Shutesbury

PUBLICATION INFORMATION – Please submit any submissions for the Community section to:  [email protected] by Wednesdays at 1:00.  Online attachments must be compressed (less than 500KB) and in PDF format.  Hard copies (65) must be submitted by Thursdays at 1:00.  Call x100 with any questions.

DATES TO REMEMBER

February 27, 2015

Dear SES Moose,

It was wonderful to have a full and complete week back at school! Students and staff are busy learning as we make our way into March! I certainly hope March goes out like a lamb, as we are all longing for milder temperatures and hints of spring.

In March, grades 3-6 will take the PARCC tests. Below, please find a detailed schedule of testing. This schedule was created in order to give students a break in between testing sessions and to ensure consistency in testing content. On February 24^th, I held an informational meeting at school regarding PARCC. If you would like more information or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I would like to publically acknowledge and commend SES 3^rd grader, Arin Andrews for his incredible passion, hard work and success in his first musical directing endeavor! Arin and his troupe of amazing SES students will perform his adaption of “The Wizard of Oz” at 2:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday the 27^th! Arin (and his wonderful mom, Corinne) have spent months working with students to create this memorable show. For your enjoyment, and to see the names of our student stars, we have included the program in this Roadtown edition!

Looking ahead, I want to remind families that Union 38 will have a curriculum day on Friday, March 13. Students will not attend school on that day.

Happy March to you all!

Jackie Mendonsa, Principal

***SCHOOL NEWS***

NOTE ABOUT CHECKS MADE OUT TO SES:  The only ink color our bank will accept is blue or black.  Although beautiful, please refrain from using red and fancy inks as they don’t scan in the scanning machines. 

Also, please write checks out to Town of Shutesbury, noting the SES program you are writing the check for and your child’s name in the memo line.  There is no account titled SES or Shutesbury Elementary School at our bank so they aren’t going to accept SES or Shutesbury Elementary School checks anymore.  All checks should read Town of Shutesbury.  It’s understandable that people want to write it out to the school, but the school is an entity that belongs to the town and doesn’t have an FID on its own.

Thank you for your attention to this very important matter!

MCBA BOOKS IN ACTION PARTY!

            The school librarians from Shutesbury, Leverett,  and Swift River have planned a terrific evening event, Books in Action, to celebrate 4^th- 6^th graders’ participation in the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award. Each year a new list of 25 books is chosen by librarians and teachers from Salem State College.  Children in grades 4-6 throughout the state are encouraged to read at least five of the books.  Children who read five of the selected books may vote in March for their favorite. The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award winner is announced in April. Many of our readers have enjoyed the books, and some have even read ALL 25!  

The celebration for those students who have read five or more MCBA books is on Friday, March 6^th at Leverett Elementary School from 5:45-8:30 p.m. The children will be divided into groups and will go through a series of events based on this year’s MCBA books. Please be sure to sign and return your child’s permission slip by 3/1!

            We are looking forward to this celebration of reading and know it will be a lot of fun for all the children….and the adults! Please contact Heather Lobenstine, SES librarian, if you have questions, need another permission slip, or would like to volunteer:  [email protected].

Please keep bus lane clear:  Families dropping off children between 8:15 and 8:45am or picking up between 3:00 and 3:20pm should not be using the lane closest to the school.  This lane is reserved for buses only and driving through the buses or vans poses a serious risk of physical harm to students exiting or boarding the buses.  Please drop children off in the back lot or park and walk your children in to or out of school, exiting the parking lot on the side where cars are parked.  Thank you!

Nora!

JM: What do you love about SES?

NS: I really like the swings on the playground. I also really like how my classroom is set up. I like how our meeting area is—instead of sitting on the floor we sit on benches. I also like the teachers here because they are really nice.

JM: What do you like to do in your spare time?

NS: Well, afterschool I like to play outside. Sometimes I play with my brothers. During choice time in school I like to draw and talk with my friends.

JM: What do you want to be when you grow up?

NS: I want to work at a zoo or an aquarium so I can work with animals. I may also want to be a dance teacher.