MHS/WES Newsletter

Monday, May 30 ~ No School, Memorial Day

Friday, June 3 ~ Half Day of School; Building Needs, Dismissal is at 12:00 Noon

Tuesday, June 7 ~ WES Spring Music Concert at Oakmont Regional High School 6:30PM

Thursday, June 9 ~ Field Day Grades K-4

Tuesday, June 14 ~ Field Day Grade 5

Wednesday, June 15 ~ WES 5th Grade Promotion Night at 6:30 PM

Friday, June 17~ Last Day of School, Dismissal is at 12:00 Noon

School Safety

The news from Texas this week is devastating. Please know school safety is paramount in our work with your children. We are fortunate to have such a strong community connection with our town public safety officers. Their frequent presence in our buildings is a comfort especially during these difficult times.

As Dr. Stewart stated in his community letter: We are all here to support your children in any way possible. If you are looking for resources to help navigate discussions about difficult events with your children, the National Association of School Psychologists has some excellent resources HERE.

Class Placement Letters

This is just a friendly reminder that class placement letters are due by June 3rd. Specific teacher requests will not be granted, however, please feel free to share your child's learning style or concerns for peer relationships.

School Improvement Council: We have 3 open parent positions for next year. The School Improvement Council serves as an advisory board to the administration of Meetinghouse School and Westminster Elementary School. The council gives input to the school improvement plan, as well as budget implications and programmatic changes throughout the school year. School Improvement Council meetings are held monthly and are open to the public. If you are interested, please email me at ktaylor@awrsd.org. If there is a lot of interest, an election will be held at our September PTO meeting.

We are getting close to the end of the school year! Here are some final reminders from the Nurses:

• IMPORTANT: All daily and as-needed (PRN) medications stored in the nurse’s office need to be picked up by a parent or responsible adult no later than the final day of classes (June 17 by 12 pm.) We are unable to store medication here over the summer vacation. Under no circumstances will any medication be sent home with the students. Any unclaimed medication will be properly disposed of.

• It’s been a rough Spring for seasonal allergies. Please remember that the nurse’s office does not provide antihistamines except in the event of a life-threatening allergic emergency. Please ensure that if your student needs medication for seasonal allergies that it is taken at home.

• Just a reminder to check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks at least once a day or anytime you have been outdoors. Try to wear long pants and long sleeves when you plan to be out in the woods. Using EPA- approved repellents can be helpful to prevent tick and mosquito bites. If you do find a tick, carefully remove as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. If you notice a rash or feel like you have the “flu”, contact your doctor.

• Sun safety is also very important at this time of the year. Remember, sunburns can occur on cloudy days as well as sunny ones. If your child plans to spend any time outdoors (playing sports, etc.) have them slather on a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Students may carry their own sunscreen to be applied at school. The Nurse’s Office does not supply sunscreen for students to use.

• Dehydration is another health issue that is more prevalent at this time of the year. Remember, dehydration can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue and poor concentration. Please be sure your child comes to school with a water bottle. Both schools have water fill stations, so students are able to refill their bottle throughout the day! To stay well hydrated, children ages 4-8 need around 5 cups of water per day. This increases to 7-8 cups for older children, and even more if they are very active.

Stay safe and enjoy the summer!

Jessica Heffernan BSN, RN Bridget Hurley BSN, RN

Westminster Elementary School Meetinghouse School

Thank you to the DiBenedetto family for installing the musical instruments at MHS. The PTO purchased this equipment back in 2020 just prior to our school shut down. We are so excited to see and hear these instruments in action.

The end of our Kindergarten year is always filled with conflicting emotions. We have some exciting events planned to bring our school year to a close.

This Friday we will be walking to “The Rock”. While there, we will pay respect to our fallen heroes. Children are busy making patriotic hats to wear and are learning and practicing patriotic songs for this activity.

Next Wednesday, June 1st, Kindergarteners will travel to Davis Farmland for a fun-filled day of observation, interaction, and play. Thank you PTO for helping to make this more affordable for our children and their families. All children will need to bring a lunch and drink from home on this day. We encourage children to wear an orange shirt, if possible. Orange is also the color that Kindergarten children are being asked to wear, on Field Day. Thanks to all the parents who are volunteering and making this wonderful trip possible!

Field Day is on the morning of June 9th. Kindergarten children will participate in 10 different stations, while sharing in the spirit of the event.

Please remember that Friday Jun 3, 2022 is a half day of school!

This year has gone by so quickly! It feels like just yesterday we were greeting our new students and getting to know each other; now they are moving onto 5th grade.

We were so proud to see how hard students worked during the MCAS testing. It was a long 4 days, but students had the stamina and focus necessary to complete it to the best of their ability!

We are finishing up our plant study unit with Ms. Davis. Students are going to complete a final plant project in school to share their data with fellow students. There are a variety of projects for students to choose from. We are so grateful that Ms. Davis introduced us to this project, and we appreciate all of her hard work this year!

It was nice being able to see our students in person all year this year, and we hope that you have a wonderful summer break.

Greetings to all families as we all approach the end of the school year. As usual, the music rooms are very active with lots of learning, playing of instruments, and singing. Below are some insights to what students are learning as well as schedules for events.

Grade K and 1 - The students have been learning about America through singing several patriotic songs/books and are preparing for their in school assembly for Memorial Day on Friday. Children are encouraged to wear patriotic colors on Friday.

Grade 2 - Students in Grade 2 finished up their Boomwhacker unit recently by playing tone chimes, which are used in bell choirs. They are now learning about all of the instrument families of Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, and Strings. We are beginning to talk about how to sign up for learning an instrument for the Band program which any student in grades 3, 4, and 5 can be involved in. Official sign ups are in September for the beginning instruments of flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, snare drum, and xylophone.

Grade 3 - All of the grade 3 students have been learning simple songs including Twinkle Twinkle, Ode To Joy, and Hound Dog on the keyboards. Each student has their own keyboard station, and access to a google classroom at home where I post videos on how to play a song as well as a performance video where they can play “keep up” with me.

Grades 4 and 5 - Ukuleles! Yes, that’s right, we are in our 2nd year of having ukuleles in the classroom. Our students have been learning various chords, and playing along with videos of songs like Stand By Me, Surfin’ USA and more. Students have access to a google classroom at home of materials that I am using.

CHORUS - The grade 4 and 5 students in Chorus recently performed Lean On Me, Don’t Stop Believing, and Eye of the Tiger at the opening ceremony for the American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” on Academy Hill last Wednesday. The students have been learning how to sing beyond unison singing and splitting into two sections for partner songs and harmony as well. Solos have been issued for the spring concerts. Upcoming performances include the Spring Concerts on June 7 and the Great East Trip/Competition at Cannobie on June 11. Grade 4 students in particular are performing on Friday 5/27 at the in school Memorial Day Program hosted by the grade 4 students. A detailed schedule went home with kids at the last rehearsal, and Mrs. Popik sent a copy in a recent email. Also, Mrs. Popik has sent families a detailed Music Memo with directions for the spring concerts and more. Please see the schedule below for basic events.

A BAND - Our A Band students have been working on 9 selections for the Spring Concerts, including the hard classical piece Farandole. Grade 4 students in particular are performing on Friday 5/27 at the in school Memorial Day Program hosted by the grade 4 students. All students will be marching in the Town Memorial Day parade and then performing on Academy Hill on Monday 5/30. Three of our Trumpet players will be performing services for Taps at all of the town cemeteries and monuments with the Veterans in the morning as well. Upcoming performances include the Spring Concerts on June 7 and the Great East Trip/Competition at Cannobie on June 11. The students will reform in the fall to perform the concert one last time at the Westminster Cracker Festival at 10 am on October 15. Also, Mrs. Popik has sent families a detailed Music Memo with directions for the spring concerts and more. Please see the schedule below for basic events.

JAZZ BAND - Our Jazz Band has 4 selections including Route 66 and Soul Man. They performed at the WES Creation Celebration Night recently. Upcoming performances include the Spring Concerts on June 7 and the Great East Trip/Competition at Cannobie on June 11. The students will reform in the fall to perform the concert one last time at the Westminster Cracker Festival at 10 am on October 15. Also, Mrs. Popik has sent families a detailed Music Memo with directions for the spring concerts and more. Please see the schedule below for basic events.

MUSIC SCHEDULE - MAY/JUNE

5/27 -Grade K and 1 - “in school” Memorial Day Program

-Grade 4 A Band members perform at the “in school” Grade 4 Memorial Day Program.

-No Chorus Reh

5/30 -A Band performs at Westminster Town Memorial Day Parade

6/1 -Jazz Band Reh 3-4pm

6/2 -A Band Reh 3-4pm

6/3 -Chorus Reh 7:30am-8:15am (MORNING REHEARSAL!)

6/6 -Chorus Reh 3-4PM (MONDAY)

6/7 -Spring Concert #1 - 9am WES Cafeteria - full dress (A Band, Chorus, Jazz Band)

-Spring Concert #2 - 6:30pm Oakmont - full dress (A Band, Chorus, Jazz Band)

6/8 -Jazz Band Reh 3-4 (for the Canobie Trip students)

6/9 -A Band Reh 3-4pm (for the Canobie Trip students)

6/10 -Chorus Reh 3-4pm (for the Canobie Trip students)

6/11 -Great East/Canobie Competition/Field Trip (Grade 4+5 A Band, Jazz Band, Chorus)

6/15 -Grade 5 Chorus Students - 6:30pm Promotion Night

A special thank you goes to the Malloy Family and many wonderful kids for donated their time to sprucing up our grounds. We appreciate their help! Also, a thank you goes to

Mr. Bucholc (Urban Roots Inc) for volunteering his time and plants to fix up the raised bed at MHS.

GRADES K - 4

THURSDAY, JUNE 9th

(Rain date: June 15th)

• The day will be divided into two sessions. K+1 will have their Field Day in the morning from 9:15 - 10:55. Grades 2 - 4 will have their Field Day in the afternoon from 12:55 - 2:35.

• Some activities will involve water, so please remind your child to wear clothes they can easily move in or get wet and SNEAKERS they can run in, plus a hat and sunglasses.

• Please consider sending an extra set of clothes and a bag to put wet clothes in just in case they need to change due to water activities.

• Also please consider applying sunscreen BEFORE your child arrives at school.

• Don’t forget to send a water bottle labeled with your child's name!

In the past, each grade level wore a specific color for Field Day. We are keeping the tradition going! Grade levels will be assigned the same colors from our Spirit Days earlier this year.

Kindergarten - Orange

Grade 1- Purple

Grade 2 - Red

Grade 3 - Green

Grade 4 - Yellow

We are looking forward to a great Field Day filled with fun, physical activity and hopefully sunshine!

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5th GRADE

Tuesday, June 14th

(Rain Date: June 16th)

Reminders:

• Wear sunscreen! You might want to bring it to reapply!

• We will be outside ALL Day!

• You may want bug spray too.

• Hats/sunglasses are OK but you are in charge of them!

• Bring your water bottle labeled with your name

• Wear comfortable gym clothes/ shorts

• Sneakers are a must!

Have fun and encourage each other!

June 1st: Panoramic Picture of 5th grade students in the WES gym ( by Geskus studios)

June 6th: 9:00-10:30 5th graders tour Overlook Middle School

June 10th: 5th grade BBQ (Chartwells Food Service)

June 13: 5th grade picnic

June 14th: 5th Grade Field Day (rain date: June 16th)

June 15th: 6:30 in the WES Cafeteria~5th Grade Promotion Night

Below is a flyer for a fundraiser supporting the Bolduc Family. Violet is a kindergartener at Meetinghouse School. In the past, our community has been able to help families via the annual ash-west benefit hockey game. That event has been discontinued and SpinFit has been kind enough to start a fundraiser with the same spirit of giving.