WS Newsletter - 11/15/13
Friday, November 15, 2013 at 2:42PM
Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner
November 15, 2013
Clear the Hall Secure the Building Drill
As you know, there is a new law that requires schools to do lock down drills every other month, (6 in all). We take safety very seriously in this school and we make sure to conduct at least one drill a month, including fire, evacuation, lock down and bus drills. On Tuesday, November 12th, at 8:35 am, we conducted a Clear the Hall Secure the Building, Internal Threat drill. The children and staff knew of the new drill in advance, so they could recap important safety procedures during Morning Meeting. We have notified students and staff in advance of every single drill this far this school year, and we will continue to do so until January. By January, even our littlest students should be skillful and practiced and able to follow protocol without rehearsals or prior warning, just like in a real threat. On Tuesday, within seconds of the announcements, not a sound could be heard in this school. Every door was locked, inside and outside doors, so entry could not be gained. When I announced the “All Clear” command, I praised the staff and students for doing an excellent job. I am so very proud of them and how seriously they take these practice drills.
Welcome New Hires at WS
**Tara Smith, Long Term Kindergarten Substitute, to start on January 31, 2014 thru the last day of school in June.
**Patty Pomerleau, Title 1 Math Teacher and Math Magic Facilitator. Her first day will be November 13, 2013. The Math Magic Program will start on the 18th of November. This position will now be 5 days a week and is paid for by federal funds.
**Connie Connor, Title 1 Math Coach. Connie will be working two days a week, primarily Mondays and Tuesdays. Her position is paid for through federal funds.
**Linda Dion, Special Education Paraprofessional. Linda was recently hired by Central Office and will be working with special needs children attending our school. Linda's first day of school will be November 18, 2013.
**These are the school nurses who will cover Emily Steven's maternity leave, Nov. 22, 2013 to March 3, 2014:
Monday - Alanna Farnsworth
Tuesday - Diane Ritland
Wednesday - Karen Townsend
Thursday - Marnie Rondeau
Friday - Alanna Farnsworth
Welcome to all of these folks!
Faculty vs Student Basketball Game and Pep Assembly
Kelly Harriman, WS AD, has scheduled a pep rally and basketball game for 1:15 pm on Tuesday, November 26th in the gym. 7th and 8th grader basketball players will be taking on the seasoned, skillful and lightning fast WS staff and faculty! We hope to be gentle with the kids, but no promises! Kelly will be the student's coach and Nate McKeen has offered to coach the old guys... hmm, I mean the highly qualified faculty and staff! Faculty and staff not playing basketball on the 26th, will disperse themselves in the bleachers to support and supervise classes, as many of the teachers will be on the court. Parents and Community Members are encouraged to help with crowd control! Please join us on the 26th. Lots of laughter is encouraged!
Community/School Thanksgiving Feast
Once again, WS is planning a community/school Thanksgiving Feast on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. There will be limited seating, so please make your reservations by Friday, November 15, 2013. Call the school for more information.
Weathersfield Math Team- Nov and Dec 2013 Practice and Meet Schedule
Thursday, November 14: Practice - 2:30-3:30
Tuesday, November 19: Practice - 2:30-3:30
Thursday, November 21: Practice - 2:30-3:30
Tuesday, December 3: Practice - 2:30-3:30
Thursday, December 5: Meet @ Kearsarge Regional High School*
*Students will arrive back at WS at approx. 6:00 pm
Picture Retake Day
November 26th is Picture Retake Day. Look your best, please!
Student Council News
Spirit Week will be December 2-6, 2013. The first SC dance of the year will be on Friday, December 13th!
Thanksgiving Baskets
The Service Group has been collecting the following items for Thanksgiving Baskets. The class with the most donations will win a pizza party!!! They will be filling 20 baskets for the community.
All donations are due by Friday, Nov. 22nd. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Items needed:
Turkey
Potatoes
Squash
Cranberry Sauce
Stuffing
Canned Veggie
Pickles
Pie Crust
Pie Filling
Gravy
Juice
Opportunity for Speed Stacks Group Order
Dear Parents,
We are currently doing a sport stacking unit in PE. Sport stacking is an exciting sport where students stack and unstack 12-specially designed cups (Speed Stacks) in predetermined sequences. Students race against the clock for faster times and race against each other in relays. Sport stacking promotes hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, quickness, concentration, and fitness-plus. The students love it!
Sport stacking uses both sides of the body and brain developing important skills needed to dribble and shoot a basketball, throw and catch a baseball, play a musical instrument, type on a computer and more. By activating both sides of the brain, students also benefit academically with greater focus and concentration levels.
One of my goals, as a Physical Educator, is to promote activity at home through positive alternatives to computer, television and video game screen time. I believe that sport stacking is a unique, fun and simple activity that motivates kids to get up and move. To help accomplish my goal of keeping kids active and healthy, I invite you and your student to participate in our school Group Order with Speed Stacks.
Group order participants:
• Receive special school discounts on their favorite gear
• Take advantage of free shipping on all orders.
• Help our school earn free equipment – the more you order, the more we earn for the program.
Choose your items from the product brochure and order using these easy steps:
1. Go to the Group Order Store online at www.speedstacks.com/go
2. Find our school in the listing and place your order.
Instructor Name: Laura Berry
Our order is starting: November 6
Ending: November 25
Your order must be placed before the ending date
Thank you for supporting our Physical Education Program! Remember that our school earns free Speed Stacks equipment based on your participation!
Laura M. Berry
K-8 Physical Education Teacher
Weathersfield School
Grade 8 is Going to Boston!
The 8th grade met their goal! They raised a total of $4,667.25 for their annual spring trip to Boston! On Saturday, Nov. 9th, they completed their raffle. Congratulations to the following people for winning a prize from the 8th grade raffle:
Martha Ingalls: 42" TV
Jane Walter: Homemade Quilt
Deb Gurney: Gift Card Package
Gwenn Nichols: Simon Pearce Tree
Maryann Wilson: Sonic Toothbrush
Mary Stone: $50 Alpaca Meat
We are so proud of you all for reaching your goal, 8th Grade! Special thanks to PTA and all of their help and support!
Winter Activities for WS - Looking Ahead
Please mark your calendars for this year's winter activity dates:
January 17, 2014
January 24, 2014
January 31, 2014
Make Up Date: Feb. 14, 2014
Happy November,
JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal
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