Shutesbury

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DATES TO REMEMBER     

April 29, 2016

Dear Moose Community,

Welcome May! As I was preparing to write this letter, I counted that there are 35 school days left in this school year. Pretty crazy! As of now the last day of school is Tuesday, June 21 ⁽with an early release).  Just a heads up--the first day of school for the 2016-2017 school year is Wednesday, August 31^st!

At the last School Committee meeting, the School Committee voted to open school-choice for Shutesbury Elementary School. At this point we only have openings for incoming first graders. We have an application that will be available in the office and on our school website. We are allowing siblings of students accepted from the school-choice applicant pool to attend SES as well.  We are keeping an eye on enrollment and may open several seats for incoming 3^rd graders as well. We will communicate any updates and changes in this process to the community. If you have any questions regarding school choice, you may contact me at [email protected] or by phone.

Though we only have 35 school days left in the school year, those 35 days are crammed with exciting end-of-the-year events. Please be sure to read the list of upcoming events that are included in each RTN. Next week our whole-school Arts Night (Art Show and Concert) takes place on May 4^th at 6:00pm. All students are expected to participate. Students are asked to wear all black clothing.

The traditional and delicious 6^th Grade Spaghetti Dinner and the SES PTO sponsored Silent Auction will be held on Friday May 13^th. There are tickets available for 6:00 or 7:30 pm seatings at our beautiful Ristorante! Buy tickets from a 6^th grader or in the office at SES. Tickets cost $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children and seniors.  The menu consists of garlic bread, salad, spaghetti and brownies and ice cream. Please support our 6th grade and enjoy this fun and historic SES event.

There is no school for students on Friday, May 6^th due to a Curriculum Day for teachers.

The Preschool performed a marvelous production on Thursday morning titled “Twenty Terrific Titan Tykes”. It was a fabulous play filled with some amazing superheroes! Bravo Preschool!

Students in grades 3-6 began state testing this week. Thank you to the families who have signed up to bring in snacks for the classroom during testing days. There are still various snack spots open (a Google doc sign up list was sent to each class) in each class and we would greatly appreciate families signing up to complete the snack needs of the students!

Have a fabulous weekend,

Jackie

***MOOSE INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK***

Declan from 4th Grade!

JCB:  What do you like best about our school?
DS:  I like the Specials. I like gym the best. And the hands-on science projects. 

JCB:  What do you like to do at recess?
DS:  Play soccer.

JCB:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
DS:  Someone who helps animals and the planet.

JCB:  What are you looking forward to about moving houses and schools this summer?
DS:  I hear up there they do a lot more with computers which I’m interested in.

JCB:  If you could eat one food for the rest of your life and only one food, what would it be?
DS:  Sushi.

***PTO NEWS***

The next PTO meeting will be held on May 3rd at Colleen's house (422 Pratt Corner Road) at 6PM.  Please note the earlier time as this is also the final work party for the auction.  We will be getting all the gift certificates ready for display.  The more the merrier and the easier it will be for all.  Please let Colleen know if you are able to attend [email protected].

The next step for the auction is setup on the evening of May 12th.  We are looking for as many of you as possible to make this huge transformation of the art and music rooms.  Please remember that this is a parent only event and please let Colleen ([email protected]) know if you are able to help out with this step of the fundraising process.

NOT SCHOOL SPONSORED

Check Out The Common School’s Summer Programs for Children Ages 3-12!

SUMMERFUN 2016

Mini Camp: 

June 20 - June 24

8:30 - 3:30pm 

Summerfun: 

June 27 - July 22

8:30 - 3:30pm 

Sample of our programming:

Farm to Table - Bramble Hill Days   July 11 - July 22
Ages 8-12

Spend two weeks in July enjoying the bounty of Summer. Through partnership with Bramble Hill Farm, and with the use of The Common School's Garden, we'll harvest seasonal goodies and prepare them in the kitchen. Fresh pickles, farmers cheese, jam, pesto and pie to name a few. Come with an appetite and a desire to create. We'll talk about different ways of preserving the harvest and will be sure to make enough to send kids home with some of our delicious creations as well. Choice time offerings will include fiber arts, baking, games, and other farm related crafts.

www.commonschool.org

Clinical and Support Options is offering a free Youth Mental Health First Aid training open to the community on 5/13 and 5/20 from 12:30-5:00 at 8 Atwood Drive, Northampton.  Pre-registration is required. Interested parties can contact us directly at [email protected].

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.  Youth Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized program, offered through the National Council on Behavioral Health. For more information about MHFA, go to www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

M.N. Spear Memorial Library

10 Cooleyville Road

Shutesbury, MA 01072

413-259-1213

Mary Anne Antonellis, Director

Community Survey!

Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete our community survey. We would love to hear from everyone. Here is a link!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MNSpearLibrary2016QMXVYNW

Valley Gives Day – Tuesday, May 3^rd!

Thanks to generous donors, volunteer efforts and support from Annual Town Meeting, we have $227,406 saved for a future new Shutesbury Library. We are hoping to add to our total on Tuesday, May 3^rd, through our participation in the Valley’s online giving day!

A flyer with more info is attached to this Road Town News and here is a link to our Valley Gives donation page. Thanks for your support!

https://valleygives.razoo.com/story/Friends-Of-The-M-N-Spear-Memorial-Public-Library?referral_code=share

Town Meeting – Library Closed

In support of Town Meeting, the Library will be closed Saturday, May 7^th.

Programs!

Tales and Tunes Story Time with Katie

Mondays at 9:30 am at the Library

Gentle Yoga

Wednesdays at 9 at Town Hall through May

Bring a yoga mat and a small pillow.

Designing for Climate Change in your Backyard

Tuesday, May 10^th, 7 pm, at Town Hall

Ashley Schenk is an experienced homesteader and landscape designer. In this talk, he shares strategies for using permaculture design to develop more effective and resilient systems that can help us face increasingly extremely climate change. This includes how to take steps towards growing your own food, reducing your energy usage, and bolstering ecological health. 

Long-Range Planning Focus Group

Monday, May 16^th, 7:30 pm, at Town Hall

Join a community conversation about our public library.

Visit our website, https://sites.google.com/site/mnspearmemoriallibrary/

ATTACHMENTS:
Weekly Lunch Menu
Monthly Lunch Menu
6th Grade Spaghetti Dinner - 5/13/16
PTO Silent Auction - 5/13/16
Shutesbury Clean-Up Day
Day of Fun, Fishing, and Learning! - US Fish & Wildlife Service
Valley Gives Day - Friends of the MN Spear Memorial Library
Kicks and Corrals Summer Camp - Amherst Martial Arts
Chess Club - Andy Friedman