Volume 24, Issue 6 Thursday, November 13, 2014
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Greetings,
It sure has been busy at Swift River School through the fall. If you haven’t noticed when you enter the building, the lost and found has a variety of fleece jackets, wind breakers and sweatshirts hanging on the hooks. As a school community we make every effort to find the owners of the clothing; however, the clothing on the hooks are not labeled and we have been unsuccessful in making matches. If you are missing anything, please stop by and look. We will be sending this batch to a local charity during our Thanksgiving break in order to make room for the next season – winter coats! It would be really helpful if all clothing were labeled, please!
Please be sure your child is dressed for the weather with a warm jacket, hat and mittens/gloves. We will have outdoor recess everyday unless it is unbearable outside. Students also will be walking for the 100 Mile Club outside when they can and we want to make sure they are warm and have appropriate footwear. Larry and Walter will be plowing the track for us when the snow flies! That sounds like a possibility for tonight!
It amazes me that we are already at that time of year when we begin to reflect on what we are thankful for. I have many things to be thankful for, good health, close family, good friends, food on the table, and a supportive and caring school community. I want to thank everyone for making Swift River School such a welcoming and amazing place. I hope over the next few weeks everyone will have the opportunity to stop and reflect about those tiny moments that bring so much joy to each of us.
I would like to wish everyone a restful and warm Thanksgiving recess. Reminder: There is no school on Wednesday, 11/26!
Fondly,
Kelley Sullivan
SRS Guest Journalist
On October 30, 2014, the Creative Warriors (a.k.a the 5th Graders) had an amazing performance called Literature Alive. Literature Alive was a living museum of different characters from different books. The Creative Warriors dressed up as a character from a book that they chose and performed a 60 second summary about their character to whomever pressed their “on” buttons. Families, teachers, and preschool through 6th grade were invited to attend. The Creative Warriors were very responsible and they really got into being their character. Even if they were nervous, once they finished their performance, they were very proud of themselves! The Creative Warriors did a fantastic job on this project! Everyone had an awesome time!
by Caroline
5th Grade Journalist
DINNER ANGELS LEFTOVERS
Nooooo … none of that delicious food the angels brought to staff is leftover… just a few dishes and utensils looking for their owners! We have 1 large, oval, black & silver crock pot, 4 ladles (black, black & silver, red & black, white) and one large black plastic serving spoon, all waiting on the bench in the entry to be claimed by their owners. Pick it up yourself or call Christine Heard and we’ll send it home with your child, if possible.
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 9 through Friday December 12. The hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
The Book Fair's past success was largely due to wonderful volunteers. A sign-up sheet was sent home this 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 is a wonderful opportunity for holiday shopping, so mark your calendars! Teachers will create a Classroom Wish List if you’d like to purchase a book for the classroom (hint: they make wonderful holiday gifts!)
Next week in the library we will play "Library Bingo", which is a Bingo game using library terminology instead of numbers! The children hear clues, discuss the answer and mark their Bingo card if the correct word (or words) appears on it. An example: What is the small dictionary located in the back of a non-fiction book? Glossary. This has been a lot of fun and the game winners received a $1 "Book Fair Bucks" to spend at the upcoming Book Fair.
This year we will participate in the Scholastic “All for Books” program. Your donation (loose change or $1) will enable children in our school, who would otherwise be unable to participate, to purchase books from the Book Fair. And, Scholastic matches your monetary donations by donating books to two charities - Kids In Need Foundation and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc! The Swift River PTCA has made a generous donation to kick off our collection! Thank you for your participation in this program!
Make time to read,
Betsy
100 Mile Club
Children, staff and parents have been lapping our track in earnest and hitting the 25 mile mark! Congratulations to all for the laps you are running and walking.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
These announcements and events are not school sponsored.
Clear View Composting
Swift River School composts all its organic waste, including food scraps, paper towers and paper napkins with Clear View Composting in Orange. We are one of their biggest customers! Clear View is planning to expand their composting facilities and is using an unconventional “off-line” crowd-funding campaign to raise money. Backers can be reimbursed for about 80% of their contribution in the form of compost over the next 4-5 years. Interested? Contact Clear View Composting at PO Box 556, Orange, MA 01364 or call 978-544-4872 for more information.
A Celtic Nutcracker
The Celtic Heels Irish Dance Company present A Celtic Nutcracker on Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm at Bowker Auditorium at UMass Amherst. Tickets are available at www.ACelticNutcracker.com or at the door. Come see this amazing and lively show!
Mt. Wachusett Skiing & Boarding
Board or Ski Wachusett this winter and get a nice discount on a season’s pass. Mt. Wachusett is only 45 minutes east on RT 2, has a great variety of well groomed trails, and plenty of parking. It’s open for a long season, and consistently 7 days and 7 afternoon/evenings per week as long as it’s cold enough. My favorite pass is the Bronze pass – 7 afternoon/evenings and non-holiday/non weekend days. It costs $369, but even less, $249, if you buy through “Group Sales/GPS Club” at Wachusett.com. Type in “Shutesbury Board And Ski” and my name as Coordinator, “Susan Reyes,” on your form, and we’ll all get the discount as long as at least 4 people, including my family, buy through this "GPS club" before Nov 19. Call or email me with questions: 413-259-1658, [email protected]
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.