MAY 9, 2008

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Tuesday, May 13

SPED PAC Presentation – 6 pm

Friday, May 16

Morning Coffee with the Principal – 8:30 am

Monday, May 26

Memorial Day, No School

Wednesday, June 4

Grade 4 Play – 10 am and 7 pm

Monday, June 10

Strings Concert and PTO Picnic

Wednesday, June 11

Field Day

Monday, June 16

Sixth Grade Farewell – 1:30 pm

Tuesday, June 17

Last Day of School

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IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

MCAS TESTING RESUMES

MCAS testing resumes in Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 on May 12. All four classes will be taking Math MCAS tests. Grade 5 also gets to take Science and Social Studies MCAS. The schedule is as follows:

Grade 3 - May 15 & 16

Grade 4 - May 22 & 23

Grade 5 - May 13 & 14 (math)

May 20 & 21 (science)

May 27 & 28 (social studies)

No student is excused from these tests. We have to make-up any session a child misses within the three week testing period. If a child is absent for the entire testing period, a doctor’s note is required for a medical excuse from the test. These tests are a tremendous undertaking for our staff and your children. Please do you best to have your child at school on their testing days, having had a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast. Many thanks!

Overhaulin’ the Leverett Playground

STILL SEEKING TEAM CAPTAINS AND TEAM MEMBERS!

All Team Captains, Build Crew Coordinators

and Volunteers are cordially invited to the first:

Team Captain Meeting (short and light-hearted)

Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 PM

-contact staceywenczel@gmail.com or 548.8941 for location-

THE MORE INVOLVED, THE MORE FUN, THE EASIER IT WILL BE AND THE GREATER THE SUCCESS! YOUR CHILDREN WILL THANK YOU !!!

Contact the Team Captain directly or staceywenczel@gmail.com or 548.8941.

C Stacey Wenczel & Stacey Lennard, Volunteer & Logistics Team Co-Captains – general volunteer recruiting, task assignment, confirmation calls, event registration, recordkeeping & time line, budget control, general set up & clean up & event runner/gopher.

Contact staceyandsteve@crocker.com, 549-3625 or staceywenczel@gmail.com 548.8941.

C Anne Ross, Public Relations Team Captain - event signs/posters, banners, media connection, message board and ribbon cutting & dedication event.

Contact ross@leverettschool.org or 548-9144

C VACANT, Food Team Captain – solicit food/beverage donations (business/families), solicit entertainment, volunteer raffle?, food set-up & clean up, and …

C Sam Rodgers, Construction Team Captain and Kris Thomson & Bob Hepner, Build Crew Coordinators (several more still needed) – Build Crew assignment, skilled & unskilled volunteer builders, table saw operators, power tool operators, inventory/materials oversight, and more.

Contact Sam at 367.2707

C VACANT, Children’s Team Captain – child care provisions, children games, kid’s build tasks, and …

C VACANT, Safety Team Captain – skill level assessment, write Waiver, ensure 1st Aid, safety equipment list, safety rules, develop Build Day site map, Build Day safety oversight, and …

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

MORNING COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL, LAST CALL!

The sixth and final opportunity to sit down and chat with the principal for the current school year will be next Friday, May 16 at 8:30 in the school cafeteria. I’ll be bringing along the draft of the new behavior/discipline policy to share. Hope you can come!

EVACUATION AND LOCKDOWN DRILLS

On Wednesday, April 30, we had a planned Evacuation Drill. This is a practice of the plan we would use if we had to evacuate the building and take the children to a safe location and remain there. On Wednesday, the students did a terrific job of gathering their backpacks and coats and quietly following their teachers out of the building to the gathering spot we used that day on the playground. Both this announced Evacuation Drill and the Lockdown Drill practice we had last month went very smoothly. Now, sometime in the remaining weeks of school we will be having UNANNOUNCED Lockdown AND Evacuation Drills. I don’t even know when they will happen. The police, fire and superintendent of Union 28 will be coordinating these drills and assessing how well we respond. I know our students and staff are ready and we will do well!

SCHOOL LUNCH BILLS

Last week our Food Service Manager, Jill Houseal, sent home notices to families that had an outstanding bill for school lunches. With the end of the school year fast approaching, we are hoping to have all school lunch accounts balanced. If on June 17 a student still owes lunch money, his/her report card will be held by the office until the account is cleared. Many thanks for your kind understanding of our need to keep our school lunch program financially solvent!

-Anne Ross

LOST AND FOUND SCOREBOARD

Nameless Jackets/Sweatshirts/Fleeces	6
Nameless Shirts	4
Nameless Hats/Gloves/Scarves	10
Nameless Lunchboxes/ Tupperware/Waterbottles	1
Shoes/Sneakers/Boots	0

LES T-SHIRT ORDER FORM

$12.00 each or 5 for $55.00

Available in Crimson Red or Indigo Blue in the following sizes:

Youth XS, S, M, L

Adult M, L, XL, XXL

Y or A Size Color Quantity

_____ ___ ______ _____

_____ ___ ______ _____

_____ ___ ______ _____

_____ ___ ______ _____

_____ ___ ______ _____

Total T-shirt quantity _____

Total $ _____

Send this completed form to school along with check made out to LES PTO. T-shirts will be sent home with your LES student.

All t-shirt proceeds benefit “Overhaulin the Leverett Playground.” Thank you!

PTO CLOTHING SWAP

Are you cleaning out your closet? Do you have gently used clothes that no longer fit you or your children? I am looking to organize a clothing swap at LES that would connect with the green theme of "recycle, reduce and reuse". This will hopefully be something that will happen in late May (early June) and run for 1-3 days with a "take what you need - leave what you don't" motto. At the end the remaining clothes will be packed up and donated to the survival center - or some other organization that supports women and children in our area. Details are being worked out and I would love anyone to come and help with any aspect of this. This is PTO sponsored!! Contact Pam Stone email pstone@hamsphire.edu or 413-367-0379.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Many thanks to all of you who signed up for the Stop and Shop A+ program. Our school will be receiving $1004.09 this year thanks to you!!

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A CHECK-UP WITH A DENTIST?

Did you know that:

• Dental decay is the most common chronic infectious disease in children?
• Nearly 63% of children don’t have yearly dental checkups?
• In the United States, children miss a total of about 52 million hours of school because of dental problems?

Mobile Dentists/Smile Programs came to LES in November and a number of children had their first, successful dental visit. Good oral health is important to our students’ overall general health so Mobile Dentists will bring its on-site dental care program here again on June 2nd.

Mobile Dentists’ team sets up a mini-dental office in our building and provides dental examinations, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and check up x-rays. The children who return completed permission forms may receive some or all of the above services, if needed.

Mobile Dentists provides grants to families who require full financial assistance and subsidizes fees for those who need financial aid. No child is ever turned away by Mobile Dentists/Smile Programs because of financial need.

Enrolling you children to see the Mobile Dentists’ team is a wonderful opportunity to give them preventive dental care easily and conveniently right at school. If you want your child to see the Mobile Dentists, please fill out the permission form completely and return it to your child’s teacher.

You can learn more about Mobile Dentists/Smile Programs by going to is website: www.mobiledentists.com and watching the short video that details its work.

The Leverett Community Chorus

in Concert

Sunday, May 18th at 5 pm

at the Leverett Congregational Church

(located across from the Post Office in

Leverett Center)

Come hear a combination of really cool, whimsical and stirring songs sung by LES students, their parents, and members of the Leverett, Amherst and surrounding communities under the incredibly talented direction of Anne Louise White! Suggested donation $3.00.

RATTLESNAKE GUTTER TRUST TURNS 20 CELEBRATION!

Sunday, May 18^th Join us for a day of fun. At 1:00pm a playful and informative hike through the Gutter will start at the Co-op. At 3:00pm we move to the Leverett Library Community Room to honor the founding trustees and delight in refreshments. Then at 4:00pm John Green, naturalist and professional photographer, will entertain us with some of his favorite slides from around the country and back to the valley. All events are free. Call 367-2842 if you need more information.

LEVERETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Presents . . . THE PLANT SALE!

Saturday, May 10^th, 9am-12m at the Leverett Town Hall. All sales support the Historic Society. Dawn Marvin Ward, master gardener, will give advice for your plant choices. Please call her at 367-9562 for more information or to find out how to donate plants. Sale will be held rain or shine!

LEVERETT SUMMER CAMP NEWS!

The Leverett Summer Camp is now accepting registrations.  Camp is held for 4 consecutive weeks beginning July 7th.  Our themes this year is as follows:  Week I July 7 - 11 Mystery Week - Past and Present.  Week II July 14 - 18 Theatre Week.  Week III July 21 - 25 Science and Nature.  Week IV July 28 - August 1 Sports and Games.  Please see the registration form available in this week's Post for more information.  If you have any further questions or need another registration form please contact Mike DeRosa at the Afterschool Program 548-9144 ext 107 or email derosa@leverettschool.org  Thanks!  We hope to see you this summer!!

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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

(Items listed here are not school sponsored)

Summer Fun! Some July and August spaces are still available in Winterberry Farm’s summer programs in Leverett.  Our programs are small and very hands-on.  Please visit www.winterberryfarm.org or call 548-3940 for details.

Soccerfest 08: Saturday, May 10^th at the UMass Campus. Open to all ages, 7 to adult. Adult and kids soccer tournament, competitive and recreational divisions. Great prizes. Kid fun zone with inflatables and music. Registration deadline: April 30^th. For more information, go to www.soccerfest.org. Sponsored by the UMASS Sport Management Department.

An exhibit of photography and digital images by Peter Cinner, D.D.S. (Juliana's Dad and former School Committee Member),will be on display at the Leverett Library, 75 Montague Road, from May 3-31^st.  An opening reception for the public will be held on Sunday, May 4, 1-3 pm.

Dr. Cinner, a partner of the Valley Dentists, has been photographing a variety of subject matter over a thirty-year period. The photos on display cover the years from 1995 through the present.  Other examples of his works are on continuous, rotating display throughout his office at 138 Russell Street, Hadley.

Noticing Nature at Robin Crest Learner Center

 a unique program for children ages six to ten

This program is designed to connect children to nature and to their own "sense of wonder". We will explore the pond, brook, fields, and woods around Robin Crest, and will work on a variety of projects in relation to our time in nature.

Where:  Robin Crest Learner Center

              77 Jackson Hill Rd.

              Leverett, MA 01054

 When:  Monday, August 4-Friday, August 8, 2008

             9:00 AM-3:00 PM

 Teachers:  Louise Smith, M.ED,  Sara Robinson, Ed.D

 Cost:  $235.

 Contact:  Louise Smith, Phone:  413-367-0273, E-mail:  lsmithnn@comcast.net

LOST: Red fleece Ragged Mountain vest. I draped the vest over the fence alongside Montague Road near the intersection with Cave Hill while on a run Thursday morning; when I returned it was gone. If you found it please call Amy at 586-7971.

FREE: The Town Library has 2 small dot matrix printers to dispose of. They were made by Star Micronics (and are in the SP200 series). The library used them to print out small receipts for patrons who checked out book. One printer works well, and the other doesn’t print the tops of letters and numbers. If you are interested in one or both, please contact Linda Wentworth at leverett@cwmars.org.

EGGS: Pasture-raised, happy, heritage hens. $3/dozen. Cooler at 257 Montague Road. Arrangements can be made for egg-gathering and chicken visiting! Eggs can be dropped off for school staff. Please call Debra at 549-1027.

THE CAVE HILL CLASSIC: 2-mile Peace Walk and 5-mile Run to benefit the Leverett Peace Pagoda on Saturday, May 10^th, 9:00 a.m. Both the Walk and Run begin at the Peace Pagoda entrance on Cave Hill Road in Leverett. Please register on-line at www.cavehillclassic.com. Each participant receives a t-shirt, a handmade origami peace crane, and Bueno Y Sano gift certificate. For more information, please call 549-8595

The TOY BOX is having a birthday! 4^th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 10^th. Musician extraordinaire Roger Tincknell will perform at 1 pm plus FREE ice cream from bart’s following his show. Sidewalk sale, rain or shine, inddors or out. 201 North Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst. Visit www.amhersttoybox.com

Mexican Dinner, Sunday, May 18, 5-7 pm. To benefit the Omega Youth Group of the First Congreation Church of Leverett at the Leverett Town Hall. Featuring a taco/burrito buffet and fruit smootie bar. $10 per person, $25 for families of 3 or more. Children 6 and under are free. The Omega Youth Group will travel to Mexico in July. For tickets or information, please contact Sara Aierstuck at 259-2090, Mary Hankinson at 548-9276, or Theresa Girardi at 665-3993.

VALLEY BIKE WEEK May 10 – 18, 2008

A WEEK TO BICYCLE!

For more info and activities: http://www.massbike.org/ Click on ‘Pioneer Valley’ under Chapters on right.

Saturday May 10

-- Northampton Community Bike Ride. Start/Finish @ Pulaski Park (10AM) 
Sponsored by: Northampton Cycling Club (NCC) (Contact: Mike Hempstead, mhempstead@napco.com)

-- Northampton Bike Rodeo @ Jackson St. School (12-2PM) Free Helmets for kids! 
Sponsored by: Northampton Area Pediatrics & Northampton Cycling Club (Contact: Mike Hempstead@napco.com)

-- Northampton Bike Clinic/Basic Tune-Up @ Pulaski Park (2:30-4:30PM) 
(Contact: Price Armstrong, pricearmstrong@yahoo.com)

Sunday 11


-- Northampton ‘Mother Earth’ Community Bike Ride. Start @ Pulaski Park / Finish @ Look Park (1-2 PM) Pot luck picnic to follow!
(Contact: Price Armstrong, pricearmstrong@yahoo.com)

Wednesday 14

-- Amherst Community Bike Ride @ Haigis Mall / Umass (4PM) 
Sponsor: UMASS Cycling Club (Contact: Chris Kessler @ 603-738-7791)

Thursday 15

-- Hadley Bike Tour of ‘At Risk Farmland.’ Start/finish @ Norwottuck Rail Trail entrance at Whole Foods (4:30PM) 
Sponsored by: Kestrel Trust (Contact: Judy Eiseman @ 413-253-2932)

Saturday 17

-- Northampton Community Bike Ride. Start/Finish @ Pulaski Park (10AM)

-- Amherst Community Bike Ride. Start @ Town Common (1:30PM) 
Sponsor: UMASS Cycling Club (Contact: Chris Kessler @ 603-733-7791)

Sunday 18

Northampton Community Bike Ride & Picnic. Start/Finish @ Look Park (1:00 PM) Pot luck Picnic to follow!
Sponsor: Massbike PV Chapter (Contact: Price Armstrong, pricearmstrong@yahoo.com)

LEVERETT GOING GREEN!

Leave your car at home, and ride your

bike to work as part of

National Bike Week

next week!