With the chill of an approaching winter in the air, the students, families and staff of the FMA made their annual trek to Izzy’s park for the Turkey Trot on November 27th.

The morning slate of races were full of drama and excitement as the students raced around the field chasing glory and immortality. This year saw the biggest crowds ever lining the racecourse to cheer on the students. The excitement in the air was palpable! It truly was a wonderful way for our school community to come together before heading off for Thanksgiving break.

Congratulations to all the students who ran and have become a part of this great tradition, one that is focused on spending time with our friends, getting some exercise and celebrating our FMA family. In reflecting on this year’s Turkey Trot I am struck with excitement and sadness because
this marks the beginning of the end for our 5th graders time at the FMA. I know I speak for all of us at the FMA when I say you will be missed and we wish you the best of luck in middle school next year!

Many thanks to all the staff that help make the Turkey Trot possible and also to all the families and friends that came out to make it a truly special day! See you next year!

Fifth Grade Poets

Fifth graders recently finished reading Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. As part of wrapping up the novel, the students received a menu of project options offering them a chance to demonstrate their knowledge about the text in a variety of ways. Some students wrote raps then treated us to a heated rap battle, others authored newspaper articles describing the events of the climax of the book, and some created a dictionary of "Kekisms" to translate the poetic language used by the narrator into typical English words. The students worked hard on their projects and their final drafts were very impressive! One student, Jennifer Alcius Etienne, wrote a poem, titled Kek, that sums up the main character's experience and feelings throughout the novel. Read the poem >>

From the Nurse's Office

The end of the year is a good time to review health-related items. If you haven’t sent a copy of your child’s most recent physical exam to school, please send one to the health office. A current physical exam has your child’s updated height and weight as well as information about new health concerns, for example, allergies. An up-to-date physical is especially important for students in the 4th grade. If you haven’t sent one to school in some time, ask your pediatrician’s office for a copy of the “school form”.

December also means the arrival of freezing cold temperatures and snow. Make sure that your child is dressed warmly for school. Layers of clothing work best for any outdoor activities like recess or walking to and from school. Your child will need a hat, scarf and gloves to stay warm when temperatures are close to freezing (32F/0C). Don’t forget to keep feet warm too, and wear socks that cover the ankles.

As part of the Fletcher Maynard Academy’s commitment to community engagement and wellness, services are available to anyone who requires warm winter clothing. A local warehouse has new and gently used winter coats, scarves, hats, boots, and other items available to families free of charge. Please talk to Mr. Daniel Skeritt for details.

FMA at Harvard Basketball Game

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