As we previously reported, we were dealing with increased absences in late October and early November. We're happy to report that our attendance rates have returned to normal levels and remained there for several weeks. I again want to recognize the hard work of the Woburn's Health Agent, Jack Fralick, Public Health Nurse Karen DaCampo, our Head Nurse, Marcia Skeffington, and all of our school nurses for their work. 

 

I know that the Public Health Department hasn't been able to obtain all of the vaccines it would like to have, so scheduling clinics has been a challenge. Please visit their web site at  Woburn Board of Health 2009 Flu Facts and Clinics for the latest information.

 

 

The Kennedy Middle School held their second annual Haunted House on 10/28.  This is an event that is put together through the efforts of the staff as they make all of the props for the night. Over $1,500 was raised to help out local families during the holiday season.

We are pleased to announce that the district has received $30,312 in funding through a competitive grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  The grant, titled K-12 Literacy Partnerships, was awarded to districts for the purpose of enhancing the implementation of effective, research-based instructional practices, and increase the numbers and percentages of students who are proficient readers.  Through our grant, we will be examining literacy instruction across the content areas, with a focus on instruction in middle school math.  Our math teachers will receive training from Keys to Literacy in a strategy called KEY3 Comprehension.  According to Joan Sedita, the founding partner of Keys to Literacy, the three main skills that compose the program are note-taking skills, summarizing skills and main idea skills.

 

We believe that these strategies will enable our middle school students to be more successful in the area of math, particularly in their ability to read story problems and respond both orally and in writing to open response questions.  Training for staff will begin in late January.

In a continuing effort to provide staff and students with curriculum tools for their classroom, we introduced Class Pads into the Middle Schools this year. Thirty (30) teachers attended a summer training class to learn how to use the Class Pad and the RM EasiTeach software that accompanies each device. The goal is to get these devices into each middle school classroom this year.
 
Class Pads are from RM Education. They are about the size of a notebook and use wireless technology. Used in conjunction with an LCD projector, the teacher is able to control his/her computer remotely while moving around the classroom. Using PowerPoint presentations, the Internet, curriculum lessons or the EasiTeach software, teachers can engage their students in a technology rich environment. We are very excited about the potential of this tool.

You can find more information about Class Pads at http://www.rmeducation.com or click on the image above.
 

        The Joyce Middle School Flag Football League was started this year by Mr. Guffey and Mr. Tuzzolo. The games are played from after school to 4:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are three teams in the league at the moment with seven  players per team. Each mini-game is ten minutes long and played on half off a regular football field. Flag football is a lot like regular football except to tackle you have to get the flag from their waist line. Flag football is a great way to warm up for high school football as this league teaches kids teamwork, communication, discipline, and it is also good exercise.  There was fun and good times had by all this season and hopefully this league can expand in the future.  The highlight of the season came on the last day when Mr. Qualey was the guest Quarterback and threw six touchdown passes in ten minutes.  Flag Football was enjoyable and hope it is continued

 

 
Sturbridge Village: The Shamrock School fifth graders recently went to Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. They got to learn what life was like back in the 1800's by seeing buildings such as the blacksmith shop and the district school. Students were able to see how people worked by helping to make butter, attending school, and making pots in the potter's shop. Some students got to talk to the farmhands and learn how hard farm labor was. The bus trip was long, but the fun and learning made it all worthwhile!
 

Halloween Parade Float: Another big part of being a fifth grader at the Shamrock is working on the float for the Halloween Parade. The theme was "It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".  Students voted on the idea, helped in construction, and rode on the float the day of the parade.  Many of the Charlie Brown characters were present including Charlie himself, Linus, Schroeder, Lucy, Sally, Woodstock, and Snoopy.  Many families helped out on the float. It really was a team effort