[Spofford Times] September 29, 2008

Dear Spofford Pond Community,

Once again, the Fundown was Fantastic! My daughter and wife enjoyed the crowds, food, and hospitality. I certainly enjoyed serving burgers and hot dogs.

Thank you to the PTO and the many volunteers for putting on such a great event.

You might remember the survey that I asked you all to complete last spring. Well, the Site Council is working on analyzing the data and will release a report later in the fall. The meetings are open to the public if you are interested in attending. You can check the calendar (linked below for the dates). If you have any questions about the survey or Site Council, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Have a great week.

Sincerely,

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.

From the Math Office

Online Math League

This is the second year of the Online Math League at Spofford Pond. This year we are looking to recruit many more students at each grade level. Any student who would like a fun math challenge may join. Each grade level will have a team and meet six times before school during the school year. Students will take three multiple choice math tests consisting of 15 problems and attend three practice sessions. The test will be printed out on paper for each student and will not be taken online. I will correct the tests after each contest and enter the results online. Students will be able to view individual and team results for their school online. To learn more about the Online Math League and read frequently asked questions go to www.AcademicLeagues.com.

Time: 8:00- 8:30, Location: Art Room

Practice = P Test = T

Grade 5, Mondays
Oct. 27 P
Nov. 17 T
Jan. 12 P
Feb. 2 T
March 2 P
March 16 T

Grade 4, Tuesdays
Oct. 28 P
Nov. 25 T
Jan. 13 P
Feb. 3 T
March 3 P
March 17 T

Grade 3, Wednesdays
Oct. 29 P
Nov. 19 T
Jan. 14 P
Feb. 4 T
March 4 P
March 18 T

Grade 6, Fridays
Oct. 31 P
Nov. 21 T
Jan. 16 P
Feb. 6 T
March 6 P
March 20 T

Please email me at byando@boxfordschools.org or call me at school if you have questions or would like to sign your child up for the team. Each student will be required to sign a permission slip to have their test scores entered online. A permission slip was sent home.

Beth Yando
Math Instructional Support Specialist
Boxford Elementary Schools

Upcoming Events	Mon. 10/13 - No School, Columbus Day Tue. 10/14, 7:00pm - PTO General Meeting Mon. 10/27, 3:30 pm - Site Council
Check out the complete Online Spofford Calendar - http://tinyurl.com/294h36

News from Parent-led Organizations

PTO

Membership Deadline This Week

Don't be left out of the PTO Directory - return your membership form now! There is no benefit to waiting, and if you return your membership form by THIS WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, you are entered in a drawing to win a digital camera! Remember, your membership dues go directly toward providing curriculum enrichment programs and materials to your children's classrooms. If you need a form, there are extras at both schools, or contact Christina Eckert. If you've sent in your membership, confirmations are being sent via e-mail; if you haven't received a confirmation e-mail, contact Cora Wong at corawong@verizon.net.

Genevieve's

Genevieve's orders are due this FRIDAY, October 3, and we cannot have an extension. Please look through your catalogue now and return your order asap. If you can't find your catalogue; contact Heather Fecteau at hlfecteau@verizon.net. All items ordered will be delivered to your children's classrooms on November 14 with no shipping charges!

Thanks for the Fundown

Many, many thanks to Kara Delaney and her hard-working team for the fabulous Fall Fundown last Wednesday. Close to 1,000 people turned up to eat, play and dance together, and it was all made possible by Kara and her volunteers. The PTO is grateful to all of you who helped set up, sign in, serve, and clean up, as well as all those who brought desserts to share. Many thanks also go to McKinnons and the Penta family, who donated the hamburgers, hotdogs and bread; and to Jim Nason, who brought (and worked) the grill. It was a wonderful community effort which should set the tone for the rest of the year. Thank you all!

PTO Board is Complete

Please join your PTO Board in welcoming our newest member, Cassandra McMahon, who will be Co-Chair of Community Outreach. Cassandra and her husband John have three children: Johnnie, in 5th grade, Abigail, in first grade, and Tyler in pre-school. Cassandra will be working side by side with Co-Chair Deb Bargman to ensure that such traditions as the Harvest Dance, Spaghetti Supper and Science Night continue, and she will be hard at work on our new Indoor Field Day event. Welcome Cassandra!

Save the Date

Tuesday, October 14 will be our first General PTO Meeting at 7:00 pm in the Cole Cafeteria. All members from both Cole and Spofford are encouraged to hear our principals and curriculum specialists tells us about the learning initiatives in our schools this year. Please come!

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!

6th Grade Activities Committee

Project Adventure

Recently, all 6th grade students should have received a packet of information in their backpacks regarding our upcoming trip to Project Adventure. Even if you paid the $100 in the spring, you still need to fill out ALL of the attached forms. There is a green RSVP sheet, a permission slip, medical information and release forms. Please return all of the forms in an envelope marked "Project Adventure" by October 6th to your child's teacher. Please go to www.pa.org if you would like to learn more about this exciting event! Any questions?? call Lisa Glass 978-887-0043 or Beth Clay 978-352-7137.

News from Around Town

Tri-Town Council

Strengthening Social Skills
Workshops for Parents/Guardians & Educators of Kindergarten-3rd Grade Students sponsored by the Tri-Town Council

Join author and presenter, Stephanie Meegan and members of the school community for a series of workshops designed to provide you with information that will help your child develop the skills and knowledge he/she needs to build social competence in three critical areas:

Initiating and sustaining constructive relationships (Fall Workshop)
Expand peer problem-solving strategies & defuse destructive teasing (Winter Workshop)
Develop peer pressure survival techniques beyond 'Just Saying No' (Spring Workshop)

With realistic, age-appropriate information, small group discussions and opportunities to practice new skills at home, Stephanie will show you how every child can become more socially capable and resilient.

Workshop #1

10/22 7:30-9:00 PM Boxford (Cole School); or

10/28 10:00-11:30AM Topsfield (Steward School); or

10/30 10:00-11:30AM Middleton (Fuller Meadow School)

Please RSVP to the Tri-Town Council office by 10/17/08 by phone (978) 887-6512 or e-mail at lteichner@trtowncouncil.org. There is no charge for these workshops, but please sign-up early to secure your place in the program. Each program will repeat in all three towns. To accommodate family schedules, you may sign-up for any workshop in any town. For more information contact Lisa Teichner, TTC Program Director, at 978-887-6512 or at lteichner@tritowncouncil.org

Boxford Library

All About Birds

On Saturday September 27 at 10 A.M. at Boxford Village Library, join Lisa Hutchings of Mass. Audubon's Joppa Flats Nature Reserve for an outdoor Boxford birding adventure - bring your binoculars! If it rains we will have a program indoors. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and is recommended for kids ages 7 to 11 and their families. Call 887-7323 to register.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

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.