Curriculum Night

Curriculum Night
Wednesday September 23rd

There are many things happening on Curriculum Night so don't miss it.

Childcare will be provided for 5 year-olds and older by John Keins and and two able assistants sponsored by the PGG. There will be a movie in the Auditorium which will start at 6:30. All children must stay in the Auditorium. Children under 5 are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult.

• The movie is Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey. Three pets are left behind when their family goes on vacation. Unsure of what happened, the animals set out on a quest to find their family. Possibly scary scenes: Milo gets swept away in a river and Otis fight a bear. Milo throws himself off a cliff and must spend the night alone and in the dark. There will also be a few shorts at the beginning: Stregga Nona, The Five Chinese Brothers, The Three Robbers
  

ALSO:
Bring your Stop and Shop Card to sign up for the Bonus Bucks Program.
Bring you Big Y card to sign up for the Education Express Program.
Bring in your used books for the Used Books Sale.
Vote for our final School Governance Council Parent.
Remeber to check your name and information for the Directory while in your child's classroom.

Schedule:
6:15- 6:30 Opening Presentation with Nick and the PGG in the Auditorium
6:30-7:10 Curriculum presentation in grades K, 1, 2, & 3 and upper grade parents and guardians can visit the specials classrooms at this time. (art, music, physical education, computer and library.)
7:10-7:20 Break and transition time and a good time to visit the PGG Table
7:20-8:00 Curriculum presentation in grades 4, 5, & 6 and lower grade parents and guardians can visit the specials classrooms at this time. (art, music, physical education, computer and library.)
8:00 finish the night by visiting the PGG Table

Some Cool Family Events and a Chance to Participate

North Amherst 3rd Annual Harvest Festival,
Sunday September 28th. 1 to 6 PM being held at Simple Gifts Farm, located on North Pleasant Street, North Amherst. Fine entertainment, Great Food, Silent Auction, Microbrew, Bake Sale, Pig roast, Watermelon Race, Family field Day, Face painting, Hayrides, Hot Air Balloons. Many Mark’s Meadow Families are participating in the running of this event. Come have fun and Support Local Agriculture. For more information visit, simplegiftsfarms.com.

Make Sure Your Child Doesn't Get Left Inside
The Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club is starting up hikes and other events to get kids outdoors. Our first outing will be a short hike at Buffam Falls in Pelham on Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:00 AM. The event will be a short hike at a slow pace, with plenty of opportunity to throw rocks and sticks into the water and explore nature. We may get a snack, lunch or ice cream afterward.

The goal is to have at least one kid-friendly event every month of the year. Possibilities include scavenger hunts, building fairy houses, and letter boxing.

Our second event, on Oct. 12, will be a hike up Rattlesnake Knob which is a smaller peak just east of Mount Norwottuck, part of the Holyoke Range in Amherst. We will meet at 10 a.m. and may gather for lunch afterward.

Contact Leader Nancy Weld for more information (413) 256-8728 or at familyprograms@amcberkshire.org. There is no cost for the hikes and you don't have to be an AMC member. See all AMC hikes here.

Announcing The Woven Word Creative Writing Workshops for Young Girls (5th-8th grade)

There are stories and poems that belong to each of us alone. The Woven Word workshop, now in its 3rd year, is designed to create safe space to develop each girl’s unique voice. We focus on creative writing, not grammar or spelling. Workshop leader Lynn Bowmaster is a published poet with 9 years experience leading youth workshops.

Meets Tuesdays, 3:30-5:30. For information Lynn at 584-3373 or email: lrbowmaster@gmail.com. Cost $14-16/week. or click here

WELCOME BACK

WELCOME BACK CELEBRATION
Please come and join us for an evening of welcoming the families back to the Mark's Meadow School and welcoming New Families to our community!

September 10th, 5:30 TO 7 PM
Mark's Meadow Playground. Potluck Dinner.
Parents we suggest this format for participating in the Potluck:

K trough 2nd Grade Families bring Salads, Vegetables, or Fruit
3 through 5th Grade Families bring Main Course dishes, meat or vegetarian
6th Grade Families bring Desserts
PGG will provide drinks and paper goods.

Bring enough for a family of 6 and label your plates with your name.
Ingredients cards are also requested for informing those who have allergies to certain foods.

YEARBOOKS FOR 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE ON SALE FOR $3

If you would like to help with set up of clean up please send email to marksmeadow@gmail.com

YEARBOOKS - SEND IN YOUR REQUESTS

Yearbooks are available!

All 6^th Graders will be given a copy.

All other Students canpurchase one for $4.

Send in the Request form (that will be coming home in your child’s backpack, or print the attachment) with $4 to your child’s classroom (cash or a check made to the PGG). Copies will also be for sale at the End of the Year Celebration on WednesdayJune 18^th, from 5:30 to 7:30

(Rain Date June 19^th)

Last Two Weeks Of The School Year

June is a busy month at Mark's Meadow. Here is what is happening. And here are some areas where you can participate,

• Bring in your Used Books for the Fall Used Book Sale.
• Nominated your choice for School Governance Council (SGC).
• Bring in your Read-a-Thon sign-up forms.

CALENDAR:
6/9 Monday: Chorus traveling to Lake Wyola with Mary May. 10 AM to 1 PM.

6/9 Monday: Orchestra, Band Concert, 2 and 7:30 PM

6/10 Tuesday: Ms. Vegiard's Class Performs It's A Jungle Out There. 2:00 and 7:30 PM

6/12 Thursday: 5th Grade Science Museum Field Trip.

6/13 Friday: 6th Grade UN Trip

6/16 Monday: Graduation Breakfast 8:45 AM, Graduation 10:00 AM

6/17 Tuesday: Field Day 1:15 to 2:45 PM

6/18 Wednesday: END OF THE YEAR Events (NOT the last day of School for Marks Meadow)
10:00 AM Good Bye Assembly
1:20 PM Dismissal
2:00 After School Goes to Mill River.
5:30 to 7:30 PM End of the Year Celebration Look Below for what goes on at this event.

• Bring dinner for your family and
  
• Bring a Dessert to Share.
  
• Yearbooks will be sold, so bring $4 to purchase your copy if you have not already done so.
  
• Voting for SGC
  

6/19 Thursday: Last Day of School 1:20 PM Dismissal(RAIN DATE FOR END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION)

OFF TRACK: Presented by the Diversity Committee

TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH 6:30 TO 8:00 PM

THE MARK'S MEADOW DIVERSITY COMMITTEE INVITES ALL MARK'S MEADOW PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO A VIDEO

"CLASSROOM PRIVILEGE FOR ALL": OFF TRACK

WITH A DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW.
Childcare and refreshments provided.

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Brown Envelope Fundraiser: We are creeping towards our Goal of $2500. We have collected over $1000. Please do what you can to contribute.
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Science Night:

To All Science Night Volunteers

THANK-YOU

THANK-YOU

THANK-YOU

It was a successful evening and it could not have happened without you. We raised over $200 for PGG through the raffle and T-Shirt sales.
Also for all to know we have received a grant from Amherst Education Foundation to restart the Science Club next year. Thanks to Alyssa Melnick for pursuing this grant and for being our leader and making Science Night such a success.
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Mrs. Schreiber's Class Presents their Variety Show!: April 29th, at 2 PM and 7:30 PM. Don't miss this terrific show on featuring some of our third graders

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VOTE VOTE VOTE

April 1st: Polls open at 7 AM Close at 8 PM.

Lot's of News

MCAS Testing Starts: 3/25 Tuesday. Check with your teachers to see what you child's testing schedule is.

RECYCLE PARTY: Saturday March 29th: Mark's Meadow Gym. 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Please come and help the Recycle Team sort printer cartridges and earn some dollars for the PGG. The more the merrier. Call Tracy Hightower to volunteer, for details on this PGG fund raising program and on how you can help! 413-657-6879. Your efforts in this program pay for Field trips, 5th and 6th grade Yoga, Science Night and much much more.

Go, Kids Art, Go: 3/29 Saturday: 11AM to 5PM Barnes Art Gallery click here for information about Art Gallery.

Walking with Dinosaurs - Thanks to Scott McGinley you now have this to explore. The Live Experience! First New England Performance in 65 Million Years! Although there is no school matinees, this is an exclusive discount offer for teachers, students, and parents. Discounted tickets for shows on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28th at the Mullins Center. To check out the show and purchase tickets go to http://www.dinosaurlive.com/ . Enter the code "GSMC" to receive a $5 discount off Thursday and Friday night shows! For groups of 10 or more please call 413-545-3332.

Meetings :
PGG: April 1st, 6:30 to 8:00 PM Mark's Meadow Library
SGC: April 3rd, 3:30 to 5:00 PM
DIVERSITY: April 15th 6:30 to 8:00PM Open Forum and movie (OFF TRACK)

SCIENCE NIGHT AT MARK'S MEADOW? WEDNESDAY APRIL 9th, 6pm-7:30pm
SAVE THE DATE!

Fund Raising, how are we doing?
Bake Sale at Family Movie Night: $70
Brown Envelope Fund raiser: as of March 21st $436. Send in your contributions our goal is $3000
Family Photo's Project: $270.75
Stop and Shop: $452.96 with only 32 families participating. Sign your card up now.
Box Tops: $145 +
Target. $174 with only 32 cards signed up.

Multicultural Fair, What you need to know!

FASHION SHOW PREPARATION
If you are interested in helping organize the Multicultural Fair Fashion Show, please consider attending our organizing meeting on Monday, March 10 at 3:15 PM in Mr. Scott's classroom (Room 150).

We will be discussing the structure of the show, how to organize costumes backstage, create a logical sequence of presentations, audio/visual ideas, and anything else that comes up. For more information, please contact Scott McGinley, Kindergarten teacher, at mcginleys@arps.org.

MULTICULTURAL FAIR COORDINATION MEETING
In Nick's Office 2:30 Wednesday, March 12th. Come and join the team of dedicated volunteers working to have a successful night for our community.

CALLING ALL FAMILIES FOR THE MULTICULTURAL FAIR
If you haven't gotten a call from your room parent yet regarding bringing something to the Multicultural fair these are some of the things we need. Please come and share your cultural heritage at our annual Multicultural Fair. March 19th, at 6:15 PM. It is completely up to you what you bring in. You might want to think about what is special about your family’s tradition. Things you might want to know about the Fair.

• You can bring in photographs, artwork, books, artifacts, music, games, instruments, clothing, dolls/puppets, farm/agricultural displays, an art activity or even cds/dvds that represent your heritage. You can be creative.
• You can dress in your traditional or celebratory dress.
• This year the items might be grouped by theme or you may share a room with other families from the same geographic area.
• Do you know of any other families who would like to participate?
• You can come into the school to set up anytime between 4-5:30 p.m. or drop the items off earlier in the week or day.
• The exhibit viewing time will be one hour. A staff person or another member of the Mark’s Meadow community will be able to relieve you for 30 minutes so that you can enjoy the rest of the exhibits.
• During the eating and performance time in the gym, we will lock the doors to the classrooms.
• At 8 p.m. the doors will be reopened for cleaning and packing up.
• When you arrive to set up you will be told what room to go to.
• Do you have a specific item that the children can look for as part of the scavenger hunt?
• Please label your items
  

BRING IN TRADITIONAL FARE TO SHARE

• You can bring in a tasting or “finger food” that could be a part of your exhibit area or if you bring in a larger dish it will be served later in the evening in the gym.
• Label all dishes with your child’s name
• Bring in a serving utensil (also labeled)
• Precut desserts
• Please bring in an ingredients card, some community members have allergies or dietary restrictions
• Name the country of origin
• Remember this is a Mark’s Meadow sampling, not a full dinner
• We do not have any place to reheat or refrigerate foods
  

THANK YOU for your offering!

REMINDERS and fun things to do.

• Rock n' Read : 3/3, All day Monday
  
• PGG meeting: Meeting Tuesday 3/4, 6:30PM, Special guests include School Committee candidates.
• Fathers' Group: Tuesday 3/3 10AM to 11:30AM. Fathers don't forget the opportunity to participate in FATHER'S GROUP. Tuesday March 4th in the basement of the Unitarian Church located at 121 North Pleasant Street. Sponsored by The Amherst Family Center and Family Outreach of Amherst.
• SCG meeting: Thursday 3/6, 3:30PM Nick's office. Open meeting anyone is welcome. Please fill out your own school improvement plan by clicking here and downloading a file. (also see below in next post)
  
• Family Movie Night: Friday 3/7, 6:45PM Movie will be Babe or Honey I Shrunk the Kids
  
• Multicultural Fair: 3/19 6:15 Only 2 weeks away...please bring in your volunteer form. We especially need parent volunteers to set up the exhibits and bring in cultural artifacts.
  
• Science Night: We have a date: 4/9th. 6:00 to 7:30PM Please come.
• Internet Safety and Savvy: Wednesday, 3/12 7:00PM - 8:30PM at Amherst High School Library. An important look into the online lives of are students! The ARHS Parent Center will be sponsoring a workshop for parents and guardians titled "Internet Safety and Savvy" teen's safety while surfing the Web, as well as posting to such sites as MySpace and UTube.
  Cynthia Boyle, Director of Community Education and Outreach for the Northwest District Attorney's Office, and an expert in this field, will conduct the workshop. Ms. Boyle is very up to date on the sites that are popular with ARHS students and other teens. This workshop will offer you an important glimpse into the online lives of ARMS and ARHS students. Other topics covered will include: social networking sites, cyber bullying, Internet lingo, online gaming, instant messaging, chat rooms, and bash boards. Online safety tips and family contracts regarding Internet use will also be discussed as important tools for keeping our young people safe while online now and in the future.
• Walking with Dinosaurs - Thanks to Scott McGinley you now have this to explore. The Live Experience! First New England Performance in 65 Million Years! Although there is no school matinees, this is an exclusive discount offer for teachers, students, and parents. Discounted tickets for shows on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28th at the Mullins Center. To check out the show and purchase tickets go to http://www.dinosaurlive.com/ . Enter the code "GSMC" to receive a $5 discount off Thursday and Friday night shows! For groups of 10 or more please call 413-545-3332.