Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Twas the Night Before a Test
Mrs. Ferguson's 4th grade students created the following story:
Twas the Night Before a Test
by
Mrs. Ferguson’s Fourth Grade
Twas the night before a test, and I was so confused.
I could hardly think at dinner. “Mom, can I be excused?”
I had to go study for my math test on the double
My brain wasn’t working, so I was in big trouble.
The angles and addition signs were making me dizzy.
I couldn’t think at all because I was so busy.
I looked at the clock and it was ticking so fast.
I left the subtraction and variables for last.
The clock struck midnight and I jumped into bed
As I was dreaming of the test I did dread.
I tossed and turned all through the night;
This big math test was giving me a fright!
At 6:45, I sprang from my bed
I was so nervous, I punched my brother’s head.
I felt like a big, idiotic fool.
“Oh please, Mom , I’m sick; I don’t want to go to school!”
As I threw on my favorite orange sweatshirt,
I was thinking so hard that my brain really hurt.
I packed my lunch and put it in my red backpack.
The anxiety was killing me; I started to yak.
I walked outside and saw my neighbor, Gus.
Then it caught my eye- that big, yellow bus.
I sat right next to my best buddy
On the way to the Woodville, I started to study.
We got into class and separated our seats
I didn’t want to sit near anyone who cheats.
Decimals, measurement, adding, and fractions
I couldn’t concentrate with so many distractions.
I was so nervous that my heart skipped a beat.
My body was shaking from my head to my feet.
I didn’t know the answer to question number four
Oh my gosh! I can’t stand it anymore!
Question ten was an open response on a chart.
I’ll write, “My work is in the grid.” It makes me look smart.
When I finished my test, I thought I was going to flunk.
My best subject is science. In math, I really stunk.
I came back from art with the picture I painted
Then I walked into the classroom and suddenly fainted.
My friend, Isabella, asked, “Are you all right?”
“I am just fine, but the test grade gives me a fright.”
I got up and slowly limped to my desk in pain.
Mrs. F saw my fall and gave me a candy cane.
Shivering in fear, not knowing what was to come.
I plopped in my seat thinking that I was dumb.
On my desk was the test, but I covered my eyes
Then I opened them and saw a great, big surprise.
Twenty out of twenty! What an excellent score!
Even on my open response, I received a 4!
Twas the Night Before a Test
by
Mrs. Ferguson’s Fourth Grade
Twas the night before a test, and I was so confused.
I could hardly think at dinner. “Mom, can I be excused?”
I had to go study for my math test on the double
My brain wasn’t working, so I was in big trouble.
The angles and addition signs were making me dizzy.
I couldn’t think at all because I was so busy.
I looked at the clock and it was ticking so fast.
I left the subtraction and variables for last.
The clock struck midnight and I jumped into bed
As I was dreaming of the test I did dread.
I tossed and turned all through the night;
This big math test was giving me a fright!
At 6:45, I sprang from my bed
I was so nervous, I punched my brother’s head.
I felt like a big, idiotic fool.
“Oh please, Mom , I’m sick; I don’t want to go to school!”
As I threw on my favorite orange sweatshirt,
I was thinking so hard that my brain really hurt.
I packed my lunch and put it in my red backpack.
The anxiety was killing me; I started to yak.
I walked outside and saw my neighbor, Gus.
Then it caught my eye- that big, yellow bus.
I sat right next to my best buddy
On the way to the Woodville, I started to study.
We got into class and separated our seats
I didn’t want to sit near anyone who cheats.
Decimals, measurement, adding, and fractions
I couldn’t concentrate with so many distractions.
I was so nervous that my heart skipped a beat.
My body was shaking from my head to my feet.
I didn’t know the answer to question number four
Oh my gosh! I can’t stand it anymore!
Question ten was an open response on a chart.
I’ll write, “My work is in the grid.” It makes me look smart.
When I finished my test, I thought I was going to flunk.
My best subject is science. In math, I really stunk.
I came back from art with the picture I painted
Then I walked into the classroom and suddenly fainted.
My friend, Isabella, asked, “Are you all right?”
“I am just fine, but the test grade gives me a fright.”
I got up and slowly limped to my desk in pain.
Mrs. F saw my fall and gave me a candy cane.
Shivering in fear, not knowing what was to come.
I plopped in my seat thinking that I was dumb.
On my desk was the test, but I covered my eyes
Then I opened them and saw a great, big surprise.
Twenty out of twenty! What an excellent score!
Even on my open response, I received a 4!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Movie Night
The PTO hosted a movie night for students so parents could get some holiday shopping done or go to the Galvin music concert. Students had a great time.
This Week's Principal's Award Winner
This week’s Principal’s Award goes to Allison in Ms. Bedrick’s second grade class. Allsion is a great role model for the whole Woodville community. She works very carefully on all her assignments and loves to challenge herself. She is a kind friend to all of her classmates. She likes to do the right thing and her teacher can always count on her for help around the classroom. She is respectful, caring, honest, responsible, and cooperative. She always has a smile on her face!
This Week's Staff Spotlight
Joanne Tedeschi, Moderate Special Needs Teacher
Believe it or not, Mrs. Joanne Tedeschi has been teaching in Wakefield for thirty years. She has been a special education teacher my entire career and has taught in many elementary schools in Wakefield. She lives in Needham. Mrs. Tedeschi has two daughters, ages 19 and 24. Her hobbies include reading and taking long walks.
Believe it or not, Mrs. Joanne Tedeschi has been teaching in Wakefield for thirty years. She has been a special education teacher my entire career and has taught in many elementary schools in Wakefield. She lives in Needham. Mrs. Tedeschi has two daughters, ages 19 and 24. Her hobbies include reading and taking long walks.
Guest Reader
Mrs. Campbell invited a guest reader (Mrs. Lombardi) in to the classroom to share a holiday story with the Kindergarten students.
Hamburger Writing
Students in Mrs. Ferguson's 4th grade class have been learning about adding details to their writing in Writer's Workshop. Here, they have some great paragraphs written using the hamburger model to have an introductory and conclusion paragraph as the buns and then the detail paragraphs as the burger, lettuce, etc.
Word Study
Students in Mr. Bouchard's 4th grade class were studying "r controlled" words in their word study lesson.
Calendar Time
Students in Mrs. Burdick's first grade class were busy doing their calendar center which reinforces many math concepts.
The Continents
Students in Mrs. Ryan's second grade class have been learning about the different continents in their Social Studies class.
Immigration
Students in Mrs. Foley's 4th grade class are currently studying Immigration in Social Studies and these student performed a skit about Ellis Island.
Raising Money for a Good Cause
This week, we had a Woodville spirit day where students could dress up in Patriots gear for our coin drive. We raised over $250.00. The proceeds will go to purchase food for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Getting in the Holiday Spirit
For the next week, every morning we will be singing a holiday song to get us in the spirit.
Friday, December 10, 2010
This Week's Principal's Award Winner
This week’s Principal’s Award goes to Zachary in Mrs. McDonald and Mrs. Machaiek’s second grade class. Zachary puts care and thought into everything he does. His teachers can always count on him to give 100% effort and pass in quality work. He is a good friend that is always kind to his peers and willing to help others. Zach is an excellent role model that consistently exhibits the school core values. We are very proud of you Zach, keep up the good work!
This Week's Staff Spotlight
Marina Kontos, First Grade Teacher
Ms. Kontos is a first grade teacher at the Woodville School. She is a 2003 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School and a 2007 graduate of Merrimack College. Currently, Ms. Kontos is enrolled in a Master’s in Special Education Program at Merrimack and will complete the program in May 2011. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to teach in Wakefield. Having gone through the Wakefield School system Ms. Kontos is grateful to have the chance to give back to a community that has given so much to her. Her hobbies include taking care of her puppy, Giorgi, shopping and traveling to Greece.
Ms. Kontos is a first grade teacher at the Woodville School. She is a 2003 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School and a 2007 graduate of Merrimack College. Currently, Ms. Kontos is enrolled in a Master’s in Special Education Program at Merrimack and will complete the program in May 2011. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to teach in Wakefield. Having gone through the Wakefield School system Ms. Kontos is grateful to have the chance to give back to a community that has given so much to her. Her hobbies include taking care of her puppy, Giorgi, shopping and traveling to Greece.
Message from Superintendent Landers
Dear Parents & Staff of the Wakefield Public Schools,
As we enter the holiday season, I want to remind everyone about the Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Law (MGL Chapter 268A) as it relates to the giving of gifts by parents or parent organizations to individuals employed by the Wakefield Public Schools.
Recently, the State Ethics Commission has approved amendments to the section of the law on gift giving and acceptance. These new regulations are currently in effect and it is recommended that teachers and parents follow them accordingly.
In summary, the new regulations on gift giving and acceptance are as follows:
Teachers are allowed to accept a gift(s) with a combined value of up to a maximum of $150 per year from their current public school students and/or their parents as long as the gift is identified only as being from the class, and the identity of givers and the amounts given by each individual are not identified to the teacher receiving the gift.
A teacher accepting a gift of less than $50 from a current student, according to the regulations, will need to complete a disclosure form and send that disclosure form to Mary Kay Galvin, the Town Clerk, at Town Hall. A copy of the disclosure form can be found on the homepage of Wakefield Public Schools under the staff tab.
A teacher may accept a gift to the classroom that is to be used for the class and which will become the property of the school district. The teacher should let the building principal know so that the gift can be properly accepted as a gift by the Wakefield School Committee.
Here are some examples:
Example: A teacher has a class with 23 students. Parents of 20 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $150 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift. One of the parents who did not contribute to the class gift gives the teacher a $25 certificate to a local restaurant. The teacher may accept the $150 class gift certificate and no disclosure is required; the teacher may not accept any other gift from the parents who contributed to the class gift. The teacher may accept the $25 certificate, but must file a disclosure.
Example: A teacher has a class with 23 students. Parents of 13 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $130 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift. Parents of the other 10 students collect money and give the teacher a $100 gift certificate to an office supply store, indicating that the gift is a gift to the classroom and that the teacher should use it to buy necessary classroom supplies. The teacher can accept the first gift on his/her own behalf and the second on behalf of the classroom. He/she must spend the $100 office supply gift certificate on classroom supplies and should keep receipts documenting those purchases. Items purchased with money that is a gift to the classroom are the property of the school district. The teacher may not knowingly accept any additional gift from parents who participated in the class gift.
The administration is not discouraging the community from recognizing the dedication and efforts of our staff members. I sincerely applaud all the efforts of everyone that works with our children.
Further information can be obtained on the mass.gov website under the State Ethics Commission 930 CMR 5.00, Gift Exemptions.
Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. During this special time of the school year, I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. ---Joan Landers
As we enter the holiday season, I want to remind everyone about the Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Law (MGL Chapter 268A) as it relates to the giving of gifts by parents or parent organizations to individuals employed by the Wakefield Public Schools.
Recently, the State Ethics Commission has approved amendments to the section of the law on gift giving and acceptance. These new regulations are currently in effect and it is recommended that teachers and parents follow them accordingly.
In summary, the new regulations on gift giving and acceptance are as follows:
Teachers are allowed to accept a gift(s) with a combined value of up to a maximum of $150 per year from their current public school students and/or their parents as long as the gift is identified only as being from the class, and the identity of givers and the amounts given by each individual are not identified to the teacher receiving the gift.
A teacher accepting a gift of less than $50 from a current student, according to the regulations, will need to complete a disclosure form and send that disclosure form to Mary Kay Galvin, the Town Clerk, at Town Hall. A copy of the disclosure form can be found on the homepage of Wakefield Public Schools under the staff tab.
A teacher may accept a gift to the classroom that is to be used for the class and which will become the property of the school district. The teacher should let the building principal know so that the gift can be properly accepted as a gift by the Wakefield School Committee.
Here are some examples:
Example: A teacher has a class with 23 students. Parents of 20 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $150 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift. One of the parents who did not contribute to the class gift gives the teacher a $25 certificate to a local restaurant. The teacher may accept the $150 class gift certificate and no disclosure is required; the teacher may not accept any other gift from the parents who contributed to the class gift. The teacher may accept the $25 certificate, but must file a disclosure.
Example: A teacher has a class with 23 students. Parents of 13 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $130 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift. Parents of the other 10 students collect money and give the teacher a $100 gift certificate to an office supply store, indicating that the gift is a gift to the classroom and that the teacher should use it to buy necessary classroom supplies. The teacher can accept the first gift on his/her own behalf and the second on behalf of the classroom. He/she must spend the $100 office supply gift certificate on classroom supplies and should keep receipts documenting those purchases. Items purchased with money that is a gift to the classroom are the property of the school district. The teacher may not knowingly accept any additional gift from parents who participated in the class gift.
The administration is not discouraging the community from recognizing the dedication and efforts of our staff members. I sincerely applaud all the efforts of everyone that works with our children.
Further information can be obtained on the mass.gov website under the State Ethics Commission 930 CMR 5.00, Gift Exemptions.
Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. During this special time of the school year, I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. ---Joan Landers
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Geometry in 4th Grade
Students in Mrs. Ferguson's fourth grade class were being quizzed on types on angles (right, acute, obtuse) during this geometry lesson.
Reading with Mrs. McDonald
Students in Mrs. McDonald and Mrs. Machaiek's second grade class were having fun in their reading group with Mrs. McDonald.
Reader's Workshop
Students in Mrs. Ryan's second grade class were actively engaged in their center activities for Reader's Workshop.
Wakefield's Bullying Parent Survey
As part of the Anti-Bullying Legislation, we would like to gather data from parents throughout Wakefield regarding bullying. Please use the following link to take the anonymous survey.
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e36b75j9gh6ekchp/start
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e36b75j9gh6ekchp/start
Friday, December 3, 2010
This Week's Principal's Award
This week’s Principal’s Award goes to Camila from Mrs. Shea’s first grade class. She moved to Wakefield from North Carolina this summer and her teacher is very happy she came to us! She is a wonderful friend who thinks about others and finds ways to help out all the time. Her work in class is carefully done and she will find a nice way to help someone who doesn't understand how to do something. She is thoughtful and makes fun surprises for all of us that are creative and just what we need. Thank you, Camila, for being such a great new friend and we are lucky that you are in our school!
This Week's Staff Spotlight
Shannon Blacker, SPED/Assistant Principal
This is Mrs. Blacker’s tenth year working in Wakefield. She has been working with special needs students and has a love for making a difference in their lives. She has also been the Assistant Principal for six years. Mrs. Blacker first started working at the Franklin School and then moved here to the Woodville. She has been so lucky to work with so many wonderful teachers and families over the years. Mrs. Blacker enjoys playing and coaching sports in my free time. She recently married her husband, Ross on October 2, 2010!
This is Mrs. Blacker’s tenth year working in Wakefield. She has been working with special needs students and has a love for making a difference in their lives. She has also been the Assistant Principal for six years. Mrs. Blacker first started working at the Franklin School and then moved here to the Woodville. She has been so lucky to work with so many wonderful teachers and families over the years. Mrs. Blacker enjoys playing and coaching sports in my free time. She recently married her husband, Ross on October 2, 2010!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wakefield's Anti-Bullying Plan
By December 31, 2010, all public school districts in Massachusetts must submit a draft of a bullying plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We have created our plan based on the state’s model plan. The draft Plan is on the Wakefield Public School’s website (www.wakefield.k12.ma.us) under the Parent Tab on the main page. The plan will be under “Bullying Resources.” If you would like to make a comment about the plan, please feel free to do so to Fitzpatrick@wakefield.k12.ma.us by December 10, 2010.
WEF Grants Announced
I am so pleased to announce the Woodville teachers who were awarded Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) grants.
• Two of our Physical Education teachers, Mr. Feldman and Ms. Edson, were awarded a grant for lacrosse, which covered going to a conference and participating in a lacrosse workshop. They were also awarded money to buy lacrosse equipment to be shared throughout the district.
• Miss Christine in our PreSchool Program was awarded a grant for Boardmaker Version 6 for Windows which will aid in student communication.
• Mrs. Hughes, our technology teacher was awarded a grant to purchase Stop Motion Animation Software & Webcams. It will be utilized by Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Marino, one of our Art teachers for our 4th Graders. We will have some fun videos made by them before they are "Moving On".
• Mrs. Hughes, who also wears the hat as Cultural Arts chair for our PTO was awarded a grant that will fund our January 27th shows entitled "Bach to Rock" by Caryn Lin the Electric Violinist.
There were other staff members that submitted grant requests but due to the overwhelming number of submissions, they were unable to be funded. I would like to thank all those who submitted grants for their hard work on behalf of our Woodville students!
• Two of our Physical Education teachers, Mr. Feldman and Ms. Edson, were awarded a grant for lacrosse, which covered going to a conference and participating in a lacrosse workshop. They were also awarded money to buy lacrosse equipment to be shared throughout the district.
• Miss Christine in our PreSchool Program was awarded a grant for Boardmaker Version 6 for Windows which will aid in student communication.
• Mrs. Hughes, our technology teacher was awarded a grant to purchase Stop Motion Animation Software & Webcams. It will be utilized by Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Marino, one of our Art teachers for our 4th Graders. We will have some fun videos made by them before they are "Moving On".
• Mrs. Hughes, who also wears the hat as Cultural Arts chair for our PTO was awarded a grant that will fund our January 27th shows entitled "Bach to Rock" by Caryn Lin the Electric Violinist.
There were other staff members that submitted grant requests but due to the overwhelming number of submissions, they were unable to be funded. I would like to thank all those who submitted grants for their hard work on behalf of our Woodville students!
Math Number Stories
Students in Ms. Kontos' first grade class were working on addition and subtraction story problems using bears as manipulatives.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Hat Day - Toiletry Drive
Students at the Woodville School participated in crazy hat day and they were encouraged to bring toiletries into school for care packages to send to our troops serving our country. In addition, students wrote cards and letters to the troops.
Shapes in Technology
Students in Mrs. Hughes' Technology classes recently created images in Paint of interesting shapes.
Physical Education Time
Students from Mrs. Shea's first grade class were enjoying their Phys Ed time with Mr. Feldman. Students were working on their locomotor skills (skip, gallop, and slide). Then, Mr. Feldman was assessing students on their kicking skills.
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