Volume 12-13      Issue #7      October 12, 2012

Principal’s News

 Dear Calais Families,

Thank you to all who have come out for meetings with the PTO and the Nutrition Committee! It’s been great to work with you on everything from bringing tasty snacks to kids to putting on a spectacular haunted house and Halloween party to working with an artist in residence. I’m glad to be getting things like Nutrition Committee off the ground.

Speaking of getting other things off the ground, I have two committees/volunteer opportunities for which I’m recruiting. First, I’d love to get a group of Fun Fitness Fridays fans together a couple times this fall to brainstorm some brown winter contingency plans as well as any ideas for reinvigorating any parts of the program. Second, I’m hoping to get a team or two together to participate in Destination Imagination. This program is similar to Odyssey of the Mind – students work together in teams to plan, research, and execute a solution to a challenge. Teams can choose from challenges in everything from science to technology to service learning to theater. See http://www.creativeimagination.org/     On March 23, 2013, there is a tournament in Burlington where teams from across the state show off their creative solutions. If you are interested in coaching a team or having your child(ren) participate, please let me know. We’ll get an informational meeting set up once I have a leader or two!

NECAPs are winding down; third and sixth grade students will wrap up today. Fourth and Fifth graders will finish the math next Tuesday, 10/16 and the fifth graders will finish up with the writing assessment on 10/17 and 10/18. Make-up sessions will be held next week as well.

Bring a Neighbor to Lunch slips were due today. If you have one or two last straggling forms, please, please please, get them to us by Monday. I’m excited to meet as many friends and neighbors as possible.

Hope to see many of you at the 5/6 Soccer Jamboree tomorrow!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the school websitewww.calaisschool.org Tues 10/16-Thurs 10/18 – NECAP tests in grades 4-5

Wed 10/17 – School Board Meeting at U-32, Room 112 7:30-9:00pm

Fri 10/26 – Bring a Neighbor to Lunch!

Sat 10/27 – Halloween Party 2-4pm at CES (Sponsored by the PTO)

Wed 11/7 – Picture RETAKE Day

Fri 11/9 – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Wed 11/14 – No Preschool for Mon/Wed 3 yr olds - Parent/Teacher Conferences

Wed 11/21 – Fri 11/23 – No School (Happy Thanksgiving!)

The past several days have been all about soccer for me! I’ve been out playing with both the upper and lower units in recent days and had a great, if a bit damp, time at the 3/4 Jamboree this past Saturday! I’m excited to see all the 5/6-ers out there on the 13^th. Here’s hoping the weather will be a bit more cooperative.

NECAPs have gotten off to a great start. Students are working very diligently and enjoying the special snacks coming their way. We’ve had to shuffle some dates for just the 4^th and 5^th graders. These students will now be taking the Math NECAP on 10/10, 10/11, and 10/16. The 5^th graders will take the writing NECAP on 10/17 and 10/18. Our apologies for the late notice! If you’ve got an appointment that can’t be moved, we understand and have plenty of time for make-up sessions.

Good luck to our 5^th and 6^th grade spellers who will compete at the WCSU Spelling Bee on Tuesday, October 9 at Rumney Memorial School. Mrs. Hudson and the spellers have been working hard and we know they will do their best!

Finally, I’m excited to participate in another great Calais tradition… Bring a Neighbor to Lunch.  Please make sure to return your reservation form and money by Friday, October 12^th so Chef Carolyn can be sure to order enough food for everyone. Nothing is sadder than running out of lasagna!

Enjoy the long weekend!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the school websitewww.calaisschool.org

Fri 10/5 – No School – WCSU Inservice day

Fri 10/5- Sun 10/7 – 52^nd Annual Calais Fall Foliage Festival!  (See attached flier)

Mon 10/8 – No School – Columbus Day

Wed 10/10 – Fri 10/12 - – NECAP tests in grades 3-4-5-6

Tues 10/16-Thurs 10/18 – NECAP tests in grades 4-5

Wed 10/17 – School Board Meeting at U-32 (Date & location change) Time TBD

Fri 10/26 – Bring a Neighbor to Lunch! (sign up forms due by 10/12)

Wed 11/7 – Picture RETAKE Day

Fri 11/9 – No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

            I don’t know about you, but I sure do love this true fall weather! Few things make me happier than homemade apple sauce and a good pair of slippers. Speaking of beautiful fall days, I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all the parents and friends who joined us for last week’s Wellness Hike. A good time was had by all, even with one extremely packed bus in the mix! I am also happy to report that we had a great picture day this week, and a new cougar collage will arrive in the coming months.

            Next week we have an action packed evening on Wednesday, October 3^rd. The PTO will meet at 5:30 to discuss, amongst other things, what to do with the $1690.50 we netted in flower bulb sales! At 6:45, Eric Mongeon will host Netbook Night for 4^th through 6^th grade families. We’re excited to get those netbooks and printers home so they can be fully put to use.

            Next week is also the start of NECAP season. Students in grades 3-6 will be taking NECAP exams in the morning on the following dates: Tuesday 10/2 through Thursday 10/4 and Wednesday 10/10 through Friday 10/12. Fifth graders will also take the writing NECAP on 10/16 and 10/17. Please let us know as soon as possible if your child(ren) will need to miss a testing day so we can schedule make-up sessions accordingly. Thanks for your help in making sure our students are ready to show all that they know on these important assessments!

            Finally, you are likely well aware that students have a four day weekend coming.  Staff members will use Friday, October 5^th’s in-service day to work with grade-alike teams across the district. Pre-K through 2^nd grade teachers will be working on math instruction and planning while 3^rd through 6^th grade teachers will delve into teaching students reading strategies.   And on Monday, October 8^th  there is no school due to Columbus Day.   

Until next week,

Marissa

What a great turn out at Wednesday night’s Open House! Thank you all for coming in and taking a peek at what we’re working on. We also had our first All School Morning Meeting on Tuesday. It was great to get together as a whole school and do among other things, a Funky Walk Greeting, courtesy of Mr. Middelton’s 5^th and 6^th grade class.

Please remember that October and therefore, NECAP time, is coming soon. Students in grades 3-6 will be taking NECAP exams in the morning on the following dates: 10/2-10/4 and 10/10-10/12. Fifth graders will also take the writing NECAP on 10/16 and 10/17. Please avoid scheduling any doctor or dentist appointments during these times. Students often feel much more confident when they are able to complete their exams during the regularly scheduled windows. Thanks for your help in making sure our students are ready to show all that they know on these important assessments!

The first week of October also brings several other exciting events. Please see the rest of this newsletter and next week’s edition for information about the PTO meeting and “Netbook Night” on October 3^rd as well as the in-service day on October 5^th.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Marissa