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The Holmes School Book of the Month is an on-going Interactive Read Aloud activity designed to build and deepen our community connections through conversations relating to high-quality children's literature. Each month, all classroom teachers at Holmes School will be reading the same book to their class in an engaging manner focused on high levels of comprehension. The books we have chosen for this purpose have excellent picture supports which encourage even deeper thinking about text. As our children read and discuss these books with their teachers and classmates, we encourage you to have conversations with your children at home. We will also periodically be discussing these books at our Whole School Meetings.
Each month, look for the most current Holmes School Book of the Month on the bulletin board outside of the main office.
November's book of the month is: The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman. The books identified for the remainder of the year are listed below.
If you have any questions about the Book of the Month, please feel free to contact your child's teacher at any time.
Happy Reading!
Warmly,
Paula Bleakley
Holmes School Book of the Month List for 2015-2016
| October: | I Pledge Allegiance by Pat Mora and Libby Martinez | | November: | The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman | |
December:
| Elephant in the Dark Retold by Mira Javaherbin | |
January:
| Emmanuel's Dream
by Laurie Ann Thompson
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February:
| Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena | |
March:
| The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski | |
April:
| As An Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas | |
May:
| Ivan-The Remarkable Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate | |
June:
| Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes |
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It's not too late to RSVP to the Holmes Hoedown! (Invitation here). Please send in your check to school by this Friday. You don't want to miss our amazing auction! It promises to be a great night for everyone.
See you there!
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Halloween is just around the corner! Please check your child's backpack this week for a UNICEF collection box and remember to bring it along on Saturday while trick-or-treating!
UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat program began in 1950 as a way for kids to help kids in need of more than candy. Since then, children have gone door-to-door with their UNICEF collection boxes on Halloween, calling out "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!" They have raised more than $175 million for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF over the past 65 years. UNICEF improves the lives of children throughout the world by providing immunizations and medicine, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat
Holmes School continues to be a generous supporter of UNICEF. Together last year we raised over $1,400! So please dig up your spare change and help fill your child's little orange box this year. Starting Monday, November 2nd, boxes will be collected by the school's main entrance. The collection will end on Friday, November 6th.
Thank you for your generous support!
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December Conference Week Events offered by Darien After School at Chelsea Piers CT:
Tuesday 12/1 thru Friday 12/4, 1:30-3:30pm:New this year children will enjoy the added fun of using the upper level sports fields... in addition to the Gymnastics & Adventure Centers. Same number of kids, but 2 times the fun! Allergy Safe Snacks provided. Registration open through 11/23 at: www.darienafterschool.com; $35 1st child, and siblings discounted at checkout. Invite friends... children from across town are all invited to join Darien After School conference week events.
Hope to see you there, and in the meantime, we'll see you after school!
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Some of the workshops dates that were originally announced have changed, so please check the website for up to date information. The first workshop regarding handwriting will be held this Thursday, October 29th from 10-11:30am at the Board of Ed building.
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Be "sweet" and make Halloween extra special for all our teachers and staff!!
Please feel free to contact Beth Lane or Kelly Miller with any questions.
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Veterans Day is approaching and I would like to invite you to help us honor Veterans who are a part of the Holmes School family. Any Veterans who are friends or family of Holmes School students are welcome to attend the upcoming Veterans Day Program. The program is on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30 am in the Common Room.
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Planning Now for Secondary Transition. Thinking ahead is key to preparing a student to enter a post-high school environment successfully. Professionals from Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) and Darien High School will explain: The guidelines for transition planning outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004), andTransition Planning and the Individualized Education Program. CPAC and DHS professionals will also provide resources and strategies and outline the active role of students, parents, teachers and adult service providers in the transition process. Transition planning begins no later than age 16, or earlier if determined appropriate by the Planning and Placement Team (PPT).
Monday, November 9, 7:15 pm, DHS Room A 206 (English/History Learning Connections Room). Parents and Students Invited. Please RSVP:
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NEW Holmes winter beanies... Limited Time Only! Email ashley.bartolotta@gmail.com to reserve your Holmes winter beanie. $20. Reserve yours today before they are sold out for the season! Thanks, Outfitters team. |
Does your child accept and take personal responsibility? The more your child develops positive values that guide her or his behavior, the more likely he or she is to make positive choices and grow up healthy. "Responsibility" is one of the six positive value assets identified by the Search Institute.
As a parent you can help your child develop responsibility.
- Create opportunities for your children to learn and master new skills.
- Ask, don't demand. Instill responsibility by invitation. Invite your child to do tasks with you and gradually teach them so they can do it independently.
- Don't nag or rescue your kids when they forget to follow through on a responsibility. Let natural consequences occur. (eg: kids who forget to put their clothes in the laundry basket run out of clean clothes to wear.)
- Expect it to take time. Establish realistic expectations with your children. Celebrate their success instead of focusing on their failures.
A Community Fund initiative: Let's Get Talking - Thriving Youth.
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28 School Picture Retake Day
30 Kindergarten Share
2:15-2:30PM
30 Halloween Parade 2:30-3PM
November
3 Staff Development Day -
6 Holmes Hoedown
9 Coffee with the Principal
9:15-10AM CR
SEPAC Meeting, 7:15PM
DHS Rm A206
11 Veteran's Day Share Gr 5
9:30-10:30AM, CR
13 Bingo Night
25 Early Dismissal 1:25PM
26-29 Thanksgiving Break
December
1-4 Conference Week -
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Getting ready to pack lunches? Reusable food containers save the Earth, and they save you money! Please pack waste-free lunches!
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Community News
Weed Beach Expansion Survey
We need your input for planning purposes now and in the near future.The Town of Darien purchased property adjacent to Weed Beach and this has provided us with the opportunity to extend Weed Beach Park. Over the next few months, we will be gathering residents' input so that we may determine the best use for this section of the park. Please take a moment to complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WEEDBEACHWe will be collecting surveys throughFriday December 4th. Please share with other residents who may be interested.Please join us for a public Open House at Town Hall onTuesday November 10thfrom6:30 to 9:00to provide feedback on the project, and again onTuesday January 26th at 6:30to review potential plans for the park area.Thank you for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback!
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Darien YMCA and All Star FC
will run a 14-week season of indoor soccer. The sessions will take place at the YMCA, Tokeneke Elementary and Royle Elementary schools. Each class will consist of skill and technique training and then playing Futsal - the best way to play fast indoor soccer. The coaches will challenge players of all ranges of ability and will ensure that everyone has fun in the sessions - working on shooting, dribbling, passing and defending as well as teaching some soccer tactics to the players.
The TOWN PARTY at The Depot
All are welcome to this first ever community event.
Bring your family and friends to The Depot on Sunday, November 1st, 2-5pm for an afternoon of good old fashioned fun. There will be chili, fire pits, hot chocolate, games, cheerleaders, a bounce house, bands playing, friends, and lots more. For more information, please click here.Come enjoy the afternoon at The Depot TOWN PARTY. $5 per person, rain or shine. Sponsored by The Depot Alumni Committee
REGISTRATION FOR SPRING 2016 DARIEN LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL IS NOW OPEN FOR GIRLS K-8TH GRADE
Registration is divided into to categories, Returning Players and New Players. Visit www.dybs.org to register, click on the Register Online tab on the left.
Have your child learn the fundamentals of hitting, throwing and catching. Each team within the league holds frequent practices throughout the season to prepare for its games. The emphasis is on teaching the important skills to progress through Darien Softball while giving the girls an opportunity to play constantly and have fun!
The Darien Boy Scouts and The Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust invite the Community to our Centennial Celebration on November 14 th at Wee Burn Country Club featuring dinner, dancing, a short Centennial program, wine grab, and an exciting silent auction offering one-of-a-kind items and experiences! We invite all current and past Scouts and volunteers to reconnect with old friends and everyone in the community to join our celebration to help set the foundation for another century of leadership, service and community for our boys of Darien. For tickets and more information, visit www.darienscouts.org, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DarienScouting.
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Darien's Pedestrian Infrastructure Advisory Committee (PIAC) call for resident input
The Town of Darien appointed an advisory committee this past summer that will remain in place until December. We're asking for resident input on any/all areas you might like to see pedestrian and bicyclist improvements town-wide. Please go to the PIAC survey before November 1 to make any suggestions:
The Letter to the Editor that the PIAC had printed in the Darien Times last week is at:
The meetings have all been recorded by Channel 79 and posted online for viewing at: https://vimeo.com/user36218936/videos
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Registration for the 2015/2016 Darien YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses
If your daughter is in grades first through fourth, please consider joining one of the greatest programs offered for Dads and Daughters. Registration for the 2015/2016 Darien YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses program is now open and will close at the end of the month. You can register in person at the front desk of the YMCA. At some point, hopefully soon, you will be able to register online at http://www.darien-ymca.org/. Please note that the first event is scheduled for Sunday, October 25th so please register ASAP. Spread the word to your friends attending private schools. For more information about the program, please call April Greene at the Darien YMCA at 655-8228, extension 1309, or email Nation Chief Craig Schorr at craig.schorr@yahoo.com. ***
StraightTalk - Empowering Parents Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Control
Wed, 10/28th, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Most Middle School parents agree that a day at the office is far easier than one on the home front! Maud Purcell and Greg Doll - from The Life Solution Center of Darien - lead an informal and interactive parent discussion about how it is possible to establish healthy control over your kids by seeing and enforcing age-appropriate boundaries and rules, and providing lessons in character development.
StraightTalk - Lifting the Veil: Facing the Hidden Drug Epidemic in Darien, Part 2
Thu, 11/5th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, at TOWN HALL
Continue the discussion about the rise of heroin abuse in our small town with a professional panel: Ingrid Gillespie - Communities4Action, Roody Joseph, M.Ed., LPC - Center for Discovery and Change, Rob DiRoma, MSW, LADC - Center for Discovery and Change, John Douglas, M.D. - Silver Hill Hospital, Officer Michael Cummings - Darien Police Department, Sergeant TJ Whyte - Darien Police Department, and Nick deSpoelberch, Recovery Speaker.
Learn a Study Skills System that Works
Sat, Nov 7, 14, 21 - Middle School students: 9:00 - 11:30 am; High School students: noon-2:30 pm, @ The Depot
In 3-sessions, your student will learn evidence-based easy-to-implement strategies and systems to be active, engaged and successful in school. Your student will learn how to study, organize, manage time, prepare for tests and use executive functioning strategies - essential skills for today's academic rigor. Registration and more information: http://www.successfulstudyskills4students.com/depot/
Talk Books, Eat Snacks, Enjoy Friends
Come to The Depot's inaugural book club run by Teen Librarian Erica Gauquier of the Darien Library. The club for middle school-aged teens will meet on Tuesday, November 10th and 17th from 3 - 4 pm @ The Depot.
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Submission Guidelines:
Please send your submission in the text of your e-mail, single spaced and left adjusted, with "HTH Submission" in the subject line to holmes2home@gmail.com. Make sure you include a contact name and email or website in the text of your submission for questions.
We do not accept files or formatted text.
Please limit your submission to one paragraph. All text may be edited. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Community submissions must be local, 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organizations and parent or child-related. We will not include advertisements for businesses. Submissions will run for two weeks.
The deadline for submission is Monday by 4pm; H2H is normally distributed on Wednesdays.
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For recently distributed newsletters please visit our archive. Holmes to Home / Holmes School / Darien, Connecticut 06820 / (203) 353-4371
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