May 20, 2016
Tuesday, May 24
Postural Screening, grades 5 & 6
Wednesday, May 25
Staff Appreciation Lunch- 1:30pm
Thursday, May 26
4th Grade field trip to CT Science Center, returning at 4:00pm
2nd grade field trip to Leverett library
Friday, May 27
All School Assembly- 5th grade play performance- 2:00pm
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SPOTLIGHT ON…
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!
First, thank you to all of the members of the LES community who attended Leverett's Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 6. The attendance of younger Leverett voters was boosted by the availability of child care. Thanks to Margot and to our fabulous LES students and alum who worked tirelessly with the young ones! Now to the point: The School Committee was unable to fill its full complement of five members at Town Meeting. We currently have four members but in order to do our business in compliance with our laws and policies, we need one more member to fill a one-year position. Though the time for voting has passed, a new member may be appointed by the Select Board. PLEASE, consider serving the school community for a year as a member of the school committee. We are a congenial and cooperative group, dedicated to ensuring that our students and the entire school community has what it needs to thrive and continue its tradition of excellent, creative and caring education. Please contact any of the members with questions you may have!
Thanks,
Sarah Dolven, Chair; [email protected]
Bethany Seeger, Vice Chair, [email protected]
Audra Goscenski, [email protected]
Tara Acker, [email protected]
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Independence
With the end of the school year nearly here, we revel in the increasing independence that children have acquired since September. Kindergartners are now amazing messengers, able to deliver notes to the office and other locations, which they are sent off to do in pairs each day. Their independence is evident in the occasional decision to take the ‘long way’ and lallygag a bit along the way. In the other grades, the children’s development growth shows up in the complexity of groups tasks, as well as in their play during recess.
Yesterday, teachers spent the afternoon “taking stock.” This reflection on the past year (which I will write about next week) marks the beginning of the homestretch as we head towards summer. As I noted in a previous Friday Post, it is also the time of year when many of our routines fall away, and we have celebrations with lots of visitors.
You can help us to make sure that all children continue to be safe, even while they become more independent, in this last month of the school year.
• If you bring your child to school in the morning, please say your good-byes in the lobby. There are always adults there who will assist your child, if needed.
• Please respect the work that teachers are trying to do during the school day. Even though it is the end of the year, there is still much to do! Always sign in at the
office and pick up a visitor’s badge. Visits to the classroom should always be cleared in advance with the teacher. We love our parents—it’s just the timing of visits that can be a challenge!
• When coming for a whole class or school celebration, you do not need to sign in. If you are taking your child home directly from the classroom, please make sure the teacher knows before you leave.
Independence and confidence are traits that we recognize as being important underpinnings to a child’s future success. With your help, we can continue to make that a priority, even while we continue to have a joyous and safe school.
-Margot Lacey
I hope you enjoyed our quick, one-day SPRING BOOK FAIR on Thursday. With just over a month left of school, we have a lot going on in the library.
•Keep an eye out for instructions on accessing LES library ebooks and audiobooks over the summer!
•Next week (the week of May 23rd), students will be voting. We will be awarding the NONFICTION FANDANGO prize to the top 5 new nonfiction books at LES Library! Have a conversation with your family about your favorite nonfiction books.
•The GET-EXCITED-FOR-SUMMER-READING BOOK SWAP will be held the first week of June. Start bringing your book donations to the LES Library onFriday, May 27.
•The MCBA Mash Up book list will be released on May 26th! This book list is geared towards 4th to 6th graders in the 2016-2017 school year.
•Library books are due on June 14th! Each LES student who returns all books by that date will get to enter an END-OF-YEAR-BOOK-RETURN RAFFLE! So far, we have received generous donations from The Toy Box, Amherst Books, AJ Hastings, Bart's Homemade Ice Cream, Interskate 91, Cinemark, Walmart, and Barnes and Noble. If you want to contribute to the raffle with a donation, please be in touch.
-Lani Blechman
LES Librarian
Basic Rights in Special Education
Annual Workshop
Sponsored by the Erving School Union
Special Education Advisory Committee
with Prudence Marsh
Director of Student Support Services
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Leverett Elementary School parent room
6:30-7:30 PM
Please join us for this opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable information about the special education process.
POSTURAL SCREENING
For 5th and 6th graders
Nurse Jill and Nurse Karyn will be conducting the annual state mandated postural screening program for 5th and 6th graders on Tuesday May 24th. The purpose of postural screening is to identify early signs of possible spinal problems in children in grades five through nine. This is a simple screening, rather than a diagnostic service. If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take her/him to their primary health care provider. A parent letter with more detailed information will be sent home with your child on Monday 5/16. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nurse Jill at 548-9144 ext.3.
Staff Appreciation Luncheon - May 25 @ 1:30.
Volunteers Needed!!
Come and show our teachers & staff how much we love them!
What you can do to help out:
Donate food?
Main courses, salads, desserts and drinks
Donate your time?
Volunteers needed to set up before the event and clean up after (Feel free to bring your kids—6th graders will be available to play with them after school!)
Do you have a talent to share?
Musical performances or chair massages for the teachers
Donate your plants or flowers?
Small plants or flowers needed for decorations and small gifts for our teachers.
Please contact Theresa for more info or to volunteer
TheresaGahagan@gmail.com
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
Ashfield Community Theater presents:
The Quick-Change Room, a raucous backstage comedy about art vs. commerce
Starring LES alum Jaz Blain!
Ashfield Town Hall
412 Main Street, Ashfield
Friday, May 27 7pm
Saturday, May 28 7pm
Sunday, May 29 2pm
Friday, June 3 7pm
Saturday, June 4 7pm
www.acth.org
Awesome available summer childcare! I’m Lily Stratford and I’m a 21 year old nursing student. I
live in Leverett and have been babysitting for area kids of all ages for 9 years. I am CPR/AED and PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization) certified. In past years, I’ve done trips to Lake Wyola, Look Park, the Eric Carle Museum, Mill River, area playgrounds, nature exploration, arts & crafts and other fun activities which I plan to do this summer! Due to the fact that I have two children participating already, drop off and pick up will be at my house. I’m available from 8:30-4 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through the end of July and Monday through Friday throughout August. References upon request. Please call with questions-
413.834.1654- Thanks!
Still looking for the right camp for this summer?
Try Khalsa Camp
Swimming, Horseback riding, Yoga, Games, lots of Outdoors, Dancing, Acting and more!
Spaces still available for July 18 - Aug. 12
For our Cooperative Trust Building session ages 5 -10
and Expressive Arts session ages 8 -13
See our web site at KhalsaCamp.net for more details
Community Health Fair on JUNE 8TH, 2016 from 1-5pm. This family friendly event will be held at the Community Health Center at the Cherry Rum Plaza in Greenfield. The event is presented by the Community Health Center of Franklin County, Health New England and the GCC Healthcare Club. Health screenings for dental, mental health, nutrition, blood pressure and blood glucose will be offered. Enjoy show and tell of emergency vehicles by Greenfield Police, Greenfield Fire and MedCare. All are welcome!
Leverett Ladies Art Show
Paintings by Hillary Wilbur Ferro, Ivy Mabius and Kaitlin Scutari, Local Artists
at the Leverett town Library
May 19th - June 28th
Check Out The Common School’s Summer Programs for Children Ages 3-12!
SUMMERFUN 2016
Mini Camp:
June 20 - June 24
8:30 - 3:30pm
Summerfun:
June 27 - July 22
8:30 - 3:30pm
Sample of our programming:
Farm to Table - Bramble Hill Days July 11 - July 22
Ages 8-12
Spend two weeks in July enjoying the bounty of Summer. Through partnership with Bramble Hill Farm, and with the use of The Common School's Garden, we'll harvest seasonal goodies and prepare them in the kitchen. Fresh pickles, farmers cheese, jam, pesto and pie to name a few. Come with an appetite and a desire to create. We'll talk about different ways of preserving the harvest and will be sure to make enough to send kids home with some of our delicious creations as well. Choice time offerings will include fiber arts, baking, games, and other farm related crafts.
www.commonschool.org