Classroom Volunteer Training –
Monday November 24,
8:45am-10:00am,
Upper School Library

This Monday join other parent classroom volunteers to get oriented. We’ll meet for just over an hour to talk about helpful ways to support teachers and students in the classroom. All welcome. If you’ve submitted a CORI form already and have not yet heard back from your child’s teacher about being cleared to help, please keep following up with teachers and our secretaries. Word has it that the state offices have a backlog of forms so let’s keep plugging away until things go through.

A fun story of parent-teacher connection happening, with dad Tom Stenquist and science teacher Charity Murphy:

In Ms. Charity Murphy’s 8th grade science classroom, extension cords were required to provide power for students’ microscopes. But, the arrangement was both bothersome and dangerous given the flow of experiments during class time. Enter Tom, with donated extension cords, to snake the power lines behind all furniture and out of our young scientists’ way! Said Ms. Murphy of their collaboration, “Sometimes, small things matter more than big things if it’s something you really need. It’s a great feeling to know that parents do care.”

Go, Tom! His next project? Something about a broken wall clock, with clock surgery happening in class with potential future engineers watching…

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Thank You: Thank you to the families and staff that volunteered on Saturday for our first School Showcase. We appreciate your time and thoughtful words about your experience at the Curley K-8 School. To help with other upcoming Preview Tours, please click here.
• 6th-8th Grade: Report cards will go home with students by the end of this week. Please ask your child about their report card for Quarter 1.
• SSC: The November School Site Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 18th from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Upper School Library. The Quality School Plan (QSP) will be presented at that time. All families are welcome to attend!
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

It’s getting cold and raw out there! Please help keep our Curley kids warm this winter by donating outgrown coats (sizes 3-adult), winter gear (hats, mittens, etc.) and plastic hangers to the Curley coat drive! You can also donate outgrown uniforms to the Uniform Exchange while you’re at it! Donation bins are located in Lower School entrance and at the back of the Auditorium.

If your child needs a coat/hat/gloves, you will find them next to the Uniform Exchanges (Sizes 3-8: Lower School entrance; Sizes 9-adult: back of Auditorium). If you are unable to look yourself, notify your student’s teacher so that we can be sure your student has what he/she needs this winter.

Helping to keep the Coat Drive and Uniform Exchange up and running is wonderful way to contribute to the Curley community with minimal time commitments and on a flexible schedule. This is a time when we could really use some extra hands, so if you are interested in being involved or have any questions, please contact Megan Jewett (megan@imperial-jewett.com, 617-833-5665). Thanks so much for all your help!

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Thank You: Thank you to all the families that volunteered to sell good and those that made items to sell at our Bake Sale on Tuesday, November 4th. Because of your efforts we were able to earn $1,000 that will go towards the school. We are so lucky to have an amazing SPC that support our students!
• We Need Your Help: It’s school preview time again when prospective families come to tour the Curley. For many years, parents have played a significant part in showing the school to other parents, and the Curley is noted for our level of parental participation at these tours. So far we only have two parent volunteers for our first event. Please help us! New families are encouraged to participate as you give the most valuable feedback to incoming parents. Don’t worry if you don’t know the school yet – we’ll pair you up with a parent who has done tours in the past. BPS is kicking off the preview season with an Open House on Saturday, November 15th from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Curley. For more info or to sign up please go to the School Preview article.
• Veteran’s Day: There will be no school THIS Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day.
• 6th-8th Grade: Grades close on Friday, November 7th for all middle school students.
• 1st-5th Grade: Grades close on Wednesday, November 26th for all students in grades 1-5.
• 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.
• 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.

A quick reminder that the November meeting of the School Parent Council will be held tomorrow morning, Thursday, November 6th from 8:45am – 10:45am in the Upper School Library.

We hope all families who are able will attend.

A light breakfast and translation services will be provided.

For more information, please contact Molly Brigham, or visit the SPC’s page.

Quality Schools Plan (QSP) Presentation

Wednesday, November 5th
8:45 am – 9:45 am, Upper School Library

Each school in the district must submit a Quality School Plan (QSP) which outlines the goals and priorities for the school year to improve student outcomes. The plan is central to our development as a school during this academic year, and informs much of the budget considerations for next year.

Please join Principal Grassa from 8:45am-9:45am TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 5th in the Upper School Library for the Curley’s Quality School Plan presentation.

All families are strongly encouraged to attend.

The Curley SPC Polling Place Bake Sale is tomorrow, November 4th! We welcome everyone’s help by either contributing baked goods and/or staffing the tables on election day.

Please click the link below to sign up for a two hour shift from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm.

http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/apctd

Baked good donations can be dropped off in the lower school office today, Monday, November 3rd and tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4th during school hours. The Polling Place Bake Sale will be on Pershing Road by the entrance to the polling station. Please include a description of the baked good (e.g. zucchini bread) and indicate if they have nuts in them. We also ask that the items are packaged appropriately. Here are some suggestions to inspire those bakers amongst us:

For morning hours:

• Savory baked goods
• Egg and cheese sandwiches
• Mini spinach and cheese fritadas
• Cereal bars
• Yogurt cups
• And regular cupcakes, coffee, tea

For mid day hours:

• Grab and go sandwiches
• Pasteles,
• Empanadas
• Regular cupcakes

For evening hours:

• Cupcakes
• Cookies
• Deserts

Please contact Inci Kaya at incikaya34@hotmail.com with any questions, or sign up to volunteer here: http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/apctd.

Thank you for your help, and don’t forget to vote!

Get oriented to classroom volunteering and how to best support your child’s teachers!

We have two options this month for classroom volunteer training.

The first is an evening session on Monday, November 3 from 7:00-8:30pm in the lower school cafeteria. The second is a morning session on Monday November 24 from 8:45-10:00am in the upper school – 2nd floor library.

The training is highly recommended for parents new to the Curley school and interested in helping out in your child’s classroom. If you submitted your CORI form or reached out to your teacher, and are still waiting to hear back, this is a perfect time to come. See you there!

Rsvp’s welcome but not required – and feel free to contact Val Snekvik (val.snekvik@gmail.com) or Kristin Shapiro (k_brennan2001@yahoo.com) with questions.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Playing Field Event: Thank you to the Curley Playing Field Committee for all the time and effort you put into completing our playing field. The ribbon cutting ceremony is something that the adults and students at the Curley K-8 will never forget. We encourage families to stop by and see this amazing space.
• Election Day Bake Sale: The Curley SPC is holding a bake sale on November 4th, the day of the state elections. We welcome everyone’s help by either contributing baked goods and/or staffing the tables on Election Day. Baked good donations can be dropped off in the lower school office on Monday, November 3rd and Tuesday, November 4th during school hours. Please include a description of the baked good (ie: zucchini bread) and indicate if they have nuts in them. We also ask that the items are packaged appropriately. Please contact Inci Kaya at incikaya34@hotmail.com with any questions. Thank you for your help!
• Quality School Plan Presentation: Please join us from 8:45am-9:45am on Wednesday, November 5th in the Upper School Library for the Quality School Plan presentation for families. The Quality School Plan (QSP) is a plan that each BPS school must submit each year to the district and include a plan to improve student outcomes.
• School Parent Council: Our 2nd SPC meeting will take place this week on Thursday, November 6th from 8:45am-10:45am in the Upper School Library. All families are encouraged to attend.
• Veteran’s Day: There will be no school on Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day.
• 6th-8th Grade: Grades close on Friday, November 7th for all middle school students.
• 1st-5th Grade: Grades close on Wednesday, November 26th for all students in grades 1-5.
• 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.
• 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 SPC is holding a bake sale on November 4th, the day of the state elections. We welcome everyone’s help by either contributing baked goods and/or staffing the tables on election day.

Please click the link below to sign up for a two hour shift from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm.

http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/apctd

Baked good donations can be dropped off in the lower school office on Monday, November 3rd and Tuesday, November 4th during school hours. Please include a description of the baked good (ie: zucchini bread) and indicate if they have nuts in them. We also ask that the items are packaged appropriately. Here are some suggestions to inspire those bakers amongst us:

For morning hours:
Savory baked goods
Egg and cheese sandwiches
Mini spinach and cheese fritadas (I’ll probably make these)
Cereal bars
Yogurt cups
And regular cupcakes, coffee, tea

For mid day hours:
grab and go sandwiches
pasteles,
empanadas
regular cupcakes

For evening hours:
Cupcakes
Cookies
Deserts

Please contact Inci Kaya at incikaya34@hotmail.com with any questions.

Thank you for your help!

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Katie Grassa:

• Picture Day SY 14-15: The rain date for grades 6-8 is Tuesday, October 28. If it’s raining on October 28th, photos will be taken at the Upper School Auditorium. Students in grades 6-8th will gather at the upper school auditorium and proceed to the front of the Upper School to have their picture taken at the corner of Pershing Rd. and Centre St. Please bring your order forms. If a child does not return a form, he or she will not be able to have a picture taken. Let David Diaz know if you have any question or conflict with the schedule.
• Schoolyard Clean Up: Join us on Sunday, October 26th for a schoolyard clean up as we prepare for our ribbon cutting ceremony. We will meet on Centre St from 10am-12pm. Feel free to bring some yard tools. Please contact Jessica Ormsby for more details.
• Playing Field Ribbon Cutting: We will be celebrating the opening of our new playing field on Tuesday, October 28th at 11:00am, all community members are welcome to attend. We are working out the logistics for having students participate in the event either through a competition or raffle. Thank you to all who have donated money and time to make this dream a reality.
• Playing Field Event: All students K-8 will have an opportunity to use the playing field on Wednesday, October 29th. City Year and Tenacity are organizing a day of events for the students. Each grade level will have a 30 minute block to use the field on that day. Starting on Thursday, October 30th the field will be open for regular use.
• Halloween: The Curley K-8 will not have a Halloween celebration during the school day. As a community we are focused on health and wellness and therefore we ask that all candy remain at home. We are also asking that students leave all costumes, masks and face painting at home as well. Thank you in advance for your support around 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.

We are having a community schoolyard cleanup this Sunday, October 26th from 10 am-12 pm. Let’s give the whole schoolyard a good rake, trash pickup, and sweep to get ready for Tuesday (see below).

Please bring rakes, brooms, gloves, wheelbarrows, and large contractor-size trash and yardwaste bags with you.

Contact Jess Ormsby for more details.

Playing Field Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Tuesday, October 28th, 11 am

We hope to make the schoolyard extra shiny this Sunday because in just FIVE days, on Tuesday, October 28th at 11am… as you know, we’re opening our Playing Field with a grand ribbon cutting ceremony!

Please join us!

It is unfortunately not possible for all the students to be out on the playing field at the same time for the ribbon cutting. So parents – we ask that you NOT take your student out of school to join you for the ceremony. Instead, a competition was held recently throughout the school to see which classes would participate on Tuesday during the ceremony. Those classes are:

• Ms. Quarterson’s 6th-8th PACE class;
• Ms. daSilva’s 2nd grade class;
• The entire 5th grade, made up of the classes of Ms. Daly, Ms. Davis, Ms. Moran, and Ms. Quatrale.
• Some other students from the upper school who will have special parts to play during the ceremony.

Each and every class in the school, however, will each have a special 30 minute recess period of their own on the field that same week following the ribbon cutting. Each student will then be able to enjoy the field with their friends. Schedules for these recess periods are being worked out now.

We hope to be joined at the ribbon-cutting by many other people who’ve helped along the way, including the Mayor, the Superintendent, Councilor Matt O’Malley, and other members of our Curley community. Please use the Centre Street entrance, and we’ll see you both on Sunday and then on Tuesday!