Pelham Press Vol. 20,  No. 5    September 24, 2009 http://www.arps.org./pe/

Monday, September 28                                                  Principal Open Office Hour, 5 – 6 PM

Thursday,  October 1                                                      Pelham School Committee Meeting, 7 PM

Sunday,  October 4                                                        Sixth Grade Parent Meeting, 6:30 PM

Monday,  October 5                                                       Pelham PTO, 7 PM

Monday,  October 12                                                      NO SCHOOL

Wednesday,  October 14                                                            Kindergarten and Sixth Grade Field Trips

Saturday,  October 17                                                    ABC WALK

Monday,  October 19                                                      Picture Day

                                                                                    Principal Open Office Hour, 5 – 6 PM

Thursday,  October 22                                                    Early Release Day, school ends at 1:20 PM

                                                                                    Sixth Grade Field Trip

Monday,  October 26                                                      Third Grade Field Trip

Tuesday,  October 27                                                     Early Release Day, school ends at 1:20 PM

Saturday,  October 31                                                    Halloween Party, 5:30 PM

From the Principal: 

            We began yesterday with our annual “Back-to-School Assembly.”  Teachers introduced the new students, staff, and student teachers in their classrooms.  Ms. King and Ms. Winston also re-introduced the “Acts of Kindness” Tree, which will soon be covered by fall leaves of kindness.  Then, in a Pelham School tradition, the entire school community held hands and walked around the gym, led by Marshall O’Leary and Rebekah Wilson.  Finally, we did a whole school “wave” and gave ourselves a big round of applause for the terrific spirit of cooperation and friendship that exists in Pelham School. 

I enjoyed seeing so many of you at last night’s Curriculum Night.  As I moved from room to room on Wednesday, I enjoyed hearing about all the learning that goes on in the classrooms and seeing the units that teachers will introduce during the year.  It looked like we were very close to our goal of 100% attendance in most of the classrooms, and I know some parents who had conflicts visited the classrooms on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.  I want to thank all of you for making your child’s education a top priority.

Last night, parents were able to sign up for the “Savings Makes Sense” program.  This is a state-wide program that allows school children to establish a savings account with very small deposits.  Students make deposits weekly on Wednesday morning—sometimes of less than a dollar—and establish the habit of saving for a future need.  Please stop by the school office for a brochure if you would like more information.                                                  Rena Moore

 

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Savings Makes Sense begins Wednesday, September 30^th

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Reminder:  Parents, please return all your child’s forms as soon as possible, including the PTO and School Committee Contact Information.  If you need additional copies, please call the school office (253-3595).  We will need these forms before your child may go on field trips

  

REMINDER:  Parents, please note that students will be dismissed at 1:20 PM on October 22 and October 27, so teachers can hold their fall parent-teacher conferences.  If you did not sign up for a conference at Curriculum Night, please call or send a note to your child’s teacher to schedule one.

 

A BETTER CHANCE FALL FOLIAGE WALK OCTOBER 17, 2009

The Amherst A Better Chance Fall Foliage Walk will return this year on Saturday, October 17h with all of the fitness fun it has provided for over 40 years.  A tradition in Amherst, the Walk is the ABC program’s most important fundraiser.  People of all ages and from all parts of the community come out to support the scholars who are seeking better educational opportunities at Amherst Regional High School.  Registration will begin at the Mill Amherst Town Common at 10 AM. It’s OK if you don’t do the whole Walk; even if you can’t walk at ALL on that day you CAN still participate by seeking pledges for an alternative activity.  Pledge forms will be available to Pelham students and families from Meg Gallagher after permission slips go home.  To learn more about the A.B.C. Program, go to amherstabetterchance.org or to the national website, abetterchance.org. 

 

 

Lost:  One dolphin necklace.  If found, please return to the school office. 

 

	Enchanted Forest Animals in Disguise
Don’t miss the Hitchcock Center’s Enchanted Forest!  This non-scary Halloween family event takes place Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 from 5-8:30p.m.  Adults and children of all ages will enjoy meeting our magical “Animals in Disguise” as you are guided along the pumpkin-lit trail.  Walks leave the Center every 15 minutes and last 45 minutes.  Enjoy crafts, games, and snacks for sale.  Pre-registration required. Register early as this event fills fast!  Call 413-256-6006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy, On-going Pelham School Fundraisers

Box Tops for Education	Campbell Soup Labels	Printer Cartridges	A+Bonus Bucks at Stop and Shop	BIG Y Education Express
Found on General Mills products, please cut and send to Pelham School	Please cut and send to Pelham School office	Send your used cartridges to the Pelham School office.	Our School ID is 05202	Our school ID is 6258

 

 

 

Third Grade News

Meg Gallagher

 

            Once upon a time clouds were dinosaurs, whales, or Mickey Mouse to your child.  Now they may still be imaginary creatures, but they are also cumulus, cirrus, or stratus clouds!  Students in third grade are just beginning their Weather Unit.  We will learn about clouds, the water cycle, wind, high and low air pressure, fronts, weather maps, and air temperature.

We will collect data about temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and cloud type and cover, and then we’ll try to predict weather based on our data.          

          In math, students have been working on place value.  Many have a good understanding of ones, tens, and hundreds.  Our unit has focused on being able to write equations for word problems and then communicate the strategy used to solve the problem.  I have seen much progress in this area.  Students are using number lines, hundred charts, money, and base ten blocks to solve problems.  During Wizards time, we are also learning the traditional algorithms to solve addition and subtraction problems. Students should be studying their addition facts weekly for their two minute timed tests which are given on Thursdays.

            Last week we finished reading a biography about Helen Keller, which corresponded beautifully with our unit on disabilities. We worked on vocabulary, decoding strategies, and comprehension skills. Students have done a wonderful job reading and learning about her life.  I think they have found her as inspirational as I always have.  I was very pleased to be able to share her story with them.

            Currently the students are working on writing about a prompt they were given.  This will be scored before our Parent Conferences, and I will be able to share them with you.  The scoring helps to define students’ strengths and needs in this area.

            We are very pleased to welcome two new people to our class.  Fernando Zavala joins us from Shutesbury.  He became our 17^th classmate this week!  We are all happy to be getting to know him. 

            On Monday and Friday mornings, Alyssa Roark, a Hampshire College student is assigned to our class. I am very impressed with her skills, and I know the children are enjoying working with her.

             Thank you for the careful attention you are paying to the homework folder.  Home – school communication seems to running smoothly.

 

 

Fourth Grade Pelham Press

 

The year is off to a great start.  The students have already shown me that they are very capable.  We have settled in with our first two units.  In social studies the children have been reading about Native American culture.  Soon, they will start their first project, which will include a written portion and a visual hands-on presentation.  Children can choose topics such as pottery, beads, weaving, and hunting. 

 

In science students have been exploring electricity.  They have built many things that demonstrate an understanding of a complete circuit.  They also investigated items that permit the passage of electricity (conductors) and inhibit the passage of electricity (insulators).  Who would have guessed that electricity can pass through the graphite core of a pencil?  Each child has completed a large project called a question and answer board, and they are ready to be tried.  Using a circuit tester, they connect a question to the correct answer and a bulb lights up. The secret is on the back of the board; wires complete the path electricity must travel.

 

In math we are starting the year off with arrays, as they hold the key to studying multiplication in many ways.  Students have selected different numbers and, using graph paper, have drawn all possible arrays with that total. The dimensions of the array are factors of the product. 

 

At the beginning of the year, we take time in the classroom to familiarize students with their homework responsibilities.  They have been doing very well with their homework routine so far.  I will send home homework club slips to some families. 

 

Thank you all for coming to Curriculum Night; I always look forward to meeting you.  If you did not sign up for a conference, please send me dates and times you are available through your child, a phone call, or email (shawa@arps.org).

 

                                                                                                            Tony Shaw

moorer@arps.org

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