Last week…

We are so busy each day with spelling activities, writing workshop time, math, math, and more math! Our theme time focus last week was all about the thermometer and temperature. And, of course, we connected it to the water cycle. Students are learning how to read the thermometer – a little tricky with Fahrenheit and Celcius sides. We will be keeping track of the temperature in Marlboro on a daily basis. We are conducting science experiments connected to water coming up with questions and hypotheses. Students are also coming up with their own questions that they can then test out.

Ask your child these questions for more info…

• What is the water cycle song?
• What were the results of the water/snow experiment?
• What sentence activity are you doing? (olders)
• How do you play “Beat the calculator”? What’s challenging when you’re the “calculator”? What’s challenging when you’re the “brain”? (olders)
• What was your survey about? (youngers)
• What was Clementine’s talent?
• Who did you read with from David’s class?
• What are you doing at recess time on the icy playground?
• What songs are you singing in music?
• What do you do at choice time?
• What did Pam read to you in library?

 VALENTINE’S DAY – What we do…

Students can bring in a Valentine card for their friends on that day – most kids bring them in! If you choose to do so, we ask that you send in one for every student. We will also enjoy a special snack. We will also celebrate the 100^th day of school on that day! Below is a class list for your convenience…

Phoenix C, Althea, Willow, Ritter, Noa, Waylund, Hannah, Jeremiah, Merou, Amalia, Camilla, Madison, Hunter, Zinabu, Senait, Phoenix L.K.

 If you would like to bring in a healthy treat for Valentine’s Day, please let me know!

Think snow?

Judy and Carol

The budget was reviewed.  The Wreath Sale was very successful.  Many thanks to Sara Coffey for leading this fundraiser.

Upcoming events:

March Reading Challenge with Screen Turn Off Week (March 12 – 16)

Pam Burke will coordinate the Reading Challenge

Dori and Tami will head up Family Bingo Night on March 16

May 14 – 18  Teacher Appreciation Week

Mexican theme contributions

Be thinking about what YOU can offer!

Spring Fundraiser – Julianne and Linda (art teacher)

Student drawn notecards to sell at Spring Concert and Art Show

Social Climate/Social Emotional Development – Jess Weitz, Kate Morgan and several other parents are interested in having an ongoing group to discuss parenting and children’s social emotional development and issues at home and school.  See the notice from Kate about a meeting at her house on Tuesday, February 7.

Class parents will be asked to welcome new families to the school.  An updated phone list will be sent home to all families.

Check out the Young Writer’s Project in Saturday’s Brattleboro Reformer for a piece by our own Mia in 6^th grade.

There will be an open meeting at Kate’s house, 400 Cowpath 40, Tuesday Feb. 7 @ 6 pm. to discuss openly and creatively social climate issues and concerns. We mean to generate energy for:  a Forum and exchange of ideas to help build supportive structures for our kids and their school.
Please send in to Kate’s email one or two sentences/thoughts, so we may create an agenda before hand. Bring snacks, and/or beverage.  There will be no children attending.
PLEASE RSVP for space reasons. Contact <katetarlowmorgan@gmail.com>  or 257 0855

Bring your family and friends to: Ski =  Skate  =  Sled  =  Snow-Shoe   =  Make Snow Sculptures. Children must  be  accompanied  by  adults. Please bring your own equipment and Snacks to share with your neighbors! Hot cider provided courtesy of the Marlboro Alliance Questions? contact: michelle holzapfel 254-2908

 This event coincides with the Wendell – Judd Cup ski race for novice and veteran cross-country skiers of all ages. Check in at the Campus Center 1:00 – 1:45 before heading out on the 5.5 mile course from the college to South Pond and back. Trails are suitable for all levels. Snowshoers are also encouraged to participate.

For more information, contact Randy Knaggs at 258-9253  rlknaggs@marlboro.edu

Mondays….

Masters of the Yearbook (deftly guided by Pam Burke, our librarian and total tech-geek).

Tuesdays….

Fire & Stone (wilderness skills taught by Patrick Johnson),

Boyz on Bikes (taught by Mike Purcell, Matt Chapman & Jeff Burt on the new bike  course that Mike built in his huge barn, that is now being taken over by bike enthusiasts, young and old and around the school that Mike built last year),

Badminton (taught by Yvonne Laseter. And P.S., we are going to have an adult league starting on March 16th right after Marlboro Ventures, so sharpen your skills and hop in with your smashes and drops!)

On Belay (learn the ups and downs of the rock climbing wall with John Bentley, specially tailored for kids in 1st through 3rd grades).

Mondays or Wednesdays…..

Farm Kitchen (with our own Erica Morse bringing home the important skills of gardening),

Sound Scholars (yes, there is a recording studio happening right in the Junior High led by Joel Eisenkramer).

Thursdays….

Dive Into Duct Tape (making fashion statements with duct tape led by Marian Lyngaard),

Ultimate Frisbee (with Erik Schickedanz, and we are hoping to get a league started with the other 21st Century Grant schools in our supervisory union for some competitive inter league games),.

The biggest news is…..

…. that Marlboro Ventures will be sponsoring DANCES ON SOME FRIDAY NIGHTS! as an extension of one of it’s programs taught by Joel Eisenkramer, our expert of sound mixing called DJ Dance Party’s! Now 6th, 7th & 8th graders can be  master mixers at our new Friday night teen club. Kids create the playlist, fading one song out and the next one in with two different computers and a mixing board. Everyone comes the week before the dance with your music ready and Joel will show you the tricks of the trade! Dances are open to grades 6-8th (guests in that age range welcome). $3.00 at the door, snacks provided and we will also be announced in Friday Notes!

What do you think? Wish you were a kid again?

Also, Stay tuned for the Girls On The Run sign up, coming soon. Our own “Sweetie”, Julia Hampton has volunteered to coach along with parent volunteer extraordinaire, Julianne Mills. Mondays and Thursdays starting March 3^rd and culminating on May 19^th for the GOTR 5K Walk/Run. Open to Girls in grades 3rd through 5th.

Dear Families,

Progress Reports:

You should be receiving your child’s progress report in the mail. I send the reports home in the mail because in the past, students have opened their report cards and compared their reports. The report cards are not for the kids to read in that way. If students want to see their report card, by all means, but please be there to help your child interpret it. If your child is struggling in a particular area, that will be reflected but should not make your child feel badly. It is just an area to work on.

I wanted to let you know my thought process when writing the reports. There are many different kinds of reports at the school and this is how I think about reports – both format and content.

Each report includes these aspects of the child’s life at school:

• Social/emotional
• Work habits
• Reading progress
• Writing progress
• Math progress

All social studies and science activities are outlined in detail in the parent letters home. I do not include these areas in the progress report because each one of these activities includes the above skills. If you have questions, please let me know!

Valentines Day:

Valentine’s Day is approaching and I wanted to let you know our plans for this day.  Valentine’s Day is a day for appreciating others and recognizing those you are grateful for. In the classroom, we have a routine of doing compliment rounds but we do not routinely have time to appreciate or compliment everyone in the circle. We are going to take some time around Valentine’s Day to do just that – appreciate the good things about each other.

In order to do this we are going to ask that each child make one homemade valentine. This is going to be in the homework for next week. Since Valentine’s Day is often one of stress (how can I possibly make this many valentines?) we are asking for only one. We ask that your child spend some time to make something that they care about. If you need supplies from school please don’t hesitate to ask! Each Valentine needs to be anonymous. They will be picked out of a hat one by one as each person gets appreciated.

The Valentines are due back at school by Friday the 10^th. We will celebrate the following week. Your child is welcome to bring in a valentine anytime during the week to make sure that they are all here by Friday. Thank you for your cooperation! Let us know if you have any questions.

If your child wishes to give valentines to each person as well, that is fine, but if they come to school there should be a valentine for each child in the class. Otherwise, please send them in the mail.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Erica and Pam

      Week of January XXX, MMXII

Notes:  Poetry reading on Wednesday at 2.  Poems written this late fall with Ann Gengarelly will be read by students in our classroom.

All are welcome.     

Monday night            Vocab

         1/30                           Monday Night Math

Tuesday night             Light reading:  pps 117 – 121 and

         2/1/12                  answer questions on 121 in full sentences

Wednesday night         Happy Ground Hog Day

2/2                                                                        Rust-buster math

Thursday night         Study for vocab quiz        

         2/3                           Light reading: pps 129 – 132 and

answer questions on 132 in full sentences

January 27, 2012

Dear Families,

Two-hour delay twice this week and still no real snow to speak of—that must be some sort of new record.  While the winter weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating, we are making the most of it in the classroom.  Despite the weather on Monday, cross country skiing happened and the kids who participated had a blast.  Thank you to parents who provided rides and chaperoned the skiing.  Most of the class when skating and had a great time zooming around the rink at Memorial Park.  On Tuesday the class put on their scientist hats and investigated properties of sinking and floating.  We read a cool book on Wednesday called Wave, the coolest thing about it is that it tells a story without using any words!  Students narrated the story with their own words based on what they saw in the illustrations and then went into a writing workshop time to start working on books of their own.  There are quite a few students who are really excited and interested in writing—we have entered a new chapter in the classroom.

There was much excitement Thursday morning as students waited patiently for lunchtime to go outside and cook their food over a fire.  Patrick selected a few students to help him start and tend the fire—jobs that will rotate so that each student has a turn.  The class did a great job respecting the fire and each other and we even had a little gratitude circle complete with hot coca.  Some things students are grateful include: the season, hotdogs, the fire, their friends and school, family, and the fact that it was not freezing cold!  It was a great success and Patrick and I are looking forward to doing more wilderness activities in the near future.  Check the website for some pictures from the week.

Students met Sammy the Snake this week.  Sammy speaks very s-l-o-w-l-y so we can hear the individual sounds that work together to create words.  Sammy is but one of the characters who will be introduced over the next few weeks to help with letter work, reading and writing.

Mr. Bear: Isibeal wrote a great journal entry with Mr. Bear over the weekend, and we loved hearing about what they did together!  Mr. Bear is spending the weekend with Skylar this weekend and he is very excited to visit with his new friend.  I wonder who is next?

Shining Star: Isaac shared many special things this week, including his collection of Where’s Waldo Books and a wonderful picture book called, It’s Okay to be Different.  We are looking forward to learning more about Deacon this coming week!

Updates and Reminders:

-       Winter Sports on Monday.  Buses leave at 3:00 instead of 2:45pm.

-       Pizza Day on Tuesday.

-       Report cards will be coming home in home-school folders on Wednesday, February 1^st.  Please keep an eye out for them!  If you have any questions or concerns or would like to meet to talk about anything following reports going home, please get in touch with me so we can set up a time.  Thanks.

-       Have any spare gloves, hats, mittens at home? Maybe a single mitten that has lost it’s match?  Our supply of extra winter accessories is dwindling, if you have any you could send in we would appreciate it!  Thanks.

Have a great week,

Jen

 Last week…

It’s all about the water cycle! Ask your child about water in our world and the cycle it travels. They may not remember the words: precipitation, evaporation, accumulation, condensation, but they certainly understand the concept! We are learning a song about it too!

Although we had two delays, we kept our routines/work in tact. Older students went home with a new spelling word list and younger students received their first spelling word list (short a vowel words). They did a great job with the new word work routines. The older students also volunteered their time to demonstrate how to do each activity.

In math, younger students are working on surveys and showing their data. Older students are working on “number strings” – adding more than two numbers together. They are learning strategies using what they already know. Please practice double math facts – 2+2, 9+9 – a must to know by heart when adding multiple addends. Here’s an example: 3+5+7 – If you know 3+7=10 then 10+5=15, 6+3+6 – if you know 6+6=12 then you can count up 3 more. They are really thinking hard!

Reminders…

• Please make sure your child’s violin has a name label.
• Slippers are allowed in the class – much more comfortable than boots. If you have an extra pair send them in!
• A new math packet will be sent home this week for olders.
• Progress reports will be sent home mid week in your child’s home-school folder.

More questions to ask…

• Who was our V.I.P. last week? What did she read? What did she share?
• What are you writing about at writing workshop time?
• What are some of your spelling activities?
• What is Judy’s story about?

Let it snow!

Judy and Carol

The P&F meeting scheduled for Thursday night has been postponed until next Thursday.  I hope you can make it!

Our budget for next year was finalized at Tuesday’s school board meeting.  In an effort to keep the increase in our bottom line under 5% the teachers have agreed to no raise other than the one they receive as they move up a year on the pay scale.  The rest of the staff will receive a 2% increase.  We hope this keeps up with the cost of living.  We have scrutinized the budget and are keeping line items for materials and supplies as low as possible.  Despite our best efforts, we also had to make cuts to some of our special programs. There will be less instructional time for Spanish, Band, and Poetry.  Spanish will once again be limited to 5^th-8^th grade though I’m hoping to still fit in some songs and games at the lower grades.  Band’s schedule will have to be tightened up so that it all takes place in the morning.  The number of classes for Poetry is reduced from 43 to 37 and the teachers, Ann, and I will work together to see what that means for each class.  The budget for Rhythms was reduced but fortunately this shouldn’t impact the amount of instruction.

This is not good news but it could be much worse.  We will still be able to provide a rich and varied instructional program.  We will continue to make use of college work-study students, teacher interns, and, of course, all the wonderful parent and community volunteers who share their talents.

Do you know that:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time (computer, T.V. or video games) for children <2 years old and no more than 2 hours per day of quality screen time for children older than 2?
• One out of every 5 American children is obese? We used to figure that since children are growing we didn’t have to worry if they were heavy but studies are showing that overweight children are now having some of the same health problems as overweight adults (diabetes, joint and bone problems, hypertension) and are likely to remain overweight throughout their lives (CDC, 2011).
• Studies have found that obesity is significantly related to the amount of time in front of screens children spend? The more a child watches T.V. or plays electronic games, the less physical activity they engage in. One study showed a 2-fold increase risk of obesity by hour per day spent playing electronic games (Stettler, Signer & Suter, 2004).

Use of screens is often what our kids want to do—it is often what we want to do too. T.V, Facebook and electronic games can be relaxing and enjoyable. I recommend that you try and limit or reduce your children’s screen time. Some families choose to not have a T.V. or to limit all access to screens during the school week. Take whatever small steps toward the goal that you can. It is possible to make changes that, over time, will become second nature to your children. Below I have made a few suggestions to get you started or to support the good work that you are already doing.

Health Tip: Reduce Screen Time

1. Allow use of screens only in communal areas (e.g. keep the T.V. in the living room, use computers only in communal areas, limit access to hand-held devices like iphones and gameboys).
2. Limit the amount of time your children are allowed screen time to <2 hours/day (possibly excluding homework time).
3. Read to your children and encourage them to read more.
4. Play games as a family.
5. Encourage outdoor play (yes, even during winter).
6. Set a good example—limit your own screen time!

Wishing you a healthy winter,

Nurse Robin

Francie Marbury – Principal, Andy Reichsman – member of the public & former Board Member, Frank Rucker – WCSU Chief Financial Officer, Abby Dillon – WCSU Director of Special Education

The meeting was called to order by Lauren at 6:10pm.

Lauren made a motion to accept the minutes of the 12/5/11 minutes as drafted. Gussie seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Lauren made a motion to adopt Policy F17 for Head Lice. Gussie seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Frank Rucker and Abby Dillon joined the meeting at 6:30pm.

The Board and Andy Reichsman discussed the School Budget with Frank Rucker and Abby Dillon.

Lauren made a motion that the Marlboro School Board present a budget proposal to voters at the Annual School District Meeting of $2,215,318.37. Gussie seconded the motion. Motion passed.

We anticipate that this will be a 5.1% increase in the school budget that will result in a 2.1% increase in the Town tax rate.

Andy Reichsman, Frank Rucker and Abby Dillon left the meeting at 8:40pm.

Superintendent’s Report attached.

In the mail the School Board received information from the Town Auditors about submitting the School District Report for Town Meeting. We also received the deadlines for warning and filing reports for Town Meeting from the Town Clerk.

Principal’s Report attached.

Jen made a motion at 9:05pm to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Gussie seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session ended at 9:10pm. No action was taken.

Francie Marbury left the meeting at 9:15pm.

Jen made a motion at 9:20pm to go into Executive Session to perform the Superintendent Evaluation. Gussie seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Executive Session ended at 9:50pm.

The Superintendent Evaluation was completed.

The Board will look at a variety of programs under budget consideration at our next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Jen Carr

Upcoming Meetings:
Jan 23rd, Budget meeting 6pm
February 6th, Regular Board Meeting 6pm

Pay Orders: #13 12/16/11 $55,022.70
#14 12/30/11 $48,099.45

Our Guiding Principles:
Students will be at the center of our decision-making. We will keep to the agenda. The chair will estimate the amount of time necessary for each item and act as timekeeper during the meeting. Every voice is heard as discussion goes back and forth. Decisions will not be made hastily.
We will ask ourselves, “What other information do we need in order to make a thoughtful decision?” Decisions/discussion will be recapped before moving on to a new item. Items requiring action will be identified and we will note who is responsible for each action item. Follow through will occur before the next meeting. We will use e-mail judiciously to communicate between meetings.
Implementation Guidelines:
Meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month with the fourth Monday kept in reserve, if an additional meeting is needed.
The chair will send out the agenda the Thursday before the meeting. The meetings will start at 6 pm and go no later than 9 pm.

Marlboro School Board
Principal’s Report
Monday, January 9, 2012

Student Learning
Teachers will be participating in two days of professional development on January 17 & 18 with other teachers from WCSU. The focus will be on writing about reading and writing as part of literacy learning and instruction.

The local Farm to School Network will be working with us to improve health and nutrition education and will support our Healthy Snack program by helping us to access more locally grown vegetables and fruits. This will be supported through Action Plan funds.

Junior High students are beginning I-projects. These independent studies engage them in research on a topic of their own choosing and result in presentations to their classmates and interested community members. A schedule of presentations will be sent out to you when it is available.

David and Matt’s classes are in the midst of a study of Greek mythology which will culminate in student written and performed shadow puppet plays.

Erica’s class concluded a “Clay Boat” unit, which combines scientific process with learning about volume and capacity. Students were engaged in making hypotheses and collecting, recording, and interpreting data.

Before vacation Judy’s class took on major efforts in service learning when they hosted a fundraiser lunch for the whole school. The proceeds from this went to the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum at Hogback to support their creation of an eagle habitat. The students had studied about birds and created projects that were on display at the lunch. This class also sponsored a food drive for the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry and the older students delivered the 5 boxes of food collected.

Jen’s class began its new schedule with kindergarten students staying the full day. Before vacation they also created a 3-D map of Marlboro, identifying where they live in relation to the school.

Policy or Regulation Implementation
No new policies – Are we ready to adopt the Head Lice Policy?

Building and Grounds
Thermal House has been awarded the bid for the last phase of the Energy Grant and will complete this work over the April vacation when temperatures have warmed and students are not in the building.

Finance/Accounting
We have not yet received the final report from the audit.
As we review the proposed budget, there are several increases I’d like to explain:
100-110 kindergarten teacher is based on 75 days with 12:45 dismissal and 100 days with students staying until 2:45
100-566 early ed reimbursement to private providers increases from $3200 per student to $3800 per student based on Actual Cost report of $4300 per student from providers
260-622 increase projected based on increased after school use
260-472 increase of $4500 based on lack of donations which we benefited from in the past; possibly shift $2000 of this to MSA request

Abby and I will address the increases in 1200 Special Education and 1210 Essential Early Education at the meeting.

Enrollment/Staffing
Student enrollment as of 1/9/12 89
Jen K-8, 1st-3
Judy 1st-6, 2nd-12
Erica 3-12, 4th-7
Matt 5th-12
David 6th-13
Tim/Rachel 7th-3, 8th-12

Staffing
Spark intern with David, Leah Suter, has completed her work at MES.
Antioch intern, Liz Casarella, is working with Erica three days a week until early May. Her focus is environmental education.

Informational items
I hope to have a draft of my report for the Town Report for our meeting. Areas of particular focus will be the after school Ventures program, the Farm to School work, school social climate, as well as specific examples of student learning.

Marlboro Realms of Learning
Communication
Problem Solving
Personal Development
Civic and Social Responsibility
Knowledge
Superintendent’s Report for the Marlboro School Board
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 6:00 P.M.

Note: I have asked Frank Rucker and Abby Dillon to answer any questions as you consider your proposed FY13 Budget. I am unable to attend due to a conflict with the regular board meeting in Townshend.

Student/Staff Learning
1. At the grade 5-6 GLAM last month, I responded to questions about the transition to the Common Core Standards focusing on mathematics. These standards not only increase the expectation for higher levels of mathematical understanding at earlier grades, but also require teachers to expand their repertoire of instructional techniques. David represents Marlboro at these 5-6 meetings and contributes to their collaborative work.
2. With the exception of Dover, all elementary teachers will attend professional development at Townshend for January 17 and 18. The L&G Board approved my recommendation to change the semester break to make up for our late start this fall. L&G classes will be held January 17 and 18, but school will close for in-service on Monday, January 23.
3. I noted Francie’s article in the Marlboro Mixer with a special recognition and thanks to the Junior High Students for picking up around the town’s recycling dumpsters.

Policy/Regulation
1. Consider warning policies E11: Banking and Investment and E12: Fraud Prevention.
2. The WCSU Board adopted E11 on December 7, 2011. Ten of eleven district boards were represented with 21 voting members present at that meeting – and impressive turnout. The proposed WCSU Superintendent’s Budget for FY13 was approved by unanimous vote. My administration appreciates the Board’s direction and support.
3. The VT Standards Board for Professional Educators (VSBPE) adopted new standards for administrators to parallel those adopted for teachers last June. These new standards are closely linked to the Common Core and are more student centered and outcomes based.
4. The Voluntary RED Committee met January 4. See the RED Committee link on the WCSU website for the latest information.

Finance/Accounting/Operations
1. Funding for the EEE Program in FY13 was approved as part of the Superintendent’s Budget. In March, the WCSU Board intends to debate the method of allocating EEE expenses for FY14.
2. The boards for L&G, Towshend, and NewBrook have approved proposed FY13 budgets to be warned for their annual meetings.
3. Bargaining with the WCEA continues with an all day mediation session on Jan. 31.

Enrollment/Staffing
1. A number of schools have added new students recently. This is a promising development, but L&G’s enrollment is still projected to decline from 390 to 370 over the next three years.
2. The “budget season” always reminds us of the importance of a school’s equalized pupil count and the town’s Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) on the projected school tax rate necessary to provide for our students’ education.

Calendar Dates
1. The Voluntary RED Study Committee Meeting will meet Wed., Feb. 1, at 7:00 P.M. in L&G’s Library. The Committee will also meet March 21 (not on the usual first Wed. of the month).
2. The next WCSU Board Meeting will be Wed., March 28, 7:00 P.M. at Townshend for their annual organizational meeting and election of officers. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

1/7/12 -sbj

read on for pictures and more!

With a game of Camouflage and each of us pretending to be a forest predator, we moved silently through the woods, senses alert for deer. As the elevation increased, so did the size of the trees. They changed to red oak, hemlock, birch and American hop-hornbeam. At the top were deer beds, out of focus with a glaze of precipitation, followed by beds and tracks in sharp focus with sharp smells of urine and scat as if we spooked the deer just minutes before. We investigated, gathered information and made predictions about the deer: where, when, how many?

Along the plateau, we gathered fire wood in a mature hemlock, red oak forest, stunted by wind and browsed by deer and porcupines. At the misty overlook of the Auger Hole valley, we divided into teams to build a fire with tinder bundle and hand-drill (see pictures). We shared food and grilled hot dogs, roll-ups, chocolate snow and sausage. We shared our stories of the day and our gratitude. The weather was perfect. The rain held off until our descent and return.

Trail head and attaching snowshoes (donated by Yukon Charlie Outfitters)

Success, we made a friction fire!

Everyone had a turn to make a coal with the hand-drill.

Blowing the tinder bundle and coal into flame.

In circle: a discussion of how to travel quietly through the woods and what animal to become.

      Week of January XXIII, MMXII

Notes:  

Monday night            Vocab

         1/23                           Monday Night Math

Tuesday night             Light reading:  pps 154 – 159 and

         1/24                           answer questions on 159 in full sentences

Wednesday night         Rust-buster math

         1/25                                                              

Thursday night         Study for vocab quiz        

         1/26                           Light reading: pps 96 – 103 and

answer questions on 103 in full sentences

                                                                                                        January 20, 2012

Dear Families,

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend, bordering on a mini-vacation!  I spent Tuesday and Wednesday at a workshop with teachers focused on writing and how to bring writing into the classroom in a fun and meaningful way.  I am bursting with ideas and excited to implement some of them in the classroom—stay tuned!

It was a short week in the classroom but there is still so much to report on—we are a busy group of bees!  On Thursday afternoon students learned a new fancy science word, “predictions,” and made their own predictions using objects that rolled and ramps.  It was a great time and a great activity for making predictions, ask your child about it!  On Friday it was all about literacy with library time, reading buddies and students turned into animals and acted out Eric Carle’s Polar Bear Polar Bear, What do you Hear?  We are working on our own animal book and look forward to acting it out soon!  Friday afternoon some students chose to get out on the snowshoes again taking Patrick’s dog, Daisy, for a little walk through the woods.  Other students decided to stay inside making books and playing math games.

Mr. Bear:  goes home with Isibeal this weekend.  Thank you Warren for taking care of Mr. Bear over the long break!

Shining Star: We learned a lot about Dylan and look forward to learning about Isaac starting on Monday!!

Updates/Reminders:

-       Winter Sports on Monday.  Students will have an early lunch and then head out for the afternoon.  Please make sure your child has warm clothes and socks and an extra snack.  Reminder that buses will be leaving school at 3 (15 minutes later than usual) so kids will be home off the bus a little later!  Cross-Country skiing is a go this week!

-       Tuesday is Pizza day.  2.00/slice of cheese, 2.50/slice of pepperoni/veggie.

-       Reports will be sent home with students on February 1^st.  The reports give an overview of the year so far along with specific comments regarding your child and their progress.  Look for them on February 1^st! Thanks.

Have a great weekend!

Last week…

It has felt like coming back from another vacation after our five-day break! I am looking forward to four uninterrupted weeks! We have begun our weather/water theme with an introduction to water in our world. The students broke up into small groups and took turns spinning and stopping a globe – was it land or water? We came to the overwhelming conclusion that there is much more water on earth! This week we will continue our weather studies with an introduction to the water cycle.

Mid-year progress reports will be coming home at the end of January. It will be sent home in your child’s home-school folder so keep an eye out next week! We have been working on reading assessments with each student to monitor their progress. Math continues with younger students working on surveys and gathering data. They are also working on number sense – ask them about “dot addition”. The older students are working on solving problems with three addends. They are also working on math facts up to 20 – that will continue all year.

A new spelling list will go home for the older students. They will be adding new activities to their word work repertoire this week. Younger students will also begin spelling (no homework) with a focus on short vowel words. This week’s focus will be the short a sound.

We are trying to incorporate more quality writing time. This “just write” writing workshop usually begins with a short mini lesson. Students then go off to write about whatever “grabs them”. They are often inspired with picture books or when students share. We have a variety of stories about pets, families and baseball to name a few.

Ask your child these questions for more information…

• Who was our V.I.P.? What is something new you learned about her?
• Is there more water or land on Earth?
• What story are you writing? What’s hard about writing? What’s easy?
• What strategies do you use when trying to write a word?
• What are you doing at recess?
• Tell me about the story The Talented Clementine.
• What did Pam read in library?

Stay warm!

Judy and Carol

P.S. My home phone number has changed – 348-6368

Last night Tom Hudak, our guidance counselor, hosted High School Night – an opportunity for 7^th and 8^th 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.

 Tonight the 6^th grade is hosting a dance for students 3^rd grade and up.  Congratulations and thank you to these students (and the adults who are chaperoning and providing support) for providing a fun way for students from our three oldest classes to get together and have fun!

Tomorrow is the annual Book Swap, 9 to noon at the Marlboro Town House, sponsored by the Marlboro Alliance.  Bring the books you and your child are ready to pass on and take home books new to you – great reading for the cold, dark winter months.

P&F will meet next Thursday, January 26 at 7pm in the library. In addition to the traditional fundraisers and family activities, we hope to create new energy by providing a “seedbed” where parents can bring ideas, find other parents who share their interests, and form a sub-group to pursue these interests. Please check out the agenda and plan to join us.

Francie

Homework for Jan. 19^th –20^th

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

 M.L. King Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail 

 Due for Thur. Jan.  19^th    :  

Music:  Don’t forget your guitars

Due For Fri. Jan 20^th :

         Social Studies:    Read the final selections about the mill girls & answer the two final questions about the memoirs and letters.   Read “The Trail of Tears” and “Appeal of the Cherokee Nation”.   We will do the “questions to consider” in class. Write your first journal entry or letter,  1810-1825. This should describe your current living situation.  Slaves, you would still be on the plantation, mill workers you are still on the farms of your parents, Cherokees you are still in the lands of your ancestors. Talk about what the place looks like, what your daily routine is like, and anything else you want.  Be creative about creating this character! If you are unsure what to say read the books and packets I gave you.  You should mention at least one reason you are thinking of leaving this place. You should also mention at least two of the following historical incidents or facts: the expansion of the United States to include the Louisiana Purchase,  the institution of slavery or your relationship with, or feelings about, someone of a different race,  the invention of the cotton gin,  and  the factory system. Your entry should be one half to one page typed double spaced.

Independent Project : Notes (in your own words) on at least five sources.

Martin Luther King:  Answers to questions on handout.

The snow finally came and we can only hope that this is laying down a good base layer for the weeks ahead.  With school closed in honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday next Monday, we have time before next Winter Sports for the cross country ski area to open.  The large group that skated this week had a great time and I so appreciate the older students who helped some of the youngers who were on skates for the first time.

At Sing this week, students were also appreciated for doing an internship in Jen’s room (Josh) and cleaning up the town recycling area (the Junior High).

Marlboro School is now partnering with Windham County Farm to School.  What a great resource as we seek to provide nutritious snacks, expand the school garden, and educate our students about nutrition and the benefits of eating locally.  In next week’s Notes Kathy will send home information on the Veggie of the Month and the exciting taste tests that will take place in each classroom.

Basketball season is in full swing with games for the 3^rd/4^th and 5^th/6^th teams on Saturdays and the Junior High on weekday afternoons.  What a great coaching crew we have:  Brian Martin (Cody’s brother) with the Junior High, Anthony Bingham, Konstantin Shiman, and Matt Chapman with the 5^th/6^th, and Will Brooke deBock with the 3^rd/4^th.  Every game and practice is a wonderful blend of work on skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Thank you, coaches!

On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week the teachers will be the students, learning more about writing in the context of a Balanced Literacy program.  We will be working with other teachers from Windham Central Supervisory Union and with instructors from Lesley University’s Literacy Collaborative.  I know these days off for students can be a challenge for parents.  Thanks for understanding.  We will put what we learn to good use with your children!

P&F will meet on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm.  An agenda will be included in next week’s Notes.

Francie