|
What’s Up @ G&P March 2010
If you would like this document translated please contact the Bilingual/ELA Department at ?617-349-6468. NOTE: Announcements are authored and proofread by each individual contributor.
If you have a question or comment please contact the contributor directly using the contact info listed in the announcement. Thank you! Judy Amendola, Family Coordinator, 617-349-6577 jamendola@cpsd.us ______________________________________________________________________
A Note from Sarah Fiarman February 22, 2010
Dear Families,
As you know, Superintendent Jeff Young has recommended to the School Committee that Cambridge convert some of its K–8 elementary schools to grades K–5, keep other elementary schools as K–8s, and establish a grades 6–8 middle school for approximately 450 students. Superintendent Young has asked for feedback from each school council. The Steering Committee has developed an online survey to collect input from as many G&P families as possible. It only takes a few minutes to answer the questions.
I hope you have received an email from G&P with this link to the survey: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGlrbHEteTB6ZlZFQXM4MUVycU54dnc6MA.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY AS SOON AS YOU CAN, AND NO LATER THAN MONDAY MARCH 1ST. Each parent/guardian in a household may take the survey. Your answers are completely anonymous, that is, they will be received with no name or email address attached to them.
Families that do not have e-mail should have received a paper copy of the survey to fill out and return to the office. If you have questions or would like the survey to be translated into your native language, please call 617-349-6577.
Your opinion matters! Please take a few minutes to share your views. And please come to the community meeting on March 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the G&P library for a full discussion of the superintendent’s proposal and how it might impact G&P and the Cambridge Public Schools.
Thank you,
Sarah Fiarman & the G&P Steering Committee
p.s. Many, many thanks to Judy Weiss for countless hours of developing and revising the survey questions and format. Thanks also to the parents who piloted the survey as we worked within a very tight timeline in order to accommodate the superintendent’s request to get input from our whole community.
IMPORTANT: HIRING COMMITTEE RESPONSE FORM > > > > scroll to end
(Staff retirement announcements are on page 4)
____________________________________________________________________________________
MARCH
• Monday, March 1, - 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the G&P Library - A full discussion of the superintendent’s proposal and how it might impact G&P and the Cambridge Public Schools - Childcare & pizza will be provided. PLEASE call for childcare reservations. For details - see “Other”.
• Monday March 1 - Friday, March 5 – DAFFODIL SALES to benefit the American Cancer Society. See School Secretary Barbara Gaul in the Main Office to place an order. $10 per bunch of 10 stems.
• Thursday, March 4 - SUMMER CAMP INFO NIGHT - 6:30 to 8:00 pm. CRLS MAIN CAFETERIA For details see “Other”.
• Tuesday, March 9 - EARLY RELEASE DAY - Dismissal at 12:25 pm.
• Tuesday, March 9 - Friends of Graham & Parks Meeting - 8:30 am - lobby or conference room. ?All welcome!
• Wednesday, March 10 - Hiring Committee Response Forms due back to main lobby, RED drop box.
• Wednesday, March 10 - Staff Appreciation Luncheon - 11 am to 1 pm. Please bring food ?donations to the lobby well before 11 am. Look for a flyer with donation requests and sign up for volunteer tasks in backpack express and on gp21 and gp-announce. This is a great big community thank you to our super staff!
• Thursday March 11 - Vision & Hearing Screenings
• Sunday, March 14 - Daylight Savings Time begins.
• Tuesday March 16 - Vision & Hearing Screening
• Wednesday, March 17 - NO SCHOOL - St. Patrick’s Day Holiday
• Thursday, March 18 - Vision & Hearing Screening
• Thursday, March 18 - Steering Committee Meeting - 6 to 8 pm – in the first floor conference room.?All welcome. Childcare by reservation. Call Judy at 617-349-6577 x115 or email jamendola@cpsd.us
• Thursday March 18 - April 9 - MCAS testing - English Language - Grades 3 through 8
• Tuesday, March 23 - Vision & Hearing Screening
• Wednesday, March 24 - Vision & Hearing Screening
• Thursday March 25 - Vision & Hearing Screening
• Thursday, March 25 - Junior High Holocaust Resister & Rescuer Monologues –? 6 to 8:30 pm in classrooms.
• Friday, March 26 - K-2 Concert - 8:45 am in the auditorium. Parents are invited.
• Friday, March 26 - Green Streets Walk/Ride Day – For details - see “Other”.
MARCH FIELD TRIPS
• Friday, March 5 - Grade 1, 2 - Rm. 103 to Boston Symphony Orchestra?
Grade 7/8 to Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Friday, March 12 - Grade 6 - Room 212 to Biogen, 9 am to 1 pm
• Monday, March 15 - Grade 6 - Room 217 to MFA 9 am to 1 pm
• Friday, March 19 - Grade 6 - Room 212 to MFA, 9 am to 1 pm?
Grade 6 - Room 217 to Biogen, 9 am to 1 pm
_________________________________________________________________________________
Looking Ahead
• Friday April 2 – NO SCHOOL – Good Friday Holiday
• Thursday April 15 – Steering Committee Meeting – 6 to 8 pm - in the Conference Room. Open to all.? Childcare by reservation. Call Judy at 617-349-6577 x115 or email jamendola@cpsd.us
• Friday April 19 through Friday April 23 – NO SCHOOL - APRIL VACATION WEEK
• Monday April 26 – Welcome Back to School!
• Upcoming Music Concerts:
All concerts will start at 8:45 am in the auditorium. Parents are invited. Friday, May 21 - Grade 3-4 Concert. The Grade 5-8 Spring Concert: TBA. Contact: Music Specialist Debbie Sullivan, debsullivan@cpsd.us or 617-349-6577 x118
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Days for the balance of the school year: April 30, May 28, and June 25.
• REMEMBER to check the CPSD calendar for important citywide school dates such as vacations, graduations, last day of school, weather related closures, etc. Go to www.cpsd.us
______________________________________________________________________?
Other
• A meeting for Graham & Parks families: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT’S MIDDLE GRADES PROPOSAL? Monday, March 1, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. - G&P Library - Please join your fellow G&P parents for a meeting at which Sarah Fiarman and the rest of the Steering Committee will:
1. report on the results of the G&P parent & teacher survey on Superintendent Jeff Young’s middle school proposal;
2. seek further input from G&P parents so that the Steering Committee can fully represent the views of our community to the superintendent and the School Committee.
Pizza will be served and child care provided.
For child care, contact Barbara Gaul AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, by calling the office at
617-349-6577 or e-mailing bgaul@cpsd.us.
Questions? Contact Lace Campbell at lace@beyondthefourthwall.com; Linda Lipkin at llipkin@aol.com; or Dan Penrice at dpenrice@verizon.net or 617-868-2373
• Dear Families and Staff - As of February 22, 2010, three staff members have submitted their intent to retire after the 2009-2010 school year. They are Linda Fobes (grades 1/ 2), Judy Richards (grades 3 / 4 looping) and Ken Singleton (physical education). We congratulate them on their retirement and thank them for all the years they have devoted to the children of Cambridge. We are beginning the process of seeking parent and staff volunteers to serve on Resume Screening Committees and Interview Committees for these positions. Page 5 of this newsletter is a form for Hiring Committee Volunteers, which includes both Resume Screening and Interview. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the form and return it to the RED drop box in the main lobby by Wednedsay, March 10th.
• Camp Information Night – Thursday, March 4, 6:30 to 8 pm in the CRLS Main Cafeteria, 459 Broadway. (Snow date is Thursday, March 11). Come meet the representatives for Cambridge Community School camps and other private and public camps, including programs for children with disabilities. Parking is available in the school garage. For more info, call Roslyn Shoy at 617-349-6227. If a G&P parent who is attending would be kind enough to collect information from the camp vendors for our resource table, the entire community will be appreciative and will benefit! Thank you!!! Please call Judy at 617-349-6577 x115, jamendola@cpsd.us
• Summer Camp Scholarships – There are scholarships available for low-income families at several excellent Cambridge camps, public and private – IF and ONLY IF you apply now. Some families never request scholarships because they do not have the funds to submit an application. Our Camp Outreach Committee has worked to make some funds available for scholarship applications to these camps. If you are a low-income family, interested in camp this summer for your child, please contact Yolette Ibokette or (617 349-6577 x107, yibokette@cpsd.us or Judy Amendola 617-349-6577 x115, jamendola@cpsd.us)
• G&P Camp Scholarship Fund: If you can make a donation to the Camp Outreach Scholarship Fund, please write a check to Friends of Graham & Parks, and be sure to put Camp Scholarship Fund in the memo. Any amount is appreciated. Donations can be left in the “Friends” mailbox in the Main Office.
• Update on classroom and school-wide Haiti Relief initiatives: Thank you to everyone who contributed to the penny drive! Our book sale is just winding down. Across time, families will continue to hear more about classroom and school-wide efforts as students collect funds for relief work in Haiti, and research relief organizations to determine where to direct funds.
• Thank you to all of the G&P parents, students and staff who helped make our Secret Valentine fundraiser such a huge success. Everyone loved receiving his or her flowers and candy. Special thanks to the parents who donated candy and helped Ellen arrange the flowers after school. The Yearbook Committee will make a donation from this fundraiser to Haiti’s Hurricane Relief Fund.
• G&P T-shirts On Sale Again! G&P t-shirts will be on sale the last Friday of the month (same as Green Streets Walk to School Day) until the end of the school year from 2:15 to 2:45 in the front lobby. If you want to buy a shirt but can’t make it in contact Kate at kate.andres@gmail.com or 617-864-1005.
• Our Book Fair is coming in May! Chairperson and volunteers needed! If you are interested please contact librarian Ann Niederkorn at aniederkorn@cpsd.us or call 617-349-6577 x233.
• Community School’s “Spring Fling” – Thursday April 8 at 6 pm in the auditorium. Children in the Enrichment Program will be performing fencing, Kung Fu, gymnastics, drama and the French and Spanish classes will be giving a presentation. Queries? Contact Mary Ellen Breen at 617-349-6267. mabreen@cambridgema.gov
• The annual “RecycleCraze” inter-school paper and cardboard recycling competition has begun! It recognizes the top two schools w/the greatest paper and cardboard recycling rate per student, and winning schools receive a trophy, citywide publicity and bragging rights. Honorable Mention Awards will be given to recognize extra efforts made by teachers, classes, custodians, etc.
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Day: Friday March 26. Give the family car and the planet a break when you walk, ride, T, bus or carpool on the next Green Streets Cambridge Walk/Ride Day. Wear green or show our Walk/Ride day hand stamp to get discounts from dozens of local merchants. For details please visit www.gogreenstreets.org. To help out with hand stamping contact Bob Cowherd cowherd@alum.mit.edu. Thank you for walking and riding! Green Streets Walk/Ride Days for the balance of the school year: April 30, May 28 and June 25.?
_______________________________________________________
Art Room News from Ms. Thompson
Our thanks to parent Nina Schwarzschild for compiling and editing the news.
Kindergarten: Ms. Thompson is working with the kindergarten classes on an art project connecting to Black History Month for February. They are working on a technique of coloring the surface of paper with oil pastels and then crunching up the paper. They have discussed the Drinking Gourd and how slaves followed the Drinking Gourd to freedom; the paper represents the sky. The project involves a combination of painting and collage and turning the paper into a textured surface.
Grades 1 and 2: Ms. Thompson is working the 1st and 2nd graders on a soft sculpture project. They are building up armatures and adding paper to the armatures. They are creating a combination of soft sculpture and puppets.
Grades 3 and 4: Ms. Thompson is working with the 3rd and 4th grades on environmental design. They are using pencils for drawing and combining with painting. They are looking at David Hockney’s aerial view paintings. They will turn these into three-dimensional environmental designs.
Grade 5: Grade 5 made super hero characters. Now they are teaming up as groups of 2 or 3 students and are making a short comic book with their characters interacting together. They are telling a story visually and adding in written phrases as well.
Grade 6: Ms. Thompson is working with the 6th graders on weavings with designs in the center.
7th Grade: The 7th graders are glazing three-dimensional sculptures of a bust with represents them.
8th Grade: The 8th graders are making masks with a cultural connection or making other kinds of three-dimensional papier-mâché with a personal expression.
Watercolor Impressions by students in Judith Richards and Marie Philomene Joseph's class lead by Karen Thompson, art teacher are now on display outside the superintendent's office. An interdisciplinary art and literacy project inspired by the African-American children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney. The exhibit will be on display until the end of the month. Many students have watercolor painting on display. Many students have a watercolor painting on display.
__________________________________________________________________________
Junior High News
Junior High events are generally publicized directly from the classrooms via the weekly syllabi. Please contact Team Leader Chris Rettig at crettig@cpsd.us for any info you do not see listed here.
___________________________________________________________________________
• CRLS Athletics has been approved to have 8th Graders play on the following Spring Teams: Freshman-Baseball, Freshman-Softball, B/G-JV Track, and B/G-JV-Lacrosse. Any 8th grade student interested in trying out for one of the teams can get a letter, parent consent and physical forms on line at www.cpsd.us/crls/athletics or from the CRLS display in the Jr. High area of G&P. Questions? Contact Maryann Cappello, Program Leader for Athletics, 617-349-6691.
• Thursday, March 25 – Junior High Holocaust Resister and Rescuer Monologues –
6 to 8:30 pm in classrooms.
• Jr. High Staff/Parent meetings are the first Thursday morning of every month, 7:30 am in
Steve Barkin’s Rm. 215
• Volunteer wanted to maintain two Jr. High Postings Areas in the hallway Linnaean Street side. Contact Judy at jamendola@cpsd.us
• Planning for Graduation Celebrations – Early spring is a great time to plan for graduation celebrations and traditions. Please contact Judy Amendola if you are interested in volunteering.
jamendola@cpsd.us or 617-349-6577 x115.
• Do you want to receive the CRLS Newsletter? Go to www.cpsd.us/crls - the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School home page; sign up box is on the left side.
___________________________________________________________
News from the Music Department
• Upcoming Music Concerts: All concerts will start at 8:45 am, in the auditorium. Parents are invited. Friday, March 26 - K-2 Concert. Friday, May 21 - Grade 3-4 Concert . Date for the Grade 5-8 Spring Concert: TBA. Contact: Music Specialist Debbie Sullivan - debsullivan@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x118
• Music Concert Volunteers Wanted! To help with logistics, advertising and decorating. Contact Debbie Sullivan for more details debsullivan@cpsd.us) 617 349-6577 x118
• Five singers from Graham and Park were chosen to be in the MMEA Junior District Chorus. These students worked hard to learn the audition piece and should be congratulated for their hard work! They will perform at the Lincoln/Sudbury High School on the afternoon of March 6. Contact Debbie Sullivan if you need more details debsullivan@cpsd.us) 617 349-6577 x 118
• Responses from the G&P music survey of last November/December are available at http://web.mit.edu/kpierce/www/.gpmusic/survey_responses.html Judy Amendola also has a hard copy available in her office.? There were 116 completed surveys, of which 45 were on paper and 71 were sent from the web. Thanks to all who participated! The responses have been a help to Debbie Sullivan in planning for the spring and for next year. They have also served as a springboard for discussions about possible adjustments to the G&P music program. Feel free to send comments about the survey responses, or about the G&P music program more generally, to Debbie Sullivan, the instrumental music teachers (Patrick Wroge, Murray Tripp, and Dr. Kathy Kim), or the music Room Parents (Mea Hilton and Ken Pierce).
______________________________________________________________________________
2/26/2010
RE: HIRING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS
Dear Families,
Due to retirements we have a 3rd grade and a 1 /2 teaching positions which we need to fill. We need folks for our Interview and Resume Screening Committees. If you can volunteer for either, please reply immediately. (Please see form on back). Please put completed form in the RED BOX in the front lobby.
The RESUME SCREENING COMMITTEE
What's required: Attend a mandatory information meeting March 15, 2:30 to 3:30 pm.??Time to read and rank all the resumes between March 18 and 19th.
The INTERVIEW COMMITTEE
What's required: Availability to come in a full hour before interviews to read the resumes of the candidates to be interviewed.
Availability for one full school day, or until all candidates have been interviewed and ranked. Interviews will be held the week of March 29th.
SELECTION of COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Members will be selected during the week of March 10th.
Volunteers selected for committees will be contacted by a Steering Committee member.
Thank you,
The Steering Committee
OVER for the HIRING COMMITTEE RESPONSE FORM >>>
HIRING COMMITTEE RESPONSE FORM - Parent/Guardian
I am volunteering to help fill the following position:
Grade 1 /2 Teaching Position _______
Grade 3 Teaching Position _______
RESPONSE DEADLINE Friday March 10 ?Return forms to RED DROP BOX in the front lobby.
______ Resume Screening Committee
and/or
_______Interview Committee
_______ I am available to serve on summer hiring committees.
Your Name: ______________________________________________
Grade(s) of your children: ____________________________________________
Phone number: _____________________________________________
Email: _____________________________________________
Voluntary Affirmative Action Information
To ensure representation of people of color on the committees, one volunteer will be chosen from all volunteers who self-identity as people of color. Sharing this information is totally optional:
Person of color: Yes ____ No ____
Distributed 2/26/2010 for staffing in SY2010 – 2011
What’s Up @ G&P, February 2010
If you would like this document translated please contact the Bilingual/ELA Department
at 617-349-6468. NOTE: Announcements are authored and proofread by each individual contributor.
If you have a question or comment please contact the contributor directly using the contact info listed in the announcement.
Judy Amendola, Family Coordinator, 617-349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
______________________________________________________________________________
A Note from Sarah Fiarman January 22, 2010
Dear Families,
The recent earthquake in Haiti continues to affect all of us. In my observations these past few days at school, the earthquake has vividly highlighted the value of our multicultural staff and student body and the important role the Sheltered English Immersion program plays in our community.
In class discussions of the news, students quickly turned to what they could do to help. Similarly, emails on the staff listserv (as well as the parent listserv) focused on how people could give, and conversations among adults in the hallways centered around how we could support our Haitian students whose lives at home were in limbo as they waited for news from family in Haiti.
During the week of the earthquake, our Creole-speaking teachers formed a Haitian Student Support Group to provide a space for students to talk to others who were in emotional limbo. Meanwhile, students across classrooms clamored for opportunities to help. On Thursday, the 5th-8th grade members of the Haitian Student Support Group asked to lead a campaign to raise money for organizations working on relief efforts. They told teachers and administrators that they knew their classmates wanted to help – and they were right. Representatives from this group were met with an enthusiastic response from classes of students wanting opportunities to take action to help our neighboring country.
Many of the leaders of the campaign are recent Sheltered English Immersion class graduates, who, after only a short while in this country, have integrated into mainstream classrooms. They came to a meeting on Friday with posters, fundraising ideas, and a confidence in this school community’s compassion and commitment to being active members of a global neighborhood.
I know many students, teachers, and families at Graham and Parks felt the closeness of our international neighbors in particular this past week. Our school’s diverse international community – a rich asset in an increasingly interconnected global community -- will help us continue to feel this connection throughout the year.
Warmly,
Sarah Fiarman
P.S. You’ll hear more information about the students’ campaign to raise money soon.
______________________________________________________________________
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Tuesday, February 2 – PARENT COUNCIL MEETING ON SCHOOL CLIMATE – see “Other” for details.
• Tuesday, February 2 – Superintendent Jeff Young is scheduled to make an announcement of the future of Middle Grades in Cambridge.
________________________________________________________________________
February
• Tuesday, February 2nd – Grades JK to 4 – Dental Education
• Tuesday, February 2nd – Parent Council Meeting – 5:30 - 7 p.m. - see “Other” for details.
• Friday, February 5 and Feb. 12– GR JK to 4 Dental Screening
• Friday, February 5 – Jr. High Secret Valentine Orders due – see “Other” for details.
• Tuesday, February 9 – Friends of Graham & Parks Meeting – 8:30 a.m. in the front lobby or conference room – all welcome. Contact Arlene Holtzman at aholtzman@comcast.net
617-354-1780
• Thursday, February 25 - Steering Committee Meeting – 6 – 8 p.m. (Note NEW TIME) 1st floor conference room. All invited. Childcare by reservation – call Judy at 617 349-6577 x115 or jamendola@cpsd.us
• Monday February 15 – 19 - NO SCHOOL - VACATION WEEK
• Monday, February 22 – First day back to school
• Wednesday, February 24 – Parent Workshop – Children’s Use of Online Social Network Tools –
7 – 9 p.m. in the Library, second floor. Announcements by email and flyer coming home soon. More details in “Other”.
• Friday, February 26th – Friends of G&P Movie Night – save the date! (detail in “Other”)
________________________________________________________________________
Remaining days in January
• Wednesday, Jan. 27 - RSTA 8th Grade Tech Expo, 6 PM CRLS Main Cafeteria at the Main Campus, 459 Broadway. This event is a great way to get to know all about the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) program at CRLS. The Tech Expo is for the parents of 8th graders who have an interest in the RSTA program. Students are welcome. Call Dr. Mike Ananis, Director 617-349-RSTA (7782)
• Friday 29 January – Green Streets Walk/Ride Day –Kendall Square Ice Rink will be offering Free Hot Chocolate to everyone who Wears Green and Goes Green. The Rink is near the Kendall Square T stop and a short walk from East Cambridge. It's open until 9pm on Friday evenings.
• Saturday, January 30 – LAST DAY to REGISTER for 1st Cycle School Registration!
Registration takes place at the Family Resource Center, Jan. 4 – 30, 15 Upton Street, 617 349-6551
_______________________________________________________________________
Looking Ahead – Mark your new calendars!
(Further detail to come closer to events).
• Music Concerts – volunteers wanted to help with logistics, advertising and decorating.
Concerts will be held on – March 19 K-2, April 13 Gr. 5-7 instrumental/choral,
May 21 Grade 3-4. All concerts will start at 8:45, parents are invited. Contact: Music Specialist Debbie Sullivan debsullivan@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x118
• REMEMBER to check the CPSD citywide calendar on the web –
www.cpsd.us or www.cpsd.us/gap for vacations, graduation week, last day of school, start of school in fall 2010, etc.
____________________________________________________________________
Other
• REMINDER – RE: Classroom and schoolwide Haiti Relief initiatives. Across time, families will be hearing more about classroom and school wide efforts as students collect funds for relief work in Haiti, and research relief organizations to determine where to direct the funds.
• FYI to all: For any of you who know Haitians in the Boston area who need Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has set up the following sessions for free legal service this week:
AILA has organized two days of free help for any Haitians wanting to apply for TPS. They are this Friday and Saturday, from 10:00 to 5:00 at the Haitian Multi Service Center, which is located at 185 Colombia Road in Dorchester. The website for the Haitian Multi-Service Center can be found at www.ccab.org
• PARENT COUNCIL MEETING ON SCHOOL CLIMATE. The Parent Council will hold a meeting on the topic "School Climate at Graham & Parks: The Child-Centered Perspective" on Tuesday evening, February 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the G&P Library. How does your child perceive—and feel about—the social climate at Graham & Parks? Do expectations for behavior seem consistent across the school and throughout the school day? Does your child understand what these expectations are? Do you as a parent? Do expectations and reality match? Do you ever feel that you or your child needs help with these issues? Following up on a recent Steering Committee discussion, this meeting will explore these and related issues. We will also discuss re-launching the Parent Council for 2010, exploring topics the Parent Council can work on this year and seeking parent help in organizing meetings. Questions? Ideas? Contact Owen Andrews at owenandrews@verizon.net or Dan Penrice at dpenrice@verizon.net or 617-868-2373.
• An evening session for parents about children's use of online social network tools
When and where: 7:00 - 9:00p.m., Wednesday February 24th, 2010. Graham and Parks library.
Who is invited: Parents and staff
Presenters/discussion leaders: Melody Brazo and Annaclaire Diiani-Miller.
Melody Brazo is a Graham and Parks parent, and a social justice and diversity educator, working in schools, community and religious organizations. She works to dismantle prejudice by examining issues of race, class, gender, equity and access so that organizations can respond more effectively to the needs of their employees, as well as the communities they serve. Ms. Brazo is an accomplished facilitator with more than thirty years of experience designing and delivering training in a wide variety of settings in the public and private sectors.
Annaclaire Diiani-Miller is a Graham and Parks graduate. She recently made the interesting decision to shut down her Facebook account. She and a friend created 2faced.org, a website for girls aged approximately 12-16. It's a blog, an advice column, a webzine - and more. Annaclaire will be able to give us a teenager's perspective on both the power and the pitfalls of online social networking.
Meeting goal: Have each parent leave the meeting with:
(1) positive examples of use of online social networking tools
(2) ideas for their families' guidelines around use of online social networking, and how to monitor and interact with their kids online.
(3) what to do when you observe online bullying or other inappropriate behavior amongst the kids.
• SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS – There are scholarships available for low-income families at several excellent Cambridge private camps - IF and only if you apply now. Some families never apply or request scholarships because they do not have the funds to submit an application. If you are a low-income family, interested in camp this summer for your child, please contact our Camp Outreach committee (Yolette Ibokette and Judy Amendola). The committee has worked to make some funds available for scholarship applications to these camps. jamendola@cpsd.us 617 349-6577 x115 yibokette@cpsd.us yolette Ibokette 617 349-6577 x107 (please be prepared to leave a voice message). If you can make a donation to the Camp Outreach Scholarship Fund, please write a check to Friends of Graham & Parks, and be sure to put Camp Scholarship Fund in the memo. Any amount is appreciated. Donations can be left “Friends” mailbox in the Main Office. Thank you!
• THANK you to the Steering Committee writing team! Our thanks to Linda Lipkin, Sarah Manz, Dan Penrice and Sarah Fiarman for their time, thoughtfulness and expertise. This group crafted the letter from the G&P Steering Committee to the Superintendent regarding the future of Middle Grades in Cambridge, which was emailed to parents on Sunday January 17. If you have not seen it and would like a copy please contact Judy at 617 349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
• REMINDER and UPDATE about our MORNING ROUTINE before the first bell.
> All the children are greeted at the door every morning between 7:45 and 8:15 by Sarah and
sometimes Barry.
> From 7:30am until 8:15am, Valerie, our breakfast and lunch aide, supervises students in the cafeteria (another teacher joins her at 8:00am).
> Starting at 7:45, Sally, the instructional assistant in Room 111, pumps up the music and leads lap-walking in the gym.
> Starting at 8:00, two teachers lead interested students outside to play in the playground.
> 7th and 8th graders can use the computer lab 8:00 to 8:15 to print out homework.
> At 8:15, the first bell rings, and all students report to classrooms.
• SECRET VALENTINE FUNDRAISER: Treat your sweetie to candy or flowers when you buy your Secret Valentine from the 8TH GRADE YEARBOOK COMMITTEE. This is a FUNDRAISER for the CLASS of 2010 and is OPEN TO GRADES 6-8 ONLY. All you have to do is fill out an ORDER FORM and return it to Ellen Gaies, ROOM 218. ORDERS DUE by FRIDAY, FEB. 5. You can pick up an order form in Ellen's room, outside of the junior high classrooms and next to the 6th grade classrooms. Candy and flowers will be delivered to students in their classrooms on Feb. 11. If you want to buy an order for a sibling of an upper grade student, contact Ellen to make a special arrangement for delivery. Thank you for your support.
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Day: Friday 26 February. Give the family car and the planet a break when you walk, ride, T, bus, or carpool on the next Green Streets Cambridge Walk/Ride Day. Wear green or show your Walk/Ride day hand stamp to get discounts from dozens of local merchants. For details please visit <www.gogreenstreets.org>. To help out with hand stamping contact Bob Cowherd (Lucy 3-222, Cooper 4-223) <cowherd@alum.mit.edu>. Thank you for walking and riding!
• MOVIE NIGHT!!! Friends of Graham & Parks has set a date of Friday, Feb. 26th for a MOVIE NIGHT!!! Mark your calendars! Rumor has it that The Wizard of Oz. will be shown. Proceeds will benefit classrooms via Friends of Graham & Parks. Look for posters soon! Contact - Alec McKinney (Father of Casey - 7th, and Riley - 2nd) Home Phone: 617-661-1156, E-mail: amckinney@jsi.com
• Thank you to the many families who so generously replied to the recent annual appeal from the Friends of Graham and Parks. When you give money to the Friends of G & P, you make it possible for teachers to implement exciting projects or field trips they might not otherwise afford to do. It's not too late to participate. We greatly appreciate your support.
What’s Up @ G&P, January 2010
If you would like this document translated please contact the Bilingual/ELA Department
at 617-349-6468
NOTE: Announcements are authored and proofread by each individual contributor. If you have a question or comment please contact the contributor directly using the contact info listed in the announcement.
Judy Amendola, Family Coordinator, 617-349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
A Note from Sarah Fiarman December 21, 2009
Dear Families,
December has been a month full of culminating events for classes. Morning concerts, evening science exhibits, family breakfasts, class field trips, and many finished products deck the halls and exhibit cases of the school – all showcasing student learning. It’s great to see students’ pride in their work and the teachers’ joy in their students’ accomplishments. Through accomplishments like these, children gain the confidence they need to face the next challenge.
So, as the year winds to a close, I invite everyone to reflect on this past year with some of the questions we ask our students. What did you learn from your work? What would you do differently next time? What surprised you? When/If you got stuck, how did you help yourself get unstuck? What is one way that someone else helped you? How will you use what you’ve learned to face the challenges coming up in the new year?
I wish everyone a restful and reflective vacation and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!
Warmly,
Sarah
________________________________________________________________________
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Steering Committee Election Results
• Introducing New Newsletter and Flyer Distribution System
________________________________________________________________________
January
• Monday, January 4 - First Day back at school!
• Sunday, January 10 – K Outreach and pizza supper – 5 – 6 p.m. at Jefferson Park Community Room – open to anyone interested in enrolling a K Child for SY2010 – 11. For more info, contact Judy at 617 349-6577 x115 or jamendola@cpsd.us
• Monday, January 11 - Winter Enrichment Program. Starts at 2:25p.m.
• Monday, January 18 – NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Thursday, January 21 –Steering Committee Meeting – Welcome to our new Steering Committee Members! (See more in “Other”). Childcare by appointment, contact Judy at 617 349-6577 x115. jamendola@cpsd.us
• Friday 29 January – Green Streets Walk/Ride Day
• Saturday, January 30 – LAST DAY to REGISTER for 1st Cycle School Registration!
Registration takes place at the Family Resource Center, Jan. 4 – 30,
15 Upton Street, 617 349-6551
JANUARY FIELD TRIPS and Class Breakfasts as of 11/17/2009
Any changes or additions to this list will come directly from classroom teachers. Questions can be addressed directly to your classroom teacher.
• Wednesday, January 6 – Jr. High to New Cambridge Public Library (a.m.)
• Thursday, January 7 – Jr. High to New Cambridge Public Library, 9:45-11:30a.m.
• Tuesday, January 12 – 8th grade visits High School, Freshman Campus, 8:45-11:00a.m.
• Wednesday, January 20 – CRLS 8th Grade Parent Orientation @ Broadway, 6p.m.
________________________________________________________________________
Looking Ahead – Mark your new calendars!
(Further detail to come closer to events).
• G&P February Secret Valentine Fundraiser that takes place in mid February. Mark your calendar for secret valentine purchases. More from Ellen Gaies next month.
• Monday February 15 – 19 February Vacation Week
• REMEMBER to check the CPSD citywide calendar on the web –
www.cpsd.us or www.cpsd.us/gap for vacations, graduation week, last day of school, start of school in fall 2010, etc.
______________________________________________________________________
Other
• Volunteer Needed! A volunteer who plays violin, viola, or cello, to help with tuning in a large strings class at the Graham and Parks School. This person would help the teacher tune the instruments of 22 students. Please help us out if you have half an hour on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings you can spare. The classes are from 9:10-9:55 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thanks. Please contact – Judy at 617 349-6577 x115 or jamendola@cpsd.us
• Volunteer needed for Thursday morning music class between 8:25-9:10am. Musical ability helpful but not necessary! Please contact Debbie Sullivan, Music Specialist by e-mail at debsullivan@cpsd.us or at 617-349-6577 x118
• SCHOOL REGISTRATION DEADLINES for SY2010-2011: If you have a younger sibling you are thinking of sending to Kindergarten next year, BE SURE to REGISTER YOUR CHILD for SCHOOL at the Family Resource Center by January 30, 2010, in order to keep your sibling preference status.
• New Distribution Method! Be in the know! Starting in January we will be changing the way we send home information with students. Newsletters and flyers distributed through the main office will be sent home with the youngest child in each family only. This will reduce our copies by more than 30%! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at (617) 349-6577 ext.100.
Spring season of All City Chorus: If you have students who love to sing, please encourage them to come. The All City Chorus is open to students in grade 4-8. The new season starts on Jan 14. I am almost positive that All City chorus DOES NOT conflict with basketball, coming up soon. Susan Holm, Teacher-In-Charge, Visual and Performing Arts, Cambridge Public Schools, sholm@cpsd.us
• Steering Committee Elections Results: The new Steering Committee of 2010 will meet Thursday, January 21st (This is a change from a date published previously). Thank you to all who ran for Steering Committee for 2010!
__________________________________
We welcome new Parent Steering Committee Member
Adam Mitchell - 617-864-6362 amitchell@c7a.com
and returning members
Lace Campbell - 617- 441-2863, Lace@BeyondtheFourthWall.com
Linda Lipkin - 617-547-3288, llipkin@aol.com
Maryann Matyas - 617- 945-5462, ma.matyas@comcast.net
Dan Penrice - 617-868-2373, dpenrice@verizon.net
____________________________________
Staff Steering Committee Members for 2010
We welcome new Staff Steering Committee Member
Anne Smith - 617 349-6577, asmith@cpsd.ujs
And returning members
Claudie Jean-Baptiste - 617 349-6577, cbaptiste@cpsd.us
Rebecca Figueroa - 617 349-6577, rfigueroa@cpsd.us
Sarah Manz - 617 349-6577, smanz@cpsd.us
Beth Noe - 617 349-6577, bnoe@cpsd.us
Our thanks to Linda Fobes, who will be stepping down, for her time and thoughtful contributions to this committee.
Congratulations to all!
• Parent Meeting on School Climate & Bullying. The Parent Council will hold a meeting early in the new year on the topics of school climate and bullying. Please watch your e-mail and/or your child’s backpack for details about date and time. Parents interested in helping to develop the agenda for this meeting should please contact Dan Penrice at dpenrice@verizon.net or 617-868-2373; or Owen Andrews at owenandrews@verizon.net or 617-461-9671.
• Wrapping Paper Awards! The Friends of Graham & Parks will be taking winners of the Wrapping Paper Sale on the Chinese Buffet Lunch and doing prize distributions sometime in January. Friends will contact the winners with the day, date and time. PARENTS of winners: Please be sure to sign and return the permission slips going home. Also alert us of any food allergies or other medical concerns using the form on the back side of the page. Thank you and congratulations!
Chinese Buffet Lunch with Principal Sarah Fiarman
Christina Giraldo-Marin, room 212
Violet Michel, room 212
Klara Ingersoll, room 217
Even St Pierre, room 212
Lizzie Downing, room 212
Christian Lessage, room 224
Charlotte Eccles, room 212
Wrapping Paper Sale questions may be addressed to Roger Michel at 617-864-4147 rm@banjo.tv; Ariadne Valsamis 617-876-1499 ariadneval@gmail.com;
Eneida Pardo 617-661-9811 ehpardo@yahoo.com
• Our Summer Camp Committee continues to raise funds to help families apply for camp EARLY, when the scholarships are available. If you’d like to make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION, please write a check to Friends of Graham & Parks, and be sure to write “Summer Camp Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off in the main office into the Friends of G&P mail box w/green trim. Thank you! Judy Amendola at jamendola@cpsd.us and Yolette Ibokette yibokette@cpsd.us
• H1N1 FLU CLINIC: Saturday. January 9th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the War Memorial building, 1640 Cambridge Street. Free H1N1 clinic for Cambridge residents and workers up to the age of 24; pregnant women; parents or caregivers of infants under 6 months old; and adults ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions. Depending on vaccine supply, additional target groups may be eligible. For the most current updates, call the health department's recorded FluLine at 617-665-3855 or go to www.cambridgepublichealth.org.
• Do you want to know what’s going on at CRLS?
Join the new CRLS Parent E-mail Newsletter. To register go to the CRLS website at www.cpsd.us/crls and enter your e-mail address. Getting the newsletter will help you become more familiar with the school and help you learn more about all the great things happening at CRLS. For more information call Greta Hardina at the CRLS parent liaison at 617-817-6833.
• Winter Enrichment Program is starting on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 2:25p.m. in the Community Center. Offering various classes of enrichment. Thursday Piano will have an opening from 5:30-6:00p.m. Contact Mary Ellen Breen at 617-349-6267.
• Congratulations to G&P Students, Sofia Kaufman, Sophie Lipkin and Rosa Munson Blatt from Room 225, all of whom are in the cast of True Grace: Holiday Memoirs; A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote and The Loudest Voice by Grace Paley. If you haven’t already taken advantage of Underground Railway Theatre’s special pricing for CPSD students, it’s not too late. The performance runs through December 27th. Children $8, Adults $20. To book use discount code CPS at CentralSquareTheatre.org or 866-811-4111.
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Day: Friday 29 January. Give the family car and the planet a break when you walk, ride, T, bus, or carpool on the next Green Streets Cambridge Walk/Ride Day. Wear green or show your Walk/Ride day hand stamp to get discounts from dozens of local merchants. For details please visit . To help out with hand stamping contact Bob Cowherd (Lucy 3-222, Cooper 4-223) . Thank you for walking and riding!
• "Sharing the Warmth"- Thank you for your generosity. Your support and participation in helping keep our community warm and nourished is greatly appreciated! “Sharing the Warmth” program helps us address student needs throughout the year by donating coats, boots, mittens/gloves, hats and giftcards (ex. Shaw's, AJ Wright, Target, CVS, etc.). We encourage folks to continue to donate both clean, gently used items and/or brand new items. These items will be stored safely at our school and distributed as needed to children and parents of Graham and Parks families. Our hope is to honor and protect each family's privacy while also helping families to care for themselves and their children. You can continue to drop these items off at the main office and/or rm #120, Karen Haglund's room. Questions can be addressed to Karen Haglund, School Social Worker at khaglund@cpsd.us. OR Jennifer Lang, M.S.W. Intern jlang@cpsd.us
• Preparing for the MCAS. Title I Program presents four opportunities for parents to receive MCAS information. Cambridge Public School parents are invited to attend! Each information session runs from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
January 7th
Amigos/ King School
100 Putnam Ave.
January 21st
King Open School
850 Cambridge St.
January 13th
Peabody School
70 Rindge Ave.
January 26th
Fletcher-Maynard Academy
225 Windsor St.
• Receive handouts to see what previous tests looked like.
• See test result samples that show what is considered “in need of improvement”, “proficient”, or “failing”.
• Learn what you can do to help your child.
*Pizza provided 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
You can register by:
1. Calling 617-349-6492 (Title I office); or by
2. E-mailing msavilonis@cpsd.us
For info contact MaryAnn Savilonis, Title I Family Liaison at 617-349-6492.
• LOCAL SLEDDING SPOTS:
1. Danahey Park, Fresh Pond, Cambridge - the hill just behind the Fresh Pond Shopping Center off Rt. 2.
2. Skyline Park, Arlington Heights
Mass Ave. - left on Park St., Left just before the water tower at the top of the hill, go 1/2 way around tower, then left. Beautiful sunset/twilight views of Boston are a plus here!
3. Belmont Country Club - Mt. Auburn Street, bear right as you pass Mt. Auburn Cemetery/Shaws/Star onto Trapello Road. Hill is on left as you enter Cushing Sq.,Belmont.
• SLEDDING SAFETY: Taken from Parenting Magazine:
o Use Proper Gear: When your child is old enough to steer, use a sled with a steering mechanism and no sharp edges. For extra safety, strap on a multi-sport helmet over a cap.
o Fly Right: Kids should sit upright with their feet forward - laying headfirst ups the risk of head and abdominal injuries. Don’t let too many people pile on - check labels for maximum sled capacity.
o SUPERVISE - If a run has too many trees or bottoms onto a rocky area, a pond or a road, go elsewhere. Mind the mercury: Changing temperatures can make snow more slippery and drastically increase speeds.
• January 1st is Haiti’s Independence Day - Squash soup plays an important symbolic role in Haitian History. On Jan. 1st, 1804, slaves in Haiti became the only black nation in history to fight and gain their independence. During slavery, slaves were not allowed to eat squash, as it was considered a most expensive and special vegetable. On Jan. 1st, the former slaves cooked up squash soup as a culinary symbol of freedom. It is the Haitian tradition to eat squash soup in January to remember the bravery of Haitian ancestors.
• CAUTION: A REMINDER to families to talk with their children about the dangers of walking on frozen rivers, lakes, etc. The water in the Charles River and MOST local waterways is never frozen enough to risk walking on. It appears to be frozen. However, the water beneath the thin ice is moving. Also, warm waters are emptied into the river. Make sure your children know not to walk out on ice covered rivers or lakes.
What’s Up @ G&P, December 2009
If you would like this document translated please contact the Bilingual/ELA Department at 617-349-6468
NOTE: Announcements are authored and proofread by each individual contributor. If you have a question or comment please contact the contributor directly using the contact info listed in the announcement.
Judy Amendola, Family Coordinator, 617-349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
A Note from Sarah Fiarman November 20, 2009
Dear Families,
One morning in November, forty school and district leaders from outside Cambridge visited our school to learn a process called “instructional rounds.” They visited classrooms and then talked about what exactly they saw teachers doing and what they saw students doing in response. The process is modeled after medical rounds in the medical profession, and it’s an effort to build a sense of shared practice among educators. For several years before coming to Graham and Parks, I taught educators this process, and starting in January, our faculty will begin professional development that includes peer observation.
Teams of teachers will delve into specific areas of teaching in order to refine their practice and improve children’s learning. Faculty members will collaborate to determine the focus of the inquiry, methods for observing colleagues, action steps to take, and the means of measuring progress. We expect to learn about our practice and to strengthen the collaboration already in place at the school. This openness to learning is what has historically made Graham and Parks an incubator for innovation. It may also be what the visitor from South Africa meant on that November morning when, after visiting classrooms and meeting a few of the teachers, he grasped my arm and repeated several times, “This is a very special school.” I agree!
Warmly,
Sarah
P.S. If you want to read more about the instructional rounds process, I’ll unabashedly recommend a book I co-authored: Instructional Rounds in Education: A Network Approach to Improving Teaching and Learning.
________________________________________________________________________
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Steering Committee Election Updates
• Wrapping Paper Sale Winners
• Sibling Survey Deadline Friday Dec. 4 (located on back of Kindergarten Registration Flyer sent home on Tuesday, Nov. 24th)
______________________________________________________________________________
December
• Auditions for the Spring Play will be in December ~ Look for the announcement about which musical we will do as well as how to sign up for auditions in the front lobby in December.
• Tuesday, December 1, at 8 p.m. – G&P Art Council Meeting – Longy School of Music, Dalcroze Room, which is in the basement. See “Other” for more detail.
• Wednesday, December 2nd – Steering Committee Ballots are distributed via back pack.
Ballots can be returned to the drop box in the front lobby until end of day on
Wednesday, December 9th.
• Friday, Dec. 4 – Sibling Survey due back to home room teachers. If you have a younger sibling you are thinking of sending to Kindergarten next year, please BE CERTAIN to complete and return this survey by Friday, Dec. 4th. (The Sibling Survey is located on back of Kindergarten Registration Flyer sent home on Tuesday, Nov. 24th).
• Tuesday, December 8th - STATE SPECIAL ELECTION for Senate seat – G&P is a polling place. Please be sure to allow extra time to park and get into the school. Please keep wheelchair access areas clear.
• Wednesday, December 9 – Steering Committee Ballot Box Closes.
• Wednesday, December 9 – Friends of Graham & Parks Fundraising Meeting –
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. in the front lobby. All welcome!
• Between Monday Dec.14 and no later than Wednesday, Dec. 16. Steering Committee Election Results announced.
• Tuesday December 15 – Grade 6 – 8. Choral and Instrumental Music Concert – starting at 8:45 a.m. - in the Auditorium. Parents of children who are performing are invited.
• Thursday, December 17 – Steering Committee Meeting – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – All invited. Childcare available by advance reservation – jamendola@cpsd.us or 617-349-6577 x115.
• Friday, December 18 – Green Streets Walk/Ride Day. Details at www.gogreenstreets.org
• Monday, December 21 at 8:45 am - Folk and Renaissance Dance Presentation Grades 3 and 4 - in the gym. Parents invited to attend!
• Thursday December 24 through Sunday, January 3rd. NO SCHOOL - Winter Break –
back to school on Monday, January 4th.
DECEMBER FIELD TRIPS and Class Breakfasts as of 11/17/2009
Any changes or additions to this list will come directly from classroom teachers. Questions can be addressed directly to your classroom teacher.
• Thursday December 3: Rooms 106 and 111; Field trip to Harvard's Peabody Museum for the "From Igloo to Adobe" class and exploration of the Native American exhibit. 9:00-12:00
• Thursday, December 10 – Room 222 – Roald Dahl Class Breakfast 8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
• Friday December 18: Room 111: Family Potluck Breakfast, 8:15-9:15. Come and celebrate our learning about maps, North America and different Native American groups from the past to the present.
• Friday December 18th, K 101 and K 104 Family Breakfast - 8:15-9:15 a.m.
Room 101 and 104 Families should go to their individual room. As a culminating event to celebrate our unit on Myself and Others with an emphasis on Friendship and Feelings, K 101 and K 104 teachers and students invite all the families on Friday December 11th from 8:15-9:15 to come and share each other's company and take a look at the children's activities for this unit.~ We hope to see all the families represented. For more information contact Claudie Jean-Baptiste at cbaptiste@cpsd.us for K101 and Alexandra Doorly at adoorly@cpsd.us for K104.
___________________________________________________________________________
Remaining days in November
• Tuesday, November 24 – Sibling Surveys sent home and out via email – If you have a younger sibling you are thinking of sending to Kindergarten next year, please BE CERTAIN to complete and return this survey by Friday, Dec. 4th. (The Sibling Survey is located on back of the Kindergarten Registration Flyer sent home on Tuesday, Nov. 24th)
• Wednesday, November 25 – EARLY RELEASE DAY – dismissal at 12:25 p.m. and beginning of Thanksgiving Break
• Thursday, November 26 – NO SCHOOL – HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving Day
• Friday, November 27 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
___________________________________________________________________________
Looking Ahead (Further detail to come closer to events).
• Monday, January 4 - First Day back at school!
• Thursday, January 14 –Steering Committee Meeting – Welcome to our new Steering Committee Members!
• Monday, January 18 – NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
___________________________________________________________________________
Other
• VERY IMPORTANT: If you have a younger sibling you are thinking of sending to Kindergarten next year, please BE CERTAIN to complete and return the SIBLING SURVEY form located on the back of the Kindergarten Registration Information flyer, by Friday, Dec. 4th. Also BE SURE to REGISTER YOUR CHILD for SCHOOL at the Family Resource Center by January 30, 2010, in order to keep your sibling preference status.
• Steering Committee Elections Update: We have five candidates running for the five parent seats on Steering Committee, the governing body of the school. Candidates are Lace Campbell, Linda Lipkin, Mary-Ann Matyas, Adam Mitchell and Dan Penrice. Ballots along with Candidate Statements, will be distributed on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd. The ballot box is located in the front lobby. Ballot box closes at the end of the day on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Steering Committee Election Results will be announced between Monday Dec.14 and no later than Wednesday, Dec. 16. The new Steering Committee of 2010 will meet Thursday, January 14.
• "Sharing the Warmth"- This year the teachers and staff have discusssed changing our "Giving Tree" tradition to better match the need we see in our community. Given the difficulty so many families are having meeting some of their children's basic needs this time of year, we would like to extend this tradition through the winter season. We are hoping that folks can help us address these needs by donating coats, boots, mittens/gloves, hats and giftcards (ex. Shaws, AJ Wright, Target, CVS etc.). We encourage folks to donate both clean, gently used items and/or brand new items. These items will be stored safely at our school and distributed as needed to children and parents of Graham and Parks families. Our hope is to honor and protect each family's privacy while also helping families to care for themselves and their children. Your support and participation in helping to keep our community warm and nourished is greatly appreciated. You can drop these items off at the main office and/or rm #120, Karen Haglund's room. We’d love a volunteer to sort and organize donations. Questions can be addressed to Karen Haglund, School Social Worker at khaglund@cpsd.us. OR Jennifer Lang, M.S.W. Intern jlang@cpsd.us or 617-349-6577 x120. Thank in advance for your generosity. Warm wishes, Graham & Parks Staff!
• New G&P T-shirts will go on sale December 1st before and after school in the main lobby! New styles and colors for kids and adults (adults $20, kids $15)
• G&P ARTS COUNCIL MEETING - Tuesday evening, December 1, we will hold our second fall G&P Arts Council meeting. Note that we will not meet at the G&P cafeteria. Ken Pierce very kindly offered to reserve us a room at the Longy School, where he teaches. We will be in the Dalcroze Room, which is in the basement. Ken says we will need to sign in with the security guard - and that we should just tell him that we're going to a meeting with Ken.
Longy is very near Graham and Parks, at 27 Garden St. You could park on Walker St., or Garden or Follen Streets, if you're lucky, or along the Cambridge Common.
We will meet at 8-ish - probably closer to 8:15, since Ken will be just finishing a class.
We will discuss the following issues:
• Efforts to improve communication between arts teachers and parents. An important goal is to build parent awareness of what's happening in these classrooms. As it stands, parent awareness of these subjects is minimal.
• Establishing a regular program of visiting artists in different disciplines. More information is needed about what funding is available, and what the Friends of Graham and Parks already have in place.
Please feel free to contact me if you have additional topics you'd like to discuss.
I hope to see many of you there. Julie Werntz <juliawerntz@comcast.net>
• Do you have a bike you no longer need? - Custodian Tommy Morrow had the misfortune of having his bike stolen while at work. If you have a bike he could use (either as a loan or a donation), please let Judy Amendola know at jamendola@cpsd.us. We know he’ll appreciate it!
• HOLIDAY COOKIE SALE for students and families in grades 7 through 8 only: Do you have a cookie monster in your house?? Make someone happy by ordering delicious homemade cookies as a holiday gift or just to have for your own hungry children. This event is a fundraiser for the Class of 2010/2011. Orders will be due by Friday, Dec. 11, with payment to Ellen Gaies, room 218. (Special orders will be available for allergies with wheat and/or nuts.)
• HAVE YOU MET OUR MUSIC TEACHER, DEBBIE SULLIVAN?
A few facts about Debbie:
• There are three “Deborahs” at our school, so she claimed "Debbie” since that’s what her family calls her.
• This is her fourth year at G&P. Prior to G&P she taught in Newport, RI
• Debbie’s first instrument is the piano, which she started in Grade 2
• Before becoming a music educator, she managed to make a living as a performing musician,
singing and playing piano, for about 20 years after college
Debbie’s philosophy of music education:
For younger children, I believe in "sound-before-sight.” Just as they learn their native language by hearing it, speaking it, and then reading it, children should learn about music in a similar sequence. Younger children need to hear, sing, and play lots of simple musical patterns so that they develop a musical "vocabulary"; they also need to improvise with these patterns and make up their own songs. In order to develop beat competency, they need to move to music, which is why dance is a big part of the curriculum. Another goal is to expose them to the sounds of various instruments; I use classic children’s music such as Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev to teach active listening. To support literacy in our school, I like to include musical stories and vocabulary words in our lessons. The upper grades (5-8) are now devoted to learning about performing in an ensemble, where children learn invaluable skills about the importance of practicing their instrument/voice, cooperating in a group effort, listening to one another, and blending. Above all, it is my hope that children will love music and look forward to coming to music class! Debbie Sullivan Music Specialist debsullivan@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x118
The Graham and Parks Arts Council would like to see improved communication between parents and Specialists. As a first step, we're asking parents to fill out a short survey about music in our school. http://web.mit.edu/kpierce/www/.gpmusic/survey.html There are also paper copies being distributed to the classrooms. Paper Surveys can be returned to the drop box in the front lobby.
• REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST during MORNING DROP-OFF: As we face the parking and driving challenges that lie ahead with the onset of winter please remember the front of the building, Linnaean Street side, is EXCLUSIVELY for buses. It is imperative that parents do not pull over here and/or park on the sidewalk to drop off students. Because this practice is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, it is AGAINST the LAW (and will incur a $100 fine). Please add extra time into your morning routine to drop children off safely. If you live within walking distance, please walk whenever possible.
• Lost and Found – Please be sure to pick up your items from the Lost & Found located in the Avon Street Lobby. Clothing mounts up fast, and it’s a shame to loose a good coat, hat or mittens when you need them most. Why not make it a habit to swing by the Lost & Found every time you come to school? On Friday, Dec. 18, all remaining items will go to the Children’s Place. We’d love a volunteer to sort and bring them over. Contact Judy at jamendola@cpsd.us
• Did you know about the G&P Visitor's Pass program? If you are visiting a classroom, coming for a teacher conference or visiting the school for any other reason, we ask that you come to the main office and sign for a visitors pass.
• Madame Margot is pleased to announce the launch of the France exchange program, a partnership between CRLS and a French high school near Paris. During February vacation 2010, she will travel with a group of CRLS students to France where they will stay with host families, attend school and discover Paris! Then, for two weeks in April, the French students will visit us in Cambridge. Please help make this program a success so that G&P students may participate in the future! You can help by: making a donation to our raffle fundraiser; buying/selling raffle tickets; hosting a French student in April; spreading the word! Ideas, questions, suggestions -- please contact mmurphy@cpsd.us.
• Recycle your 2009 calendar! Please donate it to Madame Margot who will use the pictures for classroom projects. You may leave it in her office mailbox or send it in with your child.
• Wrapping Paper Wrap Up! More info to come from Friends of Graham & Parks, including the date of the Chinese Buffet Lunch and prize distributions. The short take is we did amazingly well in these tough economic times. We have everyone who participated to thank, for providing additional funding for our classroom fieldtrips and other enrichment activities. Special thanks to our students and congratulations to our top sellers!
The prize winners are:
Top Sellers:
1. ~Christina Giraldo-Marin, room 212 ($100 prize)
2. ~Violet Michel, room 212 ($75 prize)
3. ~Klara Ingersoll, room 217 ($50 prize)
(these three students raised almost $2000)
Top Selling Classes are:
1. ~Room 212
2. ~Room 217
Chinese Buffet Lunch with Principal Sarah Fiarman
Christina Giraldo-Marin, room 212
Violet Michel, room 212
Klara Ingersoll, room 217
Even St Pierre, room 212
Lizzie Downing, room 212
Christian Lessage, room 224
Charlotte Eccles, room 212
Wrapping Paper Sale questions may be addressed to Roger Michel at 617-864-4147 rm@banjo.tv; Ariadne Valsamis 617-876-1499 ariadneval@gmail.com;
Eneida Pardo 617-661-9811 ehpardo@yahoo.com
• Our Summer Camp Committee is raising funds to help families apply for camp early, when the scholarships are available. If you’d like to make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION, please write a check to Friends of Graham & Parks, and be sure to write “Summer Camp Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off in the main office into the Friends of G&P mail box w/green trim. Thank you ! Judy Amendola at jamendola@cpsd.us and Yolette Ibokette yibokette@cpsd.us
• Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up - Come see this award-winning film about gender messages and expectations. Join other parents for refreshments and discussion. Tuesday, December 8, 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the King Open School (850 Cambridge St.). Free! All are welcome! Sponsored by Welcoming Schools Cambridge. For more information call 617-349-6727 or email mailto:mbrazo@cpsd.us
• Look for the Friends of Graham & Parks Annual Appeal letter coming home in December. Your TAX-DEDUCTABLE contribution will fund enrichment activities all year long!
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Day: Friday 18 December. Give the family car and the planet a break when you walk, ride, T, bus, or carpool on the next Green Streets Cambridge Walk/Ride Day. Wear green or show your Walk/Ride day hand stamp to get discounts from dozens of local merchants. For details please visit <www.gogreenstreets.org>. To help out with hand stamping contact Bob Cowherd (Lucy 3-222, Cooper 4-223) <cowherd@alum.mit.edu>.
• Your school nutritionists and cafeteria staff are working on some great new recipes for lunch dishes. We are starting to do taste tests for the first dish. Tex Mex veggies and beef over brown rice, topped with cheddar cheese. We tested the recipe at the food service staff orientation earlier this fall and it was extremely popular! Thank you! Dawn Alcott, MS, School Nutritionist Phone~617-665-3809
• Heatlhy Snack Suggestion: Whole wheat pita chips with hummus. As a community, we can work together to promote health.~ Send your child to school with a healthy snack and support the changes in school food service. Cambridge Public Health Department
• Community Schools is hosting 2 events in December to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
1. Children’s Art Exhibit, Thursday, December 10 at City Hall at 6:00 featuring Community Schools’ young artists. Light refreshments will be served.
2. Glitter Gala, celebrating 40 years of Community Schools, Friday, December 11, 7:30-Midnight at MIT’s Walker Memorial ~Hall. Dancing, Music, Hors d’oeuvres, and Cash Bar. Festive Attire. Tickets are $20 and available at your Community School.
• Healthy Parks and Playgrounds Presentation: Students, parents, teachers, recess aides and preschool staff and anyone else who is interested - you are invited to a Public Presentation! Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 7:00 P. M. to 9:00 P. M. at the Citywide Senior Center,
806 Massachusetts Avenue, across the street from City Hall. The City's Community Development Department has been leading a Healthy Parks and Playgrounds Task Force that included representation from the elementary schools and this meeting is a presentation of their work. Visit the website (with report): www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/cp/parks/healthy/index.html
What’s Up @ G&P, November 2009
First, a note from Principal Sarah Fiarman -
Dear Families,
At a recent staff meeting, we discussed how to help children take ownership of their own learning. After reading an article by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, we compared her research findings on children’s beliefs about intelligence. In general, she found that students had one of two perspectives:
• Fixed mindset – “you have a certain amount of intelligence and that’s that”
• Growth mindset – intelligence “can develop through effort and education”
According to research conducted with thousands of children, those who have a fixed mindset regarding intelligence tend to seek easier tasks that will confirm their intelligence and tend to avoid those tasks that might not. Children who subscribe to the growth mindset seek out challenge and persist even when a task is hard.
As a staff, we shared the ways we teach children that achievement comes through effort. One way is by asking children to reflect on the work they put into a project rather than focusing exclusively on the outcome. Through helping children see the connection between hard work and achievement, we expect children’s motivation to increase. Teaching children to solve math problems, conduct science experiments, and be proficient artists, readers, and writers is just one part of our job. Empowering and motivating children to take charge of their learning is equally important. As Dweck wrote in the October 2007 issue of Educational Leadership,
[Students] often see schools as a place where they perform for teachers who then judge them. The growth mind-set changes that perspective and makes school a place where students vigorously engage in learning for their own benefit.
Dweck’s research findings extend to adults as well. So let’s all seek out challenge this month – knowing that we’ll undoubtedly learn and grow in the process.
Have a wonderful month of learning!
Sarah
**If you’re interested in reading more of Dweck’s findings, you might enjoy her new book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Sunday, November 1, 5 – 6:30 p.m. - Join Principal Sarah Fiarman for Pizza & Conversation. Sarah will share what she’s learned from responses to her three questions to the community. This event will take place OFFSITE, at Jefferson Park, 1 Jackson Place (1st building on the left).
If you missed the grade level morning coffees on this topic, please join us at Jefferson Park. You can also see the powerpoint from these coffees on the school website at www.cpsd.us/gap. Pizza and childcare provided. Please RSVP so we’ll have enough childcare providers and pizza. 617-349-6577x 115 or jamendola@cpsd.us
• World Foods International Potluck - Wednesday, November 18 – see “Other” for details.
• Perhaps you’d like to support your classroom but you’re not into wrapping paper sales? No problem! Consider making a donation to classroom funds for enrichment activities instead. Just write a check to Friends of Graham & Parks, and memo it “in lieu of wrapping paper sales”. Please include your child’s name, room #, and teacher name.
November
• Sunday, November 1 – Daylight Savings Time Ends
• Sunday, November 1 - Pizza and Conversaton with Principal Sarah Fiarman. Sarah will share what she’s learned from responses to her three questions to the community. This event will take place OFFSITE from 5 – 6:30 p.m., at Jefferson Park. See complete details above.
• Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day – Note that the G&P gymnasium is a polling place for the appropriate district. Leave extra time for parking around the school.
• Thursday, November 5 - Kindergarten Library Breakfast – details to come from JK/K teachers. Anyone interested in volunteering to help please contact your JK or K teacher or Librarian Ann Niederkorn aniederkorn@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x233
• Thursday, November 5 –CitySprouts ceremony of putting the garden to rest – From 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the Foyer and Courtyard – see “Other” for details.
• Sunday, November 8 - Cambridge Public Main Library building will open for service from 2 to 5 p.m., and will be open regular hours from then on. See more on pg. 3
• Monday, November 9 – Friends of Graham & Parks Fundraising Meeting. 8:30 a.m. in the Linnaean Street Lobby. All welcome. Questions? Contact Arlene at 617-354-1780.
• Wednesday, November 11 – NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day Holiday• Tuesday, November 17 – Junior High Democracy Symposium – 6 – 8:30 p.m. in classrooms.Questions? Contact Sarah Manz at smanz@cpsd.us
• Thursday, November 12 - PICTURE MAKE-UP and RETAKE Day - Be sure to bring your unwanted photo packet in order to get a retake. If it's your first picture, be sure to bring in payment.
• Wednesday, November 18 – World Foods International Potluck – 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. See “Other” for details.
• Thursday, November 19 – Steering Committee Meeting - 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the first floor conference room. All Welcome. Agenda will be sent out via email. Superintendent Jeff Young will attend. Childcare by advance reservation. Please contact Judy by Monday, November 16, jamendola@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x115.
• Thursday, November 19 – EARLY RELEASE DAY – dismissal at 12:25 p.m.
• Friday, November 20 – Walk/Ride to School Day more details in “Other”
• Wednesday, November 25 – EARLY RELEASE DAY – dismissal at 12:25 p.m. and beginning of Thanksgiving Break
• Thursday, November 26 – NO SCHOOL – HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving Day
• Friday, November 27 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
NOVEMBER FIELD TRIPS as of 10/20/2009
Any changes or additions to this list will come directly from classroom teachers. Questions can be addressed directly to your classroom teacher.
Tuesday Nov. 3 –
6th grade Rm. 212 Fieldtrip to Harvard Museum of Natural History 8:45 – 1p.m.
6th grade Rm. 217 Fieldtrip to Maynard Ecology Center 8:45 – 1 p.m
Wednesday, Nov. 25th – 5th and 6th grade Rm. 220 Publishing Party
Remaining Days in October
• Wednesday Night - Oct 28 - Citywide Kindergarten Information Night #2 of 2, from 6:30 -8 p.m. at the Fletcher-Maynard Academy
• Thursday, Oct. 29 – Steering Committee Candidates Statements posted in lobby
• Friday, Oct. 30th – Green Streets Walk/Ride Day contact Bob at cowherd@alum.mit.edu
• Friday, Oct. 30th – G&P October Fest – 3 – 6 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31 – Halloween
Looking Ahead (Further detail to come closer to events)
• Wednesday, Dec. 2 – Steering Committee Election Ballots distributed
• Wednesday, Dec. 9 – Ballot Box in front lobby closes
• Wednesday Dec. 16 – Steering Committee election results will be announced
• Auditions for the Spring Play will be in December. Look for the announcement about which musical we will do as well as how to sign up for auditions in the front lobby in December.
• Winter Break – Thursday December 24 through Sunday, January 3rd.
• Monday, January 4 - First Day back at school!
Other
• Steering Committee Elections Update: Currently we have five candidates running for the five parent seats on Steering Committee, the governing body of the school. If you, or anyone you might want to encourage to run, would like to step forward to run, please let Family Coordinator Judy Amendola know, and get a candidate statement in to Judy. Candidate statements are posted in the front lobby as of Thursday, October 29th. I’d love a little help setting up the display of statements. If anyone is available on Wednesday, October 28th to put up the display, please contact Judy at jamendola@cpsd.us. Thank you!
• School Secretary Barbara Gaul is recovering well and sends her thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes!
• Sunday, November 1, Join Principal Sarah Fiarman for Pizza & Conversation. Sarah will share what she’s learned from responses to her three questions to the community. OFFSITE at Jeffereson Park. 5 – 6:30 p.m. See full details on page 1, in HIGHLIGHTS.
• Kindergarten Library Potluck Breakfast - Thursday, November 5th, 8:15-9:15 a.m. - Come and meet Ann, the library teacher, learn a bit about the library program, and choose a special book to share with your child. Sign up sheets in each kindergarten classroom. Please email Ann with any questions: aniederkorn@cpsd.us. See you on November 5th!
• World Foods International Potluck, Wednesday, November 18th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. You are invited to bring a dish to share! Something from your country of origin would tie in nicely with the theme! Plus, we’ll get to know one another by playing “Cultural Bingo”, AND our 8th graders will do a quick cultural background survey and results will be presented during the second hour of the event. If you’d like to contribute to some musical offerings we’d love to hear from you! Look for flyers coming home soon! Questions? Contact Joyce Majewski jmajewski@hbs.edu
• WRAP IT UP FOR G&P - Our annual wrapping paper sale has begun fast and fabulous with just a week to support our school -- our most important fundraiser of the year! Sales packets went home Tuesday via backpacks. Deadline for order form return has been extended! Return money & order forms on WEDNESDAY Oct. 28 to your classroom teacher. Or order ONLINE -- it's fast and easy www.shoplavenders.com School code 101621. All orders will be delivered directly to your home via federal express. If you aren’t into sales, or are short on time, please consider making a donation “in lieu of sales”. Checks may be written to Friends of Graham & Parks, and please put your classroom teacher’s name & room number and “In lieu of sales” in the memo line. Thank you for your support!! For more information, see the instruction sheet in your child’s sales packet sent home today. If you have questions contact Roger Michel at rogermichel@yahoo.com • CitySprouts ceremony of putting the garden to rest - Thursday November 5 th 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the Foyer and Courtyard This is the third "Lantern and good night party for the garden". This what we do on that night: families light lanterns and place them outside in the courtyard. We then say what we loved about the garden and our hopes for next year. It is dark so the lanterns give the only light - it is very beautiful. Note we will make lanterns the previous Thursday during Drop-in. This special night on November 5th we will color and write cards for the garden. Contact Louise Forrest, Garden Coordinator - Lforrest@citysprouts.org
• A Big Thank You to all who helped make the CitySprouts Garden Festival on October 3 such a success! Many volunteers worked to make the garden look beautiful. We awed many visitors. I am very happy to be with you as your garden coordinator. Louise Forrest Lforrest@citysprouts.org
• Remember that rainy Saturday (October 3rd)? Well the CitySprouts Garden Celebration happened in spite of the rainy day. The garden and grounds looked great - with many thanks to John McVey, Maura Gould, Eneida Pardo, Christina Astrove's class, Jesse Winch's class, and Katy Luedke. Our table looked delicious and welcoming -- with thanks to Jen Costa, Annie Mock, Zoe McNerney, Leah Williams for baked goods and Max Daniels, Alec McKinney, Maureen Albano for the friendly faces. We would like to extend a special thank you to Kenny Singleton who provided equipment & Tommy who provided all kinds of assistance. Liz McNerney & Tara Greco
• COMMUNITY SCHOOLS - 2 Big Events to celebrate 40 years of Community
Schools: Dec 10 at 6 PM Children's Art Exhibit at City Hall and
Dec 11, 7:30 - midnight "Glitter Gala", music & dancing at MIT Walker Memorial Hall. $20. Tickets available at your Community School."
• All-City Chorus! We meet every Thursday from 3:15-4:30 in the chorus room at CRLS. (Rm. R129) This is a great opportunity to meet students from all over the city, to make music together, and to have a great time! The only requirement for all-city chorus is that you like to sing. We do the rest together! All-City Chorus is accepting new members for the winter season until October 29, but late comers should call anyway. Contact Susan Holm, All-City Chorus Director, Teacher-In-Charge, Visual and Performing Arts, Cambridge Public Schools. Contact sholm@cpsd.us
• Renovated Main Library Set to Open - The newly expanded and renovated Cambridge Public Main Library building will open for service on Sunday, November 8, from 2 to 5 p.m., and will be open regular hours from then on. The community is invited to an Open House and Ribbon Cutting at our new Main Library building on Thursday, October 29 from 5-7:30 PM. The official ceremony will begin at 6:00. RSVP is required for the ceremony. Please call 617-349-4032. Library services will not be available that evening.
• Green Streets Walk/Ride Day: Friday 20 November - Give the family car and the planet a break when you walk, ride, T, bus, or carpool on the next Green Streets Cambridge Walk/Ride Day. Wear green or show your Walk/Ride day hand stamp to get discounts from dozens of local merchants. For details please visit . To help out with hand stamping contact Bob Cowherd (Lucy 3-222, Cooper 4-223) . Thank you for walking and riding! The calendar for the rest of the year is: December 18, 2009, January 29, 2010, February 26, 2010, March 26, 2010, April 30, 2010, May 28, 2010, June 25, 2010
• Immediate Openings in the Afterschool Program at East End House: The afterschool program at East End House serves children in Junior K through 5th grade. The School Age program is Nationally Accredited through the National Afterschool Association. The program offers snack, homework assistance, academic enrichment activities as well as special guest lectures, field trips and group activities. During school vacation weeks and summer months, programming runs from 7:30am to 5:30pm and provides breakfast, lunch and snack. Contact Chrissy Souder at (617) 876-4444 or Chrissy@eastendhouse.org East End House has been serving the community for over 132 years and is a non-profit, multi-service community center and social service agency committed to providing programs and services to strengthen family and community in East Cambridge, Cambridge and the Greater Boston area. East End House offers programs for seniors, volunteers, community outreach and education, teen programs, a computer technology center and an emergency food pantry in addition to various workshops and classes. www.eastendhouse.org
• Family Literacy Fun Day - Cambridge City Hall, Saturday, November 14, 2009 Time: 10:30 - 2:30. Lots of hands-on activities for families with children in grades PreK – 4, Face painting, free books, Bonaparte the Magician! Contact information: M.A. Savilonis 617-349-6492
• Healthy Snack Idea of the Week - Celery with Peanut or Soy Butter. Send your child to school with a healthy snack and support the changes in school food service. A message from the School Health Program, Cambridge Public Health Department. As needed, add a small frozen gel pack or frozen drink to keep foods from spoiling.
• Beyond the 4th Wall Musical Program Update: Auditions for the Spring Play will be in December. Look for the announcement about which musical we will do as well as how to sign up for auditions in the front lobby in December. Please feel free to contact us with any questions: 617 868 9900 Info@beyondthefourthwall.com
• CALLING ALL PARENTS OF TEENS AND TWEENS - WHY when we think of teenagers do we think trouble? Adolescents have a bad rap and according to research it is undeserved. Come meet the Author of The Good Teen, Richard Lerner, Ph.d. and hear his groundbreaking research that reveals everything you think you know about teens is wrong.
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 6:30PM to 8:00PM Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Freshman Campus 359 Broadway. To register contact: Greta Hardina the Parent Liaison ghardina@cpsd.us 617-349-6660
• Beyond the 4th Wall Acting Classes. Come act with us! Using a combination of traditional and innovative Acting Games and Exercises, as well as improvisation technique, you will learn to hone your skills as an actor and become a better performer. Sliding scale and scholarships . To register or for more information, please contact us: Beyond The 4th Wall Expression Theatre, 7 Temple St, Central Square : 617-868-9900, Info@BeyondtheFourthwall.com
• Did you know that dance and the principles of yoga are part of our Physical Education curriculum? If you love dance, yoga, (any physical activity really), perhaps you’d be interested in being a room parent for our Physical Education teachers. Contact Judy at jamendola@cpsd.us
What’s Up @ October 2009 – 2010
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Please take a moment to read a note from Principal Sarah Fiarman on pg. 5
• If you have not already done so, please RETURN YOUR REQUIRED FORMS
School funding and the safety of your child are dependent of the return of these tedious, but very important forms. Any family with an expiring free or reduced lunch applications will start being charged full pay if your applications is not received on Tuesday of next week. Your immediate cooperation is very much appreciated!
• The 2009 MCAS scores have arrived. You will receive a letter from Sarah explaining our school’s progress and status to date.
Last Days of September
• Monday Sept. 21st. 2:25 on. Community Schools Afterschool Enrichment classes began. Enrollment is ongoing. See “Other” for more details.
• Monday, September 28 – NO SCHOOL – Yom Kippur Holiday
• Wednesday, September 30 – ROOM PARENT ORIENTATION – 8:30 a.m. in the front lobby.
• Wednesday, September 30, Grade 5 – 6 Classroom Open House, 6 - 7 in your child’s
classroom. Childcare by reservation. Please contact Judy BEFORE midnight on Monday September 28th with your reservation 617-349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
October
• Thursday, October 1st – Steering Committee Elections Process starts with the distribution of the “Call for Candidates” letter. The letter includes a description and the election timeline.
• Saturday, October 3rd CitySprouts School Garden Celebration. All 12 public K-8 schools in Cambridge! 11am to 3 pm RAIN or SHINE. See “Other” section for details.
• Tuesday, October 6th – Grade JK – 3 parents are invited to “Morning Coffee with Principal Sarah Fiarman” – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. in the Linnaean Street Lobby. We hope you can join us! Please see
Sarah’s note on page 5.
• Friday, October 9th – Friends of Graham & Parks Fundraising Meeting – 8:30 a.m. in the Linnaean Street Lobby. All are welcome.
• Monday, October 12 – NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day Holiday
• Wednesday, October 14 – Grade 4 – 8 parents are invited to “Morning Coffee with Principal Sarah Fiarman” – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. in the Linnaean Street Lobby. We hope you can join us! Please see Sarah’s note on page 5.
• Wednesday, October 14 – Steering Committee Candidates declare intent to run.
• Thursday, October 15 – Steering Committee Meeting – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the 1st floor Conference Room. Open to all. Childcare by advance reservation w jamendola@cpsd.us or 617 349-6577 x115
• Wednesday, October 21st – Steering Committee Candidates Statements due
• Wednesday, October 21st – EARLY RELEASE DAY – Dismissal at 12:25 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct 22 Citywide Kindergarten Information Night #1 of 2, from 6:30 -8 p.m.at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School
• Wednesday Night - Oct 28 - Citywide Kindergarten Information Night #2 of 2, from
6:30 -8 p.m. at the Fletcher-Maynard Academy
• Friday, Oct. 30th – G&P October Fest – 3 – 6 p.m. See “Other” section for details.
• Saturday, October 31 – Halloween
OCTOBER FIELD TRIPS
Any changes or additions to this list will come directly from classroom teachers.
• Thursday October 1 – Grade 4 students begin swimming classes
• Friday, October 2 – JK – K Apple Picking at Honey St. Farm
• Friday, October 16 – Rms 212 and 217 – grade 6 to Museum of Science 9 - 2 p.m.
• Monday, October 26 – Rm. 217 (grade 6) to Harvard Museum of Natural History 8:45 – 1 p.m.
Looking Ahead (Further detail to come closer to events).
• Sunday, November 1 – Daylight Savings Time Ends
• Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day – Note G&P is a polling place for the appropriate district.
• Thursday, November 5th - Kindergarten Library Breakfast – details to come from JK/K teachers.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help please contact your JK or K teacher or Librarian Ann Niederkorn aniederkorn@cpsd.us 617-349-6577 x233
• Monday, November 9 – Friends of Graham & Parks Fundraising Meeting. 8:30 a.m. in the Linnaean Street Lobby. All welcome.
• Wednesday, November 11 – NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day Holiday
• Thursday, November 19 – EARLY RELEASE DAY – dismissal at 12:25 p.m.–
• Wednesday, Novermber 25 – EARLY RELEASE DAY – dismissal at 12:25 p.m. and beginning of Thanksgiving Break
• Thursday, November 26 – NO SCHOOL – HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving Day
• Friday, November 27 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
Other
• Welcome to our new staff members:- Anna McMaken-Marsh Grade 6 teacher. Anna taught for 14 years at Cambridge Friends School, as 5/6, 4/5, and 5th grade teacher, presented and led seminars on anti-racist curriculum development, published an article on group problem-solving in Teaching Children Mathematics. Anna is also a gardener, printmaker, and parent of a 5 year old and 2 year old. Anna says, “I love teaching, kids, and love project-based learning and am having a great time here so far.” Tina Paduck is our English as a Second Language Teacher for 5th and 6th ESL students. Tina, who is currently a 2nd year doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts, worked for three years as the pull-out ESL teacher in Boston Public Schools. Tina says, “I was an ELL myself, so I am very interested in learning about different cultures and teaching about the American culture/experience.” We’re grateful to Mallory Schultz who joins the Main Office staff as a full-time temp while School Secretary Barbara Gaul recovers from her summer knee surgery.
• CONGRATULATIONS! 7/8 Teacher Chris Rettig and his wife Jill are the proud parents of Gabriel Rettig! Welcome to the world Gabriel!!!
• CitySprouts SCHOOL GARDEN CELEBRATION! - All 12 public K-8 schools in Cambridge!
Saturday, October 3rd from 11am to 3 pm RAIN or SHINE. Join children, youth, families and teachers in celebrating the school garden harvest from the public schools in Cambridge, MA.
The Graham & Parks School will host this year's annual gathering of all 12 K-8 schools in the city as they showcase the CitySprouts program and share the school garden harvest grown in schoolyards throughout the city. Enjoy crafts, food and games. Tour the CitySprouts school garden at the Graham & Parks to learn more about the unique, district-wide school garden program in Cambridge Public Schools. Free of charge and open to the public. Saturday, October 3 from 11am-3pm. Graham & Parks School is located at 44 Linnaean Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. For more information, contact info@citysprouts.org or call (617) 876-2436.
• Some of you may be wondering about the WRAPPING PAPER SALE: The Friends of Graham & Parks WILL be doing a Wrapping Paper Sale. More news will be distributed directly from the Friends of Graham & Parks.
• Thank You to everyone involved in the Back-to-School Potluck and welcome to new
Principal and Staff. As always, the food was fabulous and the company even better!
Here’s to a great SY2009-10!!!
• G&P OCTOBER FEST, Friday, Oct. 30th, 3 - 6 p.m. - This after school event is open to the entire school, all grades invited. Tickets will be sold at the door. There will be refreshments, age appropriate games, face painting, cake walk, and even a costume parade. So mark your calendars for October 30, Friday, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the G&P courtyard. Students in the younger grades must be accompanied by an adult. This is a fundraiser for the Class of 2010 and is organized by the Yearbook Committee. Hope to see a lot of witches, goblins, and ghosts at the Fest. (Ellen Gaies, Yearbook Advisor)
• LOST & FOUND will be cleared out on Friday, October 2nd. There was a summer accumulation, and this is a last chance call for pick-up!
• Linnaean Community School's FALL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM runs daily and begins Monday, Sept. 21st. 2:25 on. Meet in the Community Center/Cafeteria. There are a few openings in certain classes. Please call Mary Ellen Breen 617.349-6267
• GRADES 5-8 MUSIC - Grade 5 students will be trying out two instruments of their choice through the month of October. At the end of October they will choose one instrument to continue with. They can choose from the following: strings (violin, viola, cello), brass (trumpet, trombone), or woodwind (flute, clarinet, saxophone). This is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn an instrument since they will have instrumental class twice weekly. Students will have the option of choosing to sing in chorus starting November. Once they choose chorus, they will continue in it through Grade 8. Children should choose chorus only if they are sure they want to focus on singing. They should NOT choose chorus simply because they don't want to practice their instrument! Please talk to your child about this very important decision!
• A NOTE FROM THE MUSIC TEACHER: Grade 6, 7 and 8 students have until the end of September to make up their minds whether to continue with instruments or choose chorus, If they switch out of instruments, they won't be allowed to change their minds at a later date. Please encourage them to stay with their instruments unless they have a strong desire to sing. Grade 6 will have music twice a week. Grades 7 and 8 are scheduled for music once a week.
If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Sullivan at debsullivan@cpsd.us
• Madame Margot seeks a parent volunteer to assist with a research project. In French class, we would like to investigate a different Francophone country each week. Madame Margot needs your help compiling supporting documents to present (pictures, map, flag, facts, artifacts). If you would like to help with a specific country, or if you can support this project all year, please write to mmurphy@cpsd.us. We would be so grateful for your help enriching our curriculum and our global awareness!
• Cambridge FLU CLINICS for Families - The Cambridge Public Health Department will be operating family friendly flu clinics on October 17th (Tobin School) and November 7th (King Open School) from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. These clinics offer free seasonal flu vaccine to Cambridge residents age 24 months and older, and will have clinic areas specially dedicated to families, in addition to "adult express" areas. Regular flu clinics are offered throughout the city starting October 8, and will offer vaccine to individuals age 3 years and older. Remember, the 4 ways to prevent flu are: get flu vaccine, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and stay home when sick. For the most current information about clinics, seasonal flu, and H1N1 (swine) flu, visit www.cambridgepublichealth.org or call 617-665-3855. A link to the clinic schedule is: http://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/services/diseases-conditions/flu/cambridge-flu-clinics.php
• GRAHAM & PARKS ARTS COUNCIL: A message from Julie Werntz:
I will be arranging an evening time to meet at Graham and Parks in the next couple of weeks.
In my last email to the group in the spring, I suggested that we devote out first fall meeting to the following things:
• Finish the discussion about possible functions of the G&P Arts Council. (This should be a quick review of what we discussed at the spring meeting, and allow time for any new ideas to be proposed.)
• See who wishes to join the Arts Council at this time.
• Decide on our mission and structure, and outline some plans for 2009/2010.
As soon as I can confirm a date, hopefully by week's end, I will announce it. I look forward to getting started. Best wishes, Julie Werntz
• NEWS FROM THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The date for the opening of the Main Cambridge Public Library is still not definite (although it’s absolutely approaching!)
This fall, the restored and expanded Main Library at 449 Broadway (next to CRLS) will open! Please check the website for information about the opening date (www.cambridgepubliclibrary.org). Families are invited to come and discover the beautiful new roof top Children’s Room , the exciting Teen Lounge, the new tot lot! As always, resources and programs for children and families are open to all and are free. Librarians are happy to help you find just the books and information that you need and will enjoy.
Check out the Greater Boston Early Childhood Resource Center in the Children’s Room of the Main Library. The ECRC is a special collection designed for use by parents and anyone who cares for or works with young children. Books, DVD’s, curriculum kits, assessment tools and puppets are available for borrowing (with your library card).
New to Cambridge? Library cards are free. You do not need work papers, a green card or a social security number to join the library. Just bring a photo ID and something that gives your current address ( a piece of mail is acceptable).You may get a library card at all Cambridge libraries. It takes just a few minutes! You can borrow books, movies, music, participate in English conversation groups or computer classes, and use the Internet. Questions? Contact Amy Newmark, Children’s Services, Cambridge Public Library. anewmark@cambridgema.gov
• Family Opera is casting SPRINGTIME FOR HAMAN, an opera based on the biblical story of Esther. Adults and children (7 and up) wanted for solo roles of all sizes, chorus and dance. Auditions at Deborah Mason School of Dance 32 Cottage Park Avenue, Cambridge. Sat., Sun., Mon., Oct. 10-12; and Sat., Sun., Oct. 17-18, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Call 617-492-4095 or e-mail Auditions10@FamilyOpera.org Details at http://www.FamilyOpera.org
• The MATHEMAGICS WORKSHOP, Math enrichment classes for children 1-8th grade, has openings for the fall semester. Classes meet weekly. Please Contact: Beth O'Sullivan bethos@alum.mit.edu
Founder of The Mathemagics Workshop & co-founder of Science Club for Girls www.scienceclubforgirls.org
• Information about farms and farmers markets to share - Did you know there are more than 50 farms and orchards within an hour's drive of Cambridge?
Shop for delicious, locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh baked pies, maple syrups, meats, and cheeses at Cambridge farmers' markets and local farmstands.
You can also "pick your own" apples, vegetables, and pumpkins at participating farms and orchards.
Your purchases will be good for your health and will help support the local economy.
Here is a fall guide to farmers' markets, farmstands, and "pick-your-own" farms and orchards in the Greater Boston area. http://cambridgepublichealth.org/hot-topic/fall_harvest_2009.php
Thanks to Josefine (José) Wendel, MS, RD School Nutrition Coordinator for this great info!
A Note from Principal Fiarman
Dear Graham and Parks Families,
My favorite part of these first few days of school has been visiting classrooms to meet students. I continue to be impressed by the warm greetings I receive from students -- respectful listening, deliberate eye contact, thoughtful questions and sharing. In each classroom, grades 1-8, I ask students the same three questions I asked teachers, staff, and families last spring: 1) What is working well at this school? 2) What could be improved?
3) What else is important that I should know about? Younger students share their responses orally; grades 5-8 write their responses individually. When I finish visiting classrooms, I’ll compile what I’ve learned from these conversations and individual letters along with the feedback from families and teachers, and share insights with the larger community at one of the upcoming morning coffee gatherings in October. I hope you’ll come.
There is one piece of feedback that stands out already. When students respond to the question about what is working well, one answer comes up consistently in class after class: TEACHERS. From classroom to classroom, students declare that teachers are a strength of this school. Teachers, students say, help them learn. Teachers show them how to figure things out and ask them questions that make them think hard. And over and over again, students say that teachers make school fun. While the response doesn’t come from every student (some say they like the atmosphere at school, others mention that peers help them learn a lot in class), it does resound from many. It speaks simply and directly to the influence and importance of our teachers.
I begin my work at this school with great admiration for the faculty’s work. They strive to know children, to reveal what’s complex about the world rather than yield to the tendency to oversimplify, and they work to make learning joyful and meaningful. For the students, the importance of teachers and staff is obvious. I won’t take it for granted. I look forward to many good years ahead learning and growing with my new colleagues, our students, and families.
Warmly,
Sarah Fiarman
Principal
Graham & Parks Alternative Public School
Final G&P Newsletter of 2008 - 2009
Should you lose your paper copy, the NEWSLETTER is POSTED on the SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.cpsd.us/gap
Letter from Barbara
Dear G&P Families,
For most of the “June’s” of my life, I have looked forward to the end of school and the
beginning of summer vacation. This year is a little different. I find myself wanting to linger here with
all of you a little while longer.
Of course, fall will never be the same for me again. I will miss greeting children at the busses; I will
miss catching up with families; I will miss visiting classrooms to see the amazing work that our classroom teachers and special educators and our teaching specialists do with all of our kids; I will miss watching the school come alive with all the preparations that teachers and all staff make to begin a new school year; I will miss the invitations to student performances. Children and schools have been one of the biggest parts of my life for so long and I feel so blessed to have chosen this profession.
My time in Cambridge has been joyful. I have loved my time as a teacher and I have loved my time as a principal! Being principal of the Graham & Parks Alternative Public School has truly been an honor. We have seen the school through a transition in its evolution and now it is time for me to do other things in my life and for the school to grow with new leadership.
There is no easy way to say good-bye to this wonderful community. Please know that I take
each of you with me in my heart and wish only the best for you and your children.
I look forward to a wonderful, busy, productive and a sometimes restful retirement!
Thank you for your love and support!
Barbara
Principal of the Graham & Parks School
Highlights
• Classroom Placement for SY2009-2010: Placement letters are sent out via backpack in June, before the last day of school. (FYI - The Placement Process can be viewed on-line
(www.cpsd.us/gap; The School; The Placement Process).
• G&P incoming Principal Sarah Fiarman has sent out her “Three Questions For Sarah” Letter to families. Sarah’s letter went home in bright blue envelopes, via backpack. We also emailed to gp21. Please send your response back soon after you receive it, so that over the summer Sarah can get to
know the community (at least in part), and get a sense of what makes G&P tick!
You may reply to Sarah via email anytime at ThreeQuestionsForSarah@gmail.com or put a hard copy in the box in the school lobby.
• New Staffing Announcement- From Barbara Boyle
Dear Graham & Parks Community, it is with great pleasure that I announce the hiring of our new
Grade 6 teacher - Anna McMaken-Marsh.
Anna has been a 5th/ 6th grade teacher at the Cambridge Friends School for the past 14 years. As a teacher she has developed many projects through inquiry-based teaching and learning. In addition, she has worked with The Center for Anti-Racist Education, which has allowed her to become a more
powerful teacher for all of her students.
She writes, "In all of the projects, I am continually observing, listening, and adjusting the work we are doing to ensure the success of all students. I have learned to build curriculum that supports the skills each student needs, through practice, clear modeling, graphic organizers, and rubrics. My classes are most successful when I have found the balance of structure and inspiration that helps all students engage in big meaningful questions within clear structure and process. All students benefit from big questions. All students benefit from a clear and organized process in which to further
those inquiries."
Thank you to the resume screening and interview committees for a very successful process!
NEWSFLASH – We’ve just learned that the Superintendent has approved Tina Paduck for our
English as a Second Language position. More details in the fall!
The Remaining School Day of June!
• Friday, June 19 - Last Day of School! Dismissal is at the regular time.
• SY2009-2010 Calendar is available online at www.cpsd.us home page, left side; under Highlights
FIELD TRIPS AND CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS
(Additional to the previously distributed June Newsletter)
• Friday, June 19th - both Grade 4 classes- Grade 4's Last Day of School Celebration, 9:30 am -1 pm, Danehy Park
Looking Ahead to September 2009 (Further detail to come closer to events).
Tuesday, September 8 - 1st day of school for grades 1 – 8 – Welcome Back!
Wednesday, September 9 - JK and K Orientation
Thursday, September 10 - 1st full day for K and JK
Tuesday, September 15 – Grade 6,7,8 Classroom Open House in the evening.
Wed., Sept.16 - Back-to-School Potluck & Welcome Principal Sarah Fiarman 6:00-7:45 pm
Thursday, September 17- Steering Committee Meeting, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 22 - Early Release Day – Dismissal at 12:25 pm
Wednesday, September 23 – School Pictures
Wednesday, September 23 – JK/K to grade 5 Classroom Open House in the evening.
Monday, September 28 – Yom Kippur (Holiday – NO SCHOOL)
Wednesday, September 30 – Room Parent Orientation – 8:30 am in the lobby
Saturday, October 3 – CitySprouts “City Gardens Showcase” here at G&P! We’d love to hear from interested volunteers! Contact Judy at 617 349-6577 x115 jamendola@cpsd.us
Other
• Thanks for all the efforts everyone put in to making Wednesday night such a success for honoring Barbara, Dan and Toby. ~I think they really enjoyed themselves. ~Thanks Felix for lending your photography expertise and taking the amazing group shot from the roof of the school-what a fun photo. ~Thanks Eneida, Ann Marie, Renee and whole raffle committee for putting together in remarkable time quite a spread of auction items when just days before we only had Red Sox tickets. ~Way to GO! ~Roger-great job emceeing the evening especially after I heard you have been working long hours and were exhausted. ~If you are that clever when you are tired, I really wanted to see you perform when you are rested! ~ And last but not least I would like to thank Judy for always being so organized, thoughtful, prepared with table layout plan,~utensil, plate inventory, going away gifts (I could keep going....) and for jumping in and helping me yesterday when I really didn't want you to have to help. ~I really needed it and greatly appreciated your help! I feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful school! -Kate Andres.
• Ditto! AND thanks to the amazing Kate for her incredible initiative, graceful and artistic ways and phenomenal follow through!!! Judy Amendola .
• While we’re still on the Bon Voyage topic . . . a thank you from Barbara Boyle:
Dear G&P Community,
Thank you so much for the wonderful Bon Voyage party! It was great to see so many of you and to taste all the amazing food you always make. I truly appreciate the kind words and warm feelings and thoughtful gifts. You have made me feel so loved!
Thanks! Barbara
P.S. - Roger you are a great roaster and toaster!
• Parents of children going into Grades 5, 6, and 7 will be receiving a very important letter about changes in the music program next year. Please read the letter carefully. If you don't receive it, please send Deb Sullivan your e-mail address and the grade your child is entering and she will make sure you get a copy.
• SUMMER READING. Parents may be interested to know about a book that G&P's incoming principal, Sarah Fiarman, has asked teachers to read over the summer. An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students (Heinemann, 2003) is written by Ron Berger, a Massachusetts public school teacher. The book is available new or used on Amazon.com.
• CitySprouts weekly drop-in continues through out the summer.~On Thursdays from 3-4:30 pm (Note slightly later than the school year). Dates are June 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; August 6, 13, 20 and 27. Located in the courtyard at Graham and Parks.
This is for the Graham and Parks Community, families, staff, and friends to tend and enjoy the garden. CitySprouts will provide leadership during this1.5 hours~to plant, harvest, make art, and sample foods. Note: Your reward for volunteering is that you may take produce home. For more~information contact the~CitySprouts office at 617-876-2436 or www.citysprouts.org
Our Middle School Internship program (June 22nd to July 16th) meets Monday through Thursdays from 9 am-12 noon.
~
Thanks for a great spring- Louise Forrest, CitySprouts Garden Coordinator (LForrest@citysprouts.org)
• End of the year thoughts from CitySprouts Garden coordinator, Louise Forrest
~
Great~thanks to David Yee, parent, for setting a drip irrigation system to make the garden
easier to tend.
~
Thank you to all the students who applied to the CitySprout's internship program.
We welcome the following to our Summer Green team,~the CitySprouts Interns for 2009!
~
Alessandra Fix, Evens St. Pierre, Emilcare Charles, Isaiah Carpenter-Winch, and Jianxiao Shi. Sanne Wright as our alternate.
~
This summer you are welcome to come on Thursday afternoon from 4-5 p.m.to visit the garden, look for urban birds, harvest delectable organically grown vegetables, or write poetry. Weed and water.
~
Finally, Dear Barbara B. you have been such a huge supporter of the CitySprouts garden. Take some Swiss chard with you.
~
Another great year in a great garden.
~
Any questions write LForrest@citysprouts.org
• Linnaean Community School News. Congratulations to the winners of the Community Schools 40th Anniversary Logo design contest: Fiona O'Loughlin, Sasha Williams and Seamus Tingle. Their designs will be used on our future literature.
A sincere “thank you” to the Graham and Parks teachers and parents who have sent donations towards scholarships to G&P students attending Camp Seafaring this summer!
Cambridge Community Schools is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year. Parents and staff will be invited to celebrate at our Gala to be held in October 2009. Details to follow!
Thanks to students, parents, staff for your many contributions to the Graham & Parks Community throughout the year! Have a lovely summer – rest, recharge and make sure you do at least one thing that brings you joy!
See you in September!
|
