FEBRUARY 6, 2015
Monday, February 9
School Committee Meeting – 6:00 pm
Friday, February 13
Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration – Readathon
(please note that the date has been changed from 2/27)
Monday – Friday, February 16-20
Winter Vacation
Tuesday, February 24
Battle of the Books
Friday, Feburary 27
All-School Assembly – 2:15 pm
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IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Snow, Talent, and Games!
It’s hard to believe that I spent the December break wishing for some snow. It’s a wish that’s almost starting to haunt me, as we juggle our routines to accommodate delayed openings and snow days. The seemingly unrelenting bitter cold mornings have added to the challenge.
For many of our students, the huge snow piles have made recess an absolute delight, creating an opportunity for digging, sculpting, and sliding. For the custodial staff, this weather presents particular challenges, as they work incredibly hard to keep all areas of our school site accessible and safe. We appreciate their work!
Just as some of us were starting to feel a bit winter-weary, about twenty of our students gave us a reason to smile at last week’s Talent Show. The Talent Show came about through the hard work and persistence of four fifth graders—Tanner Humphrey, Ella Sampson, Geir Hartl, and Ava Lashway. They came up with the idea, and worked with me to prepare Talent Show applications and to make sure that the lyrics of all the songs were appropriate for the show. In addition, they served as emcees for the evening. Congratulations to them for creating such a fun evening! Thanks, too, to Jai Fuller for her help with rehearsals and ‘behind the scenes’ management of the evening.
Right after the Talent Show, we moved into the cafeteria for Games Night. The room was packed, and it certainly was heartwarming to see families and kids of all ages playing together. Thank you, PTO, for providing refreshments! We had about one hundred people attend the Friday evening Talent Show/Game Night event, and everyone agreed that this is a terrific way to spend a dark winter evening. We will make sure that it gets onto next year’s calendar. I know the Talent Show Organizing Committee already has it on theirs !!
-Margot Lacey
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
Think Spring! The Seed Sale is on! Information and order forms are attached to today’s Post. Forms are due back on Friday, February 27th. LES will keep 60% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
The Leverett School Committee, postponed last week due to the snowstorm, will meet on Monday, February 9th, at 6:00 p.m. All interested members of the community are welcome to attend.
DATE CHANGE!
Please note that the Read-a-thon date has been changed from February 27th to next Friday, February 13th.
LEVERETT CENSUS FORMS
We have a collection envelope in the school office for census forms. This year they are pink, and every Leverett household should have received one in the mail. If you did not, please call Lisa Stratford, Town Clerk, at 548-9150.
We are Collecting Gift Wrap & Paper Towel Tubes!!
The LES Library is collecting giftwrap tubes and/or paper towel tubes to use at the MCBA Books In Action party in March! Please send them in to school any time. Thank you!
PTO Spotlight On
Nick Woodley
Grade 2
What do you like about LES?
Recess and math.
What do you like doing outside of school?
I like to play in the basement and listen to music while I play!
PTO UPDATE
Our monthly PTO meeting, originally scheduled for this Thursday February 12th at 5:30 pm, will be rescheduled. Please look for the new date and time in next week’s Post. We need new Board members for next year, as several of our Board members are leaving. Please consider getting involved. The PTO needs you! Items on the February Agenda:
1. Review of the Talent Show
2. Spring Ice Skating
3. Seed Sale
4. Spring Non-Event Fundraiser
5. Teacher Appreciation Lunch
The Seed Sale is on! Information is attached to today’s Post. Forms are due back on Friday, February 27th. LES will keep 60% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school.
HELP WANTED:
Town of Leverett
Transfer Station Attendant
The Transfer Station is hiring a part-time Transfer Station Attendant. Duties to include, but are not limited to, working at the Station, organizing trash and recyclables, and resident education. Approximately 4 hours per week on weekends. Pay is $14.07 per hour. An application is available in the Town Hall or by calling the Town Administrator’s office at 413-548-9699. Applications available at the Town Hall or Transfer Station.
Leverett is an AA/EOE
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE
LEVERETT LIBRARY
Read it Leverett! is underway with this year’s selection The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. The book covers topics including art forgery, art theft, the professional art world and the creative process, and we are offering a range of fun events based around these themes. We will kick off with a book discussion led by retired literature professor Arlyn Diamond on Thursday, February 19 at 7pm. Get creative and enter our forgery contest, no talent required. Pick your favorite painting and try to capture its spirit. You can use whatever medium you desire...markers, crayons, water colors, pen and ink, or acrylics. On Sunday March 1 from 1-4:30 supplies will be made available along with pictures and books from which to choose your forgery. All entries created at this time (or on your own time) should be submitted to the library Saturday, March 7th. Art work will be displayed in the Community Room. Check out our web site for other Read it Leverett events, leverettlibrary.org.
• This Sunday at 2:00, Julie Collier, raptor rehabilitator from Wingmasters, will be at the library with her birds of prey. Julie will also display and talk about Native American Artifacts and the use of raptor feathers in Native American culture. Sponsored by The Rattlesnake Gutter Trust. Snow date February 22.
• Join us for a Family movie on Saturday, February 21 at 1pm. Judith Viorst's acclaimed children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day comes to the big screen. The tale recounts a day in the life of a grumpy young boy who has everything go wrong, all in one day. Rated PG.
Lego Club will meet February 26 from 3:15-4:30 for brand new building fun! All elementary school aged children are welcome to join us.
Hope to see you soon at the library.
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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
The Happy Valley Children’s Chorus spring session will be on Mondays, 4-5:00 PM, from March 2nd through May 11th, with a concert on Sunday, May 17th, at 1:30. Rehearsals are held at the First Congregational Church of Amherst, 165 Main Street. As always, the music is chosen for the fun and for the message. The spring song selections will focus on Songs of Hope. To register or to get more information, please contact: Dorothy Cresswell, at 413-668-4189, or [email protected].
HANDY TRADESMAN: Leverett resident Kody Klick is seeking interactive projects: home repairs, remodels, carpentry, plumbing, weatherization, painting, flooring, property maintenance, wood harvesting, furniture repair, gardening and more. Free estimates and negotiable pricing. Please call 856-994-8999.
Yoga Series for Kids, Starts Next week!
Jai Fuller offers an 8 week series at The Yoga Center Amherst for Children 8 - 12 yearsGive the gift of yoga to your children, so they can begin cultivating balance, strength, self love and peace. All this in a fun, musical class taught by Jai with special guest appearances from Amar to accompany the class on guitar, singing bowl and other instruments. Gain awareness of your body through games and movement, learn some basic kundalini yoga, and meet other kids at this explorative and empowering class!
8 week series on Fridays
4:15 -5:15 pm
Series dates:
February 6, 13, 27th
March 6, 13, 20, 27th and
April 3rd
For more info. and to register, www.yogacenteramherst.com
Wednesday Night Activity Group – Ages 7-11. A new activity group will begin on February 4 at the North Leverett Church, 70 North Leverett Road, Leverett and continue on each 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The focus for the next few weeks will be on individuals of character: Self Control, Patience, Dependability, and Determination. The activities (games, songs, discussions) will be from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. (preceded by family dinner at 5:45, which is optional). For more information, contact Wendy Farley at 413 367-2057.
TWO HANDS HOLD THE EARTH - A Family Concert with Sarah Pirtle. This family concert will feature joyful participatory ecology songs by Sarah Pirtle, author of "My Roots Go Down" and 100 other ecology songs. Sarah was recognized for the international impact of her work as the recipient of the Magic Penny Award (a lifetime achievement award) in 2007 from the Children’s Music Network. Her most recent CD, called “Pocketful of Wonder”, received the Parent’s Choice Gold Award -- one of 12 national awards given to her recordings produced by A Gentle Wind.
WHERE: Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 So.Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA
WHEN: Saturday, February 7, 2015, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Reception and New Building Celebration, 2:30 to 3:30 pm
SNOW DATE: Sunday, February 8, 2015—same hours
ADMISSION FEE: Suggested Donation
Advanced registration is recommended as space is limited.
Please contact the Hitchcock Center: 413-256-6006
WILD HEARTED BOYS: Mentoring Tomorrow’s Conscientious, Caring and Courageous Men
WILD HEARTED GIRLS: Mentoring Tomorrow’s Bold, Compassionate and Empowered Women
Two parallel single-gender programs encouraging boys and girls ages 9-13 to explore, inquire, play, reflect and dialogue within the context of the natural world and all of the challenges and mysteries it presents. Led by mentors whose goal is to honor and foster the inner capabilities of each participant. Climbing, cave exploration, nature skills, paddling and other adventures. Full week session during April vacation, 9am to 4 pm. Drop off and pick up at Mill River Recreation area in Amherst. Contact Pandora at 413-253-4910; www.AdventureinAdventureOut.com - see tab title Wild Hearted Programs.
What are your children doing for February break?
We take them on an artistic journey that taps into their creative skills! Multi-Arts Winter Camp 2015, February 16 - 20 for 4 to 13 years olds. Full day, half day, and one day options:
theater • art •fashion design • dance
blacklight • creative writing
Place: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst, (413) 584-7951 [email protected] www.multi-arts.org
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.