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Petersham Center School Newsletter October 2022 newsletter

We have started the year off great here at PCS. It is nice to be able to start the year in a typical way and not have to spend all of the extra time on some other things we have had to worry about the past 3 years. We have added some new members to our PCS community, both staff and students, and all seem to be transitioning very well. We have introduced a new 5/6th grade math and science teacher, Susan Clapham, as well as 2 new specialist teachers, Anthony Novak (STEM), and John Waters (Physical Education). We welcomed Hannah Stymiest as a specialized paraprofessional and Leslie Majoy as a part-time special education teacher. We also have our new (although she started in May) full-time administrative assistant, Rachel Taylor, taking over fully for Mrs. Degnan who retired after almost 30 years!!

You may hear your students coming home in the next few days talking about a PCS Mascot. For years, the idea of a mascot has been talked about there but never fully thought out and implemented. With this in mind, we are working on some new building ideas to cultivate and grow a positive school culture, focusing on specific key ideals that we feel make an inviting and safe school environment. We will be working back towards some of the things we have done in the past like "caught being good," or "the fish bowl". These were both ideas that focused on finding the positives students are showing every day and highlighting them. We will be bringing that back to help us celebrate the things that have been going great here in the first few weeks. Each class will be nominating an animal that they feel best represents us as a school community, then all students and staff will vote on what our new mascot will be going forward. Our positive school climate will then be designed around that mascot and it will play a pivotal role in the culture we want to encourage here at PCS.

Important Dates:

  • October 7- Picture Day
  • October 10-No School/Columbus Day
  • October 19-1/2 Day-Students-Teacher PD
  • October 28- Kindergarten Costume Parade (only kindergarten students will be allowed to dress up)
  • October 31- Petersham Trick or Treat

Live Morning Show:

Sixth grade delivers our morning announcements to the whole school each day. This year, instead of using the intercom, we are able to send out a live video to each classroom using our new interactive displays. Morning announcements include the date, the lunch menu, a weather report, and a joke of the day. We salute the flag and recite our school pledge.

Open House:

This was our first Open House since before the Pandemic began and it was a huge success. We had a large majority of our families stop by and see their student's learning spaces. We also got to see students get to interact with each other in a way that we haven't seen in quite some time. We also had a very successful PTG bakesale, but more on that to come.

Our PTG is on track to have a very successful year. Thanks to all of the work of the members and the donations from the PCS community we raised an unbelievable $330.00 from the bakesale alone. We have a great group of parents that have been volunteering their time but more are always welcome. Last week a notice went home about the next meeting that you can see in the background. If you can make it please do so, or contact Allie Davis with any questions, her email is davisalli7747@yahoo.com.

Kindergarten Update:

Kindergarten STEAM center Fridays. Focused this week was engineering. We read Dreaming Up, then using a variety of materials created our own buildings!!

STEM and Performing Arts

STEAM and Performing Arts have started off as a HIT!!!! Each and every time I have stopped in to check out the happenings in either of these specials I have seen nothing but ear-to-ear grins and heard laughter. Some of the work is amazing and both Mr. Novak and Mr. Porcino are doing awesome keeping the students entertained while learning valuable skills. Hopefully, you have gotten to hear of some of the fun learning adventures that have been happening on Tuesdays and Fridays.

News from grade 3/4 ELA and Science:

For the month of September third grade has been learning about Narrative Writing. We are practicing using literary techniques, describing details, and having a clear sequence while writing our own personal narratives. The students are doing a great job revising their narratives and preparing to publish their work in their Writer's Notebooks.

Grades 3 and 4 did a Monarch Butterfly release with a lesson on them as well. Mrs. Eaton and Mrs. Whaley did a great job showing the students all the life cycles of these insects. The students got to watch as a Monarch hatched from the chrysalis and then release it.

Please see the following flyer about a fun new opportunity for all students from Mrs. Cass in The Learning Center

Notes from the Nurse…

With illness on the rise, please make sure to call and report your child’s absence or their being tardy to the nurse by 8:30 a.m. to avoid a phone call from the school. If you are leaving a message on the nurse line prior to this time, you must include their name, reason for absence. If the absence is due to illness, make sure to state the symptoms they are experiencing.

Brrrr…It is cold and windy out there. Our classes go outside for recess almost every day. Physical activity and fresh air is important to their learning. It is very important that students come to school prepared for the cold. A coat/ jacket with or without a hood, wearing pants/leggings, a hat and gloves are must haves for these cold temperatures. Don’t forget their feet. Warm socks go a long way for comfort out in the cold. The Heath Office is not equipped to supply coats, socks, gloves, hats, or shoes. Many children are wearing boots to school, please make sure that your child has a pair of shoes/sneakers with them to wear during the day. Wearing winter boots during the school day becomes bothersome due to overheating and weight of most winter boots. It is also a good idea to have your child keep a change of clothes to have on hand in their cubby/locker.

Please help us keep your child healthy and give them a well needed break in the busy school day; send them to school prepared for the cooler temperatures!

AND…. now that it is cold outside, the heat is on in the classrooms. Some rooms are very warm, so layering clothes and making sure your child has a water bottle are both good ideas.

P.S. Please take the time to label your child’s outerwear. We have piles of clothing in the lost and found without names, missing their owners!

Please call me if you have any questions.

Thanks

Christine Warburton, BSN, RN

christine.warburton@petershamcenterschool.org

P: 978-724-3363 x 113