Pelham Press

Vol. 19,  No. 11    November 6, 2008

http://www.arps.org./pe/

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Thursday,  November 6                                                               Pelham School Committee, 7 PM

Tuesday,  November 11                                                           Veterans’ Day—No School

Friday,  November 14                                                                 Movie Night

Monday,  November 17                                                               Picture Retake Day

                                                                                                Pelham School Council, 6 – 7 PM

Tuesday,  November 18                                                              6th Grade Field Trip

Friday,  November 21                                                              Teacher Curriculum Day,  No School

Monday,  November 24                                                               Principal Open Office Hour, 5 – 6 PM

    Thursday,  November 27 and Friday, November 28    Thanksgiving Break              No School

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From the Principal:

WHAT A SPOOKY HAUNTED HOUSE!!!  The 6th grade students under the direction of Chris Gould and Alicyn Mindel worked very hard to create a haunted house 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" and supervising the games.  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 2008 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 the Pelham School staff as we celebrate literacy this month and every month at Pelham School.     Rena Moore

 

AGENDA FOR THE PELHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING, November 6, 2008, 7:00 PM, Pelham Community Room

 

Welcome, Announcements, and Public Comment—7:00 PM

Superintendent and Principal Update—

Unfinished/Continuing Business—School Choice; Spanish Language Program, 403 B

New Business:  Welcome New School Committee Member

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Introducing New Pelham School Committee Member Kathy Weilerstein:  I am the parent of children in Grades K and 6 of Pelham Elementary School, and my husband Phil and I have lived in Pelham for many years.  I am immediate past President of the Pelham PTO in which I have actively participated for 7 years.  As a parent and active member of the PTO I have been involved in numerous school activities over the past 7 years and have worked with all the teachers in Pelham Elementary on various projects over the years.

I hold a B.S. degree in Elementary and Special Education from Wheelock College in Boston and an MA in the Psychology of Human Development from the College of Developmental Studies in Los Angeles, and I am certified in K-8 education and K-12 special education.  I was an Elementary and Middle School Teacher (Regular and Special Education) for eleven years, have worked as an Educational Therapist for children with traumatic brain injuries and for 13 years have worked with undergraduate students at UMass Amherst.  In my current position as Director of Academic Programs for First-Year Students, I develop program opportunities and create and implement strategies for improving retention and academic performance of first-year students.

My qualifications for the committee include my extensive background in primary and secondary education, active involvement with Pelham Elementary school as a parent and fourteen years as a Pelham resident. I am dedicated to the success of public education and am excited about the possibility of working as a member of the Pelham School Committee. 

As a member of the committee I will use my strong organizational and collaborative skills and experience in strategic planning to work with my colleagues to develop and implement a clear vision for the future of our school.

 

 

Free Breakfast: 

tHANKS TO A DONATION, pELHAM STUDENTS WHO CAN NOT AFFORD SCHOOL BREAKFAST

WILL STILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE IT.  pLEASE CALL Janet Scott or DEB KING (253-3595) TO SIGN UP.

 

 

*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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Mr. Lipman’s Class

 

The Last Monarch  On October 30, a warm fall day, we watched a lone monarch butterfly float over the school and head south across the playground in an improbable attempt to reach Mexico.  After several frosts, this intrepid traveler was attempting to join its brothers and sisters that have already begun entering our neighboring country to south for their winter sleep. 

Captain Clean  Captain Clean has replaced our departed monarchs with lessons in hand washing and germ control.  Growing germs from our fingers in Petri dishes and experimenting with differing combinations of water temperature and soap should help us understand ways to improve our health. 

Investigations Math  Story problems are one way we are learning how different numbers can combine to make the same sum.  Our latest problem “Peas and Carrots” let the children use orange and green cubes to represent combination of 7 peas and carrots which they arranged on a paper plate for a pretend lunch.  Together we were able to make all of the possible combinations totaling 7 and we noticed the commutative property of addition offering either 3 carrots and 4 peas or 4 carrots and 3 peas.  Our math activities encourage lots of discovery and lively discussion.

Who’s who?  Did you know that over the course of each week your children have many wonderful teachers and interns visiting our classroom?  Ms. Servos, our speech teacher visits regularly and works with individuals and small groups.  Ms. Duplissie, our Occupational Therapist, helps with handwriting on Mondays and also meets with individuals and small groups.  Ms. Fulcher, our Reading Recovery and Special Needs Teacher, instructs a reading group every day in addition to her individual Reading Recovery Lessons, Mrs. Winston, our paraprofessional, provides individual and group support all day every day.  Mr. Locklar, our Umass intern, teaches on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Tamara, our Mt. Holyoke intern, comes on Thursday mornings and Ms. Wagner, our Umass pre-practicum intern, comes on Friday mornings.  I feel very fortunate to have such good help and know that your children benefit from the extra help and attention provided.  All children receiving individual help from our specialists must have your permission and you would have been contacted if this type of support might be appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Grade News

 

October seemed to fly by in second grade. We completed our stream and habitat unit and have moved on to the study of rocks. The children have been very excited about our rock unit.  They have been bringing in many of their special rocks. We have looked very closely at our one special rock to describe its texture, shape, color, hardness, and luster. These are all words that the children have learned to describe the properties of a rock.  The children are learning more about rocks during their reading time as they look at nonfiction books on rocks. We are learning to use the Table of Contents, Index, and Glossary to help us find answers about rocks.

 Even though we have been primarily studying rocks, due to the wonderful weather we have had this week, we took one last visit to our stream for data measurement. The children were able to find a few spiders and insects still around.  We organized our data into graph form and look forward to our two spring visits to collect more data. 

 

Math: We are into our second unit on shapes.  The children have worked with geoblocks and learned words to describe a block by telling the number and shape of its faces, number of edges and vertices. We will take a special look at rectangles to learn words such as parallel lines, right angles, sides, and vertex.  While we are on this unit, we are also practicing our addition combinations of +0, +1, +2, tens, and doubles. The children should be studying these every night until they can give the sum in one second or less.

 

Writing:  During the last few weeks we have been working on strategies to collect ideas and plan a story.  The children drew pictures starting with a setting, then adding characters, a problem, ways to solve the problem, and finally an ending. They used this picture to help them create a story with all these parts.  This week I introduced a “where expander” for the predicate. We started with a “barebones” sentence, “The kitten slept”.  In one sentence the kitten slept under the stairs in a damp basement. In another example, the kitten slept in a wicker basket with a warm, cozy pink quilt. Students had many comments about what they were able to visualize and infer, when these “where expanders” were added to the sentence. Next week, we will write our own stories using “where expanders.”

 

During the next two weeks Mrs. Adams, my intern, will be doing her lead teaching. She is looking forward to continuing the units and directing the class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put Reading First

Helping Your Child Learn to Read

Success in school starts with reading

 

When children become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond.

Learning to read is hard work for children. Fortunately, research is now available that suggests how to give each child a good start in reading.

Becoming a reader involves the development of important skills, including learning to:

  • use language in conversation
  • listen and respond to stories read aloud
  • recognize and name the letters of the alphabet
  • listen to the sounds of spoken language
  • connect sounds to letters to figure out the "code" of reading
  • read often so that recognizing words becomes easy and automatic
  • learn and use new words
  • understand what is read

Preschool and kindergarten teachers set the stage for your child to learn to read with some critical early skills. First, second, and third grade teachers then take up the task of building the skills that children will use every day for the rest of their lives. As a parent, you can help by understanding what teachers are teaching and by asking questions about your child's progress and the classroom reading program.

You can also help your children become readers. Learning to read takes practice, more practice than children get during the school day. This brochure describes what a quality reading program should look like at school and how you can support that program through activities with your children.

If your child is just beginning to learn to read

At school you should see teachers...
  • Teaching the sounds of language. The teacher provides opportunities for children to practice with the sounds that make up words. Children learn to put sounds together to make words and to break words into their separate sounds.
  • Teaching the letters of the alphabet. Teachers help children learn to recognize letter names and shapes.
  • Helping children learn and use new words.
  • Reading to children every day. Teachers read with expression and talk with children about what they are reading.
At home you can help by...
  • Practicing the sounds of language. Read books with rhymes. Teach your child rhymes, short poems, and songs. Play simple word games: How many words can you make up that sound like the word "bat"?
  • Helping your child take spoken words apart and put them together. Help your child separate the sounds in words, listen for beginning and ending sounds, and put separate sounds together.
  • Practicing the alphabet by pointing out letters wherever you see them and by reading alphabet books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your child is just beginning to read

At school you should see teachers...
  • Systematically teaching phonics--how sounds and letters are related.
  • Giving children the opportunity to practice the letter-sound relationships they are learning. Children have the chance to practice sounds and letters by reading easy books that use words with the letter-sound relationships they are learning.
  • Helping children write the letter-sound relationships they know by using them in words, sentences, messages, and their own stories.
  • Showing children ways to think about and understand what they are reading. The teacher asks children questions to show them how to think about the meaning of what they read.
At home you can help by...
  • Pointing out the letter-sound relationships your child is learning on labels, boxes, newspapers, magazines and signs.
  • Listening to your child read words and books from school. Be patient and listen as your child practices. Let your child know you are proud of his reading.

If your child is reading

At school you should see teachers...
  • Continuing to teach letter-sound relationships for children who need more practice. On average, children need about two years of instruction in letter-sound relationships to become good spellers as well as readers.
  • Teaching the meaning of words, especially words that are important to understanding a book.
  • Teaching ways to learn the meaning of new words. Teachers cannot possibly teach students the meaning of every new word they see or read. Children should be taught how to use dictionaries to learn word meanings, how to use known words and word parts to figure out other words, and how to get clues about a word from the rest of the sentence.
  • Helping children understand what they are reading. Good readers think as they read and they know whether what they are reading is making sense. Teachers help children to check their understanding. When children are having difficulty, teachers show them ways to figure out the meaning of what they are reading.
At home you can help your child by...
  • Rereading familiar books. Children need practice in reading comfortably and with expression using books they know.
  • Building reading accuracy. As your child is reading aloud, point out words he missed and help him read words correctly. If you stop to focus on a word, have your child reread the whole sentence to be sure he understands the meaning.
  • Building reading comprehension. Talk with your child about what she is reading. Ask about new words. Talk about what happened in a story. Ask about the characters, places, and events that took place. Ask what new information she has learned from the book. Encourage her to read on her own.

Make reading a part of every day

  • Share conversations with your child over meal times and other times you are together. Children learn words more easily when they hear them spoken often. Introduce new and interesting words at every opportunity.
  • Read together every day. Spend time talking about stories, pictures, and words.
  • Be your child's best advocate. Keep informed about your child's progress in reading and ask the teacher about ways you can help.
  • Be a reader and a writer. Children learn habits from the people around them.
  • Visit the library often. Story times, computers, homework help, and other exciting activities await the entire family.

 

 

Pelham Parent Council/PTO Meeting Minutes

Monday November 3, 2008

7:00 p.m., Elementary School Cafeteria

 

Meeting opened at 7:10 p.m, in attendance were Rena Moore, Paul Lipman, Elaine Fronhofer, Tracy Farnham, Amy Wasserman, CherylNina Choquette, Diana Zahradnik, Lynn Smith, Elise Stromgren, Ellen Leuchs, Jessica Wolff and Sharri Reydak.

Attendees this month were treated to Pumpkin cake with Sour Cream frosting – the cake recipe came from the Amherst Bulletin.  Thanks Lynn!

UPDATES

<![if !supportLists]>Ø       <![endif]>Principal’s Report (Rena Moore)– Parent  conferences were held, this is the first time the conferences were scheduled over a three day period and the schedule worked out, conferences went well.  Parent surveys were collected and are being compiled, report to come soon.  Rena reports that recent education cuts affected Pelham in that $2000 was cut from the budget, this money was in the form of a grant used for Reading Recovery; Rena reports that this was covered in the initial school budget, done prior to recent cuts but the money must be taken out somewhere else.  Halloween Party, field trips, Fine Arts Center events have occurred.  Rena noted that the Spanish teacher’s last day is December 23rd.  She will be doing a presentation about Spanish instruction at the next School Committee Meeting.  It is unclear right now what will happen with the Spanish instruction once the teacher leaves, and with budget cuts it is uncertain if program can continue.  This was the first year that the Spanish instruction was with 6th grade.

<![if !supportLists]>Ø       <![endif]>Treasurer’s Report (Diana Zahradnik)- Current $10,523.48, we need to reimburse Lennie Ware (afterschool program) for items used for Halloween Party.  Teachers’ checks have yet to be written and sent out, Diana is working on that now. 

<![if !supportLists]>Ø       <![endif]>School Committee Report– (Tracy Farnham)  Tracy reports that routine policies are being updated but nothing that has a huge impact at the Elementary Level.  Lunch price increased, intended to be implemented last year.  Major item is that Maureen Ecclestone has moved out of Pelham Oct 1st, and has stepped down from the Pelham School Committee (and Amherst  Regional School Committee), Kathy Weilerstein agreed to join the Pelham School Committee.  Tracy will represent Pelham in Maureen’s place on the Regional School Committee.  Current school committee reps are: Michael Hussein (also chair of Regional School Committee), Tracy and Kathy W.  Tracy also talked about the new (interim) Amherst Superintendents, and how they are working to ensure that curriculum and initiatives put in place by Jere Hochman are continued. 

ONGOING BUSINESS

<![if !supportLists]>Ø       <![endif]>Halloween Party (Diana Zahradnik)– Party was large, a great turnout this year.  Many Pelham school families attending, including future Pelham Elementary School families/students.  Diana reports that the UMASS student volunteers were a huge help.  Students ran the games and served food, collected money, leaving parents free to enjoy the party, their children, and talk with other parents.  Thank you to the UMASS volunteers!  Diana is seeking someone to take on organizing the party for next year.  Required are some phone calls to secure UMASS student volunteers, organizing the set up and clean up.  Diana also suggests that we do a costume contest next year perhaps with the Lion’s Club members as judges, perhaps engage more older (4&5 grades) children into the party.  Kudos and thank you to Chris Gould and the 6th Grade for the Haunted House, well done!  Jessica said that Chris encouraged the kids to come up with the ideas for the house, then facilitated the creation of each piece, so that the house was truly the creation of the 6th graders.  Lynn reports that 9 party pizzas were purchased - 20 slices each, and we sold out.  Party Pizzas worked out well, we came out ahead $57, Big Y only charged us the cheese pizza price for pizza with toppings.  The Popcorn machine went over well, too.  Costumes with weapons?  Appears that things went well, publicity of event and multiple notes regarding the party fueled awareness of concerns expressed about costumes with weapons.  Overall impression is that children were respectful of each other.  Pelham PD was present at the party and during Trick-or-Treat again this year, PTO group decides a thank you would be appropriate, Elise will send a thank you to the department for officer’s presence at event.    

Deans Beans Coffee Sale (Amy Wasserman)– Sales not great this month, place your orders, get the word out about the coffee sale.  Amy reports a $30 profit this month, last month raised $60.  Please share info about sale with friends, relatives, coworkers…

Election Day Bake Sale (Shari Reydak)- Bake Sale is TOMORROW.  Goods to be brought to the Community Building between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Arts Project (Linda Robinson-Hidas)- Next month

Gift Wrap (Deb Shepard) – Lynn reports that Deb had told her sales are significantly down this year – report from Deb next month

6th Grade Trip/PTO involvement– (Kathy W./Laura)- Next month

Movie Night 11/14

Upcoming Event Review – Next month

NEW BUSINESS

Shopping Day in Amherst Fundraiser – Parents at different schools had the idea that we pick a day, encourage folks to shop in Amherst, merchants give 5% back to the schools, and the funds will get distributed equally among the Amherst School District.  This event will be  sponsored/organized through the Chamber of Commerce (Tony Marolis, Pelham Parent, is the new Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce). 

Spending Goals/Plans- Elaine provided some history of fundraising and funds spent on particular items.  PTO discussed agreeing to a general balance to leave in the PTO treasury and planning events to fundraise for specific items, or having a capital campaign toward the purchase of an agreed-upon item.  Fundraising for the curtains for the stage was discussed.  Rena reports that Cathy Neale won an award and donated the money toward the purchase of fabric for the curtains, however, it was determined that a large part of the cost (at least $10,000) is the rigging for the curtains.  Until we have funds for the rigging, the project cannot move forward.  Rena and Wendy Kohler will work on finding a company to do the rigging.  Next meeting will discuss a process for funding items.

After School Talent Show – Lennie Ware has announced that she will no longer organize an after-school talent show.  PTO discussed taking on the show, Tracy volunteered to head this up, and she is interested in including the Pelham community as well.  Tracy will seek Lennie’s advice on organizing and recruiting acts.  Setting a date for the show was discussed, need to work around 6th grade play and concerts.  Will find a date in May or June that does not conflict with other events.

Diana suggests a Bingo Night Fundraiser, perhaps a winter month community activity/fundraiser.  Diana will check with Taylor Rental about Bingo equipment.  Paul “Cakewalk Man” Lipman politely declined offer to be Bingo Caller.

Question was asked, what is happening with the Pelham School website?  Rena explained that the website sometimes goes down on the weekend, and also reports that there is an Amherst Public Schools blog site, Rena looking for a parent who would be interested in blogging about Pelham.  Paul Lipman says that there is a 1st grade parent who expressed an interest in volunteering to keep the website up-to-date.  PTO will get in contact with parent and also ask about interest in blogging for Pelham School.  Suggestions were made for items to put on the website, and publicity about the website.  Rena noted that the website address is on the front page of every Pelham Press.

Amherst Education Fund presentation.  Elaine got an email from the AEF, asking if we were interested in a presentation (approx ½ hour) at a future meeting.  PTO will suggest 15 minutes at next meeting.  Suggested that when they come they give us some more information about their group and how the money is used, what types of events they sponsor.

CLOSING

Next Meeting Date – Wednesday December 3

 

Meeting minutes respectfully submitted

Elise Stromgren, PTO secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Holiday Gift Fair:  For all of you wanting to give more meaningful gifts this year instead of simply more gifts, here's a chance to make a world of difference with one-stop shopping. It is the first time such an event has been held in this area, although similar events are popular in other parts of the country. 

     Setting up shop at the fair will be: Amherst Survival Center, Heifer International, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Collective Copies making available Worker Cooperative Products, Olive Branch Olive Oil, SERRV International, Foundation Honor for Haiti, Habitat for Humanity, Church World Service, United Church of Christ Global Ministries, Hitchcock Center for the Environment and Solentiname, Nicaragua Friendship Group of Western Massachusetts.  Most of the organizations are sending their own representatives to answer your questions and help you shop.

     Shoppers will find gift cards for everything from solar stoves to baskets of food for school children along with actual fair trade foods (coffee, tea, chocolate, nuts and more),  beautiful handcrafted items from around the world, holiday cards, books, plus much more.  Light lunch items will be available. 

     Where will you find this fabulous event?  In the Parish Hall building of North Congregational Church, UCC, 1195 North Pleasant Street, Amherst from 10-3 on Saturday, November 8.  That's at the corner of North Pleasant and Pine at the stoplight in North Amherst.  For information: Barbara at 253-2929

 

 

 

 

 

…UPCOMING PTO EVENTS  

Nanny McPhee (2005)

 

PTO Family Movie Night

Friday Nov 14th

6:30 Pelham Cafeteria

Movie is Free, popcorn and baked goods for sale

 

Bring pillows and blankets

 

 

From http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396752

In this dark and witty fable, Emma Thompson portrays a person of unsettling appearance and magical powers who enters the household of recently widowed Mr. Brown and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies but as Nanny McPhee takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. 

 

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideas for the New President from the Pelham Second Grade

 

Give everyone in the U.S. $1.00 a week.

Take care of everyone and make sure that they are safe

Help stop pollution.

Recycle more.

Give money to charities.

Stop the war.

Make sure no smoke comes out of factories.

Try to make electric factories.

Take guns away from robbers.

No toy weapons, no real weapons except for police.

No hunting.

Stop the use of drugs and smoking.

Better jobs so people don’t need to rob. 

Make sure that the world is safe.

 

 

moorer@arps.org

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