Leaps & Bounds 12/15/06
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Leaps and Bounds
Issue 13 December 15, 2006
72 Deerfield Avenue
Westwood, Massachusetts02090
781-326-7500 x-1504 (Fax: 781-320-0189)
Calendar:
Monday, December 18th: High School Chorale & Orchestra Concert – 7:30pm
Tuesday, December 19th: Middle School Chorus – 7pm
Wednesday, December 20th: AllTown String Concert – 7pm
Friday, December 22nd: Vacation begins at close of school
Tuesday, January 2nd: School reopens
Wednesday, January 3rd: Science Fair Mentors from Westwood High School 2:45 – 3:45
Friday, January 5th: Deerfield Folk Dancing Evening: Organized by Music Specialists
Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Yennior 6:30 – 7:30
Wednesday, January 10th: Early Release Day, K-5 dismissal at 11:25AM
Saturday, January 20th: Saturday Budget Forum, WHS Little Theater
Wednesday, January 24th: School Site Council 3:00 – 4:15
Tuesday, January 30th: PTO Meeting 9:15AM
Message from the Principal…
As the natural light dims in the winter months, many cultures and religions celebrate holidays that have light as a central symbol. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Divali, Ramadan, Loy Krathong, Luciadagen, Chinese New Year: all holidays that feature candles, lanterns, lights that fill the darkness as people commemorate historical events and annual festivals.
One celebration that occurs at this season is the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj. During this multi-day event, millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca to fulfill a lifelong goal of making the pilgrimage. Heba Munir, a fourth grader in Mrs. Dahlheimer’s class, invited her oldest brother Kaz, to share the importance of the pilgrimage. The Muirs will travel to Saudi Arabia this month to participate in the Hajj together. The words Kaz shared with our students resonate with me as they state simply the message of the season: “As salaam u alaikum. Walaikum as salaam. ~ Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace.”
For families who celebrate the holiday of Hanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, the holiday begins at sundown today, December 15th. This holiday commemorates the reclaiming of the Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of light that lasted eight days when it was thought that there was only enough oil for one.
Our library has several excellent texts that describe the international holidays with light and peace at their center. Included in the collection are the following titles: Celebrations of Light by Nancy Luenn, and the UNICEF book Children Just Like Me Celebrations! by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley, Hanukkah, Shmanukkah, by Esme Raji Codell, National Geographic Series: Holidays Around the World~ Dwali, Hanukkah, and Ramadan.
Please let the office know about holidays or traditions that your family celebrates if you would like us to share them with our school community. I hope your family is able to enjoy this time of festivities and special occasions.
Louise Lipsitz
SCHOOL NEWS…
HELP! Our Lost And Found Is Filled To Overflowing!
If you are missing outdoor clothing as the vacation week approaches, please come check the table and box in the school lobby. We plan to send unclaimed items to a charity early in the new year.
What Happens On Early Release Wednesdays?
For the next six in-service days, teachers will be working in a variety of ways to increase their knowledge and skills so as to have a positive impact on student achievement. Teachers will be improving their writing programs, increasing their repertoire of differentiated instruction techniques, learning to integrate new technology into instruction, acquiring new reading comprehension techniques and working to find effective ways to support students with special needs. Some teachers will be involved in small group projects designed to specifically address the needs of students in their classrooms. It will be a busy and productive time for everyone.
MCAS DATES For Spring, 2007
Grade 3: March 19, 21, 22; May 14, 15
Grade 4: March 20, 26, 27, 28; May 21, 22
Grade 5: March 29, 30; April 3; May 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30
Student Council Update
Submitted by: Juliana Barounis, Dominic Giugliano, and Lauren Norton.
~ We just had our 1st Deerfield Movie Night of the year. Thank you all for coming and for your generous donations. We
raised $358.15, which we will use for future Deerfield Student Council events. We had a wild time watching “The Wild”!
~ There will be a Holiday Spirit Day on Friday, December 22nd! You can wear holiday colors like red & green, or blue &
white, but no face paint, please. Make sure you come to school ready to learn. We hope you have a happy holiday season
and enjoy 2007!
Science Fair Information
~ We first want to thank Chris Aloisio and David Anderson again for a wonderful presentation of their team's robot this week. For those of you who were unaware, Chris and David are Westwood High School students participating in the school's robotic team. They visited our school this week during D.E.A.R. time and gave a presentation of their robot and demonstrated how it works. The children were truly captivated by this and really enjoyed this opportunity to see the Westwood High School Robotic's Team Robot in action!! Chris and David will be back again next week to give another presentation during D.E.A.R. time to the rest of the school. This was definitely a great way to kick off our Science Fair Month here at Deerfield.
~ The Science Fair will be held on Wednesday, January 31st. Registration packets were sent out to students last Friday. Please make sure to take a look at the material and return the registration form by Friday, December 22nd. We are also looking for parent volunteers. Please return the parent volunteer sign up form as well by December 22nd.
~ For those students who would like some help with their projects, they may contact either Ruthie O'Shea at ruthieoshea@comcast.net or Monica Esposito at monica_esposito@comcast.net. There will also be an opportunity to work with High School Mentors on Wednesday, January 3rd, immediately after school from 2:45 - 3:45 in the school Cafeteria. Mentors will be there to help students with their project ideas and help get the students on track with their projects.
~ Again, the Science Fair is open to all grade levels. It is an opportunity for all students to explore the world of science in a fun and creative way!
WESC Announces Event And Launch Of Annual Appeal
The Westwood Elementary Schools Coalition (WESC) extends to all elementary school parents an invitation to the ‘Dance Party of the Year’! You will not want to miss this year’s annual fundraiser as we go back in time to a favorite decade – THE 70’s!! That’s right, join us as we go back to the 70’s for an evening you will not forget, featuring a fabulous dinner, an extensive array of exciting auction items and dancing and fun with our special guest, Karen Blake of Oldies 103.3! Save the date - Saturday evening, March 10, 2007 from seven to midnight in the Grand Ballroom at Lombardo’s in Randolph. We hope you will join us!
The help of our elementary school families is essential to the success of our annual fundraiser. Please consider making a donation. This event offers an excellent opportunity for you or your business to support our children and our schools. Contribute an interesting auction item, buy an advertisement in our program which is sent to over 1,000 Westwood families, or utilize your company’s matching gift program. A form highlighting our event is attached to this week’s newsletter, so please be sure to check it out for additional information. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Please make checks payable to ‘WESC’, and send to PO Box 474, Westwood, MA02090. Thank you!
This event marks the 13th year of Westwood parents working together to raise funds for all five elementary schools and their Parent/Teacher Organizations. Thanks to community support last year, over $130,000 was distributed to enrich the education of all our young students! We are grateful for the community’s generosity and by working together we will continue to help preserve the quality of our children’s education. Thank you and please visit our website at www.wesconline.org for updates or send questions to wesc.online@gmail.com.
PTO NEWS…
Thank You Holiday Gift Fair Volunteers - Thank You!!!!!!!
The Holiday Gift Fair, an anticipated favorite for our Deerfield students, is made possible each year by fabulous parent volunteers! The PTO would like to thank Carolyn Mula and Maria Salvatore, our Holiday Gift Fair Chairs, for once again taking on this huge event. Many thanks for their countless hours of shopping, organizing, and wrapping! The PTO would also like to thank the numerous parent volunteers for all their help, from wrapping, to cashiering, to cookie decorating and crafts, without your help our Holiday Gift Fair wouldn't be possible.
Please Support Deerfield PTO's On-going Fund-Raising Efforts
~ Donate all used ink and toner cartridges - we receive $3. for each one!
~ Collect and have your child bring in: Box Tops for Education Box Tops
~ DeerfieldSchool Logo T-Shirts ~ Long Sleeve T's ~ Sweat Shirts. Support the Deerfield PTO and look great while
doing so! Contact Sharyn Feeney for more info: 4feeney@comcast.net or call 781-329-0522.
Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, disability, nation origin or sexual origin.
PO Box 250, Westwood, MA02090
“Neighbors Helping Neighbors”
Who We Are: Westwood Community Chest (WCC) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping
Westwood residents in need through temporary financial assistance. The organization is run
by a volunteer board and works with several town organizations, including Westwood Youth
and Family Services (WY&FS). WCC receives funds from private donors, businesses and
town organizations and distributes them to help families in need through a confidential
application process.
How We Help: WCC helps individuals and families facing temporary financial difficulties. We do this by
distributing funds to cover the costs of medical expenses, utility payments, or other essential
products and services. We do not provide money directly to the families. We do, however,
provide individuals with additional resources to help them improve their situation. And we
may also provide non-monetary support in the form of goods or gift certificates.
Who We Help: Here are just a few examples of people who use our services:
· Single mothers in need of safe summer activities for their children through our Campership program.
· Elderly people with tight budgets and rising utility bills.
· Children who need school supplies.
· Families who have experienced job loss or other financial crisis and are struggling to make ends meets.
I Need Help: If you would like to apply for assistance, please contact WCC at 781.326.3217 or WY&FS at
781.320.1006. Applications can also be downloaded on the town website on the WY&FS
page.
This process is completely confidential.
I Would Like to Help: It is through the generous support of town-based organizations and individuals that we are
able to fulfill our mission of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” Your generous donation can be
sent directly to: PO Box 250, Westwood, MA 02090
Westwood Elementary Schools Coalition
Deerfield· Downey· Hanlon · Martha Jones · Sheehan
PO Box 474 Westwood MA 02090 · www.wesconline.org
Dear Parents:
Please consider making a donation to this year’s annual WESC event, which benefits our elementary
school PTA/PTOs. Last year through your generous donations, we raised over $133,000 for our schools.
• Cash Donations: Benefactor — Donations of $500 or more.
Patron — Donations of $250 or more.
Friend — Donations of $100 or more.
Donor — Donations of all other amounts.
• Auction Donations: We are looking for interesting items to highlight our Auction.
Examples of these could be (but are not limited to):
Event Tickets: sports, theatre, concerts, etc. Travel: trips, vacation home stays, etc.
Gift Certificates: area restaurants, shopping, etc. Services: home improvements, photography, etc.
Sports Memorabilia: pictures, equipment, etc. Children’s Activities: camps, sports, etc.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Zonderman at WESCAuction@aol.com.
• Business Donations and Advertisements: We are asking your business or employer to
make/match a donation or advertise in the event program, which is sent to over 1000 families!
Your Human Resources office may have matching gift forms, so just send it with your gift to
help us do even more!
Questions? Contact Dawn Khoury at drdawn@khourychiro.com.
WESC DINNER, DANCE AND AUCTION Saturday, March 10th, 2007 at Lombardo’s in Randolph
Please fill out the lower portion of this and return to school in an envelope marked ‘WESC’ or to our PO Box.
Checks should be made payable to WESC. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Federal Id: 04-3518703
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! We count on your support!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name_____________________________Address_______________________________________
Phone number_______________________School________________Email____________________
Auction item (description) or monetary donation___________________________________________
WESC – Working Together to Preserve the Quality of Our Children’s Education
Nina Lombardo Barros • Paula Bezdedeanu • Karen Colantuoni • Barbara Fitzgerald • Dawn Khoury
Jennifer Kinnear • Katariina Lahti • Anne MacKinlay • Joanne Borzakian Ouellette • Jennifer Zonderman
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