1. A reminder that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, March 18th as it is Evacuation Day.
2. Family Math Night will be this Thursday, March 21st from 5:00p – 7:00pm.
   Come learn fun ways to help your child build their math skills. The math workshop will be facilitated by: Ms. Beaudrault, Ms. Fleming, Ms. Cable, Ms. Daly, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Mundo, and Ms. Peck-Oser. Pasta dinner will be provided by Fiore’s Bakery. We’re looking forward to seeing you on Thursday, March 21 at 5:00pm in Lower School Gym. If you have questions about this event please contact Ms. Monteiro-Roby at 617-756-3667.

_________________________
 

1. No habra escuela el proximo lunes 18 de Marzo. El lunes es día de la evacuación.
2. Este es un recordatoio sobre la noche de Matematicas, el Jueves, 21 de marizo de 5-7 p.m.
   Venga y aprenda diferente formas divertidas para ayudar a su hijo a incrementar sus destrezas en matematica.  Los siguientes maestros estaran ayudando a facilitar el taller:  Sra Beaudrault, Sra. Fleming, Sra Cable, Sra. Daly, Sra. Jackson, Sra Mundo y Sra. Peck-Oser.  La comida sera preparada por la Fiore’s Bakery. Esperamos Verlos. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta en cuanto a este evento comuniquese con la senora Monteiro-Roby al 617-756-3667.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Jeff Slater:

• The MCAS long composition for students in grades 4 & 7 will take place on Tuesday, March 19. The ELA reading comprehension portion for students in grades 3-8 will take place Wednesday, March 27 & Thursday, March 28. Adequate rest, proper nutrition, and daily attendance directly impact student performance on the MCAS. We encourage you to discuss the importance of these tests with your child and assist him/her in maintaining an appropriate schedule during this testing period. If you have any questions or concerns about the MCAS tests, please contact me at 617-635-8239.
• A huge “Thank you!” to our Curley parent community for their support of our school at the Silent Auction! Organizing this event was truly a team effort, and we are extremely grateful for the time, dedication and hard work of everyone who had a hand in supporting this amazing event!
• Please join me in welcoming Cheryl Watson-Harris, our new Assistant Superintendent of Cluster D to the Curley! Cheryl is the former principal of the Tobin K-8, and both Cheryl and I participated in the Lynch Leadership Academy at BC. Cheryl’s office will be located on the 2nd floor of the lower school. She’ll be spending two days a week at Court Street and the remaining time visiting schools in our cluster.
• Our Instructional Leadership Team met on Tuesday. We explored ways we can continue to support teachers with “close reading” strategies, and we planned out our professional development session for Tuesday, April 2. Our teacher-leaders are the best!
• We had our grades 6-8 academic awards assemblies on Monday. Students were recognized for their academic achievements with merit awards (all A’s/B’s and just one C), honor roll awards (all A’s and B’s), and principal awards (all A’s). We’re looking to build on these awards assemblies in the future to expand to other grade levels and include recognitions for other accomplishments, like modeling of positive contributions to the school community.
• Will the Curley be the Next Lucky Grand Prize Winner?
  http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/healthy-playground-makeover
  The deadline for the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes is TODAY! To increase our chances of winning, don’t forget to enter every day until March 15, 2013. Two Grand Prize Winners will receive a $30,000 grant and a new playground. One of the Grand Prize Winners will be chosen from a special drawing for Title I Schools. Three Second Prize Winners will receive a $5,000 grant. Spread the word to your school community: Anyone can enter to win on behalf of our school!

You all know the SPC’s fabulous 6th Annual Silent Auction is this Tuesday, March 12th from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain!

But you also know this takes a lot of help to bring it all together. So please help by signing up through our equally fabulous Doodle Poll and help with prep work today, or on Tuesday before, during and after the event. Click the link below:

The Silent Auction Volunteer Doodle Poll

This eagerly anticipated adults-only event is not only one of our major fundraisers, it is also very fun!

Still having trouble arranging childcare? The Curley After School Program can help.

A suggested donation of $15 includes light refreshments and a chance to bid on exciting items. This year, they include some of the following:

• Lots of Red Sox and Celtics tickets. Lots of them!
• Local and regional restaurant gift certificates including to Ten Tables, Tres Gatos, VeeVee, and many others
• Childcare services so you can take advantage of the restaurant offers and sports tickets (!)
• Artwork, custom furniture, and jewelry
• Beer and wine gift bundles
• Vacation stays near and far

• Balloon rides
• Museum passes passes
• Farmers baskets, prepared food baskets, and fresh seafood baskets

This year, you will also be able to make  a simple a contribution as well. All the funds we raise will directly benefit the music, arts, science and after school programs at the Curley.

How else can you help?

• Are you on Facebook and have area friends who want to join you for a fun evening? Invite them through our Facebook event page.
• A Twitter user? Retweet the SPC’s Twitter announcements about the event and venue with location based hashtags such as #JamaicaPlain, #Roxbury, #Roslindale, or #Boston.
• Can’t come but want to contribute? Please think about making a donation directly to the Curley School Parent Council.
• Thank the folks at Canary Square personally! Not only are they fabulous hosts, but for the past week and a half they have taken the initiative themselves to place a line on each of their guest checks that will allow people to donate to our Silent Auction. The community has already responded with many generous donations.

Remember, all the funds we raise will directly benefit the music, arts, science and after school programs at the Curley.

For more information, contact Jess Ormsby, Molly Mariano or curleysilentauction@gmail.com.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Jeff Slater:

• Will the Curley be the Next Lucky Grand Prize Winner of the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes?
  http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/healthy-playground-makeover
  The deadline for the Sweepstakes is one week away! To increase our chances of winning, don’t forget to enter every day until March 15, 2013. Two Grand Prize Winners will receive a $30,000 grant and a new playground. One of the Grand Prize Winners will be chosen from a special drawing for Title I Schools. Three Second Prize Winners will receive a $5,000 grant. Spread the word to your community: Anyone can enter to win on behalf of our school!
• Our Curley girls and boys basketball teams are off to a great start! We’re also starting a boys/girls cheerleading squad! If you haven’t already, please take some time to watch one of the games after school in the upper school gym. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know our older students, even if you don’t have child on the team! You can find the schedule here: http://www.curleyk8.com/school-information/curley-sports/
• I had the opportunity to spend the day with my interns on Friday at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We took some time to reflect on their learning this year and how we plan to structure the remainder of our time together this year! I’m looking forward to their “takeover week” when they’ll really get a sense for what it’s like to lead the Curley on a daily basis!
• We had another amazing performance of “Firebird” this week at the Curley! This performance was specifically for Curley students (and parents who couldn’t make the first performance) and gave us an opportunity to teach students about appropriate audience behavior. Teachers were provided some guidelines to review with students ahead of time, and I was able to reinforce those guidelines before and during the performance. Our students did a wonderful job! They were respectful and attentive during the performance, and transitioned without much disruption from their seats to the stage and back. Our work continues!
• Are you following me on Twitter? It’s a great way to get some insight into the day-to-day learning and happenings at the Curley! This week, my Twitter followers got to see students learning about lung cancer in Mr. Bertoni’s Health class and stay update on game scores! You can follow me @CurleyPrincipal.

An important message from Maria Monteiro-Roby, the Curley’s Family & Community Outreach Coordinator, about tonight’s Math Night:

This evening’s Family Math Night is cancelled due to the weather forecast and is rescheduled for Thursday, March 21st at 5:00pm. If you have questions about this event please contact Ms. Monteiro-Roby at 617-756-3667.

Thank you!

*********************

El taller de matematicas familiar que se iba a llevar a cabo esta noche, jueves, 7 de marzo ha sido cancelao. La nueva fecha  sera el jueves, 21 de marzo a las 5:00 de la tarde. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta en cuanto a este evento comuniquese con la senora Monteiro-Roby al 617-756-3667.

Gracias.

Lots going on this coming week and next at the Curley!

Tuesday, March 5

• School Site Council Meeting
  5-30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Upper School Library
  More information, contact SSC co-chairs Leah Barcan or Jill Lazer

Wednesday, March 6

• Curley Parent Support Group
  8:45 a.m., Family Center, Upper School Room 102
  Open to all parents, this group is for anyone who needs to have an open discussion about any issues that parents may be having at school or home. See Noreen Power’s earlier story for details.
• School Parent Council Meeting
  6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Upper School Library
  See Dave Demerjian’s earlier story for a list of agenda items. Dinner and childcare will be provided.

Thursday, March 7

• Advanced Work Q&A with Principal Slater, 4th AWC Teacher, and AWC Parents.
  8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., Upper School Auditorium
  This Q&A session is aimed at current and prospective families whose children have been invited to AWC next year and who are considering the Curley for 4th grade AWC. See Carrie Fletcher’s earlier story for more details or if you can’t make this session.
• Family Math Night
  5:00 p.m., Lower School Cafeteria
  You are invited to our popular recurring Family Math Night. Come learn fun ways to help your child build their math skills. Students who attend math night will receive a homework pass. Light refreshment will be served. The math workshop will be facilitated by Ms. Cable, Ms. Daly, Ms. Beaudrault, Ms. Fleming, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Mundo, and Ms. Peck-Oser. We’re looking forward to seeing you this Thursday at 5:00pm. For more information about this event email Maria Monteiro-Roby or call her at 617-756-3667.

Friday, March 8

• 3rd Grade Parent Breakfast (UPDATED)
  7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., Family Center, Upper School Room 102
  This is an casual breakfast for all 3rd grade parents and guardians to meet one another, speak to the 3rd grade teachers, drink coffee and have a bite to eat. If you would like to contribute something for the breakfast, feel free to contact Jill Lazer or Maria Monteiro-Roby.

Tuesday, March 12

• 6th Annual Curley Silent Auction at Canary Square
  6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Canary Square in Jamaica Plain
  For more details about this adults-only event, if you have items to donate, or would like to volunteer, see Molly Mariano’s earlier story.
  
  Still need childcare for the event? CASP can help. The Curley After School Program (CASP) is offering childcare that evening from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

  Have Facebook friends who would come join the fun? Invite them too!

CASP (the Curley After School Program) will be offering childcare services on the evening of Tuesday March 12 (the evening of the Silent Auction!)

Sign up now to reserve a spot for your children!

• Time: 5:30pm – 9:00 pm, Tuesday March 12, 2013
• Location: CASP after school program location (enter using side entrance on the left hand side of the building on Centre Street, up the side stairs closest to Spring Park Avenue, NOT Pershing Road)
• Price: 10$ per child for the entire evening – Please pay Torri at time of drop off.
• Ages: Children aged 4 and up
• Dinner: Please pack a lunch box with your child’s healthy favorites for dinner,
  OR – Dinner (spaghetti) is provided for an additional $10 (UPDATED).

• Activities: Art projects and games galore!
• RSVP and Questions: Torri Canada tcanada@boston.k12.ma.us Phone: 617-777-9330
  Payments for child care should be made payable to CASP by personal check or money order.

Yes, it’s next week – get your sitters lined up now for this terrific grown-ups’ night out with new and old friends! An evening many parents look forward to all year (no, really!), the 6th Annual Curley at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain this year is on TUESDAY, MARCH 12 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Donate Items…

Please contact Jess Ormsby, Molly Mariano or curleysilentauction@gmail.com if you also have any more donations you’d like to offer to the auction. The donation deadline in Friday, March 8th.

But we can also use your help to bring this whole thing together. Please give us a hand, either on Sunday, March 10th from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., or on the day of the Auction itself from 3 p.m. on. Sign up on our Doodle Poll!

…Or Volunteer

The Auction not only one of our major fundraisers, it is also very fun! A suggested donation of $15 includes light refreshments and a chance to bid on exciting items including food, wine and beer, childcare, tickets to the Red Sox, movies and shows, gift certificates to local restaurants and much more. Raffle tickets will be sold for amazing baskets.

It’ll Be Fun!

The restaurant’s full menu and bar will be available to order a la carte. All funds raised will support arts, music and science programming at the Curley, as well as the Curley After School Program!

This year, without prompting from us, Canary Square this week created an extra line on their check for guests to contribute to the Silent Auction until Sunday, March 10 as well. Many of their diners have already given generously, so please make sure you thank them for this extremely kind gift!

For more information, contact Jess Ormsby, Molly Mariano or curleysilentauction@gmail.com.

This week’s Paw Prints from Principal Jeff Slater:

• Thanks to an anonymous $50,000 donation, we are well on our way to our new playing field! We are so fortunate to be a part of a community that supports our school in so many generous ways!
• On Tuesday, I attended a professional development session with teachers from our Customized Support Team: Caitlyn McSheffrey, Alissa Ferro, Kim Daly, Adrian Ward-Jackson, and Connie Redden. We spent some time thinking about school-wide academic challenges, and brainstormed ideas with colleagues from the Hale School. The discussion and development of an action plan continues via our Instructional Leadership Team.
• Our boys and girls basketball teams are off to a great start this year! Please come support our teams! Games take place in the upper school gym, and you can find the schedule on the Curley sports page.
• An academic priority for us this year is exploring the new Common Core Standards and the shifts that have taken place as a result. Kim Daly, 5th grade teacher and Elementary Math Facilitator, shared the following: “One website that I find useful in looking for examples of math problems that highlight the major shifts that are presented in the Common Core Standards is the Illustrative Mathematics website www.illustrativemathematics.org.”
• You might have noticed a particular shine to the floors in the PACE hallway and main lobby of the upper school (see pic). All of the floors in the upper school are in the process of being refinished with a new diamond-sanding technique that will create a permanent shine and eliminate the need for harsh chemicals and wax. This is both a cost-savings, and an environmentally-friendly/healthy addition to our school! Enjoy the shine!
• A huge THANK YOU to Kim Taylor Knight for her production of “Firebird!” Our extremely talented students have blossomed under Kim’s guidance. Thank you to Cathy Wall for the beautiful set design and all of the teachers and staff who worked together to make this such a wonderful experience for our school community!