The Spofford Times
 
Excellence Starts with You |
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MIDWEEK MAILING
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Wednesday is backpack mail day!
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| Student Drop-off Notes
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It is very important that you do not enter the bus lane during either drop-off or pick-up.
No
student should be dropped-off before 8:30 am (unless attending band,
chorus, or a scheduled extra-help session). There is no supervision
available before 8:30 am.
If you arrive at school before 8:30 am, please have your child wait in the car with you until 8:30 am.
Students who enter the building early will have to wait in the lobby, but will not be supervised until 8:30 am.
From Handbook, page 20:
Telephone calls to the school during the day regarding a dismissal change should be reserved for emergencies only and cannot be accommodated after 2:15 p.m.
each day due to difficulty reaching students in a timely manner. |
Boxford Elementary Schools
2008-2009 Calendar (Updated)
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Please download an updated calendar for the 2008-2009 school year. |
| NCLB Report Cards
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Please check out our 2007-2008 NCLB Report Cards:
Boxford
Cole School
Spofford Pond
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| Volume II, Issue: 2
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September 8, 2008
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Dear Spofford Pond Community,
What a fantastic first week. We held our first Spofford Gathering on Thursday morning. The children were introduced to each of the staff members in the building. It was beautiful to hear the thunderous applause that greeted each staff member. Wow!
We are not wasting any time as we get right into the thick of things this week. On Tuesday, we have Picture Day. Please send your child to school in a nice shirt as it makes all the difference. On Wednesday, we hold our first Fire Drill of the year. Thursday will be the Grades 3 & 4 Open House at 6:00 pm.
While the weather is warm, I need to remind many students and their families about the school dress code:
Dress Code
From Handbook, page 12
It
is not appropriate to wear clothing to school that is designed for
beachwear (i.e., halter and tube tops, bare midriffs, short shorts
& skirts, and flip-flops).
Apparel with "double meanings" is
inappropriate for school wear, such as concert T-shirts depicting
illegal or anti-social behavior and buttons or pins with profane or
vulgar words.
Parents will be notified by the principal if a student's clothing does not meet school expectations.
Students
will be asked to change their clothing or put something over if needed.
Also, I keep a clean t-shirt in my office if parents cannot come to
deliver more appropriate clothing. Thank you for your cooperation.
Have a great week.
Sincerely,
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Larry Fliegelman
Principal
lfliegelman@boxfordschools.org |
Some reminders...
Spofford Pond Calendar Online.
Just click here (also in the Quick Links box on the left).
Boxford Elementary Schools Calendar Changed!
In
June, the Boxford School Committee voted to cancel school on Tuesday,
November 4, so that the National Election will not interfere with the
safe operation of the school day. We will instead hold a full day on
October 31. There is an updated calendar available at the link in the
sidebar.
Publication Notes
The
Spofford Times will be published each Monday for the entire school
year. There may be special editions as warranted. If you would like
your school related messages included in future issues of the Spofford
Times, please email me by 5pm on Thursdays. Plain text in the body of
an email is the simplest. I reserved the right to edit or deny
publication of any submissions.
As always, if you need to
unsubscribe from the Spofford Times, please click on the
SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
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From the Band Office
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The Registration form and payment and the Instrumental Choice Questionnaire ( for new musicians only) are now due in to the school office. Students will not be scheduled for instrumental lessons until forms and payment have been received. Additional copies are available in the school office or in Mrs. Monty's room. Any 5th and 6th Grader who would like to begin learning an instrument can also register at this time. Parents should contact Mrs. Monty at school by phone or email. (978 352 8616 ext.147; monty@boxfordschools.org)
There will be a brief informational meeting for all new Band parents this coming Tuesday, September 9th at 6:30 pm in the Spofford Pond cafeteria. Following the meeting, the Music & Arts company will be on hand to rent instruments to anyone interested in their "rent-to-own" program. I look forward to seeing many of you there!
5th & 6th Grade Concert Band rehearsals and all instrumental lessons begin the week of September 15th. Please make sure that your child has an instrument in good working order by that date.
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| Upcoming Events |
Tue. 9/9 - Picture Day
Tue. 9/9, 6:30pm - Music and Arts Rental, 4th Grade Parents
Thu. 9/11, 6:00pm - Open House for Grades 3 & 4
Mon. 9/15, 3:30 - Site Council
Thu. 9/18, 6:00pm - Open House for Grades 5 & 6
Wed. 9/24, 4:00pm - Fall Fundown
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Check out the Online Spofford Calendar - http://tinyurl.com/294h36
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News from Parent-led Organizations |
| PTO |
Welcome Back
The PTO wants to welcome all families back to Cole and Spofford! Your PTO Board, as well as several committee heads, has been working over the summer to plan exciting events for 2008-2009. Family favorites such as the Fundown, the Harvest Dance, and Skate Night are already being planned, and we are trying to fit more family-friendly events into the schedule. Our Membership Drive will kick off Wednesday Sept. 10, and this year if you send your materials in by October 1, you can enter a drawing to win a digital camera! If you want to be part of planning these events or more, contact Christina Eckert at eckertcovino@hotmail.com.
Save the Dates
The Fall Fundown will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 5pm in the Spofford Parking Lot. Kara Delaney is once again putting together a delicious barbecue and excellent entertainment, so mark your calendars!
The Harvest Dance is scheduled for Friday, October 24, in the Cole Cafeteria.
The Spaghetti Supper will take place Thursday, Nov. 20 in the Spofford Cafeteria.
We are still working out dates for Skate Night, Bingo Night, and all of our favorite family events, plus one or two more.
We are looking for a Community Outreach Co-Chairperson to help coordinate these events. Current Co-Chair Deb Bargman has much of the calendar planned, and needs an enthusiastic individual to work with her. If you love these family-oriented events and want to help ensure they continue, please contact Deb at nbargman@comcast.net.
We're All in This Together
Boxford PTO has teamed up with North Shore Music Theatre to bring a wonderful entertainment opportunity to you, while raising funds for the PTO. High School Musical 2 is coming to the North Shore Music Theatre Dec. 18 - Jan. 11. Tickets are on sale now, and for every ticket you buy, your PTO can earn $10. All you have to do is use the Boxford PTO code, FBE1, when ordering. You can purchase tickets online at www.nsmt.org, or call 978-232-7200. Don't forget to use our code, FBE1.
As always, you can help the PTO by collecting BoxTops for Education. In addition, we are also collecting Hood's Sox Tops for Kids, Tyson's Project A+ Labels, and Campbell's Labels for Education (which are also on Pepperidge Farm, Swansons, Prego and V8 labels). You can drop any of these box tops or labels in the BoxTops bins at the entrances of both schools. Remember, every clipping means money for our school - last year we made over $1000 on BoxTops alone! |
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DASH |
Sign Up to be a DASH (Disability Awareness Starts Here) Volunteer at Your Child's Open House!
DASH is a parent-led organization that works in the classroom to create awareness and sensitivity about different disabilities. There are four unique curriculums integrated into specific grade-level presentations during the year. You will have the opportunity to sign up to be a classroom volunteer at your child's Open House. For more information contact Donna Ellis at 978-352-4929. Check out our website at www.TTDASH.org.
Keep an eye out for the DASH volunteer sign-up sheet! |
Community Giving Tree
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Tri-Town Schools Fall School Supply Drive
This September we'll be doing a School Supply Drive for the Community Giving Tree.
Supplies needed include:
3-ring binders
Spiral bound Notebooks
Pencils
Pens
Scissors
Backpacks
Rulers
Glue Sticks
Crayons
Pencil Cases
Dividers
Calculators
Report covers Folders
Erasers
The Community Giving Tree services children and families in need in Essex County. Learn more at www.communitygivingtree.org. These children need the same school supplies that you are buying for your children - Let's help them get off to a good start. Remember to pick up a few extra supplies when you do your own children's back-to-school shopping! It's easy for us to do and means the world to a child who can't!
There will be collection boxes waiting for your generous donations in both schools the first two weeks of school.
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News from Around Town
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Boxford Town Library
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Global Warming: The Latest Research with Ted McIntyre, Ph.D
Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:00am
Boxford Town Hall, 7A Spofford Road
Sponsored by the Boxford Town Library and the Friends of the Boxford Town Libraries. Ted McIntyre has had a long term interest in the physics of climate change and the technology of renewable energy. This lecture will further your knowledge of the important energy choices our society faces. Listen to Dr. McIntyre and then head to the Apple Festival for baked goodies, artisans and the Library's annual book sale--gently used books at great prices!
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Boxford Cultural Council |
2008 Boxford Music Festival
The Boxford Cultural Council announces the 2008 Boxford Music Festival to be held in conjunction with the Apple Festival on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 10am in the Boxford East Village.
The North Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra will open the day's musical festivities and will be followed by these local bands and performers:
o Goodhues
o The Charlie Keating Band
o Don't Call Me Shirley
o Unspoken Youth
o Clock Strikes 9
o Craig Sonnenfeld
o Stone Town
Mark Balding, spokesman for the Boxford Cultural Council says, "This year's Music Festival offers more music than ever before. We have bands playing everything from classical to country to blues to rock. And, for the first time we are utilizing two stages at each end of the East Village. We think there is something for every family to enjoy."
The rain date for this year's Music Festival is Sunday September 21, 2008.
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Tri-Town Council
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Understanding the On-Line Social World of Teens and Pre-Teens
For Parents, Guardians & Educators of students in grades 5-12
Thursday, September 11, 2008, 7:00-9:00 pm Masco Café
Please join us for this timely discussion presented by Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (M.A.R.C.) at Bridgewater State College and nationally recognized speaker on the topics of internet safety, cyber bullying and violence prevention. This program will help Parents, Guardians & Educators to understand:
ˇ Facts about social networking, cyber bullying & on-line safety issues.
ˇ How teens use cell phones and the internet for instant messaging, social networking and on-line gaming sites.
ˇ What causes cyber bullying behavior and how easily well- adjusted kids can fall into this behavior.
ˇ How to establish & enforce safe guidelines to empower kids to protect themselves.
For more information, please contact:
Lisa Teichner
Program Director
(978) 887-6512
lteichner@tritowncouncil.org
Sponsored by:
Tri-Town Council
49 Main Street
Topsfield, MA 01983
www.tritowncouncil.org
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| Notice of Non-Discrimination
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| All programs, activities, and employment opportunities engaged in by
the Boxford Public Schools are offered without regard to race, color,
sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation and disability. |
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