Local Author Debuts at JRB

March 7, 2006

  Shilo Ann is a newly published author and lifelong resident of Massachusetts.  She began writing poetry over 20 years ago and turned her craft to children’s stories when her first child was born.  Her first two stories, “Silly the Selfish Shellfish” and “Clara the Clumsy Clam” are the first two of a series of ten stories based on moral lessons learned by her friends under the sea.

  Extra books are available for purchase during her visit if you were unable to pre-order “Silly the Selfish Shellfish” and “Clara the Clumsy Clam”.   Please send any questions to Mrs. Pultorak, whitepoet@aol.com.

From the Library

  Spring will be here in less than three weeks and our annual Spring Book Fair will be here even sooner!  In order to coincide with parent conferences, the Spring Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 14^th and end on Monday, March 20^th.  As always, your help and support in the form of purchases and volunteering would be most appreciated.  New and replacement books and other library materials used to support our curricula , or borrowed for enjoyment, have been purchased thanks to your support of our book fairs. 

Anyone who is able to volunteer to help set up on Monday afternoon, March 13th, take down on Tuesday morning, March 21st, or work at the Spring Book Fair, should call Mrs. Pinsoneault in the library at 827-5750.            Thank you!

NEWS FROM THIRD GRADE…

    The third grade classes had an interesting visitor come and join them on the Friday before vacation.  A taxidermist came and showed part of his collection of native mammals and birds.

     Mary Marro, from the Nashua River Watershed Association, also came into each classroom this month and provided the classes with a program on animal adaptations and characteristics.  Both these programs tied in with our classroom research on animals and plants in Ashburnham.  The research and knowledge we have gained were used in our classroom published books.

     The third grade classes have just finished working on their individual and classroom books.  They put a lot of hard work and effort into their creative works of art!

Thank you in advance to all who volunteered to read on Dr. Seuss Day!

Save the Date for Pumpernickel Puppets:

All preschool and kindergarten age children and their families are invited to a free performance of the Pumpernickel Puppets on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. at Meetinghouse School Cafeteria, Westminster. Come hear this well-loved puppeteer as he delights young and old with some entertaining stories.

The Westminster Cultural Council sponsors this free event. For more information please call 978-874-7312.

Attn:  5^th Grade Parents

March 14, 2006

6:15 p.m. – JRB Faculty Room

Join us for an informal meeting of any 5^th Grade parents interested in discussing the end of the year celebration for our 5^th Graders.

Kindergarten Registration

      On April 4- 6, 2006 children will be screened for hearing.  Parents are asked to call the John R. Briggs School Office, 978-827-5750, after March 13^th to make an appointment for one of these days.  At this time parents will complete forms for registering their child for kindergarten September 2006. 

      Parents of children in Ashburnham may call the Special Education Office, 978-874-6170 to make a separate appointment for screening of any three or four year olds that they feel may have a disability.

AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Updated information…

·      March 6          No School – No Program

·      March 7 – 10  Last Week of Enrichment Program

·      March 15 & 16 Early Release – PT Confer.

* Instructors will notify parents regarding rescheduled classes. 

Read Across America – March 3^rd

On Friday, March 3, 2006, our school will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by sponsoring a community reading day.  We are asking all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbors to consider taking an active role by volunteering to read to a child or group of children at our school. If you can spend a few minutes in our school reading to our children, please complete the form attached to last week’s Briggs-At-Large or contact Andrea McGrath at ahill@awrsd.org for additional information.

Overlook Middle School Principal Search

For the past three months, an Overlook Principal Search Team has been conducting a search for Overlook’s next principal.  Principal J. Michael Sunderland will be retiring at the end of the school year after 11 years of service to our district.

The three finalists for this position will be visiting Overlook on the following dates:

Tuesday, March 7 – Brenda Houle

Wednesday, March 8 – Sandra Rehler

Thursday, March 9 – Mark Pellegrino

Parents and community members are welcome to meet and visit with the candidates each day in the Overlook Library.  The meeting times are 12:45-1:15 p.m. and 2:15- 3:00 p.m. 

Fourth and fifth grade parents may want to have some input in this selection process.

Thank you to all who made donations or purchased Daffodils from the American Cancer Society. By supporting this campaign, we bring hope to cancer patients and their families.

This year, $424 was collected and sent to The American Cancer Society.  The Daffodils will arrive during the week of March 20^th.                 Rose Lawrence

Help Wanted…

The Food Service Department of the AWRSD is looking for substitute school cafeteria workers. 

GREAT MOTHER’S HOURS!!!

If interested, please call Vic Pulnik, Food Service Director (978-827-7320) or pick up an application at the Superintendent’s Office at Oakmont Regional High School.

Indoor Flea Market

Vendors…Guests Wanted!

First Congregational Church

Westminster, MA         Saturday, March 4, 2006

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Tables available…$15/space

Contact:  Karen Brighenti, 978-874-0632

The Responsive Home

A program for parents of young children

Presented by Spencer Riley

Join us at no cost for this popular series and find out:

·          How to help children develop the social skills of cooperation, responsibility, empathy, assertion, and self control

·          How to hold family meetings, and other strategies to build healthy family relationships

·          How child development affects behavior

·          How to communicate effectively with children

March 10-May 16, 2006

Tuesday, 5:30 – 8:00 pm – 8 weeks

Reingold Elementary School Library

70 Reingold Ave., Fitchburg, MA

Free on-site childcare and refreshments are available.

To register or for more information about other parenting programs call:

Early Childhood Dept./Community Partnership Program, 978-353-6727.

Reminder from our Food Service Director

  Just a reminder from the Food Service Department that if a family is having a hard time paying for your child’s lunches due to a family emergency (for example; job layoff, medical hardship, etc.) applications forms are available for free and reduced lunches at each school or by contacting Victor Pulnik, Food Service Director at 978-874-7320.

5^th Grade Parents---------

Your children will be having posture screening starting March 7^th.  Ask your children about the information they were given today.  If you have any questions, please call Rose Lawrence at 978-827-5750.

Briggs Web Page

You can find the Briggs At Large newsletter, PTO meeting minutes, and other important school announcements at the school's web site. Our address is: www.awrsd.org/jrb.