Sailing Comes to FMA
On any given Tuesday or Thursday afternoon during the month of September, you can spot the large red, white, and blue sail gliding across the waters of the Charles River. Sail to Prevail, supported by CEO, Paul Callahan, and President, Alexander Egan creates opportunities for children to become active participants in the sailing experience. Fletcher Maynard
Academy students alongside members of the Harvard Varsity Sailing Team and Sail to Prevail instructor, Allie, learn the basics of boat handling, steering with a tiller, trimming a sail, and boat safety. They make children comfortable and confident while having tons of fun.

FMA students have been overheard saying, “This is the best day ever!”, “Do you think the boat will tip over?”, “This is awesome!” and “Can I come back next week?” As the month draws to a close, everyone is looking forward to going back out next September.



FMA Staff Engage in First (of Five) Equity PD Workshops
The FMA faculty and staff began their journey to explore race and equity during the early release PD on Tuesday, September 18. This year the staff will participate in five professional development workshops focused on exploring how matters of race and equity impact members of the school community. FMA’s ultimate goal is to develop strategies to help the school community better engage with matters of race and equity through curriculum, pedagogy, and student support. Although this work is part of FMA’s year’s long equity work—that includes the evening Courageous Conversations and the equity curriculum work begun last year in collaboration with the Harvard Ed school’s RIDES initiative, the work is also connected to Cambridge School District’s recently articulated focus on equity. We look forward to continuing this necessary work and will continue to share our progress. If you would like to get involved in FMA’s broader equity work please contact Uche Amaechi.

From the Music Room
By: Ms. Higgins
Welcome back, students! The Musician of the Month for October is the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops. This is our orchestra, and they play right down the street at Symphony Hall on Massachusetts Avenue. This Sunday, Sept. 30th, they will come and give a free concert with Keith Lockhart conducting at the Franklin Park Zoo. Concert is at 3PM with many opportunities to get up close and personal with the orchestra. Check out the website, which includes free community concerts by small ensembles of the BSO. Students in grades 2-5 will be learning more about the orchestra instruments and hear some major works that they will listen to and move to as well. Grade five students who are now beginning to play instruments this year can listen to the instruments and gain inspiration from these wonderful recordings and videos.

Reading Bingo
By: Ms. Aisha
What is the Reading Rainbow Challenge?
The Reading Rainbow Challenge is a reading incentive program designed to motivate and reward students for reading a variety of books as well as familiarize themselves with finding resources in the library.

How does it work?
Early in the school year, students will be given their first Reading Bingo card. Each time the student reads a book in one of the categories and writes the title of the book in that space. When the entire card is filled out, students will have a parent, guardian, sign the bottom and return the card to the library. (4th and 5th grade students will also check in with their teachers.) Students will receive a prize after finishing the orange, green, and tan colors. When students complete the purple card they are eligible to attend the Purple People Party at the end of the school year. Completed cards will be kept in a binder in the library. Learn more about Reading Bingo >>



Message from Principal Harris
September is a blur and it’s hard to believe that October is here! Fall is not sure it wants to arrive yet, but there is much happening at Fletcher Maynard Academy. I enjoyed meeting and talking to parents at both the Back to School / Curriculum Night and Room Parents meetings. I’m very committed to finding multiple ways to connect with more families during the next few months.

We’ll kick the month of October off with our monthly Leadership Team meeting, taking place on the 5th from 8 - 9:30AM. The Leadership Team is composed of family, faculty, and community members. They meet once per month (first Friday) and determine the structure of school based planning and shared decision making. All members of the FMA community are welcome to attend. During the first week of October, teachers in grades 1-5 will come together with instructional coaches, support staff, and administration to review fall screening data and create concrete plans to support individual students in making academic gains.

General Reminders For Families:

• Please have children at school prior to 7:45AM, after 8AM students are late.
• If students are picked up early, please do so before the last 15 minutes of the day
• Please call the office (617.349.6588) to report student absence, follow up with written notification is appreciated

From the Family Liaison's Office
By: Mr. Skeritt
Food for Free Weekend Background Program
The Fletcher Maynard Academy participates in the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over the weekend, free of charge. The vision from the Fletcher Maynard Academy Family Resource Liaison office was to continue this program with new backpacks so that the children can carry the meals home securely and discretely.

Through the collaboration of non profit organizations; Food for Free Cambridge, Cradles to Crayons, Brighton, and Family Liaison, Daniel Skeritt, the FMA brought in a large number of new backpacks to be used in the program.

Room Parent Newsletter
One of principal Robin Harris’s goals for this school year is has been to re-establish the FMA Room Parents group. Family Liaison, Daniel Skeritt spearheaded this effort by reaching out to all FMA parents and guardians to recruit new room parents. The results within the first couple of weeks has been phenomenal.

More than 20 parents signed up to become room parents, or as point persons to help the classroom teachers. The room parent roles also involves recruiting parents for projects and sharing information from the school or classroom.

If you would like to become a parent/guardian volunteer please speak with your child's classroom teacher, or contact FMA Family Resource Liaison Daniel Skeritt at 617.349.6589 or email him.

Let's Connect! 
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Outside Opportunities
Mayor's Town Hall: Supporting Cambridge Youth
Thursday, October 11 | 6PM | City Hall, 
795 Massachusetts Avenue
What supports do Cambridge young people need in our city? What supports and services already exist? Come hear from city officials, young people, youth workers, and the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission and add your voice on this important topic. Brief presentations will be followed by discussion groups. Refreshments will be provided. Learn more >>