Shutesbury

DATES TO REMEMBER

Principal’s Message:

October 31, 2014
Dear SES,
As we head into November, SES is certainly filled with learning, activities, field trips and joy.  On Tuesday, fourth graders took a walking field trip to M.N. Spear Memorial Library, and Grades 3 and 4 had a daylong adventure on Thursday traveling to GCC, studying geology and experiencing the French King Bridge. The whole school enjoyed our first Vocabulary Costume Day (pictures to come in the next Roadtown!) and some fabulous music performed by Jim Henry at our assembly. It was truly a fabulous week!

I am excited to announce that SES has been awarded the Massachusetts Cultural Council STARS grant of $5,000! This will fund our Artist- in- Residence program this fall/winter. This year, the school has designed a program to work with Enchanted Circle Theater. Specifically, SES will work with artists Anna Sobel and Melissa Redwin. The program will feature classroom-based workshops in various art mediums based on the themes from the Ray Bradbury children’s book Switch on the Night. The artists in residence will then help to weave together a whole school performance with song, dance, puppetry, art and theater. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 17^th for our school’s evening performance!

School safety is always a top priority at SES. On Wednesday November 5^th, State Trooper Carmichael and Chief Harding will come to school to talk to students and practice lockdown procedures during the lunch and recess transition times. This will not be an unannounced drill, but rather a teaching and practice time. As a school, we practice lockdown safety drills in classrooms, but want to ensure the routine and safety of the students at all times of the day.

Looking ahead to next week, we will have an early dismissal at 1:00pm on Tuesday, November 4^th for parent conferences. Conferences also take place on the 5^th, 12^th and 13^th. Picture re-take day will happen on November 5^th.

Don’t forget to turn back the clocks at 2:00am on Sunday November 2^nd!! Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Thanks for all you do,

Jackie Mendonsa, Principal

***SCHOOL NEWS***

Superintendent Search Survey

The search for the new Superintendent is beginning. As a first step, the search committee will need input from the school community regarding the qualities and skills of our next school leader. A survey has been created to gather that information. Please go to:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QSF762S to view the survey which will take approximately five minutes to conclude. All staff, parents and community members are encouraged to participate in the survey!  The deadline for the survey has been extended until November 6, 2014.

Lifetouch Photo Retakes
We have sent home school photos this week.  If you did not receive photos that you ordered or have a problem with your order (incomplete, etc…), please contact Lindsay Kelso at Lifetouch – 413-592-8700 or [email protected].  If you would like a photo retake on Wednesday, November 5, please call Jessica in the main office (259-1212, ext. 0) to have a new order form sent home with your child.  Your child must bring the order form to school on Wednesday if they want retakes.

FREE 4-foot fluorescent light bulbs!
Our school received a wonderful MassSave grant to purchase lower wattage light bulbs this fall.  Matt Foster, head custodian, has been working diligently to replace all of our older light bulbs.  We now have about 650 fluorescent bulbs, 4-foot length, that are in working order that we will no longer use.  If anyone could use them, please call Jessica (ext. 0) in the main office.