Leaps & Bounds 2/15/08
| Department/School: Deerfield | ||||||
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| Type: General | ||||||
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Leaps and Bounds
Issue 20 February 15, 2008
72 Deerfield Avenue
Westwood, Massachusetts02090
781-326-7500 x-1504 (Fax: 781-320-0189)
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Calendar:
Mon, Feb 18th – Fri, Feb 22nd: February Vacation – no school
Wednesday, February 27th: Early Release Day, all students dismissed at 11:25AM, no lunch
Tuesday, March 4th: All Day In Service – No School for Students
Wednesday, March 12th: Early Release Day, all students dismissed at 11:25AM, no lunch
Kindergarten Parents Night 7-8pm
Wednesday, March 19th: 9-11am - Kindergarten 2008 visiting day
Health & Wellness Fair 6-7:30pm
Thursday, March 20th: 9-11am - Kindergarten 2008 visiting day
Friday, March 21st: School closed ~ Good Friday
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Message from the Principal…
This month school is closed for a week that coincides with Presidents’ Day. The holiday honors of two prominent figures in our nation’s history: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I returned to Lincoln’s collection of letters, speeches and proclamations, and was once again, struck by his humility and self-doubt. In the face of a divided country, he wrestled with multiple conflicts: all enormous. How could he maintain a union of states? How could he encourage growth of agriculture and industry while eliminating the use of slave labor?
Children can learn a valuable lesson about famous people. Our young students can understand that our revered forefathers were human beings with strengths and frailties. Their leadership hinged upon being able to work with advisors to solve problems, recognizing that individual’s capacity is increased when he or she collaborates with others.
We see teamwork in action at school on a daily basis. Watch the K-2 buddies working together and you’ll see seven year olds feeling confident of their skills as they help their kindergarten partner. Listen to our musical rehearsals and you’ll quickly grasp the team spirit of the cast. Stop by the Student Council flower sale over the past few weeks and you would see across grade teams helping children buy flowers and write cards.
Staff members work collaboratively all day long: special education and classroom, grade level colleagues, specialist teachers connecting with classroom teachers. The adults use faculty meeting time and professional development time to work in teams. Our administrative Council meetings often provide time to brainstorm and problem solve together. We all gain strength from working with others.
A week’s vacation provides everyone with a change of routine. I hope you and your family enjoy the time whether it is a day of pajamas and free time at home or a day on the slopes or poolside, the time you spend with your children gives them the foundation of a caring relationship that they can build upon when they are on their own.
Enjoy a restful week.
Louise Lipsitz
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SCHOOL NEWS… Student Council Update Submitted by Marybeth Hogan, Christina Perrone, Colleen McDonough ~ Thank you for buying flowers for our Valentine’s Day sale! We sold 936 flowers and raised $738.00! The money will go towards our Deerfield Scholarship and the Deerfield School. A HUGE thank-you to KaBloom and Westwood Gardens for donating the beautiful carnations! ~ Pajama Spirit Day - Friday February 29th. Celebrate Leap Year and come to school comfy in your PJs! Make sure you are still appropriately dressed for outdoor recess. Join the 4th/5th grade Community Service Group in their Cradles to Crayons collection and donate brand new children’s pajamas for children in need. Drop-off the pajamas in the box in the front lobby. ~ Have a safe and happy vacation! Westwood Summer Program The Westwood Summer Program for students entering grades K-1 and grades 2-8 will run during the following dates this summer: Session A: June 30 - July 11
Session B: July 14 - 25
The cost is $210.00 per session. Registration information and course descriptions will be available soon. Third Grade Parents – Meetings Re: Body Safety Theater Program
All third grade parents should have recently received a letter introducing the Body Safety Theater Program that will be performed for the third grade classes in March. Please remember that we will be holding two identical informational meetings where parents/guardians will have the opportunity to view a video of a previous performance and to ask any questions they may have about the program. We invite all third grade parents from any of the elementary schools to join us for one of the two meetings:
Tuesday, February 26th, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
OR
Wednesday, February 27th, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
The above meetings will be held at the Islington Community Center at 288 Washington Street. The Westwood Youth and Family Services’ entrance is located on East Street, across from Morrison baseball field at the top of the wheelchair accessible ramp.
If parents/guardians have any questions prior to the meetings, or are unable to attend either of the meetings and would like further information about the program, please do not hesitate from contacting Danielle Sutton at Westwood Youth & Family Services at (781) 251-2575.
MCAS
Specific MCAS dates are listed below~ all sessions begin at the start of the school day. All sessions are untimed. Students have as much time as they need, up to the full school day.
Grade 3
Grade 4
March 28, 31, April 1
Grade 5
Kindergarten Schedule
School will be closed for kindergarten children on March 19th and 20th ~ the registration days for incoming kindergarten students. The evening meeting for entering kindergarten parents is Wednesday, March 12th at Downey from 7:00-8:00.
School Closed March 21st
School will be closed for all Deerfield students on Friday, March 21st for Good Friday.
FROM THE HEALTH ROOM… Save The Date Wednesday March 19, 2008 - 6:00 - 7:30pm for the Health and Wellness Fair. More information to follow. Calling All Health Professionals Do you have a desire to share your skill at a school sponsored Health Fair? We are looking for folks willing to share their time and skill at our Health Fair on March 19th from 6 - 7:30pm. Hands on activities are always a big hit. Please contact Tricia DeAngelis in the health office if you can help. PTO NEWS…
Cookie Dough Sale – EXTENDED until FEBRUARY 25th!
Here’s your chance to sell more cookie dough to benefit the Deerfield PTO – the sale has been extended until the end of the February break. Please send order forms in to the teachers on Monday, February 25th. Remember – cookie dough will be delivered to Deerfield on March 20th and will need to be picked up within two days. The dough will be delivered frozen under dry ice. Once home, the dough can go back and forth from refrigerator to freezer. Please direct any questions to Donna Johnson or Gheed Itani at deerfieldpto@gmail.com. Thanks again for participating! Science Fair
What an awesome science fair on Wednesday! Deerfield is really full of bright, creative, kids with supportive parents! Thank you to Ruthie O’Shea and Andrea Yanoff who chaired the science fair, and the many volunteers who were so professional with their lab coats, handshakes, and certificates to present. Thanks also to all the teachers and staff who came, too. It was wonderful to see so many people there, who were so interested in talking to the kids about their projects, especially on such a rainy night.
A BIG THANKS for a Successful Night!
It was great walking around and viewing all the projects the kids had presented. Everyone worked hard and we thank you for all your efforts. Such great presentations always make the science fair a huge success!
We would like to thank the following people who helped and supported us with the Deerfield Science Fair ~~
Molly Polansky, Michelle Sutrich, Paula Webster, Amy Keith, Elizabeth White, Ali Murphy, Pam O’Neill, Maryellen Nickerson, Emily Murphy, Deb Cautela, Margaret Donabed, Anne Marie Piemontese, Monica Esposito, Evelyn Somers, Kathleen Leone, and Kelly Sullivan.
We would also like to the thank the members of the Deerfield staff, with a special thanks to Mrs. Louise Lipsitz, Ms. Carolyn Nesbitt, Cate Nesbitt, Mr. Robert Sheehy, Mr. Fred Beaton and Ms. Talia Burkstein. Thank you to the Westwood High School Robotics team. Special thanks to Mr. Mark Holthouse, Kate Aloisio, Thomas McNulty, Chris Graves, Roland Zhou, Steven Campion, Chris Aloisio, and David Anderson. Finally, we would like to thank Mr. John Antonucci for coming to the Science Fair and taking part in the Deerfield “Go Green” Challenge.
Last but not least, a big thanks to all the parents and siblings for helping us make the Science Fair a special night for our kids. We look forward to seeing you all there next year.
Thank you!!!
The Science Fair Committee:
Andrea Yanoff
Ruthie O’Shea
Budget Presentation
John Antonucci came to Deerfield on Monday to review his budget requests. This meeting was very informative and well attended. It is important to keep up with what is going on throughout the school system, even when we are not voting on an override. If you missed the presentation, you can check out the information on the district website. Well informed, active parents really set Westwood schools apart and make this an excellent school system.
COMMUNITY NEWS…
Basketball Tournament 2008 Need something to do during vacation? Come and see some basketball! Your Westwood High School varsity girl’s basketball team will be hosting their annual Riley Winter Classic Basketball Tournament on Tuesday, February 19th and Wednesday, February 20th, 2008. The tournament will be held at Westwood High School. Norwood High School, Canton High School and Notre Dame Academy of Hingham will be participating with Westwood. Each night the games will be played at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Westwood plays the second game on Tuesday. Children 10 and under are free. If you would like to support the Westwood Girls Basketball Scholarship Fund, please mail your donation to: Westwood Girls Basketball, 3 Noannet Circle, Westwood, MA 02090 Children’s Show
St. John’s Nursery School in Westwood will host its annual Children’s Show on Saturday, March 1st. This year’s concert will feature the ToeJam Puppet Band. Performances are at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM and will take place at the First Parish Hall, 340 Clapboardtree Street, in Westwood. In addition to the entertainment, there will be a silent auction, raffle, and light refreshments. Tickets are $7 each and may be purchased at the door, or in advance by calling 781-329-2032.
Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, disability, nation origin, or sexual orientation.
NEW - WESC WEB AUCTION
New this year- WESC is putting over 100 auction items into a WEB auction.
These will be available on–line only!
Register to win an iPod nano!
The web auction opens February 12th and ends on March 2nd at 10:00pm
Don’t miss your chance to bid online for your favorite items.
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WESC Ticket Sales
The WESC cocktail reception and silent auction will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 and feature over 30 fabulous items, special raffles, and games
Tickets for this year’s event will be on sale:
Saturday February 9 at the Hanlon School 10am-2pm
Tickets are $60 payable by cash or check.
If you can’t make the event, help out by donating the ticket price instead of buying a ticket.
Questions? Email us at wescauction@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support!
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