Shutesbury

PUBLICATION INFORMATION – Please submit any submissions for the Community section to:  [email protected] by Wednesdays at 1:00.  Online attachments must be compressed (less than 500KB) and in PDF format.  Hard copies (25) must be submitted by Wednesdays at 1:00.  Call x100 with any questions.

DATES TO REMEMBER     

February 26, 2016

Dear Moose,

This week was a bit wacky with the weather.  We experienced an ice storm one morning, and then 54 degrees the next! Needless to say, we are all ready to welcome March and the longer days. March is the only month where we will have 5 uninterrupted weeks at school (hopefully, we will have no snow days!). If the weather cooperates, our current last day of school is Monday, June 20^th.

We are in a time of transition! Our 6^th graders had a visit from the Amherst Middle School Principal, Dean of Students and Guidance Counselor on the 23^rd. They gave a presentation on what to expect in middle school and answered some student questions. On the 24^th, prospective preschool families had an orientation about the wonderful preschool experience that SES provides. On March 14^th, the Kindergarten orientation will take place.  On this date Ms. Birtwell’s PreK/K class will not have school.  Lots of thinking and planning around classes, learning and transitions are occurring. We hope to communicate these experiences as best we can to you. If you are confused or need clarification around any of the upcoming events, please reach out to us.

We are scheduling and planning many of our end-of-the year events. We are going to try to update our online calendar as much as possible for your reference. There are so many events to look forward to. From concerts, Spirit Week, Spaghetti Dinner and the Silent Auction, field trips and field day, the last 72 days of school will be very busy.

Wishing you a great weekend,

Jackie

***PTO NEWS***

The PTO needs volunteers to help stuff envelopes with solicitation letters for the upcoming Silent Auction.  A work party will be held at the home of Colleen Chudzik on Saturday, 2/27 from 2-5pm.  Drop in if you can!  Many hands make light work.  Please contact Colleen ([email protected]) or Ashleigh Pyecroft ([email protected]) with any questions.  RSVP to Colleen if you can make it.

We received a check this week from Target Redcard purchases for $139.72!  If you would like more information about how to get a Target Redcard or how to link to Shutesbury Elementary School in order for the school to receive the benefits from your purchases, check out http://www.target.com/redcard/main#?lnk=gnav_redcard.

Mexican Fiesta AC Benefit Dinner:  What a success!  We raised over $780.00 for the PTO with the donations of food and meals served.  It was a great showing of what our small community is made of:  generosity and fun!!  Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped to cook, set up, serve and clean up.  Special thanks to Brian Bender and EveLynn Goodhind for representing the SES staff at this event!  Special thanks also to the volunteers who went above and beyond – Andrea Franz, Jane Mudie, Gus Carlson, Leah Stinson, Jaime Donta, the Reil/Montti Family, John Warwick, Dan Paquin, and many more!

***COMMUNITY NEWS***

*Not School Sponsored*

*Shutesbury Firefighter's Association Annual Pancake Breakfast to be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 - From 8am to 10:30am in the Shutesbury Elementary School Cafeteria.
To include Butter Milk or Whole Grain Pancakes, Breakfast Sausage, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Orange Juice.

*The Leverett Historical Society & Leverett Cemetery Association present:

History in Stone   A Slide Show presentation by Dawn Marvin Ward

Sunday  March 6, 2016   2 p.m.  at Leverett Library

Family and local history have been preserved in special places that many don’t think to visit for historical purposes. Cemeteries are filled with local information and artwork while they last.

Preservation of gravestones and recording the information they have engraved on them is valuable as another way to preserve our local history.

Do you know how many cemeteries are in your town, where they are, what condition they are in and what you can learn from them of your local past?

Join along on a slide show “visit” of the cemeteries of Leverett and see what history can be gleaned from them, and HOW to find further history from a headstone.

This program is funded by Leverett Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

*M.N. Spear Memorial Library News

Please join us for these upcoming library programs.

Monday, February 29^th,  6:30 pm, at the Library

Ukulele Strum Along with Julie!
Join Julie Stepanek and a group of ukulele players in song. Bring your own uke or borrow one of ours. Other instruments welcome.

Tuesday, March 1^st, at the Town Hall
Election Day Bake Sale, a benefit for the Friends of the M.N. Spear Library

A delicious selection of  homemade treats, donated by your friends and neighbors.
Opening at 8 am. To donate baked goods, sign up at the library.

Saturday, March 5^th, 6:30 pm, at the Town Hall

Movie Night – The Good Dinosaur: Rated PG

Suggested donation, $1 per person. Popcorn, soda and baked goods for sale, $1 each

Monday, March 7^th, 7:30 pm, at the Library

Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club       

Join us to read and discuss science fiction novels. We will be discussing The Water Knife by Paulo Bacigalupi at the March meeting. Books are available to borrow at the Library.

Friday, March 11^th, dinner at 5:30, program at 6 pm, at the Town Hall

Meet Author and Early Literacy Educator, Ellen Mayer

Presented by the Union 28 Community Network for Children and the M.N. Spear Memorial Library. This program is best for families with children ages four and under.

Free books and pizza and childcare for each family.

Please register by emailing Gillian Budine, [email protected]

*Community Action can help pay fuel bills for income qualified households.
Convenient confidential fuel assistance consultations will be offered at the M.N. Spear Memorial Library.
Wednesday, March 9th and Monday, March 14th, 6 - 8 pm.

Household size - 1, Gross Household Income - $33,126

Household size - 2, Gross Household Income - $43,319

Household size - 3, Gross Household Income - $53,511

Household size - 4, Gross Household Income - $63,704

Household size - 5, Gross Household Income - $73,897

Household size - 6, Gross Household Income - $84,089

Call SAM for a confidential appointment at the Library, 413-774-2310, extension 150.
If you have other questions call Fuel Assistance at 413-774-2310 or visit their website, www.communityaction.us

*Cancer Connection Campout! Again this year Teri Nelson (Swift River School teacher), and Jessica Carlson-Belanger (Shutesbury Elementary School Admin. Assistant) are participating in the Winter Campout in downtown Northampton, MA to raise money for The Cancer Connection, a non-profit organization that provides services for patients and their caregivers undergoing cancer treatments. It is a great organization (see more here http://cancer-connection.org/) and our overall goal is to raise $100,000 this year!! That is a lot of money (and a lot of camping in the winter!)!! Please consider making a donation in their names. You can do this in one of 3 ways:

1) Send a check made payable to the Cancer Connection to one of their work places:

Shutesbury Elementary School
23 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
ATTN: Jessica
​
Swift River School
201 Wendell Road
New Salem, MA 01355
ATTN: Teri