MARCH 6, 2015
Friday, March 6 – TONIGHT!
MCBA Books in Action Party at LES–5:30pm
Tuesday, March 10
PARCC Information Session – 6:30-7:00 pm
Friday, March 13
Curriculum Day - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, March 17
All School Music Show – 7:00 pm
Monday-Friday, March 23-27 and March 30-April 3
PARCC Testing in Grades 3-6
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School Committee Letter to the LES Friday Post
The winter of perpetual presence shows no sign of abating. And it has dealt our little red schoolhouse two serious wounds over the past two weeks. As many of you know, two pipes burst over that period resulting in very serious damage to a number of rooms at the school. Thanks to the remarkable and extraordinary work of the entire school staff, from administration to teachers to support staff to custodians and maintenance staff to Randall Roberts and his tireless crew, by the time you read this the school will be back to normal. Words alone cannot convey the gratitude and appreciation we owe to all of these people. And we certainly cannot ignore the troopers that are our children who weathered these storms better than we could ever have expected.
Your school committee had to reschedule its February meeting three times because of snowstorms. We finally met on February 23rd at which time the major agenda item was the FY 16 budget. Superintendent Mahler and Principal Lacey managed to bring in a budget with a 3.5% cut as was requested by the town’s Selectboard. This request, made to all town departments, was in anticipation of a possible adverse ruling on two tax abatement cases. School Committee members met the following evening with the Selectboard and Finance Committee. Both bodies gave approval to our budget, recognizing that the town is in a financial crisis mode and all parties needed to take a hit.
The School Committee held its March meeting a week later to hold a public hearing on the budget. The Committee voted unanimously that evening to support the budget as presented by Superintendent Mahler and Principal Lacey.
In other news, Union 28 has selected a permanent replacement for Superintendent Mahler who is retiring at the end of the school year. Ms. Jennifer Haggerty will begin her work at Union 28 headquarters in Erving beginning in July.
On Thursday, February 26th a Regionalization Forum was held in the LES gym. Attended by approximately thirty-five people, those in attendance heard a presentation from Julie Shivley, Ann Delano, and Kip Fonsh, the Leverett representatives to the Regional Agreement Working Group. This group completed its three years of work by submitted a series of proposals to the Regional School Committee in January. Residents asked questions, sought clarification, and offered commentary on the proposals. This information will be passed along to the Regional School Committee as it considered all of the proposals. While initially an RSC vote was expected in March, it is highly unlikely that a proposal will come before town meeting before spring, 2016.
Finally, if you have the opportunity and feel inclined, pass along some praise to Principal Lacey, the teachers, support staff and custodians for a job very, very well done.
Respectfully submitted,
Kip Fonsh, School Committee Chair
CURRICULUM DAY NEXT FRIDAY
Students will not have school next Friday, March 13th while teachers from all four Union 28 schools will meet to continue their work on Professional Learning Communities.
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
Getting Ready for PARCC
Later this month, Leverett students in grades 3-6 will take the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) test for the first time. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is proposing that this test will replace the MCAS test in the near future. Schools in Union 28 will participate in this pilot year of testing, with all four schools taking the paper (not computer) version of the test.
Parents across the state have expressed concerns about this test, and about ‘high stakes’ testing in general. Since teachers at LES have not administered PARCC before, it will only be after a full testing cycle that we will have a better sense of the demands of the test and our students’ response to it. That will give us the information that we need to engage in a more concrete and comprehensive dialogue about how this particular testing impacts our children.
I will host an Information Session about PARCC on Tuesday, March 10th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the LES library.
The first round of testing is slated to begin March 23 and runs through April 3rd. The second round of testing will take place between May 11-22. The full testing schedule for March and April is outlined in this edition of the Friday Post. Math and English Language Arts are included in both the March/April and the May testing.
How can we help children to prepare for PARCC? LES teachers work every single day to help our students meet grade level expectations. They also teach our children to think creatively and to be effective problem solvers. Working together with parents, we can help to bolster children’s confidence and to address children’s concerns about the assessments. And, as always, getting a good night’s sleep and having a good breakfast can also help children to be prepared for testing.
Should you have any questions or concerns about PARCC, I hope you will be able to attend the Information Session on the 10th, or that you contact me at LES.
PARCC Testing Schedule
March/April Administration
Monday, March 23 -- Grades 3 and 4
Tuesday, March 24 -- Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
Thursday, March 26 -- Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6
Monday, March 30 -- Grades 5 and 6
Tuesday, March 31 -- Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
Thursday, April 2 -- Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
PARCC is a timed test, ranging from 60-90 minutes, depending on the grade and the test. We expect all students to be in the classroom no later than 8:45 a.m. so that testing can begin promptly. Students who are tardy may not be able to test with their group, and will need to take a make-up test on another day. It is expected that most testing will be complete by 11 a.m. and students will resume their regular schedule.
-Margot Lacey
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS
Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend. Can Spring be far behind?? Don’t forget to change your clocks one hour ahead before you go to bed Saturday night.
LEVERETT LIBRARY NEWS
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. Schedule of upcoming events:
• Thur. March 19 at 6:30 pm Talk on art forgery by Julia Courtney, curator of art at the Springfield Museums.
•Sunday March 29 at 2pm Finale - reception and forgery critique by guest artist.
Events are open and free to all. Books are available now for check out or purchase. Get reading!
S.T.E.A.M. Science Technology Engineering Art Math
The Leverett, Shutesbury, Wendell and Erving Libraries are offering S.T.E.A.M. programs to children ages 3-6 during this school year. The programs are free.
•Thursday April 2, 3:15-4:15 Wonderful Water.
Unless otherwise noted Leverett programs are run by Helen Ann Sephton of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst.
•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.
•March 15 from 3-4:30 Electronics Take-Apart with Bethany and Seth Seeger. How does a toaster work? A radio? We will take apart non-functioning household items to explore what makes them operate. Ages 4- adult welcome If you have any items to donate (ie. vcr, typewriter), please contact Bethany Seeger at [email protected].
•Ukulele play along with Julie Stepanek, Sunday March 22 at 3pm. All ability levels welcome, learn some chords, and play some songs. We will have ukes to borrow, but please bring your own if you have one.
Please call for more information on any program 413-548-9220
WRITING RETREAT
The Parent/Guardian Organization of the Amherst Regional Middle School invites you to join an on-going, mini writing retreat. The group will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 at the Middle School Library on the following dates: March 19, April 2, 16, 30 and May 14 and 28. Come to one, a few, or all. The theme is “Raising our Children and Growing Ourselves.” The retreats are designed to provide a space and time for parents who want to write and share their family stories. If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact Ying Zhang or Victoria Cliche at [email protected], or just come to the next retreat.
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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(Items listed here are not school sponsored)
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.
SMART MOVES! FREE NEUROMOVEMENT WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS - March 10 in Amherst: LES parent & Neuromovement Consultant, Emily Hodos (Gabriel, 2nd grade), is offering a FREE evening workshop for Parents, Teachers, Therapists, Other Adults and Caregivers curious about the benefits of using movement to affect positive changes in children and adults. Science is revealing the amazing power that movement has on brain change and growth. Neuromovement takes this science into practice to target a range of skills from physical, emotional, and behavioral to cognitive. This workshop introduces participants to basic neuromovement principles along with a sampling of movement activities that can be immediately applied at home, school, work, athletics, performing arts, and more. Tuesday, March 10 from 6:30-8pm, Second Chances Community Rm, 7 Pomeroy Ln, Amherst. FREE but RSVP required. To RSVP, email Emily at [email protected]
Also coming… SMART MOVES! INTEGRATIVE MOVEMENT CLASSES FOR KIDS, from May 6 - June 10 (6 wk series) at Second Chances Community Room, Amherst. Classes are designed for kids to have fun AND to support them in developing vital skills for learning and life! For more info about the offerings and neuromovement, visit www.emilyjhodos.com (go to Calendar of Events) or call Emily at 413-588-7896.
Qigong with Dvora Esenstein will be offered on Mondays from 10:00 to 11:00 am beginning March 16th at the Sunderland Library. Qigong is an ancient Chinese health care system integrating slow movements, breathing techniques and focused intention. It helps to calm your mind, improve your balance, and enhance your health. This class is suitable for all ages and ability levels. You may join this free class at any time. Dvora has been a Tai Chi and Qigong student for nearly 30 years, Her practice is focused on softness and centeredness.
Register for the Daffodil Fun Run, a 5k road race in Amherst that raises funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, a program of the Center for Human Development. In this fun and festive community event, participants race past many of the 50,000 daffodils that were planted in celebration of the Town of Amherst's 250th anniversary. The event is held each year at the beginning of spring, when the daffodils are in full bloom.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County provides one-to-one mentoring relationships to local children in need of positive adult influence and friendship. We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of our business sponsors and donors in the Hampshire County Community.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2015. Please register early! We are limiting participation to 1,500 runners and walkers this year, so the sooner you register the better! In addition, only those who register before April 1st will be guaranteed a FREE signature event t-shirt!
Registration Fees are as follows: THROUGH 4/1: $23 Individual, $16 Student, $8 Kids (12 & Under)
AFTER 4/1: $27 Individual, $20 Student, $12 Kids (12& Under)
DAY OF EVENT: $30 Individual, $23 Student, $15 Kids (12 & Under) You can find further information and register at: https://www.runreg.com/5420.
