PRINCIPAL COFFEE MONDAY, MARCH 16 (8:30-9:15)
Click on the events tab for more information.
PARCC ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE CHANGE:
Due to all the snow days, the state has granted an extension for PRACC administration. Testing dates will run from Monday, March 23rd through Monday, April 13th. Click on the events tab for more information.
INCOMING KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION:
This week we begin the Kindergarten Registration Process for families with children who will begin kindergarten in Sept. 2015. Click on the events tab for more information.
Important Dates….
- Friday March 13 (9:30-11:30 AM) is our second Kindergarten Screening date.
- June 2 (1:30-2:30 PM) Kindergarten classroom visits. Bring your child to visit with the Kindergarten teachers.
Please tell your neighbors and friends of children who are ready to register.
NEWS FROM OUR HEALTH OFFICE: MARCH IS BRAIN INJURY MONTH.
Skiing, snowboarding, basketball, swimming, football, cheerleading, bicycling, roller-blading, and even jumping on the bed are among the many activities youth engage in where there is a risk of brain injury.
Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth.
Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. Concussions can occur in any sport or recreation activity. All coaches, parents and students should know the signs and symptoms and what to do if a concussion occurs.
Symptoms of a concussion may include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Double or fuzzy vision
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Feeling sluggish or tired
- Confusion
- Trouble concentrating or remembering
Parents and caregivers may notice additional concussion symptoms:
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Forgets an instruction
- Moves clumsily
- Shows behavior or personality changes
- Is unsure of game, score or opponent
- Can’t recall events before or after hit or fall
(Read Nurse Heather Gagnon’s entire newsletter to learn more. Attached.)
Recess: Please continue to ensure your children dress appropriately with coats, hats, mittens, snow-pants and snow boots. I have a feeling we will need boots through the spring as the snow melts and the playground is wet and muddy. J
FREE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGH NewTV.
Joe Garozzo, the Director of Educational Media at NewTV will be running a free after school program on Tuesdays in March (3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th) from 12:30 – 2pm for interested students.
Students will learn how to storyboard, write scripts and use video cameras to create music videos and public service announcements, which will then be aired on NewTV’s Education Channel after the class is completed. Enrollment will be capped at 12 students and will beon a first come, first serve basis.
To sign up, please contact joeg@newtv.org.
UPCOMING PTO PROGRAMS:
We will need parent helpers for the upcoming PTO Programs at school:
- Kindergarten Program: Emile Boon, author and illustrator. Tues. 3/17
- Grade 4 Program: Rocks and Minerals, Discovery Museum, Tues. 3/17
- Grade 1 Program: Amelia Earhart of Historical Perspectives, Fri. 3/27
Interested parents please contact elainesmithpurcell@gmail.com to get more information and the schedule.
RAISNER’S GR. 2 COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT:
Mr. Raisner’s Class is raising money for their pen pal class in Costa Rica. The La Paz School students are making eco bricks to build garbage cans for trash and waste. Money will go towards buying cement, paint, and chicken wire to build walls. To learn more about ecobricks, please visit this website: www.ecobricks.org.
Please bring bottles and cans to Room 318 through March 28th. (See the attached flyer for details.
UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES PROGRAM
Understanding our Differences, a disabilities awareness curriculum, is delivered to all Newton students in grades 3-5 by parent volunteers. All Lincoln-Eliot parents, regardless of your child’s grade, are invited to participate in this dynamic program. In Spring, 2015 we will be delivering the following units:
At least six parents are needed on each of the following dates to help lead activities:
Grade 3 (Blindness): Monday, May 4, 2015 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Grade 4 (Intellectual Disabilities): Thursday, May 14, 2015 12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Grade 5 (Autism Spectrum Disorders): Friday, April 17, 2015 12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
There is a 2 hour time commitment on the day of the unit and 30-60 minutes to train for the unit at your convenience with on-line materials.
This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with our students in the classroom.
If you are interested in participating, please contact the L-E parent coordinators, Debbie Berechman, dberechman@gmail.com and Cathleen Morrison, ccanhc@gmail.com.
The School Committee would like to share the following announcement with our school communities:
The Newton School Committee will receive the proposed budget on March 13 and begin its review and discussion on March 16. We will be holding office hours on March 16 following our School Committee meeting which begins at 4:30; office hours will start at approximately 6:15 or 6:30 and end at approximately 7:15. The School Committee is eager to try this new format in order to provide you with another opportunity to provide feedback in addition to the other times for public comments. We welcome questions and input and stress that this will mainly be a listening format. We are not trying to solve problems or make promises but are there to listen to concerns, questions and suggestions.
The format will be:
- School Committee members, in teams of at least two, will be available in room 210 at the Ed Center (100 Walnut St.). The meeting will be an Open Meeting and may be televised by NewTV.
- This is a casual format. We will sit with individuals or groups and listen to concerns/questions about the budget.
- In order to facilitate as many individuals as possible, we’d like to meet with each person/group for approximately 10 minutes.
- The budget documents will be available in advance.
If you have questions, or would like to sign up in advance, please contact us at schoolcommittee@newton.k12.ma.us
NEWTON LITTLE LEAGUE…
Registration for the 2015 Spring Season is Open!
Newton Little League baseball is for boys and girls, ages 4 through 12. Beginners and advanced players- Everyone is placed on a team!
Register today at: www.NewtonLLBaseball.org