Sprague HEARTbeat October 2010

Sprague HEARTbeat artwork by M.C. Flitsch

Sprague School, Wellesley, MA

October 2010

In This Issue

Letter from PTO Presidents

PTO Meeting Minutes

Sprague Takes Care

Sprague is Social

Sprague is Supportive

Sprague Enriches Kids

Sprague Has HEART

The Community Beyond

A Message from Dr. Goodwin

Dear Sprague Community,

It was great to see and meet many of you at last week's Sprague Back to School Night. The support you offer your children and our staff by attending events like this make Sprague a better school. Thanks for your time and attention during a busy Fall season.

I was recently reviewing some notes from a professional development experience that I had in the past year. On this particular day the keynote speaker was Dr. Ned Hallowell. Dr. Hallowell is a child and adult psychiatrist and leading expertise on the diagnosing and treatment of children and adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Hallowell blended an effective mix of humor and passion that reaffirmed for many why we chose to work in education. He reminded us that developing a "connection" with our students is paramount. As a parent, he reminded many of us that "the first rule of parenting is to enjoy your children". He stated that we are living in times of "high anxiety" that have contributed to many parents to forget that basic need to connect with their child and not simply view them as a miniature adult. In a reaction to this, Hallowell discussed a five step feedback loop that he has seen make a dramatic difference in the lives of children he has worked with. This includes:

developing all manner of connections with your students/children
playing and engaging the imagination of our students/children
instilling a love of work in our students/children
building confidence by allowing them to make progress over time and finally,
recognizing achievement by students/children so they feel connected to their school/family.

Hallowell stressed that no matter what a child's family structure is (two parents intact, two parents - divorced, single parent household, no parents - caring extended family/or non family adult present), as long as a student feels connected and cared for by someone at home and/or at school, then success can still occur. Being new to Sprague, I will dedicate myself to make as many connections as possible this year. I look forward to this work. For more information regarding Dr. Hallowell's work, feel free to peruse www.drhallowell.com.

Congratulations and many thanks to Roberta Maguire for her years of service to Sprague and the Wellesley Public Schools. Tuesday, September 28 is Roberta's last day at Sprague. We thank Roberta immensely for her dedicated years of instruction and support of all students. Best of luck in "retirement" as Roberta plans to stay extremely active in the profession moving forward.

Many thanks to the Sprague community for enthusiastically supporting the Sprague Excellent Adventure After School Club. After piloting a first round in October, we will certainly seek to conduct a second round sometime later in the school year for those students who are on the wait list.

Kudos: Congratulations to Anne Marvan, Sprague Co-President, for writing and submitting a grant to the Shade Foundation. The Shade Foundation just recently awarded their grants and the Sprague playground area will receive some much needed shade at some point over the next year. This is wonderful news and it would not have been done without Anne's efforts. Thank you so much Anne!!

Thanks: Huge thanks to Matt and Dulcey Connon, Karen Haberly and Reed Smith, and Margaret and Emmett Lyne for hosting last Friday night's K-2 Parent Socials. Much fun was had by all, but this could not have happened without their respective generosity of time and effort.

Many thanks to Suzanne Fletcher, Lisa Moore, Ann Marie-Hayden, Sabine Guerrero and Allison Mills for their leadership and organization of the 5th Grade "Under the Stars" Movie Night. From all reports, the 5th grade kiddos had a great time. Thanks to the aforementioned for their support of our 5th grade students.

Finally, Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter Kate who turns 8 on Friday! Woof!!

Take care,
Stephen Goodwin
Sprague Principal

Letter from the PTO Presidents

Dear Sprague Families:

We warmly welcome everyone to a new school year at Sprague!

We are off to a great, fun-filled beginning to the year. In the short time we've been in school, we have already had many opportunities to meet new families, reacquaint with friends after the summer and welcome and spend time with our new school principal, Dr. Goodwin.

Many thanks to everyone for making our start of year activities - new family and kindergarten play date, picnic and coffee; ice cream social; 5th grade team-building; and grade level socials - such warm, fun and well attended events! We are very fortunate to have such an amazing community of families, teachers and staff, that all contribute to our success.

We, as the PTO, have set out specific goals for the year to meet the needs of our school and community. They are to:

Provide protection from the sun
Build Community Spirit
Develop a Communications Plan and re-vamp the Sprague Website
Work with the school on enhancing the school and teacher libraries
Support the creation of a comprehensive Technology Plan for the school

For more information on each goal please see the September meeting minutes posted in this newsletter. We'll be providing more detail as we move along to explain our approach to addressing each item and provide opportunities for everyone to participate in any of the areas in which they are interested. As always, we welcome your thoughts and involvement.

On the immediate horizon, please mark your calendar for our first Fall Family Social on Sunday, October 17th, from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. This day is going to be fantastic, with a Chili Cook-Off (still time to get your secret family favorite recipe in!), fall crafts and organized kick-ball. A great family day out!

Our October PTO meeting will be held Tuesday, October 12th at 7:00pm in the school library. Our goal to bring Sprague up to the technology standards dictated by the new learning environment, and mandated by the town, has already been set to action. The implementation of document cameras (sometimes referred to as Elmos) in every classroom this past summer was a huge accomplishment by the Sprague community and our teachers were able to realize the benefits of this technology right at the start of this school year!

Continuing on this path, we have been planning for the next key portion of our goal: the outfitting of every classroom with an interactive whiteboard (sometimes referred to as a Smartboard). The benefits of this technology for our students, our teachers and our school are great. Please join us on the 12th for a special meeting to learn more about this technology, how it supports learning and why we at Sprague have made it a top priority. Join all of us, Dr. Goodwin, Kathy Ashraf (PTO Technology Officer), Jackie Hoglund (Sprague's Instructional Technology Specialist) and Jill Heckman (4th Grade teacher/Interactive White Board User) for a sure to be lively discussion and demonstration of the board within the classroom setting. Come see it, touch it and learn all about technology's place in your child's education.

We are always here, so please reach out to us and join us for a meeting or school event. We look forward to spending time with you throughout the school year!

Best to you all,
Leslie & Anne

PTO Meeting Minutes with Updates

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2010

PTO Presidents Anne Marvan and Leslie Tellalian welcome everyone to our first meeting of the year. Especially welcome our new families and Dr. Goodwin our new principal. We've been working together this summer on things to which we will focus this upcoming year. Our agenda today includes welcome and introductions, a President's Report of our goals, the Treasurer's budget report and closing with announcements.

Introduction of our 2010-2011 PTO Board: PTO Presidents Anne Marvan and Leslie Tellalian, Vice Presidents Wendy Garber and Catherine Mirick, Treasurer Colette Aufranc, Technology Officer Kathy Ashraf (new board position), Community Services Officer Leslie Del Col, Ways and Means Officer Elizabeth Young, Communications Officer Yolanda Tong, Social Officers Jen Bowman and Lynn Sanville, METCO Officer Michelle Heath, PAC Officer Lisa Moore, Enrichment Officer Elise Rodino (new board position), Asst. Treasurer Tina Vasconcelles (not present) and Secretary Suzanne Fletcher (not present).

We invite everyone to contact any of us if they have questions or want to discuss any matters.

Introduction of our Teacher Liaison Jill Heckman, fourth grade teacher in her seventh year at Sprague. Notes all staff really appreciates the PTO.

Welcoming our Principal Dr. Goodwin, who reacquaints himself to the Sprague Community. See the Wellesley Townsman article from September 2010 www.spragueschool.org/go/newsletters/ introducing Dr. Goodwin.

He states right off that he plans to come to every meeting, to be involved constantly in helping the kids emotionally, academically and socially. Nineteen years in education and only time he didn't make it into school was due to a burst appendix. Comes from a family, mom and dad and three sisters, devoted to public service. They are all about "doing it the best way you can." Wife is Teri and daughters Kate and Celia. Thanks the Sprague community for its kindness and gifts at the ice cream social. Kids have been wearing their gifted t-shirt constantly and yelling "Sprague rules!"

Believes in taking work seriously but with some fun. He has taught at every level, elementary, middle and high school. Two promises to us. First is to work as hard as possible. Liken to kids, can't control DNA and circumstances, but can control the effort and hard work we put in. Second is to always advocate for Sprague. There are 9 schools in the district and he will be a big voice for our school to ensure he puts our needs in front.

Update on what he's been doing. Has been meeting with all staff and many parents of the PTO and getting ramped up to what Sprague was and where we are. Working on student learning goals for each grade level, fine tuning and will share later. Fire drills and evacuation plans. Teacher meetings with those entering third year who are eligible for professional status. Working on a school based management team for education and lifestyle wise. Notes he will help support PTO goals and what they want to accomplish, especially in terms of the leveled library, which is the professional guided reading library from which all teachers borrow books. Would like to see it increased. Congratulations to Sprague for being awarded a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School Award. Points to a great culture with hundreds of students and teachers under that.

There is a poster outside the Teacher Lounge with the saying "Teach Like a Champion Today." Dr. Goodwin touches it as he walks by to remind himself to bring it every day, emotionally, academically and socially. Kids come in as a blank slate, having hit a reset button overnight. Wants parents to remember to start fresh as well and bring it every day with their kids. Now he has to leave for a meeting.

Reminds us he is available to parents but does spend majority of the day with the kids and teachers. Invites parents to email him as he does check mail whenever he gets a chance and will usually respond that day or by the next day latest.

PTO Presidents Report on goals. The PTO Board met the week before and determined five goals to concentrate on this year: sun shade for the playground, to build community spirit, to develop communications, to work with the school to enhance the school and teacher libraries and to support the creation of a comprehensive technology plan.

Sun Shade for the Playground

We worked so hard to build the playground now we need to get shade for it. Anne Marvan has written in a submission for a contest through Facebook. Spread the news and get everyone to vote for Sprague. Suggestions are made that the high schoolers are best at spreading the news on facebook in a grassroots effort. Suggest spreading the news at games on the fields and through the Townsman. Other ideas for grants or contests are welcome.

October Sun Shade Update: Sprague is one of the 5 winners of a Sun Shade! Thank you all for voting, spreading the word and making this happen! For more information on the shade and to read the moving entry letter submitted by Anne, please visit www.facebook.com/ChooseSkinHealth?v=app_150644968286325.

Community Spirit

Turnout was great at the ice cream social. Dr. G has ideas and hopes to work some fifth grade events to make them school wide. The Fall Family Festival is coming up, a new event we hope is greatly attended and fun for everyone. Would also like to develop an inclusion aspect to building spirit this year. Lisa Moore has been working on a social club which would meet after school and do an activity.

October Community Update: The Sprague Excellent Adventure Club is started! The goal of S.E.A.C. is to provide an opportunity for Sprague students to develop friendships and work on team building skills in a fun and safe environment. Open to all Sprague students in K-5, it is designed to be inclusive to the entire Sprague community. The S.E.A.C. is run by parent volunteers Lisa Moore and Colette Aufranc, in conjunction with Principal Dr. Stephen Goodwin. Other parent volunteers include Laurie Kelley, Anne Marie Hayden and Tina Vasconcelles.

A four week pilot program has been developed. The first adventure will be an Orienteering/Geocash event. Other planned events include a scavenger hunt, team building games/obstacle course and outdoor games of olde.

Last week in Dr. Goodwin's weekly e-mail, he announced the after-school club and opened signups for the 4 week program. Signups filled within an hour of the start of school! Enthusiasm for the Adventure Club is evident! Parents will receive an e-mail confirmation about their children's status. There is an extensive waiting list for people looking to participate. After this first 4-week pilot program is completed, we will send out e-mail notifications about future S.E.A.C activities. For more information or to be a parent chaperone at S.E.A.C activities, contact Lisa Moore lmoore06@verizon.net or Colette Aufranc coletteaufranc@gmail.com.

Communications

The email blasts are ongoing. The Pulse is forwarded Sunday nights at 9 and will generally include PTO updates and community news. Message from Dr. Goodwin is forwarded Wednesday morning at 6 and will include Dr. G's letter and school news. Heartbeat is the monthly newsletter, forwarded in a blast currently but to be online later. Its frequency will be reevaluated once the new website is up. The email blasts are reevaluated continually as we go forth. The website is our main focus this autumn. Hope to redesign and to provide the bulk of PTO and school info on the website.

Libraries

The school library budget has been cut. PTO currently provides a library budget and chairs are assessing needs. We have the Remember Me program in place and instituted the MCBA books drive this year. The teachers leveled library is being reviewed.

Technology

An inventory and needs assessment is currently in process. Thanks to the previous year auction there are Elmos in every class and now we are working towards Smartboards. All 5th grade classrooms and 4JH now have mounted Smartboards. There will be a top down approach to outfit the remaining classrooms.

October Technology Update: Installation of 26 Document Cameras Complete!

Helpful definitions:

Document Camera: digital overhead projector, allows presentation of physical objects, replaces traditional equipment that used transparencies
Interactive White Board: digital white board, allows information to be saved for later use, enables software programs to be used by a larger audience, replaces chalk/dry-erase boards and flip charts
SMART: this term is used to describe the ability for the document camera and interactive white board to work together in capturing and manipulating data and images

Continuing our efforts to get technology into the classroom is a major goal this year. The success of last Spring's Auction enabled the purchase of 23 document cameras (often referred to as Elmos) in addition to the 3 existing at school, so that there is now one for every room in the school - a huge accomplishment for which we should all be very proud!

The next piece of this work is to fund more interactive white boards (often referred to as Smartboards). Currently, Sprague has four boards - two units that had been used on a sign-out basis, and two received from the Town over this past summer. They have all been mounted in classrooms, based on grade level and student need - this includes 5EB, 5BH, 5HH, 4JH. To provide interactive white boards for the whole school, twenty-six in total, includes one for: 19 classrooms, 2 ISS, 1 special education, 1 library, 1 music, 1 art, and 1 for sign-out. This means to reach our goal, Sprague needs twenty-two more boards.

Please join us at our next special PTO meeting to see and touch the board and learn all about the what, the why and the how we are going to work to accomplish this key goal for Sprague. There will be a lot of work to get this done. But, the Sprague community has always come through when given a challenge!

Live Demonstration PTO Meeting on Tuesday, October 12th
an Evening Session at 7pm in the Sprague Library

Treasurer's Report: Colette Aufranc leads a presentation detailing the income and expenditure for the 2009-2010 academic year. All material discussed is included in the Treasurer's Report sent to each family via their child's backpack. Please review your copy for details. Highlights follow. The PTO has an operating budget (excluding large capital items) of $40-45,000 per year. Our biennial auction provides the majority of our funding and the remaining is through the fundraisers we hold every year. We typically fundraise in the fall and winter. The cost of our annual programming runs approximately $100 per student. Major elements of our expenditure include Curriculum & Student Enrichment ($18,000) and Classroom & Teacher Support $16,000. Please contact Colette coletteaufranc@gmail.com with any questions. "My role is to provide info to you."

October Treasurer's Update: Voluntary contributions through membership dues are critical to the success of our PTO. In our fourth week of school, we have raised $10,085 with 42% of our families contributing. Our goal is to reach 100% participation. Go Sprague!

Announcements before we adjourn: Fall Family Festival 10/17 3-5pm. We need volunteers. Cookie Walk coming up on 12/9. We need a chair. Support staff is in place. Fifth grader car wash 10/2 10-12pm. SEEDFest in spring 2011. We're trying to grow the Fest and really bring it town-wide. Possibly develop it as our town-wide fundraiser, all the other schools have one. Phyllis Theermann, the Chair for SEED, introduces herself and points out Dr. Goodwin was on the committee promoting green at Sprague. There is a town-wide initiative by the High School to certify one classroom in each school as a model green classroom. 2KT Kristan Taylor has volunteered for this.

Last plea for parents to please get involved. There are opportunities for one hour commitments even if you don't have much time. We are very welcoming, it's fun, and you meet a lot of nice parents! Thanks for attending!

Submitted by substitute secretary, Yolanda Tong

Sprague Takes Care

Reminder from Dr. Goodwin

A reminder for all to please attempt to schedule any appointments for your children before or after the school day. Believe me, as a parent, I know this is difficult. However, as principal, I love to have our students enjoy an interruption free academic experience each day. Again, I know this is a challenge, but appreciate your efforts in this area. Finally, if and when your child does have an appointment during the school day, it is vital that you check in at the main office so we know that your son or daughter is leaving for part or the remainder of the school day. Please do not go straight to the classroom to dismiss your child. Thanks for following this procedure.

Just a gentle reminder, please do not park in the school's handicapped spots unless you have the required placard/license plate. On behalf of those families that need to use these spaces, thank you.

Message From the Nurse: Head Lice

Anyone can get head lice, mainly through direct head-to-head contact but also from sharing personal articles such as hats, brushes, towels, hair ties, pillows and headrests, because head lice are highly communicable. (It's most common in school-age children because their play habits often include head-to-head contact.)

Head lice do not reflect poor hygiene or socioeconomic status. They are not a health hazard and do not spread disease. Lice are a nuisance because the treatment is tedious, time consuming, and can be expensive.

Lice are difficult to prevent but if every parent takes the responsibility to check each child's head often, these parasites can be at least detected early and therefore controlled. Reminding children not to share hats and combs, and hairstyles that restrain the hair, such as braids and ponytails, are two additional measures parents can take to prevent the spread of head lice.

Lice lifecycle

How to check for head lice:

Select a comfortable area with good light, such as a strong lamp or natural sunlight from a window or go outdoors.
A magnifying glass is helpful.
A child's TV program or video can be a welcome distraction for the child.
Comb or brush hair to remove tangles.
Section the hair so that the scalp and uppermost 2 inches of the hair shaft can be easily visualized.
Look carefully through each section of hair for attached nits (lice eggs) and live lice.

What to look for: Lice are wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are usually light reddish brown but do vary in color. They move quickly and shy away from light. This makes it difficult to see them.

The diagnosis of head lice is more often made by seeing the attached nits (eggs) than by finding crawling head lice. Nits are tiny and oval-shaped, usually beige or grayish white, although they can vary in color. Nits are attached to the hairshaft at an angle, do not wash or blow away, and can be found throughout the hair, but are most often found behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, and at the crown.

Please watch for signs of head lice, such as frequent head scratching, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, and check your child's head regularly as part of your routine hygiene. This is the best way to detect head lice and nits as early as possible, thus providing for easier treatment and control of spread of new cases at home and here at Sprague.

If you should discover a case of head lice, please notify me. Our Wellesley Public School policy is that students identified to have head lice are to be checked by the nurse before returning to the classroom or using school transportation services, so I will examine your child's head. I'll screen siblings and classmates as indicated, and I can provide information and practical advice.

Check out http://fc.wellesley.k12.ma.us/~Sharon_Kahn/ for nursing info.

Sharon Kahn, Sprague Nurse

Sprague is Social

Fall Family Festival NEW Sunday, October 17, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Outdoors at Sprague (in case of rain, in the Sprague Gym 4:30 - 6:00 pm)

Come join us with family and friends and help build community under our new principal! We will be holding a chili cookoff contest! Enjoy tasting everyone's recipes, or have hot dogs and drinks if you can't stand the heat. Activities for the kids will include - arts and crafts, kickball tournament and scavenger hunt. Suggested donation of $10 per family to cover costs.

Chili contestants are needed! Donation waived and PRIZES will be given. We're looking for at least 20 entries. Use your secret recipe or a fan favorite recipe. Here's your chance to brag about making the best chili!

Volunteers are needed for 1 hour shifts that day 2-6pm. Set up, sell tickets, run crafts or manage a kickball team, serve food or clean up. Great chance to have fun, see everyone and meet some new families.

Volunteer meeting is Friday October 8th at 1pm at the Bowmans- 26 Crown Ridge Road. Contact Jen Bowman Jenbowman@me.com or Lynn Sanville sanvillelynn@gmail.com to volunteer or for more info.

Sprague Halloween Challenge NEW Friday, October 29

Halloween is probably one of the most creative holidays of the year, so it should come as no surprise that it is one of Ms. Stabnick's favorite days. The Sprague Halloween Challenge is to make your own costume this year for our school parade on Friday, October 29th. Halloween is not about buying a costume, it is about getting a little creative and a little silly to invent a character for one super celebration. Please look through your art supplies, closets, recycling or even go down to the Wellesley Swap. Over the years, parade spectators have enjoyed seeing robots made from boxes and even a plate of spaghetti and meatballs fashioned with yarn and nerf balls. If you already have a store bought costume - make a prop! If you have a pirate costume, build a parrot. If you are looking for ideas..... see Ms. Stabnick!

All children who capture the creative spirit of Halloween will receive a prize at the parade. Happy, Happy Halloween - Go get clever, creepy and creative!

Ms. Stabnick, Sprague Art

Family Ski Trip SAVE THE DATE Friday January 21st to Sunday January 23rd

At Waterville Valley. More information to come from Haig Tellalian haig@tellalian.net and Gillian Callaghan gncallaghan@aol.com.

Sprague is Supportive

PTO Fundraisers

Thanks for participating in your PTO fundraisers to provide programs for our kids! We have the current Fall programs:

Innisbrook    On Sale Now to Wednesday, October 6th
Premium gift wrap fundraiser. Catalogs traveled home in your child's backpack. Sneak a peek and place your orders online at www.innisbrook.com and select EZ-Enter Orders Here, or by filling out the order form and sending your check in made out to the Sprague PTO.

BOX TOPS Blow Out   Monday, October 18th - Friday, October 22nd
Clip and earn cash for Sprague. Check out www.boxtops4education.com to learn more.

Family Picture Day   Saturday, October 23rd
Pictures taken by Coffeepond Photography at Wellesley Town Hall (rain date Sunday, October 24th) Download the form http://www.spragueschool.org/go/newsletters/ and make your appointment by Wednesday October 20th 3pm. Afterwards, you can go online to view and order. Many print sizes, holiday cards, an 8x10 calendar, photo magnets, and notepads are available. Please contact Colette Aufranc coletteaufranc@gmail.com for more info.

Scholastic Book Fair    Tuesday, November 2nd to Thursday, November 4th

At Sprague. Your child's classroom visit schedule is coming soon via Room Parents and the Sprague Pulse. Parents are welcome to come anytime during sales hours. Family Night is Wednesday November 3rd 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Munch on goodies from the 5th Grade Sweet Treat Shop while you shop. Please contact Sue Maggioni susanmaggioni@gmail.com or Catherine Mirick catherine.mirick@gmail.com if you would like to help.

Remember Me Books Ongoing All Year for Our School Library
Our goal for the year is 180 books. 12 donated already! Thanks to the Bergquist, Guevara, Hart, Kolb, Person and Sullivan families!

Honor students and teachers by donating a new book to the Sprague School Ellen Cunniff Library. Recent reductions in Wellesley Public School budgets have reduced school library budgets. The Remember Me! program helps both to fill these gaps and to celebrate our growing readers and special staff members. See more details on how to order at http://www.spragueschool.org/index.cfm?objectid=93614B89-B3F3-D3C8-C145A28DDDF939C3.

Please contact Julie Barker juliegbarker@hotmail.com or Kathy Ashraf ashraffamily@comcast.net with any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Fifth Grade Fundraisers

Car Wash NEW Saturday, October 2, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fifth Grade Fundraiser at Sprague Bus Circle. It will cost you only $10 to have the cleanest car in town! Dance to the music of The Grateful Dad's and Burnt Orange (Sprague kids band featuring 5th graders!), while we wash your car, with car wash soap (no streaks) and clean water! Snacks for sale, too!

Upcoming Events

October 17 Participate in Fall Festival
November 2 Babysit for Conferences AND Bake Sale for Election Day
November 3 Make and Sell 5th Grade Treats at Family Book Fair
November 17 Stella and Dot Party at Libby Silvia's 9:00 - 11:00 am and 7:00 - 9:00 pm

If you or your child are interested in helping in any of these activities, please contact Theresa Levy tig2@comcast.net or Todd Himstead todd@himstead.com.

Sprague Yearbook Committee

The Yearbook Committee has a strong tradition at Sprague of producing a full-color, popular yearbook full of photos: individual and class, teachers' classroom and school events throughout the year. While we highlight the fifth graders, ALL kids love to review the year with their friends and recall fun times. It's a keepsake they'll be able to have forever. Even if you have a kindergartener, plan to buy a yearbook, they absolutely love them! Our order form is on www.spragueschool.org/go/newsletters/.

Volunteers Needed! We would love people to help us throughout the year- fifth grade parents who will work together on the fifth grader's section and people who can help with other jobs. Most of our work is in the spring. We love to share our enthusiasm for this great production! Please contact Karen Haberly Karen.haberly@gmail.com or Theresa Levy tig2@comcast.net if you can help.

Photos Needed! We encourage everyone who attends events or visits classrooms, from the first day of school to year-end parties, to take photos and email them or give us copies. We especially love photos that include groups of kids and teachers. To avoid year-end crunches, we do have deadlines for event photos to be included.

By Friday October 15th please send your Kindergarten and New Family Events, First Day of School and Ice Cream Social photos to MySpraguephotos@gmail.com so that they may be included in the yearbook. Remember to take photos at the Fall Family Festival and Halloween Parade, as we will be asking for those next!

Sprague Enriches Kids

Class Designations 2010 NEW

Kindergarten			Third
KKB Katie Bender			3AR Alee Rogers
KLB Lindsay Barrett			3JB Jayne Byrne
KSG Sara Goudreault			3JL Jennifer Lundbohn
First			Fourth
1CC Christina Cooney			4JH Jill Heckman
1DG Dara Gaul			4MH Moe Henzel
1KS Kristin Stoetzel			4TD Taryn Drake
Split			Fifth
1/2LM Lisa Mortarelli			5BH Bevin Hale
Second			5EB Ellen Banthin
2KC Kim Casalena			5HH Heather Heon
2KL Karen Lindquist
2KT Kristan Taylor

Environmental Science Fall Walks

Welcome to a great season of fun and informative nature walks! Join your child and their friends in the only program where parents are involved in curriculum delivery.

Please contact Lori Goldenthal lorigoldenthal@gmail.com to volunteer or for more info.

Class	Day	Date	Time	Raindate
KSG	Thursday	10/7	10:00 am	(10/14)
KKB	Friday	10/8	9:30 am	(10/15)
KLB	Monday	10/18	9:00 am	(10/22)
1KS	Tuesday	10/5	12:20 - 1:20 pm	(10/12)
1CC	Thursday	10/7	2:00 - 2:30 pm	(10/28)
1DG	Monday	10/18	2:00 pm	(10/25)
1/2LM	Tuesday	10/19	2:00 - 2:30 pm	(10/26)
2KC	Thursday	10/14	1:00 pm	(10/21)
2KT	Thursday	10/14	2:00 -3:00 pm	(10/21)
2KL	Tuesday	10/12	9:00 - 9:40 am	(10/19)
3AR	Wednesday	10/13	9:30 -10:15 am	(10/20)
3JB	Wednesday	10/6	11:00 am - 12:00 pm	(10/13)
3JL	Tuesday	10/12	10:30 am	(10/19)

Check out www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/curriculum/elem-science/pages/environmental_edu.htm for more curriculum info.

Exploring ART Outside of School

I would like to remind you of some wonderful opportunities to support our students' interest in art. Throughout the summer, our students traveled the state, the country and beyond and brought back with them stories of wonderful visits to both museums and notable architecture. Please continue to take photos of your children visiting museum spaces and architecture and have them bring it to the art room. If you have an opportunity to purchase a postcard of a favorite work or the museum itself, even better. This has become an ongoing version of show and tell in the art room and has been the spring board for exciting and thoughtful discussions.

I would like to introduce and invite families to explore some of the wonderful museums and exhibits that are an easy drive from Wellesley. This month, I encourage you to visit the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science and the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.

Institute of Contemporary Art 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, www.icaboston.org

Hours Tues & Wed 10 am - 5 pm; Thurs & Fri 10 am - 9 pm; Sat & Sun 10 am - 5 pm

Closed Monday, except on some national holidays; see website for details.
Admission $15 general admission, $10 students, $13 seniors, FREE members and children 17 and under FREE after 5 pm on Target Free Thursday Nights, FREE families (adults accompanied by children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of each month

Exhibit Workworkworkworkwork - July 16 to October 17

For over 20 years, New York-based artist Charles LeDray has created handmade sculptures in stitched fabric, carved bone, and wheel-thrown clay. LeDray painstakingly fashions smaller-than-life formal suits, embroidered patches, ties, and hats, as well as scaled-down chests of drawers, doors, thousands of unique, thimble-sized vessels, and even complex models of the solar system.

The exhibition gathers approximately 50 sculptures and installations, from seminal early works to the first U.S. presentation of MENS SUITS (2006-2009), his highly acclaimed project presenting three complex, small-scale vignettes of second-hand clothing shops. The ICA will also premiere Throwing Shadows (2008-2010), an extraordinary new ceramic work including more than 3,000 vessels made of black porcelain, each less than two inches tall.

Museum of Science 1 Science Park, Boston, tel. 617-723-2500, www.mos.org

Hours Sat - Thurs, 9 am - 5 pm; Fri 9 am - 9 pm
Admission Adult (12 +) $21 Senior (60+) $19 Child (3 -11) $18

Exhibit Through the Mind of M.C. Escher- through January 2, 2010

Fall up the stairs into mind-bending worlds at a new exhibit of high-quality Escher reprints. Just ten percent larger than Escher's jewel-like originals, these reproductions maintain the impact of Escher's carefully drafted alternative worlds while allowing visitors to examine them in greater detail.

Step inside the Dutch-born artist's unique - and controversial - imagination. Although Escher didn't fit in with the 20th-century avant garde, mathematicians recognized in his images the concepts of infinity, symmetry, and the regular division of the plane. This very right-brained artist and his decidedly left-brained fans enjoyed an unusual, enduring relationship.

Within the gallery, hands-on activities invite visitors to explore some of the optical phenomena that so fascinated Escher, such as tessellations and sphere reflections. These repeating patterns are classic Escher - as is his self-portrait in a reflecting sphere, which he drew at various points in his life. After you see Escher's 1935 "Hand with Reflecting Sphere," you'll have the opportunity to try it yourself.

DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, www.decordova.org The DeCordova Museum is located beautiful Lincoln, Massachusetts. Children have described the outside of the museum as looking like a castle, but inside, it houses a wonderful collection of contemporary art. The museum is situated on a lake and includes a 35-acre sculpture park with rolling hills and large scale site-specific sculptures. It may take an hour or so to explore the grounds, but what a great way to enjoy the fall weather.
Hours Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5 pm. The sculpture garden is open dawn to dusk year round. The museum is occasionally closed for the installation of new exhibits, call or check the web site before you go.
Admission $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, students and children 6-12, under 5 is free. Outside of museum hours, the sculpture park is free.

Enjoy,

Jennifer Stabnick, Sprague Art

Walk to School Days

"Walk to School" days promote physical activity among our students and families. Kids can walk, bike, or scooter. Families that live too far to walk may park in the Roche Bros parking lot and walk from there or from the lot at the top of Calvin Road. Mark your calendar for the year!

October 6 Wednesday International Walk to School Day		March 1 Tuesday
November 2 Tuesday		April 1 Friday
December 3 Friday		May 4 Wednesday
January 7 Friday		June 2 Thursday
February 3 Thursday

Margaret Flitsch, Sprague Phys Ed

Ellen Cunniff Library

Ellen Mandel is at Sprague teaching grades two through five on Monday afternoon and all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Elisabeth Zimmer the first grade classes on Tuesday afternoon and Beth Kauczka the Kindergarten classes on Monday morning.

Library Schedule
Mon   KKB, KLB, KSG, 3AR, ISS1, ISS2
Tue 1CC, 1KS, 1DG
Wed 3JB, 3JL, 5EB
Thu    5BH, 5HH, 2KC, 2KL, 2KT
Fri    4JD, 4TD, 1/2LM

Library Check Out Policies and Procedures
Kindergarten and First Grade: One Book
Second through Fifth Grade:Two Books
Books can be kept for two weeks. Materials can be renewed if they are not in demand. Students can always exchange books during the week, as needed. Although fines are not charged for overdue books, we ask that families be responsible for the cost of books that are lost or damaged. Please help your child remember to put his/her book in a backpack and bring it back to school on, or before library day.

Check out http://fc.wellesley.k12.ma.us/~ellen_mandel/ for library info.

Ellen Mandel, Sprague Library

Sprague Has HEART

Teacher Appreciation Lunch Sponsored by K, 1 & 2 Wednesday, October 20

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Families: Please join us in providing lunch for our teachers! Prepare your favorite main dish, salad or dessert and show our Sprague Staff how much you appreciate their tireless work on behalf of our children. To volunteer, please contact Rebecca Cahaly rebecca@tellalian.com, Janet Giesser janetgiesser@comcast.net or Lori Goldenthal lorigoldenthal@gmail.com. Many thanks!

Cradles to Crayons
Monday, November 1 to Friday, November 5 at Sprague
Saturday, November 6 at Babson

HELP US COLLECT! Once again, Sprague will be collecting donations for the Cradles to Crayons Wellesley Drive. Drop off bins will be provided at school near the front doors. The primary focus is to collect slightly used winter clothes for kids 0-14. Outerwear and baby items including equipment (no cribs) are in high demand. Pajamas and underwear must be newly purchased. Go to http://boston.cradlestocrayons.org for a complete list of donation requirements. Tax receipts will be available next to donation bins.

HELP US SORT! Please join us at sorting day on November 6th at Babson College's gymnasium. Sorting Day is a great way to volunteer with your kids so bring them along. There will be activities for kids to help color bookmarks and sort through donations. Volunteers at SPRAGUE will help monitor the collection bins at pick up and drop off time. Volunteers at BABSON will be asked to sign up for two hour shifts between 9am and 1pm. Please contact Sandra Baldinger sanbal@comcast.net or Wendy Garber whgarber@comcast.net to volunteer or for more info.

SEED Sprague Energy and Environmental Defenders

Calling All Student Artists and Designers
All K-12 student artists and graphic designers out there are invited to join the festivities at the Sustainable Wellesley 2010 Expo and Symposium Saturday October 9th at the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant - 4 Municipal Way, in Wellesley. The Wellesley Green School Committee is kicking off their mascot creation contest. Supplies will be available while students brainstorm and create the WGSC mascot. Think renew, resuse and recycle and come learn more.

Every Thursday is No Waste Lunch Day
Use fun reusable containers to pack your own lunch and drinks. Try fewer prepackaged foods and plastic bags.

Sprague Community Garden coming Spring 2011!
Stay tuned for more details in coming months. Special thanks to Ms. Flitsch and Julia de Peyster for establishing the "grass roots" of this new enterprise. If you would like to join our committee to "help our garden grow", contact Jane Neilson janepneilson@gmail.com.

Thanks for making Sprague even greener!

Jen Looper jen.looper@gmail.com and Phyllis Theermann phyllis@theermann.com

The Community Beyond
Submissions have been approved by the WPS Central Office

The World of Wellesley Presents a Legislator Forum:
A Discussion on Education Reform, Healthcare and Immigration
Sunday, Oct 3 at 3:00 pm
At and co-sponsored by Massachusetts Bay Community College, 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley
Some of the principal participants are Congressman Barney Frank, United States House of Representatives; State Senator Cynthia Stone Creem; State Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch; State Senator Richard Ross. Chaired by Richard S. McGhee, Chairman of the Board for World of Wellesley and Moderated by Edward Harding, Anchor for WCVB News.
This is not intended to be a debate but a discussion to define and explain the nature and legislative understanding of each of the key subjects listed above. For information call 781-237-5202 or email rsmjr5@gmail.com.

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent of Tweens and Teens
4 Tuesdays, October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th at 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Wellesley Free Library
Parents of 4th to 8th graders! Learn how to:

Enjoy the teen years with your children
Help them learn strategies for success
Share control
Avoid unwinnable arguments
Maintain the dignity of both child and parent
Have lots of fun!

The trainer is Jim Brommers Bergquist, M. Div. -- and Sprague Dad! -- Jim is a trained facilitator of the program. He is Associate Minister at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church.
To register or for additional information contact Maura Renzella, Youth Director mrenzella@wellesleyma.gov or 781.446.6274. Sponsored by the Wellesley Youth Commission and the Wellesley Free Library.

Internet Safety and Cyberbullying
Thursday, October 7 at 7:00 pm at Wellesley Free Library
How to ensure your child is safe online.
To register or for additional informoation contact Maura Renzella, Youth Director mrenzella@wellesleyma.gov or 781.446.6274. Sponsored by the Wellesley Youth Commission and the Wellesley Free Library.

Sustainable Wellesley Expo and Symposium Saturday, October 9
Expo at the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Symposium at the Wellesley Free Library 1:00 - 4:45 pm
Join Wellesley's fun, informative and collaborative sustainable event. Free and engaging for all ages, rain or shine. See the website www.onewellesley.com or the Sustainable Wellesley brochure http://www.spragueschool.org/go/newsletters/ for more info on events.

High School Cotillion Boutique Donate by Friday, October 15
Concept: We are setting an area for girls to borrow dresses, shoes, and accessories for the Cotillion. It is open to anyone who wants an alternative to buying items and would rather borrow them.
What to do: From now to October 15th if you are interested in donating any dresses or accessories please drop off at Pauline Dixon's at 32 Clifford Street. Please label your items and an inventory list will be created. We can't promise perfection in the first year so if it's something that you are extremely fond of, it might be better not to send.
Dates to "shop": From October 16th until November 21st ,all of the dresses and accessories will be displayed in Don DeAmicis's Garage (Frankie's house) on 37 Rice Street across from the school. For privacy reasons, a non-Wellesley staff person will be present only to manage the flow of inventory. That person will keep it confidential as to who was there. We are trying to keep it a private setting so girls will feel safe about borrowing stuff. The hours will be from 1-5 each Saturday and Sunday Oct 16th-Nov 20th. After the Cotillion, it would be appreciated if the items could be returned to 32 Clifford Street so we can set up the same concept next year.

Getting Real About Bullying Wednesday, October 20 7:00 - 9:00 pm
At St. Andrew's Church Parish Hall, 79 Denton Road, Wellesley
Talk will begin at 7:30, discussion to follow. Refreshments will be served.

After all the publicity about bullying and the passage of a new law, are we any closer to reducing the problem?
What truly constitutes bullying?
How much of it is normal?
How much is it a school problem, as opposed to a family and community problem?
What practical steps can make a positive difference?

www.spragueschool.org

October 2010