Swift River

Important Dates

November 4: Dismissal at 1:10 PM  - Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 10: Science Fair

November 11: No School - Veterans Day

November 23-25: Thanksgiving Recess

NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Greetings,

Thank you to Grade 6 for the spooktacular Monster Dash and Spaghetti Supper. We had a fabulous turnout for this new event. The spaghetti supper served almost 175 meals and raised over $1000 towards the Grade 6 field trips to Nature’s Classroom and Boston. We greatly appreciate all the families and staff who volunteered and helped make this event so successful. The gymnasium was full of ghoulish activities for all ages. The Monster Dash had many participants in costume completing laps on the track, and students earned miles towards their 100 Mile Club goals during the event. Thank you to TEAM SRS for the classroom basket raffle. There was quite a competition between the baskets, and overall, the basket raffle raised over $1500 to be divvied up between the classroom field trip funds. A huge shout out goes to all of our SRS students, families, and friends who helped make this event a keeper!

If you haven’t heard yet, we are planning a trip for this year’s Grade 5 class to attend Nature’s Classroom at the Sargent’s Center in Hancock, NH in September, 2017.  Nature’s Classroom is a residential environmental educational program that brings science to life through exploration, inquiry, and discovery during scientific field investigations. Community building is encouraged by the unique setting, the facilities, and the staff, as Nature's Classroom expert instructors guide the way. After spending a week at Nature’s Classroom, living and learning together, students develop confidence in themselves and an appreciation for others to take home to their school community; they gain a powerful sense of connection with each other while discovering they can make a difference in the world. Swift River is very excited to offer this opportunity to our students. Please be on the lookout for fundraisers to help make this trip affordable for all of our families.

Watch for the SRS Soccer sign-ups to begin soon! Johanna Fitzgerald, Robyn Vitello, and I met yesterday to set the dates for the soccer program. The online Google sign-up will be on the school website by next week. Our hope is for soccer to begin with a skills assessment on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Teams will be formed and games will begin the following week through March 18, 2017. Johanna is looking for people interested in volunteering, coaching, and refereeing; you can indicate your interest on the Google sign-up. The fifth and sixth grade will fundraise each week at soccer games by selling baked goods, snacks, and lunch items. Donated baked goods are always appreciated! Please support both programs!

Woot, woot! The Science Fair is almost here! There has been a mad scramble for last minute sign ups for the Science Fair this week and I am thrilled. On Thursday, November 10, students will present their findings at our Annual Science Fair in the gymnasium. I know the students have worked diligently to solve their hypotheses and are looking forward to sharing what they have learned. I can’t wait! Also, the fifth and sixth grade students will have dinner and baked goods available for sale that evening to further their fundraising efforts. Please join us for an educational and fun-filled evening as we support the students of SRS.

Fondly,

 Kelley Sullivan

Dean’s Beans Coffee Fundraiser

Support TEAM SRS (formerly the PTCA) each month simply by purchasing coffee for your household! All Dean’s Beans coffees are certified organic, fair trade, kosher, and locally roasted in small batches in Orange.

Our next order is due tomorrow, November 4. Your coffee will be sent home with your child within two weeks of the order due date. Subsequent orders will be due on the first Friday of every month.

It’s very convenient to securely place your order online, at the Deans Beans Coffee website  (SRSdeansbeans.weebly.com) where you can pay via PayPal or credit card. Descriptions of the coffee can be found on the online form. Additionally, a paper order form will be sent home monthly that you can return to school with payment. If you have any questions, please email Jody Bird at [email protected].

SCIENCE FAIR

IS FAST APPROACHING!

Thank you to the students who have turned in their Science Fair sign-up forms. There are many great inventions underway! Please remember to send in your sign-up form by Monday, November 7. As I begin to assemble the evening program, I want to ensure that I have everyone’s names and project titles. If you need project guidance, a brainstorming session, or help getting started, attend a help session! There will be help sessions from 8:30-9:30 AM every Monday until the Science Fair. Remember to bring a note with you on the day you would like to attend a help session. If you have questions or want more information, contact Karyn Briand at 978-544-8427.

Time to clean out your closets for our

Annual Clothing Swap!

What: Bring outgrown winter clothing, coats, boots, gloves, et cetera and hopefully find larger sizes!

When: Tuesday, December 6-Friday, December 9

Where: Swift River School Library (during the same times as the Scholastic Book Fair)

Clean items may be dropped off in advance to Nan Mead at 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 6 through Friday December 9. 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 the help of wonderful volunteers. A sign-up sheet will be sent home next week that includes times that I anticipate more help will be needed. Please consider helping with the Book Fair this year—it’s lots of fun!

The Book Fair is 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 also make wonderful holiday gifts!)

Again this year we will participate in the Scholastic “All for Books” program. Your donation (loose change or $1) 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 from donating books to two charities: Kids In Need Foundation and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc! Thank you for your participation in this program!

Make time to read,

Betsy

T.E.A.M. SRS Update

A big thank you to everyone who cooked and helped out with Dinner Angels! The teachers greatly enjoyed all the wonderful food and treats during their long day of conferences! Thank you to Erin Baril, Kristen Bernard, Ashley Beauchesne, Karyn Briand, Amanda Brown, Melissa Burke, Sarah Cadran, Laura Feltman, Beth Haggerty, Hannah Hunting, Lisa Jenks, Dara and Todd LaPlante, Joanna Maiewski, Steph Parker, Amanda Piper, Natalie Reynolds, Rechel Rogalski, Deb Rolski, Elise Sluder, Gosia Spooner, Jodie Vezina, Heather Willey, and Michelle Wolfe. (Our sincere apologies if anyone was inadvertently left off this list!) If you brought something, your dishes are clean and ready to pick up from the bench by the office at your earliest convenience.

Everyone had a great time at Monster Dash--thank you to Danika Tyminski and the Grade 6 students for hosting such an awesome event! Thank you to all who supported our school by buying raffle tickets, Dean’s Beans coffee, and SRS tee shirts. Congratulations to the classroom basket raffle winners!

Things That Squish (Preschool) - Celia Baxter

Arts & Crafts (Kindergarten) - J T

Let’s Have A Party (Grade 1) - Barbara Wilson

We Can Build It! (Grade 2) - S M

Family Game Night (Grade 3) - Danika Tyminski

Chocolate (Grade 4) - Christine Morin

Rest & Relaxation (Grade 5) - G B

Anything Goes (Grade 6) - Shasta Slade

Kindle Fire (Library & Lab) - J B

Gift Cards! (The Learning Center) - A B

Dinner & A Movie (Office, Field Trips) - Danika Tyminski

Family Brunch (CNC, Community Network for Children) - L M

Running (100 Mile Club) - Silva Covel           

This year’s Supermarket Sweep will be held on Sunday, January 29 at Hannaford. Get your tickets now... only 150 will be sold for a chance to grab as many groceries as you can in 2 minutes! If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please email [email protected].

Come join us for the next TEAM SRS meeting on Thursday, November 17 at 6:30 PM in the Café. Childcare will be provided by the Mahar Key Club.

New Salem Library News

Wednesday, November 9 at 7:00 PM:  New Salem Public Library welcomes Peter Christoph who is presenting a narrated slideshow of his favorite bird photographs, all taken right here in Massachusetts.  The program is both entertaining and informative, as he shares both stories and the techniques he used to capture the images. 

Peter will also have the companion book BIRDS available, and will hold a book signing after the presentation. This program is supported by a grant from the new Salem Cultural Council a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Thursday, November 10, at 7:00 PM: Holiday Wreath Making Workshop with Kay Leonard. There is a 12 person limit for this event. To sign up and get information on materials and cost, please call Kay at 978-544-7645.

Sunday, November 13:  Yoga Vistas, an ancient practice in a modern time, will hold Series 1: "Mindfulness"

at The New Salem Public Library.  Join Darlene Reilly for this first in a series of discussions exploring culture, tradition, and society through the lens of mindfulness and the mind-body connection.

Series 2 date and topic are to be announced. This program is supported by a grant from the new Salem Cultural Council a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Wednesday, December 14: The Book Discussion Group's selection is "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN," by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  Books are now available at The New Salem Public Library.

The Central Massachusetts Children's Book Festival is a FREE event on Saturday, November 12 at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner. Over 20 local authors and illustrators will be present for book signings and discussion, plus hands-on activities for little ones up to aspiring authors!  A great selection of children’s books ranging from picture books to young adult novels will be available for purchase and signing by the authors and illustrators. There will be music and activities and don't forget our bake sale and lunch sold by The Gardner Ale House. It will be an fun-filled day for families and children! Please check backpacks for the flier that went home today!

The New Salem/Wendell School District assures that all programs, activities and employment opportunities are offered without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, economic status, homelessness, sexual orientation and physical or mental disability.