Pelham Press Vol. 20,  No. 11    November 5, 2009 http://www.arps.org./pe/

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Thursday, November 5                                                    Pelham School Committee, 5:30 PM, ARMS

Monday, November 9                                                      Principal Open Office Hour, 5 – 6 PM

                                                                                    Pelham PTO, 7 PM

Tuesday,  November 10                                                  Fine Arts Center Field Trip, Grades K -6

Wednesday, November 11                                           NO SCHOOL

Friday,  November 13                                                     Field Trip, grades 2 and 6

From the Principal: 

WHAT A SPOOKY HAUNTED HALL!!!  The 6^th grade students under the direction of Sharrie Reydak and Sara Braman worked very hard to create a haunted hall on the Pelham stage, and by all accounts, they were very successful.  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 to the Pelham Lion's Club for providing the "treats.”.  Thanks to everyone for all the hard work that made the Pelham Halloween Party such a success.   

In recognition of the impact parents have on their children's education, Governor Deval Patrick has declared November 2009 as Massachusetts Family Literacy Month.  Massachusetts Family Literacy Month highlights the importance of strong literacy skills that help each family member be a successful student, parent, community member and worker.  Family literacy brings parents and children together in literacy-centered activities.  In this Pelham Press, there is more information about the role parents play in their child's literacy development, including some suggestions for "raising a reader."

Parents are a child's first and most influential teachers. Family literacy stresses the word "family," as family members are essential in supporting learning at home, at school, and in the community.  Parents play specific roles in children's literacy development:  creating a literacy-rich environment, sharing reading and writing activities, acting as reading models, demonstrating positive attitudes toward learning.   As parents, you should know that shared learning and reading experiences are valuable gifts you can give your child.  Reading is a key learning skill that will enable your child to become proficient in other areas.  Reading aloud can also help your child become a better listener.  As a parent, finding the time to read to or with your child is not always easy.  However, it is an investment that pays off in big dividends!  Research shows that children who spend as little as 30 minutes a day reading books, magazines and newspapers are more likely to become good readers.  Join us as we celebrate literacy every month at Pelham School.     Rena Moore

 

AGENDA FOR REGULAR Meeting of PELHAM School Committee

5:30 PM, THURSDAY, November 5, 2009 in the Amherst Regional Middle School

1.  WELCOME:    Call to Order and Minutes—5:30 PM

2.  Announcements and Public Comment;   Principal & Superintendent Update

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business, Pelham School Principalship, FY09 Budget

5.  New Business – FY10  Budget

6.  Reports – None

7.  School Committee Planning  Calendar Review;   Items for Upcoming Meetings;   Sub-committee reports

8.  Adjournment                       This is an open meeting; all parents and community members are invited to attend.

 

TRIVIA BEE A SUCCESS:  The Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium was "abuzz" with contestants and spectators at the Amherst Education Foundation's 15th Annual Trivia Bee on Thursday, October 29.  120 contestants, many in costumes, competed for bragging rights to the title of Amherst area trivia champion. Hosted by AEF President Katie Allan Zobel and emceed by State Representative Ellen Story, the evening of challenge, wit and fun netted a record $6,150.00 for the benefit of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury schools.

While area schools are the big winners from the event, bragging rights belong to the team of bee champion Jones Group Realtors, comprised of Doug Albertson, Tim McGee, Maureen Porter (former Pelham parent and school committee member) and Micki Sanderson, who won an exciting sudden death playoff against competitors New England Finishing and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement. 

The trivia bee marks AEF's first fundraising event since the organization completed its strategic plan last year, and launches what promises to be a new era in AEF history.  AEF's mission is to provide significant and consistent support for area teachers and students by awarding grants, funding district-wide projects, and encouraging teacher innovation and academic excellence.

The event was underwritten by Northampton Cooperative Bank and made possible by the local businesses who provided sponsorships for the teams, donated prizes and/or helped with publicity.  The Amherst Education Foundation is profoundly grateful to these businesses for their support, and is already looking forward to another successful Trivia Bee in 2010.   For more information, or to make a tax-deductible gift to the schools via AEF, please visit our website at www.amhersteducationfoundation.org.

 

 

Middle School Talk:  The Counselors at ARMS will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle school students. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the FSP Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (email doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome

 

 

                                        Kindergarten News

 

     I have to say one thing about this year’s Kindergarten class. They love holidays!  At snack this morning a few children were wishing it to be Thanksgiving right now, at this very moment.  I thought the month of October was long, but I guess these next few months will prove to be the same. Going with the spirit of this next holiday we are following the state frameworks and our district’s curriculum by studying the Native American Indians and Early Settlers of our general area.  This week we are focusing on the Wampanoag Indian culture. Next week, our focus will be on the Pilgrims.  The week of Thanksgiving we will learn about the first Thanksgiving and the importance in our own lives to be thankful and caring of others.

     We are in the process of finishing our counting books, based on the book, “Anno’s Counting Book,” by Mitsumasa Anno.  It is a great way to expand our ability of one-to-one counting, use our imaginations with drawings, and make our own books to share with our families.

     We are continuing to look at the season of Fall by watching the weather and how it affects this season.  One of the easiest ways of doing this is by checking the temperature outside to see what kind of clothing we should wear at recess.  Needless to say, the children’s ideas do not always match mine!

     Our classroom is continuing to work on respect and caring for each other.  Empathy is not always an easy feeling to experience or express.  I am pleased to say that even with the Halloween craziness of last week we were able to maintain a positive, caring environment in Pelham K.  I am so proud of our kindergarteners!                                         Debbie Jacque

 

 

Parents as Readers

 

All parents want their children to be able to read. Some parents think they do not read well enough to help their children. That’s hardly ever the case. There are things every parent can do to help their child get ready to read:

 

• Look at books with your child—the pictures in children’s books help tell the story. As you and your child practice reading simple words and phrases, you’re building your own reading skills as well as your child’s.
• Recite nursery rhymes or make up rhymes—children need to hear the rhyming sounds in words such as “Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.” or “The old fat cat sat on the mat with the rat.”
• Sing songs. Most songs are really poems set to music—they have rhythm and rhyme, two important elements that can help build reading skills.
• Tell stories—family stories, neighborhood stories, stories of your childhood.
• Ask questions that your child can’t answer with just a “yes” or “no” — Why do you think that dog is barking? What do you see when you look out the window? Talking with your child is one of the best ways to build language skills.
• Talk about colors and shapes — Have you seen my blue key case? It is not light blue like the sky, but dark blue like a policeman wears. The ball is a big circle. What else is shaped like a circle?
• Count—Grandma is coming to dinner. If we set a place for her, how many plates do we need to put on the table?
• Draw and color pictures and “write” together.

Above all else, have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Raising a Reader

 

Children learn to love the sound of language before they ever notice the existence of printed words on a page. They coo or babble when you talk or sing to them, and as they grow, rapidly pick up the concepts and words they hear used. Reading aloud with children is an essential component to language development and is one of the most important activities for preparing them to succeed as readers.

 

As parents and caregivers, you can help lay down the foundation for a love of reading and nurture children’s development. Here are some things you can do to raise a lifelong reader:

 

Talk, Sing, and Play

Babies delight in hearing language. Talk as you do simple everyday things together: recite nursery rhymes, and do finger plays, games and action songs.

 

Make Time to Read

Try to read with your child every day at a regularly scheduled time. If possible, choose a time when you can be relaxed and not rushed. If you have more than one child, spend time reading with each child separately, especially if they’re more than two years apart. On days that are particularly hectic, bring a few books when you take children along on errands. Taking time to read to children on a regular basis sends the message that reading is worthwhile.

 

One More Time...PLEASE?!

As every adult who cares for children knows, they often ask to hear the same story again and again. They delight in knowing what comes next and often learn a favorite book so well that they can "read" it on their own. That favorite story may speak to your child’s current interests and emotional needs, so it’s important for the adults in their lives to be patient during this phase. Young children are eventually ready for different stories if they are continuously exposed to a variety of books.

 

Slow Down

It’s not just what you read to children, but how you read that matters. If adults rush through stories or read without enthusiasm, children quickly lose interest. Try to read with expression and use different voices for the characters. Reading at a leisurely pace with occasional pauses gives children time to take in what they hear, mull it over, and imagine the people, places, and events. Pose a question or make a remark that will prompt the child to think, express himself, or relate the story to his own experiences. It’s also a good idea to follow children’s cues. Sometimes they are caught up in the story and don’t want stops and detours along the way.

 

Choose Books with Care

Reading together often, you learn a lot about the kinds of books your child likes and understands. Visit the local library and involve your child in deciding what to bring home. Selecting books that relate to what’s happening in the child’s life at that time is a good way to ease transitions and allay fears about upcoming events. Topics such as potty training, new siblings, adoption, or moving to a new home are covered in a variety of books that are written specifically for young children.

 

Surround Children with Reading Material

In addition to library books, children also like having some books of their own that they can read whenever the mood strikes them. Affordable used books can be found at yard sales, thrift stores, secondhand book stores, and public library book sales. Consider subscribing to a good children’s magazine--children love having something come in the mail just for them!

 

Don’t Pressure Children About What or When to Read

Nagging children about their reading habits may cause them to resist reading all-together. Some school-age children choose to read only comic books or fan magazines after their homework is completed. Try not to criticize--after all, they are reading. If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don’t interrupt. If the mistake doesn’t change the meaning, let it go.

 

Show That You Value Their Efforts

Nothing is more important for fostering readers than showing genuine enthusiasm. Ask your child to read to you, a younger child, or a special visitor. Talk with him about what he is reading and respond positively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to Run Away and Join the Circus!?
Join us for Wunderle's Big Top Workshop

 

Sunday, November 8, 2:00 – 4:30 PM, Concert Hall Lobby, free and open to all ages!

An interactive circus adventure appropriate for a wide range of skill levels and ages. Participants can partake in the entire workshop or leave at any point. Equipment to be taught may include, but is not limited to: juggling scarves, balls, rings, and clubs, spinning plates, devil sticks, diablos, feathers, hula hoops, and jump ropes. Plus, human stunts such as clowning and entertaining tricks for all will be taught. A former international performer with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Troy Wunderle is the founder of Wunderle's Big Top Circus and is the Big Top Tour Director of Circus Smirkus in Vermont.

Wunderle's Big Top Workshop is presented in anticipation of the appearance of Cirque Mechanics in Birdhouse Factory: an extraordinary troupe of Cirque du Soleil, Pickle Family Circus, and Moscow Circus veterans who transform the mundane into the magnificent. Cirque Mechanics will perform at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 PM and a sold-out school performance that morning at 10am.

For more information on Wunderle's Big Top Workshop, see www.bigtopadventures.com. Information and tickets for the November 10 evening performance by Cirque Mechanics are available at the Fine Arts Center website.

Halina Kusleika
Assistant Director of Programming, Fine Arts Center
15 Curry Hicks
University of Massachusetts Amherst
100 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9267
ph. 413.545.4157
fax 413.545.0132
www.fineartscenter.com

 

SAVINGS MAKES CENTS

 

The Savings Makes Cents Program teaches children the value of saving money.  It takes place every Wednesday morning right outside the cafeteria from 8:30 to 9 AM.  The minimum to open an account is $1 (from then on it can be as low as a quarter), account is currently yielding 1.5%, and for every ten deposits made, Florence Savings Bank will deposit $1 into the student’s account. 

 

 

 

Girlfriends of Pelham...

You are invited to wine, dine, and pamper yourself with beautiful jewelry….

Because you deserve it, AND you’ll be supporting Pelham’s 6^th grade trip to Nature’s Classroom.

 All proceeds will benefit the kids’ trip! So grab your girlfriends,

Come hang out with other Pelham moms, and Start your holiday shopping in style!

 

Jewelry Party & Benefit for Pelham’s 6^th Graders

Wednesday, November 11

7-9 pm

At the home of Debbie McLean

(Marshall & Carlyn’s mom)

89 Russell Street, Sunderland, MA

(only 15 minutes from the school)

RSPV: 413 -835-5622 or mclean.debbie@gmail.com                  

Enjoy it now!  www.mysilpada.com/deb.mclean

Join us to meet other Pelham women and to support our kids! Everyone is invited,                                         and there will be plenty of laughter and, of course, gorgeous jewelry!

 

 

PTO Agenda

Monday, November 9th, 7pm

 Community Room

 

 

Welcome/Introduction: Ruth

 

Updates:

Principal’s Report – Rena Moore

Treasurer’s Report – Lynn Smith

School Committee Update – Tracy Farnham

 

Old Business:

Art Fund Raiser – Amy

Ice Cream Social*-Cheryl/Leanne

Book Fair* – Ellen

Halloween Party – Diana, Kristen, Barry

Art Fund Raiser – Amy

Gift Wrap – Diana

Volunteers, College and Parents – Elaine

* Archive completed for files?  Diana has the sheets. 

 

On-Going Business:

Library Book Fundraiser – Rena/Tracy 

Dean’s Beans - Amy

Big Y and Stop n Shop School Program – Kristen

Savings Makes Sense- Diana/Cheryl

Computer Club –David/Rena 

Snack Taxi’s – Diana

Junior Achievement – Karen

Mad Science – Diana

Movie Night -

 

New Business:

Potential holiday fundraisers?

Flower bulbs

Square Dance

Dog Show

Road Race

 

Schedule Next Meeting

 

moorer@arps.org

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