SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Monday, October 6
School Committee Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 7
School Picture Day
Wednesday, October 8
Open House – 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 9th
PTO Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
Monday, October 13
Columbus Day – NO SCHOOL
Friday, October 17
All-School Assembly – 2:15 p.m.
Saturday, October 18
Harvest Festival
Friday October 24
Curriculum Day – NO SCHOOL
~~~~~~~~~~
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Greetings!
Recently, we have spent time as a staff discussing ways to embrace the beginning of each day as a school community. Schools open their days in many different ways. In one largely African-American school where I taught, we all congregated in the schoolyard, and marched into the school singing Swahili chants. In another, our school day began with a greeting from the principal in the three predominant languages of the school, followed by the school’s unique pledge. Those early morning greetings are incredibly important, setting the tone for the day, helping us to feel included, and preparing us for the work at hand. In recent years at LES, it has been up to the classroom teacher to decide how to begin the day, and teachers felt that we could do more to begin the day in a way that can be shared throughout the school. When a staff member suggested Morning Announcements, the idea was received with great enthusiasm.
Beginning October 1st, we will start the day with Morning Announcements at 8:45. While I may be the announcer initially, we hope to move towards having student announcers. In my previous school, I really enjoyed doing the announcements with students. They often decided to announce significant dates in history (such as the invention of an item we use every day), the birthday of a favorite author (student and teacher’s birthday were always announced!), or read original poetry. Here at Leverett, the Monday announcements will also include the opportunity for students to say the Pledge of Allegiance, in accordance with Massachusetts law. No student will be required to recite the Pledge, but all students will be expected to be respectful and non-judgmental of their peers. The Morning Announcements may also include some vital information, so it is important that all students are in their seats promptly each morning.
This commitment to community is a key part of what drew me to Leverett, and I know it is special to all of you, too. The upcoming Open House (October 8th) and the Harvest Festival (October 18th) are terrific occasions to come together and celebrate the great fortune of being part of such a special place. I look forward to seeing you all there!
-Margot Lacey
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
TERRA NOVA TESTING
Next week, Grade 5 will take Terra Nova tests. Grade 3 will take the tests the following week, beginning October 6th.
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY!
Our school picture day will be Tuesday, October 7th. There is an order form attached to this week’s Post. You may use the paper form, or order and pay on-line if you prefer. Please be sure your payment is submitted before picture day!
OCTOBER CALENDAR
The calendar for next month is attached to this week’s Post. It lists a lot of school activities and events. Please refer to it throughout the month.
FROM THE LES LIBRARY:
Looking For Volunteer Opportunities?
In the first 17 days of school over 1,300 books have been checked out of the school library!
Our students are READERS!
Would you be willing to help in the Leverett School Library? No knowledge of Dewey Decimal System required! If you can spare some time, I am looking for some help shelving books in the library. Any help would be most welcome!
Please contact Susan Wells. Thank you!
[email protected] or 548-9144 ext. 7
TOO MANY FRIDAY POSTS?
If your family is getting more copies of the Post than you need, please call Marilyn at 548-9144 or e-mail [email protected], and let me know which of your children should bring home the Post. Thanks!
Nurse’s Corner
It’s that time of year again when kids come into contact with colds and viruses, being back at school and other organized activities. Since we’ve already had a number of kids come down with colds, coughs and fevers, I thought it would be timely to re-print this article in hopes of preventing further spread of illness at LES. Below are some important guidelines for when to keep your child at home and instructions for notifying the school when your child is out sick.
Frequently asked questions about school attendance and illness:
Q. When should I keep my child home from school?
A. When your child complains of being sick and has symptoms like a sore throat, cough, congestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or has had a fever of 100°F or greater, in the last 24 hours, your child should remain at home. Keeping your child at home when he/she is sick will allow them time to recover and will reduce the spread of illness to others. Please call and inform the school when your child is absent due to illness. If your child needs a dose of medication for the above symptoms in the morning, then they need to stay at home. PLEASE DO NOT send your child to school after giving them a dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) in the morning, the effects will wear off during the school day and the fever will return. Please keep in mind that if you send a sick child to school, hoping for the best, you are exposing other children to their germs. In fairness to other parents and kids, please refrain from doing this.
Q. When reporting my child is sick, what should I report to school?
A. Let us know what is wrong with your child. Instead of saying he/she is sick, please be specific with symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or a head cold. You can either call Nurse Jill at ext. 3 or Marilyn at ext. 1 to leave a specific message. If you are sending an email instead of a phone message, please be sure to include Nurse Jill in your email message [email protected]. This will allow me to keep track of the types of illnesses currently circulating in our school. Remember, communication is the best prevention.
Please be sure to let me know when your child has a contagious illness such as the flu, strep throat, mononucleosis, pinworms, ringworm, scabies, or head lice. Also, be certain to tell me if your child has a vaccine preventable disease such as measles, mumps, whooping cough, or chicken pox, as I will need to inform others.
Q. When are children sent home from school?
A. In general, children will be sent home if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if they pose a risk of spreading the illness to others. This includes children who are coughing incessantly, have runny noses and congestion, nausea, or vomiting, sore throat or fever, or who appear sick (for example: sleeping, laying quietly, not talking or interacting with others). Any child with a fever of over 100°F, will be sent home. Children must be fever-free (without taking fever-reducing medication) for at least 12 hours before returning to school. Children with conjunctivitis (pink eye) with drainage, rash due to a communicable disease, or open draining sores with pus, will also be sent home. Children may be referred to their health care provider for further evaluation.
Feel free to call me with any questions or to share information at 548-9144 ext 3.
Let’s work together to prevent the spread of illness at LES, so that all of our kids can have a healthy school year! Thanks so much for your cooperation.
Jill Roberts, RN, BSN, M Ed
LES School Nurse, AKA “Nurse Jill”
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS
A letter and registration form from Brian Bender, our Instrumental Music teacher, announcing the start of this year’s program, was attached to the Post on September 5th. This program is offered to students in Grades 3 - 6. It is a fee-based program and lessons take place after school in the music room on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Brian at [email protected]. If you need another registration form, please call Marilyn at 548-9144.
PTO NEWS
Leverett Community Interview of the Week
DISAYA DAVIS
Grade 2
What do you like to do outside of school? Lot's of stuff! I like playing family with my friends. We play family a lot! I also like swinging on the tire swing at afterschool.
What are you looking forward to at LES this year? I'm looking forward to the end of the year because I'll get into a higher grade (grade 3!).
PTO News
We would just like to make you aware of the Genevieve's Fundraiser packet coming home with your student today. Fifty percent of all money raised goes back to LES to support field trips, the Pebble Go database, classrooms and teacher appreciation to name a few. We appreaciate your support. Orders are due back on Monday, October 20th.
6TH GRADE SUPPER
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th
5:00-7:00 PM
in the LES CAFETERIA
Hold the date and invite family and friends to the LES annual 6th grade Supper! Look forward to delicious food, several types of lasagna, salad and bread, beverages, desserts, outstanding entertainment, warm atmosphere and exceptional company! Plus, support the LES sixth grade class trip!
COME TO THE HARVEST FESTIVAL & STAY FOR THE LASAGNA!
LEVERETT LIBRARY NEWS AND EVENTS
Please stop in or call for more information on all programs, 548-9220.
•Thursday Sept 25 7-8 pm local author Gerald McFarland will join us to talk about his new novel, What the Owl Saw. The adventures of the 18th century sorcerer Don Carlos Buenaventura of New Mexico continue in this second book of the series.
•The Leverett, Shutesbury, Wendell and Erving Libraries will offer 36 S.T.E.A.M. programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) to children ages 3-6 during this school year. The programs are free and open to all. Here is the schedule through December:
October 2: Measuring Dinosaurs
Thursday 3:15 – 4:15, Leverett Library
October 4: Magnifying Magic,
Saturday, 11:00 - Noon Wendell Free Library
October 8: Seeds Are Everywhere!
Wed. 1:30 – 2:30, Shutesbury Town Hall
October 25: LEGO DUPLOTMCreative Construction Sat., 11:00-noon,Erving Library
November 1: Magnet Madness
Saturday, 11:00-non, Wendell Free Library
November 6: Magnificent Magnets
Thursday, 3:15– 4:15, Leverett Public Library
November 12: Sensing Our World
Wed., 1:30–2:30, Shutesbury Town Hall
November 22: LEGO DUPLOTM Home and Family
Sat. 11:00–noon, Erving Public Library
December 4: LEGO DUPLOTMCreative Construction Thur. 3:15–4:15, Leverett Library
December 6: Picnic Party Counting
Sat. 11:00—Noon, Wendell Free Library
December 10: Wonderful Water
Wed., 1:30–2:30, Shutesbury Town Hall
~~~~~~~~~~
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
Fine Art Photography: ELLIOTTO The Leverett Crafts and Arts center is pleased to sponsor the Massachusetts photographic debut of Elliotto, presenting: Americana: Essence & Architecture. The exhibit opens Sunday, 9/14, and runs until 9/28. The hours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6:00 pm and Weekdays, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 10% of all purchases by School parents will be donated to the school.
Responsible Leverett alum looking for after school or evening babysitting/parent helper job in the east Leverett area. Good with kids and has a flexible schedule. Willing to negotiate pay. For more information please call Gaelen Murray at 413-549-9960 or email her at [email protected].
YOGA – Monday evening gentle yoga class for stress reduction and health, 5:30-7:00 pm at the Montague Retreat Center, Ripley Road, Montague, MA. Eight-week session starting October 6th. Fee: $120. Please contact Nancy Paglia at [email protected] with questions or to register in advance.
The Enchanted Forest: A Non-scary Halloween Event
"Sounds of the Night" Friday & Saturday, October 24 & 25,
5:00-8:00pm. Come to the Hitchcock Center for a magical treat! You will be led along our pumpkin lit forest trails where creatures will emerge to share their stories. This year we will meet nocturnal critters whose sounds fill the night. Fun for all ages! Adult: Members $10 / Non-members $12
Children: Members $5 / Non-members $8
Under 3 years free
Registration required, please call to sign up for a walk time, space is limited. Call: 256-6006
Dearest Friends,
Raw and Vegan Living Foods Pot-Lucks at the home of Amar and NavJiwan Fuller and clan on SUNDAY, SEPT. 28TH!! We will vary the activity time before eating with educational, inspirational DVD's for achieving optimal health and consciousness, or a raw food Demo, or a mini lecture/seminar. Sometimes we will have a "special guest speaker" !! We often play games or have live music at the end of dinner! SUPER FUN!! THE NEXT POT-LUCK SUNDAY, SEPT. 28TH!! 5:45 p.m: Mini Seminar Join Amar ( Hippocrates Health Institute Health Educator) for an information session on Hippocrates Health Institute and the special three week "Life Transformation" group trip she is hosting in West Palm Beach beginning Jan. 4th 2015!!!!! Please tell anyone you love about this as it may save their life!!!
6:30 p.m: Pot-Luck Dinner: Come and enjoy raw and living foods prepared with love that provide all the raw materials our bodies need to cleanse our cells and blood along with an abundance of life energy which removes blockages and restores balance. AFTER DINNER: Game Time with the Valley's BEST: "Trevor the Games Man!!"
Through the experience of eating this incredible cuisine as well as watching DVD's ("WE HAVE SOME NEW ONE'S THAT ARE INSPIRING!") with discussion, sharing recipes etc. we will learn how to prevent and overcome health challenges! Pot-lucks are at my home at 189 Long Plain Rd. Leverett . Call (413)548-9841 or e:mail to r.s.v.p. by Saturday evening before. PLEASE BRING A RECIPE (index card size) FOR YOUR DISH. Many folks have dietary restrictions. Here are some pot-luck guidelines not intended to stress you out but to help guide you towards optimum health!! Please bring enough food to share that would serve 8 –10 people. If you are not familiar with live foods but want to check it out here are some easy tips for what to bring. If you can get fresh, raw, ripe and organic food that is always best! 1) all raw veggie salad 2) sprouts, 3) nuts or seeds that have been soaked in water for a minimum of 5 hours, 4) an assortment of raw vegetable sticks 5) raw vegetable sticks with raw nut or seed butter, 6) fresh juice or nut milk 7) Whole Foods has live sauerkraut and kimchi, as well as raw tahini (in the refrigerator section near the miso and tofu) 8) Whole Foods sells packages of seaweed, dulse, arame and raw nori, these are great! 9) fresh fruit!! 10) DESSERTS!! There are so many books these days even at the library on raw food recipes. Be creative! If you need more guidance on food combining or any other aspect, or if you would like me to suggest something that's easy please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you. Love and blessings for an abundance of good health, Amar
P.S. Bring some $$$$ if you might like to buy seeds, sprouts, supplements, books, and raw snacks! I hope to see you there!
Amar Kaur Fuller, 189 Long Plain Road, Leverett, 413-548-9841 or [email protected]
If you would like to put a notice in the Community Bulletin Board section of the Friday Post, please submit notices to be published no later than Thursday at noon. The easiest way to do that is by e-mail to [email protected]. Flyers for non-school sponsored events can be attached to the Post. They must contain a disclaimer “This is not a school-sponsored event” and a sufficient number of copies (125) should be provided to the office by the end of the school day on Thursday.