Swasey Central School Family Newsletter

Swasey Central School Family Newsletter
Ron W Kew, Principal
June 2013
http://scs.sau16.org
Dear SCS Families,
I’ve sincerely enjoyed my first year as principal at Swasey. The
school is special for many reasons. The students come to school
ready to learn. Parents encourage their learning and participate.
The staff here is amazing. They care so much for each child and
provide the academic support each student needs to be successful. I look forward to the
future. The summer will bring a vacation for students and staff, however the office will be
open and we are glad to help you with anything you need for the upcoming year. Please expect
a letter in August welcoming your child back to school, which will include classroom teacher
information. We bid our fifth graders good luck as they move on to the middle school. They
will be missed and we look forward to honoring them at our annual Celebration Ceremony next
Wed. night. It’s an honor to work with your children and this excellent school staff. Thanks
for your encouragement and your partnership! Best wishes!!
As always,
What’s the Buzz?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
June 12-Grade 4 and 5 Chorus Concert 6:30pm
June 13-Incoming Kindergarten visits
June 14-Grade 2 –New England Aquarium Trip
June 14-Race and Jump Into Summer-PFG Family Event-3:305:30
June 17-Swasey Shindig/ Kindergarten Discovery Day
June 18-Grade 4-UNH trip
June 19-5th Grade Celebration-6:30pm
June 20-School Picnic/ Last Day of School for students
HAWK HIGHLIGHTS
• Race and Jump Into Summer Celebration: Join us for an end of the year family event. June 14th from 3:30-­‐5:30pm. Bouncy obstacle course, concessions, games. We hope to see you there. • Last Day of School Picnic-­‐ Students will enjoy a delicious cookout on the last day of school. Mrs. Heath will show me the ropes on the grill. I can’t thank Mrs. Heath enough for her hard work, dedication and the unique flavor she brings to Swasey School. She is truly special. • Students will also get an opportunity to visit with next year’s grade level teachers during our Fly Up time on the last day. • A Note From Mrs. Mayo-­‐ Dear Swasey Families, Thank you for all your support these last few years. It has been a privilege to teach here. The Swasey community has given me many opportunities, and I have learned so much from the staff here. They have made me a better teacher than when I started. I have truly enjoyed having your children in class and getting to know so many of you. You are part of what makes Swasey so special. Sincerely, Sue Mayo •
All Call for Library Books!
Please check with your students to make sure they have returned all of their books to the library. We are no longer checking out books due to the end of the year inventory. Help us limit sending overdue notices by getting any books back right away! During the last library classes we will check out the Swasey Summer Site and have a book swap to kick off vacation with a good read. Be sure to check the site often for updates. http://swaseysummersite.blogspot.com/ • Kindergarten Committee Website This past year the Swasey School community formed a committee to research extended day/ full day kindergarten. Information, meeting minutes and resources collected by this committee are available at https://sites.google.com/a/sau16.org/scs-­‐full-­‐day-­‐k-­‐
committee/ The committee will be making a recommendation to our school board in the fall regarding a proposal. Be sure to provide us information about the process by filling out the following survey online. http://bit.ly/scsksurvey
JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH
Curriculum Corner
June 2013
Curriculum Corner
Keyboarding anyone...
As the expectations increase to use technology in completing
assignments, creating projects, and taking assessments, it
important for our children to have multiple opportunities in
practicing keyboarding skills so that they are proficient in the
use of computers. Here is a list of online sites that offer free
keyboarding tutorials in a fun and engaging way.
Dance mat typing http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
Typer Shark - http://games.yahoo.com/game/typershark-applet.html
Free Typing Lessons:
http://www.freetypinggame.net/free-typing-lesson.asp
Touch Typing Study: http://www.typingstudy.com/
Sharon Creech is the bestselling
author of many fine, fine books for
kids and teens, including the Newbery
Medal-winning Walk Two Moons, and a
Newbery Honor Book, The Wanderer.
Wonderfully clever touches by the
illustrator, award-winning New
Yorker cartoonist and cover artist
Harry Bliss, include signs in the
cafeteria ("Why not study while you
chew?") and the priceless expressions
on students' and teachers' faces as
Principal Keene announces yet another
plan to increase school daze.
Wonderful! (Ages 6 to 10) --Emilie
Coulter –
(SCS staff will be performing an
adapted skit from the book at next
week’s Shindig! Thanks to the staff
and to Mrs. Bradley for her creativity.)
Summer Reading...
Swasey will have a summer reading blog that all students will
have access to. It will include book suggestions, by grade
level, as well as a place to post what you are reading and
share pictures of fun summer reading spots. Students will
have access on the main home page. The Mary E. Bartlett
Library also has a summer reading program “Dig Into
Reading”. They have planned many fun activities. More
detailed information has been sent out in Wednesday folders.
Summer Reading Tips for Parents...
Studies show that some students experience a loss of reading
skills over the summer months, but children who continue to
read actually gain skills. The following are a few tips to make
summer reading enjoyable for your children:
• Read aloud together with your children every day (at
the beach or park).
• Let kids choose what they want to read.
• Take your children to the library regularly.
• Engage in vocabulary building activities like cooking,
gardening, grocery shopping, and playing games.
• When taking a road trip, listen to stories on CD and
have conversations about them. Ask your children to
read traffic signs and billboards.
• Schedule family reading time when the TV is turned
off and everyone is reading something enjoyable.
Have a Sensational Summer,
Laura Yacek
Curriculum Coordinator
https://sites.google.com/a/sau16.org/mrs-yacek--curriculum-coordinator/
KEY
[ ]
( )
BOLD
<>
Teacher In-service
Holiday/No School
Vacation
Early Release, 1:00 p.m.
BRENTWOOD SCHOOL CALENDAR 2013-2014
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
[21]
26
27
28
(2)
3
4
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
30
Aug. 21- 23
Aug. 26
Sep. 2
[22]
29
5
12
19
26
Teacher In-Service-No School
School Opens
Labor Day-No School
OCTOBER 2013
7
(14)
21
28
25 Days
[23]
30
6
13
20
27
1
8
15
22
29
Oct. 14
Oct. 25
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
22 Days
4
11
18
25
FEBRUARY 2014
3
4
10
11
17
18
24
25
Feb. 24-28
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Winter Break-No School
MARCH 2014
3
4
10
11
17
18
24
25
31
Mar. 14
Mar. 21
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Teacher In-Service-No School
Quarter Ends
APRIL 2014
5
12
19
26
Nov. 6 & 13
Nov. 8
Nov. 11
Nov. 27-29
<6>
<13>
20
27
7
14
21
28
16 Days
1
[8]
15
22
29
Early Release/Parent Conference
Teacher In-Service-No School
Veteran's Day-No School
Thanksgiving Break-No School
1
8
15
22
29
7
14
21
28
Apr. 2 & 16
Apr. 21-25
<2>
9
<16>
23
30
3
10
17
24
Dec. 23-31
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
Holiday Break-No School
JANUARY 2014
Jan. 1
Jan. 17
Jan. 20
15 Days
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
21 Days
3
10
17
24
31
New Year's Day-No School
Quarter Ends
MLK Day-No School
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
May 7
May 26
JUNE 2014
2
9
16
June 11
June 12
17 Days
4
11
18
25
Early Release/Parent Conference
Spring Break-No School
MAY 2014
DECEMBER 2013
2
3
9
10
16
17
23
24
30
31
6
13
(20)
27
20 Days
7
[14]
21
28
Columbus Day-No School
Quarter Ends
NOVEMBER 2013
4
11
18
25
15 Days
7
14
21
28
<7>
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
21 Days
2
9
16
23
30
Early Release-Teacher In-Service
Memorial Day-No School
3
10
17
4
11**
18
5
[12]
19
8 Days
6
13
20
Last Day of School
Teacher In-Service-No School
**Snow make-up days will be added if needed