October 9, 2014 Volume XI, No. 3 Emily Gaberman, Principal – emily_gaberman@needham.k12.ma.us Karen Bourn, Assistant Principal – karen_bourn@needham.k12.ma.us Dates To Remember: DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION Thu. Oct. 9 7-‐8:30 NeedhamTalks Lecture: Theory of Mind and Interpersonal Relationships for Children Newman Auditorium Thu. Oct. 16 7pm SEPAC Meeting Performance Ctr. Fri. Oct. 17 6:30-‐7:30pm PTC First Grade Family Game Night Gym Wed. Oct. 22 12:15pm Early Release Day NO AM KINDERGARTEN due to AMK Parent Conferences Thu. Oct. 23 7pm PTC Forum on ThinkMath! for K, 1 & 2 Parents Performance Center Sat. Oct. 25 9-‐10:30am School Committee Open House Cafeteria Sat. Oct. 25 10am-‐12pm PTC Pare & Share High School Library Tue. Nov. 4 No School – Professional Day PRINCIPAL’S NOTES Fall is definitely in the air and there are many wonderful things happening in and around the school. Inside the building, we are wrapping up our initial reading assessments (gr. 1-‐5) and about to implement a new universal screening tool for math (aMath) in grades 2-‐5. These assessment tools allow us to know our students better as learners and provide important information for instruction. In addition, next week marks the end of the “first six weeks” of school which is a key concept of the Responsive Classroom approach, emphasizing that we need time to establish and practice important routines in order to build a positive classroom community. At our All School Meeting last week, the publicity staff from The Meadows, our school-‐wide literary magazine, promoted the upcoming winter edition and encouraged all students to consider making a submission. Students have until November 5 to submit pieces of original writing, and should leave them in the Meadows basket located in the Media Center. In addition, the Student Service Club is working on promoting the PTC Pare and Share event that will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 10 am – 12 pm. This is one of my favorite Broadmeadow events and one that needs your support. To ensure a variety of produce the PTC suggests the following donations (by grade): 1 Kindergarten: zucchini Grade 3: celery Grade 1: squash Grade 4: carrots Grade 2: green beans Grade 5: green peppers Even if you can’t make the actual event, donations are welcome. Outside the building, there have been (or will be) some changes on the grounds. First of all, we have a beautiful new “buddy bench” on the playground in honor of Christine Brumbach, the former NPS Director of Student Support Services who retired last spring. I want to thank Dale McCarthy, Theresa Bricker, Kara Yeomans, Mary Hensley, Karen Levine, and Hilary Bruel for their creativity and skill in painting the bench. The bench can be used as a place to sit and solve the ‘I Spy”-‐like puzzles painted on it or to signal that a child is looking for a buddy to play with. Secondly, the play structure has finally been fixed! After months of waiting, the platform at the top of the slides was repaired. Finally, on a less happy note, one of the large tulip trees in front of the school will have to come down. The town Forestry Dept. is concerned about the health and safety of the tree so they will be removing it over the long weekend (and maybe into the following week if they can’t get all the work done on Monday). All the work will be done when school is not in session. Luckily, the Forestry Dept. sponsors Arbor Day activities in the spring so we will have the chance to replace the tree with some new saplings. Finally, I want to thank Lucy Noyes and Wendy Faberman for arranging the Principal Coffees today. Thanks also to everyone who attended and asked such thoughtful questions! Have a great long weekend-‐ Emily Gaberman PTC NEWS Please see the PTC News email that was sent yesterday COMMUNITY NEWS HAUNTED HOUSE AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The Congregational Church of Needhamʼs annual Haunted House will be open on Saturday, October 25 from 5-‐8pm for all ages. A game room with bouncy house is available for fun without the scares. $5 per person. Proceeds support the Senior High Youth Groupʼs summer mission trip. The Church is located at 1154 Great Plain Avenue. For more information, please visit www.needhamucc.org/hauntedhouse PARENT TALK USED CLOTHING, TOY AND EQUIPMENT SALE Saturday October 18, 2014 General Sale: 8:30 am -‐ 11:45 am $10 Clearance Bag Sale: 12 pm – 1 pm. Fill up a bag for only $10! Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Avenue, Needham 2 SCHOOL COMMITTEE OPEN HOUSE The Needham School Committee will hold an Open House on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 9:00 to 10:30 am in the Needham High School Library, 609 Webster Street. The open house will provide an informal opportunity for parents and members of the community to interact with members of the School Committee. Needham residents are invited to offer comments, ask questions, and share ideas. BOYS LACROSSE Registration for Spring 2015 Needham Boys Youth Lacrosse will begin on Friday, Oct.3rd. Registration is open to boys in grades 1-‐8. Please visit our website www.needhamboyslacrosse.com for more information and to register. Thank you! NHS FUNDRAISER The Needham High School Class of 2016 is hosting a fundraiser at Chipotle to raise money to support the student body and host school events such as prom! The event will be taking place at 300 Needham St, Newton on Sunday, October 5th, from 5-‐8pm -‐ just mention 'Needham High School' at the register, and 50% of proceeds will be donated to the school. contact anayatipnis@gmail.com or 617-‐797-‐7648 for more details. NEEDHAM PACK 8 CUB SCOUTS Pack 8 is the official Cub Scout pack for boys in grades 1 to 5 from Mitchell, Broadmeadow, Eliot, and Hillside Elementary School. Please visit us at our next pack meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21st from 7-‐8 pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 543 Greendale Ave. For more information, check out http://www.pack8needham.com or email membership.pack08@gmail.com. 3