Friday Notes: From the Plymouth Public Schools

Plymouth Public Schools School Committee Meetings:
The next meeting of the Plymouth School Committee will be Monday, June 17, 2013. School Committee meetings are held at Plymouth Community Intermediate School in the Little Theatre. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.

Weekly quote:

"The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself."

-C. JoyBell C.

District news and information for all k-12 teachers, administrators, and parents from the Elementary Library Media Specialists.

Have you visited the Association for Library Service to Children?

This wonderful resource offers information and resources for educators and parents. Take a look at:

http://www.ala.org/alsc/

Focus on the Professional Tools section for:

Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been adopted in a majority of states, and librarians and teachers are scrambling for resources and knowledge to embrace the new paradigm. In response, ALSC's School-Age Programs and Services Committee has compiled a list of essential resources (articles, blogs, websites), which provide a starting point for becoming more familiar with CCSS in order to gain confidence in serving the educational community. A great resource!

Visual and Performing Arts Department News

Congratulations to all involved with Plymouth South Middle School's production of Beauty and the Beast. The performances were great!

There was a fabulous turnout for the A Cappella showcase on Monday, June 3! Thank you to all of the performers. Please watch the video below to see Northern Lights perform!

Northern Lights: The Only Exception

Congratulations to the band students from West Elementary and Federal Furnace Elementary for their performance Wednesday night at Plymouth North High School. It was a wonderful evening. Below is a picture of West's Recorder Ensemble.

Congratulations to all of the Hedge Elementary School chorus students for a wonderful concert on Monday night!

Congratulations to all involved with Tuesday nights' South Elementary combined band, strings, and chorus concert. All performances were awesome!

Congratulations to the student artists and teachers at PCIS. The work at Thursday's art show was very impressive. Great job everyone!

Congratulations to the performers in Thursday night's South Middle Schools' spring concert. It was a delightful evening!

Cold Spring Elementary School News

Recently a student at Cold Spring Elementary, Connor MacLeod, wrote a Cinquain poem about his feelings of pride in Boston. His teacher was impressed and wanted to share his poem. Below find a picture of Connor and his great poem.

Boston Strong

By: Connor MacLeod

Boston

Boston is Strong

People are rebuilding

Lots of people are still healing

Hopeful

Manomet Elementary News

Manomet Elementary 1st and 4th graders enjoyed a walking field trip to the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (formally known as the Manomet Bird Observatory). During the field trip, the students take a guided tour of the extensive grounds looking for captured birds in special netting. The trip also includes a presentation of their banding system. The students learned about data collection and interpretation. They gained knowledge on how the information is used to aid in present and future conservation efforts. Through research and collaboration, Manomet builds science-based, cooperative solutions to environmental problems.

J.P. Anusewicz, Owen Finn, Alex Stec and Aidan Drollett from Mrs. Johnson's 4th grade class, enjoy a beautiful, sunny day with magnificent views of Manomet Beach prior to their hike in the woods.

Students from Mrs. Delano's 1st grade class eagerly await the bird's removal from the net.

Students see the newly captured bird up close, as they get ready to bring it back to the research center.

Manomet Center Presenter, Evan, shows a previously tagged bird while explaining the banding process to Mrs. Poliseno's 1st grade class.

Fifth graders from Manomet Elementary went on their annual Sturbridge Village Field Trip. Old Sturbridge Village is a living museum located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, which re-creates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s.

Manomet Elementary's Fifth Grade classes

PSMS News

Beauty and the Beast Jr.

The Plymouth South Middle School Drama Club recently presented its version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr. The cast of 62 5th - 8th grade students put 6 months of hard work on display when they dazzled for three fantastic performances. The first performance, which was a special preview for staff members and their families (as well as a final dress rehearsal), took place Thursday, May 30th at 4:00.

Cast and crew remained at school until the opening night performance at 7:30 and were treated to a pizza dinner in between shows. The closing performance took place the following night, Friday May 31st. Comments from parents and staff members indicated that this may have been "the best show ever" at PSMS! Congratulations to all!

Just Words Reading Morning Program

On Tuesday, June 4th, twelve students completed a twenty week reading program called "Just Words". These students met two mornings a week from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. to work on improving their reading skills. Mrs. Firth and Mrs. Groom joyfully celebrated the growth and success by serving a pancake breakfast to the group. The PTA provided gift certificates to the "Book Shack", and top student, Robert Abruzzi was awarded a Nook, for his perfect attendance and personal growth.

Relay Recess Rescheduled

The PSMS Relay Recess has been rescheduled from Friday, June 7^th to Thursday, June 13^th due to the weather forecast. Thank you for your understanding.

Plymouth North High School News

Technology

Mike Petrasko, Computer Technician, and Julia Colby, Technology Integration Specialist, look at each other and wonder where the year went. They were so busy with all the new technology that the days, weeks, and months flew by. PNHS teachers and students have embraced their new plethora of new technology. As you walk down the halls, you can see teachers and students using the Media Master, on-demand tv stations, document cameras, sound systems, interactive whiteboards, notebook carts, presentation systems in the Lecture Hall and Cafeteria, and the computer labs.

Teachers began the new school learning all this new technology. Then came "Round Two". The four ipad carts rolled out April 1st and they have been booked solid ever since. This week, the iPads are being used in 17 different classrooms. They have been utilized by teachers in all curriculum areas - Math, English, History, Science, World Language, SPED, and Technology. Popular apps for creating multimedia projects have been iMovie, Inspiration, Garage Band, Keynote, Explain Everything, Creative Book Builder, and Comic Life.

Projects have ranged from calculus AP problems explained in a video, World War II news magazines, sociology topics using music and video, Civil War news broadcasts, videotaping students conversations in Spanish and the creation of music videos in Spanish, projects to demonstrate the understanding of Shakespeare's language used in Romeo and Juliet, collaboration by students on the creation of a literary magazine, student biographies in iMovie, creating digital spaces in which the class engages with material independently and as a group, reflection on books, "passion" projects in which the students research a topic they are passionate about and teach the rest of the class about their chosen topic.

Students are motivated and engaged in learning. Teachers are focusing on choices of apps for projects, allowing students to focus on their creativity and strengths.

Congratulations to PNHS teachers and students for embracing the new technology and blending it into teaching and learning.

Senior Dinner Dance Aboard The Spirit of Boston

All Aboard! Senior dinner dance attendees enjoyed a beautiful cruise of Boston harbor aboard the Spirit of Boston. Wonderful food, beautiful views and dancing made the last party with high school friends truly memorable.

Senior Athletic Awards Night

On June 2nd the graduating senior athletes were recognized for their accomplishments and dedication over the last 4 years as members of our athletic program at our annual Senior Athlete Recognition Night.

PNN

On Saturday, June 1st, four PNN students attended the New England Emmy Awards at the Boston Copley Marriott. This year's PNN won the following awards:

Best Overall Newscast and Best Graphics (Full news team): Jackie Bletzer, Katrina Borofski, Sammie Burt, Sawyer Damiano, Katie Donegan, Cori Enos, Vicky Gilmore, Molly LeGrow, Rowena Lindsay, Trevor Metcalfe, Mikaela Oriola, Frank Schulze, Amanda Strickland, Savannah Sylva

Best News Story: Rowena Lindsay and Katrina Borofski

Best Long Form: Sammie Burt and Cori Enos

Best Writing: Rowena Lindsay and Frank Schulze

PNHS Junior Prom

2012/2013 Prom King Patrick Fey and Queen Caroline Sheehan

PNHS Junior Prom Court

2012 King and Queen pass the crown.

Plymouth South High School News

Each year a group of dedicated teachers and advisors is selected to serve on DECA's School-based Enterprises Advisory Council. These individuals are responsible for guiding the direction of this specialized program to ensure DECA members are receiving the most beneficial experience possible. The 2013-2014 SBE Advisory Council members are:

Doris Bishop, Massachusetts
Karey Conn, Montana
Chris Dorman, Arkansas
Dave Eby, Washington
Lacee Manus, New Mexico

This year's council will meet with DECA staff and representatives from Otis Spunkmeyer July 31-August 2, 2013, in Reston, Va. to:

Improve the SBE certification and re-certification guidelines
Discuss the possibility of allowing SBE certification and re-certification manuals to be submitted online
Develop strategies to increase awareness of school-based enterprises as a learning laboratory for students
Develop strategies for increasing participation in the certification program
Discuss the possibility of creating competitive events related to school-based enterprises
Preliminarily plan the 2014 SBE Academy at the International Career Development Conference
Develop strategies to grow the newly developed individual certification program related to business operations
Develop social media and communications strategies related to SBE

Generous support for the School-based Enterprises Program is provided by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.

Plymouth South High School Graduation tomorrow at 1:30 at Memorial Hall. Congratulations to the Class of 2013!!!

Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D Superintendent
Plymouth Public Schools

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