Leverett

OCTOBER 16, 2015

Saturday, October 17
             Harvest Festival

Wednesday, October 21
            Regionalization Forum

Friday, October 23
            Curriculum Day – NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 27
            Special Town Meeting

Wednesday & Thursday, October 28 & 29
            Parent/Teacher Conferences – 1:05 Dismissal
            Book Fair!

Friday, October 30
            Book Character Day
            All-School Assembly – 2:15 pm
            PTO Halloween Party – 6-8 pm

~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

Roles in School

Leverett Elementary School is fortunate to have many very skilled practitioners on its staff. Many parents and caregivers are quite aware of the role that the classroom teachers play in creating lessons and helping children to grown and learn. But they are stumped at exactly what an Essential Skills teacher or the School Psychologist is called upon to do.

Over the course of the next few months, I hope to be able to provide some insight into the different roles of people here at LES. You will find that the basic job description only begins to scratch the surface of what each person actually does in the course of a day.

The chameleon-like roles of staff members extend to children as well. We know that the most frequent response to the question, “What did you do in school today?” is “Nothing.” But if we were to list all of the different roles that a child is expected to perform during the day, the playbill would be many pages long.  Here’s a sample!
            *Detectives: learning to decipher all those codes required to learn reading and math
            *Actors: figuring out how to impress friends with your latest stories and antics
            *Athletes: developing playground and PE skills    
             *Fine diners: honing one’s social graces surrounding the downing of food
            *Artists: painting, drawing, designing, and thinking in Technicolor!
            *Information Technologists: learning to surpass one’s elders in using computers with incredible facility
            *Horticulturalists: developing increasingly green thumbs
            *Authors: those amazing stories just keep coming!
            *Circus performers: aerialists, clowns, jesters, tightrope walkers, jugglers—learning to perform in front of others, and keep everyone smiling!
            *All around good citizens—caring for others, sharing ideas, helping out,  and keeping everything shipshape 

And on and on, the list could go!  This is why we say that LES is committed to developing the whole child!

                                                                                              -Margot Lacey

                                             SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

School Lunch Detectives

A huge thank you to Mr. Stewart’s fifth grade class who did some strong School Lunch Detective Work for us the first few weeks of school.  My big question was, “What can we do to sell more lunches?” The fifth graders took that question and ran with it.  They wrote an in-depth survey with questions about students’ favorite foods, things they like to eat at school and at home, and things they would like to see on the school lunch menu.  Then they came to the cafeteria and interviewed every student in the school-often spending the whole lunch period talking with the other kids about food and school lunch.  I was very impressed by how thoughtful everyone was about the topic.

The fifth graders then sorted the surveys and charted their data.  They passed the surveys on to me and I was happy to read through for student suggestions and feedback.  A few requests were out of reach-like kettle corn, candy, sushi, and ice cream sundaes.  But many of the requests were things I can immediately start adding to our lunch menus.  Things like; bananas, spaghetti noodles instead of rotini, sweet potatoes, oranges, grape tomatoes, meatballs, red peppers, more soups, steamed broccoli instead of cold, grapes, and mushrooms.  A few other things I’m willing to try and see how they go, like using strawberry jam instead of grape, introducing Caesar salads, trying the smoothie meal again, bringing back French toast, and having ravioli.  So watch the menu for changes over the coming months.  This is, above all, the kids’ lunch program, and it was great to check in and hear what they had to say about it.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

            -Molly Snedden

It’s time for SPAGHETTI!

Come for an evening of food and fun to support the Leverett 6^th Grade.

October 17, 5:30-7:00 in the school café.

Adults- $8/ Children- $6 in advance ($9/$7 at the door)

Tickets are available from any 6^th grader, in the school office, or at the Leverett Library.  Vegetarian and Gluten-Free options will be served!

35th Annual

Leverett Harvest Festival

October 17, 2015 

Around the Leverett Elementary School Playground

 Fire Department Pancake Breakfast    8:00-10:30

Festival Grounds Open    10:00

Wingmasters Bird of Prey Shows     10:15, 11:30, 12:30

Henry the Juggler Shows     11:00, 12:00

Greenhouse Open House    10:00-1:00

Fire Department Open House    11:00-1:00

Festival Ends     1:00

6^th Grade Spaghetti Supper   5:30-7:00

Leverett Harvest Festival Notes 

If you are bringing items to the festival, parking your car on the road or in a parking lot and carrying in what you need, would be the best.  If not, please make the time your car is being unloaded in the playground no longer than 10 minutes (having a second person will really help).   

From various weather reports, it looks like the weather is going to be in the low 50s, cloudy, with a chance of rain, and windy.

The kids’ tables and the classroom tables should still expect to set up outside.  If it really is horrible weather, you can set up in the cafeteria but not until 11:00.  There will also be an option to move in there at 11:00 if need be.  

Please have a good strategy to deal with wind (ways to keep the tablecloth down, etc.) or rain (covered plastic totes, large plastic bags, an easy way to get things inside or to your car).  And something to cover up your goods (and goodies) if it is just a little sprinkle.

The adult vendors, nonprofits, etc. can set up outside or in the gym.

The school will provide one table per classroom.  You must bring in any other tables you will need.  Don't forget a sign and tablecloth if you want them. 

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

I still forecast a great festival.   

Tanya   548-8099

Can You Outguess a First Grader?
Come to the first grade table and guess how many cranberries are in the jar. Cranberries will be expertly counted by first grade and the closest guess wins a $20 gift certificate to the Leverett Coop! And don't miss
out on our delicious treats:
Caramel Apples
Ready-to-Bake Apple Crisps
Zucchini Bread
Cookies
Vegan Chocolate-Chip Banana Bread
And more!

REGIONALIZATION FORUM

Greetings: On Wednesday October 21st, 2015 the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District in collaboration with Leverett representatives from the Regional Agreement Working Group, will hold a Regionalization Forum in the Leverett Elementary School gym from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The purpose of this forum is to present and explain to Leverett residents the draft revised Regional Agreement. In addition, residents are invited to attend and pose questions, make observations and comments regarding the draft and the possible regionalization of the four member towns into a PK-12 Region. Leverett members of the Regional Agreement Working Group, Ann Delano, Kip Fonsh and Julie Shivley will provide an overview of the financial, educational and governance components of the draft. It is our hope to allow for most of the evening to be devoted to providing opportunities to residents to discuss their views, questions and concerns about regionalizing. Regardless of your views on the issue, this is an important event in the ongoing process that could lead to a vote on the draft this coming Spring Town Meeting. The timeline leading up to that Town Meeting will also be discussed. We look forward to meeting with you and hope you will find the time in your busy schedules to join us for this important discussion. If you have any questions regarding the meeting you can reach me, Kip Fonsh, at 548-9053. Thank you and see you on the 21st.

WELLNESS COMMITTEE

The school Wellness Committee is looking for parent members!  Help us create and meet goals around physical education, health and nutrition. This year we are looking forward to strengthening our Get Fit Leverett Program and updating our School Wellness Policy.  Please contact Molly, Food Service Director, at 413-548-9144, or email [email protected].

HANDBOOK SIGN-OFF

Each Leverett School family should have received a copy of the School Handbook with a parent sign-off sheet attached.  So far, 65% of the forms have been completed and returned.  If you have not sent yours in yet, please do.  If you have, thank you!  If you did not receive a copy of the Handbook, please call the school office.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

(Items listed here are not school sponsored)

2015 ABC Fall Foliage Fun Run Supporting the Amherst Committee for A Better Chance

Saturday, October 17, 10:30am-1:00pm

Amherst Town Common

Enjoy the colorful canopy as you and your family or group walk or run in support of diversity. www.amherstabetterchance.org

Free organic apple picking at 82 Juggler Meadow Road in Leverett.  The trees are along the driveway and there are a variety of older types on trees at least 50 years old.  Take what you will use so they don't go to waste. You can come at anytime or call me after 4 pm Monday-Friday and anytime on the weekend at 413-218-3289.   There are also a lot on the ground, perfect for cider pressing.  Please park off the driveway at the front right side of the drive.  Thanks and happy picking!

The Enchanted Forest: A Non-scary Halloween Event   “Nature’s Myth Busters ”

Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24 , 5pm-8pm each night

Come to the Enchanted Forest for a magical treat. You will be led along our pumpkin lit forest trails where creatures will emerge to

share their stories. This year, learn fact from fiction from some of your favorite local critters. Fun for all ages!

      Adult: Members $10/ Non-members $12

       Children: Members $5/ Non-members $6

       Under 3 years free

       Registration required, please call to sign up for a walk time, space is limited.

       Call:  256-6006, Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Free Guinea Pig + supplies (cage, house, water bottle, food dispenser, etc....).  He's about 3 years old, healthy. Needs a new family who can offer him more time and attention.  His current family is distracted by a new, crazy dog. If interested call Sarah (413) 540-3839

Mary Lou Ferro Conca, Union #28 substitute teacher, will have her poetry/photography show on display at the Leverett Village Coop for the month of October.  Please stop by and take a look.

Come to the LES PTO Halloween Party!

Friday, October 30

6-8pm