A Note from Principal Tony Byers
October is usually a low-key month at school. It’s when we’ve hit our stride, students know what’s expected of them, and we’re getting deep into our year of learning. It’s a month that cheerfully hums along on its way to the darker and colder days of November. But this October felt different, less settled than usual, especially over the last week. In a school of nearly 400 students, it’s natural that some children will arrive in the morning more sensitive or anxious than usual. We all have bad days. But over the last week, this sensitivity seemed to be almost collective rather than individual. More children seemed worried. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the presidential election was also entering its final week. Hear more from Tony >>

Mix It Up Day!
We had a wonderful Mix It Up Day at G&P recently. Learn more >> 

Do You Have a Younger Child Who is Ready to Start Kindergarten at G&P? 
By Lauren Morse, Family Liaison
Do you have a child in Graham & Parks and a younger sibling? If your younger child was born between September 1st, 2012 and March 31st, 2013, your child will be eligible for Junior Kindergarten. If your child will be 5 years old by August 31st, 2017, you child will be eligible for Kindergarten. Don’t miss this opportunity – you can receive “sibling preference” but only if you apply during the January Lottery. To make the process easier, G&P families can submit applications for younger siblings to Lauren Morse, the Family Liaison at Graham & Parks, rather than at the Family Resource Center. Please contact Lauren at [email protected] or 617-349-6577 x115 to start the sibling registration process. Please keep your eyes out for a letter in your child’s backpack with more details, coming soon. Please return the bottom portion of that letter to let Lauren know you are planning to register a sibling, and don’t hesitate to contact her with any questions. NOTE: Sibling applications for JK and K are Due January 8th, 2017 but the process can take some time so it’s best to start early!

G&P Market & Cradles to Crayons!
By Lauren Morse, Family Liaison
Free Food!
Please join us for our second G&P Market of the year on Thursday, November 10th from 2:15-4:30PM in the Main Lobby. The G&P Market is open to ALL families and is a great way to get free, fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as important staples like pasta, cereal, rice and beans, and more! We also often have free books, which the student love! Thanks, as always to Food for Free and the Mayor’s office. Please bring a shopping bag with you. If you’d like to help before or during the Market, please email Lauren at [email protected].
Free Clothes!
Thanks to a new partnership between Food for Free and Cradles to Crayons, G&P families will also be able to request free like-new clothes and school supplies from Cradles to Crayons! Cradles to Crayons provides KidPacks with everyday essentials--such as clothing, shoes, jackets, hats and gloves, and more-- for children in need from birth through age 12. Each KidPack is uniquely ordered for an individual child to match their sizes and needs. Cradles to Crayons will be on site to take KidPack requests at the G&P Market on November 10th from 2-4:30PM. Families are also able to request KidPicks for G&P siblings who do not attend our school.
Donate Clothes!
If you’d like to donate like-new children’s clothes, shoes or winter gear to Cradles to Crayons, please bring them to the G&P Market on November 10th. Many thanks to Cradles to Crayons for bringing this additional resource to our school!



International Math Games Night
Save the Date! Wednesday, November 16, 5:30-7PM
What? Light Supper & Family Math Games from around the world ...and FUN!!
Where? G&P Cafeteria
When? Wednesday, November 16
Light supper from 5:30-6PM; Family Games from 6-7PM
Calling all volunteers! If you have a family game that you would like share with a group on family math night, PLEASE contact Claire Dahill at [email protected].
We will be highlighting math at G&P during the week of November 14 – watch for intriguing, interactive math problems in the lobby, information on our math program: Math in Focus, and resources for math at home.  




Staff Spotlights:
Erica Schank & Wislande Pierre
Get to know Erica and Wislande with this handy Q&A!
Read on >>



What's Happening in Our Classrooms...
Hear what's been going on in some of our G&P classrooms lately! Read more >>

What's New with Technology at G&P? 
By Jen Lavalle, Instructional Technology Specialist ([email protected])
Students in all grades are practicing how to apply CARES Values while using the technologies in their classrooms. In 4th and 5th grade, students are learning about digital citizenship - the rules for appropriate, safe, productive behavior online. Students are learning to distinguish between public and private information and how to make safe choices, including what makes a strong password! Here are some resources for speaking to your child about being safe online:
--Kids.gov: Online Safety Activities and Games for students
--Kids.gov: Resources & articles for parents
--Commonsense Media: Privacy & Internet Safety information for parents
Questions or comments? Please don't hesitate to reach out!



Get Involved at G&P!
There are so many ways to get involved at G&P.
Learn more >>

In Our Community
Find out what's going on in our Cambridge community!
Read more >>



Math Corner
Tips for Helping Your Child's Mathematical Development
By Claire Dahill, G&P Math Coach 
–The first step to success in math is a positive attitude! 
–Play math puzzles and games with your child, this will help them become better strategizers and problem-solvers. They will begin to see mathematical thinking and reasoning as something that can be fun. It is the parent-child interaction that promotes learning. 
–When your child is struggling with a math problem ask them to explain what they’re thinking. Try asking, “What have you tried so far?” Try not to show them the way you learned to compute – it is often different than they way they’re learning in class and can confuse the child. If they’re really stuck on a homework problem write a note to his/her teacher. This is important feedback for teachers. 
–Never share that you hate math or you were bad at it – especially mothers. Researchers found that as soon as mothers shared that idea with their daughters, their daughter’s achievement went down. 
–Encourage number sense and working flexibly with numbers. For example, when working out 29 + 56, if you take one from the 56 and add it to the 29, now you have 30 + 55, which is much easier to work out. 
–Encourage a “growth mindset” and the idea that making mistakes and working through them helps our brains to grow stronger. Praise persistence and problem-solving, not being “smart.” Stay tuned for more math news next month.