This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Top 10 Highlights of SY 2016-2017:
  1. We have 5 staff moving on to retirement this year, Sue Trotz, Florine Cooper, Lucy Torrejon, Layla Hijab Cable and Elizabeth Delgado Prieto. These women have worked incredibly hard to support our students and community for many years. We wish you all a long and healthy retirement!
  2. We began the school year with a full time music teacher and budgeted for two full time music teachers next year. This was a successful first year of music because of a large donation to our music program from Ernie Boch Jr. and the Music Drives Us Foundation.
  3. Back in October we had a visit from Chelsea Clinton who worked with our middle school students and talked with them around the importance of service learning.
  4. The Climate Team led an initiative to transform our hallways. Bulletin Boards were purchased for each teacher and student worked filled our hallways and celebrated student success.
  5. Thanks to the SPC we were able to increased Technology throughout our building. We have a total of 16 Chromebook carts that are used daily by our students!
  6. Our PACE team helped us to revive the use of our auditorium by hosting Movie Nights! Students loved eating popcorn, sipping water and watching a favorite film after hours with friends and family.
  7. This spring we hosted our 1st Annual LGBTQA Picnic on the playing field. It was a beautiful evening filled with fun and friends. We look forward to more opportunities to celebrate the diversity of our community.
  8. We were chosen to participate in the Excellence For All (EFA) initiative next year as part of Dr. Chang’s 100-Day Plan. We created a collaborative process between families and teachers to assure that our students will all have opportunities to learn about complex ideas.
  9. As a way to make our large school feel more like a K-8 the School Climate Team presented a plan to have upper grade teachers “buddy” with a lower grade teacher. These Big/Little Buddies attended Curley Shares together monthly and found ways to build relationships across the school this year.
  10. And the number one highlight of SY 2015-2016 was our participation in the Wake Up The Earth Parade. It was a beautiful moment to march down Centre Street with approximately 100 Curley staff, students and families. We are thankful to have a strong arts program and the support of families who helped our students create the Flying Lion float! Thank you to all who made this possible!
      
• Curley After School Program (CASP): The last day of CASP will be Wednesday, June 22nd.
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony: The 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 22nd at 10:30am in the auditorium. Due to limited seating all students will receive three tickets to invite guests.
• Last Day of School: As per tradition the last two days of school will be half days Thursday, June 23rd and the last day of school will be Friday, June 24th. On Thursday, June 24th we are asking families to not use the outdoor area after dismissal. We are hosting a fun event to thank our teachers that will take place outside. Thank you for your understanding.
• SY 2016-2017: Mark your calendars because the first day of school will be Thursday, September 8th for 1st-8th grade students and Monday, September 12th for K0/K1/K2. This is a change from the traditional start to school. See you soon!
• Book Swap Thanks: Thank you to all the families who donated books and/or their time to support our Summer Book Swap on Friday. All students took home two books that were “new to them.”
• Summer Reading: TAKE THE PLEDGE! All young people experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities during the summer. Reading is one of the best ways to minimize summer slide. This year we’re asking all students at the Curley to take a pledge to read over the summer. We are partnering with the Boston Public Library (BPL) to assure that you are aware of activities that promote reading as an important part of summer fun. Students who keep the pledge to read over the summer will be recognized as a “Reader Leader” in the fall, if they provide a short summary of a favorite book selection. In addition to our “Take the Pledge” initiative, students entering grades 4 through 8 will be required to read one book over the summer, in conjunction with the Boston Public Library. Please contact Caitlyn Gable (Grade K-2) cmcsheffrey@bostonpublicschools.org or Eileen Cronin (Grades 3-8) ecronin@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions regarding the Curley’s summer reading initiative.
• Free Summer Opportunity: The ReadBoston summer Storymobile is coming to a location near you! From July 11 to August 19 audiences will be treated to an interactive storytelling experience and every child gets a new book to take home. The program is best suited for kids ages 3-8 years old. View the 2016 Storymobile schedule!
• Upcoming End of Year Events: SAVE THE DATE:
  • Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony & Field Day on Monday, June 20th
  • K2 Moving On Ceremony on Tuesday, June 21st 8:45am-9:30am
  • K1 Moving On Ceremony on Tuesday, June 21st from 1pm-2pm
  • Grade 8 Moving on Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22nd at 10:30am attendees must have a ticket to attend, limited seating
  • Half Day (12:30 Dismissal) on Thursday, June 23rd
  • Half Day (12:30 Dismissal) on Friday, June 24th LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• Thank you: I would like to thank all the families for helping me during my 3rd year as principal. The support of the Curley families and JP community makes my job as a principal more enjoyable. Our students all benefit from your generosity and your time is greatly appreciated. I look forward to strengthening our collaboration next year.

  HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!