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DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, June 2
Drama Club Performance, 2:00-3:00pm & 6:30-7:30pm
Monday, June 5
Safety Committee Meeting, 8:15-8:45am
Tuesday, June 6
Staff Appreciation Luncheon, 11:30am-1:30pm
Tuesday, June 6
PTO Meeting, 6:30-7:30pm
Friday, June 9
6th Grade Portfolio Presentations
Tuesday, June 13
School Council Meeting, 3:30-4:30pm
Thursday, June 15
3rd and 4th Grade Field Trip to Mt. Skinner and the Hitchcock Center
Thursday, June 15
6th Grade Field Trip to Boston
Thursday, June 15
SES Book Swap
Thursday, June 15
School Committee, 7:00pm
Friday, June 16
SES Book Swap
Friday, June 16
All School Assembly, 2:30-3:00pm
Friday, June 16
6th Grade Graduation, 6:30pm
Dear Fellow Moose,
It has been a short week filled with fun and excitement at SES!
On Tuesday, the PTO sponsored a game of "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader"? 10 students were paired with school and community members to work together to play the game. Special thanks go to all of the students involved as well as Ellen McKay, Chief Harding, Sargent Wendy, Maryanne Antonellis, Tyson Peelle, Heather Lobenstine, Andrea Hermans, Fred Steinberg, and Lauren Thomas-Paquin for volunteering their time to be in the game! There were many donated prizes and baked goods. We have requests to do the event again! Thank you to the PTO for facilitating it, especially Jessica Carlson-Belanger who led the charge.
On Thursday we were treated to a very special performance from world-rhythms performers Tony Vacca and Massamba Diop. Tony and Massamba presented a special workshop for 5th and 6th graders at 1:00 and then presented a wonderful, engaging and dynamic assembly for the whole school at 2:00. Students clapped, danced, listened and were amazed by the message and the talent of our guests. The 5th and 6th graders performed a song with Tony and Massamba for the school community! Though Tony and Massamba play rhythms from around the world, they spoke and played with a highlight on Senegal. Please see some photos below of this experience!
Today our 3rd annual student-led Drama Club is presenting their musical " Dragon Pack, Snack Attack" at 2:00 and 6:30. Fifth graders Arin Andrews and Forrest Carvalho worked with our music teacher, Ms. Becca, to produce a stellar production. Students in grades 2-5 are part of this experience. I am so very proud of the student leadership in this project and thankful to Ms. Becca for her time, talent and kindness in this process.
Our loved Kindergarten teacher Nancy Birtwell is retiring early next school year. We are so grateful to Nancy's years of love and care to the students and school community in Shutesbury. She will still be a familiar face around the SES hallways for several months next year. We have hired a new Kindergarten teacher. I am thrilled to announce that Barbara Fukushima will join SES as the Kindergarten teacher in August. Barbara has over 20 years experience in education, primarily with kindergarten. She brings talent, enthusiasm and experience with her to this position. Barbara is also a Shutesbury resident and has had 2 children go through SES. She supports, understands and believes in the heart and special nature of a small school. Welcome Barbara!
Have a fabulous weekend,
Jackie
***PTO NEWS***
Staff Appreciation Lunch: This year's lunch will be on Tuesday, June 6th. It is a great way for parents to thank the teachers and staff of Shutesbury Elementary School for all they do for our children.
The PTO needs volunteers to contribute food and drinks and to set up (9-11:30am) and clean up (1:15-2:45) the lunch. If you can help in any way, please contact Jaime Donta ([email protected]).
***MOOSE INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK***
Grace from 6th Grade!
JCB: What is your favorite thing to do at school?
GJ: During gym I like to do dodge ball.
JCB: What is your favorite thing to do at home?
GJ: I like to go on our trampoline.
JCB: What would you like to be when you grow up?
GJ: Something that has to do with animals. I don’t know about a vet because you have to see animals in pain and hurt.
JCB: I’m trying to think of another job with animals where you wouldn’t have to see that. Maybe at a zoo?
GJ: Yeah, that would be cool!
JCB: What is your favorite food?
GJ: Mac and cheese.
JCB: Who makes it the best?
GJ: My dad.
JCB: If you could be an animal what animal would you pick?
GJ: A turtle would be cool.
JCB: Why a turtle?
GJ: It would be cool to just have your home wherever you go.
JCB: What are you most looking forward to about being in the Middle School next year?
GJ: Picking classes, like a language.
JCB: Do you know what language you’ll be taking?
GJ: French.
***COMMUNITY NEWS***
On June 18th Clif and Arleen Read will dip the rear wheels of our bicycles into the waters of the Pacific Ocean in Anacortes WA, and begin our 9 week, 3,712 mile ride east to Boston where we will dip our front wheels into the Atlantic (hopefully) on August 12th. We will be making this amazing journey with an incredible group of 6 core riders and a larger group of friends and family who will join us for different segments of the trip.
Many of you know that we lost our dear son Charlie last August 15th at age 16 to Sudden Unexpected Death from Epilepsy (SUDEP). Our C2C4Charlie ride this summer will be held in Charlie’s memory, and as a fundraising event to support the work of the SUDEP Institute of the Epilepsy Foundation. The institute funds research into SUDEP causes and prevention, educates families and health care providers about its risks, and supports the many devastated families of SUDEP victims. Each year we lose 3,000 people to SUDEP, primarily teens and young adults, without any clear understanding of its cause.
While our riding group will be small, we are hoping our broader community will help support us through the summer by following our blog and Facebook posts, and for those interested, by contributing to our fundraising effort for the SUDEP Institute.
Facebook: C2C4Charlie
Blog: https://C2C4Charlie.org (nothing up there yet, will become active with regular posts beginning mid-June)
Donate: https://epilepsyfoundation.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=9123
Be a Virtual Rider: Register (https://epilepsyfoundation.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=register.start&eventID=566 ) to be a member of Team C2C4Charlie as a Virtual Rider and join the fundraising effort by creating your own member page, sending word out to your friends and family, and biking locally in solidarity with our ride.
Send-off/Kick-off: Join Team C2C4Charlie at the benefit Send-off Dinner/Fundraising Kick-off/Concert on June 2nd at the Shutesbury Athletic Club. Dinner beginning at 6 pm, music by Dad Come Home! Beginning at 8.
The 37th annual Lake Wyola Road Race and Walk will be held on Sunday, June 11,2017. Walkers start at 10 and runners at 10:30. As usual, there will be t-shirts for all pre registrants, refreshments, awards and a raffle. It is again part of the SMAC race series.
We offer a $10 fee for participants 12 and under (no t-shirt) and team scoring and prizes.
Register at runreg.com/37th-lake-wyola-road-race.
TASTE OF AMHERST ADDS FREE KIDS’ DECORATED BIKE PARADE JUNE 18
The 2017 Taste of Amherst has added a new family-fun component to the four-day event, slating a free kid-friendly decorated bike parade for Town Common on the morning of Sunday, June 18. The parade will be held rain or shine.
Participants from ages 3 to 14 are invited to decorate their human-powered bike, trike, unicycle or scooter with the theme of “Hometown Spirit” in mind. Costumes may also be worn but must not interfere with rider’s vision or safe operation of their vehicle.
“We wanted to kick-start the closing day of the Taste with something new and really fun, something that families enjoy together,” said Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tim O’Brien. “A non-competitive decorated bike parade met all the criteria and seemed like a perfect fit with the rest of the Taste.” O’Brien also pointed out that the bike parade is operated by the taste committee and is not a formal school sponsored event.
The parade course itself will be set up off-street, on the Common itself, to maximize safety for all. Participant will receive their choice of a free fresh apple or cider doughnut from the Taste’s presenting sponsors Atkins Farm Country Market. One lucky participant will be selected in each age group to receive a special prize drawn at random. Age categories are 3-6, 7-10 and 11-14. Younger children must be accompanied by an adult during the parade.
A sign-In table will be at Amherst North Common beginning 11am, and the parade line-up begins at 11:20am. Registration form must be signed by parent/guardian in advance or at event table.
All decorations must be attached firmly and not interfere with safe operation. Bikes can be 2 or 3 wheels (training wheels are permitted). No motorized bikes are permitted for this event. Units must be in safe, operating condition. Bike riders must wear bicycle helmets at all times. Helmets may also be decorated but must not interfere with rider’s vision or safe operation. Other safety equipment is optional, but all equipment must be provided from home. Entrants may ride their bike or walk along with it. Animals are not permitted in the parade.
More info Tim O’Brien [email protected] 413-531-9648
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