Leverett

DECEMBER 11, 2015

Monday, December 14
            School Council Meeting- 3:30pm
            Winter Chorus Concert- 7:00pm
Friday, December 18
            All School Assembly- 2:15
            (featuring Preschool)
Thursday, December 24-Friday , January 1
            Holiday Recess- NO SCHOOL 

~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

I have some friends who I greatly enjoy hiking and biking with, and over the years we have had a running joke about the many times when we have gotten off course. There have been sixty-mile bike excursions that have ended up being ninety miles and a bit of unintended bush-whacking. But we can still laugh about these episodes, reciting our standard line, “We’re never lost, just misplaced.”

There are many times in the school day when the intended path goes in a slightly different direction. This calls for a fair amount of flexibility, which is often more challenging for adults than for children. If a teacher has a particular lesson planned, and several children are absent, changing the plan is often necessary. Likewise, if children are struggling with a particular concept a one-day lesson may stretch into two or three days. Last winter’s snow days threw a monkey wrench into teacher’s plans many, many times.

 Sometimes, interactions between children also go in directions that are not anticipated. As friendships change over the years, children can feel baffled and hurt that someone who was previously their ‘BFF’ now feels drawn to someone else. It is our job as educators to help them navigate that path, so that they understand that the friendship may have changed, but isn’t truly lost.

The same can be said of the academic journey. Children may start from the same trailhead, but they arrive at goals at different times and via many different (“differentiated”) routes. There are smooth trails and bumpy ones, and just like hiking trails, there are times that the journey is exhilarating and fun, and times that it is frustrating and boring.  As parents and teachers, our job is to make sure that they are safe and supported on the way.

Speaking of being misplaced, we have LOTS of misplaced clothing in our Lost and Found. The Lost and Found is now located in our Parent/Community Room just inside the main entrance. During the December break, we will be cleaning out the Lost and Found, and sending any unclaimed clothing to Goodwill. Please be sure to check for missing items before December 23rd.

It is said that all the technology in the world can’t replicate human empathy and emotion. Certainly, there is no GPS system for the work we do at LES to help our students find their way!                                                                                       - Margot Lacey

One Person’s Trash is a Kindergartener’s Treasure!

Kindergarten is in need of a few everyday items we would like to repurpose for some upcoming science projects!  We are interested in collecting plastic individual size soda bottles (or bottles of a similar shape), small funnels, pingpong balls, and scrap fabric ribbon. If you have any of these items we would be happy to put them to good use! Thank you for your help!   

                                                            -Amanda King

Now that colder weather has arrived, please send your child/children to school dressed warmly for outdoor recess. This includes wearing socks, closed-toe shoes, and a heavier jacket. 

If your family is having financial difficulty keeping up with the clothing needs of growing children, the Kimball Trust Fund is available to help you buy basic winter clothing for your children.  The Fund was established in 1909 by Catherine Kimball to help purchase warm clothing for low-income Leverett families with children under the age of 18. Please contact Nurse Jill at 548-9144 ext. 3 to apply for financial assistance through the Kimball Trust to purchase winter clothing and boots for school aged Leverett children. 

Instrumental Music

The second trimester of instrumental music lessons will begin the week of December 14.  Brian Bender offers private and group instruction (available to students in grades 3-6) on piano, trumpet, trombone, flute, clarinet, saxophone, drums, recorder, and world percussion.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact him at [email protected].  Please register by Friday, December 11.   Kate can send a registration form by email or home from school with your child

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

(Items listed here are not school sponsored)

 Make ​& Take Craft Day: Montague Common Hall, Saturday, December 12, 9am-2pm. People of all ages can make and take home lovely gifts, enjoy homemade breakfast and lunch, and weather permitting, hang out by the outdoor fire pit. This year’s crafts include: 

• Colored beeswax candles with unique wrappers
• Jewelry
• Lavender sachets
• Spin art
• Glass refrigerator magnets
• Shrinky Dinks for zipper pulls
• Window charms
• And more

Admission is free.  Crafts cost between 1-10 tickets to make; tickets are $1 each or 25 for $20.

The Montague Common Hall, (formerly the Grange), is a community resource that houses the Historical Society, yoga classes, dances, concerts, weddings, birthday parties, theater rehearsals, workshops, and much more. Your gift-making at the Annual Make-and-Take Craft Fair helps raise funds that help maintain and restore this historic Hall -­ and you can have fun, avoid holiday shopping, and eat treats all at the same time. The Hall is located at 34 Main Street in Montague Center across from the town common. 

Visit montaguecommonhall.org for more information.

I'm looking for a young person who could help with shoveling this winter - I have a plow service but, due to a neck injury, will likely need some help shoveling out my car, walkway, and mailbox - location is Long Plain Road between Montague Road and Long Hill Road.  If you like being outside in the winter and want to earn some cash, this could be the job for you!  Please call Lisa at 548-9691 if interested.

Free Guinea Pig + supplies (cage, house, water bottle, food dispenser, etc....).  He's about 3 years old, healthy. Needs a new family who can offer him more time and attention.  His current family is distracted by a new, crazy dog. If interested call Sarah (413) 540-3839