Thursday, November 1                                                    Pelham School Committee, 7 PM  (cancelled)

Friday,  November 2                                                       Computer Club, 3:10- 4:15 PM

Saturday, November 3                                                    Recycling Day

Sunday,  November 4                                                     Daylight Savings Time Ends

Monday,  November 5                                                     Pelham PTO, 7 PM

Wednesday,  November 7                                               2^nd Grade Field Trip

Monday, November 12                                                 No School

Monday,  November 19                                                Picture Retake Day

From the Principal:

Did you hear screaming last night?  It was coming from the Pelham School HAUNTED HOUSE!!!  The 6^th grade students under the direction of Emily Pfeiffer and Tess Rock worked hard to create a haunted house on the Pelham stage, and by all accounts, they were very successful.  Visitors to the haunted house were led through a long maze of frightful sights like the skeleton in the cage, the mad butcher, and the weird clown.  Thank you, sixth graders and parents, for all the hard work.  Also, special thanks goes out to Diana Zahradnik for coordinating the Halloween Party with the help of many parents and University of Massachusetts volunteers and to the Pelham Lion's Club for providing the "treats" and supervising the games.  Thanks to everyone for all the hard work that made the Pelham Halloween Party such a success. 

The weather is turning cooler, which reminds all of us that winter is around the corner.  I have included the Cancellation and Delay information in this week’s Press to make sure everyone is prepared.  Also, at the beginning of the year each family filled out an “Emergency School Closing” form, which asked parents to list the names of two children whose parents had agreed to take your child home if school staff were unable to contact you or your other designated contacts before the school closes.  We will follow your instructions on this form if Pelham School students are dismissed early due to snow or other emergencies.  Parents, you may want to stop by the school office to check this form and make any necessary changes or additions.                                                                                                          Rena Moore

 

SNOW DAY INFORMATION:  In the event of storms or changing weather, the Superintendent will notify local radio and TV stations.  Please tune in to the following for possible changes in dismissal or school closing:

Television:          Channel 22-WWLP, or  www.wwlp.com<![if !supportNestedAnchors]><![endif]>;   Channel 40-WGGB, or  www.wggb.com

Radio:  AM  1400, 1430        FM  93.1, 99.3

The Amherst-Pelham system also has a Newsline (362-1898)  and a website at www.arps.org<![if !supportNestedAnchors]><![endif]>, which will carry announcements of school closings and/or delays due to poor weather.  PLEASE CALL THIS NUMBER OR LOOK ON THE WEBSITE FOR CANCELLATION AND DELAY INFORMATION.  PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL TO SEE IF SCHOOL IS CANCELLED OR DISMISSED EARLY.  If we must cancel school during the school day, we will need all available phone lines to call you and let you know that school is dismissing early. 

Parents, it is vital that you or your designee be available if we need to contact you at any time during the school year.  Therefore, please notify the school if any information has changed on your child’s emergency card. 

 

SNOW DAY/DELAY REMINDER FOR THE BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM:  If Pelham School is cancelled for the day, both the Before School and After School Programs are cancelled.  In the event of a delay, the Before School Program will open one hour before the delayed opening of school.  Thus, if there is a 2-hour delay in the opening of school, school will open at 10:40 AM and the before school program will open at 9:30 AM.  School delays and closings are announced on local radio stations and TV channels 40 and 22.  Lennie Ware will make the decision to cancel or close early the After School Program, and she will let you know.

 

 

REMINDER:  The weather is changing and those cold winds are starting to blow, but afternoons can be sunny and warm.  Your child will need both a T-shirt and a fleece or sweatshirt to stay appropriately dressed throughout the day.  Also, some building spaces, such as the cafeteria and computer room, are very warm; while others are very cold—gym and small group rooms.  This week, the library was particularly chilly because the furnace was shut down for maintenance.  Classes have outdoor recess before school begins and once or twice during the school day unless it is raining or the temperature (or wind chill) is below O F.  During snow season, boots are required for playing on snow-covered areas and boots and snow pants are required for playing on “snow mountain.” Hats are appropriate out of doors, but common courtesy requires that they be removed in the building.  On Fridays (Wednesday for Kindergarten), students are expected to wear sneakers and shorts, sweatpants, or other stretchy clothes for physical education class. 

 

 PLEASE RETURN YOUR TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF BOXESTO THE PELHAM SCHOOL OFFICE ASAP.

 

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Savings Makes Sense is EVERY Wednesday.

REMINDER:  We are collecting canned goods, pasta, and rice for the Amherst Survival Center.

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OPPORTUNY TO THE HELP VICTIMS OF THE CALIFORNIA FIRES:

From Don Phillips, Superintendent of the Poway School District (http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us ):  Miraculously, and with a lot of hard work over the weekend, we reopened all 34 schools today (Monday).  The physical and emotional toll has been high, with over 340 students and 20 staff members losing their homes and two-thirds of the district population under evacuation for most of last week.  We were the hardest hit area, with more than 500 total homes lost within the district's boundaries.  The community has come together in wonderful ways, but the long-term effects are hard to calculate.  We pushed for a Monday reopening because we know returning to normal patterns as soon as possible is the best thing to do following a crisis situation.  Our first day back to school was about rebuilding the social fabric of our schools and community.  The healing process will take much longer.  We are in the process of determining the needs of our students and families.  We have established a fire relief fund in collaboration with our local PTA for assistance to impacted students and staff, which would be the most helpful.  Contributions may be sent to:     

PUSD Fire Victims' Relief Fund

Poway Unified School District

Attention:  Mary Jo Stollfuss, Accounting Department

13626 Twin Peaks Road

                        Poway, CA  92064

 

                

 

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

 

 

Minutes of Pelham School Committee Meeting

September 6, 2007

 

Present:  Michael Hussin, Chair     Tracy Farnham            Maureen Ecclestone                 Supt. Jere Hochman

                Rena Moore    Fred Vanderbeck, Finance Committee       Ellen Leuchs      Anna Robbins       Elaine Fronhoffer

               Lynn Smith

               

Call to Order, and Welcome	Michael Hussin called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
Minutes	Minutes of June 7 and August 27 were approved as written.
Announcements & Public Comment
Superintendent and Principal Update	The Committee voted to participate in the Savings Make Sense Program.  Supt. Hochman said that the Regional Committee is discussing two sections of the Regional Agreement:  Transportation and the Excess and Deficiency account.  A sub-committee will study these areas.  The Amherst Select Board wants to call a four-town meeting of the Select Boards and the Finance Committees for September or October.  These meetings are usually held in the winter and/or early spring once budget projections for the next year are known, but this year the Amherst Select Board may call one earlier.  A small sub-committee will be formed to develop a request for proposals for the Food Service program.  Supt. Hochman presented the K-12 Math, Science, and Language Arts Curriculum Guides, which were completed this summer.  He also presented the Student Services Manual, which contains information about ELE, Section 504, Special Education, PRISM Intervention Model, District Curriculum Accommodation Plan, and Health Services.   Tracy Farnham asked if the manuals will be updated annually, and Supt Hochman said that there is an on-going cycle for reviewing the manuals.  The district is also trying to tie everything together through the Data Warehouse program.  Maureen Ecclestone asked if the district was using I-504 or U-Med.  Supt. Hochman said that U-Med is being set up, but the district is only beginning to look at I-504.  Supt. Hochman presented the Committee with the Final Report of the Responsiveness Committee, which will be implemented over the year as part of the district’s charge to take care of the safety and well-being of students.  Michael Hussin asked if the first responders would receive information about how an issue is handled.  Supt. Hochman said that this issue will be a key point of the training—that first responders will feel that their information was handled appropriately.  Counselors will be trained immediately in the program.
Unfinished Business	Spanish Language Program:  Supt. Hochman said that the program was not included in this year’s budget and the final figures for the FY07 and FY08 budget are not available.  For these reasons, there is not a recommendation now to include the Spanish program in the FY08 budget.  Rena Moore suggested that the teachers and parents meet to set up guidelines for the program and its implementation.  Tracy Farnham said that she would like to see the Spanish Program considered as a program that can be funded by the extra school choice funds.  Michael Hussin said that he hears two issues for the Spanish Program:  funding and implementation.  He also asked for a priorities list for the school for any “extra” money for the next meeting.  Ellen Leuchs and Elaine Fronhoffer both spoke for the parents and talked about the support for the program in the parent community.  Supt. Hochman said that the committee will have the data they need at the October meeting.
New Business	School Choice:  The Pelham School Committee voted 3-0 to close the open FY06-07 slots in 1st and 2nd and the vacant FY07-08 slot in first.  If an existing school choice student leaves after the residency cut off, then the school choice slot is closed for the year.  If an existing school choice students leaves before the residency cut off (February 29 for FY08), then the slot can be filled with the exception of grade two where no vacant slots will be filled
Reports	None
School Committee Planning	A.  Calendar Review—Meetings for FY08:  Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 13, 2007, Jan. 1, Feb. 7, Mar. 6, Apr. 3, May 1, and June 5, 2008 B.  Items for Upcoming Meetings:  School Choice, FY08 reconciliation, Spanish Program C.  Sub Committee Reports
Adjournment	Michael Hussin adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM for Executive Session.
Next Meeting	Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 PM in the Pelham Community Room.

 

 

 

Minutes of Pelham School Committee Meeting

October 18, 2007

 

Present:  Michael Hussin, Chair     Tracy Farnham       Maureen Ecclestone                          Supt. Jere Hochman

                Rena Moore    Fred Vanderbeck, Finance Committee        Elaine Fronhoffer         Ed Martin, Selectman

               

Call to Order, and Welcome	Michael Hussin called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.
Minutes	Minutes of September 6 were not available.  Michael Hussin asked that the minutes of the meeting be mailed to the committee two weeks in advance.
Announcements & Public Comment	Rosalba Baroni-Booth has donated books to the children’s section of the library in memory of her father. The School Committee thanked her for the donation. Michael Hussin thanked Supt. Hochman for his work and support in getting the middle school guidance counselor certified.  Supt. Hochman announced that there will be a four town budget meeting Saturday, Oct. 20, at 2 PM.  The Regional Sub-Committee on the Regional Agreement met to discuss E& D and the transportation section of the agreement.  Maureen Ecclestone, Ed Martin, John Trickey, and Bill Martell attended.  The next meeting will be in Shutesbury on Nov. 8.
Superintendent and Principal Update	Educational Quality Assurance Team will audit the Amherst, Pelham, and Regional districts on October 29 – November 1.  This group is made up of educators and former educators who audit the districts based on a series of standards.  They will meet with administrators, teachers, other district staff, parents, and school committee members.  Maureen Ecclestone said that as many school committee members as possible should attend the meeting.  MCAS/AYP—The Pelham Elementary School scores were very high.  No student failed any of the tests, and only one student was in the low needs improvement category.  Pelham School met the No Child Left Behind criteria and placed in the Very High Category.  The Boston Globe Ranking System placed Pelham #1 in the state in 3rd grade reading, 6th grade English and 6th grade math, and #2 in 4th grade Math, 5th Grade math, and 5th grade science.    Sculptor in Residence—Thanks to the generosity of the Fine Arts Center and the Pelham Arts Lottery Council, Pelham School will have a sculptor in residence from October 22 – October 26.  The sixth grade has been studying an integrated unit combining art and physics in preparation for the work with the sculptor.  The sculpture will be permanently displayed between the school and the library.  The installation is scheduled for 2:30 on Friday, October 26.
Unfinished Business	School Choice:   As of October 18, 2007, there were 116 students in Pelham School with 34 school choice students.  On September 6, all remaining school choice slots for 2007-2008 were closed.  Any slots that open up after September 6 (with the exception of 2nd grade) will be open until March 1, and waiting lists will be maintained until March 1.  There is now one open slot in sixth grade.  Rena Moore reported that she had spoken to Cathy Neale, who said that the “beginning of the year” routines are set and some major units have been completed; however, if there is going to be a new student in the sixth grade class, then she feels that the student should join the class as quickly as possible.  Maureen Ecclestone stated that she feels we should open the slot to the first person on the waiting list.  Michael Hussin said that we have chosen an arbitrary date to close school choice slots and that the committee can vote to change that date.  Michael Hussin asked if the teachers could meet to discuss the best date to close school choice slots at each grade.  Supt. Hochman said that the school committee does not have to make a decision now; the committee has made the decision for March 1.  After the discussion, the Pelham School Committee voted 2-1 to close the sixth grade slot.  FY08 Budget:  Michael Hussin said that he attended the Town of Pelham’s information meeting last night.  The budget situation continues to be dire.  Everyone is trying to find new ways to fund the budget.  Supt. Hochman presented the status of the Pelham School budget.  The Pelham School Committee voted to participate in school choice to both help fund the budget and to fund special programs for the school.  He said Rob Detweiler has asked that the school try to put aside enough school choice money so that the school choice funds from one year can be used for the following year and not the current year.  As a result of budgeting funds for salaries, benefits, and insurance that exceed the actual projected expenditures, there are funds available to be used for other expenditures, approximately $45,000.  Recommended items to bring back that were cut from this year’s budget:  .05 ELL Teacher, Additional Student Help for the Custodian, Books and Other Reference Materials for the Library.  There is additional funding for the Spanish program.  Spanish Language Program:  Staff discussed the Spanish Program.  One of the major issues is the implementation of the program in the upper grades particularly during MCAS time, and the staff has discussed a split schedule for the position.  The Pelham School Committee voted to allow the Principal and the school staff to spend the money for Spanish and the above items.
New Business	Poison Ivy and overgrown shrubs—Tracy Farnham asked if anything could be done for the poison ivy and overgrown shrubs on the playground.  Rena Moore reported that she had spoken to Tilman Lukas, Chair of the Conservation Commission, and he had recommended covering the poison ivy in the spring to kill it because sprays can not be used in the wetlands.  Ed Martin will talk to Rick Adamcek about cutting back the shrubs.
Reports
School Committee Planning	A.  Calendar Review—Meetings for FY08:  Nov. 1, and Dec. 13, 2007, Jan. 1, Feb. 7, Mar. 6, Apr. 3, May 1, and June 5, 2008 B.  Items for Upcoming Meetings:  School Choice C.  Sub Committee Reports
Adjournment	Michael Hussin adjourned the meeting at 8:35 PM for Executive Session.
Next Meeting	Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 PM in the Pelham Community Room.

 

MANDELA’S CHILDREN

 

A Talk by Alice Goodwin-Brown

7 PM, Thursday, November 8

In the Trustees Room of the Jones Library

 

            Alice Goodwin-Brown spent August in South Africa, touring the country and visiting public schools as part of a group of teachers from this area financed by a Fulbright Grant, organized by the Five College Collaborative.  She has had a continuing interest in the developments in that country that have been shaped by the exceptional statesman, Nelson Mandela.  She was able to get a feel of his legacy, both in the schools and in the social and political institutions she was able to observe.

 

            Ms. Goodwin-Brown has been teaching at Amherst’s Crocker Farm School for the past twenty years. 

 

 

Jonothan Kozol Lecture at Mt. Holyoke College

 

On Friday, November 2, Jonothan Kozol will  lecture at Mount Holyoke College on the interconnections between social class and education.  He will discuss his latest published work, Letters to a Young Teacher, based on his correspondence with Francesca, a teacher at  an inner-city public school.  The event on will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Gamble Auditorium in the Art Building at Mount Holyoke College.

Mr. Kozols lecture is part of the Weissman Centers 2007 - 2008 series,"Bearing Witness, that will explore issues of testimony in legal and religious contexts, showcase the work of documentary film makers, and also will highlight acts of witnessing and advocacy as they relate to vulnerable groups such as children and other socially and politically marginalized populations.  Other speakers this fall are Iranian human rights activist Mehrangiz Kar and documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy. In the spring, the Weissman Center welcomes human relations scholar Naomi Tutu and film maker Shirin Neshat.

Please see the Weissman Centers website  www.mtholyoke.edu/go/bearingwitnessfor more information about all of these events.

 

 

News from the Kindergarten

 

     We have had an exciting week getting ready for Halloween.  We read special Halloween books, completed a Halloween pattern math activity, made paper jack-o-lanterns, and sang Halloween songs.  We made our own special masks to celebrate the holiday at our Halloween party; then, we paraded down to the office with our masks on to sing the pumpkin song to everyone there.  We had such great fun!

     Next week will be the start of another Investigations unit, called “Counting and Comparing”. Counting is the basis for understanding our number system; we will be learning many number skills and concepts.  Some of these skills are rote counting, one-to-one correspondence, keeping track, connecting numbers to quantities, conservation, and counting by groups.

     We have started sounding out words during our writing time.  Stretching the sounds of letters in words helps us practice this very important strategy for learning to read and spell words.  Everyone is working really hard at this, and I am very proud of them!

     Now that we are coming into real fall weather, we are learning about this season’s changes.  We are focusing on our environment as well as our needs to physically stay warm in this season.  This last idea is really a hard one for us.  Knowing whether we need jackets or not can be difficult to determine, especially when our own thermostats are so different.

                                                                                                Debbie Jacque

 

 

moorer@arps.org

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