Spofford Times Newsletter 

 Dear Parents,

It is that time of year again!  We will be starting the class placement process for the upcoming school year during the months of May and June. The process will include input from your child's teacher and any other specialist and/or special education teacher that may work with your child.  Learning, social-emotional and behavior needs will be the focus of the team conversation during the placement process.   We also try to place each child with at least one child that they know.  Please know that every effort will be made to ensure that the classes are balanced and meet the needs of the children.

Another component that I include in the placement of students is your input.  If you feel that you would like to provide information to us about your child, you are invited to do so on the attached form.   Please note that your commentaries will be shared with teachers after I have read them.   Please note that requests of an individual teacher cannot be honored.  As described previously, there are many factors we must consider as we move through this process.

In conclusion, I urge any parent to use the form (emailed to you in a separate email today) to convey pertinent information about their child.  Please understand, however, that I cannot take calls or schedule conferences regarding specific placement requests.  To do so would compromise the hard work of all involved.  As always, I can assure you that we are taking these matters seriously and that our work will be deliberate.  If you choose to complete the attached form  about your child, please return it (to my attention)  no later than April 13, 2012.  All forms that will be considered in the process need to be in to me by that date.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Kathryn Nikas

Playground Note:  

Lacrosse sticks, street hockey sticks and other similar sports equipment are not to be brought to school. Please remind your child to keep these items at home.  

Spring Weather & School Attire:  

As we approach the warmer weather, please be sure to review the dress code in our handbook with your child. 

Bathroom Behavior:

Recently in our boys' bathroom, we have had students acting improperly and damaging the walls. Please take a moment to remind your child of expected bathroom behavior.  

The 6th graders have been working hard this month preparing for their  

MCAS, and all their hard work has paid off as they completed their language arts MCAS tests last week 

In social studies the students are exploring the Middle East! In Ms.  

Boyle's class, the students are participating in a wonderful program  

called Earth Hour. The World Wild Life Foundation is encouraging  

everyone across the globe to turn their lights off for one hour on  

March 31, at 8:30pm. The 6th grade students are writing persuasive  

essays trying to encourage others to join in this event. To kick off  

the event, on Friday, March 30th Spofford Pond hosted its own  

Earth Hour!

In science, as part of their motion unit, the sixth graders are  

creating "zoom cars" out of recyclable materials, which will be  

powered by rubber bands. The classes will be racing their cars when  

they are finished! They are also creating an amusement part as part of  

their physics unit.

In math, the students are working with and trying to understand the  

connections amongst fractions, decimals and percentages. They are also  practicing their long division with decimals and multiplication with  

decimals.

-6th Grade Team

The Spofford Pond Math Fair will be held this Wednesday, April 4.  Students will present their projects to their peers during the day and will then present again for families and friends that same evening.  During the school day the 5th and 6th grade students will be in the cafeteria from 2-2:30.  Grades 3 and 4 will be from 2:30-3pm.  The evening portion of the Fair will be from 6:30-7:30pm in the Spofford Pond Cafeteria.  Please be sure to attend this family fun event and witness the enthusiasm and creativity of our students.  Students participating in the Math Fair should arrive to the cafeteria by 6:15 that evening for set-up and bring projects home with them that evening.  Please contact Jennifer Sirmaian at jsirmaian@boxfordschools.org with any questions.

Recently I challenged my classes to create an original game. Working in small groups students brainstormed, cooperated and collaborated. After a basic idea for a game was formed the students played their games and further refined them. The results were most impressive. I can say with confidence that the spirit of creativity is well and alive here at Spofford Pond. Here is a short list of some of the games invented: Cone Toppers, Angry Yarn Balls, Bowling Horse, Game Changer, Royal Pin, Bowl Extreme, Pinwall, Animal Run, Bongiball and Fuzzball Attack. As you can see even the names of the games were fantastic. Great job kids!

The mile run is coming up again soon. Weather permitting it will take place during the week of April 9th.

Regards,

Mr. Aho

En la clase de español...

Third grade Spanish classes have been practicing weather phrases and recently began learning clothing vocabulary. They've used our Real Language Partner Conversation books to talk about what clothing they would wear in certain kinds of weather. They are beginning to talk about what they are wearing and what color it is. We'll reinforce this by making clothing pictures to discuss, using audio flashcards on the Smart Board, and following verbal directions to dress a paper frog, among other classroom activities.

The fourth graders are completing posters representing the four seasons. On each poster they had to write the season in Spanish, name the months in that season and write three weather expressions associated with that season. They also had to dress a figure appropriately for the weather shown and label all the clothing in Spanish. They have created some beautiful posters, some of which were shown off at a recent School

Committee meeting! Look for them, as we post them around the building.

In fifth grade we are learning about Spanish speaking countries. We began with information about Spain and Mexico. The students even got to sample Mexican hot chocolate! They had the chance to mix the chocolate with a special utensil called a "molinillo" while singing a short song about chocolate. Through DVD's, informational packets, music, books, and pictures the students will get a glimpse into the cultures of

Central America, South America, and the Spanish speaking islands of the Caribbean.

The sixth graders are involved in a project concerning animals and their habitats. They are working in small groups creating presentations about specific environments. They have to describe at least five animals that live in the habitat, saying what they look like, how big they are, how they move, what they eat, and any other interesting facts they discover. Eventually, their presentations will be entirely in Spanish!

Señora Careri y Señora Marcille

THANK YOU TO ALL PARTICIPANT'S AT THIS YEAR'S TALENT SHOW!

The stars were out for the Cole's Got Talent show last month with more than 20 acts and 40 children participating!  The PTO wants to thank all of the parents, children and volunteers who helped make this year's event a fantastic night for all.  A special thank you to Wendy Callahan who managed both the Cole and Spofford shows allowing the acts to run smoothly. The evenings were full of great talent!  

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO ORDER A SPOFFORD YEARBOOK!! 

All orders must be placed by Friday., April 13th.  To order go to www.coffeepond.com/order_yb1.aspx and use the password: spofford2012. 

Remember that you can also add a personal note (for a small fee) to the memory pages as a special addition for your child as they head off to middle school next year!

PTO Annual Spring Fundraiser.... FIESTA AT THE FERNCROFT on APRIL 28TH!

Look for your personal invitation to this year's Fiesta at the Ferncroft event in backpack mail this week. 

Enjoy a spicy night out with friends and support the incredible enrichment programs that enhance our children's education in Boxford thanks to the generous contributions from parents attending the event.  If you are unable to join us for the evening, please consider making a financial donation or purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win a cool gadget like a big screen TV, an iPod touch, or the new iPad!

BOY SENSE - rescheduled for April 25, 7:30pm, Flint Library, Middleton

This Tri-Town Council will explore the thinking and learning styles of boys and how you can support and celebrate them. Join Stephanie Meegan for this interactive program intended for parents/guardians and educators of boys in K-6th grade. This special evening hosted by he Friends of the Flint will focus on decoding the developmental needs and nurturing the resiliency of boys at home and at school.

Tri-Town Council Invites You to Walk/Run for H.A.W.C. on the TTC TEAM!

Tri-Town Council, through its TTC Youth Leadership Group, invites Tri-Town families to participate with us on Sunday, March 6th, in the Walk for H.A.W.C. This annual fundraiser supports H.A.W.C., which is the oldest and most comprehensive domestic violence agency on the North Shore. You can participate in the 5 Mile Walk, or in the new 5 Mile Run. The Walk/Run for H.A.W.C. begins at Salem Common at 11:00am. Join TTC for this fun day of service! Participating in the walk is a great way to honor special women in your life and to come together as a family or neighborhood group to support women and children in need of safety. Can't walk with us that day? Consider sponsoring the TTC Youth Team! Go to http://hawcdv.donorpages.com/WalkforHAWC/LynettePierce/ . For more information on joining or sponsoring our Walk/Run for H.A.W.C. TTC TEAM, please contact Lynette: lpierce@tritowncouncil.org or call TTC, 978-887-6512.

Honor Your Mother By Giving

Community Giving Tree is extending our annual toiletry drive to the end of April.   Please consider donating new, unopened shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, toothpaste or toothbrushes to the bins located in the school lobby, or at the Giving Center, 572 Main St., West Boxford.  All of these basic hygiene items will be given to struggling young mothers in Essex County as a "Mother Day Gift Bag."  You can also sponsor a Mother's Day Basket in honor of the mother or special woman in your life.  For a $25 donation, Community Giving Tree will distribute a gift bag of toiletries to a local family in need.  We will send a Mother's Day card to your honoree, acknowledging your donation. For more info, visit our website at www.communitygivingtree.org.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN & INSPIRING TO DO DURING APRIL VACATION?  For girls going into grades 1-9 (this September), Girl Scout Day Camp may be just the thing!  Located in a beautiful woodsy setting (141 Abbot Street, Andover, MA), this day camp has a different theme for each day.  Sign-up for the week (Tues - Fri), or just pick the day(s) you'd like to attend.  A bus is available for transportation with daily pick-up & drop-off at Howe-Manning and other locations.  For more information, visit http://registration.girlscoutseasternmass.org/cgi-bin/browse.cgiand click on "more information" under the Andover, MA camp.  You can also e-mail camp@girlscoutseasternmass.org to request more information or the pdf brochure, or call 978-689-8015.  Hope to see you there!!