Notes from Mrs U…

PARENT CONFERENCES: Teachers are now holding spring parent conferences. If you have not yet scheduled a conference, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. 

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

 

UPCOMING PTO PROGRAMS:
We will need parent helpers for the upcoming PTO Programs at school:

  1. Kindergarten Program: Emile Boon, author and illustrator. Tues. 3/17
  2. Grade 4 Program: Rocks and Minerals, Discovery Museum, Tues. 3/17
  3. 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.

 

RAISENR’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 .

 

 

DONOR’S CHOOSE
Mr. Raisner, Grade 2
My Project: Interactive Projector
Total Project Cost: $1945.00

$1897.00 TO GO
Having an interactive projector will allow my students to use this technology as a tool for their learning. The work that’s projected on the board can be moved around and manipulated. For example, when learning about geometry, students will be able to transpose shapes on top of each other. Using an interactive projector is a 21st century skill for students.

Several upper grade classrooms have this technology available to them. Getting them used to it now will help them in the future. 

You can support Mr. Raisner’s Project by linking to:
http://www.donorschoose.org/raisner

  

COMMUNITY NEWS… 

MAYOR’S STEM NIGHT
DATE: MARCH 30, 2015
LOCATION: Newton North High School Cafeteria

About Mayor’s STEM Nights:
Mayor Setti D. Warren has started a new event series with local STEM industry businesses featuring an interactive, participatory experience to spark Newton students’ interest in STEM. These nights are a time for our students to get their hands on the latest technology, hear from local innovators and get excited about all that STEM has to offer. Each evening will be a partnership with a local business in the STEM field and will involve a speaking program as well as an interactive workshop for young people.

In partnership with the Newton Public Schools, we are committed to reaching out to our most vulnerable populations including young women, minorities and low-income children and families in an effort to help bridge the achievement gap. By partnering with STEM industry businesses, the “Mayor’s STEM Nights” will provide students with an exciting, hands-on experience that will demonstrate the practical application of STEM beyond the classroom and help to generate interest in the many opportunities STEM offers.  Local innovators will also share their own stories about how they became interested in the STEM disciplines, what led them to their current career paths and answer students’ questions.

Event Schedule:

6:00pm – Public begins to arrive and food is available buffet style

6:30pm – Speaking Program

  • Mayor Setti D. Warren
  • Superintendent David A. Fleishman
  • Employees of Featured Business
  • 7:00pm Workshop/Interactive Portion
  • 8:00pm   Wrap-Up and Conclusion of evening

Please contact Youth Services at youthservices@newtonma.gov with any questions.

(For more information, see the flyer in the flyer folder on the L-E website.)

 

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.

 

 

Boston Symphony Orchestra’s
DARTS SUMMER CAMP

2015 Days in the Arts Summer Camp 

The BSO’s popular overnight summer camp is now open for pre-application.  For more than four decades, the BSO has provided thousands of children throughout Massachusetts with an opportunity to participate in this multi-arts/creative writing overnight camp in the beautiful Berkshires.

Newton students currently in grades 5, 6, & 7 are eligible to participate in Week 6, JULY 27 – 31, 2015.  Only 15 students from Newton will be selected to participate by lottery.  Pre-applications with details about the program are available from the arts teachers in your school.

Pre-applications must be returned to the Fine Arts office no later than 4:00PM on Thursday, March 19th, Newton Public Schools, 100 Walnut Street, Newton, MA 02460. Pre-Applications Now Available

MARCH 19th DEADLINE, FOR PRE-APPLICATION LOTTERY

 Details and pre-application also available on the web

 http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/darts

 

 

Save the date for Spring into Swing
Jazz concert & reception featuring jazz vocalist Semenya McCord to benefit NPS Creative Arts & Sciences 2015–2016 programs.

April 10, 2015
7pm – 10pm
Newton South High School

Newton Public Schools’ Creative Arts & Sciences Concert Series performer, Semenya McCord, has been invited to present a very special concert for Newton parents, faculty, and friends. Limited tickets for this 21+ event go on sale February 23rd.

Look for flyers in February. For more information contact Stacey Moriarty at stacey_moriarty@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