Volume 24, Issue 14 Thursday, April 9, 2015
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Greetings,
We have had a busy week here at Swift River. Parent teacher conferences began Wednesday, we have a PTCA meeting tonight, and we are finishing up our PARCC performance based assessments on Friday. The school is always hopping!
It has come to my attention that there seems to be some confusion around tardy students and what they need to do when they arrive at Swift River. No matter what the situation or time, all students must check in at the office when arriving late. By doing so, we will be able to record their attendance in the office, collect any bus notes, and inform the cafeteria of lunch changes. This will clear up any confusion in the future, especially when Nan is making her sick calls. The office staff really appreciate your cooperation with this necessary step.
In the next few days you will be receiving a survey through the Backpack Express about the Science Fair, and we hope that you will share your experience with us. Your feedback is really valuable and we will use it to guide our decision-making process in the coming months.
Now that the snow is clearing, I’d like to remind everyone that children are everywhere at Swift River. Please be very conscientious when driving through our parking lots. The speed limit is 5 mph in the lot and 20 mph on Wendell Road in the school zone. We notice that after hours, people are zipping by very quickly. We would like to encourage families to drive through the loop and park in the upper lot when coming to school. Thank you for working with us to make Swift River a safe place for everyone.
Fondly,
Kelley
Is it spring time yet?
Why is the ground still covered?
Snowdrops push through snow.
by Sarah
Creative Warriors Enjoy Biology!
Recently, the Creative Warriors of fifth grade had the opportunity to dissect owl pellets! As part of their Adaptations Unit, they dissected sterilized owl pellets. The students were given plastic gloves, trays, packets with identification sheets, tweezers, and small, wooden probes. They were then instructed to look at the surface of the pellet with a magnifying glass. “I think I have some sort of mammal,” said Cirdan while examining the surface of his pellet, “mine’s covered in fur.”
Once they began dissecting, amazing things kept popping up. The pupils uncovered oodles of bones. Students came to conclusions about what they had found. They found many different animals, including birds, rats, and voles. Students were given a second pellet to dissect, but some students only had time to complete their first pellet.
Once students returned from lunch, they packed up their bones or second pellets to take home. “I’ve never taught this before, but it was a great success!” said fifth grade teacher, Danika Tyminski. Everyone in fifth grade thought that it was an awesome project. The Creative Warriors truly enjoyed this fascinating study and we are hopeful that future classes will continue this operation, too!
SRS Guest Journalist
Cirdan
April Dean’s Beans Order
Dean’s Beans is a local, organic and fair trade coffee roasting company. Please use the attached form to order coffee or hot cocoa. All orders are due by Friday, April 10th. Contact Nan Mead at the school if you have any questions. Thank you for supporting our PTCA!
PTCA News
We are in full planning mode for our spring events! Come to tonight's meeting to find out what's in store for the end of the year and how you can help! The PTCA will be meeting Thursday, April 9th @ 6:30 in the library. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Free childcare is provided by the Mahar Key Club.
Please 'like" us on facebook @ SwiftRiverSchool PTCA
SCREEN FREE WEEK 2015
Screen Free Week 2015 is May 4th through 10th this year. Participation letters are going home today with all children. This is a great way to break the habit of using screens and it’s a great time of year to do it! If your family has not participated in the past, I urge you to give it a try: it is more fun than you think! See the attached Kids and Screens information for reasons to participate! Contact me at the school with any questions.
Nan Mead RN
Library Lines
Salem State College has announced the winner of the 2015 Massachusetts Children's Book Award (MCBA): The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine. The Lions of Little Rock is an historical fiction about segregation, and was a favorite at Swift River School. The new MCBA book list will be available next month and I will include a copy of the list in the Current as soon as I receive it.
April is National Poetry Month and we have many wonderful poetry books on display. I’m very excited about a new poetry project the 4th, 5th and 6th grade students have created. It’s called “Book Spine Poetry” and they have made poems using the spines of books! It was a lot of fun, a bit messy and very creative! There is an example shown below.
April vacation is a great time to read and to visit your local library. Many libraries have events planned during vacation week and offer free passes to area museums and attractions. This is also the perfect time to do some “spring cleaning” of books your children no longer use. Set them aside for the Swift River School book swap or donate them to a good cause.
Make time to read,
Betsy
100 Mile Club - Run4KidsMA
Sunday, May 31, 2015
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
at the Mahar Regional School Track
Run4KidsMA is a five hour opportunity for children, families, and friends to earn as many miles as they want! It’s a day where you and your child may run or walk for 100 Mile Club, meet new friends, experience a “real” track, and enjoy a fun day in celebration of fitness and wellness. Show up when you can, or stay all day. You may start and stop at any time, and arrive or leave at any time. It’s up to you; just don’t miss it!
Music, entertainment, food and prizes abound! The first 300 Run4KidsMA participants will receive a headband, and the first three hundred 100 Mile Club children will receive 100 Mile Club tags. Event participation is just $10 each, with a $40 family cap.
Parents may run/walk with their children, but we encourage parents and other adults to register and participate (just $10) to achieve their own goals, and help us raise valuable funds for our 100 Mile Club kids and schools.
Miles will be counted manually by volunteers. We will give children a bead for every lap completed to slide on a length of ribbon. Four laps equals one mile. We will happily give children as many ribbons as they need! The ribbon will be given at registration and should be held or worn for the duration of the event. You may start and stop whenever you want. At check out, we will count your miles and award tags with mileage. The beads are yours to keep!
When you check out, you will receive your tags with miles completed to take back to school for 100 Mile Club credit.
We have invited local area schools to join us for this blockbuster of a day - bring your friends and family - the more the merrier!
This event is a fundraiser for our 100 Mile Club, and a community service project for the Mahar Senators Girls Track and Field team. We are very happy these 40 athletes have joined us!
An event flier and registration form are attached to this Current. You can register online or fill out the form and return it to school. Please come out and enjoy this amazing day!
Swift River School’s Eighteenth Annual
WALK-A-THON Friday, May 1st!
Information packets, which include pledge sheets and volunteer forms, are being sent home with each child this week. Please gather pledges between now and May 1st to support the PTCA in buying the school new refrigerated drinking fountains! This is a fun day to volunteer at the school. Please contact Jodie Vezina at 978-846-9712 if you have any questions.
The Enchanted Forest News
If you plan to enroll your child in The Enchanted Forest after school program during Parent-Teacher conferences, please call Ariel (978-544-6926) to verify that there is space available. We have special activities planned each day that run from 1:10 - 3:15 PM. The fee is $10 for each activity. Your child may stay until 5:30 PM for an additional fee of $8.
Friday April 10: Bread shapes
Wednesday April 15: Baked potatoes
Friday April 17: Egg drop
Children may also come to EF during your conference time; the fee is $5 per hour. Please call ahead to make sure there is space available on a specific day.
We plan to have a 3 week gardening session with Christine Heard on Wednesday afternoons. Dates will be determined once the snow disappears!
REMINDER
When you have a telephone number change, please let us know immediately. Telephone numbers are quickly dispersed to the appropriate personnel and updated in our emergency forms, nurse’s records and Parent Reach program.
RECYCLING FUNDRAISER
Please help to protect the environment by donating your used and unwanted cell phones and ink jet cartridges. We do not accept laser printer toner cartridges. Your used item(s) may be tax deductible and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations. 100% of the proceeds will help fund our school.
Please drop off any items you would like to recycle at the drop box on the bench in the front entrance of the school.
We greatly appreciate your support!
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
These announcements and events are not school sponsored.
WENDELL SCHOLARSHIPS
Help Minds Grow!
The Wendell Scholarship Committee has established a new scholarship for Wendell students: Dollars for Wendell Scholars. Students who live in Wendell can apply by completing the short and easy application. Applications for the scholarship are available at local high schools and at the Wendell Free Library. They must be returned to the address below by April 30th.
Our first annual fundraiser was initiated with a mailing to all Wendell residents in February. Donations may be made to Dollars for Wendell Scholars, P.O. Box 232, Wendell, MA 01379 with checks payable to Dollars for Wendell Scholars. Or go to our crowdfunding site: http://www.youcaring.com/dollarsforwendellscholars. Please help us support Wendell residents seeking post-secondary education at college, university, or technical school).
For more information call or email Carolyn Manley at 978-544-7028 ([email protected])
or Kate Woodward at 978-544-3630 (k[email protected]).
New Salem Teen and Tween News
All this month- Art with Amy! Come take an art class with a professional artist. Wednesdays at 3:00 pm. Please call to register. All materials will be provided.
May 5th is Pizza and Pages. We’re reading The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielson. Read the book and then join us for a discussion and PIZZA! We’ll have plenty of copies of the book available at the library.
Swift River and Mahar students can take the bus to the library! Mahar students must call the library at 978-544-6334 and make arrangements ahead of time. Swift River students only need a bus note.
New Salem and Wendell
WiredWest Broadband News
Please join us at one of the upcoming meetings to learn about WiredWest and broadband Internet. Our Broadband Committee members and Jim Drawe, who is Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee and Treasurer of WiredWest, will be present to answer any questions you may have about this project. Refreshments will be available.
The New Salem Broadband Committee invites residents to come to their meeting on Wednesday, April 15 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Swift River School.
The Wendell Broadband Committee invites residents to come to their meeting on Thursday, April 16, from 7:00-9:30pm at the Town Hall, 6 Center Street in Wendell Center.
The project has websites to visit for more details: www.newsalem-massachusetts.org , http://www.wendellmass.us/index.php/broadband-committee.html , and www.wiredwest.net.
We need everyone to show support by pre-registering as soon as possible.
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.