Music Notes

This year, so far, has seen 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th graders playing recorders!  If you haven’t yet seen your child’s recorder at home, you will soon.  The recorder is a small relative of other wind instruments, such as clarinet, flute, and saxophone.  Once kids become acclimated with their recorder, they can convey the skills learned to the other band instruments more readily.  FYI, there are several important recorder playing details that you can support at home that all kids should remember and be practicing…

1) LEFT HAND ALWAYS AT THE TOP!! 

2) Blow softly, as to prevent squeaking and unnecessary volume;  3)  keep fingers squeezed tightly over the covered holes! 4) KEEP RECORDERS IN BACKPACKS AT ALL TIMES!! This will ensure that your child will not be left without a recorder to play should it be needed for class; and 5) PRACTICE!! It would be very helpful to your child’s musical development to encourage practice and experimentation on this simple instrument.  These tips should help your home recorder player play sweet melodies that will fill your house with music!

Also, several 2^nd grade classes have made maracas in music class!  The remaining classes will do them soon.  Keep a look out for these colorful Latin music instruments … coming to a home near you!   Thank you greatly, once again, to all families who donated their invaluable paper towel rolls to the above project.  This proves the old saying to be true… “Ask, and thou shall receive!” 

1^st graders have been learning to identify all of the strange musical instruments that they’ve seen around; and 5^th graders have been learning to identify and recognize the various styles of Western music, such as classical, the blues, jazz, country and western, early rock and roll, and many others styles.  They’ve probably come home complaining that they’ve been tortured by “Mr. Seager’s weird music.”  Just tell them it’s the music of the world!

Let the music in our hearts play on!!    Mr. Seager

Community Survey

  Soon you will receive a copy of a Community Survey enclosed in your monthly Ashburnham Municipal Light statement.  The J. R. Briggs Building Assessment Committee has created this survey to measure public awareness of current conditions at the J. R. Briggs Elementary School and to evaluate public opinion regarding the future renovation or replacement of the building.

  You may send this survey with your electric payment to the Ashburnham Light Plant, mail separately to the Superintendent of Schools (11 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham), or drop off at one of the following locations:  Town Hall, Ashburnham Marketplace, Ashburnham Hardware, Ashburnham Wine and Spirits, Steven’s Public Library, the Ashburnham Senior center, or the J. R. Briggs School.

  A tour of J. R. Briggs School is available on

• Friday, November 4^th, 10:00 a.m.

  A Public Forum will also be held at the J. R. Briggs School on November 30^th at 6:30 p.m.  There will be an opportunity for a question and answer period during this presentation, as well as an additional tour of the building.

The Briggs Chorus

from Mrs. Bollous

The Briggs Chorus has been practicing very hard for the Holiday Concert.  Practices are still Wednesday afternoons after school.   A major component of chorus is memorizing the many lyrics to the songs.   If parents could encourage their children to practice singing the songs at home, that would be very helpful.  Also, please encourage your children to always bring their chorus folders to chorus, in order to minimize lost of rehearsal time.  Lastly, there are still several slots available for private vocal lessons.  Please leave a message at the office if you’d like more details!

W.A.V.E.

Westminster Ashburnham Value Education

ARTISAN’S FAIR

Saturday, November 12, 2005

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A variety of artisans, a perfect opportunity for HOLIDAY shopping!

Art, Pottery, Textiles, Jewelry, Primitives, and Much More!!

Music, food and refreshments!!!

Westminster Elementary School

1 Academy Street

Westminster, MA

Free Admission

  W.A.V.E. is a non-profit organization with the purpose of promoting and enhancing educational opportunities in Ashburnham and Westminster.

  Consider becoming a member of our group for more information; contact – Mary Durkee, 978-827-4522.

PTO

The JRB – PTO wants to thank everyone who sent in candy to be used in this year’s goodie bags.  Your donations were greatly appreciated.  Also, we want to thank everyone who stayed after our last meeting to make the 500 goodie bags.

It’s Grade Level Basket Raffle Time

This year’s themes are:

Kindergarten:  Arts and Crafts

1^st Grade:  Scrap Booking

2^nd Grade:  Automobile Travel

3^rd Grade:  Mama Mia that’s Italian

4^th Grade:  A Touch of Chocolate

5^th Grade:  Bath, Body and Spa

Specialist:  Snow Day

If you wish to participate, please send in one item for your child’s grade level and/or specialist theme basket by Wednesday, Nov. 23^rd.  Remember, all monies earned in this raffle go directly to the grade level teams. 

Thank you for your support!

Box Top for Education

  From now until Dec. 31^st, our school can earn an extra 50 cents for each new person who joins the Box Tops Booster Club.  All you have to do is sign up at www.boxtops4education.com

TARGET – “Take charge of Education”

  Sign up for a Target Visa RedCard.  Target will donate 1% to our school.  Visit:  www.Target.com and designate JRB – VMS School. 

Holly Berry Fair

Saturday, November 19^th

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

First Congregational Church

Main Street, Westminster, MA

Coffee Shop – Corn Chowder Luncheon

LUNCH BUNCH…returning for a 3^rd year to a cafeteria near you!

  Yes, back by popular demand, Lunch Bunch will begin on Friday, Nov. 4^th.  Lunch Bunch is like going out to lunch at school.  Each teacher will send three volunteers from their classroom to the designated Lunch Bunch room (not the school cafeteria) to have lunch with Mrs. Horgan (parent volunteer).  We talk about our week at school, what we might do on the weekend, and learn to manage our time so that we can eat all or most of our lunch in the appropriate time.  We have lots of fun listening to music, talking, and of course eating.  We are looking forward to another successful year with Lunch Bunch!

Recycled Printer Cartridge Update

Many thanks to all parents, students and teachers who have brought in their empty ink jet printer cartridges. Last year, we earned over $500 for the school! The money was used to purchase digital video cameras for student use and chairs for the computer lab. Keep those cartridges coming!  Remember, any ink jet cartridge with a print head qualifies. That includes most of the Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Compaq, Canon and Apple cartridges. Ink jet cartridges without a print head are accepted for recycle, not payment. That includes mostly Epson cartridges. We do not accept laser printer cartridges. Thanks again for your support!

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.

Mrs. Davis & Mrs. Pinsoneault
Technology Teachers

Project Connect

“Self-Esteem Building Strategies with Children”

With George Bozicas, Ph. D.

Monday November 7, 2005

Overlook Middle School Team Room

3:30-5:30 p.m. for Education and Child Care Professionals

7:00-9:00 p.m. for Parents and Child Care Professionals

Free to the public—No registration required

For more information call: 978-874-7312