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Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, March 23rd
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Planning meeting for first annual Walk to School Day, 9 am, Thomson cafe
North Andover Parent Teacher Organization Speaker Series presentation Worried About Your Worrier? Creating Calmer Kids in a Stressed-Out World by speaker Lynn Lyons, LICSW; 7pm; NAHS auditorium
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Friday and Saturday, March 26th and 27th
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Mother-Son Dance, North Andover High School Cafeteria
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Friday, April 2nd
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Good Friday, School Closed
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Wednesday, April 14th
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PTO Meeting, 7 pm, Thomson Cafe
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Wk. of April 19th
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Spring Vacation, School Closed
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From Mr. Gilligan
MCAS SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR GRADE 3
The grade 3 MCAS testing dates have changed from Monday 3/22 and Tuesday 3/23 to Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30. Both session 1 & 2 on March 29th and March 30th will run from 8:45- 10:30 AM. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Mission Pastable
We had a great turnout for the pasta dinner on Tuesday, March 9th. I was at the 5:00 pm seating with my son Michael, and we had a great time. The 5th graders did a tremendous job and their singing was entertaining. I also want to thank Stachey’s Pizza and owner Terry Holland for his generous donation of all the food. The parent volunteers and the 5th grade committee did a great job organizing this wonderful event.
Pennies for Patients
Student Council is once again conducting our Pennies for Patients drive. Since 1994, millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change by more than 10 million elementary, middle and high school students throughout the country. The funds, collected during a three-week period, benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am so proud of our students for participating in such a great cause. To date, Thomson has raised $849.11.
Spirit Week March 18-22
Year of the Tiger Spirit Week-Show your Thomson Spirit!
Monday - Black and Orange Day
Tuesday - Mascot Day: wear or dress like your favorite mascot
Wednesday - Wear Green Day
Thursday - Stripes Day: wear your stripes
Friday - Wild Hair Day
Thomson School Academic and Arts Night
Save Wednesday, May 19, 2010 for the Thomson School Academic and Arts Night! This night will be scheduled in 45-minute grade-level sessions to give parents and students time to share academics, music, and artwork. More information on this exciting event will be forthcoming.
Guidance
I wish to inform you that Ms. Foster will be on maternity leave from March 22nd through June 28th. She will return for the start of school in September.
We are very fortunate to have Mr. Maurice Downey as the long-term substitute in Ms. Foster’s absence. Mr. Downey is an experienced educator and is fully aware of the routines and counseling practices of our school. He will be working with Ms. Foster prior to her leave, which will greatly help to make for a smooth transition when he takes over March 22nd. Mr. Downey has been on the board of Open-Circle, a social competency program, for twelve years at Wellesley College. Additionally, he spent many years as a Principal for the Boston Public Schools in Dorchester and South Boston and also served as an Assistant Superintendent in Boston for eight years. He most recently was an elementary school principal for eight years in the Framingham Public Schools. Mr. Downey is looking forward to meeting all the Thomson families over the next few months.
We all wish Ms. Foster and her family all the best.
MCAS Breakfast Days
Grades 3, 4, and 5 will each have an MCAS breakfast day prior to one their exams. Breakfast is free and provided by the cafeteria from 8:00-8:25 am on the days listed below:
Grade 3 - Monday 3/29/10
Grade 4 - Tuesday 3/23/10
Grade 5 - Thursday 5/13/10
Reminder
The front doors by the main office remain locked until dismissal at 3:00 pm. Parents/Guardians need to wait outside for their child/children until they are dismissed. Additionally, if you are dismissing your student, it is imperative that you send a note in on the day of dismissal. To ensure our dismissal process runs smoothly, parents should not be to dismissing students between 2:40 pm – 3:00pm.
MCAS Information for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students
March 22nd marks the beginning of the 2010 MCAS for students in grades three, four and five. The March testing will be in Reading/ELA. Further testing in Math (Grades 3, 4, and 5) and Science/Technology (Grade 5) will take place in May. The MCAS has been created from the Massachusetts Frameworks to assess student knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge. The MCAS consist of tests that ask "the students to demonstrate that they can use what they have learned, rather than simply recite memorized facts".
The following chart indicates the dates for this year’s Reading and English Language Arts (ELA) testing. Please note the new dates for the Grade 3 sessions:
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March/April Administration
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Tuesday, March 23
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8:45 & 10:30
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Grade 4 Long Composition (2 Sessions)
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Wednesday, March 24
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10:15-12:15
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Grade 4 ELA (Session 1)
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Thursday, March 25
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8:45 - 10:30
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Grade 5 ELA (Session 1)
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10:15-12:15
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Grade 4 ELA (Session 2)
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Friday, March 26
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8:45 - 10:30
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Grade 5 Reading (Session 2)
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Monday, March 29
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8:45 - 10:30
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Grade 3 ELA Reading (Session 1)
ELA Reading Make-ups
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Tuesday, March 30
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8:45 - 10:30
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Grade 3 Reading (Session 2)
ELA Reading Make-ups
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Wednesday, March 31
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ELA Reading Make-up Day
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Wednesday, April 7
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Long Composition Make-up Day
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It is important that all students arrive on time and we are hoping for 100% attendance. However, in the event of an absence, make-up tests will be given. Please note that an incomplete MCAS test results in a score of “0” which impacts the school’s overall performance.
In the fall, we will receive individual and group scores for all students, and this information will be shared with you. The test results will be useful in assessing our present curriculum as it compares to the Massachusetts Frameworks.
Our students are well prepared and we know this will be a positive experience for them. Thank you for your support during this testing period. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
To view the complete MCAS schedule for this spring, visit the Principal’s Message page on the Thomson website.
Tips for the Day of the MCAS Test
· Make sure that your child is wellrested, eats breakfast and brings a healthy snack.
· See that your child arrives at schoolon time and is relaxed.
· Comfort counts. Send a sweater ifit’s a cool day. Dress in layers for awarm day.
· Encourage your child to do thebest work possible and to have apositive attitude.
· Encourage your child to listen/read carefully to all test-takingdirections and to ask questions ifany directions are unclear.
· Remind your child not to get stuckon any one item.
· Encourage your child to checkanswers for accuracy if timepermits.
2010-2011 Placement
The placement teams will be meeting before the end of June to create class assignments for students entering grades 1-5 for the 2010-2011 school year. The placement procedure is a very involved and thoughtful process. Factors we consider for placement include academic performance, achievement, gender, as well as social and personality factors. Written input from parents regarding placement for students in the fall of 2010 will be welcomed until Friday, April 23rd. Please include in your comments what you see as the learning style of your child and the class environment in which you believe he or she learns best. A request for a particular teacher cannot be accepted. Our goal is to create classes balanced academically and socially to meet each learner’s needs. Any letter stating the name of a particular teacher is disregarded and not considered for placement. Please send your letters directly to Principal Gregg Gilligan, 266 Waverly Road, for careful consideration.
PTO Updates
Speaker Series Event
On Tuesday, March 23rd at 7pm the North Andover Parent Teacher Organization Speaker Series is proud to present Worried About Your Worrier? Creating Calmer Kids in a Stressed-Out World. Speaker Lynn Lyons, LICSW, will discuss childhood anxiety and how parents can help their children manage fears and prevent anxiety. For more information check out Lynn's website lynnlyonsnh.com. The presentation will be held at the North Andover High School in the auditorium. All are welcome to attend and no advance registration is necessary. Please email questions to Kathleen Pease at thepeases@comcast.net.
Special Thanks
Thank you to Kate Rozzi for setting the Thomson School PTO up on Facebook. Check out our Facebook page - Thomson School PTO.
Thank you to all who came to the PTO meeting last Wednesday night. We appreciate all of your input.
Walk to School Day
Anyone interested in helping with the first annual Walk to School Day, please join us at a meeting on Tuesday, March 23rd at 9:00 am in the Thomson School cafe or contact Holly Breen at Hkbreen@verizon.net.
Around Town
Annual Mother-Son Dance
Surf's up for the annual Mother-Son dance! If you would like a special night with your son, come to the 2010 Mother-Son Jammin' Fun Dance. This year's event takes place on Friday, March 26th for Kindergarten - 2nd grade and Saturday, March 27th for 3rd - 5th grade at the North Andover High School Cafeteria. The theme of the dance is Surf's Up, so the attire is tropical and the atmosphere is very casual. An amazing DJ will provide the music, and there will even be a professional photographer on hand to take your picture. Tickets are $25.00 per couple or family group/per night. For more information about obtaining a ticket, contact Kim Remley at kimremley@gmail.com
Spring Father-Daughter Dance
The date for the Spring Father Daughter Dance for North Andover Kindergartners and First Graders has been confirmed by the Superintendent's office for May 1st from 6:30-8:30 PM at the North Andover Middle School. Tickets will be on sales on April 3rd or 10th (more details to follow). Below is a link to a Facebook fan page and twitter account that has been set up to help spread the word about this event.
5th Grade Dance
All 5th grade students are urged to mark their calendars to attend the first town-wide 5th Grade Dance, Friday May 14th from 7- 9 PM in the Sargent School gymnasium. Tickets will be $10 in advance, $12.00 at the door.
Destination ImagiNation
Please come to cheer on Thomson students at their Destination ImagiNation regional tournament performance on Sunday, March 21st! The tournament is at the Triton Regional High School, 112 Elm Street, Byfield, MA. The students have been working very hard throughout the year to present their solution in a public setting. The full North Andover performance schedule will be available at www.nadikids.org.
11:20 a.m. (Small Gym) – The Daring Einsteins
Family Cooperative Preschool Celebration and Auction
Family Cooperative Preschool is celebrating head teacher Deedee Roberts as she reaches her 25th anniversary milestone at the school. Join us on Saturday March 27th at 7 PM at North Andover Country Club as we commemorate this special teacher and special school. There will be silent and live auction and raffle items, passed hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar. Tickets are $40 per person and can be obtained by e-mailing familycoopauction@gmail.com.
Beyond Town
Spring Vacation Art Camp
The Essex Art Center in Lawrence offers a school vacation art camp during April vacation. It also offers classes and workshops in a variety of media for children ages three through adult, April 26th to June 18th. Join us for our Flatbread Fundraiser in Amesbury on Tuesday, May 4th from 5:00PM to 9:30PM. For every flatbread you buy EAC gets money to continue making art accessible to all! Contact us for our spring brochure or visit us at www.essexartcenter.com. For more information call 978-685-2343.
Have something you’d like to see included in Paw Prints? Please e-mail your announcement to Amy Mabley amy@mabley.com by Friday at 10 a.m. in order to have it included in the following Monday’s newsletter. Including “Paw Prints” in the e-mail subject line is helpful. Content subject to approval. Thank you. |
