Volume 25, Issue 5 Thursday, November 5, 2015
Important Dates
Tomorrow, 1:10 PM:
Early Dismissal for conferences
November 11: No School Veterans Day
November 12, 6:30 PM: PTCA Meeting
November 13, 6:00 PM: Science Fair Setup
6:30 PM: Science Fair
November 25 – 27: Thanksgiving Recess
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Greetings,
Although there is always room for improvement, we at Swift River work really hard to recycle and compost as much of our waste as possible. We are fortunate to work with Clear View Composting, who hauls away our daily food and paper towel waste. After our last pick-up, we have composted 27.3 tons (or 108.9 cubic yards) of waste in the six years that this program has been in place. Congratulations to the Swift River community for turning our waste into soil!
Our art teacher, Sally Stuffin, and our students have created beautiful magnetic murals for the 100 Mile Club. They are breathtaking. Please come and check them out; you can find them hanging on the ramp walls. During art classes with Sally, students created folders with exquisite fall artwork for Operation Touch of Home. Thank you to Sally for helping the students create incredible pieces of art for our soldiers overseas.
We are very fortunate to teach in a school district that values teachers’ professional development. This year the teachers are working in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) in School and with teachers throughout the district. Swift River teachers spend their Wednesday afternoons using protocols to look at student work to enhance their teaching practice. This year, we have three PLC groups: one group looks at reading comprehension throughout the curriculums, the second group works on writing in math and math journaling, and the third group works on developing and implementing effective interventions for at-risk students who struggle because of behavior and/or reduced oral language. Other initiatives we will work on during our Wednesday professional development days are: updating and developing Common Core report cards and PLCs at grade and specialist levels.
Lastly, we look forward to seeing everyone at the Science Fair on Friday, November 13 at 6:30 PM in the Gym. I can’t wait to see what the Swift River Scientists have hypothesized and concluded about soil.
Fondly,
Kelley
Food and Goodies Sale
at the Science Fair
Bring your appetite to the Science Fair and help Grade 6 raise funds for their spring field trip and for graduation! Grade 6 will be selling hot dinner items, tasty treats, and beverages. The Science Fair is on Friday, November 13, starting at 6:00 PM.
6th-Grade Parents: We still need your support! Please see your info packet or email from Tina Newman to sign up to donate food and/or volunteer during the sale. Thanks!
PTCA NEWS
Our November meeting will be on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Officer elections will be held; all board positions are open to interested parties for the following positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. PTCA is always looking for new faces and ideas! Hope to see you there.
Like us on Facebook for more information.
Student Council’s Scoop!
Our student council officers were recently able to volunteer to help package the boxes that will be shipped to our soldiers overseas. It was awesome to see where the letters we write go after we give them to Lisa Aubin. Each box contained many snacks, microwaveable meals, toiletries, and pictures and letters from Swift River School.
Don’t forget tomorrow is our first SPIRIT DAY!! Dress in your favorite Pajamas! If you can bring in any canned goods or non-perishable food items to donate to families who need them, it would be great! Be on the lookout for the lunch buddy table… coming soon!!!
November Dean’s Beans Orders
Due Tomorrow!!
Please have all orders in by 1:00 PM tomorrow, Friday, November 6. You may call in any last-minute orders to Nan Mead at 978-544-6926, ext. 220 or go to SRSdeansbeans.weebly.com to order online. Thanks for supporting our PTCA while enjoying delicious, organic, fair trade coffee and cocoa!
EF News
The children have enjoyed the special activities at the Enchanted Forest during Parent-Teacher Conference weeks. EF’s first Pumpkin Party was a huge success and we hope this will become an annual event. Tag games (both indoors and outdoors!) were fun, and the popular Egg Drop was a great science activity. Tomorrow Mez will lead the students in painting a mural to depict things you might find in an Enchanted Forest, which will hang in the EF room.
On Wednesday, November 18, Barb Haydocy will make squash muffins with the children in EF (we have butternut squash to use up!). This activity will begin right after the school day and end at 3:15 PM. A sign up sheet will be sent home soon; children regularly enrolled in EF on Wednesdays are automatically included in this activity.
EF billing is now available in paperless form! If you’d like to receive your EF invoices and statements by email, please fill out the green survey form sent home or email Betsy at [email protected]. Of course, you may continue to receive paper (hard copy) statements if you prefer.
Come join the fun!
EF Staff
Time to clean out your closets for our
Annual Kids’ Clothing Swap!
What: Bring winter clothing, coats, boots, gloves, et cetera that your family has outgrown, and hopefully find a bigger size!
When: December 8-11
Where: Swift River Library (at the same times as the Scholastic Book Fair)
Clean items may be dropped off in advance to Nan Mead at the School.
Donations are NOT required to participate; come and take what you need!
Library Lines
The Book Fair is coming! The Book Fair is coming! The Scholastic Book Fair will be in your Swift River Library from Tuesday, December 8 through Friday December 11. The hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:30 PM.
The Book Fair's past success was largely due to wonderful volunteers. A sign-up sheet will be sent home next week that includes times when I anticipate more help will be needed. Please consider helping with the Book Fair this year—it’s lots of fun!
The Book Fair offers a wonderful opportunity for holiday shopping, so mark your calendars! Teachers will also create a Classroom Wish List if you’d like to purchase a book for the classroom (hint: they make wonderful holiday gifts!).
We will participate in the Scholastic “All for Books” program again this year. Your donation (loose change or $1 would do) will enable children in our school to purchase books from the Book Fair who are unable to buy them otherwise. Scholastic also matches monetary donations received by donating books to two charities: the Kids In Need Foundation and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc! Thank you for your participation in this program!
Make time to read,
Betsy
Nurse’s Notes
The Community Health Center of Franklin County School Dental Program will visit Swift River School on Thursday, December 17!
Mark you calendars and check your child’s backpack on November 19 for a permission form to participate in this free dental program. They will provide the following services: dental screening, dental cleanings, placement of sealants, and fluoride varnish applications. These services will be provided by registered dental hygienists who work for the Community Health Center of Franklin County. Even if your child has a dentist, the School Program can be a great way to reinforce good hygiene habits.
Questions? Contact Nan Mead, R.N. by calling 978-544-6926, extension 220 or send an email to [email protected].
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
These announcements and events are not school-sponsored.
New Salem Library News
November is National Novel Writing Month!
Also known as NaNoWriMo, this is a worldwide event for people of all ages. Local teens are invited to come to the New Salem Library any Wednesday this month to work on their novel, get a free snack, talk to other teens who write, and learn some ways to overcome writer’s block.
Need a break from writing? Come play a Wii game, use a computer, meet some friends, and hang out with other people your own age.
Oh, and Pizza and Pages is on Wednesday, November 11 at 4:00 PM. We’re reading Magyk by Angie Sage. Free Pizza!
Every Wednesday from 1:30 to 5:30!
Music at Mount Holyoke College
Swift River,
This Sunday at Mount Holyoke College's Abbey Chapel, at 3:00 PM, I will perform with the 'Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble'. This is my second season singing as a bass with this professional-level group. One of the most peaceful, mystical, and soothing settings of the Requiem Mass, published in 1947 by French composer Maurice Durufle, is the centerpiece of our first concert of the season, 'Rest Eternal'. I invite everyone in our community to come out for a stunning performance you will not soon forget. Tickets are available online at http://www.illuminatiensemble.org/concerts.html, or at the door. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students, with limited supply.
Hope to see you there!
Michael Cortina
The New Salem-Wendell School District assures that all programs, activities, and employment opportunities are offered without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, economic status, homelessness, religion or sexual orientation.