Published by the Thoreau School Parent Teacher Group
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families,
Our Back-to-School Night is Wednesday, September 21, 2011. The teachers and I are looking forward to seeing you. As this is an informational sharing of classroom procedures, policies, and curriculum, it is an event for adults only. This event is a time for meeting teachers and families and getting general information. If you feel the need for a conference, please make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher at another time.
At 6:30-7:00 p.m. there will be a social gathering and Principal welcoming address in the Cafeteria for all families and staff members. Starting at 7:00 p.m., we will be having informational sessions by grade level with the principal, support staff and PTG Co-Presidents, Melanie Bettencourt and Shelagh Moskow (see schedule below). This may be particularly useful for new families, but everyone is welcome. Come say hello — we’d love to see you. In an effort to help families hear each of their children’s teachers speak, we adjusted the Back to School Night schedule as follows:
- Classroom Sessions
7:00 – 7:30 Grades 2-3
7:35 – 8:05 Kind.-Grade 1
8:10 – 8:40 Grades 4-5 - Informational Sessions in Cafeteria
7:00-7:30 Kind. and Gr. 1
7:35-8:05 Grades 2-5
School Directories will be available in the classrooms for anyone who has previously sent PTG dues. Sincerely,
–Kelly Clough
FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS
We hope everyone had a great first week of school at Thoreau! As students settle into their classrooms and begin another year of learning, the PTG is busy planning for a year full of fun activities. We had a great turnout on Sunday at the Annual Ice Cream Social, thanks in part to a beautiful day and the hard work of many parents. Many thanks to Karen Brown for organizing and to all the parent volunteers who helped to make it such a success. Next Wednesday, September 21, we are gearing up for the Back-to-School Night which provides a great opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher and other parents and to learn about the year’s curriculum in each classroom. There will also be opportunities to meet and talk with the school social worker, nurse and education specialists. Another important event to mark on your calendar is School Picture Day on Friday, September 23. Forms have gone home in your children’s folders, or you can sign up and pay for your child’s pictures at www.coffeepond.com. Finally, Boston Magazine just released its annual survey of public schools, and Concord-Carlisle was recognized as the second best district in the state. Many thanks and congratulations to all the teachers and staff who work so hard every day for us to earn that achievement. And look out, Dover-Sherborn … next year we want the top spot!
–Melanie and Shelagh, PTG Co-Presidents
THOREAU SCHOOL ICE CREAM SOCIAL THANK YOU
Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this year’s Ice Cream Social a success: Andrea Medved, Susan Oman, Eileen and Charlie Robichaud, Trish, Declan, Blaise and Cole Siefer, Ellen McHale, Jennifer Newbold, Melanie Bettencourt, Anne Mullaney, Darren and Shelby Brown, and Kim Mara. It was a beautiful day and it was great to see so many families in attendance.
–Karen Brown, 4th Grade Rep
BEFORE/AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
Fall Semester: September 19 – November 11. Please have all After School Program Registration form into Jen Jiganti by September 14. Classes begin September 19. Classes are as follows:
- Kids can Cook! Join Kids Eat Smart co-founder and Thoreau parents Hilary Boynton and chef Ben Elliott from #9 Park, for Kids Can Cook!, a course which makes cooking fun and accessible for kids. Kids will discuss the foods they will be eating, then prepare, cook and enjoy what they make! An emphasis will be placed on cooking with whole foods that have high nutritional content. Help kids make healthy choices with this class. Materials fee: $15. Mondays 3:15 – 4:15 in the Thoreau School Kitchen. For grades K-2.
- Environmental Field Studies Group. Susan Erickson will lead a small group of students in the pursuit of various environmental topics near and dear to the community. Topics may include invasive species, habitat destruction, threatened or endangered species, and edible plants. Activities will be hands on, and will incorporate science and data analysis to uncover issues related to the ecosystem. Fields trips will be frequent and may include occasional Friday afternoon outings. Thursdays 3:15 – 4:15 in Mrs. Erickson’s classroom. For grades 4 and 5.
- Fun with Math I. Can’t get enough math? Join Laurie Link, Thoreau’s math specialist, for Fun with Math, a class geared to kids who enjoy math games, math puzzles, and solving logic problems. Tuesdays 8:00-8:45am in Mrs. Link’s Classroom. For grades 1 and 2.
- Fun with Math II. Just like Fun with Math I, but held on Wednesdays 3:15 – 4:00 pm inMrs. Link’s Classroom for 3-5th graders.
- Fencing: Introduction to Sabre. This class is taught by the coach of Concord Carlisle’s High School Women’s fencing team, Ariana Klinkov, who also runs Pris de Fer fencing. The class will focus on learning fencing footwork, fencing games, and the techniques of sabre fencing. All equipment will be supplied by Pris de Fer Fencing. Mondays 3:30 to 4:30 in the Thoreau School Gym. For 8-12 year olds who are new to fencing. $150
- Fencing: Sabre. More advanced fencing techniques, footwork and scoring will be covered. All equipment will be provided by Pris De Fer fencing. Fridays 3:30 -4:30 in the Thoreau School Gym. For 8-12 year olds with some fencing experience. $150
- Folk Crafts. Crafty Kate Hiltz will make apple dolls with students. These dolls originate from early rural America, and are made by carving a face in an apple and drying it. No two dolls are alike. Students will carve their own apples heads, build a wire armature, wrap it and design and sew their own outfits while creating their own unique doll Materials fee: $5. Thursdays 3:15 – 4:15 in the Art room. For grades 3-5.
- Coming Soon: The Thoreau Weekly, an afterschool journalism course.
Registration: Classes are $50 per course unless otherwise indicated. Complete the registration form at the Thoreau PTG website (https://www.thoreauptg.org/school_program_fall_2011.pdf), include a check made out to the Thoreau School PTG, and send to Jen Jiganti through your child’s teacher. For fencing ($150) please make checks payable to Pris De Fer Fencing and return to Jen Jiganti.
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
School Picture Day is on Friday, September 23! Your children will have their individual pictures taken as well as a class photo. There are a number of purchasing options. Please refer to the order form that will be sent home in your child’s backpack within the next week — and please send the form back with your payment enclosed PRIOR to Picture Day. Or, you can go online and pre-order your pictures/packages on the Coffee Pond Photo website: http://www.coffeepond.com/SchoolPortraits.aspx. Please note that your pictures will be delivered to school even though they will ask you for your shipping address. A class photo is included in all package orders. Coffee Pond will also ask you to print out a confirmation receipt. Please be sure to send it in with your child; teachers will collect/keep them and distribute them on Picture Day to the photo staff. If you are registering more than one child, please print a copy of the confirmation for each child to bring into their teacher. Please email Robin Grace (robin.s.grace@mssb.com) or visit the Coffee Pond Photo Website if you have questions. Please note that there will be a retake day (TBD). If you are not satisfied with the picture(s), you can return them for a full refund and/or have them retaken. Also, the photo company recommends that your child should wear a solid top for Picture Day, but it is not required.
–Robin Grace
SCHOOL PICTURE SCHOLARSHIPS
If you are interested in receiving financial assistance for school pictures, please contact Rachel Levesque, School Social Worker, at rlevesque@colonial.net or (978) 318-1300
–Rachel Levesque, Social Worker
BEFORE SCHOOL POETRY CLUB
Students in grades 3-5 are invited to join Brad Bennett at the Tuesday morning Poetry Club. It’s a wonderful way to expand a child’s love of language. The Poetry Club includes writing instruction, exposure to great children’s poetry, and time for the students to write their own poems and share them. It will inspire. We hope to schedule a public reading of the students’ poems at the end of the 6 classes. It meets from September 20 to October 25, every Tuesday from 7:45 to 8:45 AM. The fee is $42. Enroll with Community Education at CCHS, or visit www.ace.colonial.net or call 318-1432. Course #2151. Community Education classes are a community-funded service of the Concord-Carlisle Schools.
LUNCH MENU Week of September 19–16
Monday: Mozzarella Stick
Tuesday: Early Release
Wednesday: B. Good Burgers
Thursday: Stir Fry
Friday: Sorrento’s Pizza
AROUND TOWN
Calling All 2nd Grade Brownie Prospects!
We’re looking for a few interested girls to join our Thoreau 2nd Grade Brownie troop. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in the Thoreau cafeteria immediately after dismissal, and also have several evening and weekend outings planned for the year. Our next meeting will be on October 5th. If your daughter would like to join, or learn more about it, please contact April Robb at akeyesrobb@hotmail.com.
Girl Scouts Can Do Anything!
Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence, and Character who make the world a better place! Become a Girl Scout today and you can make new friends, get involved, camp, sing, play, have fun, try new things, create, and explore new places and ideas! Girls in grades K-12 are invited to come to one of our Fall Registration events:
- September 15, 6:00-8:00pm, Concord Scout House (downstairs), 74 Walden Street, Concord
- September 17, 10:00am-2:00pm, Concord Scout House, 74 Walden Street, Concord
- September 22, 6:00pm-7:00pm at the CSA Fair, Carlisle School, 83 School Street, Carlisle
For more information on Concord-Carlisle Girl Scouts, check us out on You Tube: http://bit.ly/oTlYlN or see our registration flyer: http://bit.ly/oafv9g. Questions? E-mail ccgirlscouts@gmail.com.
Cub Scouts Kickoff Meeting – Sept. 20
Please join Cub Scout Pack 133 for our first pack meeting of the program year, Tues., Sept. 20, in the Thoreau cafeteria, 7-8:15 pm. Our new den for first-grade boys is forming now. Additionally, all boys in grades 2-5 who are interested in Scouts are invited. We will hold an orientation meeting for new families beforehand at 6:30.
Pack 133 dates to 1943 and each year includes 40-50 boys in grades 1-5 at Thoreau. During the school year, we hold two meetings per month – one for each grade-level den and one for the entire pack – and one event, on average. Events include hikes, campouts such as on Scout Island in Warners Pond, the Pinewood Derby, and special trips to sites such as Plimoth Plantation. Parents are involved in all activities, accompanying their sons to meetings and events, helping out, and generally doing fun and meaningful things that they probably wouldn’t get to do otherwise. All family members are invited to all gatherings. Please contact Ed Prewitt (edward.prewitt@gmail.com/978-270-7665) with any questions.
Musicians: Concord-Carlisle After School Lessons
The Instrumental Music School (IMSCC, part of the Community Education department at CCHS) offers individual instruction in most instruments after school and evenings. Lessons are held at CCHS, Sanborn, Peabody, and the Carlisle School. Enrollments are underway now, and lessons start during the next two weeks. The IMSCC was founded in 1980 by the Concord-Carlisle Schools. Its professional faculty members are both teachers and active performers. Information at www.ace.colonial.net/imscc or stop by the Community Education office in L Building.
Concord Family Network 7th Annual Fire Truck Wash
Grab a bucket and sponge! Put on your rubber boots! Help wash a fire truck, meet a firefighter and learn about his gear, the truck he drives, and fire safety. Refreshments provided. Sunday, Sept. 18, 3:00-4:30pm in the Thoreau Club parking lot, 275 Forest Ridge Rd, Concord. (Raindate Sunday, Sept. 25, same time/place; visit www.bigtent.com/groups/concordfn for cancellation.) Invite your friends and neighbors. This event is free and open to all Concord residents with kids ages 0-8years. CFN membership is not required to attend.
Friendship Concert
Come enjoy a program of wonderful music and give a warm welcome to the largest visiting delegation from Concord’s sister city, Nanae, Hokkaido, Japan. The CCHS Concert Band and the Nanae Brass Band invite you to join them as they join together for a Friendship Concert on Sunday, Sept.25 at 3:00pm at the CCHS Auditorium, 500 Walden St, Concord. Tickets are $10, reserved seating and will be sold in the CCHS cafeteria from 11:00-1:00pm Sept 21-23 and also at the door on Sunday. Questions can be emailed to cchsboxoffice@gmail.com.
CFN Kids’ Stuff Tag Sale
Are you looking for kids’ clothing, gear, toys and books for your ever-growing little one? Would you like to sell kids’ stuff you no longer need? Here’s your chance to go green and help keep stuff out of our landfills. On Saturday, October 1, The Concord Family Network (CFN) will be holding its Kids’ Stuff Tag Sale. Come enjoy a coffee and treat at our bake sale and find a treasure or two or three at the 20+ booths selling gently used children’s items. The tag sale will be held at the Sanborn Middle School Cafeteria (835 Old Marlboro Rd, Concord MA) 8:00am-12:00pm. You may purchase a spot at the tag sale for $20 to sell your items. The tag sale is open to all children’s items such as toys, clothes, books, maternity clothes, strollers, cribs and children’s sports equipment. No household items please. Admission is $1/person. Proceeds from admissions and the bake sale will be donated to First Connections, a non-profit that provides support and services to local families. For more information or to reserve a spot, please contact Eck Redmond at eck.redmond@gmail.com.