This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Happy New Year: I hope that all families enjoy time together over this vacation break and I wish you all a happy and healthy new year! 2014 brought a lot of positive changes to the Curley K-8 School and I can’t wait to see the successes and strides we make in 2015. Take time to talk with your child about a goal they may set for themselves in 2015 this may be an academic or social goal.
• Reading: We are asking that all families encourage their child/children to read over vacation. Reading is the most important thing a child can do at home. It is ok if they want to re-read a book, read to a young sibling or are read to by family members. We want to help all of our students become daily readers both for learning and enjoyment.
• School Vacation: Monday and Tuesday (12/22 & 12/23) will be full days of school and we will have afterschool programming as well. Our December vacation will take place from 12/24/14-1/2/15. All students will return to school on Monday, January 5th.
• Parking on Pershing Rd: We have heard from several neighbors on Pershing Rd. that during arrival and dismissal families are blocking their driveways. We are asking families to only park in legal parking spots when dropping off or picking up. Thank you for your consideration with this matter.
• Snow: In preparation for the winter we would like to ask all families to talk with their children to be careful around 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!
• 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:

• Congrats: A big shout out to the middle school girl’s volleyball team who advanced to the City Championship game this past Friday. Unfortunately, they did not win on Friday but they worked hard until the end and modeled sportsmanship. A special thank you to Mr. Bertoni who coached this season.
• Parking on Pershing Rd: We have heard from several neighbors on Pershing Rd. that during arrival and dismissal families are blocking their driveways. We are asking families to only park in legal parking spots when dropping off or picking up. Thank you for your consideration with this matter.
• School Vacation: Our December vacation will take place from 12/24/14-1/2/15. All students will return to school on Monday, January 5th.
• Snow: In preparation for the winter we would like to ask all families to talk with their children to be careful around 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!
• ANet Testing: Testing will take place for all students in grades 2-8 the week of December 15th. Please contact your child’s teacher to learn more.
• 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.

We are trying to get an early start to silent auction planning this year, so the first committee meeting will be held at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain (435 South Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 0213) on Monday, December 15th at 8:00pm.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the Silent Auction (at Canary Square from 6-9pm Tuesday, March 24th) overall, clarify the various tasks that need to be accomplished and to demonstrate that many hands make light work for everyone. If you would like to be involved on the committee, we need people with all sorts of talents:

• requesting donation,
• emailing messages,
• collecting and packaging item,
• and volunteering the day of the event (3/24).

Please email heidibrooks@yahoo.com if you have questions or would like to pitch in!

A reminder that this year’s Curley Shopping Night is this THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11th from 5pm – 8pm.

Support our local businesses as they support our school. A percentage of your sale will go to our school!

Participants this year are Boing, Caramelo, Cobwebs, Hatched, Kitchenwitch, On Centre, Papercuts, and Streetcar. All will donate part of their sale proceeds to the Curley from 5pm – 8pm (except Streetcar which will close at 7pm).

For more information, please contact Leah Barcan.

International Week is next week – December 15-19, 2014!

International Week is a celebration of our community’s diverse heritage and an exploration of cultures around the world. The week will include classroom activities, “traveling the world” by hosting and visiting one another’s adopted countries, and performances during Curley Shares assemblies. There will also be a special performance of “Dances Around the World” for grades 1-3, together with students in 4th and 5th grades in CASP and in CAD, on Friday, December 19th, at 10 am in the Auditorium.

Families are encouraged to join us for International Week classroom activities and performances; please share YOUR culture with our students during this special week and throughout the school year!!

For more information, please contact Kim Taylor Knight or Amika Kemmler-Ernst.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• 1st-5th Grade: Report cards will go home this week with students. Please sign and return them to your child’s teacher.
• Parking on Pershing Rd: We have heard from several neighbors on Pershing Rd. that during arrival and dismissal families are blocking their driveways. We are asking families to only park in legal parking spots when dropping off or picking up. Thank you for your consideration with this matter.
• SSC: The next School Site Council (SSC) meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 9th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. All community members are welcomed. We will be sharing budget projections for SY 2015-2016. These projections predict the school budget moving forward. If the budget is available it will be shared at this meeting as well.
• School Vacation: Our December vacation will take place from 12/24/14-1/2/15. All students will return to school on Monday, January 5th.
• Snow: In preparation for the winter we would like to ask all families to talk with their children to be careful around 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!
• ANet Testing: Testing will take place for all students in grades 2-8 the week of December 15th. Please contact your child’s teacher to learn more.
• 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.

Come to the first Principal Breakfast of the year this Friday, 12/5 from 8:45 am-9:45 am in the Upper School Library.

The first topic will be the monthly, grade-level assemblies, student shares (at assemblies) and the Curley Cares initiative. This is a great time to talk with Principal Grassa and other parents!

Coffee and delicious treats will be served.

The next three Principal Breakfasts are as follows:
Friday, 1/16 – Math
Friday, 2/13 – PARCC and ANET (testing)
Friday, 3/13 – Topic TBD

For more information, please contact Leah Barcan.

Ready to do some holiday shopping?

Save the date for Curley Shopping Night, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH starting at 5pm.

Support our local businesses as they support our school. Participants include Boing, On Centre, Caramelo, Kitchenwitch and Streetcar. More details to follow.

For more information, please contact Leah Barcan.

Come one, come all to the next

SPC meeting

Thursday, December 4 – 6:00pm
In the upper school library

Spanish interpretation,

dinner

and childcare provided!

The school parent council (SPC) is a parent run volunteer organization that supports academic and community building programs at the Curley K-8

Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to help organize fund raising events that support our children’s art, music, and science programs.

We need all families to help in any way you can!

Any questions?

Contact SPC chair Molly Brigham:

mollykbrigham@gmail.com

617-519-0167

*******

Venga uno, vengan todos

A la siguiente reunión SPC

Jueves, 4 de diciembre a las 6:00pm
En la biblioteca de la escuela superior

¡Habrá:  interpretación al español

cena y

cuidado de niños!

El consejo escolar de padres (SPC) es una organización de padres voluntarios que apoya la creación y crecimiento de programas académicos y comunitarios en la escuela Curley K-8.

A lo largo del año usted tendrá la oportunidad de ayudar a organizar eventos para recaudar fondos que apoyen a los programas de arte, música, y ciencias de nuestros hijos.

¡Necesitamos que todas las familias ayuden de la manera que puedan!

¿Alguna pregunta?

Póngase en contacto con la presidenta del SPC Molly Brigham

mollykbrigham@gmail.com

617-519-0167

The next meeting of the Health and Wellness Committee is tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 2nd, 7:15 am in the Guidance Office (3rd Floor of the Upper School).

Minutes for our last meeting on Nov 4th:

Co-Chairs: We elected two parent co-chairs: Katie Fitch and Ann Williams, Susan Trotz and Mike Bertoni will be the staff co-chairs.

Water: Jeff Lane and Mike DiLorenzo said that they put in a proposal to have drinking fountains in the school.  Looking to be accepted this year and work start the year after.  We still do not have a good plan to access the existing bottled water.

Environmental Walk Through: Al Vega reported on the last walk through about cleanliness, dryness, cockroaches… We mentioned that radiator covers in PACE still need to be installed. Our mice population is erased. We did have cockroaches that seem to be eradicated. We have a pending list of repairs that maintenance is working on.

Our main agenda item is to discuss the infusion of mindfulness into the school climate. Please bring material and ideas about how to incorporate mindfulness into our school climate. We will have a brainstorming session.

Each meeting is a working session. More people, more issues get discussed with action plans.

Other pending agenda items for January are:

1. Better food in the cafeteria
2. Recess and Lunch climate and atmosphere
3. Starting a Gay/Straight alliance for middle schoolers
4. Alternatives to candy/sweets as rewards
5. Food Allergies issues

We welcome all to attend.

For more information, please contact Katie Fitch or Ann Greaney Williams.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• 1st-5th Grade: Grades closed on Wednesday, November 26th for all students in grades 1-5. The report cards will go home the second week in December.
• Parking on Pershing Rd: We have heard from several neighbors on Pershing Rd. that during arrival and dismissal families are blocking their driveways. We are asking families to only park in legal parking spots when dropping off or picking up. Thank you for your consideration with this matter.
• Playing Field: It has been reported by neighbors that during before and afterschool times students have been found breaking branches out on the playing field as well as throwing the rocks that are located around the trees. We are asking that all families speak to their children about caring for our outdoor space. By educating our students they will begin to understand the importance of those rocks and branches. Thank you!
• SPC: The December SPC meeting will take place on Thursday, 12/4 from 6pm-8pm. All families are encouraged to attend, have their voices heard and learn how to be involved in school fundraising and other volunteer activities.
• SSC: The next School Site Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 9th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. All community members are welcomed. We will be sharing budget projections for SY 2015-2016. These projections predict the school budget moving forward. If they budget is available it will be shared at this meeting as well.
• School Vacation: Our December vacation will take place from 12/24/14-1/2/15. All students will return to school on Monday, January 5th.
• 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.

DonorsChoose.org, a fundraising site many teachers use to raise resources for specific classroom projects has been used by many, many Curley teachers to improve instruction to our students.

There are seven Curley projects currently in need of funding.

Needs include an easel, carpets, books, and a variety of technology needs including 12 pairs of headphones.

Please help if you can, the link is below:

http://www.donorschoose.org/school/curley-k-8-school/62879/?active=true

Many thanks to Kate Davis for forwarding these projects.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Thanksgiving: Students will have an early release on Wednesday, November 26th and will dismiss at 12:30pm. There will be no school on Thursday, November 27th or Friday, November 28th. There will be NO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING ON WEDNESDAY either. All students MUST dismiss at 12:30pm.
• Curley Shares: This week all students participated in a Curley Share. These are our monthly assemblies that will involve a monthly message from administration, a share from partners or homerooms around learning, and an awards presentation. The three awards given are We Care About Our Selves, We Care About Each Other and We Care About Our School. A teacher, para professional, partner, specialty teacher, or administrator can recognize students in one of these three categories. Also all award winners will receive a certificate to share with their family and a bracelet that says #curleycares. This is a new process for the Curley K-8 School and we hope to grow and adapt this process over the course of the school year.
• 6th-8th Grade: Report cards will go home with students on Monday, November 24th. Please ask your child about their report card for Quarter One.
• MCAS Results: All students in grades 4-8 will be sent home with their MCAS results from SY 2013-2014 on Monday, November 24th. Please ask your child for this information and if you have any questions please reach out to your child’s teacher.
• 1st-5th Grade: Grades close on Wednesday, November 26th for all students in grades 1-5. The report cards will go home the second week in December.
• Parking on Pershing Rd: We have heard from several neighbors on Pershing Rd. that during arrival and dismissal families are blocking their driveways. We are asking families to only park in legal parking spots when dropping off or picking up. Thank you for your consideration with this matter.
• 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.