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MEMORIAL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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31 West Main Street Newton, NH 03858
603-382-5251
Principal, Jonathan G. Vander Els
Assistant Principal, Donna B. Johnson
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Principal's Message
Jonathan G. Vander Els
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Dear Memorial Community:
On behalf of Sanborn's Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian Blake, I would like to begin this newsletter by thanking the many people in our Memorial/Sanborn community who supported Sanborn for the Larry O'Toole Award. We were very excited to learn on Wednesday that we had received the most votes of the six nominees, and therefore would be presented with a $100,000 dollar award to continue our innovative work in competency education. Thank you so much for your support of our students and our schools!
Over the past few weeks, students in grades three, four and five have had the opportunity to run for student council. Each class voted to elect three representatives, and those 28 representatives (including the president) comprise our council. Over the past week, members of the student council have been running for officer positions. Congratulations to the following students for being elected to officer positions by their fellow student council members:
President: Ms. Brooke Malvey
Vice-President: Mr. Tyson Khalil
Secretary: Mr. Dominic Castellano
Treasurer: Mr. Tyler St. Jean
Next Thursday, October 8th, we will be holding an induction ceremony in conjunction with our CARES assembly. We are excited that we will have a very special surprise guest to "swear in" these councilors.
On September 11th, 2015, the staff and students of Memorial School joined thousands of others across the nation in showing our pride in the United States of America by singing the Star Spangled Banner in unison. The video below, filmed by multiple teachers in our building, and edited by Ms. Jodi Tamayoshi, allows us to share this memorable experience with all of you. Enjoy.
Best regards,
Jonathan G. Vander Els, Principal
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Students Participate in the Bonnie Plant Cabbage Program
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Each Spring, Bonnie Plants donates cabbage plants to each of our 3rd grade students. "The Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program is a wonderful way to engage children's interest in agriculture, while teaching them not only the basics of gardening but the importance of our food systems and of growing our own," said Stan Cope, President of Bonnie Plants. "The program also provides youth with valuable life lessons in nurture, nature, responsibility, self-confidence, and accomplishment."
This year, Sarah Bahrakis and Lane Comtois will be entered in the NH state competition for a $1000 scholarship to be awarded in December. Sarah planted her seedling in a raised bed in her yard with many other vegetables. She watered it daily and documented the growing cycle with many pictures taken over the course of the summer. Her pictures were compiled into a beautiful book that she was able to share with her class and teachers. Lane hit the jackpot with his pot which actually had two seedlings growing ! He separated the seedlings and planted them in his front yard surrounded by an amazing batch of sunflowers. With careful nurturing and only organic fertilizer, he was able to grow TWO cabbages that were both over 35 inches round!
Great job, Sarah and Lane! Good luck in the Scholarship contest!
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5th Grade News
Written by: Mrs. Bolduc, Mr. LaPorte & Mrs. Tatirosian-Augustin |
GRADE 5 FIELD TRIPS
We are very excited about our upcoming field trips here in grade 5. The first one, the Mt. Kearsarge hiking trip, will be on Tuesday, October 20th. The trip is an extended day for us in order to give everyone ample time to reach the summit. We have another trip coming up in early November as well.
The hike up Mt. Kearsarge will start at Winslow State Park in Wilton, NH. We plan on hiking up on the Winslow Trail, and down on the Barlow Trail. The round trip is just over 2 ½ miles, and there are beautiful views of the surrounding area at the top. The students will gain some firsthand knowledge of various landforms in the area, as well as see geological evidence of the glaciers that had once covered the region.
This field trip is weather dependent, so if the forecast is for steady rain, the field trip will be rescheduled. Parents are welcome to join us in Wilton for the hike. Restrooms are available at the base of the mountain, and the parking fee is waived at this time of the year.
As mentioned above, we will have an extended day for this trip, which means that we will not return to school on time for the buses. Please make arrangements to have someone at the school to pick up your child after school that day.
Our field trip in early November will be to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. This trip is an experience that the kids will not want to miss. After this, the historical times leading up to the Revolutionary War will be difficult to forget.
More information will be sent home with your child about the field trips as we get closer. Feel free to contact your child's teacher if there are any questions.
Team 5
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School Nurse
Written by: Ms
. Sheila O'Sullivan
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End 68 Hours of Hunger
Because of the great efforts of people in our community, we will have a weekend food program starting this month for students in need. On Fridays, students who are participating in the program will get a bag of food to take home that will support their nutritional needs over the weekend. More information can be found at
www.end68hoursofhunger.org or you can call the health office at school. This is a fully confidential program, all names are kept private.
If this is a program that would be helpful to your family please contact the school nurse for more information. There is not a deadline for asking for help, if you find that this would be helpful later in the school year just let us know.
We have a food drive box in our lobby at all times. Any donations are greatly appreciated. They need non-perishable items, cans of tuna, pasta, peanut butter, cereals, crackers, etc.
Food Allergy Reminders
Please remember to give 24 hours' notice prior to bringing in food for classroom parties or birthdays. We have several students with food allergies and we want to make our class parties both fun and safe for all of our students. Classroom teachers are well informed about the food allergies of students in their class. As a general rule, please refrain from sending in foods containing any nuts or nut butters. There are also children with allergies to some fruits as well as dairy and gluten sensitivities. If you have any questions about a certain food or party item feel free to call Ms. O'Sullivan in the health office. Thank you!
Reminders
I have not received everyone's yellow emergency cards or tan medication permission cards yet. These cards need to be updated yearly in order to be valid. If you do not wish your child to receive any type of medication when in the nurse's office please fill out the form stating no medications or your specific preferences. If you need new forms we can certainly get them for you.
Upcoming Flu Season
Flu season is approaching. There have already been a few cases of influenza virus documented in New Hampshire this month. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states the single best way to prevent your child from contracting the flu virus is to get them vaccinated every year. Vaccines are available in pharmacies and in doctor's offices;
the ideal time to get vaccinated is in October. Signs of the flu include fever, chills, body aches, cough, and fatigue. If your child has a temp of over 100.0F they are not permitted to be in school and need to be fever free without the use of Tylenol or any fever reducer for 24 hours.
As always, our best defense against the flu is
good hand washing! For more information on the flu and how to prevent it, go to:
www.cdc.gov/flu.
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Technology News
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Dear Memorial Parents/Guardians:
We are delighted to be able to provide multiple ways for our students to access technology, no matter what learning space they are in. Whether dancing to the Wii in P.E., or using an iPad app in math, students are learning how to use a growing variety of devices safely and independently.
With so many technology options available, we ask that your child bring in their own set of headphones for use in sound-based technology activities. These headphones will travel with your child for different learning opportunities throughout the school.
We recommend child-friendly headphones (no ear buds, please), and have listed some brands and the vendors that carry them (see below). These headphones are made to fit a child's head, are more durable than adult styles, and, most importantly, offer a volume-limiting safety feature. This feature helps to keep young ears safe from dangerously high volume settings.
For those children who are not able to bring their own in to school, we will continue to provide school-owned headphones.
Please send your child's headphones in as soon as possible. For more information on child-safe headphones, here are some links to recommended articles:
Sincerely,
Jon VanderEls and Jodi Tamayoshi
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SRSD Budget Committee News
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DID YOU KNOW....
The Sanborn Regional School Board has established goals and priorities so that preparation for the 2016-17 budget can begin in September. District administrators will soon develop guidelines for budget preparation and criteria for new programs to propose in the budget. Also, this year a new professional staff contract will be negotiated.
This is the first is a regular series of informative pieces which the Sanborn School District Budget Committee will publish over the next six months. Our intent is to keep voters informed of the budgeting process, current issues, and progress throughout the preparation of the 2016-17 budget.
Committee members from Kingston and Newton are committed to strengthening communication both to and from voters through a variety of media, including online school newsletters and surveys, the district website, community Facebook pages and social media, print newspapers, and face to face at community events. See the Budget Committee tab on the district website, www.sau17.org, for postings of past and upcoming meetings, all of which are open to the public. Members' names and contact numbers are listed. We welcome questions and messages via email at [email protected].
The public is invited to attend all Budget Committee meetings. Currently scheduled: Thursday, September 10; October 1, 7:30 pm, Sanborn Regional High School library.
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Memorial PTO
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| Art News - by Ms. Austin |
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Welcome back to school!
The students have been very busy in the art room since returning to school this year. I have been impressed with the skill, talent and enthusiasm of all my students!
During the first month of school our fourth and fifth grade students have been working on an Origami Paper Sculpture that focuses on symmetry. Their works in progress are quite impressive!
I am eager to see our results; I hope you enjoy them too!
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PE News
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PE News
I am sure all of the student's came home teaching or showing you their new favorite workout dance, the whip and nae nae! We had a very successful start of the new school year. We have been working hard on our throwing and catching skills. In October we will be doing football and soccer, so the kids will be very active!
Mrs. McNamara & Mr. McKenney
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| End 68 Hours of Hunger News |
Win $1,000.00
Sanborn Ends 68 Hours of Hunger
Ping Pong Ball Drop
$10.00 per ball
Ball drop October 3, 2015 @ Newton Town Day @ Newton Police Complex. Winner does not need to be present.
All proceeds benefit Sanborn Ends 68 Hours of Hunger non-profit organization.
Every dollar counts when a child is going hungry!
Sanborn Ends 68 Hours of Hunger
2015 Ping Pong Ball drop Fundraiser Rule's
- Win up to $1,000.00/Cash prize
- Only 1000 balls will be sold
- Prize will be awarded, to the individual(s) whose ball(s) come to rest in the hole or closest to the center of the hole, if no balls land in the hole.
- You do not need to be present to win.
- In the event that multiple balls go into the designated hole the prize money will be divided equally between the ball owners.
- Verification of identity and eligibility will be required before prizes are released. If a winner cannot be located or fails to claim their prize within 30 days after notification the prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
- Prize awards in the event of Non-Sell out of tickets. If fewer than 1000 balls are sold by October 3, 2015 the total value of prizes shall be computed on revenue generated on ball donation entries. The following payout shall apply: 10% to the owner of the ball in the hole or in the event of multiple balls being of equal distance from the center of the hole 10% of the revenue generated on ball donation divided equally between ball owners.
For tickets:
Jen Hever - 603-560-0151
Wendy Miller - 978-210-1335
or stop by Wicks & Whimsies @ 14 Main St., East Kingston, NH
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Gale Library News
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October Happenings at the Gale Library, Newton
Halloween Crafts For Kids will be held on Sat. Oct. 24. Drop in anytime between 10 - 12 AM and choose an easy craft to make. Also drop in to choose a scary read from our great selection of Halloween books.
While you're there, take a guess at how many candies are in our Great Pumpkin Jar. If yours is the closest guess, you win them all.
Come join us for Storyhour each Tuesday at 10:00 with Apple Time, Pumpkin Patch, and Halloween tales, songs, and crafts. The Halloween Party Storyhour will be on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10:00 AM. Wear your costume for the Halloween Parade, play games, and bring a snack to share. Lots of spooky fun to be had.
It's time for the annual Gale Library Pumpkin Carving Party. People of all ages, children, teens, tweens, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are invited on Mon. Oct. 26 at 6:00 PM to the Country Pond Fish and Game on Pond St. The library staff and volunteers will have all the stencils , tools, and assistance you will need. Please bring your own cleaned-out pumpkin ready for carving and a snack for the refreshment table. Always a great night for young and old to make the most awesome carvings. It's always amazing to see the pumpkins all lit up. Make sure to bring a camera.
Don't have a Halloween Costume yet. Come check out our selection of donated costumes for girls and boys on Sat. Oct. 17 and take one home, most are K-3 size.
Have you heard about Crazy 8s? It's a brand new, over-the-top after-school club designed to get kids fired up about math. Every week kids get to build stuff, run and jump, make music, make a mess...and make friendships at the same time. It's time for math to become the cool thing to do after school.
The club is available for grades K-2, all featuring hands-on activities like Glow-in-the-Dark Geometry,
Bouncy Dice Explosion, and Toilet Paper Olympics. Clubs will take place after school at the Gale Library on Mondays from 4:15- 5:15 . Call 382-4691 or drop in to sign your child up. Space is limited.
The Gale Library is joining the NH 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative. The single most important thing you can do to prepare your children to read is to read to them every day. Research proves that children need to hear 1000 books before they begin to learn to read independently. Reading to children will increase their vocabulary and their listening and narrative skills. Reading with children will also help to instill in them self-awareness, confidence and an understanding of their place in the world.
It's easy to read 1000 books:
One book a day for three years=1000
Three books a day for one year=1000
Ten books a week for two years=1000
Everything counts! Every book you read counts every time you read it! Books your child hears in Storytime count. Books that others read to your child count. It all counts!
Sign up in the Children's Room at the Gale Library. We will give you sheets to help you keep count of the first 100 books. When you finish reading 100 books, come back to the library for another set of sheets and a canvas book bag. Register today or anytime when your child is between birth and five years old.
Everyone had a great time at the First Graders Library Card Party with cards, books, and goodies. If you or any members of your family still do not have a Gale Library card, drop in any open time to register for one. The Gale Library is open Mon. and Wed.12-8, Tues. and Sat. 9-1, and Fri. 10-6. Call for more info- 382-4691.
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YMCA Fieldtrip to Charmingfare Farm
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Fall Family Music Festival
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Touch A Truck
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Kingston Lions Club - Peace Poster Contest
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KINGSTON LIONS CLUB 2015 - 2016 PEACE POSTER CONTEST
SHARE PEACE
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Age Requirements: 11-13
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Eligible birth dates are November 16, 2002 through November 15, 2004
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Artwork should be NO SMALLER than 13 x 20 but NO LARGER than 20 x 24
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Do NOT frame or mat artwork
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Only ONE winning entry per student - however, 2nd and 3rd place winners may be submitted for display exhibition or club's awards - more info to follow
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Original creation only - duplications NOT accepted for entry to judges - however, a photograph from the club may be taken (suggestion: a photograph should be taken for publicity purposes)
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All media accepted: NOTE: chalk, charcoal, pastel entries should be SEALED with a fixative spray to prevent smearing
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Do NOT laminate
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THREE DIMENSIONAL entries will NOT be accepted
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The USE OF lettering, numbering on the FRONT of the poser in any language is NOT ALLOWED
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All artist signatures or initials should be ON THE BACK of the poster only
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Artwork should be done on flexible material so it can be ROLLED for shipping in a mailing tube
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Do NOT FOLD poster
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Section I on the sticker should be fully completed and placed on the bottom right side on the BACK of the artwork. Three criteria for judging: originality, artistic merit and expression of theme, "Share Peace"
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Deadline for poster submission to Kingston Lions Club is Friday, October 20, 2015.
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Fritzy's Fright Fest
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Because there's nothing scarier...
 , #4 on WMUR
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s 2014 Viewer
's Choice Top 10 Best Haunts in New England, invites you to join us for our 16th year of haunting, Friday, Oct. 30 and Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.
We greatly appreciate everyone who visited last year. Even though the weather allowed us to only open for one night, thanks to your generosity, we were able to fully fund one rider
's tuition for an entire riding session.
This year we will again be
'Haunting for a Cure'. Fitzy
's Fright Fest will be donating 100% of all monies received in the donation box - 50% to Memorial School and 50% to the American Cancer Society. Thank you for your support!
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Exeter Hospital's 3rd Annual Trick or Treat Trot
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Internet Essentials
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Professional Learning Communities as the Foundation of a Competency-Based Educational System
By Jonathan G. Vander Els
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The commitment of our district, the Sanborn Regional School District in New Hampshire, to build highly functioning Professional Learning Communities within each school has been the driving force behind the significant changes that have taken place in Sanborn over the past five-plus years. Professional Learning Communities are the foundation for any of the work we have been engaged in during this time. Our success in implementing a competency-based educational system within our district is evidence of this PLC work, and would not be as successful without our interdependent teams working together as they have.
At Sanborn, we have applied the 4 Critical Questions for Consideration to guide our work around competencies within our schools. Throughout our journey, these four questions have assisted us in ensuring we are providing appropriate and meaningful opportunities for all of our students to demonstrate competency.
1.) What is it we expect students to learn?
- Our teachers are now crystal clear about what students are expected to know and demonstrate in their learning. This should never be a mystery, and through backwards design planning, the outcomes for any unit are established and made clear to our learners.
- Our teachers increased understanding of competencies ensures a guaranteed and viable curriculum. Our district has K-12 high-leverage competencies that guide the learning for our students. Underneath the umbrella of the competencies and within the assessment itself, teachers identify the leverage standards that will be assessed within each assessment.
2.) How will we know when students have learned it?
- Team-designed rubrics outline precisely what students are expected to know. Competency is the ability for students to "transfer" their learning in and across content areas, therefore, our teachers provide real-world problems and cross-curricular assessment opportunities for students to demonstrate this transfer of knowledge into other applicable situations.
- Team-created common assessments are the driving force behind gathering data specific to each student's progression of learning. This information is then collaboratively analyzed to inform the next instructional steps and learning pathways for each student.
Which leads us to the third critical question...
3.) How will we respond when some students don't learn it?
- This component is imperative within any educational system committed to Learning for All. Our district has integrated multiple tiers of support, K-12, for all learners. Not learning foundational knowledge is not an option in our system. We have committed to providing the time and resources within our daily schedule at all levels to ensure ALL students learn, and do so at the highest levels possible.
- Our schedules in each school allow students to receive additional instruction or support, depending upon the child's particular needs. This occurs each school day during a Tier 2 time. We developed these schedules collaboratively with teacher leaders at each school to maximize the resources that are available within each grade level to allow for smaller group instruction for those students who benefit from it.
- This is above and beyond what ALL students are exposed to during Tier 1, and students who may require additional support (a much smaller percentage) receive Tier 3 instruction, as well.
4.) How will we extend and enrich the learning for students who have demonstrated proficiency?
- A competency-based educational system lends itself very well to those students needing challenge, as well. The same tiers that provide support provide various opportunities for extension. Students are provided opportunities to demonstrate a deeper depth of knowledge (Level 4 DOK) within their assignments, and are provided with opportunities to extend through personalized experiences.
- This support also occurs during this "second tier" of instruction, but it is important to note that competency education by design allows for a more personalized approach to learning because students have an increased understanding of their own learning needs throughout the entire day.
A majority of the "behind-the-scenes" work in a competency-based system is accomplished during PLCs. Teams must identify the competencies and anchor standards that are going to be assessed in their units of study, build performance assessments that truly assess these competencies, run these performance assessments through a "vetting" process for quality assurance, review and assess student work together, then revise/refine the assessment accordingly. In addition, teams of teachers must provide re-teaching and opportunities for extension based upon the assessment results. This must be coordinated within the teams to ensure that every student is receiving what he/she needs. Highly functioning Professional Learning Communities are imperative for this work to occur and for it to occur at high levels. The result? High levels of student growth and learning.
Please visit Mr. Vander Els' blog site for additional articles on education by clicking here.
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