Be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS

We hope you are enjoying the spring. It is so nice to see everything turning green again. We’re looking forward to the Road Race this Sunday and hope to see you there. Are you considering becoming a room parent next year? Check out the form and information available on our website, www.thoreauptg.org. We have added a May PTG meeting on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:00pm. One topic on the agenda is voting on the spring capital requests. An agenda and the capital request details will be sent out next week. Also coming up are the Staff Appreciation Lunch and the Bus Driver/Crossing Guard Appreciation Breakfast. Please see the announcement below to find out how to get involved in the luncheon. Have a great weekend!
–Melanie and Shelagh

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Jen Jiganti and the 3rd grade parents for coordinating and donating food for the May staff breakfast.

TO THE THOREAU COMMUNITY FROM MARY SCHAEFER

It is with very mixed feelings that I have decided to retire at the end of this school year after 15 years at Thoreau. I feel that it is the right time for me. Yet, it does mean leaving a talented and committed staff at Thoreau that I have come to love and respect, as well as the children and families of Thoreau. You are a wonderfully supportive community and it has truly been a gift to work with you and your children. I will treasure my years at Thoreau. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mary Schaefer

THIS SUNDAY! SIXTH ANNUAL THOREAU SCHOOL ROAD RACE

Don’t miss the fun this Sunday! Come to Thoreau for the Sixth Annual Thoreau School Road Race. Run in the race or just come and cheer! May 20, 11:00-2:00.

• 11am start for the Kids’ Fun Runs. ½ mile for age 5 and under, 1 mile for age 6 and up.
• 12pm start for the 5K.
• A family BBQ celebration including games and awards will be held after the race.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.thoreauptg.org

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Please mark your calenders for the following music performances:

• 5th Grade Arts Night
  Wednesday, May 30. Doors will open at 6:30pm for parents to view their child’s art work displayed around the school. At 7:15 the 5th grade band, orchestra and chorus will perform. Flyers will be sent home with all the information.
• 3rd Grade Recorder Concert
  Friday, June 8, 9:15am in the auditorium. 3rd grade parents and friends are invited to this concert.

THOREAU ANNOUNCEMENTS SUBMISSIONS

We have been having some technical difficulties with the e-mail account used for Thoreau Announcements submissions. If you receive a rejection or bounce notice in response to TA submissions, please resubmit using thoreauanouncements@gmail.com. Please remember that the submission deadline is Monday at 9:00pm for Thursday’s edition.

THOREAU SCHOOL FIELD DAY

Field Day is coming! Cheer on Thoreau students as they participate in games and activities at this fun-filled event, Tuesday, June 5, 9:30 to noon. (Rain date: Tuesday, June 12.) Parents and siblings are invited to watch the action. Please apply sunscreen to your children before school and send them with a water bottle since most of the activities will take place outdoors.

Interested in helping? Volunteers are needed to fill water balloons in advance of the event. (We’ll supply the balloons.) We also need a small group of volunteers to help with clean up and popsicle distribution (11:30-12:30 pm). If you can help, please contact Julie Sinclair (jsinclair@partners.org), Anne Mullaney (anne.mullaney@gmail.com), or Lisa Becker (lisalbecker@gmail.com). Thanks!

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

It’s that time of year when we want to celebrate our wonderful staff at Thoreau School with a special luncheon on Tuesday, June 12 at 12:30pm, graciously hosted by the Siefer Family. We need your help to put on a fabulous luncheon and to make sure that everyone has a good time with plenty to eat and drink. Most importantly, we want our staff to know how much they are appreciated! We will need volunteers to help set up, serve, replenish food, and clean up! Please click here to help or contribute: http://ptgevents.wikispaces.com/Thoreau+Staff+Appreciation+Lunch. Many thanks!
–Margaret Cho McMorrow and Erin Duggan

LUNCH MENU Week of May 21-25

• Monday: Pasta Bolognese
• Tuesday: Early Release
• Wednesday: B. Good Burgers
• Thursday: Chicken Quesadillas
• Friday: Comella’s Pizza

Any questions about the menu please email Chef Alden, acadwell@colonial.net.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PTG

Welcome 5th grade families! The Concord Middle School PTG extends a warm welcome to new and returning incoming 6th grade families. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other parents and feel more connected to our middle school community. Please consider getting involved. A few of the volunteer opportunities available for next year include the following jobs and committee chair positions:

• 6th Grade Class Representatives (plan 2 social activities for students and 2 for parents.)
• 6th Grade Spaghetti Supper Coordinators (Organize catered spaghetti supper for 6th grade families and student dance on same January evening.)
• Book Fair co-chairs (Liaise with Scholastic books and coordinate volunteers for fall week-long used and new book sale.)
• Metco Family Coordinator (Act as the liaison between Concord and Metco program families; plan 1-2 social events.)
• Music Program Chairs (Assist the teacher in planning programs and intermission refreshments for the chorus, band, orchestra, or theater.)
• Garden committee Coordinator (Spruce up the entrances to each building and keep them looking beautiful in fall & spring.)
• Picture Day Coordinator (Help usher students and assist photographers on site.)
• Professional Day Luncheon (Coordinate a catered lunch for teachers in at the school in late August.)
• Daily Announcements Editor (Edit incoming listings and email the CMS updates to CMS families.)
• Spirit Wear Coordinator (Work with established team to select, order, and fulfill orders for CMS clothing and other choice items.)

Many of these positions require a modest time commitment and no prior experience or expertise. If you are interested in any of these opportunities or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Chris French at pcfrench@comcast.net or call her at (978) 369-6538.

AROUND TOWN

Charlotte’s Web

The Concord Youth Theatre will be presenting Charlotte’s Web at the Emerson Umbrella, 40 Stow St in Concord Center, across from the Concord Public Library. There are five performances: Friday, May 18th at 7:30; Saturday, May 19th at both 2:30 and 7:30; and Sunday, May 20th at 2:30 and 6:30. This performance is recommended for ages 4 and older and tickets are $13 each.  They may be purchased online with a credit card at www.concordyouththeatre.org, or if you prefer to pay with cash or check, you may reserve them by phone or purchase them at the door.

Milldam Nursery School Open House

Milldam Nursery School is inviting all interested families to come to the Open House on Monday, May 22, 4-5pm. Bring the whole family! Milldam is located in the back of First Parish Church, 20 Lexington Road in Concord. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are now being accepted. Please visit our web-site for more information: www.milldamnurseryschool.org.

Youth Track Clinic

Does your child like to run? Is he or she fast? Can he or she throw or jump far? The Recreation Department offers a short, fun, experiential, introductory youth track clinic for children born 1998-2003. Events include four different individual running distances based on one’s age group, the standing broad jump, a softball throw, and the 4 x 100 relay. The clinic includes a scrimmage and concludes with a meet with surrounding towns. Held on three Fridays, 3:45 – 5:15, at the Emerson Playground track, with the scrimmage on Tues. June 5 and the meet in the evening of Thursday, June 14 at Nashoba Reg. HS. Starts Friday, May 25. Register in person at the Hunt Gym or by calling 369-6460.

Willard School Carnival is Coming!

Sunday, June 3, 12:00 – 4:00pm. A day of family fun for all! The Willard Carnival has a little something for everyone — students, parents and friends of all ages are welcome to join this day of fun. Held on the grounds of Willard School, the Carnival features games, crafts, food, music, entertainment, raffle prizes and more. The ever popular Cake Walk and Silent Auction will also bring excitement to the day with a chance to bid on a ski house in Vail, sports memorabilia and other exciting packages. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Willard PTG, making the event a rewarding celebration for all. For more information, please contact carnival@willardptg.org.

5th Annual PMC Kids Ride Concord Registration Open Now.

Join the Fight to Conquer Cancer. The PMC Concord Kids Ride will take place on Sunday, June 10, 8:30-noon at Middlesex School in Concord. This is the 5th year of the ride and we hope to break a record with at least 500 kids riding. Kids ages 5-15 from Concord, Carlisle, Sudbury, Acton, and Lincoln are encouraged to sign up to ride for 1, 5, 10 or 15 miles. Ride to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Kids under the age of 5 can take part in the Kids Junior Ride as well, so bring the whole family. The morning includes lots of festivities, food and of course the ride. For more information, to register to ride or volunteer online go to http://kids.pmc.org/concord.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on May 24, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, May 21, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

 thoreauanouncements@gmail.com 

Please remember that the submission deadline for the May 17th announcements is 9PM this evening.

Be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

It’s that time of year when we want to celebrate our wonderful staff at Thoreau School with a special luncheon on Tuesday, June 12 at 12:30pm, graciously hosted by the Siefer Family.  We need your help to put on a fabulous luncheon and to make sure that everyone has a good time with plenty to eat and drink.  Most importantly, we want our staff to know how much they are appreciated! We will need volunteers to help set up, serve, replenish food, and clean up! Please click here to help or contribute: http://ptgevents.wikispaces.com/Thoreau+Staff+Appreciation+Lunch. Many thanks! -Margaret Cho McMorrow and Erin Duggan

CALL FOR ROOM PARENTS FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR

If you would like to assist your child’s teacher and class as a room parent for the coming year, please complete the form at http://www.thoreauptg.org/documents/CALL%20FOR%20ROOM%20PARENTS.pdf. Assignments will be made in the order in which they are received, beginning Tuesday, May 8. Two people are assigned per class (three for 5th grade). You will hear more details after class lists are distributed, before the start of school. Please fill out one form per family only! If you have an incoming Kindergartner next year, and would like to help, be sure to fill out this form as well. The room parents are expected to help the teacher with anything that she/he deems necessary. This may include scheduling parent helpers, making plans to help with parties, field trips, etc. Also, each room parent is responsible for assisting the PTG with certain events or fundraisers. In addition, you may be called upon by the PTG to assist the PTG by informing your assigned class of pertinent events.

SIXTH ANNUAL THOREAU SCHOOL ROAD RACE

Get ready to RUN! The Sixth Annual Thoreau School Road Race is Sunday, May 20. Kids’ Fun Runs (.5 mile and 1 mile) start at 11am; the 5K follows at noon. A family BBQ picnic and award ceremony will be held after the race. Mark your calendar and join us for a fun challenge for the whole family! For more information and to register, go to http://www.thoreauptg.org.

EXTENDED: APRIL-MAY 13 IS CONCORD SCHOOL MONTH AT BEDFORD FARMS!

Here’s the scoop… Anytime until May 13, stop by the Concord location of Bedford Farms Ice Cream. Tell the server that you would like to purchase a “Concord School Gift Card” (or cards) and place a monetary amount on the card. Use the gift card to purchase any item — ice cream, cakes, pies, t-shirts, etc. The gift card does not expire and may be used anytime. You can reload your gift card or purchase additional cards at any time throughout the month of April and it will count toward the donation. Bedford Farms will give 20% of the total amount placed onto the cards back to the Concord schools! This will be split equally among the Concord schools PTGs. This is a great opportunity to think ahead and load up for the summer months while benefiting the Concord school system. Use this chance to purchase small tokens of appreciation for coaches, birthdays, and babysitters, or whoever might deserve a tasty treat. Where: Bedford Farms, 68 Thoreau St, Concord; Store hours: 12pm – 9pm.

MCAS SCHEDULE – MAY 2012

Please be mindful of the below dates, and make every effort to have your child(ren) in school on time. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort.

• Monday, May 14: Science and Technology, grade 5
• Tuesday, May 15: Science and Technology, grade 5

LUNCH MENU Week of May 14-18

• Monday: Mac and Cheese
• Tuesday: Beefy Nachos
• Wednesday: Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Thursday: Bean & Cheese Burritos
• Friday: Personal Pizza

Any questions about the menu please email Chef Alden, acadwell@colonial.net.

AROUND TOWN

Middle School PTG Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome 5th grade families! The Concord Middle School PTG extends a warm welcome to new and returning incoming 6th grade families. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other parents and feel more connected to our middle school community. Please consider getting involved. A few of the volunteer opportunities available for next year include the following jobs and committee chair positions:

• 6th Grade Class Representatives (plan 2 social activities for students and 2 for parents.)
• 6th Grade Spaghetti Supper Coordinators (Organize catered spaghetti supper for 6th grade families and student dance on same January evening.)
• Book Fair co-chairs (Liaise with Scholastic books and coordinate volunteers for fall week-long used and new book sale.)
• Metco Family Coordinator (Act as the liaison between Concord and Metco program families; plan 1-2 social events.)
• Music Program Chairs (Assist the teacher in planning programs and intermission refreshments for the chorus, band, orchestra, or theater.)
• Garden committee Coordinator (Spruce up the entrances to each building and keep them looking beautiful in fall & spring.)
• Picture Day Coordinator (Help usher students and assist photographers on site.)
• Professional Day Luncheon (Coordinate a catered lunch for teachers in at the school in late August.)
• Daily Announcements Editor (Edit incoming listings and email the CMS updates to CMS families.)
• Spirit Wear Coordinator (Work with established team to select, order, and fulfill orders for CMS clothing and other choice items.)

Many of these positions require a modest time commitment and no prior experience or expertise. If you are interested in any of these opportunities or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Chris French at pcfrench@comcast.net or call her at (978) 369-6538.

Little Women: 2-for-1 Tickets

The Concord Players are offering 2-for-1 seats for students for the Saturday matinee performances of their 8th decennial production of Little Women, based on Louisa May Alcott’s book and adapted for the stage by David Fielding Smith at May 12 at 2 pm. Regular price tickets are $19. Call 978-369-2990 to reserve or purchase at the door. (NOT available for online purchase.) Information: http://www.concordplayers.org ; 978-369-2990.

Concord Conservatory of Music Open House

Whether you are looking for a parent-child musical experience, group classes or private instruction, CCM offers something for you. Parents and children are invited to an Open House on Saturday, May 19, 1:00 – 3:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet the CCM faculty, learn about the extensive programs available for children 6 months through adults. Instruments will be available for students to try. The event will include introductions to the beginner Suzuki violin and cello program, as well as to the piano, guitar, traditional violin, viola, cello and voice programs. Summer and Fall semester registration is currently underway. For more information about the Open House, and about The Concord Conservatory, please visit www.ConcordConservatory.org, or call 978-369-0010.

Youth Track Clinic

Does your child like to run? Is he or she fast? Can he or she throw or jump far? The Recreation Department offers a short, fun, experiential, introductory youth track clinic for children born 1998-2003. Events include four different individual running distances based on one’s age group, the standing broad jump, a softball throw, and the 4 x 100 relay. The clinic includes a scrimmage and concludes with a meet with surrounding towns. Held on three Fridays, 3:45 – 5:15, at the Emerson Playground track, with the scrimmage on Tues. June 5 and the meet in the evening of Thursday, June 14 at Nashoba Reg. HS. Starts Friday, May 25. Register in person at the Hunt Gym or by calling 369-6460.

5th Annual PMC Kids Ride Concord Registration Open Now.

Join the Fight to Conquer Cancer. The PMC Concord Kids Ride will take place on Sunday, June 10, 8:30-noon at Middlesex School in Concord. This is the 5th year of the ride and we hope to break a record with at least 500 kids riding. Kids ages 5-15 from Concord, Carlisle, Sudbury, Acton, and Lincoln are encouraged to sign up to ride for 1, 5, 10 or 15 miles. Ride to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Kids under the age of 5 can take part in the Kids Junior Ride as well, so bring the whole family. The morning includes lots of festivities, food and of course the ride. For more information, to register to ride or volunteer online go to http://kids.pmc.org/concord.

GirlPower: A Positive Growth Experience for Girls 10 to 14

Be inspired. Try something new. Discover your unique strengths, and empower yourself in a nurturing and non-competitive setting and have the freedom to try new things while feeling safe, nurtured and supported. Three one-week sessions meet at CCHS, Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM daily. July 9-13; July 16-20; and July 23-27. Sponsored by Concord-Carlisle Schools, Adult and Community Education. Fee is $525 and includes lunch sponsored by Whole Foods, snacks, professional instruction and materials. To register, contact Concord Adult and Community Education at 978-318-1432 or visit www.ace.colonial .net (keyword Girlpower); for questions, email susanne@dancingwellness.com.

Basketball Clinic for Girls

Joe Bodenrader, the Girls Varsity Basketball coach at CCHS, will be running a basketball clinic for girls entering grades 3 – 9 this summer. The clinic will take place at CCHS from August 6-10 and will run from 9 AM to 3 PM each day. Sign up through the Concord Recreation Department.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on May 17, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, May 14, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

COINS FOR CURES FUNDRAISER

The Coins for Cures fundraiser benefitting Children’s Hospital Boston has now come to a close. This was Thoreau’s first year participating, and with great success. We not only met our $1000 goal, but surpassed it — Thoreau students raised almost $1400! Every penny donated supports research and patient care, so thanks to everyone for their generous donations. A special thanks to the Thoreau students for their enthusiasm and kindness helping other kids.

EXTENDED: APRIL-MAY 13 IS CONCORD SCHOOL MONTH AT BEDFORD FARMS!

Here’s the scoop… Anytime until May 13th, stop by the Concord location of Bedford Farms Ice Cream. Tell the server that you would like to purchase a “Concord School Gift Card” (or cards) and place a monetary amount on the card. Use the gift card to purchase any item — ice cream, cakes, pies, t-shirts, etc. The gift card does not expire and may be used anytime. You can reload your gift card or purchase additional cards at any time throughout the month of April and it will count toward the donation. Bedford Farms will give 20% of the total amount placed onto the cards back to the Concord schools! This will be split equally among the Concord schools PTGs. This is a great opportunity to think ahead and load up for the summer months while benefiting the Concord school system. Use this chance to purchase small tokens of appreciation for coaches, birthdays, and babysitters, or whoever might deserve a tasty treat. Where: Bedford Farms, 68 Thoreau St, Concord; Store hours: 12pm – 9pm.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Ellen McHale and the 2nd grade parents for organizing and hosting the April staff breakfast on Friday, April 13th. Also, thanks to Allison Oshinsky for coordinating the PTG support of Kindergarten Registration.

CALL FOR ROOM PARENTS FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR

If you would like to assist your child’s teacher and class as a room parent for the coming year, please complete the form at http://www.thoreauptg.org/documents/CALL%20FOR%20ROOM%20PARENTS.pdf. Assignments will be made in the order in which they are received, beginning Tuesday, May 8. Two people are assigned per class (three for 5th grade). You will hear more details after class lists are distributed, before the start of school. Please fill out one form per family only! If you have an incoming Kindergartner next year, and would like to help, be sure to fill out this form as well. The room parents are expected to help the teacher with anything that she/he deems necessary. This may include scheduling parent helpers, making plans to help with parties, field trips, etc. Also, each room parent is responsible for assisting the PTG with certain events or fundraisers. In addition, you may be called upon by the PTG to assist the PTG by informing your assigned class of pertinent events.

GEOGRAPHY QUEST

Congratulations to all of the students who worked on this year’s Migration Geography Quest! And thank you to all of the volunteers who helped correct the Quests: Gurperneet Jeji, Jennifer Johnson, Betsy Martel, Rose Waxler, Nancy Schulman, and Michael Sprague.
– Carla Macy and Anne Mullaney, Geography Quest co-chairs

SIXTH ANNUAL THOREAU SCHOOL ROAD RACE

Get ready to RUN! The Sixth Annual Thoreau School Road Race is Sunday, May 20. Kids’ Fun Runs (.5 mile and 1 mile) start at 11am; the 5K follows at noon. A family BBQ picnic and award ceremony will be held after the race. Mark your calendar and join us for a fun challenge for the whole family! For more information and to register, go to http://www.thoreauptg.org.

MCAS SCHEDULE – MAY 2012

Please be mindful of the below dates, and make every effort to have your child(ren) in school on time. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort.

• Monday, May 7: Math grades 3 and 5
• Tuesday, May 8: Math grades 3 and 5
• Wednesday, May 9: Math grade 4
• Thursday, May 10: Math grade 4
• Monday, May 14: Science and Technology, grade 5
• Tuesday, May 15: Science and Technology, grade 5

LUNCH MENU Week of May 7-11

• Monday: Grilled Cheese and Vegetable Soup
• Tuesday: Baked Potato Bar
• Wednesday: B. Good Burgers
• Thursday: Beef Tacos
• Friday: Comelia’s Pizza

Any questions about the menu please email Chef Alden, acadwell@colonial.net.

AROUND TOWN

CCYBS’s “A Day at the Park” at CCHS

Come join Concord Carlisle Youth Baseball and Softball on Friday, May 4 for a day of fun for the whole family and cheer on CCHS Baseball and Softball games with the first of what we hope to be an annual event. Watch both CCHS Baseball and Softball Teams play then stay for a BBQ for spectators, CCHS players, and coaches! At Concord Carlisle High School. CCHS games start at 3:45pm. Hosted by CCHS Softball & Baseball, and BBQ for CCYBS players immediately following the games compliments of Concord Carlisle Youth Baseball and Softball.

CCHS Boys’ Lacrosse Team Spring Workdays

Do you need your garage cleaned, lawn raked, or beds mulched? Then think of the CCHS Boys Lacrosse team. We are having our annual spring workdays on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6. There is no job to big for our boys to handle. There is a 4 hour minimum at $15 per hour. This is our only fundraiser so please support the CCHS Boys Lacrosse team this spring. If interested, please email cchslax2012@yahoo.com or call 978-314-8456.

Little Women: 2-for-1 Tickets

The Concord Players are offering 2-for-1 seats for students for the Saturday matinee performances of their 8th decennial production of Little Women, based on Louisa May Alcott’s book and adapted for the stage by David Fielding Smith. Dates are May 5 and May 12 at 2 pm. Regular price tickets are $19. Call 978-369-2990 to reserve or purchase at the door. (NOT available for online purchase.) Information: http://www.concordplayers.org ; 978-369-2990.

Youth Track Clinic

Does your child like to run? Is he or she fast? Can he or she throw or jump far? The Recreation Department offers a short, fun, experiential, introductory youth track clinic for children born 1998-2003. Events include four different individual running distances based on one’s age group, the standing broad jump, a softball throw, and the 4 x 100 relay. The clinic includes a scrimmage and concludes with a meet with surrounding towns. Held on three Fridays, 3:45 – 5:15, at the Emerson Playground track, with the scrimmage on Tues. June 5 and the meet in the evening of Thursday, June 14 at Nashoba Reg. HS. Starts Friday, May 25. Register in person at the Hunt Gym or by calling 369-6460.

5th Annual PMC Kids Ride Concord Registration Open Now.

Join the Fight to Conquer Cancer. The PMC Concord Kids Ride will take place on Sunday, June 10, 8:30-noon at Middlesex School in Concord. This is the 5th year of the ride and we hope to break a record with at least 500 kids riding. Kids ages 5-15 from Concord, Carlisle, Sudbury, Acton, and Lincoln are encouraged to sign up to ride for 1, 5, 10 or 15 miles. Ride to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Kids under the age of 5 can take part in the Kids Junior Ride as well, so bring the whole family. The morning includes lots of festivities, food and of course the ride. For more information, to register to ride or volunteer online go to http://kids.pmc.org/concord.

Concord Conservatory of Music Open House

Whether you are looking for a parent-child musical experience, group classes or private instruction, CCM offers something for you. Parents and children are invited to an Open House on Saturday, May 19, 1:00 – 3:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet the CCM faculty, learn about the extensive programs available for children 6 months through adults. Instruments will be available for students to try. The event will include introductions to the beginner Suzuki violin and cello program, as well as to the piano, guitar, traditional violin, viola, cello and voice programs. Summer and Fall semester registration is currently underway. For more information about the Open House, and about The Concord Conservatory, please visit www.ConcordConservatory.org, or call 978-369-0010.

GirlPower: A Positive Growth Experience for Girls 10 to 14

Be inspired. Try something new. Discover your unique strengths, and empower yourself in a nurturing and non-competitive setting and have the freedom to try new things while feeling safe, nurtured and supported. Three one-week sessions meet at CCHS, Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM daily. July 9-13; July 16-20; and July 23-27. Sponsored by Concord-Carlisle Schools, Adult and Community Education. Fee is $525 and includes lunch sponsored by Whole Foods, snacks, professional instruction and materials. To register, contact Concord Adult and Community Education at 978-318-1432 or visit www.ace.colonial .net (keyword Girlpower); for questions, email susanne@dancingwellness.com.

Basketball Clinic for Girls

Joe Bodenrader, the Girls Varsity Basketball coach at CCHS, will be running a basketball clinic for girls entering grades 3 – 9 this summer. The clinic will take place at CCHS from August 6-10 and will run from 9 AM to 3 PM each day. Sign up through the Concord Recreation Department.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on May 10, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, May 7, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

Be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

Art Retrospective Reminder

All artwork for the retrospective is due soon!  It is important that your child brings in his/her artwork by April 30 since work on the show will begin in art class in May.  Each student should bring in up to 6 pieces of artwork.  We will be limited to a 24”x 36” paper so some editing may occur during class time.  Work from other schools is acceptable and welcome, as well as work completed out of school.  If your selection of artwork is limited, work demonstrating only this year’s artistic growth is also an acceptable option.   All fifth grade work has been kept in the artroom.  When selecting work, look for art that displays personal style at different ages: choice of color preferences, expressive line indicating comfort of media, or similarities in subject matter over the years. 

Volunteers Needed: I am in need of volunteers to help with this exhibit.  If you would be interested in helping out with in-class matting sessions, hanging the show on May 29 or taking down the show on June 12, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.  The best way to reach me is through my e-mail here at school. (khiltz@colonial.net) Times for in class volunteers are as follows (in order to volunteer you must have had a CORI check):

• Ms. Hoyt’s Class               Friday    May 11, 18         10:10-11:10
• Mr. Lemaire’s Class         Friday    May 11, 18         11:10-12:10      
• Mr. Hourihan’s Class      Monday      May 7, 14      10:10-11:10       
• Mr. Erickson’s Class        Monday     May 7, 14       11:10-12:10    

Thanks! -Kate Hiltz, Art teacher  

SIXTH ANNUAL THOREAU SCHOOL ROAD RACE

Get ready to RUN!  The Sixth Annual Thoreau School Road Race is Sunday, May 20.  Kids’ Fun Runs (.5 mile and 1 mile) start at 11 AM; the 5K follows at noon.  A family BBQ picnic and award ceremony will be held after the race.  Mark your calendars and join us for a fun challenge for the whole family!  For more information and to register, go to: www.thoreauptg.org.

CAKE WALK 2012

Thanks to everyone who came to the Thoreau Family Festival and Cake Walk, entered the Cake Decorating Contest, or contributed the over 200 prize cakes! And hats off to our judges Diana Rigby, Kelly Clough, Melanie Bettencourt and Shelagh Moskow who had the most difficult task of all at the Cake Walk – judging the amazing array of over 100 decorating contest cakes. Congratulations to the following winners:

Best Animal Theme:

• Winners (TIE):  Michaela Moskow “Octopus” and Adrianna Marciante “Mouse and Cheese”
• Honorable Mentions:  Talia Hislop “Sheep” and Natalie Tedeschi “Mouse Mania”

Best Book Theme:

• Winners (TIE):  Kate Johnson “Three Little Pigs” and Emma Kermino “Green Eggs and Ham”
• Honorable Mentions:  Angelina Serafini “Hugo” and Audrey Carter “Little House in the Big Woods”

Best Thoreau Spirit:

• Winner:  Carson Enes and Andrew Wright
• Honorable Mentions:  Julianne Serafini and Matthew Conti

Best Sports/Games:

• Winner:  Chase Bjork and Sean Cannistraro “Fenway Park”
• Honorable Mentions:  Sydney Mullaney “Curling” and Jackson Stone “Soccer Ball”

Most Colorful:

• Winner:  Sydney Brown “Christmas Ornaments”
• Honorable Mentions:  Kendall Mullaney “Caterpillar” and Audrey Feigh “Rainbow”

Most Creative:

• Winners (TIE):  Livy Poulin “Violin” and Jack Moskow “Robot”
• Honorable Mention:  Jake Johnson “Treasure Chest”

Best Nature Theme:

• Winner:  Otis Hutcheson “Beaver Dam”
• Honorable Mentions:  William Martin Gleason “Log” and Dylan Kattwinkel and Storey Kattwinkel “Walden Pond”

Best Food Theme:

• Winners (TIE):  Clara Hoey “Sushi” and Mary Kate Murphy “Popcorn”
• Honorable Mention:  Gabrielle Mirak

 Guessing Games:

• Bazooka Gum:  Abby Gordy
• Tops:  Mark Yang
• Skittles:  Ruth Swain
• Erasers:  Elizabeth Umina

Photographs of the winning cakes will be on the PTG Notice Board near the auditorium soon.

The event would not be possible without so many of you volunteering to help.  Thanks to the following parents for making the event a success again: Darren Brown, Laura Avakian, Alixe Callen, Carrie Levin, Joyce DeGreeff, Faye Cogen, Ann Jennings, Tamara Lerner, Carolyn McCarthy, Pam Bishop, Hong Liang, Nancy Shulman, Joanna Swain, Daisy Li, Christy Harrington, Carolyn Wilkins, Kristin Root, Carlene Hempel, Tia Parker, Amy Zall, Amy and Paul Weber, Sarah Neville, Allison Oshinsky, Rosie Garcia, Brigitte Arif, Julie Sinclair, April Prewitt, Leslie Feigh and Amy Hoey. To all of you and those whose names do not appear on the list, but who helped out – THANK YOU! Special thanks to the following people – Karla Keefe and Tom Hourihan for their loyalty and enthusiasm toward this event.  Karen Pettyjohn for your help in the library, again!  Roseanne Swain for your patience and expertise at the ticket table.

Melanie Bettencourt, Karen Brown, Erin Duggan, Maria Scichlione, Christy Harrington, Gretchen Holloworth, Leslie Lilly and our absolutely fabulous newcomers:  Amy Tenenbaum and Fran Beecy!  Without your help, it simply could not happen.

We are looking for an enthusiastic parent(s) to run this event next year.  If you are interested, please contact Melanie Bettencourt or Shelagh Moskow.

MCAS SCHEDULE – MAY 2012

Please be mindful of the below dates, and make every effort to have your child(ren) in school on time. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort.

• Monday, May 7: Math grades 3 and 5
• Tuesday, May 8: Math grades 3 and 5
• Wednesday, May 9: Math grade 4
• Thursday, May 10: Math grade 4
• Monday, May 14: Science and Technology, grade 5
• Tuesday, May 15: Science and Technology, grade 5

AROUND TOWN

CCYBS’s “A Day at the Park” at CCHS

Come join Concord Carlisle Youth Baseball and Softball on Friday, May 4 for a day of fun for the whole family and cheer on CCHS Baseball and Softball games with the first of what we hope to be an annual event. Watch both CCHS Baseball and Softball Teams play then stay for a BBQ for spectators, CCHS players, and coaches! At Concord Carlisle High School. CCHS games start at 3:45 pm. Hosted by CCHS Softball & Baseball, and BBQ for CCYBS players immediately following the games compliments of Concord Carlisle Youth Baseball and Softball.

CCHS Boys’ Lacrosse Team Spring Workdays

Do you need your garage cleaned, lawn raked, or beds mulched?  Then think of the CCHS Boys Lacrosse team.   We are having our annual spring workdays on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6.  There is no job to big for our boys to handle.  There is a 4 hour minimum at $15 per hour. This is our only fundraiser so please support the CCHS Boys Lacrosse team this spring.  If interested, please email cchslax2012@yahoo.com or call 978-314-8456.

GirlPower: A Positive Growth Experience for Girls 10 to 14

Be inspired. Try something new. Discover your unique strengths, and empower yourself in a nurturing and non-competitive setting and have the freedom to try new things while feeling safe, nurtured and supported. Three one-week sessions meet at CCHS, Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM daily:

• July 9-13
• July 16-20
• July 23-27

Sponsored by Concord-Carlisle Schools, Adult and Community Education. Fee is $525 and includes lunch sponsored by Whole Foods, snacks, professional instruction and materials. 

To register, contact Concord Adult and Community Education at 978-318-1432 or visit www.ace.colonial .net (keyword Girlpower); for questions, email susanne@dancingwellness.com.

Basketball Clinic for Girls

Joe Bodenrader, the Girls Varsity Basketball coach at CCHS, will be running a basketball clinic for girls entering grades 3 – 9 this summer.  The clinic will take place at CCHS from August 6-10 and will run from 9 AM to 3 PM each day.  Sign up through the Concord Recreation Department.

Milldam Nursery School 2012-13

Milldam is accepting applications for the next school year.  Please visit our web-site to get download and application and request a tour: www.milldamnurseryschool.org. Milldam is a cooperative preschool located in the Center of Concord, 20 Lexington Road.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on May 3, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, April 30, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

Be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

FROM THE LIBRARY

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our 24th annual Book Character Parade a success. I think the costumes were particularly clever and inventive this year, and showed a lot of thought and effort from both the students and their parents. Special thanks go to Cathy Collins, Sue Howard, Bill the custodian, and all the teachers and staff members who found the time for this school-wide event in their busy schedules, and who looked terrific in their costumes.   – Karen Pettyjohn, Thoreau School Librarian

SIXTH ANNUAL THOREAU SCHOOL ROAD RACE

Get ready to RUN!  The Sixth Annual Thoreau School Road Race is Sunday, May 20.  Kids’ Fun Runs (.5 mile and 1 mile) start at 11 AM; the 5K follows at noon.  A family BBQ picnic and award ceremony will be held after the race.  Mark your calendars and join us for a fun challenge for the whole family!  For more information and to register, go to: www.thoreauptg.org.

ANNUAL APPEAL

There is still time to reach our goal!! We are $1,000 shy of reaching our overall need for this year’s expenses. If you haven’t given yet and plan to, please do it today. Go to www.thoreauptg.org and donate online or send a check made out to Thoreau PTG in to school. Thanks to the following families for their recent donations: Hwang, Jones, Adourian, Jennings, Bates, Callen/Bailey, and Boynton.

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SURVEY

The Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District (CCRSD) school committees are researching and discussing a variety of options for student transportation services for next year. A critical part of this process is gathering feedback from district parents. Please take a few moments to complete the survey circulated via email earlier this week.  The survey will close on April 15 at 11:59 pm. You may receive reminders for the survey if you do not respond. Reminders are automated and will not compromise the confidentiality of your response. Reports will be made available to the public but will not identify individuals. Thank you for your time and valuable feedback. -Diana Rigby, Superintendent of Schools, CPS & CCRSD

APRIL IS CONCORD SCHOOL MONTH AT BEDFORD FARMS!

Here’s the scoop… Anytime in April, stop by the Concord location of Bedford Farms Ice Cream. Tell the server that you would like to purchase a “Concord School Gift Card” (or cards) and place a monetary amount on the card. Use the gift card to purchase any item — ice cream, cakes, pies, t-shirts, etc. The gift card does not expire and may be used anytime. You can reload your gift card or purchase additional cards at any time throughout the month of April and it will count toward the donation. At the end of April, Bedford Farms will give 20% of the total amount placed onto the cards back to the Concord schools! This will be split equally amongst The Concord Schools PTGs. This is a great opportunity to think ahead and load up for the summer months while benefiting the Concord school system. Use this chance to purchase small tokens of appreciation for coaches, birthdays, and babysitters, or whoever might deserve a tasty treat. Where: Bedford Farms, 68 Thoreau St, Concord; When: April 1 – April 30; Concord Store Hours: 12pm – 9pm.

MCAS SCHEDULE – MAY 2012

Please be mindful of the below dates, and make every effort to have your child(ren) in school on time. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort.

• Monday, May 7: Math grades 3 and 5
• Tuesday, May 8: Math grades 3 and 5
• Wednesday, May 9: Math grade 4
• Thursday, May 10: Math grade 4
• Monday, May 14: Science and Technology, grade 5
• Tuesday, May 15: Science and Technology, grade 5

LUNCH MENU Week of April 23-27

• Monday: Baked Potato Bar
• Tuesday: Early Release
• Wednesday: B. Good Burgers
• Thursday: Pasta Bolognese
• Friday: Comelia’s Pizza

Any questions about the menu please email Chef Alden, acadwell@colonial.net.

AROUND TOWN

Patriot’s Ball on April 14

Hear ye! Hear ye! The Patriot’s Ball is coming! The Patriot’s Ball is a party, a dance, a fun time. It will be held from 7:30 PM to midnight on April 14 at the National Guard Armory on Everett Street in Concord. The night’s entertainment will include live music from the band “FireFly”.  There will be refreshments, door prizes, and a cash bar. The evening concludes with a Grand March of patriotic and military songs followed by a walk to Concord Center to see Samuel Prescott ride again. (We suggest you bring comfortable shoes and a warm coat for this walk). Tickets are $25.00 per person. and can be purchased at the Concord Town Clerk’s office, Concord Hand Designs, the West Concord 5&10, the West Concord Pharmacy or by calling Meg at (978) 371-0192.

April Vacation Week at Emerson Umbrella

Vacation Week is fast approaching! No need to worry about what to do for the kids – take a trip around the world at Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts April 17-20!  Children will explore arts of India, Greece, and South America – making art objects, food, and discoveries along the way. Guardians and friends will be invited to come in on Friday to see art work and share in some delicious cultural snacks made by the students. We hope you will join us!  Online registration at http://www.emersonumbrella.org/classes/school-recess-week/.

Patriots’ Day at the Concord Museum: Monday, April 16, 2012

Make a visit to the Concord Museum part of your Patriots’ Day tradition! This year, commemorate the day by learning about Paul Revere—one of our greatest patriots. Visit with a colonial silversmith (12:00-2:00) as he demonstrates techniques that Revere used. Since 1975, silversmith Stephen Smithers has been researching and refining the classic art of silversmithing as practiced by master silversmiths like Paul Revere throughout history. Take part in our Paul Revere Quest to discover more about the 1775 midnight ride and see the famous lantern that hung in the Old North Church. Explore the Museum’s galleries and admire Paul Revere’s silver work, and then draw your own! All family-friendly activities are free with Museum admission. The Concord Museum, open from 9:00-5:00 on Patriots’ Day, is located on Cambridge Turnpike at the intersection of Lexington Road.  For further information visit: www.concordmuseum.org.

Concord Holocaust Memorial Observance

As holocaust survivors become older and fewer, it’s more important than ever to hear their stories. On April 22 at 7:30 pm, the Sunday following vacation week, we’re honored to have Leon Rubinstein, a Holocaust survivor and his son Wade Rubinstein, owner of West Concord’s ice cream shop Reasons to be Cheerful, talk about the memoir of survival Wade helped his father record. Leon lost his Polish family and home to the Nazi regime, hid in a hole for years, was conscripted to the Russian Army as a teenage soldier and smuggled into British Palestine on the cusp of the Israeli War of Independence before coming to America in the 1950s. We hope you’ll come listen in the Concord Town House. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen and the Concord-Carlisle Human Right Council.

Milldam Nursery School 2012-13

Milldam is accepting applications for the next school year.  Please visit our web-site to get download and application and request a tour: www.milldamnurseryschool.org. Milldam is a cooperative preschool located in the Center of Concord, 20 Lexington Road.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on April 26, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, April 23, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

Due to an unexpected family matter, I need to cancel this Thursday’s Principal Coffee with Grade 5 parents.   I will be rescheduling it at a later date.  Thank you for your understanding. 

Please remember to fill out the math survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3WQXTZF. The deadline for completing the survey is Wednesday, April 11. Thank you for your time.

Lastly, be sure to check out the newest addition to my blog at http://principalclough.wordpress.com.
–Kelly Clough

FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS

We made it through a busy March with many successful PTG events and activities.  What’s the next PTG event?  The Thoreau Road Race is coming up in May.  The next PTG meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 at 7PM in the Thoreau Library.  Since this meeting conflicts with CMS Principal, Lynne Beattie’s parent forum to discuss the organization of CMS, we are considering changing the date and/or time of the PTG meeting.  Stay tuned for confirmation on the final date and time of the April PTG meeting.  The next School Committee meeting is April 10 at 6:30PM in the CCHS Library.  Have you taken the Math Survey yet?  The deadline for the survey created by the Thoreau School Leadership Team and Student Advisory Council is April 11.  Expect to receive a different survey that will be sent out to parents in Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District to gather feedback about student transportation services.  We hope that parents will participate in this survey that closes on April 15 at 11:59PM.  Have a great weekend. -Melanie and Shelagh

THE BOOK CHARACTER PARADE IS TUESDAY, APRIL 10!

The Book Character Parade is next Tuesday! Put the finishing touches on your book character masks, simple costumes and props (no sticks, and short cardboard swords only, please), check out a copy of your book, and get ready to march.

The parade will begin at 11:00 A.M., starting in Mr. Hourihan’s room. Classes will march in this order: The Cat in the Hat and friend, 5-Hourihan, 5-Erickson, 5-Lemaire and 2-Jackson, K-McKenna, K-Flynn/Apollos and 2-Peirce, 5-Hoyt, 4-Christensen and 1-Powderly, 4-Dillon, 3-Najimy, 3-Bennett, 4-Keefe, K-Silven, 1-Thompson and 3-Condon, 1-Walsh and 3-Gallagher, K-Ellis, 1-Henry and 2-Marotta, Mrs. Keltz’s room. The location for Ms. Watson’s class (grade 2) has yet to be decided.

After we collect all the students, we will march through the cafeteria and outside.  If it is good weather, we’ll proceed along the sidewalk past the Music Room and then through the door to the 1994 classroom wing. We will not go into the Auditorium on this route. If it is raining, we’ll walk under the covered walkway along the front of the school and in through the main doors. We’ll go into the Auditorium and across the stage, where Ms. Clough will announce each class as it crosses. Parents, siblings and friends are welcome to watch the Book Character Parade from the Cafeteria, from in front of the school, and (only if it is raining) from the Auditorium.

If you have any questions, please talk to Karen or Cathy in the Library, or email me at kpettyjohn@colonial.net.  See you on the 10th! —Karen Pettyjohn

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Beth Symko, the Family Festival and Cake Walk Committee and all of the volunteers for organizing and running the Thoreau Family Festival and Cake Walk.  Thanks to Tom Hourihan and Karla Keefe for being the masters of ceremony for the Cake Walk game.

COINS FOR CURES FUNDRAISER

The Coins for Cures fundraiser benefitting Children’s Hospital Boston is underway! Classrooms have been collecting spare change to donate to the hospital to support research and patient care. Keep those coins coming — in the first week, students raised $250 towards Thoreau’s $1000 goal! If each student brings in $2 we’ll meet our goal. The fundraiser runs through April 13. This is a great opportunity to have kids help other kids. Every penny counts! If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Levesque (rlevesque@colonial.net), Shannon Granger (sgranger@colonial.net) or Melissa Greven (lemonkoko3@yahoo.com).

CMS EVALUATION

The middle school is evaluating the possibility of placing all 6th grade students at Peabody and all 7th and 8th graders at Sanborn. The volume of feedback you have provided has been extremely helpful. There has been a great deal of support for the move, as well as specific articulation of concerns and/or questions. Throughout the process, all concerns have become part of the evaluation process; many require revision of current practice or creation of alternatives.

As a result, we still have work to do in order to ensure that we make the right decision. Part of that consideration is careful planning for any transitions that would need implementation for both current and future CMS students. Equally as important is the opportunity for review of the information that has been gathered, and how logistics and concerns could be addressed. Until I am confident that we have evaluated, planned solution for, and reconciled all aspects of the proposal, the decision will remain open. To that end, I can definitively state at this time that we will not be making this transition in September of 2012. There will be a parent forum held on April 11 from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Sanborn auditorium. At that time I will share information and provide an opportunity for questions. Thank you to all of you for your patience. -Lynne Beattie, CMS Principal

THOREAU BASEBALL FIELD

A group of dedicated parents are making a concerted effort to make the baseball field at Thoreau more playable for this year’s baseball season.  To this end we are having 17 tons of clay delivered to Thoreau next Friday, April 6.  We are looking for volunteers to help with the effort.  We plan to rent a bobcat, but if someone has one, or a small tractor we could use, that would be very helpful. Please spread the word and come to Thoreau between 8:30 and 9:00am to help the cause. This will be a tremendous community project; thank you for your muscle and support. -Ralph Verrilli, Phil Gibson, Mark White, and Brian Maloney

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SURVEY

The Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District (CCRSD) school committees are researching and discussing a variety of options for student transportation services for next year. A critical part of this process is gathering feedback from district parents. Please take a few moments to complete the survey circulated via email earlier this week.  The survey will close on April 15 at 11:59 pm. You may receive reminders for the survey if you do not respond. Reminders are automated and will not compromise the confidentiality of your response. Reports will be made available to the public but will not identify individuals. Thank you for your time and valuable feedback. -Diana Rigby, Superintendent of Schools, CPS & CCRSD

OPEN TABLE FOOD DRIVE

It is time for Thoreau School’s annual Spring food drive! All collected food is donated to Concord’s local food pantry, OpenTable. Open Table feeds over 200 guests each week, including many children, and gives each family a bag of groceries to bring home. Open Table is able to do this because of the generosity of our community. Any non-perishable foods are appreciated, but these are the “most wanted” items: spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, coffee/tea/hot chocolate mix, cereal, tuna fish/canned stews/soups, jelly, children’s snacks for school (juice boxes, pretzels, fruit cups, etc.), condiments (ketchup, mustard, cooking oil) and all other non-perishable food items. Please: NO CANDY! Our food drive will run through Friday, April 6. There will be a box in front of the library for your children to bring their items in. Thank you very much for your generosity! Please see http://opentable.org for more information. -Amy Hoey, Open Table Chairman

School Committee Highlights from March 13

• Thoreau Special Education staff and assistants were recognized.
• CCYB requested approval of installation of backstop at Thoreau. Motion passed.
• Concord Middle School considering reconfiguration: Considering making Sanborn exclusively 6th grade and Peabody 7th & 8th grade, as opposed to current configuration with 3 grades in each school. Reason is to ease transition for 6th graders where achieving an equitable distribution of students from the 3 elementary schools into 2 building has been challenging up to now. Contact Concord Middle School to find out more information or learn where more information is posted (978)318-1380 or (978)318-1360.
• Transportation update: RFP to find appropriate site for maintenance is out. Invitation for Bid for privatizing transportation has also been drafted and is with legal team. It will be circulated in the event an appropriate rental facility cannot be secured, or FY13 budget is not passed at appropriate levels. A survey regarding the possibility of charging bus fees is being developed.
• There are new teacher evaluation regulations, which will result in changes to some of the current teacher evaluation practices.

 April 10 is the next School Committee meeting.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND CYBER SAFETY: THE LIBRARY’S CURRICULUM AND A PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS

Laptops, tablets, smartphones, iPod touch, video gaming systems … children of all ages are involved with online resources in more ways than ever. To guide students in the responsible use of these powerful tools, the elementary school librarians have a created a K-5 digital citizenship and digital literacy curriculum that covers topic like passwords, privacy, “netiquette”, cyberbullying, and citing sources.

As a complement to our library program, parents will have an opportunity to participate in a discussion on Cyber Safety, and have their questions answered by an expert in the field. Attorney Onyen Yong, from the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, is well known for his dynamic and informative presentations. Topics will include:

• Safe and appropriate use of the Internet
• Cyberbullying – prevention and intervention
• The power and problems of social networking

The talk will be held at The Concord Carlisle High School at 7pm on April 10, 2012. It is free and open to all. The program is presented by The Center for Parents and Teachers and is offered in collaboration with the Concord-Carlisle High School Parent Association. For more information on the Cyber Safety presentation: http://district.colonial.net/curriculum/digitalcitizenshipweb/cybersafetyposter.pdf. Please contact Karen Pettyjohn for more information on the K-5 Digital Citizenship curriculum.

RESERVING CPS DISTRICT K-12 FACILITIES AND/OR FIELDS

For reservations for before and after school events through August 2013:

• Go to our district web page www.concordpublicschools.net
• Left column (under Transportation)
• Click Request Use of School Facilities
• From Facilities page, click Request Use of School Facilities
• From K-12 Master Calendar, click Log in to Request Facility Use (upper right corner)
• Enter your email address and your email password
• If you cannot remember your email password, click Forgot Password? and your password will be emailed to you

OR

• First time users: Don’t have an account? Click Create One and the Registration Wizard will walk you through setting up your email address and your organization.

Please ask groups to reserve their space as soon as possible for the 2012-2013 school year.

APRIL IS CONCORD SCHOOL MONTH AT BEDFORD FARMS!

Here’s the scoop… Anytime in April, stop by the Concord location of Bedford Farms Ice Cream. Tell the server that you would like to purchase a “Concord School Gift Card” (or cards) and place a monetary amount on the card. Use the gift card to purchase any item — ice cream, cakes, pies, t-shirts, etc. The gift card does not expire and may be used anytime. You can reload your gift card or purchase additional cards at any time throughout the month of April and it will count toward the donation. At the end of April, Bedford Farms will give 20% of the total amount placed onto the cards back to the Concord schools! This will be split equally amongst The Concord Schools PTGs. This is a great opportunity to think ahead and load up for the summer months while benefiting the Concord school system. Use this chance to purchase small tokens of appreciation for coaches, birthdays, and babysitters, or whoever might deserve a tasty treat. Where: Bedford Farms, 68 Thoreau St, Concord; When: April 1 – April 30; Concord Store Hours: 12pm – 9pm.

MCAS SCHEDULE – MAY 2012

Please be mindful of the below dates, and make every effort to have your child(ren) in school on time. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort.

• Monday, May 7: Math grades 3 and 5
• Tuesday, May 8: Math grades 3 and 5
• Wednesday, May 9: Math grade 4
• Thursday, May 10: Math grade 4
• Monday, May 14: Science and Technology, grade 5
• Tuesday, May 15: Science and Technology, grade 5

LUNCH MENU Week of April 9-13

• Monday: Grilled Cheese
• Tuesday: Early Release
• Wednesday: B. Good Burgers
• Thursday: Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Friday: Fenway Franks

Any questions about the menu please email Chef Alden, acadwell@colonial.net.

AROUND TOWN

Patriots’ Day at the Concord Museum: Monday, April 16, 2012

Make a visit to the Concord Museum part of your Patriots’ Day tradition! This year, commemorate the day by learning about Paul Revere—one of our greatest patriots. Visit with a colonial silversmith (12:00-2:00) as he demonstrates techniques that Revere used. Since 1975, silversmith Stephen Smithers has been researching and refining the classic art of silversmithing as practiced by master silversmiths like Paul Revere throughout history. Take part in our Paul Revere Quest to discover more about the 1775 midnight ride and see the famous lantern that hung in the Old North Church. Explore the Museum’s galleries and admire Paul Revere’s silver work, and then draw your own! All family-friendly activities are free with Museum admission. The Concord Museum, open from 9:00-5:00 on Patriots’ Day, is located on Cambridge Turnpike at the intersection of Lexington Road.  For further information visit: www.concordmuseum.org.

Milldam Nursery School 2012-13

Milldam is accepting applications for the next school year.  Please visit our web-site to get download and application and request a tour: www.milldamnurseryschool.org. Milldam is a cooperative preschool located in the Center of Concord, 20 Lexington Road.

The next issue of Thoreau Announcements will be published on April 12, 2012. Submission Deadline: 9 pm Monday, April 9, 2012.

Submission guidelines: Submissions must be school or community related and not commercial in nature. Submit your item in the body of an email (no attachments); it should be brief and have minimal formatting – no bullet points or underlining, please! Email your submission to announcements@thoreauptg.org. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

Cakes to be entered in the Cake Decorating Contest should be dropped off to the Faculty Dining Room between 12:30 and 1:30 for judging.  Cakes being donated for Cake Walk prizes can be dropped off anytime before or during the event.

Kids who bring in non-perishable food donations to the Thoreau School – Open Table food drive will receive a free Family Festival & Cake Walk ticket.