JANUARY 29, 2016
Monday, February 1
School Committee Meeting- 6:00pm
Thursday, February 4
School Council Meeting- 3:30
Tuesday, February 9
Meet & Greet with Julie Erickson for 6h grade parents- 5:00-5:30
Monday, February 15- Friday, February 19
Winter Recess- NO SCHOOL
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SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET HEARING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
6:00pm
Please plan to attend this very important meeting! LES is facing some challenging budget questions and the School Committee hopes for a well-informed school community.
Liberty Tax in Amherst (voted Best of the Valley 2014 & 2015) has a special offer for friends of Leverett Elementary School: Any new client who files their taxes at Liberty in Amherst by February 13 will receive $50 and LIBERTY TAX WILL DONATE an additional $25 to LES for our FIELD TRIP FUND! See card attached and please be sure to tell them before you file that you are a friend of LES! Thank you and please help spread the word!
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
What Ever Happened to Snow Days?
Some of you may have noticed that question on our Message Board in front of the school. We are all wondering when Mother Nature is going to send us a reminder that it is winter in New England! At this point, though, many of us are hopeful that the school year will end before the Summer Solstice. We could manage that even if we still have one snow day! But looking at the upcoming forecast, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the groundhog emerge in a swimsuit next week!
We are very fortunate to have capable and flexible staff members who are able to fill in for one another in an absence. Such will be the case during February, when Sherri Goodwin will be taking over the Preschool for a few weeks while Ruth Love Barer is on medical leave. It happens that Carol Allis, the Preschool paraprofessional, will also be on a family medical leave during that time, and her shoes will be filled by Amanda Begos, who is a familiar face to the preschoolers, having filled in for Carol earlier in the year. Ruth Love and I feel very certain that the preschoolers will be in good hands!
There will be another new face at LES next week, when Julie Erickson begins to work alongside Alyson Bull in grade six. Julie is a graduate of Middlebury College and Antioch University, where she specialized in both elementary and special education. Some members of the LES community may know Julie from her work with the Wolf Tree program. Julie originally hails from Colrain, and has recently been working in schools in Greenfield, MA and Marlboro, VT. In spending these weeks in February working with Alyson, Julie will be well poised to assume leadership of the sixth grade class when Alyson goes on maternity leave around the third week of March.
Do you know what a half birthday is? For children who have birthdays in July and August, when school is not in session, we celebrate their ‘half birthday’. Their half-birthdays are announced, and I visit the class to deliver a birthday pencil! These children quickly learn when their half-birthdays are, and occasionally suggest to parents that half birthdays should be celebrated at home as well, so beware!
You should have all received the phone or email message from me about the School Committee Budget Hearing on Monday, February 1st at 6:00 p.m. This is a very important meeting. There are significant financial pressures on the town, with potential implications for the school’s budget. The School Committee is hoping that many parents will attend so that the school community is well-informed about all of the different pieces that make up our budget.
Finally, a very big thank you to the many parents who made the Talent Show and Game Night such a big success. It was a terrific evening, all around, and a wonderful time was had by all!!
-Margot Lacey
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 6TH GRADE FAMILIES:
Thursday, March 24 (snow date- Tuesday, March 29)- Middle School Orientation 6:30-8:30pm
Tuesday, March 22
Introduction to the Special Education Program at the Middle School 6:00-7:00pm
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
Coming to the Leverett Library:
Bethany Seeger, A Day of Storm Chasing
Sunday, January 31, 2 PM, Leverett Library
A day in the life of a Storm Chaser, the equipment used to study storms and the large meteorological experiment PECAN (Plains Elevated Convection at Night). Co-sponsored by the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust and the Leverett Library.
Laurie Brown and Chris Condit, Exploring New Zealand, Kiwi Style
Sunday, February 7, 2 PM, Leverett Library
Stories and photographs of the geology, flora, and fauna from 3 trips to New Zealand. Co-sponsored by the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust and the Leverett Library.
KIDS YOGA
With Jai Fuller at The Yoga Center Amherst
Kids yoga is a playground that bridges the gulf between inner self and outer self. These classes draw on practices from Kundalini yoga, Hatha yoga and Awareness though the body to support kids in developing self awareness, (mind and body), self regulation, perseverance, and compassion. And they are super fun! Kids will learn that yoga is play, and play is yoga.
8 Fridays, Feb. 5th - April 1st
(no class Feb. 19th)
4:15 - 5:15 pm
$100 for the series/ $15 drop in or use a parents class pass
Sacred Light Group
All of life is Blessed
All of life is an expression of Divine Light.
Doors of Light, Leverett, MA
Tuesdays in February, 6:30 - 7:45 pm
2/2, 2/9, 2/16 and 2/23/2016 - by donation
Based on the teachings of Julie of Light Omega (lightomega.org)
“These teachings form the mystical heart and core of all religions”
Deepen and strengthen your inner connection to the ancient teaching of Light through the sharing of your sacred life. Through readings, meditation and discussion we will be led to know, honor and support the Holy Light that uplifts us all.
Contact Diana Catherine Bella at
413-687-7748 or [email protected]
SWIFT RIVER SOCCER 2016
Grades: Preschool through Grade 6
Dates: January 30, February 6, (tentatively February 13), February 20, February 27, March 5, March 12, (tentatively March 19) (Six games per team; tentative dates are for makeup purposes.)
Times: Saturdays 9 AM - ?
Where: Swift River School Gymnasium
Cost: $15 per child; $30 cap for families (cost covers tee shirts)
To sign up, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lIfnXMsqSB0kaCOz9cfz0ZKNFirOMQ0SNNwdDMr1M6Y/viewform?usp=send_form
Participants must bring their own shinguards!
Interested in volunteering, coaching, or refereeing?*
Please contact Johanna Fitzgerald
email: [email protected]
Phone/Text: 978-727-9249
*If you are over 18 you must complete a CORI form at the SRS Office if you haven’t done so already.
The Happy Valley Children’s Chorus will be putting on “Make Way for Ducklings: A Musical” this spring. We are seeking young singers ages 4-10 to work together on this classic story and bring it to the public in a new format. Rehearsals will be Mondays, 4-5:00 PM, March 7th through May9th, at the First Congregational Church of Amherst at 165 Main Street. Contact director Dorothy Cresswell at [email protected] for more information or to register your child.
My name is Willa Hartl and I have been babysitting for 5 years. I am a freshman in high school and I have experience babysitting ages 4 mos to 10 year olds. I love playing with kids inside or outside. I am looking for jobs after school or on the weekends. I am free every day except Thur. I charge $10 an hour. My phone number is (413)801-4585 and my email is [email protected] ,but texting or calling me is best! References available. I would love to hear from you.