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Growing by . . . . . .
Leaps & Bounds
Issue Number 29 |May 6, 2011
Westwood Public Schools does notdiscriminate on the basis of age,
race, color, sex, religion, disability,national origin or sexual orientation
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Message from the principal
Dear Families:
A Martha Jones mother approached me recently and asked, "What ever happened to your son?" She had read about Adam in Leaps and Bounds, where I have shared my worry that he would always feel trapped between his two highly successful and school-loving sisters, never wanting to forego a basketball (or baseball or soccer ball) for a book, and living only for the fun of the moment - heedless to consequences and the need for planning and preparation. The Martha Jones mom wanted to know the end of the story. "Did Adam turn out okay?"
Parents and teachers share a concern about our children's future. We question whether we are shaping them in productive ways. Will they grow into thoughtful, respectful, responsible, competent, and happy adults? Will they ever shed the traits - from impulsiveness to obsessiveness to obliviousness - that can stand in the way of learning and growth? Do our efforts have any impact?
The Blessing of the Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel is an insightful and practical guide for parents and teachers wondering how to help. One powerful theme in the book is "channeling your child's yetzer hara (evil impulses)....that (are) also the source of all passion and creativity....The parents' (and teachers') challenge is to teach their child how to control the energy of his yetzer hara and transform it into greatness....It means not only enforcing a set of rules but also accepting your child's temperament, respecting his limitations, and shoring up his strengths." In short, the job for parents and teachers is to respect our children's idiosyncrasies and find the positive power within those very traits that can drive us to distraction. Implicit is the acknowledgment that enforcing expectations while also accepting, respecting, and shoring up will take time.
So what ever happened to Adam? The traits that had been my greatest concern over the years - his obliviousness to his surroundings, his irrepressible energy and enthusiasm, his hyper focus in areas that were meaningful and motivating (to the detriment of other areas) - are the very same qualities that have now brought success and satisfaction. Adam runs political campaigns, spending endless hours on causes that matter deeply to him, channeling the excitement of the last minutes on the basketball court to the last days of getting out votes. His disregard for personal belongings is now an asset given the mobility and unpredictability of his work. His yetzer hara has been channeled (mostly) in positive and constructive ways!
This issue of Leaps and Bounds comes with my best wishes for a wonderful Mother's Day. May you put aside doubts and concerns and have a day to see in your child's yetzer hara his or her creative, passionate, unique, goofy, thoughtful, curious, irrepressible, and developing self.
Celebrate all you have been able to give your children.
Happy Mother's Day!
Peggy Scott
p.s. If you would like to borrow a copy of Blessing - please ask. I also have Wendy Mogel's book for parents of middle-school children, Blessing of the B Minus.
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May 2011 Calendar
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No School & Early Release Wednesdays:
May 30 - Memorial Day
June 23 - Last Day of 2010-11 - 12:10 pm dismissal
May 4 & 25; June 15
June 23 - 12:10 dismissal
Meetings:
May 11 - Site Council 3:15 pm
May 19 - School Committee - WHS 7:30 pm
May 20 - PTO meeting 9:00 am
May 26 - Gr. 5 Parent Orientation Night - TMS 7:00 pm
Special Events:
May 11 - Recorder Concert 3F & 3L - 10:15 am
May 19 - Butterflies - Enrichment program for grade 2
May 27 - Memorial Day program 9:00 am - blacktop
Class Trips:
May 18 - 3F to Fisher School
May 19 - 3L to Fisher School
May 20 - 3M to Fisher School
May 31 - Grade 4 to Museum of Science
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Martha Jones News
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Thank you to WEF! We have been approved for a Westwood Educational Foundation grant to bring a performing group entitled, "The Power of One" to kick-off our anti-bullying/positive behavior efforts for 2011-2012. The performance will be booked for the opening of school in September 2011. A series of skits will portray what bullying is, what can be done about it, and how every child has the power of one - the power to report bullying. The emphasis is placed on the part we each must play to make our community a safer, better place for everyone. Every student and faculty member will take the "anti-bullying oath" at the end of the assembly, and sign a huge poster for the school hallway. The presentation connects perfectly to the State mandates about bullying education, and our specific efforts at Martha Jones to teach civil behavior and responsibility.
Thank you parents! The faculty and staff were treated royally throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. From chocolates on Monday morning to banners in the hallways to classroom books to a scrumptious feast - you made all the adults at Martha Jones feel appreciated. Special thanks to Jennifer Kinnear, Sue Becker, Michelle Cawley, and Nancy Deehan for being the elves behind the scenes.
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PTO News
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Volunteer Opportunities
Field Day Volunteers Needed!
Final PTO Meeting
Our final PTO meeting of the school year is scheduled for Friday morning May 20th at 9:00am. The meeting will be held in the MJ library and we will have coffee and muffins. Please join us as we will be welcoming our new PTO board members for the next school year.
Teacher Appreciation Week
The teachers and staff enjoyed chocolate treats on Monday, a wonderful lunch brought in by our families on Tuesday and received a special book of thanks made by the students in their class on Friday. A big THANK YOU goes out to all the families who made salads, baked desserts, purchased paper products, drinks etc....The food was delicious and your time and donations are appreciated. Thank you to everyone for their contributions!!
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School Directory Help Needed
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We are looking for someone who is familiar with Microsoft Publisher to help with the faculty picture pages for the school directory.
This would involve:
· Gathering photographs of any new staff members
· Loading the pictures into publisher (a template has already been created)
· Making any formatting edits
This project is completed during the first few weeks in September. Anyone who is interested please contact Kara Johnsen at kjohnsen@verizon.net. Thank you.
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Update from the Faculty Beahvior Committee
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This year the primary focus of the faculty Behavior Committee was on responding to last spring's bullying survey. A behavior rubric was put in place which clearly outlined expectations, procedures and protocols for students and faculty. Communication was improved with parents. Next year the faculty will expand their focus to the specific behavioral expectations - in and out of the classroom - that underlie a safe and productive learning environment. The goal is to create a parallel rubric by early fall.
Again, you will be kept informed and encouraged to support and reinforce our efforts from home.
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Curious Creatures
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Last Friday Kindergarten students were treated to a visit from Curious Creatures as part of an Enrichment Program. The children observed and touched a tarantula, a bearded dragon, two different pythons, and a chinchilla. They also learned about the creatures' natural habitats and their diets.
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School-Wide Book Swap
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Student Council News
One project for the month of May is a school-wide book swap for students and adults (teachers and parents). Here's how it works:
Bring in an old book (in good condition) that you no longer read
Swap it for another book you'd like to read
Book boxes will be in the hallway between Kindergarten and the Library
The boxes are divided by K-1, 2-3, 4-5, & Adult
Any kind of book is okay
Hope you and your family will bring a book/swap a book!
Declan Burke & Ryan Lewis - Student Council reps from 4W & 4O
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Welcome Class of 2024!
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On Wednesday night Chris Layton & Janet Schwartz, K teachers and Celeste Mahoney, our nurse helped welcomed the parents of entering K families.
The teachers were joined by Martha Jones parents who also helped to welcome, provide information and reassurance. Thank you to our faculty and PTO reps Michelle Cawley & Suzanne Becker, Mike Kusmin - current K parent and Early Childhood Council rep, and Dave Burke - parent emeritus (Dave's 7th child will be entering MJ in the fall). Entering K students visited on Thursday and Friday.
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"Music & Youth" Fundraiser
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Featuring Middle School Rock Band
static
Jason Oberstein
Jeremy Brown
Trevor Brown
Owen Grady
Matt MacKenzie
with musical stylings of Josh Klein
Allin Church
683 High Street Dedham
May 14, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
suggested donation: $10/adult, $5/child, $20 cap/family
Music & Youth builds music clubhouses in under-served
communities in and around Boston. For more information, contact Martha
Oberstein at 781-440-0885.
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