Message from Administration

As “celebration season” is upon us, community members can keep our kids SAFE by:

~ Pledging “alcohol-free” celebrations. Underage drinking is dangerous and unlawful.

~ Visiting www.mappvt.org/parents for good parenting tips

~ Sharing information on the “Text a Tip” system: 1-802-4-TEEN-11 (1-802-483-3611)

Text-a-Tip is a way for all to report underage drinking parties before they happen (no penalty for prevention!) or for Teens to “text for help” if they find themselves at a party and in an uncomfortable situation.

Text-a-tip accepts TEXTS and/or VOICEMAIL from all who call.

Message brought to you by:

Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership and Windsor County Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team.

Tonight is School Report Night at WS, starting at 6:00 pm in the all purpose room.  Light refreshments will be served.  Gas and food certificates will be drawn, everyone in attendance has a chance to win!!!  Babysitting will be available in the Kindergarten classrooms from 5:45 to 7:15 pm.

There will be a Summer School Planning Meeting in the conference room on Thursday, May 17th from 2:45 to 3:45. Light refreshments will be served. This is open to the public.

Our annual Memorial Day Program will be held in the gym on Friday, May 25th from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Please wear red, white and blue.  This is open to the public!

Have a nice day!

JM

Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner

May 11, 2012

Ascutney Basin Farm to School Meeting

There will be an Ascutney Basin Farm to School meeting on May 31^st from 9 to 11 am at WS. The agenda will include summer school, the greenhouse, the curriculum coordinator's position, a community garden, where we are with the grant, available summer produce the school would like to tap into, other partnerships, and an open floor. Light refreshments will be served.

My Sincere Apologies

Please forgive me for missing the Grades 4-8 Spring Chorus Concert on Tuesday at 7:00 pm. I had the flu and actually missed two days of school this week. I heard it was a GREAT performance. Again, I am so sorry that I missed it! Congratulations to all of the participants!

Drama Club Production

Mark your calendars!  Drama Club will present a FREE production of "Munchkin Mediation: Conflict Resolution in Oz" on Saturday, June 2 at 1:00.  The school program will be on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 1:15 pm in the gym. Join us for our 45 minute, zany musical with all your favorite Oz characters that teaches how to manage conflict.   Drama Club is made up of twenty eight K-6 graders who put in many hours of rehearsal and practice after school under the direction of Erica Yuengling.  Come see your fellow classmates shine onstage!

Information from our School Nurse on Ticks

Just an FYI!  Mrs. Emily Stevens, WS School Nurse, wants you to know that the experts no longer recommend using dish soap or Vaseline for tick removal. The dish soap and Vaseline suffocate the tick, but suffocating the tick may cause the tick to vomit, which increases the chance of getting Lyme disease. Lyme disease is carried in the tick’s saliva, so when the tick vomits, it gets its saliva into the person’s bloodstream. It is best to use a "tick spoon" or tweezers to remove the tick. Grasp the tick with the tweezers as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Take care not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick as its fluids may carry infection/ Lyme disease.

School Report Night

Please feel free to attend the WS School Report Night from 6:00 to 7:00 on May 15^th in the all purpose room. Light refreshments will be served. We are also giving away FREE gas and grocery cards for people in attendance.

School Board Meets

The next WS School Board meeting will be at 6:30 pm in the all purpose room on Monday, May 21, 2012.

Summer School Planning Meeting

There will be a planning meeting for this year’s summer school from 2:45 to 3:30 in the conference room at WS. It looks like funding is limited this year so our possibilities may be narrower than hoped. Still, the meeting is going on as planned. All are welcome to attend.

Progress Reports

May 18^th marks the end of the 4^th Term progress reporting time frame. Grades will be sent home within a few days of this date.

Panther Cub Night

Our incoming Kindergarteners enjoyed their orientation at their new BIG school on Thursday, May 10^th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Seventeen students and their families were in attendance. They got to meet many lovely teachers, play some games, make some crafts and even enjoy some yummy refreshments. It was really a FUN night!

7/8 Dance On May 11th

The WS 7/8 Dance is from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on may 11^th. We are hopeful it is a night the children will remember for years to come!

May 31, 2012 Features Junior Solar Sprint Upper Valley Regional Championship

8^th graders will attend the Junior Solar Sprint Upper Valley Regional Championship on May 31, 2012. For more details, give Dave Lambert a call.

Science NECAP Message to all 4^th and 8^th Graders at WS

NECAP Science tests will be given to all 4^th and 8^th graders in the state of Vermont in May 2012. Our testing days are May 15, 16 and 17^th, with make-up tests occurring on May 22, 2012. The Vermont Department of Education has announced that the very best way to prepare students for the New England Common Assessment Program, (NECAP), is to align our curriculum with the Vermont Framework Standards and the Grade Level Expectations (GLE). Students can’t really study for NECAP tests in the traditional way. If students have been taught the material as outlined in the Framework, and assessed in accordance with the GLEs, students should do well on all NECAP exams. Curriculum revisions, aligning curriculum with the Vt. State standards and grade expectations, are all things WS is working on now.

Here are some common sense test taking strategies:

• Read all questions carefully and follow directions. If you guess, go with your first response
• Leave nothing blank. Look for the “best” answer
• Answer the questions you know first, then go back and try your best on other questions – take your time
• If unsure, narrow your answer to two choices and then guess
• Look for key words in the question to help you select the response
• Check your answers if time permits

Time- honored ways to prepare students for any important event or test:

• Get lots of sleep so you are rested and ready
• Eat a healthy breakfast so a grumbling tummy will not interfere with concentration – breakfast is FREE for the three days of Science NECAP testing for you
• Have a relaxing and calm day (no sibling or bus ride squabbles)
• Drink lots of water as it stimulates the brain
• Have a positive attitude about the test; a “Can Do” attitude is huge according to our research
• Talk about the test; share your concerns and fears with someone you trust; it helps to get it out there- then go do your best!
• Come to school on time to avoid any anxiousness or stressors
• Have perfect attendance during testing week

Remember, your scores DO matter. Your principal and teachers are counting on you to do your best! 4^th graders, I promise to review your scores with you personally when they arrive back here after being scored, in the fall. 8^th graders, I promise to mail your scores home to you and your parents and to your new school in the fall. You CAN do this – best of luck – WE believe in you!!!!

Enjoy the weekend!

JeanMarie

Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner

May 4, 2012

WS Schoolwide Action and Improvement Team to Meet

On Thursdays, June 7^th, from 2:45 to 4:00 pm, the WS Schoolwide Action and Improvement Committee will meet in the conference room to have their last meeting of the FY 12 school year. The agenda will include a review of the 4 goals and exploring evidence to see if we have indeed made progress in meeting all goals. We should know by then if we made AYP, (Adequate Yearly Progress). For more information, please call Principal Oakman. This meeting is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

NECAP Science Testing is Coming in May for Grades 4 and 8

Please mark your calendars for the Science NECAP testing dates, (times of tests to be announced later), for Grades 4 and 8:

May 15, 16 and 17, 2012 - make-up testing will be on May 22, 2012

Parents like this information early so they can ensure that their child is in school and to avoid making dental, doctor and other appointments during testing.  We promise to keep the school quiet to provide an optimum test taking environment during testing time.  Mrs. Sprague is writing a Medicaid grant so we can provide FREE breakfast for all of our test takers in Grades 4 and 8.  I will be meeting with all 4th and 8th Graders prior to the science test to give them test taking strategies and tips on how to prepare for the test, (plenty of water and rest, calm mornings and evenings, etc).  The 4th and 8th Grade Teachers will minimize homework assignments during testing.  For more information, please call the school at 674-5400.

Walk to School Day

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, approximately 98 Weathersfield faculty, staff, community volunteers, Chief Brown, and students in grades K-8, gathered at the Casa de Sol from 7:20 to 7:45 am and walked to school. It was a blast! Thank you, BJ Esty, for organizing this event and for leading us safely to school on the 2^nd! Thanks to all participants!

Memorial Day Festivities

There will be a one hour Memorial Day ceremony at WS in the gym on Friday, May 25, 2012 from 8:30 to 9:30 am.  This festive event is open to the public.  Please wear red, white and blue!

Michael Gurney is a Swimming Champ

Michael Gurney, Grade 7, is an avid swimmer. He swims for the swim team with EMHRC in Springfield and recently placed third at States in the 50yd freestyle and eighth in the 100yd freestyle for his age during winter competitions. Swimming is Michael’s love! He practices 3 mornings a week before school, which means he gets up at 4:15, is at the pool by 5:00 to practice for an hour, and back home by 6:30 to get ready for school. Michael also swims on the weekends! Michael has been given an opportunity to attend a swim training camp at Auburn University in Auburn, AL the week of May 27 - 31. AU is one of the top rated University's in the nation for swimming. They have won several NCAA championships and their training would greatly benefit Michael. Congratulations, Michael! We are very proud of you!

K-3 Spring Concert

Thank you everyone who participated and attended the K-3 Spring Concert on May 2, 2012! The children were wonderful! Thank you, Mr. VonG for your hard work! Anyone who would like to give us feedback on this concert, now that we have organized it a little differently, please let us know what you think! Your opinion matters!

National Secretary’s Day

National Secretary’s day was last Wednesday, April 25, 2012. If it were not for BJ Esty and Joan Fariel, what would we do?! The little gifts they received were very small tokens of appreciation for the HUGE job they do. Please join me in saying thank you so much for your dedication and hard work….we love you!

June 8, 2012

We have some pretty exciting plans to unfold for students in grades K-7 on June 8^th, the day our 8^th graders will be in Boston. We’ll keep you posted!

Service Group Information

An important message from Deb Gurney, Service Group Advisor:

As the end of the year is approaching, I would like to recognize the students who have done an outstanding job of volunteering, not only through Service Group, but outside the school environment. I recently had a parent contact me and asked about this award, as she remembered reading about it at the beginning of the school year. So, I thought now would be a great time to remind parents to please get in touch with me and let me know about the volunteer work the students have been doing during the school year. I firmly all good deeds should be recognized! If parents could contact me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I will discuss this with them further.

Spring Concerts

Please mark your calendars with these important dates and times for our spring concerts:

Grades 4-8 Spring Chorus Concert     May 8, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Grades 4-6 Spring Concert for Band      May 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Grades 7 and 8 Spring Band and Jazz Concert      June 6, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Happy May!

JeanMarie

JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal

Please join us for this fun event!

All grades are welcome to walk. Buses will drop off any student willing to walk form Casa Del Sol, through the cornfield and then up to the school. Volunteers needed. If you do not want your child to participate in this event, please write a note. We ask the students who are on the buses if they want to walk. It is optional to walk. Volunteers needed. Parking will be at the Grange.

Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner

April 27, 2012

Math Stars

Madeleine Morse, Breanne Nelson, Andrew Towne, and Matthew Walasewicz have been selected to participate in the All-Star Math Meet scheduled for May 1, 2012 at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH. The team will be departing from Weathersfield School at 8:05am and will return to school by about 1:30 pm, probably stopping for ice cream on the way back. Students should bring money for the afternoon ice cream. All-Stars will receive a T-shirt and lunch in the KUA Dining Facility. Congratulations to these four math wizards!

Walk at Lunch Day

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Jessica Becker hosted Walk at Lunch Day for WS and about 60 adults and students participated! K-4 was able to squeeze it in before the rain let loose.  Unfortunately, we had to go inside before the 5-8th grade students could participate, but it was lots of fun and we were happy to share this fun experience. Thank you, Mrs. Becker!

School to Call Home

From now on, WS will be calling home to check on students who are not in school.  The point of this is to ensure student safety and to alert parents that there child never made it to school, should that issue ever arise.  If you know your child will be tardy or will be out of school for any reason, please call BJ Esty at 674-5400, Ext. 125.  If you do not reach BJ directly, please leave a message on her voice mail.  Someone from school will be calling you at home or at work to let you know your child is not in school, if we do not hear from you first.  We do not want to frighten anyone needlessly, so by calling us in advance on days when you know you are running late or your child plans to be out will save us time.  Thank you for your help and cooperation in this important safety matter.

Spring Music Concerts

Please mark your calendars with these important dates and times for our spring concerts:

K-3 Spring Music Concert     May 2, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Grades 4-8 Spring Chorus Concert     May 8, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Grades 4-6 Spring Concert for Band      May 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Grades 7 and 8 Spring Band and Jazz Concert      June 6, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Last Day of School for FY 12

The last student day for FY 12 will be on Thursday, June 14^th. It will be a half day of school with dismissal at 11:30 am. The last day for faculty and staff will be Friday the 15^th of June and it will be a full day of inservice.

NECAP Science Testing is Coming in May for Grades 4 and 8

Please mark your calendars for the Science NECAP testing dates, (times of tests to be announced later), for Grades 4 and 8:

May 15, 16 and 17, 2012 - make-up testing with be on May 22, 2012

Parents like this information early so they can ensure that their child is in school and to avoid making dental, doctor and other appointments during testing.  We promise to keep the school quiet to provide an optimum test taking environment during testing time.  Mrs. Sprague is writing a Medicaid grant so we can provide FREE breakfast for all of our test takers in Grades 4 and 8.  I will be meeting with all 4th and 8th Graders prior to the science test to give them test taking strategies and tips on how to prepare for the test, (plenty of water and rest, calm mornings and evenings, etc).  The 4th and 8th Grade Teachers will minimize homework assignments during testing.  For more information, please call the school at 674-5400.

Early Release Days

There are only two more early release days scheduled for this year: May 9^th and 23^rd. Thank you again for your cooperation and kindness in allowing us this important professional development time. We accomplished many things this year and plan to order new English Language Arts/Reading/Writing Curriculum materials in the next few weeks. Since this kind of investment is costly, we plan to buy parts of the program over a three year period.

Sincerely,

JeanMarie

JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal

We have corrections regarding the first three spring concerts in May. The first concert on May 2, 2012 will not be for just K-3 students.  This concert will also involve Mrs. Becker 3/4 multiage classroom.  Some of Mrs. Becker's 4th grade students will be involved in the May 8th and May 24th concerts, as well, see below. 

We have learned a few things from the mistakes of the winter concert.  One, not to try and have one K-8 concert with 215 students.  The gym was too crowded and the program was too long.  We have divided the concerts up to be held on 4 nights, so each concert will be shorter in length than the December concert and parking will be plentiful:

K-3 and the 3/4 Classroom Spring Music Concert - May 2, 2012 at 6:30 pm in the gym.

Grades 4-8 Spring Chorus Concert - May 8, 2012 at 7:00 pm (Mrs. Becker's 4th grade chorus students will be participating), in the gym

Grades 4-6 Spring Band Concert - May 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm,   (Mrs. Becker's 4th grade band students will be participating) in the gym.

Grades 7-8 Spring Band and Jazz Concert - June 6, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the gym.

Starting on time is another important lesson we have learned.  We will begin all four concerts on time, even if students haven't arrived yet, so please make sure to be at school before the start time for each.

A third lesson we have learned is that we are planning to review concert etiquette with the students and provide more rehearsal time as a way to practice/model expected concert behavior. We are asking the school children to stay in their assigned seats, with their teachers, from start to finish at the May 2, 2012 concert. This will end the added commotion of children running from their assigned seats to where their parents are sitting. We are also respectfully requesting that parents stay for the entire concert, (less than one hour, we promise), to minimize disruption during the concert.

By making these changes, we are anticipating a more organized, professional, expeditious, and enjoyable evening!  Please let us know after each concert if we have achieved our goal!

Thank you so much,

JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal

Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner

April 13, 2012

VKAT Presents at an Assembly on April 6, 2012 – “Too Tough to Puff”
Thank you to our Weathersfield VKATs for hosting their one-of-a-kind game show, “Too Tough to Puff,” for our 5th and 6th grades on Friday, April 6. It was so much fun! Contestants answered questions in five categories, ranging from “Health Harms” to “Big Tobacco Spending & Advertising,” in the hopes of winning a pizza party for their whole class. It was a blast to watch the kids engage in some friendly competition while educating their peers about the dangers of tobacco, and it was clear VKAT put a lot of work into producing the show. Congratulations to everyone who participated — and a special shout-out to our winners in the 5th grade! For more information about Weathersfield VKAT, call advisor Maryellen Apelquist at 802.591.3452 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or stop by her office (Room 222) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

 President's Volunteer Service Awards

An important message from Deb Gurney, Service Group Advisor:

As the end of the year is approaching, I would like to recognize the students who have done an outstanding job of volunteering, not only through Service Group, but outside the school environment. I recently had a parent contact me and asked about this award, as she remembered reading about it at the beginning of the school year. So, I thought now would be a great time to remind parents to please get in touch with me and let me know about the volunteer work the students have been doing during the school year. I firmly believe that all good deeds should be recognized! If parents could contact me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " target="_blank"> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , I will discuss this with them further. I need all volunteer hours, etc., by the end of April so I can order awards. 
Thank you,
Deb Gurney

WS School Report Night

Please mark your calendars: WS School Report Night will be from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in the all purpose room.  There will be door prizes….gas cards and grocery cards, so pop on down and learn about our school’s progress and win a prize!

School to Call Home

From now on, WS will be calling home to check on students who are not in school.  The point of this is to ensure student safety and to alert parents that there child never made it to school, should that issue ever arise.  Having said that, we need your help.  If you know your child will be tardy or will be out of school for any reason, please call BJ Esty at 674-5400, EXT 125.  If you do not reach BJ directly, please leave a message on her voice mail.  Someone from school will be calling you at home or at work to let you know your child is not in school, if we do not hear from you first.  We do not want to frighten anyone needlessly, so by calling us in advance on days when you know you are running late or your child plans to be out will save us time.  Thank you for your help and cooperation in this important safety matter.

Weathersfield Historical Society

Edith Hunter notified the school that the Weathersfield Historical Society is having a program about the old District Schools of Weathersfield on Sunday, April 15^{th at} 2:00 pm at the Martin Memorial Hall in Ascutney. Some previous students will be there to present on their school days of old. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the good ole days in Weathersfield, please plan to attend.

NECAP Data Revealed at School Board Meeting

Principal Oakman and Guidance Counselor, Beth Sprague presented on attendance and NECAP test scores for the fall 2011 scores in reading, math and writing for grades 3-8 on April 9, 2012. Several questions were asked and answered about the process and the thinking behind greatly improved scores in just two year’s time. Some of this data will be shared again on School Report Night, May 15, 2012.

Make Every Day a Drug Take Back Day!

Keep your family safe by disposing of all old and unused prescription drugs at the MedReturn Unit located in the front lobby of the Windsor Police Dept on 29 Union St in Windsor. Drop off days and times are Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. If this is not convenient, medicines can be dropped off at other times by calling the Windsor Police Dept at 674-9042, (no needles, please).

Grade 1 Farm Field Trip

Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. Fortunato, Ascutney Basin Farm to School Coordinator, Krissy Preston, and the first grade class are planning a farm field trip to Billings Farm! The trip will be on Thursday, May 24th from 9:30 to 1:00.  They will be participating in the "Children of the Hill Farm" program. It is a wonderful program with many hands-on activities.

Sincere Thank You

We have three Early Release Days left for this school year:

April 25, 2012 – the week we get back from vacation

May 9, 2012

May 23, 2012

Though we will be sending the students home after lunch at 11:30 am on these three days, faculty and staff will be working until after 3:00 pm every day. Supervision for your children is available. We would like to sincerely thank parents and students for their kindness, flexibility, and cooperation as we focus on important professional development work.

Dance

There will be a dance at the school from 7 to 9:00 pm tonight for grades 5-8. The cost of the dance is $4.00 each. Appropriate school attire is required. Please see the handbook, page B for more specifics.

School Board Meets

The next Weathersfield School Board meeting will be May 21, 2012, beginning at 6:30 pm. Candy Fuller, Barb Martin, and Kristen Huebner will be in attendance to speak with the school board about Literacy Stations in first grade.

PTA

The next meeting of the PTA will be May 14, 2012 at 6:00 pm….hope to see you there!

New Recess Balls Purchased

WS recently bought 12 new soft playground balls and 8 new Frisbees for the children to use at recess. Mrs. Oakman will meet with all students and adult recess supervisors to review good conduct rules during recess. We want our kids to have a great time during recess, but we want them to be safe too, so it doesn’t hurt to review the rules on occasion, as a way to heighten everyone’s awareness and level of care.

Have a wonderful April break, All!

JeanMarie

JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal