October 2015

I would like to take a moment to thank the many parent volunteers who came to support our Back to School Night! Whether selling directories, bringing snacks, or assisting fellow parents in locating a classroom, know that you helped make the night a success. Thank you!

Amazingly, we have gone the entire month of September without having to implement our inclement weather dismissal routine. As a friendly reminder, if there is rain or snow, parents should pick up their students in the cafeteria. The cafeteria doors will be opened at 3:00PM for easy entry from the parking lot and the cones will be set up just as they are outside.

Finally, with Halloween approaching, I would like to let our new families know that we do not allow costumes at Thoreau. Instead, we spend the Friday before Halloween, enjoying the annual Monster Madness play performed by our own 5th grade students!

Best,

Mrs. Charles

Upcoming Events

10/6 Early Release Tuesday

10/7 PTG Meeting, 9:00 AM

10/12 Columbus Day, No School

10/13 Picture Day

10/16 Book Fair Family Night

10/19 Book Fair Week

10/20 Early Release Tuesday

10/27 Early Release Tuesday

10/31 Happy Halloween!

Seeking Parent Representative for Thoreau School Advisory Council

There is one parent opening on the Thoreau School Advisory Council (SAC). The Thoreau SAC is responsible for the stewardship of the school community. This council is comprised of both parents and teachers in addition to the school principal. Parents on the Council serve for two years. The main responsibilities of the SAC are to ensure the successful completion of the School Improvement Plan and to serve as an advisory board to the school principal. The SAC is another way for parents in the school community to have a voice with representatives of the school district—namely the school principal. Meetings are once per month, on a date and time to be determined by Principal Angel Charles and the SAC committee members. All interested parents should submit a 200-word statement to the two PTG Co-Presidents, Trish Siefer and Betsy Martel (thesiefers@gmail.com and betsymartel@yahoo.com), which will be shared with the school community. All statements should be received by end of day Monday, October 5. The PTG will hold an election at the PTG meeting on October 7 in accordance with the policy of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in which the entire Thoreau parent community can vote. For more information on the role of School Councils click here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/schoolcouncils/default.html

Parent Mathematics Workshop at Thoreau

On Thursday, October 22, Laurie Link, math curriculum specialist at Thoreau, will present a parent workshop on how instruction has changed with the adoption of the Common Core State. This hands-on, minds-on workshop, will take place in the Thoreau School library from 6:30-8:00. To facilitate discussion, this workshop is limited to 20 people. For more information and to register go to:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18FIEFotBHJuLu9wTf4pr92AhvJwLpPotRj-nPMvYRTQ/edit?usp=sharing