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 Spofford Times Newsletter |
Greetings!
Dear Parents, Home-school communication is essential for each child's successful school experience. I hope that if ever there are questions or ideas that you have to share with us at Spofford Pond School, that you know that you may always contact the classroom teacher or myself through email, appointments, or phone calls. I want parents to feel included and welcome in our school. You are an essential partner that we value and depend on for the benefit of all the students in our classrooms. All staff members in our school have email that is first letter and last name @ boxfordschools.org (for example, knikas@boxfordschools.org). If there are student concerns at the classroom level, I ask that parents contact the classroom teachers, as they will be best able to assist in quickly resolving concerns and answering questions that you may have. As I am reacquainting myself with all of you, I would like to invite parents to come in for our first Principal's Coffee at 9:30 am on October 6, 2011 in the cafeteria. This is a chance for us to talk about school happenings and for me to answer parental questions.I will host Principal Coffee's once a month and I believe that this will allow us a chance to enhance the environment for the children and develop a stronger partnership moving forward. So, if you are interested, I would love to have you in for a cup of coffee and conversation! If you cannot attend a morning time, and have interest in this opportunity, please email me and I will try to work out an additional time in an attempt to accommodate schedules. Dismissal: After a few weeks of observation at student dismissal at parent pick-up, I have decide that 6th grade students will wait on the sidewalk outside of their classrooms (the door nearest Mrs. Robinson's classroom). There will be a staff member there to monitor the children on that sidewalk. Children may get in their cars from there, however, I ask that parents do not drive around the other cars until directed to do so (this will avoid congestion and will keep it safe for all. I think this will help in speeding up the car line for all. It is a work in progress and I will continue to communicate efforts to improve the process. Cafeteria: Last week I wrote about our cafeteria, which is also a work in progress. We are trying to allow children the full benefit of the 20 minutes in the café for socializing and eating. There are some structures put in place this year that are different from years past to allow a safe, efficient and social environment for children. Students are asked the following: - To have inside voices.
- To get up and dispose or recycle trash in an orderly, efficient manner.
- To sit anywhere at their class tables.
It is not at all a silent lunch, as that is not the goal for this time of the day. We are working with the students to have an environment that maximizes the time for both nutrition and socializing, which includes some structure to achieve this. We are getting round and oval tables for the students within the next month to allow for more of a café style environment for our students. I believe the tables will offer a fun way for the students during the lunch experience. In time, for specific days of the week, we will be working with the upper grade levels to earn the opportunity to have open seating. I wish you all a wonderful week! Sincerely, Kathryn Nikas |
 Guidance Department News | |
Dear Parents,
Many of you may not have had a Guidance Counselor or School Psychologist when you were in elementary school. For those of you who did, there is a good possibility that these school professionals now have different functions than they did 10 or 20 years ago.
Our roles are similar in many ways and vary as well. First and foremost, it is our responsibility to help your child get the best possible education. A good education includes not only learning to read, write, and do math, but learning strong social skills. This means, among other things, learning how to get along with other children, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility, and being aware of strengths and weaknesses. Many of these skills are taught at home and so it is our intent to supplement learning that takes place at home with individual, small group and classroom guidance. Students in grades 3-5 participate in our social/emotional anti-bullying program, Steps to Respect where many of these skills are taught and practiced through discussion, activities, role playing, and much more. Students in grade 6 benefit from listening to various speakers come on a monthly basis to discuss developmentally appropriate topics aiding in their entrance to adolescence.
Students who receive counseling are seen with us for different reasons and goals, but together, we make up the "counseling department. Together, we work with students in Special Education, students with medical diagnoses on 504 plans (such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, etc.) or through an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) including social/emotional goals are seen on a weekly, on-going basis in small groups or individual counseling.
We are also in the building to help students who are facing particular difficulties that impact their learning experience. Such family disruptions as an illness, death, or divorce may affect children in school. Although we don't do the same type of counseling as an outside therapist/psychologist would do, we can be a support within the school setting to help them emotionally so they can function academically and socially. If you and your teacher feel your child could benefit from some type of counseling support, the teacher can refer through the RTI (Response To Intervention) process. Through this process, many interventions and strategies are implemented to help your child utilize various support networks and coping strategies.
One of our major functions is to be of help to parents. If you have a particular concern about your child please don't hesitate to call us at school, 978-352-8616.
Thank you,
Julie Benson
Guidance Counselor
Courtney Eckhoff
School Psychologist
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Math Online League
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Welcome back! This is sure to be an exciting year as we have a variety of teachers throughout the Tri-Town piloting two new possible math programs for next school year. Pilot Teachers are working with Math In-Focus and with Math Expressions. There is a Tri-Town Math Review Committee that has been working diligently to pick a new math program that will best match the needs of our children.
Spofford Pond School will be offering the Online Math League again for students in grades 3-6. Information was sent home at Open House but please email me if you did not get a handout. Below are the schedules for each grade level. Each grade meets six times this year.
Grade 3 - Online Math League
Day: Thursday Mornings
Time: 8:00 - 8:30
Thursday, October 20th Practice
Thursday, November 17th Test
Thursday, December 15th Practice
Thursday, January 12th Test
Thursday, February 9th Practice
Thursday, March 8th Test
Grade 4 - Online Math
Day: Tuesday Mornings
Time: 8:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, October 18th Practice
Tuesday, November 15th Test
Tuesday, December 13th Practice
Tuesday, January 10th Test
Tuesday, February 7th Practice
Tuesday, March 6th Test
Grade 5 - Online Math
Day: Wednesday Mornings
Time: 8:00 - 8:30
Wednesday, October 19th Practice
Wednesday, November 16th Test
Wednesday, December 14th Practice
Wednesday, January 11th Test
Wednesday, February 8th Practice
Wednesday, March 7th Test
Grade 6 - Online Math
Day: Friday Mornings
Time: 8:00 - 8:30
Friday, October 21st Practice
Friday, November 18th Test
Friday, December 16th Practice
Friday, January 13th Test
Friday, February 10th Practice
Friday, March 9th Test
Remember to study your facts at home and keep it fun!
More information to come on Morning Math and Math Olympiad.
Please email me with any concerns at jsirmaian@boxfordschools.org
Have a fabulous year!
Jennifer Sirmaian
Math Instructional Support Specialist
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 Musical Notes
| Welcome Back to General Music! Students are currently reviewing familiar rhythms and tonal patterns (do, re, mi), learning new folk dances from Europe and America and hearing new songs.
Grade 3 will soon begin recorders after learning how to "audiate." Grade 4 is working their way through folk songs and singing activities.
Grade 5 is piloting a new program called "Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation" by Dr. Chris Azzara, a world renowned musician and music educator. In this program students learn music through audiation (inner hearing) before they start to create their own patterns and eventually creating (improvising) their own songs. This program is the most successful improvisation method not only in the United States but also through the world.
Grade 6 is beginning their World Music studies as we join with the Social Studies Department via curriculum mapping.
We also welcome our student teacher, Meghanne Farmer, to our classes.
Ms. Farmer is a music education major at Gordon College and will be teaching with us until December. Your students will be learning very exciting things with her as she closely follows the Spofford Music Currculum and presenting high standards for students to meet all of our National Standards for Music Education.
Welcome back to Chorus! Our two choirs are currently running our "Fruit Fundraiser" by selling the freshest, juciest Florida Navel Oranges and Ruby Red Grapefruit. You might recall that Masco ran this fundraiser for over 12 years with amazing success! We are lucky to have taken over this fundraiser. The fruit we sell is more affordable than the grocery stores and it is much fresher--picked just 24 hours before delivery!
Our fruit will arrive just in time for Thanksgiving delivery. Fresh fruit makes perfect gifts for friends and family and is a very healthy choice!
Please consider ordering a box or two of fruit: we are offering Medium boxes of Oranges for $24, Large boxes of Oranges for $35, Medium boxes of Grapefruit for $24 and Large Boxes of Grapefruit for $35. Check may be made payable to "Town of Boxford". Thank you for all of your support! Mrs. Galardi and Mr. Turner |
 Help Wanted! |
Spofford Pond School Recess/Cafeteria Monitor: We are looking for one more person to work with students during lunch and recess. The position is five days per week. This would be Monday through Friday from 11:15 until 1:15pm. Inquiries for this position can be made via email to Kathryn Nikas at knikas@boxfordschools.org Thanks! The Proctor School Food Service Department has 2 openings. These positions are 5 days a week. They are paid positions. Responsibilities will include preparing and serving lunch to students and clean up at the end of lunch. Substitute positions are also available. Food service experience is helpful. Please contact Susan Bodwell at Proctor School at sbodwell@tritownschoolunion.com |
B.E.S.T
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Announcing the B.E.S.T. Holiday Homes Tour!
The holidays are just around the corner and what better way to get inspired with B.E.S.T.'s Premier Holiday Homes Tour on Saturday, November 5, 2011. A showcase of some of Boxford's most unique and stylish homes, local talented designers will transform spaces with the latest in decorating trends in a variety of holiday settings for entertaining in style.
A self-guided tour; homes will be open between 11:00am-4:30pm. Advance tickets are $20 per person or $30 with a gourmet boxed lunch. To purchase tickets or get more details please visit online www.BoxfordHomesTour.com. Proceeds directly fund innovative teaching tools and professional development in our schools. Come enjoy an afternoon with your friends and support B.E.S.T. for our biggest event of the year!
Please Volunteer for the Holiday Homes Tour!
The Homes Tour is only 6 weeks away and your volunteer efforts are needed! Your time commitment does not need to be big to be extremely helpful! We still need:
Monitors for the day of the tour.
Email Ellie Benson: ebenson@verizon.net. Indicate morning (10:30-1:30)or afternoon shift (1:30-4:30). Half day shifts still allows time to enjoy the tour.
Help with selling tickets and raffles.
Email Katherine Bagshaw: kbagshaw@verizon.net Indicate a Saturday in October: Oct. 1, Oct 8, Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29. This takes place on the porch at Wayne's, from 8am-11:30am.
A creative person to design our tour map designating home addresses, for our Holiday Tour booklet.
Email kbagshaw@verizon.net. This is quite simple as it follows a standard map used in past tours.
Help with registration the day of the tour.
Email kbagshaw@verizon.net. We need help with check in, and to hand out programs and lunches. Cole school 10:30 am-1:30pm. This still allows time to enjoy the tour.
Or...assist where needed!
Your help is vital to making this tour a great success!
Other B.E.S.T. Programs
B.E.S.T. launched 2 exciting new initiatives in our Elementary schools last year: Terracycle recycling (and related GoEco fundraiser) and the Legacy Anthology of Student Poetry.
Terracycle:
After introducing the Terracycle juice pouch and Ziploc storage badge recycling program at Cole last April, our K-2 students diverted 3,500 pieces of up-cyclable trash from landfills! Our efforts will continue this year at both Cole and Spofford. Back pack flyers will go out soon detailing the program.
GoEco: The Ultimate Eco Fundraiser
Just a quick reminder about our on-going participation in a unique and exciting fundraiser. By logging into www.dwellsmart.com/GoEco0006 (this url is unique to B.E.S.T.) and ordering any of the terrific eco-friendlly products on the site, you'll be contributing a percentage of your purchase price directly to B.E.S.T.. Products are ordered on-line and delivered directly to your home! All Terracycle products are can be purchased through this site.
Legacy Anthology of Student Poetry
During the 2010-2011 school year, B.E.S.T. published a collection of over 600 poems written by Cole and Spofford Pond School students. The proceeds benefit the Harriet Ernst Endowment Fund, which is one of the funding sources for teacher grants. A limited number of copies are still available. You can order a copy through B.E.S.T.'s website: www.bestforboxford. Let your children see how proud you are of their contribution to this project as you read their poetry aloud with them.
To learn more about these programs and B.E.S.T.'s contributions to our schools, please visit our website at www.bestforboxford.org
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MASCO YOUTH SPORTS
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MASCO BOYS SOCCER ASSOCIATION YOUTH NIGHT MASCO VS. GEORGETOWN WHO: Tri -Town Youth Soccer Players WHEN: Monday, October 3, 2011 at 6:00 P.M. WHERE: Bunker Stadium Masconomet High School COME CHEER ON THE BOYS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM!!!!!! All town youth players should meet in the designated seating area of the stadium at 5:30. Remember to wear your town soccer jersey as each town will be called to the track to high five the MASCO varsity players as they take the field.
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