You are invited to attend this month’s Principal’s Breakfast next Wednesday, May 23.

Principal Slater will give an update on what’s happening at the Curley at 8:45 a.m.

After Principal Slater’s update, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., there will be a presentation by Al Vega. Mr. Vega, who is the Healthy Schools Coordinator, MassCOSH and the Boston Healthy Homes and Schools Collaborative, will speak on “Environmental Health at School and at Home, and it’s Connection to Asthma.”

For more information, please call Betty Alvarado, Parent Coordinator at 617-304-6771.

This Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, join volunteers from Boston Cares and other Curley families at our semi-annual Curley K-8 community clean-up to help make our schoolyard shine!  All ages welcome.  Come for a little or a lot.  Bring your gardening gloves and good humor to lend a hand in making a visible difference.

Background

The Community Initiatives Committee is comprised of parents, teachers and community organizations.  The Committee organizes a community clean-up of the schoolyard each semester and undertakes general improvement projects (planting, painting, etc.)  both outside and inside the school.  Together with Earthworks, we steward our orchard on Centre Street with the aim of maintaining, harvesting, preserving and donating the fruit of our labor.  For the past two Januarys, the Curley has hosted Boston Cares’ day of service in which more than 600 volunteers chose to take “a day on” rather than a day off.

In 2008, the Curley K-8 was the recipient of a $300,000 grant from the Boston Schoolyard Initiative (BSI) to design and build an improved schoolyard and an outdoor classroom for all our students!  The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on October 8, 2009, opening the schoolyard after Phase 1 of the project was completed.  A new mural was completed in Summer 2010 in conjunction with Mayor Menino’s mural crew.

We are currently seeking a grant or grants in order to bring Phase 2 of the project to a successful conclusion (namely, a gateway seating area at the Centre Street entrance and a playing field with perimeter track behind the school.

To get involved or to join the Community Initiatives team as a volunteer, community partner or funder, please contact Principal Jeff Slater or any of the following Curley parents:  Julie Smith-Bartoloni, Liza Stearns, Flo Zimmerman (orchard) or Asa Runefelt (outdoor classroom)

A reminder that Dr. Terrence Roberts, will be speaking at the Curley this Thursday, May 17th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The event is entitled “Choices in Little Rock.” Dr. Roberts will look back on his historic experiences from 1957 as a 15-year-old student at Central High School Little Rock, AK. The talk will be held in the Upper School Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.

For more details, click here.

Further questions? Please contact Curley parent Jeremy Nesoff who is coordinating this event.

Choices in Little Rock; A Community Event
Featuring Dr. Terrence Roberts, a prominent member of the Little Rock Nine and an Icon of the Civil Rights Movement
Thursday, May 17, 2012
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Upper School Auditorium

Dr. Terrence Roberts

Thursday May 17th, 2012 is the 58th Anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. On this day, please join us for a very special opportunity to be in conversation with Dr. Terrence Roberts as he looks back on his historic experiences from 1957 as a 15-year-old student at Central High School Little Rock, AK. Today Dr. Roberts travels around the country sharing his powerful story of individual choices and civic participation.

Students studying Choices in Little Rock, a unit that explores the story of nine courageous students and their attempts to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, will introduce Dr. Roberts and participate in the evening. The Facing History and Ourselves Teaching Guide: Choices in Little Rock provides insight into the consequences of challenging long-held beliefs about race. This resource explores the history of segregation in the United States and its legacies.  Choices in Little Rock helps us consider how ordinary people shape a community, a state, and, ultimately, a nation.

This event is free and open to the public. A special invitation is extended to 8th grade Boston Public School teachers of the Facing History and Ourselves Teaching Guide Choices in Little Rock. To learn more about Facing History and Ourselves and additional resources available to educators please visit www.facinghistory.org.

All students in Boston Public Schools 8th grade Civics classes engage in a study of this Facing History Unit and readChoices in Little Rock. The event is appropriate for 3rd Graders and older, or for all ages who have an interest in history, the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and hearing from Dr. Roberts.

For more information, please contact Curley parent Jeremy Nesoff who is coordinating this event.

Thanks to all of you who made last weekend’s plant sale a big success!

On Saturday morning we’ll be selling the plants that weren’t sold last week in front of the Curley at discounted prices. Please stop by between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. if you would like to buy a few more plants for your garden at great prices.

Three reminders for this week:

SmartTALK Family Math Night
Thursday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Lower School Cafeteria

You are invited to SmartTALK Family Math Night. Come and explore math in fun, hands-on ways. Teachers from the Curley and Curley After School Program will host this learning event.  Pizza will be provided.

For more information about this event contact Maria Monteiro-Roby at mmonteiroroby@boston.k12.ma.us or 617-756-3667.

Annual Curley Pride Walk at the Wake Up The Earth Parade
Saturday, May 5, 10:30 a.m.
JP Monument at Centre and South Street

We invite all Curley families, students and staff to join together for our Annual Curley Pride Walk in the Wake Up The Earth Parade. Please meet at the Monument in Jamaica Plain (intersection of South and Centre Street) at 10:30 a.m. and we will walk together down Centre Street. Please feel free to join anywhere along the route and wear your Curley Lion T-shirts!

Students will be making lion crafts in their art classrooms this week that they will bring with them as they show their pride in this Jamaica Plain community event!

Lift As We Climb ~ A Party with a Purpose!
Sunday, May 6, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Milky Way ~ 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain

Spring Fundraiser Series 1st Sundays: April 1st, May 6th and June 3rd
Soul, Deep House, and Dance Music featuring DJ: Eddie Neal!

Lift As We Climb is a party with the purpose of generating funds to support the experiential learning and character development of local Boston students through travel to Washington DC to learn about Art, Science and History; most notably Civil Rights movements in American. We also hope to educate and entertain attendees through a wide range of Soul and Deep House Music.

All proceeds of this fundraiser benefit the annual trip of eight grade students at the Curley. A $10 donation is suggested.

Choices in Little Rock; A Community Event
Featuring Dr. Terrence Roberts, a prominent member of the Little Rock Nine and an Icon of the Civil Rights Movement
Thursday, May 17, 2012
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Upper School Auditorium

Dr. Terrence Robert

Thursday May 17th, 2012 is the 58th Anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. On this day, please join us for a very special opportunity to be in conversation with Dr. Terrence Roberts as he looks back on his historic experiences from 1957 as a 15-year-old student at Central High School Little Rock, AK. Today Dr. Roberts travels around the country sharing his powerful story of individual choices and civic participation.

Students studying Choices in Little Rock, a unit that explores the story of nine courageous students and their attempts to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, will introduce Dr. Roberts and participate in the evening. The Facing History and Ourselves Teaching Guide: Choices in Little Rock provides insight into the consequences of challenging long-held beliefs about race. This resource explores the history of segregation in the United States and its legacies.  Choices in Little Rock helps us consider how ordinary people shape a community, a state, and, ultimately, a nation.

This event is free and open to the public. A special invitation is extended to 8^th grade Boston Public School teachers of the Facing History and Ourselves Teaching Guide Choices in Little Rock. To learn more about Facing History and Ourselves and additional resources available to educators please visit www.facinghistory.org.

All students in Boston Public Schools 8th grade Civics classes engage in a study of this Facing History Unit and read Choices in Little Rock. The event is appropriate for 3rd Graders and older, or for all ages who have an interest in history, the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and hearing from Dr. Roberts.

For more information, please contact Curley parent Jeremy Nesoff who is coordinating this event.

The 12th Annual Curley Plant Sale is THIS Saturday, April 28th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. As usual, it will be held in the parking lot across from the school.

Volunteers are still needed to man the cashbox, help with sales and set up. You do not need to be a green thumb to help with this fun event.

If you cannot make the sale there are other ways to help. We need ladders and calculators. We also need flyers distributed in your neighborhood and bake sale donations.

Please fill out the doodle poll (http://doodle.com/7wp6ffib57brtchf) if you can help/contribute. Please contact Kristin at kjurkoic@yahoo.com with any questions.

Remember to then walk across Centre Street to the front of the school and visit the 2nd Annual Yard Sale. Also to be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., proceeds from the Yard Sale will benefit the Washington, DC 8th grade trip.

Please bring in gently used clothing, household items, toys, etc., and contact Mr. Cardoso to volunteer at jcardoso@boston.k12.ma.us.

The 5th Annual Art Show will be this Thursday, April 12th from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Please use the Pershing Road bridge entrance. There will be a host of different things to experience:

• Performances by Ms. Taylor Knight and her dance students.
• Mr. Flanagan’s Middle School music students.
• Visual art by students from K-1 all the way to 8th grade. Proceeds of the 8th grade artwork sale will help fund the annual Washington, D.C. trip .
• Rally Middle School photo exhibit.
• Works by students of C.A.S.P., the Curley After School Program.
• Gently used Curley book sale.
• Special art exhibit from our faculty and staff, and our own Curley community artists.
• Delicious food will be served to support the Curley arts and science programs.

Cathy Drakes’ beautiful flyer can be downloaded here to remind you.

Volunteers Needed for Art Show

The Curley arts team are looking for some help before, during ,and after the Arts Showcase on Thursday, April 12th.

• 3:00-5:30 to help with set up
• 5:30-8:00 to help with arts activities
• 8:00-8:30 to help with clean up

If you can only help for part of the time that is fine as well. Help with the art making activities for an hour or so would be greatly appreciated!

Volunteers are also needed for the Book Sale – details are here.

Calling Curley Artists and Crafters

Parents, Guardians, Faculty, and Staff of the Curley School: It’s time to showcase YOUR artistic side. The Annual Spring Arts Showcase on APRIL 12th will offer a special exhibit section open to the greater Curley community. So don’t wait! Show your stuff!

• Staff: Please drop off your work with Anna Youman or Cathy Drakes any time during the school day from now until April 11.
• Parents: Please drop off your work before school (8-8:30am) in Ms. Youman’s room any time from now until April 11.

If you have work to contribute, but can’t make these drop off times, please contact Joe Wardwell (Wardwell@brandeis.edu). The final deadline is Wednesday, April 11 at 3 p.m.

Need reminding? Download this striking flyer designed by parent Dave Hamilton.

Volunteers are needed to help set up and run the Used Book Sale on Thursday, April 12 (same night as the Art Show). If you can help, please sign up on the Doodle poll. We have tons of great books so please spread the word. All kids books are 50 cents! We also have a great selection of adult fiction, biographies, cookbooks and more!

Boston’s public school district is home to one of the first Center for Green Schools Fellows:  sustainability coordinator Phoebe Beierle is one of only two Fellows currently active in the United States!  Phoebe will work within the district for three years, bringing together faculty, administration, facilities staff, teachers, and students to advance whole-district sustainability initiatives.   Phoebe will join the Curley community this Wednesday evening at 6pm as part of our parents’ council meeting to talk about how we can “green” our school.  (Please check out Phoebe’s bio at the end of this article).  Parents and teachers welcome!

The meeting will be in the Upper School Library.  Please enter at the Centre St. doors; the library is upstairs.  As usual food, childcare, and Spanish translation will be provided.  The meeting runs from 6-8pm (Phoebe’s presentation will be from 6-7pm).   Our agenda topics include the following:

• “Greening the Curley” – presentation by Phoebe Beierle, BPS Green Schools Fellow
• BPS Budget Update – What’s Next? (with guest speaker Lallie Lloyd, a public advocate who focuses on public education)
• Info re: Welcoming Next Year’s New Families
• Fundraising Updates (Recent Events)
• Curley SPC Budget Update
• School Site Council Update
• Upcoming Events:
  • Arts Showcase
  • Used Book Sale
  • Spring Clean-Up
  • Family Day/Curley Cookout

Phoebe Beierle brings diverse work experience in the areas of green building, renewable energy, corporate social responsibility and non-profit management to her role as the Green Schools Fellow for Boston Public Schools. At both the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (RET) and The Green Roundtable, she fostered strategic program partnerships and supported the design, construction, certification, curriculum implementation and financing policies of green schools within Massachusetts. While at the RET, she served as a green champion for districts looking to build green through the MA Green Schools Initiative, an incentive program to fund green building, renewable energy and green curriculum projects at K-12 public schools. As the head of this initiative, she worked hand-in-hand with School Building Committees and facilities staff and reviewed a dozen project submissions for compliance with LEED and MA-CHPS guidelines. Phoebe is a Board member of the MA USGBC Chapter and an active participant on the Green Schools Committee. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Psychology from Oberlin College.