The outstanding 5th Grade Company Headshots seen in the above banner were taken by Curley parent Maria Barletta. (Want your own?  Come to the Curley Silent Auction live event TONIGHT and bid on Maria’s family portrait item.)

In a one morning only performance our Kindergarten took to the stage last Friday, and while many of the almost 200 actresses and actors were making their debut in the Curley spotlight, they had an experienced 5th Grade Company behind them.  Fifth grade students filled roles from lighting and sound to working with Visual Arts instructors Rose Igoe & Anna Youman on the amazing set.  The fifth grade narrators were so enthusiastic that they stole the limelight from our parent narrators.  (Thanks for being with us in rehearsals and being prepared to read: Ann Connolly, Katie Connolly, Deidre Day, and Jessica London-Rand.)  Under the direction of our dedicated Dance Educator and CAD director Kim Taylor Knight, nothing could stop the cars from honking, the bikes from swerving, or the ducks from waddling.  Not even Curley crossing guard Leslie, who made a special guest appearance to thunderous applause after the final scene.

Truly a terrific school-wide effort, as parents (Dana, Michelle, Jocelyn, Jenny, and Aleah) worked together to turn over 30 cereal boxes into 127 duck bills, hauled a 10 ft ladder in to prepare our stage (thanks Tom Stenquist!), made an outstanding playbill (Dave Hamilton), and with some quick coordination from Principal Grassa, Curley custodian John Riley even gave us a fresh coat of paint where  (and when) we needed it most!  Thank you to all the 4th and 5th grade students who were inspiring role models for our younger thespians and thanks to all of our teachers for finding time to allow students to rehearse.

You won’t want to miss, Movement & Metaphor – Poetry in Dance, featuring 1st & 2nd Grade at 9 AM in the Upper School Auditorium on Thursday, April 16th (followed by the Curley Annual Art Show at 5:30 PM that same night).

The 8th Annual Curley K-8 School Annual Silent Auction is happening THIS Tuesday, March 24th 6-9 pm at Canary Square, 435 South Huntington Avenue, in Jamaica Plain.

This year we have an unparalleled selection of great items, with food and wine, trips, Sox tickets, artwork, computer services, and much more.

Please join us for a fun, adults-only evening. Childcare, including dinner, is available at the Curley School which is just one block away.

As a Boston Public School, we rely heavily on the generous financial and volunteer contributions of our families, community members, and local businesses to support the vital academic and enrichment programs for our students. And this year, if you can’t make the event you can bid online at: www.BiddingForGood.com/CurleyK8.

For more information, please visit www.curleyk8.com/silent-auction. While credit cards are accepted, cash and checks are preferred.

See you there!

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• PARCC: PARCC Performance Based Assessments will be given in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math this month and each grade will complete 5 sessions. The ELA test will take place on Monday, March 23rd, Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday March 25th and the math will take place Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. We are asking all families to assure that their student arrives to school on time, gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast. City Year made this video to get students excited about this week. All students viewed this video at the Curley Shares Assemblies and several asked if they could watch it at home this weekend! Here is the link so you can watch with your child: https://youtu.be/_xft5Z_zj-k
• 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: This year’s auction is taking place THIS Tuesday, March 24th, 6 to 9pm, at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. It’s an adults-only event, so book your childcare in advance. This year there will also be a new online bidding option. To make an online bid, visit www.BiddingForGood.com/curleyk8. We also need volunteers. Think you might be able to help out either during the night of the event or before? Please email us at curleysilentauction@gmail.com.
• Arrival and Dismissal: The school hours are 8:30am-2:30pm. We open each morning at 8:15am for breakfast and students may proceed to homeroom. All parents are welcome to escort their child to class if they arrive before 8:35am. Anyone who arrives after 8:35am is marked tardy. Also we are asking that families do not dismiss their child after 1:45pm to assure a safe dismissal transition.
• Open Teaching Positions: BPS has posted all open positions for SY 2015-2016 at www.teachboston.org. The Curley has several openings on this site and we encourage families to share this information with their networks. We are seeking top candidates who believe in the K-8 model and align with our Curley Cares Initiative. We are also interested in having families participate on our hiring committees. Interviews are scheduled thus far for the following dates. All of the interviews will take place from 3pm-6pm and we need families to commit to the entire time block. We can assist with day care for families that volunteer on those specific days.
  • Wednesday, March 25th 3pm-6pm: PACE K1/K2 and Instructional Coach grades 3-8
  • Thursday, March 26th 3pm-6pm: K1 regular education and inclusion
  • Monday, March 30th 3pm-6pm: grade 4

  Please let Katie Grassa know if you are interested in helping us with this process and if you need day care as well: kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org.

• Snow: We are asking all families to talk with their children around throwing snow. We want all students to be safe and we are asking that all adults and students leave the snow on the ground during arrival and dismissal. We are also asking that families and students use the shoveled spaces to walk and not to walk through the snowy yard. This is to help assure that no one falls and gets hurt. Thank you!
• Social Media: If you are on Twitter be sure to follow me @principalgrassa. This is a great way to share up to date information about the Curley.

Don’t miss this Friday’s dance performance of “Make Way for Ducklings” in the upper school auditorium at 9 AM.  Our Kindergarten (K1/K2) will be joined by selected 4th and 5th grade students as well as other special guests!

Do you have 50 mins to spare tomorrow (Thursday, March 19th)?  Meet in the Upper School Auditorium at 10:40 AM Thursday for the final run through with K1.  Contact parent, Dana Willeke if you can help.

A final reminder to all Kindergarten students to please wear yellow tops (and BIG smiles) to school on Friday.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Arrival and Dismissal: The school hours are 8:30am-2:30pm. We open each morning at 8:15am for breakfast and students may proceed to homeroom. All parents are welcome to escort their child to class if they arrive before 8:35am. Anyone who arrives after 8:35am is marked tardy. Also we are asking that families do not dismiss their child after 1:45pm to assure a safe dismissal transition.
• Evacuation Day: There WILL be school THIS Tuesday, March 17th due to the excessive amount of snow days we have accumulated this year. Students should report to school as usual and by attending this day we are assuring to meet the state mandate of 180 days of school.
• 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: This year’s auction is taking place the evening of March 24, 6 to 9pm, at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. It’s an adults-only event, so book your childcare in advance. This year there will also be a new online bidding option. Visit www.BiddingForGood/curleyk8 to see what’s on offer this year, and to get a head start on some of those must-have items. We also need volunteers. Think you might be able to help out either during the night of the event or in the weeks leading up? Please email us at curleysilentauction@gmail.com.
• Open Teaching Positions: BPS has posted all open positions for SY 2015-2016 at www.teachboston.org. The Curley has several openings on this site and we encourage families to share this information with their networks. We are seeking top candidates who believe in the K-8 model and align with our Curley Cares Initiative. We are also interested in having families participate on our hiring committees. Interviews are scheduled thus far for the following dates. All of the interviews will take place from 3pm-6pm and we need families to commit to the entire time block. We can assist with day care for families that volunteer on those specific days.
  • Wednesday, March 18th 3pm-6pm: 6th-8th grade Math/Science
  • Friday, March 20th 3pm-6pm: 8th grade Humanities
  • Wednesday, March 25th 3pm-6pm: PACE K1/K2 and Instructional Coach grades 3-8
  • Thursday, March 26th 3pm-6pm: K1 regular education and inclusion
  • Monday, March 30th 3pm-6pm: grade 4

  Please let Katie Grassa know if you are interested in helping us with this process and if you need day care as well: kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org.

• PARCC: PARCC Performance Based Assessments will be given in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math this month and each grade will complete 5 sessions. The ELA test will take place on Monday, March 23rd, Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday March 25th and the math will take place Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. We are asking all families to assure that their student arrives to school on time, gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast.
• Snow: We are asking all families to talk with their children around throwing snow. We want all students to be safe and we are asking that all adults and students leave the snow on the ground during arrival and dismissal. We are also asking that families and students use the shoveled spaces to walk and not to walk through the snowy yard. This is to help assure that no one falls and gets hurt. Thank you!
• Social Media: If you are on Twitter be sure to follow me @principalgrassa. This is a great way to share up to date information about the Curley.

Hello Curley families,

The Curley community has come through once again to support the teachers’ requests to supplement the books in their classrooms. To date we’ve received close to 100 books and delivered them to grateful and excited teachers.

We do however, have some unfulfilled requests for ‘class sets’. If you’re interested in participating in the book drive, please consider ordering several copies to chip away at those sets of 25-30 books – similar to a wedding registry. If you order around 35$ or more for items marked “Prime” or if you have Amazon Prime you can often get free shipping.

Here’s the link to the wish list:
http://amzn.com/sl/2KEE815C2ZYC8

On behalf of the teachers, thank you once again for your contributions!

Inci Kaya
incikaya34@hotmail.com
617 794 8579

Our annual Silent Auction is Tuesday, March 24 from 6 to 9pm at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain, but you don’t have to wait. This year we’re complementing our live auction with online bidding through Bidding For Good. Just log into www.BiddingForGood.com/curleyk8 to see some of the items we’re auctioning off this year, and to bid on your favorite(s). It’s a great way to be part of the event, even if you can’t be there on the 24th.

Looking for another way to show your support? Just swing by Canary Square for dinner or a drink. From now until the night of the event, the restaurant is allowing patrons to add a donation to their check. It’s a quick, easy way to show that you care about the Curley.

The Curley After School Program (CASP) is also offering babysitting on the night of the event. Bring your children to the upper school entrance on the left side of the building starting at 6pm. The cost is $5 per child, per hour, and a dinner of pizza and baby carrots will be served. Email CurleyCASPrsvp@gmail.com to reserve a slot.

Have questions about the auction? Want to help out the day of the event? Email us at CurleySilentAuction@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you on the 24th!

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Race Dialogues: Curley K-8 is partnering with YWCA Boston to bring Community Dialogues on Race & Ethnicity set to launch this March. An open, honest, and action oriented dialogue on race, ethnicity, and community the goal of the conversation is for the community to mobilize a diverse group of stakeholders in the creation of stronger and more unified communities. This was a successful opportunity last year and from these sessions we formed a working group of staff and families around further integrating AWC and general education students. There will be 5 sessions offered at the Curley School on Tuesday evenings from 5:00pm-7:30pm from March 10th – April 7th and dinner is included. Seats are limited so please contact Katie Grassa if you are interested ASAP at kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org.
• School Site Council: Please join us on Tuesday, March 10th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. We will be joined my Network Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris and a representative from the BPS Strategic Planning Office.
• Principal Breakfast: Please join us for the March Principal Breakfast on Friday, March 13th from 8:45am-9:45am in the Upper School Library. We will continue our talks around supporting students learning mathematics. Unfortunately, Senator Chang-Diaz is no longer able to attend this event.
• 4th Grade Open House: There will be an open house for all rising 4th grade families. It is an opportunity to engage in conversation around curriculum and other opportunities for our 4th graders. This will also include a tour of classrooms and meet and greet with teachers. Please join us on Friday, March 13th from 10am-11am in the auditorium.
• Evacuation Day: There WILL be school on Tuesday, March 17th due to the excessive amount of snow days we have accumulated this year. Students should report to school as usual and by attending this day we are assuring to meet the state mandate of 180 days of school.
• 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: This year’s auction is taking place the evening of March 24, 6 to 9pm, at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. It’s an adults-only event, so book your childcare in advance. This year there will also be a new online bidding option. We’re asking the Curley community’s help make this our most successful auction yet by working with us to secure donations for the event. Know of a business or individual willing to help out with a donation? We also need volunteers. Think you might be able to help out either during the night of the event or in the weeks leading up? Please email us at curleysilentauction@gmail.com.
• Open Teaching Positions: On Monday, March 2^nd BPS posted all open positions for SY 2015-2016 (www.teachboston.org). The Curley has several openings on this site and we encourage families to share this information with their networks. We are seeking top candidates who believe in the K-8 model and align with our Curley Cares Initiative. We are also interested in having families participate on our hiring committees. Please let Katie Grassa know if you are interested in helping us with this process: kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org.
• Snow: We are asking all families to talk with their children around throwing snow. We want all students to be safe and we are asking that all adults and students leave the snow on the ground during arrival and dismissal. We are also asking that families and students use the shoveled spaces to walk and not to walk through the snowy yard. This is to help assure that no one falls and gets hurt. Thank you!
• PARCC: PARCC Performance Based Assessments will be given in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math this month and each grade will complete 5 sessions. The ELA test will take place on Monday, March 23rd, Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday March 25th and the math will take place Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. We are asking all families to assure that their student arrives to school on time, gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast.
• Social Media: If you are on Twitter be sure to follow me @principalgrassa. This is a great way to share up to date information about the Curley.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Race Dialogues: Curley K-8 is partnering with YWCA Boston to bring Community Dialogues on Race & Ethnicity set to launch this March. An open, honest, and action oriented dialogue on race, ethnicity, and community the goal of the conversation is for the community to mobilize a diverse group of stakeholders in the creation of stronger and more unified communities. This was a successful opportunity last year and from these sessions we formed a working group of staff and families around further integrating AWC and general education students. There will be 5 sessions offered at the Curley School on Tuesday evenings from 5:00pm-7:30pm from March 10th – April 7th and dinner is included. Seats are limited so please contact Katie Grassa if you are interested ASAP at kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org. Staff, families and community partners are encouraged to participate.
• Thank You: I would like to thank Curley parent, Dana Willeke for organizing an instrument petting zoo for all of our kindergarten students. It was great to see our youngest students learning and actually playing a variety of instruments! Also thank you to Curley parent, Heshan Berents-Weeramuni for his participation four nights last week in the Superintendents Interview Panel. All of these interviews were broadcast on tv (Boston Neighborhood Network) and Heshan proudly represented not only the Curley K-8 but also the Citywide Parent Council. Thank you to you both!
• Snow: We are asking all families to talk with their children around throwing snow. We want all students to be safe and we are asking that all adults and students leave the snow on the ground during arrival and dismissal. We are also asking that families and students use the shoveled spaces to walk and not to walk through the snowy yard. This is to help assure that no one falls and gets hurt. Thank you!
• School Parent Council: The next SPC meeting will be on Thursday, March 5th from 8:45am-10:45am in the Upper School Library. All families are encouraged to attend.
• School Site Council: Please join us on Tuesday, March 10th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. We will be joined my Network Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris and a representative from the BPS Strategic Planning Office. THIS IS A CHANGE IN DATE!
• AWC/General Education Integration Meeting: We will be meeting on Wednesday, March 4th from 3:00pm-4:00pm in room 121. We will check in with families around next year as well as begin to plan the rising 4th grade open house event. All families are welcome to attend.
• Principal Breakfast: Please join us for the February Principal Breakfast on Friday, March 13th from 8:45am-9:45am in the Upper School Library. We will continue our talks around supporting student learning mathematics and State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz will be joining us. She is looking forward to participating in the session as a learner as well.
• 4th Grade Open House: There will be an open house for all rising 4th grade families. It is an opportunity to engage in conversation around curriculum and other opportunities for our 4th graders. This will also include a tour of classrooms and meet and greet with teachers. Please join us on Friday, March 13th from 10am-11am in the auditorium.
• Evacuation Day: There WILL be school on Tuesday, March 17th due to the excessive amount of snow days we have accumulated this year. Students should report to school as usual and by attending this day we are assuring to meet the state mandate of 180 days of school.
• 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: This year’s auction is taking place the evening of March 24, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. It’s an adults-only event, so book your childcare in advance. This year there will also be a new online bidding option. We’re asking the Curley community’s help make this our most successful auction yet by working with us to secure donations for the event. Know of a business or individual willing to help out with a donation? Donations must be locked down by February 28 in order to be included in on-line bidding. We also need volunteers. Think you might be able to help out either during the night of the event or in the weeks leading up? Please email us at curleysilentauction@gmail.com.
• Open Teaching Positions: Starting Monday, March 2^nd BPS will post all open positions for SY 2015-2016 (www.teachboston.org). The Curley will have several openings on this site and we encourage families to share this information with their networks. We are seeking top candidates who believe in the K-8 model and align with our Curley Cares Initiative. We are also interested in having families participate on our hiring committees. Please let Katie Grassa know if you are interested in helping us with this process: kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org.
• PARCC: PARCC Performance Based Assessments will be given in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math this month and each grade will complete 5 sessions. The ELA test will take place on Monday, March 23rd, Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday March 25th and the math will take place Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. We are asking all families to assure that their student arrives to school on time, gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast.
• Social Media: If you are on Twitter be sure to follow me @principalgrassa. This is a great way to share up to date information about the Curley.

The Curley K-8 is partnering once again with YWCA Boston to bring Community Dialogues on Race & Ethnicity set to launch this March. An open, honest, and action oriented dialogue on race, ethnicity, and community the goal of the conversation is for the  community to mobilize a diverse group of stakeholders in the creation of stronger and more unified communities.

This was a successful opportunity last year and from these sessions we formed a working group of staff and families around further integrating AWC and general education students. There will be 5 sessions offered at the Curley School on Tuesday evenings from 5:00pm-7:30pm (Dinner included from 5-5:30pm) from March 10th – April 7th and dinner is included.

Seats are limited so please contact Katie Grassa if you are interested ASAP at kgrassa@bostonpublicschools.org. Staff, Families and Community Partners are encouraged to participate.

A flyer for the event is also here.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Snow: During this winter we would like to ask all families to talk with their children around throwing snow. We want all students to be safe as they enter and exit school and we are asking that all adults and students leave the snow on the ground during those times. We are also asking that families and students use the shoveled spaces to walk and do not walk through the snowy yard. This is to help assure that no one falls and gets hurt. Thank you!
• Middle School: Middle School Quarter 2 grades will go home this week. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
• School Site Council: Please join us on Tuesday, March 3rd from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. We will be joined my Network Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris and a representative from the BPS Strategic Planning Office.
• AWC/General Education Integration Meeting: We will be meeting on Wednesday, March 4th from 3:00pm-4:00pm in room 121. We will check in with families around next year as well as begin to plan the rising 4th grade open house event. All families are welcome to attend.
• Principal Breakfast: Please join us for the March Principal Breakfast on Friday, March 13th from 8:45am-9:45am in the Upper School Library. We will continue our talks around supporting student learning mathematics and State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz will be joining us. She is looking forward to participating in the session as a learner as well.
• Evacuation Day: There WILL be school on Tuesday, March 17th due to the excessive amount of snow days we have accumulated this year. Students should report to school as usual and by attending this day we are assuring to meet the state mandate of 180 days of school.
• 8th Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: This year’s auction is taking place the evening of March 24, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. It’s an adults-only event, so book your childcare in advance. This year there will also be a new online bidding option. We’re asking the Curley community help make this our most successful auction yet by working with us to secure donations for the event. Know of a business or individual willing to help out with a donation? Donations must be locked down by February 28 in order to be included in on-line bidding. We also need volunteers. Think you might be able to help out either during the night of the event or in the weeks leading up? Please email us at curleysilentauction@gmail.com.
• PARCC: PARCC Performance Based Assessments will be given in grades 3-8 in both ELA and Math this month and each grade will complete 5 sessions. The ELA test will take place on Monday, March 23rd, Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday March 25th and the math will take place Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st. We are asking all families to assure that their student arrives to school on time, gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast.
• WGBH Radio Features Young Curley Scientists: Recently, WBGH Radio aired a feature on Innovation Hub about getting kids interested in science, and as part of that piece they interviewed several Curley students from Ms. Mehari’s science class. The Curley students are on at the very beginning, and again at the end (starting about 14 minutes). The story is here: http://blogs.wgbh.org/innovation-hub/2015/2/11/science-evangelist/. Thanks to parent Amy Sobota for sending the link.
• Social Media: If you are on Twitter be sure to follow me @principalgrassa. This is a great way to share up to date information about the Curley.