail.com or stop by Ms. Schram's room, 205. Both Hannah and Gemma anticipate more fundraisers to come and have created a Facebook page titled, "Plymouth North DECA and Operation Warm."
Anyone may contact them by email at keepachildwarm@gmail.com
Help Support Operation Warm in their mission to keep every child warm this winter. Plymouth North lanyards are on sale for five dollars each. Donations are gratefully accepted to help distribute new coats to children in our community. For more information, please visit our Facebook page, "Plymouth North DECA and Operation Warm" or contact us at keepachildwarm@gmail.com"
SAVE THE DATE
SOPHOMORE PLANNING NIGHT - Know Your Pathway to Success!
DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: PSHS CAFETORIUM
The Plymouth North and Plymouth South High Schools' Guidance Departments welcome all parents and guardians to attend our Sophomore Planning Night (students may also attend).
Topics for the evening will be: The High School Transcript, Graduation/College Requirements
Career/College Planning, Maximizing Your Potential, Early Financial Planning for College
We look forward to your participation in this important information session!
Students Helping Students
National Honor Society students have formed a group to help academically support the students of Plymouth North. On Tuesdays students can go to the library at 2:15 p.m. to receive assistance in their Math and Science related courses. On Thursday at 2:15 p.m. the same support is available for Writing, History and World Language. National Honor Society Students are available until 3:15 p.m.
Congratulation Jack McDonald
Jack McDonald has been selected to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Golf Team. "I always try to plan my next shot before I hit my first shot," Jack said. "It keeps me out of trouble." Jack would love to play Division 1 golf in college.
Friday Night Out
Drama Club invites everyone to Friday Night Live, a collection of comedy skits, on December 16th at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $5.00 at the door.
Progress Reports will be sent home next Friday, December 16th.
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Plymouth South High School News Great job to all students and teachers involved in our music program. The vocal and instrumental concerts were FANTASTIC!
Plymouth South High Electrical Students help a Local Charitable Organization
The Festival of trees is in its 22nd year of existence and is the major fundraiser for the Organization known as Cranberry Hospice. The Friends of Cranberry Hospice is the part of the organization which brings the gift of joy and the spirit of family, love, and sharing to the people in the communities they serve. More than 300 volunteers contribute their talents, skills, and financial support to make the 2011 Festival of Trees a joyous and magical event during the holiday season.
Hospice provides medical, emotional, social and spiritual support to people with a life limiting illness and their families. This care enables patients to spend their final days at home, or in a homelike setting, with dignity and quality of life, surrounded by the people they love.
The Electrical students lend their talents and enthusiasm to the lighting of the trees and working closely with the community members that are the stalwarts of this organization. Without their help, this festival would take much longer to set up and electrify for the patrons that come to experience and support this worthy cause. The students take great pride in helping the less fortunate of their community.
Come out and support the PSHS dance team at the Panther Dancers Holiday Fair!
December 10, 2011
PSHS Cafe
Principals Blog - Mrs. Fry has recently started a blog on the main page of the PSHS website. The blog is updated weekly. There are so many events weekly at PSHS, please check the blog to keep up on important school information.
The "Luminary Project" at Brewster Gardens that Plymouth South High School students Jon Jaros, Tim Grandy, and Halie Grobleski created raised a total amount of $2,420.00 last weekend. This money will be given to the Jordan Hospital Cancer Center. Wonderful job by those students and by the Marketing Students.
Please check our the PSHS website for video footage of school events:
Pep Rally
National Honor Society Induction
Thanksgiving Day Football Game
Honors Breakfast
South Tech Garage Building Project
"Lights of Hope" campaign
DECA Veteran's Project
Panther TV Shows
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Unified Arts News
Festival of Trees
Students in the PSMS after school "Festival of Trees" Club worked for several weeks making ornaments and planning the decoration of a tree that was displayed in the Cranberry Area Hospice's 22nd Annual Festival of Trees held at Plimoth Plantation last week. This is the 14th tree decorated by this Club which has been in existence since the school opened in 1999.
The theme of the tree merged two of Principal Mr. John Siever's 2011-2012 missions for the school: Civility and Career Awareness. Our school nurse Mrs. Joanne Denietolis named the tree, "Some have entertained angels unaware". Students decorated donated angels to represent various roles/careers in society. They wrote messages that might suggest random acts of kindness, and added other gold and silver ornaments to the tree. Adults at PSMS are proud of the students' efforts and pleased with their understanding of the theme. 'Tis the season when we all can serve as angels to others!
NEW ART SHOW:
Under the direction of Plymouth North's Visual Art teacher Sherie Harkins, Plymouth Public Schools installed it's first ever Art Exhibit at the Independence Mall in Kingston this week. Thanks to the hard work of all the art teachers and their students from elementary through high schools 113 pieces of art were hung in the food court at the mall. Many thanks to Emma Hodgson, Katelyn Petrell, Janice Arponen, student teacher Justin Schuler, and South Elementary art teacher Sarah Cristani, for their help with the installation of the art work. You can see the art work throughout the holiday season.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Chorus and Band students from PCIS, PSMS, PNHS, and PSHS traveled to Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield where they auditioned for the Southeastern District Music Festival sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association. Students sang or played a selected piece of music for a judge. The following students were recognized as exceptional musicians and have been invited to participate in a music festival on March 9th and 10th at Attleboro High School:
PCIS:
Julia McBride, Alto - Chorus
Sarah Serrilla, Soprano - Chorus
Alexa Tiemann, Soprano - Chorus
PSMS:
Veronica Holmes, Trumpet - Orchestra
Sean Swanton, Baritone Horn - Band
Ramona DiFrancesco, Soprano - Chorus
PNHS:
Maggie Thompson, French Horn - Orchestra
Shaelyn Helminiak, Soprano - Treble Chorus
PSHS:
Allison Rogers, Clarinet - Band
It is a great honor to be selected and we congratulate these students for being recognized!
This week concerts were put on by South Elementary, and both the Chorus and Bands of Plymouth North and South High Schools.
WATD recorded the Chorus concert put on by the North and South High School Choral groups, and it is slated to be aired in the next week or two. Please check their website for the actual time. Under the direction of the Plymouth South High Schools Choral Director Brandon Coons the new Show Choir was highlighted.
Follow this link, http://animoto.com/play/esbsHmeBs3YlnavgA0CK2Q to see a slide show of the South Elementary holiday Concert.
Both the Plymouth North and Plymouth South High School Bands held their concerts together Thursday night at Plymouth North High School under the direction of Bonnie Holmes and Justin Canzano. The bands perform selected pieces together and on their own. Both high schools highlighted their separate jazz ensembles. |
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Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D Superintendent
Plymouth Public Schools
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Guest Speaker Brianna Corsini addresses the students and the parents.