Reading Buddies at FMA
First grade students met their Reading Buddies in late February, and will share read-aloud time with them weekly through the end of May. During the 30-minute sessions, the students and their partners select books from a diverse collection to read and discuss. The students enjoy this private time with their Buddies while deepening their comprehension skills, building vocabulary, and strengthening listening abilities. The students and volunteers develop relationships built on shared interests in books, and have a wonderful time together!

Reading Buddies is a program organized by Cambridge School Volunteers. The FMA program is supported by Sanofi-Genzyme, with additional volunteers provided by Neon Therapeutics and our community. Reading Buddies works with FMA second graders October through January, and with FMA first graders February through May.



The Great Debate
Fifth graders in Room 303 re-enacted the passionate debate between Patriots and Loyalists that lead up to the American colonies’ decision to declare their independence to Great Britain. Pictured is Patriot Mercy Otis Warren and her PR Agent as well as Loyalist Lord Dunmore and his PR Agent.



Ms. Newton Drops the Mic (Retirement)
As Ms. Newton’s dances off into retirement at the end of the school year, city officials recognized her work on behalf of the children and families of the city of Cambridge. We’re told she’ll next be seen starring opposite Denzel Washington in a reboot of “A Man called Hawk”.

Fifth Grade Takes on Poetry
Fifth graders participated in several poetry readings throughout the recent curriculum unit. After that, they had to use all they learned to create a poetry book, which you can see in the third floor hallway near Ms. Brennan’s room. The books took many skilled authors weeks to make and included both structured and unstructured poems, including clerihews, diamantes, haikus, and limericks. Every 5th grader was required to make one. The books all have five or more poems and include a variety of topics and themes, making them very interesting to read. Read the poems >>



Autism Awareness Week & City Hall Celebration
We invite parents and friends to our Autism Awareness Exhibition on Friday, April 6, at FMA, beginning at 8:15AM in the Fletcher Maynard Academy gymnasium. This event will include “stations" staffed by staff and volunteers at which students can experience activities related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Pre-K through K students will be in the gym from 8:15-9:15AM. Grades 2 and 3 will be in the gym 9:15-10:15AM, and grades 3, 4, and 5 will be there from 10:15-11:15AM. Children, families, and community members are all welcome at any point in the exhibition.

On Monday, April 2, Representatives from the FMA, Cambridgeport, King Open, and Cambridge Street Upper School all came out to Light City Hall Up Blue as part of International Autism Awareness Day!

Autism Awareness Speech
Hi my name is Eden Cherisme I am a fifth grader representing the Fletcher Maynard Academy school. I am going to talk about how I learned about autism and my experience around kids with autism. Read the full speech >>



Upcoming Concerts
April is here! In just two short months, we will be having final concerts.

April's Musician of the Month is George Gershwin. We are echo singing "It Ain't Necessarily So", Singing and listening to "I Got Rhythm", watching and singing songs from his Jazz influenced opera, "Porgy and Bess”, and listening to great musicians who are winners of the Gershwin Prize, a songwriting award presented by the Library of Congress. Such winners are Stevie Wonder, Carole King, and another Musician of the Month, Paul Simon, who we enjoyed in January.

If you have an idea of a Musician of the Month for next year, please email me.

From the Nurse's Office
It’s lovely to know that the trees and flowers will be blooming soon. However, their arrival brings pollen and seasonal allergies. Some kids are especially sensitive to the pollen, and the symptoms can distract them from their school work.

The health office cannot supply allergy medications (antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays). If your child needs medication for his or her allergies, make sure that you give the medication before s/he leaves for school. These medications work best when given regularly. Please do not give your child Benadryl to relieve allergy discomfort or send allergy medications with your child to school. If your child feels especially uncomfortable with spring allergies, talk with your doctor or nurse practitioner about the best way to treat allergy discomfort.

Race and Equity Read Aloud PD
On Thursday, March 29, many of the JK, PK, and kindergarten teachers took part in professional development coordinated by Tonya Katz (grade 2 teacher) and Cherie Coulson (school counselor) together with graduate students from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. The workshop, an early stage in the Racial Equity Project being developed by FMA staff and Harvard students, introduced our early childhood educators to carefully selected books designed to introduce our youngest learners to concepts of multiculturalism, educating them about the range of skin tones in age appropriate and fun language. Read on >>

FMA Policy Update
As of 2/26/2018, the front door of FMA will remain LOCKED during the morning rush period and throughout the day. Parents/visitors are expected to sign in at the front office upon entering FMA.

Students and parents will be able to enter the building promptly at 7:45AM– unless harsh weather conditions students will report to the cafeteria downstairs.

Uniforms are expected to be worn EVERYDAY– with the exception of no uniform Friday– the first of every month for $1.

Students are tardy after 8AM, please remember to report to the front office to get a pass to gain entry into your classroom.

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Have you checked out Find It Cambridge? 
Cambridge's one-stop resource for programs and activities for children and families? Want to help make it even better? 
Find It Cambridge works closely with CPS to provide accurate information that families need. Find It has partnered with a group of Harvard graduate students to assess its current impact and find ways to make it even better. If you have TWO minutes to share your opinion, click here.



2018 DHSP Summer Program Guide
Get started on planning a summer of fun! 
Learn more via Find It Cambridge >>