Friday,  October 26                                            Field Trip, grades 4, 5, 6,     Sculpture Installation, 2:30 PM

Monday October 29                                            Third Grade Field Trip,    Principal Open Office Hour, 5 -6  PM

            Monday, October 29 – Friday, November 2           EQA Audit for Amherst, Pelham, and Region

Wednesday October 31                                                  Halloween Party, 5:30 – 7 PM

Thursday, November 1                                                    Pelham School Committee, 7 PM

From the Principal:

Today’s events at UMass reminded all of us of our vulnerability and need to stay prepared to handle any emergency.  The Pelham School staff and I have been reviewing our school safety procedures and will continue to keep your child’s safety and well-being as our top priority.  I must tell you that all the communication procedures that our district has put in place over the last few years worked this morning.  The Connect-Ed phone system notified all the parents at Marks Meadow School that the school was closed, and an emergency email notified all principals and other district leaders at the same time.  This prompt notification helped all of us know the facts and kept us from spreading incomplete or inaccurate information.

This Pelham Press also includes a letter from Supt. Hochman that addresses the issue of staph infections and, specifically, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections (MRSA).  Mr. G (our custodian George Graiff) and Tom White, our night custodian, are always working hard to keep our building clean.  Over the next few days they will spend extra hours cleaning and disinfecting all surface areas in the high traffic areas of the school.  In addition, I have asked Captain Clean to visit each classroom to remind students to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom.  Parents, please reinforce these reminders at home.  The simple act of handwashing is one of the most effective ways to help prevent the spread of disease and one that we can all do.

Finally, the Educational Quailty and Accountability Audit for Amherst, Pelham, and the Amherst-Pelham Region will take place next week.  The Massachusetts Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA) was created by the Legislature in December 2000. The purpose of the EQA is to provide an independent mechanism to verify the efforts of school districts and charter schools in order to promote higher levels of academic achievement by students.  In accordance with its enabling legislation, the EQA process is designed to do the following: provide a comprehensive evaluation of a school district’s performance, provide annual reports on each district’s performance, monitor statewide public education performance and to inform policy decisions, and provide the public access to information that helps it hold districts and schools, including charter schools accountable, fiscally and academically.  We look forward to sharing all the areas of our school district that work well for students and learning new ways to improve our practices. 

If you have any questions about any of these issues, please do not hesitate to call me.                   Rena Moore

 

NEWS FROM THE NURSE:   Parents, please keep carefully checking your child for lice at home.  If any eggs are left, there will be a fresh infestation about a week after the first shampoo.  Even if your child has not had lice, you will still want to keep checking regularly.  If you have any questions, please call me.  Susan Kane

 

TRICK OR TREAT For UNICEF

WE HAVE COLLECTION BOXES FOR THE “TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF” PROJECT.  Several families have asked for more information about unicef, which we have included in this week’s press.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR CHILD TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE STOP BY THE SCHOOL OFFICE TO PICK ONE UP.  oR, YOU CAN CALL or SEND A NOTE TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE, AND WE WILL PUT ONE IN YOUR CHILD’S BAG.

 

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Savings Makes Sense is EVERY Wednesday.

EASY FUNDRAISER:  If you are a customer at Florence Savings Bank, please fill out the attached customer ballot for Pelham School and return it to the local bank branch or the Pelham School office.

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Free Wheelchair Mission             Third Grade Fundraiser

The third grade has purchased three wheelchairs with donation money so far.  We are continuing to accept donation money.  Each time we raise $44.40, we change someone’s life, by providing them with a free wheelchair.  The recipients would not have the gift of mobility without the Free Wheelchair Mission.  The third grade chose to contribute to this charity, after the completion of their unit on people with differing abilities.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-

 

          GO, RED SOX!!       

 

 

 

 

The Acupuncture Works

479 West Street  Suite 4

Amherst MA 01002

413-253-2900

 

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day Open House

 

Free Seated Ear Acupuncture

Free Acupressure (massage)

($10 – $25 suggested donation to Acupuncturists without Borders,

a group working for free in New Orleans and with veterans of the Iraq War)

 

Friday, October 26, 2007

4-6 PM

 

 

 

Second Grade News

 

This month our focus has been on forest and wetland habitats. We visited both of these areas and observed what we saw. Our classroom is part of the Harvard Institute Schoolyard Classroom which collaborates with teachers in Massachusetts to collect data and get hands-on experience of nature. Due to the weather our stream was dry, but this gave us a chance to see some of the animals that live in stream beds that we often don’t get to see when the stream is flowing.  We will visit our stream in November to see if there is any change. During this unit we have learned about how streams are formed and about the water cycle.   We also had a visit from Mrs. Gwyther to teach us about how pollution gets into our rivers and streams and the importance of keeping our streams clean.

 

Math: We are using many different techniques to help solve addition problems and to solve addition and subtraction word problems. After we carefully examined ways to explain (show on your paper) how you found an answer, the children’s explanations have greatly improved.

We are also working on the addition combinations.  The children brought home cards to learn plus 1, plus 2, and combinations of 10. I have begun to test children to see if they have learned these.

 

Writing: The children are using what they learned about the two parts of a sentence, the subject and the action of the subject, to write stories which only have these two barebone parts (not an easy task). Please stop by and read our stories.

 

Parent conferences are still going on. It is great to get to talk to each parent and learn more about your child. Thank you for all your support and feedback. Please check the weekly newsletter which tells who has conferences for the week.

           

Morning Meeting- We have incorporated some new activities during morning meeting. The children are practicing different ways to greet each other, and we are including sharing time along with calendar and poems. Children sign up for a day they wish to share. So far I have allowed the children to bring whatever they wanted to share. However during the next sharing time, the children should bring in items that have to do with habitats, streams, or nature. I prefer no live animals.

Cindy Corey

 

 

Mr. Lipman’s Class

 

Anthropology Field Trip  Last Wednesday, Elizabeth Chilton, Emmet’s mom, invited us to visit the Anthropology Department at UMass where she works.  We were treated to a polished PowerPoint presentation prepared just for us, which introduced anthropology in a way children could understand.  Connections were made to the “Snooping” we did in classrooms to find out more about the people who worked there.  Elizabeth, along with her husband, Michael Sugerman (also an anthropologist) and several of her graduate students staffed three stations at which we saw ancient artifacts, touched them and looked at ancient seeds through a very fancy, computerized, projecting microscope.  After a snack break outside we returned to begin an exciting anthropological dig which took place in large tubs filled with loose dirt and hidden artifacts including arrowheads and pottery chards.  Working in pairs, children used sifting tools (pooper scoopers!) to gather the buried treasure.  Thankfully, no cats were involved and the children were thrilled with each find.  We graphed our data and shared it with the other teams before saying our “thank yous” and “good-byes.”  I would like to extend another big thank you to Elizabeth Chilton, Michael Sugerman and Elizabeth’s graduate students for a truly outstanding presentation.  We all learned a great deal about anthropology, had fun, and got to experience some of the things that real anthropologists do.

 

Captain Clean  After finishing up a few more butterfly games and activities we will be moving on to our germ-hand washing unit entitled “Captain Clean.”  Children will be treated to and perform in several plays about germs, watch germs grow in Petri dishes and conduct experiments to discover the most effective way to wash hands.  This is a great way to learn how to stay healthy and I hope that it makes a positive difference in the number of colds this year!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dear Parents,

 

On October 12, I attended a presentation by Robert Brooks PhD who has written many books on resilience and children, and I wanted to share some of his ideas with you.  Early on in his work, he realized that if he were to become a more effective and helpful therapist, he had to refine his ability to be empathic and to see the world through the eyes of a child.  However, he understood that we find it more difficult to be empathic with the angry or frustrated child.   Dr. Brooks also emphasized that the first thing we need to observe in children, is their temperament.  Temperament is often overlooked when working with children.  He stated that there are simply “difficult children” who have been that way since the beginning; they simply are wired that way. 

When he talked about resilience he emphasized some cornerstones of resilience.  The first is that people who respond to difficult times in their lives by saying, “What can I do?” or “What can I change?” are more apt to feel more successful.  A positive mindset works more effectively with angry and resistant youth, and the most important feature of a positive mindset is empathy.  It is helpful to understand and start with the assumption that every child is born to want to do well.  That is where the idea of mastery and competence comes in.  Each child wants to master his /her environment and feel competent.  Research does show, however, that the greatest predictor of success is emotional intelligence and empathy. 

When we teach our children, we often ask them to “try harder “.  Although we are well meaning, that comment is often experienced in a negative, accusatory, judgmental way.  When students feel accused or judged they are less likely to be cooperative.  How we understand children’s behavior will determine how we deal with it.  Sometimes with angry children, we find ourselves becoming more rigid.  The negative mindset of many at-risk angry children includes helplessness, hopelessness and the feeling that others don’t understand and can’t help me.  They typically feel that they make little difference in the world, things are not fair and they feel unaccepted and unloved.  That is why complimenting these children is so helpful. Any intervention with angry and resistant children should foster self-esteem, motivation, hope, and resilience.  We must promote autonomy and self-determination in a climate of genuine caring for and appreciation of the child.  This does not mean we will minimize a child’s difficulties, however we must not lose sight of the strengths that these children have.

Supportive adults outside the immediate family have also proved to be a major foundation for resilience.  Many resilient adults have noted that they believe one of the most important factors in their childhood to help them to be resilient was “an adult who believed in me.”  “Safe schools” provide those positive relationships for children with adults who are available to provide support and help overcome feelings of isolation

I know that raising “difficult children” is not an easy task.  Please call me if you would like more materials/information on this subject.    

Debby King   

 

 

 

Dear Parents/Guardians of Pelham Elementary Students,

 

          Hello. My name is Zachary Gallagher. I am a senior at Amherst High School, as well as Meg Gallagher’s son.  This year I will be working with the 3^rd grade to help collect food for the Amherst Survival Center. Every year, schools across the county help to raise money or collect items for those of us who are less fortunate.

          Your help with this collection would be greatly appreciated and felt all across the area. Your donations are guaranteed to reach a family in need. Someone will be helped by your generosity.

         

          Here are some of the essentials that we will need:

Pasta

Canned Beans

Canned Tomato Sauce

Cereal

Rice

 

          There are collection boxes in the front lobby of Pelham School.  You may drop off the food yourself, or send it in with your child.  This fall, we are collecting food until November 16.  We will have another collection in January and February.  Thank you very much!

 

                                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                        Zach Gallagher and

                                                                        The Third Grade

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelham Parent Council/PTO Minutes                                            Monday, October 1, 2007

 

Present: Toby Brink, Laura Carson, Cherylnina Choquette, Linda Robinson Hidas, Rena Moore, Sharrie Reydak,, David Shanabrook, Lynn Smith, Diane Steingart, Amy Wasserman, Kathy Weilerstein, Diana Zahradnik.

 

Refreshments:  Chocolate Beet Cake with double frosting.

 

Principals Report:  The Back-to-School assembly finally happened including the wave and walk around the gym.  Pelham’s policy of no bullying and no teasing was discussed.  There’s a state evaluation and audit pending.  This requires assembling lots of paperwork regarding financial records, food service, curriculum, budget, etc. The audit was re-scheduled to 10/31.  Let’s hope the auditors have a sense of humor!  School pictures are10/15.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Linda distributed a year-end report.  She’s turning over the checkbook and records to Diana tomorrow.  There’s currently $14,271 in our account, which is down $1,700 from last year.  We made $$ on Original Art Program, Boxtops, Electronics Recycling, Movie nights, Spring Fair, Wrapping paper.  Spent $$ on 6th grade graduation and trip, Guggenheim Art Program, bullying curriculum, field day, jump ropes, K welcome packet,  art class mirrors, cello, ARHS scholarship, Spanish instruction, teacher/staff appreciation lunch, Feb dance, classroom support, bus driver appreciation gift

 

Amy: Pelham Cultural Council accepting applications for grants. Due Oct 15^th.  $200 - $300.

 

Minutes: No comments on last month’s minutes.

 

UMass Volunteers: Halloween signups are looking better.  UMass sorority is bringing 10 people.  Overall there have been fewer volunteers this year.  More students don’t have cars?  There has been little interest in Homework club.  Got enough help for Book Fair.  Is there another UMass program that isn’t primarily freshman?

 

6^th Grade Trip Fundraising:  No report from the subgroup.  It will be meeting soon.

 

Stop and Shop Promotion:  Last year we made $647 from Stop and Shop.  Encourage everyone you know to enroll: friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.  We will attach a form to the Pelham Press and put them outside the school office and in the library.  This is an easy way to make some $$.

 

Scholastic Book Fair:   Started Friday night.  Very busy that night.  Ellen is taking many slots.  Kathy had a discussion with Food for Thought.  Perhaps Food for Thought could be at some upcoming event.  They’ll give us 20% of sales.  Consider for future.

 

Ice Cream Social: Friday Sept 28. By all accounts this was a huge success.  Kids liked running around the playground.  Received $269 in cash donations.  Costs were $145 for ice cream and $30 for dry goods.  Diana will store extra dry goods.  Leanne monitored food quantities.  Still have approximately 4 gallons of Flayvors vanilla ice cream.  Will keep for next movie night.  Suggest making an annual event.  There was some confusion whether donations were intended for the 3^rd Grade wheelchair fundraising because layout of flyer in Pelham Press.  We voted to share the proceeds and fund two wheelchairs.  Ms Moore requests we send all Pelham Press items electronically.

 

Thanks to families for supporting into Pelham Press.  Lynn will send a thank you note to Cook’s Farm for their substantial discount on the ice cream.

 

Fall Calendar:  Good idea to coordinate with AfterSchool programs.

 

Oct 31: Halloween Party

Nov 5: PTO Meeting 7 pm

Nov 16: Movie Night 6:30 pm

Oct/Nov: Wreath Sale

Oct/Nov: Original Art Works

Oct/Nov: Gift wrap sale

Dec 3: PTO Meeting 7 pm

Dec 14^th Movie Night or dance party or kids night out?

Dec: Teacher wish list

 

Can and Bottle Redemption:  Can’t continue as is due to requirement of sorting by manufacturer.  Stay tuned.

 

Halloween: Lions Club will be here.  Art teacher will try to squeeze in decoration creation.  If not, Amy will check with Lennie.  Amy volunteered to make flyers for Pelham Press also posters for around school.  Leanne got prizes.  Chief of Police has been contacted.  Wes Audio will donate apples again (thanks Wes).  6^th grade haunted house in progress.  Diana will bring hay.  Diana will ask someone to pick up games with truck.  Concern about sculpture on stage and timing for Haunted House set up.  Toby has letter to neighbors.  Lynn will get pizza.  Ruth will get cider and donuts from Atkins.

 

November Movie Night:  Friday November 16^th, 6:30.  Consider finding an appropriate adoption-themed film to show – suggestions welcome.  Film will be decided at next meeting. Lynn & Diane to coordinate.  Leanne has brownies and ice cream in the freezer.  Cherylnina to get popcorn and spray butter. 

 

Computer Club: David Shanabrook and Gary King to offer it again. Uses open-source program called Squeak.  Kids create simple drawings and animation.  Reuse last year’s notice to Pelham Press.  Every other Friday starting 10/19, 3 – 4:15

 

Chess Club:  Looking for parent volunteer to run.  Alternate Friday afternoons.

                                    

Savings Makes Sense:  Elaine Massey from Florence Savings Bank is working with Rena.  Wants sign up forms ready for Curriculum night.  Collecting $$ from the kids starts Oct 10^th 8:15, from then on available every Wed morning. Diana & Michael Carolan will help in the mornings.

 

Original Art Program: Linda contacted the Art Teacher in the beginning of September.  Art work to go home the middle of October.  Amy is willing to get involved.  Janet has special sized paper.

 

Giftwrap:  Kathy will check in with Debbie.

 

Wreaths: Darby will coordinate.

 

Calendar Fundraiser:  Cherylnina has some info from other schools.  She’ll get prices.

 

Spanish Language Instruction:  Rena upbeat at last School Committee meeting.  She has talked with almost all teachers about how to fit it in.  The big issue is no final $$ figures from last year yet.  Next School Committee meeting is Thursday.

 

Bullying Prevention Curriculum: Suggestion of backpack sacks instead of t-shirts.  David will check if anyone does silk screening at the High School.  Still in the works.

 

Soap and Shades:  Still pending.  Issue raised about scented soap.

 

Next meeting: Monday Nov 5th 7 pm Pelham Community Room.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn Smith, Secretary

 

 

 

October 24, 2007

 

Dear Parents and Guardians:

 

You may have seen news reports recently about staph infections and, specifically, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections (MRSA).   In the past week, school officials have spoken with local health officials, received communications from state health department officials, and read much literature about this type of infection.  

 

While state and local officials have assured us that there is no cause for alarm, it is prudent to heighten our awareness, to use this opportunity to raise public awareness, and to ensure we are taking what should be routine precautions.  To this end we are:  

 

providing additional cleaning, with appropriate cleaning materials, in high traffic areas and on "high touch" surfaces;  and

raising awareness with all children by encouraging hand washing, use of appropriate bandages on cuts and scrapes, and other precautions and by providing additional information for athletes and students in particular settings.

 

Just as we provide attention to safety, well-being and other issues, we hope to increase everyone’s awareness regarding MRSA.  This is a teachable moment about good hygiene and ways to be better prepared for the annual cold and flu season.  If you would like to read more about this topic, the following website is quite helpful:  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools/.

I hope you will take a few moments to talk with your student about the importance of hand washing and encourage him or her to report any cuts or scrapes to you and the school nurse.  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jere Hochman

Superintendent

 

 

Questions and Answers About Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

 

What is MRSA?

MRSA is a kind of bacteria that is resistant to some kinds of antibiotics. To understand MRSA it is helpful to learn about Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, often called “staph,” because MRSA is a kind of staph.

What are staph?

Staph are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. About 25-30% of the U.S. population carry staph on their bodies at any time.

Do staph always make people sick?

No. Many people carry staph in their nose or on their skin for a period of time and do not know they are carrying them. They do not have skin infections. They do not have any other signs or symptoms of illness. This is called “colonization.”

Sometimes, though, staph can cause an infection, especially pimples, boils and other problems with the skin. These infections often contain pus, and may feel itchy and warm. Occasionally, staph cause more serious infections.

How are staph spread?

Staph are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands, wrestling, or other direct contact with the skin of another person. Staph are also spread by contact with items that have been touched by people with staph, like towels shared after bathing and drying off, or shared athletic equipment in the gym or on the field.

Staph infections start when staph get into a cut, scrape or other break in the skin. People who have skin infections—painful, swollen pimples, boils, and rashes, for example—should be very careful to avoid spreading their infection to others.

Is MRSAdifferent from other staph?

Yes. MRSA is different from other staph because it cannot be treated with some antibiotics. When antibiotics are needed to treat a MRSA infection, the right antibiotic must be used. If the right antibiotic is not used, the treatment may not work.

MRSA is just like other staph in almost every other way:

• MRSA can be carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, and usually not cause an infection or make them sick.

• It can cause minor skin infections that go away without any special medical treatment.

• It is spread the same way as other staph.

• The symptoms are the same as other staph infections.

What are the symptoms of an infection caused by staph?

Pimples, rashes, pus-filled boils, especially when warm, painful, red or swollen, can mean that you have a staph or MRSA skin infection.

Occasionally, staph can also cause more serious problems such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. The symptoms could include high fever, swelling, heat and pain around a wound, headache, fatigue and others.

What should Ido if Ithink Ihave a staph skin infection?

Keep the area clean and dry. See your doctor, especially if the infection is large, painful, warm to the touch, or does not heal by itself.

How will my doctor know if Ihave a MRSAinfection?

The only way to tell the difference between MRSA and other staph infections is with lab tests. Lab tests will also help your doctor decide which antibiotic should be used for treatment, if antibiotic treatment is necessary.

Your doctor will usually take a sample on a swab (like a Q-tip) from the infected area. The sample will be sent to a laboratory to see if the infection is caused by staph. Blood and other body fluids can also be tested for staph.

How are MRSAinfections treated?

Most MRSA skin infections are treated by good wound and skin care: keeping the area clean and dry, washing your hands after caring for the area, carefully disposing of any bandages, and allowing your body to heal.

Sometimes treatment requires the use of antibiotics. Lab tests help your doctor decide which antibiotic should be used for treatment, if antibiotic treatment is necessary. If antibiotics are prescribed, it is important to use the medication as directed unless your doctor tells you to stop. If the infection has not improved within a few days after seeing your doctor, contact your doctor again.

How can Iprevent a staph infection?

• Regular handwashing is the best way to prevent getting and spreading staph, including MRSA. Keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after direct contact with another person’s skin.

• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until they have healed.

• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.

• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, toothbrushes and razors. Sharing these items may transfer staph from one person to another.

• Keep your skin healthy, and avoid getting dry, cracked skin, especially during the winter. Healthy skin helps to keep the staph on the surface of your skin from causing an infection underneath your skin.

• Contact your doctor if you have a skin infection that does not improve.

For more information about MRSA, visit the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph