Leverett

NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Monday, November 9
            School Committee Meeting – 6:00pm
Wednesday, November 11
            Veterans Day- NO SCHOOL
Thursday, November 19
            PTO Meeting-5:30pm

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 IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

Academic First Responders

 Leverett Elementary School is very fortunate to have two very skilled Essential Skills teachers, who work with many different children. If you are like I was when I first came to LES, you may wonder exactly what is meant by ‘Essential Skills.’

One way to describe an Essential Skills teacher is as an academic first responder. When a child takes a fall, the response can be everything from brushing off the dirt to a trip to the Emergency Room. Academic first response is not dissimilar. If a child encounters difficulty mastering a new concept, the classroom teacher is the first responder.  The instruction may be reiterated or the child may have some additional individual or small group time with the classroom teacher.

 At LES, if a child continues to struggle, the classroom teacher meets with other members of the grade level team, which includes Essential Skills, Special Education, and related service providers. These meetings are held regularly so that student progress can be continually reviewed. At those meetings, it is usually decided which children will work with an Essential Skills teacher for a period of time to help them solidify their understanding. Often, this is called “double dosing,” when the Essential Skills teacher provides a repetition of the skills being covered in the classroom. Occasionally, the Essential Skills teacher may work alongside the classroom teacher. This co-teaching model allows for significant differentiation during the regular lesson time. I am always impressed by the thoughtfulness and flexibility of LES teachers as they collaborate to find the best possible ways to address student needs.

 In kindergarten through third grades, Vivian Kucinski helps children with mathematics, reading fluency and comprehension, and Fundations. As a former second grade teacher, she is very familiar with the early childhood contingent, and is creative in seeking new ways to motivate children as they develop their basic reading, writing, and math skills. Vivian also progress monitors the children, using a variety of formative assessments to guide her interventions.

 Fourth through sixth graders work with Christine Paglia Baker. Until assuming the Essential Skills role this past summer, Christine had taught fourth and fifth grades.  In her Essential Skills work, Christine balances work in the classroom with individual and small group work in the Essential Skills room. She has collaborated with Nancy Gibavic, the former Essential Skills teacher, to create a rich ‘toolbox’ of intervention strategies for helping students to succeed in their learning.

 Essential Skills is an important resource, both for students and for teachers. It is a key component in making sure that children don’t ‘get lost in the cracks.’ As the year progresses, and staff begin discussions about Response to Intervention strategies, we look forward to finding even more ways to address different learning rates and styles, and to identify new progress monitoring techniques that yield vital information about student learning.

 If your child comes home with a note from Vivian or Christine about being included in Essential Skills work, it is not cause for alarm. The kinds of support that they are providing is another way that LES is keeping kids ‘on track’ with their essential learning!

                                                 -Margot Lacey

Greenhouse Greetings:

My goodness, it certainly does not feel like November is upon us with all this warm weather of late. It is strange to still have the water system on and having to open the sides so high to let the heat out!  (Temps have been easily reaching to 110 degrees inside on these sunny days). Although, it has been very nice to continue to have all classes outside.

However, the voles are BUSY getting ready for when the weather changes. Unfortunately, we have lost all our spinach, chard, and dill (completely!!) to the voles.   I see them on a regular basis now and they are darn cute BUT it is a challenge to grow greens with many hungry rodents deciding to move in and assume that we are growing everything for them!

 So, if you enter the greenhouse now- you will see a life-size Great Horned Owl sitting around in the beds. Feel free to move it around if you should visit- this keeps the voles concerned and hopefully scared enough to leave things alone!  ???

Oh yes, families are always welcome to stop inside the greenhouse anytime during the seasons we are having classes. I just ask that if you find the door closed- please close it when you leave.

The recess “enchanted garden” continues to be created each day w/ moss, dried flowers, pretty gem stones & cones. Stop and take a look before the snow flies.

 e still could use some donations of spring bulbs.

Many Thanks,

Dawn Marvin Ward, Greenhouse Educator & Manager

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

(Items listed here are not school sponsored)

TAIZE SING-ALONG

The Leverett Congregational Church (LCC), Sunday, November 8, 10:00 to 11:00 a. m., welcomes the community to join in a Taize service of short readings and simple repetitive songs, for a reflective, meditative service. Taize services began in 1940 France and embrace a tradition of peace and justice while seeking to include people, traditions, and languages worldwide. The LCC congregation is open and affirming and children friendly. All are welcome to this free event. The LCC is located across from the Leverett Post Office. For more information, call Claudia Gere 259-1741.

 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