Leverett

MARCH 4, 2016
Friday, March 4- TONIGHT
            MCBA MASH UP Books in Action Party
            5:45 @ Shutesbury Elementary
Monday, March 7
            School Committee Meeting- 6:00 pm
Friday, March 25
            LES Afterschool and Summer Programs surveys due
Saturday, March 26
            LES & SES Mullins Center Skate Day- 2:45pm
Tuesday, March 29 
            All School Concert & Art Show- 6:00pm

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IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE

Charting a Course and Saving a Monkey 

Included in this Friday Post is a three-part survey. This survey has a series of questions about current and potential programs here at LES: the Afterschool Program, a possible Afterschool Enrichment Program, and the LES Summer Program. Parent feedback is very important is helping to strengthen, continue, or change any of these programs. Even if your child does not currently participate in these programs, please fill out the survey, which gives us information about other activities that we might provide in the future.

Many parents are familiar with the current Afterschool Program. Over the past year, I have gotten feedback about the strengths and needs of this program, and have shared them with Mike DeRosa, the program director. This survey asked for more definitive information and seeks input from everyone whose children have participated, or who might like to participate, in Afterschool. We’re always looking at ways to make Afterschool a really happy place for every child.

The responses for the Afterschool Enrichment Program will help to determine whether we will build a program for next year, and what might be offered. Please feel free to add ideas or comments. We’ve made sure that there is a space for that!

Lastly, we are trying to decide whether to have a Summer Camp program this year. If enough families are interested, we will hire a new director for the program. But this is also an opportunity to reshape the program. We need to hear from you because a decision must be made by early April.

This survey can be submitted either electronically or through the paper version (one per person, please!).  To access it electronically, go to the LES website, where you will find it prominently under “Upcoming Events.” The deadline for submitted surveys is Friday, March 25^th.

And, just in case you’re wondering about the monkey business…Thank you to Marta Mozelle MacRostie and Company for a wonderful puppetry performance of “Help Save the Monkey.” The monkey did get saved, and there were great lessons about taking risks and caring for each other. Marta also presented a theatre workshop for the fifth graders, which was a terrific prelude to the annual fifth grade play. Thank you to the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Leverett Cultural Council for making these events possible.

I look forward to lots of great ideas coming from those surveys. Thanks for your input and your help!

                                                            -Margot Lacey

 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

The third trimester of instrumental music lessons begins next week, March 8 & 9.  The registration form is attached and should be returned by Monday, March 7.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

(Items listed here are not school sponsored)

LEVERETT DEMOCRATS TO ELECT DELEGATES TO STATE CONVENTION

Registered Democrats in Leverett will be holding a caucus at the Leverett Library on Sunday, March 13 at 2pm to elect 2 delegates and 2 alternates to the 2016 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to adopt a new Action Agenda. The Convention will be held on Saturday, June 4^th at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. 

The Leverett Historical Society & Leverett Cemetery Association present:

History in Stone

A Slide Show presentation by Dawn Marvin Ward

Sunday  March 6, 2016   2 p.m.  at Leverett Library

Family and local history have been preserved in special places that many don’t think to visit for historical purposes. Cemeteries are filled with local information and artwork while they last.  Preservation of gravestones and recording the information they have engraved on them is valuable as another way to preserve our local history.

Do you know how many cemeteries are in your town, where they are, what condition they are in and what you can learn from them of your local past?

Join along on a slide show “visit” of the cemeteries of Leverett and see what history can be gleaned from them, and HOW to find further history from a headstone.

This program is funded by Leverett Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

CHESS CLUB @ LES

Tuesdays,  March 8- April 5

After School, 3:00-4:15pm

$50 per child.  First session is free!

This club will start from square one.  Everyone can join.  If you are an expert or a beginner, come check it out.  Learn the real rules and how to use all of your pieces.  Study famous games and discover strategies to improve your play.

The club concludes with a chess tournament with medals for all participants.

Contact Andrew Freiedman for more information: [email protected] or 413-549-0060

The Happy Valley Children’s Chorus will be putting on  “Make Way for Ducklings: A Musical” this spring.  We are seeking young singers ages 4-10 to work together on this classic story and bring it to the public in a new format.  Rehearsals will be Mondays, 4-5:00 PM, March 7th through May9th, at the First Congregational Church of Amherst at 165 Main Street. Contact director Dorothy Cresswell at [email protected] for more information or to register your child.