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Upcoming Events
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Wednesday, January 27th
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Presentation for 5th Grade Parents Regarding Puberty, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, Atkinson School Cafe
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Thursday, January 28th
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Early Release Day, 11:50 am
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Friday, January 29th
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Kindergarten report cards distributed
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Saturday, February 6th
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2nd and 3rd Grade Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, 6:30 to 9:30 pm, Middle School Cafe
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Tuesday, February 9th
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NAPAC presentation Preparing for Transition to Middle School, High School and Beyond, 7-9 pm, NAHS Library
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Wednesday, February 10th
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PTO Meeting, 7 pm, Thomson Cafe
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Week of February 14th
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Winter Vacation – School Closed
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From Mr. Gilligan
School-wide Assembly last Friday
We had a great school-wide assembly on Friday the 22nd and I would like to thank our special guest speaker, UMASS-Lowell Head Basketball Coach Greg Herenda. Coach Herenda addressed the student body on the importance of listening and working hard. He also donated two summer camp scholarships to Thomson students.
Reminder for 5th Grade Parents: Fifth Grade Growth and Development Unit
Dear Parents/Guardians of Fifth Grade Students,
As part of the fifth grade health initiative, the school nurses teach the “Growing Up” and “Staying Healthy” units in the spring of the fifth grade school year. The school nurses, in conjunction with the teachers and principals, may choose to schedule these two classes any time between now and the end of the school year. In addition to this information, you will receive notification from the individual school regarding the dates of the classes, so you are aware when your child receives this information.
The “Growing Up” unit presents information addressing the issues of puberty and the bodily changes that occur during adolescence. These classes will be separated by gender. The students view a short video called “Just Around the Corner for Girls” or “Just Around the Corner for Boys”. The videos target changes for that particular sex, not both genders. Though some discussion may ensue during the class period regarding the changes the opposite sex is experiencing, the discussion is steered toward the emotional and obvious physical changes, such as body shape and deepening voices.
The “Staying Healthy” unit includes information regarding the immune system and communicable diseases. We will be showing the students a video entitled, “The Immune System: Our Internal Defender”. It discusses the immune system, and briefly explains how communicable diseases are transmitted.
In accordance with General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 32A, the North Andover School Committee has adopted a policy on the rights of parents and guardians of our students in relation to curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues. This policy requires schools to inform parents of course materials that deal with human sexual education.
You (5th grade parents only) are invited to attend a parent-only presentation at the Atkinson School on Wednesday, January 27th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the school’s cafeteria. In the event of snow, this presentation will be postponed until Wednesday, February 3rd. At that time, you will have the opportunity to view the videos addressing puberty and communicable disease. Following the presentation, the school nurses will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding these two units.
Although we feel every child should receive education in these areas while in grade five, we recognize that you may feel otherwise. You may exempt your child from any portion of the curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education. To receive an exemption, please send your request in the form of a letter, to the building principal. No student who is exempted will be penalized. We may provide an alternative assignment for students who are exempted.
We feel both units present age appropriate information. We look forward to working with you to ensure that your child has a positive and educationally enriching experience this school year. If you have any content or format questions regarding these health units, prior to or after the presentation, please contact Nurse Kathy ONeill at 978-794-1545 or Head Nurse Cheryl Barczak, at 978-794-1711 ext. 51054.
PTO Updates
Father/Daughter Dances
Winter Jubilee
Thank you to all who supported the Thomson School on Saturday evening. The Father/Daughter Winter Jubilee was a great success. We hope you all had a blast. Thanks to all the volunteers and bakers - the evening would not have been the same if it were not for you.
Ticket Sales – NOT AVAILABLE at the DOOR
There is a limited number of Father-Daughter Valentine Dance tickets available. Tickets will not be sold at the door. If you missed the tickets sales, please contact Holly Breen at hkbreen@verizon.net or Kelley Plodzik at gkplodzik@comcast.net. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bakers Wanted!
If you are willing to bake some nut-free goodies for our refreshment tables at the Valentine Dance, please contact Molly Fowler at rmfowler1@verizon.net or 978-688-6288. She will need to know what you will bake. The baked goods can be dropped off at the middle school from 1-4pm on the day of the dance.
NAPAC NEWS
On Tuesday, February 9th, NAPAC (The North Andover Parent Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs)will present: "PREPARING FOR TRANSITION to Middle School, High School and Beyond”. We will welcome Special Education Director Joyce Laundre along with several representatives from the Middle and High School who will explain what programs/classrooms/resources are available at these schools, and what parents should prepare ahead for as our kids approach a building/school transition.
We will also welcome Special Needs attorney Elaine Cockroft who will explain the ins and outs of the post-age of 18 issues such as guardianship, transitioning to various agencies, special needs trusts, etc. We will present a parent’s perspective on these complicated post-18 issues, followed by an informal Q&A between parents to share our experiences.
Our meeting will be held in the North Andover High School Library from 7-9pm. We hope you will join us for a very informative evening.
Yearbook Photos Needed!
Theresa Regan looking for photos of students grades K-5 participating in Thomson School activities.If you would like to see your child in the Thomson School yearbook, please submitprinted photos (NO CD'S PLEASE!!) with the name of your child and classroom number writtenon the back. All photos may be dropped off at the office to Theresa’s attention, no later than February 26th.
If you have any questions, please contact Theresa at 978-681-0994 or dtbregan@comcast.net. We look forward to seeing all the great pictures for this year!!
Around Town
5th Grade Movie Night
SAVE THE DATE!! 5TH Grade Movie Night will be held on Friday, February 26th, brought to you by The Kittredge School. Details will follow soon....
Second Annual Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center Auction
Don't miss the event that sold out last year! Help us celebrate 20+ years of volunteerism at the 2nd annual Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center auction on Saturday, February 27th. Enjoy a night out with good friends and fun with restaurant tastings, live and silent auctions, and dancing provided by Jimmy Carter. Tickets are now available online at nayouth.com.
Reduce your energy use in 2010
Come watch an hour-long movie and learn easy ways to reduce your energy use hosted by the North Andover Sustainability Committee. Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-EnergizeAmerica by Jeff Barrie is the best energy film on the market. No wonder this independent documentary has spawned a nationwide movement to conserve energy. It’s a brilliant, humorous, extremely accessible energy film.
Kilowatt Ours takes you on an educational journey into energy use and consumption. It will inspire you to make changes and provide tools and techniques to achieve them. This award-winning film traces where some energy comes from and shows us the consequences of unbridled and unwise energy consumption.
Jarred by Vice President Dick Cheney’s chilling assessment in May 2001 that “between 1300 and 1900 new power plants would need to be built over the next decade just to maintain our current energy consumption,” filmmaker Jeff Barrie set out to assess the problem himself. He wanted to find alternative solutions to a massive build up of coal-fired and nuclear power plants. His journey across the country uncovered a host of opportunities to reduce our energy usage and to use renewable energy instead of fossil fuel sources… to the point where new power plants no longer needed to be built. In fact, some existing “dirty” power plants can now be taken off line.
After the film, there will be a Q&A session, opportunities to speak with a National Grid representative and buy a CFL light bulb to support North Andover’s Green Teams. Light refreshments will be served. Come get inspired to make a difference! See show time and venues below:
Library
Monday, January 25th at 7:00 PM
Senior Center
Wednesday, January 27th at 1:00PM
North Parish Church Hall
Sunday, January 31st @ 3:00PM
NABC Girls Softball Registration
The North Andover Booster Club has registrations open for Girls Softball Grades 1-8 through 2/28/2010. Register early to avoid late fees. Please see the NABC website, www.eteamz.com/nabc, for more information and to register.
Beyond Town
Essex Art Center School in Lawrence Offers School Vacation Art Camps
Register for School Vacation Art Camps for ages 5-6, 7-10, and 10+ in February and April. Check out our Saturday Workshops for children and adults at www.essexartcenter.org
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.
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