Warwick Community School
Warwick Community School
For 2009 - 2010 school bus routes go here.
Web-site for info on Warwick Community School:
http://warwick.pioneervalley.k12.ma.us/
Web-site for info on Pioneer Valley Regional School:
http://www.pioneervalley.k12.ma.us/
Web-site for info on Franklin County Technical School:
March 1- All School Meeting: 2:15 PM
March 5- District In-Service Day: No School
March 8- PTO Meeting: 6:30 PM- WCS Library
March 9- Grades 3-4 Field Trip to Shea Theater
March 10- District Preschool Screening
March 10- Grades 1-2 Field Trip to the Pratt Museum
March 15- Read Across America!
March 16- Reports Cards
March 17- Early Release: Parent Conferences
March 23- MCAS: Grade 4 Written Composition
March 25- PVRSD School Committee: 7:00 PM PVRS Library
March 29 - April 2: MCAS Grades 3-6 English Language Arts
March 31- WCS School Council: 6:30 PM WCS Library
It is with sadness that we recognize the loss of former Warwick Community School student, Makenzie Goode. WCS staff members that knew Makenzie recall her wonderful spirit and good nature. The entire WCS staff extends their sympathy to her family and friends.
The first and second graders have been studying the writing genre of poetry. Here is an example of their beautiful work:
Sand dollar
I wonder why you have a star in the
middle...?
You remind me of ocean treasure,
You look like Patrick's star!
You sound like a baby's rattle,
You sound like rocks, bouncing rocks.
You feel like my daddy's hands!
You're as fragile as gold,
You're like a golden wheel!
March is a busy month:
At the suggestion of WCS 5th and 6th graders, the students in our school will be making Haiti House pins. These pins will be sold to help with disaster relief for the earthquake victims in Haiti.
We could use parent help!!! If you are interested in working with students or preparing materials at home for the project, please contact the WCS office. We could also use donations of the following supplies: White mat board, Colored
WCS will again be offering an after school program to help prepare students for the MCAS. This program is supported through district funds, and provided by WCS staff.
The WCS sprinkler system continues to be "off-line" or disabled, awaiting repair. When the cost of a school building project is over $5000, it becomes a capital expense, and is presented to the town to fund. The WCS sprinkler system is on the capital request to the town. David Young, Town Administrator, is currently in the process of applying for grant funds for the repair, in hopes of having the work done over the summer.
At times the system collects condensation, and drips through the sprinkler heads. The source of a recent "drip" in the hallway near the cafeteria was particularly difficult to solve. We have since increased the number of times we drain, or "bleed" the system. We hope to soon repair the ceiling staining that was a result of the drip.
As I have attempted to fill Julienne's shoes for two weeks in grade one and two while she is in on a teacher exchange in Indonesia, it has become abundantly clear to me that the staff at Warwick Community School daily perform complicated and delicate work that magically provides your child or children with an amazing educational experience.
Somehow they find the time each and every day to:
I am duly impressed with this school and feel very fortunate to be a part of such a talented group of people. Join me and extending kudos to the staff at WCS!
From the "New Kid on the Block",
Laurel Powell, WCS Librarian and Grade 1-2 Substitute Teacher
**Thanks to Emily Peters for her generous donation of healthy classroom snacks!!**
**Also to the PTO, for yummy treats after of Winter Concert!!**
In the multi-age classroom the children have begun working with patterns in math.
There are many levels to learning about patterns, from matching, to extending to creating. Soon, this work will be combined with a study of how cloth is made. Carol Schnaubel is a spinner and weaver, who will spend two days working with the children. We also hope to study patterns of Indonesian weaving when Julienne returns from Indonesia.
In Social Studies, Children have been practicing working together. They have worked with partners to create puzzles and buildings, and have played games that involve taking turns. They worked with their 3rd and 4th grade buddies this week, creating collages of 'black and white working together' as a symbol of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream.
Playing outside, children have really enjoyed sledding, making angels and - for the first time the other day - the snow was right for rolling snowballs!
Allison White
Our web site has been updated!!
http://warwick.pioneervalley.k12.ma.us/Please Join the Next
PTO Meeting!!!
February 8
6:30 PM
WCS Library
New members welcome!
For January and February, we will be spotlighting famous African Americans during Black History Month. Check the window of the library for information, photographs and books. We'll showcase individuals that match our focus for the day. For instance, Satchel Paige or Jackie Robinson would be on display on Thursdays, our physical education days. On Tuesdays when Kim is teaching music we'll present Louis Armstrong and other musicians.
Materials needed: Felt, materials scraps and yarn for art and crafts projects.
Library Days - Monday: Multiage, Grades 1/2 and Grades 5/6 Thursday: Grade 3/4
During the month of December and the beginning of January we focused on the following reading comprehension strategies: fact and opinion, compare and contrast, and making judgments. In addition, we focused for several weeks on the reading genre of biography. A biography is a person's true life story. Students each chose and read a biography at their reading level. They then gathered and used information from their book to complete a poster report. One component of the poster report was to complete a Mini-Movie in which students were asked to draw and describe the three most important scenes of their subjects' lives inside a film strip graphic organizer. Posters representing many different people from Anne Frank to Harry Houdini can be seen both in our classroom and in the hall by the cafeteria.
We have also begun to take part in Literature Circles. Groups of students are reading the same chapter book and engage in projects and discussions based on their book. Each member of the group has a responsibility for discussion. Some of the jobs are: Literary Luminary (Their job is to choose a paragraph or sentences from the book to discuss with the group. The purpose is to help other students by spotlighting something interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or important from the text.), Connector (Their job is to find connections between the book and the outside world. This means connecting to what you read with your own life, to what happens at school or in the community, to similar events at other times and places, to other people or problems), and Travel Chaser (Their job is to track where the action takes place. They need to describe each setting in detail, either in words or with a picture map that they can show and discuss with their group).
Jennifer Comiskey
WCS Wish List...... Thanks in advance if you can contribute in any of the following ways:
* Volunteer to:
* Donations of table cloths for special occasion community meals
Updated information on the H1N1 flu and district policies and protocols are available on the district web site: http://www.pioneervalley.k12.ma.us/PVRSD/ and is sent home to families as it is made available to us. Please see this month's "Notes from the Nurse" and the request that hand sanitizers not be sent to school.
Appropriate footwear for recess and gym class continues to be a hot topic this school year. Shoe fashion can be lots of fun; however, heels or soles that hold the foot a distance from the ground are an accident waiting to happen particularly during recess and gym class. Also dangerous is any slip-on shoe that is not held on securely by a strap or lace or something.
If you are wondering if your childs shoes are appropriate for recess, picture them in the shoes in question climbing on our playground equipment that is made solely of metal bars. Picture them trying to run across the field.
Also think about the fact that research shows that girls who participate in sports and physical activity have greater self- esteem. Do you want to decrease their ability to participate in physical activity or encourage them to join in and play with exuberance? Wearing sneakers to school is a great solution, but just wearing them at recess and gym class can be another solution. Please give this some thought and take action to provide your student with the optimal physical activity opportunity. The girls can't have a level playing field with the boys if they are wearing inappropriate footwear!
Preparation for flu season is underway, however it is actually our usual beginning of the school year with each classroom reviewing and practicing our basic "stay healthy" habits which include:
Handwashing is always the most effective method for cleaning hands any time soap and water are available. Hand sanitizers (gels, foams) are the second best, but should only be used when soap and water are not available. With this in mind we are asking parents and guardians not to send hand sanitizer to school. We are fortunate to have a school with sinks and soap in every classroom which allows us to limit ourselves to the best method of cleaning hands. Please be aware that children's unsupervised use of hand sanitizers nationwide has led to emergency room visits and increased blood alcohol levels.
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