Leverett

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Monday, March 2

            School Committee Meeting and FY16 Budget Hearing – 6:00 pm

Thursday, March 5

            Coffee with the Middle School Principal at LES – 7:00 pm

Friday, March 6

            MCBA Books in Action Party at LES–5:30pm

Friday, March 13

            Curriculum Day  - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, March 17

            All School Music & Art Show – 7:00 pm

Monday-Friday, March 23-27 and March 30-April  3

            PARCC Testing in Grades 3-6

~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

Resilience

   Just a week ago, I was snug in a yurt in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. It was my last day in the backcountry, and when I awoke at 6 a.m., I thought that it might be a good idea to check my plane reservations, since I had completely lost track of when I was scheduled to return to Massachusetts. Being in a primitive backcountry camp, I had been vigilant about conserving the battery on my IPhone, turning it on only to check messages twice a day.

   When I turned on my phone, the first thing that flashed on the screen was that I had a phone message from Superintendent Bob Mahler. I listened to the message, and knew that no matter what my scheduled plane reservations might have been, they were going to get changed. LES had had a ruptured sprinkler pipe, resulting in significant water damage.

   It took a day to get back, but by the time I stepped into the school early Saturday morning, an amazing amount of restorative work had already taken place. Crews were working round the clock in the art and music rooms, and the cluster of staff office spaces adjacent to those rooms. All the wet walls and drenched insulation were already in the dumpster, teaching materials from the affected rooms had been rescued and were piled on the stage, and efforts were underway to dry out the interior structures. Work moved along very quickly, and by Tuesday evening, Bob and I were able to report to the School Committee that we felt confident that it was a matter of another week or so before teachers would be able to move back into those spaces.

Our optimism was short-lived. At 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, there was another rupture, this time over a classroom. The system was shut down quite quickly, and damage was more confined than the previous episode, but at 6 a.m., I was still confronted with two sodden classrooms, and had to make some quick decisions about how we could keep learning on track for all of our students.

Many staff members pitched in, and helped to relocate furniture and materials to other spaces. Everyone showed incredibly flexibility in agreeing to a slightly ‘nomadic’ schedule for the remainder of the week, while classroom repairs were underway.

   This series of travails has revealed much about the LES community. It has shown me the high level of trust that parents have in our ability to keep children safe and focused on learning, even while there is a modicum of disruption. (And, just a note on this--before school opened on Monday, Bob Mahler had completed a CORI check on every workman involved in the reconstruction.) Staff members have had a great ‘can-do’ attitude, reworking schedules and lesson plans with very little notice, but also with a smile. Everyone has paid been mindful of the potential stress that this situation could have on children, offering extra reassurance and TLC. Indeed, this is the Leverett way!

   I hesitate to make a list of people who should be thanked, for fear of leaving someone off the list, because there are so many who have helped behind the scenes. But I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to John Kuczek, Rich Brazeau, Bob Mahler, Wayne Cromack and our custodial staff, and Randy Roberts and his crew, for everything they have done over the past week.

   I think I speak for everyone here, when I say that we are all looking forward to next week, when the construction plastic will start to come down, and we are all back in our nice, clean spaces. And, as much as we look forward to having the building fully operational again, I think that there’s not a person I know who can’t wait for spring!!

                                                -Margot Lacey

WEAR WARM CLOTHES FOR RECESS

With the frigid temperatures, wind chill factor, and huge amounts of snow on the ground, it is really important to send your child to school dressed warmly for outdoor recess everyday. This includes wearing warm socks, waterproof boots, hats, warm gloves, snow pants and a warm winter jacket. We go outside for recess everyday unless the wind chill factor is below zero. Still, many kids have been coming to school unprepared for recess.  In order for kids to be able to play in the snow, they must be dressed warmly and follow the school rules outlined below:

    •PS, K, and Grade 1:  boots and snowpants

   • Grades 2,3, & 4:  boots to play on the snow, snowpants to play in the snow

   • Grades 5 & 6: boots

Leaving boots, snow pants and gloves at school for the week can be a solution for kids who “forget” to bring these items on a daily basis.  Another option is to always keep a pair of gloves, a hat and an extra pair of socks in your child’s backpack. Also, please remember to send in a pair of “indoor shoes” to change into once the wet boots come off.

We have a limited supply of boots, gloves, and snow pants in the Nurse’s office with limited storage space to keep any more than what’s on hand.  I try to save these items for “emergencies” like when kids get soaked while having fun at recess. Also, for kids who may have outgrown last years boots or snow pants or may not own all of the items listed.  

If you are in need of financial assistance to purchase warm winter clothing for your growing child, please contact Nurse Jill at 548-9144 ext. 3, to inquire about the Kimball Trust Fund. 

Thanks for helping to keep LES kids warm, dry and happy!

                                    -Nurse  Jill

PTO Spotlight On

Luka Greenwood

Grade 5

What do you like most at LES?

I like PE a lot and am looking forward to another field trip.

What do you like doing when you're not at school?

I like biking, building with my legos and skiing down the mountain.

PTO Updates

The Seed Sale deadline has been extended.  Please see the order form and information attached to this Post.  

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

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.

WRITING TO RAISE ^TM

Writing Retreat

 We all have stories to tell and the ARMS PGO invites you to join us at this on-going mini writing retreat to share yours.

Thursday Evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 (Come to one, a few or all)

Dates: March 5 and 19             April 2, 16 and 30             May 14 and 28

Amherst Regional Middle School Library 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst – 2^nd Floor

Theme: Raising Our Children and Growing Ourselves

 Goals: 

• Connect parents and create a supportive, compassionate community in which to share  stories
• Provide time for writing and light instruction to sharpen writing skills, hopefully inspiring participants to reflect and write more
• Promote intercultural understanding and exchanges by telling authentic, diverse stories 
• Share contemporary American culture, values and day-to-day life with our counter-parts in China (and elsewhere) by publishing an anthology available on-line.
• Generate funds to support ARMS teacher and student initiatives from publication sales

Description

Open to anyone who has stories about family, children, parenthood and growth, this series of 90-minute Parent/Guardian writing sessions (held in the ARMS library) is designed to provide a space and time for parents who want to write and share their family stories.

Invited to kick-off the series is Corinne Demas, Mount Holyoke Professor and published author of her memoir Eleven Stories High: Growing up in Stuyvesant Town, 1948 – 1968. Professor Demas will talk about the writing process, share tips on how to make stories engaging and how to speak in our own authentic voice.

The final product will be an anthology of participant submissions. Space permitting, contributing to the anthology is open to anyone who is interested in submitting an article about family life, parenthood, home literacy practices, community culture, raising children, etc. The hope is to as inclusive as possible however neither participation nor submission guarantees inclusion in the anthology publication. Workshop organizers will make the determination as to compilation selection with professional guidance.  

An English version of the anthology will be sold to English-speaking community. The English-Chinese version of the book will be sold to Chinese readers in the forms of ibook, ebook and print texts. The money gained from sales will be used to benefit the middle school community.

 Structure of a Writing Group Meeting

 6:30 - 6:40 pm   Humanize the space via social time

6:40 - 7:00 pm   Pre-writing talk

7:00 - 7:45 pm   Intensive writing

7:45 - 8:00 pm   Wrap-up discussion

• The first ten minutes is for parents to connect and update one another on progress.
• The next 20 minutes consists of a pre-write activity: a brief talk given by invited speaker, group members sharing about writing, parenting, cultural awareness, adolescence development, or a collaborative talk about some selected books, articles and videos. It may also include brainstorming activities, writing exercises, sharing pieces, discussing writing prompts or images, etc.
• Writing is the main task. It will last 45 to 50 minutes.
• Wrap up activity may be a go-around touch base, group member(s) sharing writing, or a discussion about some issues, concerns, difficulties.

Please Come!!! We'd love it if you let us know if you are interested in participating or have any questions by contacting Ying Zhang or Victoria Cliche at [email protected] but if you decide to just show up - that's GREAT too!!!