Spofford Times Newsletter 

 Dear Parents,

Our school has a  School Site Council that meets once a month. It is a council of parents and staff members that meet to discuss and propose improvement initiatives for our school. It is our hope and intention to increase our connections within the community at large. We hope to involve more parents now and in the future.  

One of the upcoming activities of the School Site Council will be our annual parent survey.  You will be invited to participate in the survey at the end of February.  It is a way for us to gauge how you think we are doing as a school community  across the district goals. Other discussion points this year include goals on the school improvement plan with a focus on  technology integration. We are also talking about some ideas for the  50th Anniversary Celebration of The Spofford Pond School, which is next school year.   

The Spofford Pond School Site Council is a public meeting.  We invite parents who wish to attend to join us!  Please look on our website for a details about our scheduled meetings.   It is a terrific opportunity for you to share a great idea for the school, to learn more about our school improvement plan efforts and to voice a concern that you may want more information about.   If you have questions about this council, please don't hesitate to contact me at school.

We are in need of a community member (someone who does not have children in the school). This person can be a town resident or someone who works in the town. So, if you know of anyone that is interested, please let me know.

Have a terrific week!

Sincerely,

News from the 5th grade:

It's hard to believe that we have not had much snow and springtime is just around the corner!  We had a great break over the holidays and are back in the full swing of things!  It will be amazing how fast the second half of the year will go. 

During our team times we are working to develop Essential Questions that match the Common Core Standards that have been adopted.  It has been a great opportunity for the 5th grade team to have this time to collaborate and develop our focus on the expectations for 5th grade students.

With time going by quickly the classes are working hard.  In Social Studies students are focusing on the Early Settlements of New England. Mrs. Marino's students have started working on a Latin/English dictionary they will work on through June. In math students are focusing on fractions!  Mrs. Marino has finished piloting two possible math programs, one of which we will adopt next year.  In science, Mrs. Bouffard is teaching the students about the phases of the moon.  Students have been observing how the moon changes in the sky and what is the cause of those changes.   Mrs. Stewart is finishing up Heat Energy.  Students have participated in experiments that demonstrated the transfer of heat.  We also had a great presentation with parent, Mr. Boyd!   The kids were truly engaged and a wonderful audience while he presented interesting facts about water surface tension and other chemical changes.  As you can see our days are very busy!

Fourth graders have been having an interesting time in Language Arts as they learn about fantasy as used in traditional genres such as fairy tales, folk tales and tall tales; and fantasy as used by current authors such as Chris Van Allsburg. In January our focus is on all types of poetry. Children are also learning about segregation, integration, bullying, and values as we learn about and celebrate the life of a great American - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In Science, some classes have just finished a comprehensive unit on plants, while others have just finished one on simple machines and inventions. These classes have switched units, and all will be pleased to participate next week in the return of Mr. Wahle. Mr. Wahle does an awesome interactive program on simple machines followed by individual classroom workshops. This hands on activity is always a favorite with students and teachers alike.

Hello from the Art Room!  Happy New Year!

Here is an update by grade of what the students have been working on:

Grade 3 have completed their Papier Mache bowls and are now on display on the white shelves in the school's main foyer.  The students used brown paper and plastic molds to create bowl forms that they painted with nature motifs.  Gold paint adds dramatic interest.  Mod Podge was added as a finishing touch to create a shiny, hard surface.

The 3rd graders are now working on a abstract art project looking at things in a new way.  They each made a viewfinder and were given a bird print by the artist James Audubon. They were asked to find an area on the bird's body that included interesting feather details.  Then they enlarged that area onto a piece of paper and colored it in, blended and added surface detail using chalk pastels.  They are beautiful!

Grade 4:  We hope you enjoyed the ceramic Zuni Animals that the 4th graders brought home before vacation! They came out so cute and they worked really hard on the animals themselves and the hand painted and hand sewn (!) canvas bags that they took them home in were also fantastic. I was very impressed at how quickly the students learned the sewing techniques!

The 4th graders are now in the midst of a painting unit.  Currently they are learning color mixing techniques including mixing secondary and tertiary colors, browns and tints and shades.  Mixing brown is not an easy challenge and they are doing very well!  Soon they will be applying these learned skills in a tempera landscape painting.

Grade 5: The roosters are coming! The roosters are coming!

2-D roosters painted on brown paper with origami frames are currently on display on the bulletin board outside the main office.  The 3-D roosters, which came out amazingly well, have now all made it out of the kiln, will be photographed this week for Artsonia and will be on display soon in the glass case in the foyer.  You don't want to miss them!

5th graders have now begun the ever-popular 'Y-Tree' project. This year I have added a twist:  They are drawing them on silver and gold scratchboards! 

Grade 6 students worked very hard on mixed media collages that incorporated the school years 2011-2012 as designs for this year's yearbook, inspired by the artist Jasper Johns.  There were so many amazing works, that the yearbook committee had a tough choice.  I would like to congratulate Maggie Buswick , whose design was chosen for the front cover, and Jacquelyn Scalli, whose design was chosen for the back cover.  The committee also selected the following artist's work to be included in the interior of the yearbook:  Kelly Therrien, Jennie Bankes, Grace Campbell, Cameron Miller, Grace Elwood, Pam Poulopoulos, Sarah Richards, Donatella DiPietrantonio, Juliana Katz, Ray Robidoux, Isabella Jarosiewicz, Allison Sinagra, Gabe Vigna and Jack Miller.  In addition, many students submitted small black and white sketches to be included in the interior of the yearbook, which the committee said they would use as needed.  Congratulations everyone!  And thanks for all your great work!

6th Graders have now begun our unit on Islamic Art. They are learning how to make complex , symmetrical, geometric designs using compasses and rulers.

They are looking great so far.

As always, check out all the amazing works of our student artists on our school's Artsonia webpage: http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=90527 

We have uploaded and published nearly 1000 images already this year already!!

I couldn't do it without my dream team led by Hagan Rivers and including David Rivers, Ivy Shahin, Suzana Cunha-DeMent and Diane Winship. Thank you!!

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with this project, please contact me at  bashmoredavis@boxfordschools.org.  We meet Wednesdays from 11-12.

Lastly, Art is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day!!  Check out the wonderful products Artsonia offers incorporating your student's art!  The department receives 15% of the profits! 

All physical education classes have recently been focusing on the ability to throw overhand. Here are some of the cues that I use to teach this important skill. 1. Turn your body sideways so your opposite shoulder faces your target. 2. Bring your throwing hand way back. 3. Keep your elbow high and step forward with your front leg as you throw. After getting plenty of practice the students then engaged in a variety of games that involved overhand throwing. It has been wonderful to see many students both rapidly improve and enjoy new-found success with this particular type of throw. If you would like to help reinforce this skill at home, try asking your son or daughter to teach you how to throw overhand and maybe even play some catch.

It was brought to my attention that Kelsey Moody was omitted from the top five fall mile times. Kelsey finished with a very fast time of 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

Mrs. Holt, a third grade teacher at Spofford, will run a writing workshop on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM beginning February 16th and meeting until April 26th, 2012. This workshop is limited to 12 writers in grades 3 and 4. Please look for a backpack flier in January to register. 

In this workshop we will write imaginative pieces of writing- either a comic strip, a narrative story, or a newspaper. We will explore plot, pacing, and description. Our writing community will learn how to create memorable characters and tell a story. Technology is part of this fun workshop. We will use a comic book creator, storyboard, and newspaper format program to help us publish our work. Creating a collaborative final product is also a possibility for those who do not want to publish their own pieces at the end of the eight sessions. 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS FROM TRI-TOWN COUNCIL

HORIZONS After-School Programs - Still Time to Register!! Classes start week of 1/23

 On-line registration is now OPEN for HORIZONS winter programs.  Horizons classes include Science, Lego Engineering, Art, Physical Fitness, and more, begin the week of January 23rd.  Go to www.tritowncouncil.org to view the complete list of classes.  Please contact TTC at (978) 887-6512 or lteichner@tritowncouncil.org to register.

*************************************************************************************

Social Skills Workshop Series

Wednesdays - January 26, February 1, 15, 29 - 10:30am-12pm @ Topsfield Library 

Please join author/educator Stephanie Meegan as we explore strategies for supporting children's social skill development.  Social skills can boost a child's happiness and success at school and at home.  In this 4-part series, we will review the tools and language to support this critical life skill.  This program is designed for parents, guardians and educators interested in expanding children's social competence and confidence.  Come to one or all of the series!  RSVP (helpful not required) to programs@tritowncouncil.org or 887-6512.

Don't Miss B.E.S.T.'s of Women & Wine on February 9, 2012, sure to be an exciting evening for the ladies in town! Tickets, which are $50, include wine tasting, hor' doeuvres, a wine glass favor filled with chocolates and a ticket for the door prize (and rumor has it the door prize is a Louis Vuitton Handbag!).  The first 75 ladies to purchase tickets to the event will receive 2 door prize tickets! That is 2 chances to win this beautiful handbag. There will also be great raffle baskets to win, one including a Spa day for 2 at the Wentworth By the Sea Hotel! Tickets went on sale on January 11 and last year this fantastic event sold out, so purchase your tickets now so you don't miss your chance to attend!

The event will be held at the Wine ConnecXtion, 117 Main Street in North Andover from 7:00 - 10:00 pm.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.bestforboxford.org or can be purchased via mail with a check payable to B.E.S.T. at P.O. Box 176, Boxford. We hope to see you there!

Cole Integrated Preschool Extended Registration

The Cole Integrated Preschool is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year for an afternoon preschool session for 3 year olds .  Children must be 3 on or before September 1, 2012 to be eligible for the preschool program.  Please call Debbie Connery 978-887-2856 ext. 103 or email  HYPERLINK "mailto:dconnery@boxfordschools.org" dconnery@boxfordschools.org if interested.


  

Parent Workshop: Create a Homework Station   

Join Donna Titel and LEARN HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE HOMEWORK STATION

at PROCTOR SCHOOL on WEDNESDAY 1/25/12 AT 9AM in the Clic Room

 Bring your own supplies! For more information contact:  Donna Titel @ 

<khdljj@verizon.net>  

Click the link to see how to create it.  http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/homework-central-787551 

Boxford Girl Scout Family

Roller Skating Party

When:         Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Time:           1:15 - 3:15

Where:         Roller Palace

                   130 Sohier Road

         Beverly, MA

       Hosted by:   Junior Troop #60417

                          Brownie Troop #62005

Tickets are $7/person, $21/family.  This event is open to all Boxford Girl Scouts and their families.  This is not a drop off event.  For tickets, please contact the leaders below by March 1, 2012.

Liz Pool...poolfamily98@gmail.com...978-561-1065 or 

Diane Winship...jsw@latticenet.com...978-769-5271

AN UPCOMING GREAT YOUTH ACTIVITY SPONSORED BY MASCO BOYS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

MASCO BASKETBALL YOUTH NIGHT AND FOOD PANTRY DRIVE

FRIDAY, January 27th, 2012 at 6:30 P.M.

Come cheer on the Masco Boys Varsity Basketball Team at their home game against North Reading on Friday, January 27th. starting 6:30 P.M. at the Masco gym. FREE ADMISSION to all youth basketball players wearing their basketball jerseys and other Tri-Town youths wearing red & white. Please arrive 15 minutes before the 6:30 PM tip-off time for reserved seating. All canned goods and non-perishable food items collected at the entrance will be donated to the St. Joseph's Food Pantry, Salem, MA.