Archive for 'Notes From Francie'
Note from Francie 2/3/12
Report cards for Jen, Judy, and Erica’s classes go home this week. Classroom and specials teachers describe the activities of the first semester. Progress updates for each student are included in classroom teachers’ reports. Please give feedback to your child’s teacher. They put a lot of time into writing these reports and they want to know if you find them informative.
Posted: February 3rd, 2012 under Front Page, Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 1/27/12
Two 2 hour delays in one week – this is hard on all of us. Several parents have let me know that it’s particularly difficult when there’s the possibility that the delay may be upgraded to a full cancellation. I understand. Here’s the deal – When I decide on a 2 hour delay, I base this on information suggesting that weather conditions are changing and the roads will be better later in the morning. There’s always the chance that this will turn out not to be the case. If at 8am it appears that the roads won’t be safe, I start the process of contacting everyone for a cancellation.
Posted: January 27th, 2012 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 1/20/12
A short week, so a short note.
Last night Tom Hudak, our guidance counselor, hosted High School Night – an opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students and parents to learn about area high schools. High school choice is a huge benefit but it requires research and careful thinking about goodness of fit for students. Thank you to Mr. H for making this happen.
Posted: January 20th, 2012 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 1/13/12
Last week’s note omitted our welcome to seven new students. I apologize! Please join me in welcoming Kashe and Skylar to Jen’s class, Merou, Waylund, and Jeremiah to Judy’s class, and Siena and Broden to Erica’s class. At last Friday’s Sing we sang Jambo! to them and the teachers are connecting them with classroom friends and routines. This gives all the students an opportunity to review their classroom guidelines and deepen their own understanding by “teaching” their new friends.
Posted: January 13th, 2012 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 1/6/12
Welcome to 2012 at Marlboro School! We’re glad to be back and we sure wish it would snow – I know, be careful what you wish for… I hear that the ice skating on South Pond is very good – an excellent alternative.
Posted: January 9th, 2012 under Notes From Francie.
Note From Francie 12/22/11
The New Year brings changes to Marlboro School.
We say good-bye to Brooke and Izzy in Matt’s room and Leah, who has been a teacher intern with David. We wish them all well in their new schools. And we welcome Skylar and Kashe in Jen’s room, Waylund and Jeremiah in Judy’s room, and Broden and Siena in Erica’s room.
When we return we also jump into winter mode with more basketball, Winter Sports, and a new round of Marlboro Ventures.
Until then, enjoy the holidays and time with friends and family. And think snow!
Francie
Posted: December 22nd, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 12/16/11
I’m still basking in the warm glow of the Winter Concert. Congratulations to the students and thanks to Charlene for her dedication and hard work in pulling it all together. Such an extraordinary variety of music, dance, and drama! Students learn a tremendous amount about teamwork and collaboration as they practice for the Sword Dance (and the Tinikling Sticks and Morris Dance). Many of the songs have lyrics that send a great message for this (and any!) time of year. And the queens in the Primary play taught us all a lesson about giving and receiving. It’s such a challenge to be a parent at this time when children are inundated with media messages about all the stuff they should want. If you’re trying to promote values of caring and simplicity at home, maybe the songs at the concert can help.
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Posted: December 16th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 12/9/11
Within the past weeks several students have taken it upon themselves to improve our social climate. In one instance a group of students in Erica’s class organized games on the Primary playground and encouraged younger students to join in. These olders had noticed that several students were sometimes at loose ends and Judy confirmed this as it often came up when they previewed recess. The games have been enjoyed by all and the teachers will be encouraging more of this.
Posted: December 11th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 12/2/11
The first Friday of the month snuck up on me with the Thanksgiving holiday! Let’s plan on the parent coffee next Friday and I’ll also focus that note on an aspect of School Social Climate.
Posted: December 2nd, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 11/18/11
There are lots of reasons for you to drop by school and, right now, the front hall is a very good one. Sometimes the hall bulletin boards are just a holding space – they welcome us back to school or remind us of community events. Right now, they tell you a lot about our students and what they’re up to.
Posted: November 18th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 11/11/11
This morning at Sing Rachel gave us an overview of Veteran’s Day, its origins and how it’s changed over the years. Did you know that it started at the end of World War I as a celebration of peace breaking out? We sang “The Strangest Dream”, a song that describes the excitement people must have felt on Armistice Day.
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Posted: November 11th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 11/4/2011
I’ve had several conversations this week that highlight the importance of our belief in educating the “whole child”. And this fits right in with my monthly social climate note. We integrate our beliefs about social climate into every aspect of the curriculum. When we think about learning we are thinking about social and emotional learning as well as academic and intellectual.
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Posted: November 4th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 10/28/11
Snow before Halloween! What does it mean for this winter? One thing it means is outdoor fun at Marlboro School. Dig out those boots, mittens, hats, and snowsuits so that your child can be part of the fun.
Congratulations to Rose! Marlboro Ventures’ first week of activities was great. There are still some openings in several of the activities so send in a note if you would like your child to participate.
Posted: October 28th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 10/14
Junior High Cider Sale, Fall Fiesta, bus driver appreciation at Sing, and conferences for K-4 next Thursday – as always, there’s lots going on!
The Junior High had a very successful weekend of fundraising. This is a labor intensive project from picking the apples to pressing the cider. Students and parents worked hard and added over $3500 to the Costa Rica trip account.
Posted: October 14th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 10/7/11
On the first Friday of each month my note will be dedicated to some aspect of School Social Climate. One of the most powerful factors in creating a caring school community (and promoting each child’s learning) is by knowing each other well. At Marlboro School we build that in with lots of multi-age activities ranging from weekly Sing and daily all school recess to special events. This past week Jen, Judy, and Erica’s classes went to Hogback and hiked up Mt. Olga. Olders were buddied up with youngers and encouraged each other on the steep climb. Later in the week, I overheard one of Erica’s students check in with one of Jen’s students, “You’re Isibeal, aren’t you?”
Posted: October 7th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 9/30/11
What a lively P&F meeting! Although we were a small group, our energy and numbers expanded as Kelly Salasin created a Facebook Marlboro Elementary P&F Group right there while we were meeting. Making it to evening meetings is a challenge and we’re exploring other ways to meet in person and, maybe, virtually. Next Friday I will host a First Friday Tea after All School Sing. Please join me. We can continue the discussion of possible events and fundraising for P&F to promote. And, of course, talk about other topics of interest to you.
Posted: September 30th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie 9/23/11
All School Sing is my favorite part of each week. Singing, whether singing myself or listening to others, lifts my spirits. This year, with Ellen away, Erica joins Tim in leading All School Sing and they have decided to include as many musicians as possible. Today Judy joined in with her guitar. Charlene played piano and led the Contra Dance Band (Izzy, Sequoyah, Mason, and Aidan) in some fiddle tunes. Last Friday Junior High student Calvin added his guitar to the mix. There are many kinds of intelligence. Music is one and Marlboro School has a delightful abundance.
Posted: September 23rd, 2011 under Notes From Francie.
Note from Francie – 9/16/11
A week before school was supposed to start I received an e-mail from a reporter for Vermont Public Radio. She was working on a story about how schools were responding to the 10th anniversary of 9/11. What did we plan to teach the children about the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? How would we help students make sense of this defining moment in recent history?
Posted: September 16th, 2011 under Notes From Francie.