October 28, 2016
Tonight!
Halloween Party 5:30-8:00
Monday, October 31
Book Character Day
No Chess Club this week!
Tuesday-Wednesday, November 1-2
Parent Teacher conferences- 1:05 dismissal
Wednesday, November 2
The Toy Box fundraiser for PTO- 6:00-8:00pm
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IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Coming Monday! Book Character Day!
One of the great traditions here at Leverett Elementary School is Book Character Day. This is a nice alternative to celebration of Halloween, and fits perfectly for this community of voracious readers. Book Character Day has some simple guidelines. Children may come as a character from a movie if the movie was derived from a book. It has to been a book first. That may be the reason your child has been asking “But was it a book first?” if you’ve been discussing costumes.
The other basic reminders about costumes:
• No masks that cover the whole face
• No weapons as props
• Costumes should not be overly scary or gory
Most of the staff don costumes for the day, and there are often teachers who decide to be various characters from the same book. Kate Rice and I are planning to be the principal characters from a classic child’s book. You’ll have to stop by to see for yourself! If you are a parent who drops off or picks up your child, we encourage you to assume a book character persona, too!
This morning, I got a brief glimpse of the adventure that second graders had at the Mystic Aquarium yesterday. They were full of enthusiasm, and had way more to tell me than my brief visit to the classroom would allow. But the many “I learned that…” or “Did you know…?” statements and questions they shared with me certainly showed the potential of a great field trip as a learning tool. How fortunate we are to have the support of the PTO to fund these learning excursions!
As I write, parent conferences are underway throughout the school. This is an incredibly valuable time for parents to sit with their child’s teacher and get an overview of the child’s progress. I hope that every parent or caregiver will participate in these conversations, which offer insight into the learning that goes on every day.
With the cooler air upon us, please remind your children to come with sufficient layers of clothing to keep warm during the increasingly chilly recesses.
A recent poll of the fourth-sixth grades showed that about 80% of them think that I’ll be making my first ‘no-school’ phone call before the December break. Is this wishful thinking? Stay tuned!
-Margot Lacey
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
Community event: Friday, November 4th, 8pm: Please come to Leverett Cultural Council supported Video and Dance performance followed by artist discussion at the Montague Retreat Center on Ripley Road. Video created by Holly Lynton and dancers Jen Polins and Barbie Diewald of the School of Contemporary Dance and Thought.
Yard sale on October 29 from 10-2 at Long Plain Rd. In Leverett. It will include clothes, shoes, household items, toys and games as well as some building supplies. Come and see if there is something you need!
Fiddle and Violin lessons!
In Montague, MA,
for beginners and intermediate players of any age
Mary Lauren Fraser, professional fiddler with a background in classical violin and Suzuki Certified
Fun, clear, step-by-step instruction
Lessons starting in September 2016
Email for a trial lesson: [email protected]
Community Network for Children Events
FAIRIES OF THE SEASONS-FREE: Magical show with fairy puppets and a grumpy gnome. We will make our own fairies after the performance! To be held on Saturday, November 5th from10-11am at the Shutesbury Town Hall. This program is funded by a grant from the Shutesbury Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
DIAPER NIGHT AT HOPE & OLIVE
Monday, November 7, 5:00 – 7:30 at Soup & Game Night held at Hope & Olive. Come and have fun and enjoy free soup and bread donated by local restaurants; also baked goods and a silent auction. Bring the family and your favorite games to play while you eat soup and help families in need of diapers! Hope & Olive is at 44 Hope St., Greenfield.
You can help fill the Franklin County Diaper Bank run by the Franklin County Resource Network by making a contribution in any amount.
The Bank is very low on diapers and about to run out in another couple of months. We are now distributing about 4,000 a month to families with low incomes. If you can’t make it, please consider donating diapers or making a financial contribution. Go to www.communityaction.us and link to “ways to give”.
Please come for a most enjoyable evening; no set arrival time. Share the information with friends and neighbors. For information contact: Judith Weinthaler,[email protected]. Drop off diapers at my house at 24 Old Long Plain Road. Thanks so much!
