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J. R. Briggs Elementary School Briggs At Large Newsletter The Voice of John R. Briggs Elementary School “Educating for Success, Now and in the Future” October 5, 2006 Volume 25, Issue 5 |
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OCTOBER 6 No School 9 No School 11 PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm 16 Picture Day 31 Trick or Treat, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
No School Columbus Day Morning Drop-off Please remember that if you are dropping your child off for school in the morning that he/she should not be left unattended in the lobby. The children are allowed to go to their classrooms at 8:20 so if you are at school prior to this time please wait with your child in the lobby. For safety reasons, any child in the lobby without a parent/guardian before 8:20 will be sent to Extended Day. Families requiring childcare prior to 8:20 a.m., please make arrangements with Extended Day (978-827-1412). Thank you for your help and cooperation regarding this matter! LOST AND FOUND COLLECTION IS GROWING IN THE LOBBY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND LABEL ITEMS. Free and Reduced Lunch Application This is a reminder from the Food Service Department that the deadline for 2006-2007 applications for Free and Reduced Meals is rapidly approaching. Remember although you were on the list last year that does not mean you are automatically on it again this year. Every year you must reapply. Please send in any applications by October 15, 2006 for considerations. Applications are available in the school office or by call Food Service Department at 978-874-7320. Any questions, please contact Vic Pulnik at the above telephone number. Don’t Forget… Please notify the school if your child will be absent. We would also like to offer parents the option of emailing our school nurse, Mrs. Lawrence directly to report an absence, rlawrence@awrsd.org or call the school office (978-827-5750). TOYS Toys in school are a problem. If toys are sent in with your child, they must be limited to use during recess. We cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items. Please help us monitor what is brought into school. Fire Safety The Ashburnham Fire Department will be visiting all grade levels and presenting fire safety tips during the week of October 10th. Please ask your child what they learned regarding keeping their family safe in case of a fire emergency. Halloween Safety Officer Ahearn will also be discussing Halloween Safety. He will present safe Trick or Treating tips to students in Grade K – 3, at the end of the month.Extended Day Our Extended Day Program offers child care 6:30 am – 6:00 pm throughout the school year. 827-1412. PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST Grades K – 5 9:00 am – 2:50 pm, Monday, October 30th J. R. Briggs Lobby Show your creativity and imagination by participating in this event! Decorate a pumpkin at home and bring it to school on Oct. 30th for the day of the contest. The theme and materials you choose for your pumpkin are up to you! Please attach your name and class to the pumpkin. Pumpkins will be displayed by grade level, and viewed by classes during the day. Pumpkins will go home at the end of the day. Have fun decorating and good luck! If anyone has a question, see Mrs. Richard. School Security Please be assured that we are working diligently to ensure the safety of all students and staff at John R. Briggs School. During school hours visitors must enter through the front entrance and be “buzzed in”. A camera monitoring system displays visitors entering our school. After school hours, we ask visitors to enter through the Extended Day entrance at the end of the bus ramp. This area is supervised by adults while students are in session. Please sign in at the office area to state the reason of your visit. AWRSD Health Advisory Council The Health Council has been working on protocols for our newly adopted Wellness Policy. Our next meeting is Oct. 18th, at Meetinghouse School Library in Westminster at 3:30 pm. We welcome teachers, parents and community members to our meetings. Call: M. Sharkey, 978-874-0163. Music News BAND: Grades 3 – 5 Beginner Band begins Friday, Oct. 13th…bring your instrument. CHORUS: Grades 3 - 5 Wednesdays after school, 3:00 – 3:45. Select chorus starting soon Counselor’s Corner As you know, Officer Ahearn and I have visited each classroom over the past few weeks to discus the topic of bullying. Staff and students have been active participants in helping to create a bully-free environment; Engaging in classroom discussion, raising thoughtful questions and concerns, role playing hypothetical situations, and taking part in signing the Bully Control Zone contracts. Signed contracts hang in each classroom as well as in a JRB school-wide display. Feel free to stop by and check it out! During Open House, many students stopped to show their family members where their classroom contract and name was place on Bully Control Zone display. This led to inquiries about what kinds of discussions and activities were taking place in the classroom. In addition to classroom teachers facilitating discussion around this topic, Officer Ahearn and I spent time discussing the different types of bullying (verbal, physical, emotional) as well as the different “players” (victim, bully, and bystander), and brainstormed ideas around concepts such as: What does bullying mean?, Bullying vs. teasing-what to do/say in each situation, Who can be a bully?, Who can get bullied?, Empathy- putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, Communication, Taking responsibility and Good citizenship- what bystanders can do. All students in grades K-5 shared assignments they were given by Jason Kallio-guest speaker from the Say It With Magic – Vanish Bullying program. Finally, students took part in role plays which included a bully, a victim, and a bystander(s), acting out a scenario and several possible outcomes. Thanks to all students who participated in the role plays in such a serious and mature manner. We had quite a few very good actors and actresses!During upcoming weeks, the Briggs at Large will be featuring some thoughtful responses to this topic which students shared either through discussion or assignments. Lauren Badolato JRB Sch. Adj. Counselor PTO News · Don’t forget to order your tickets for the Parent-Teacher Night Out, Nov. 3rd. Next meeting: October 11th We will be filling treat bags and could use many hands.
The PTO is seeking donations of treats to be used in this year’s Halloween Goody Bags. We will be accepting donations from now until Tuesday, Oct. 10th. Please send in your bags of treats marked “PTO” with your children to the school office. Thank you for your support. Current 5th Graders Parents please check with your child regarding the re-imbursement check from the cancelled 4th grade field trip to Barton Cove River Trip. Contact Kathi Theriault, if you have a question (978) 827-5750.
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