MassCue

Mrs. Sabella learned how to use Twitter
while waiting for the conference to begin.

In October, twenty educators from across the district attended the MassCue (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators) Conference at Gillette Stadium.

Workshops featured many of the latest technologies and practical strategies for implementing them in classrooms.  In between sessions, the room was buzzing with teachers exchanging ideas and sharing useful sites.

Sweetsir teachers were excited to learn about many of the free apps available to support our reading and writing programs.  Thanks to the PTO, our school recently received two new ipads.  One will be used by the Speech Language Pathologist, and the other will be shared by the grade two team.  These ipads will give our teachers an opportunity to explore using hand held devices as an educational tool.

The Merrimac PTO ROCKS!

Parent Volunteers at the 2011 Festival

Wow, the Merrimac PTO has done it again.  This active group of volunteers has scheduled three major events for Donaghue and Sweetsir families during the month of October!  Fliers with details about the upcoming Wizard's Game, Yard Sale, and Harvest Family Festival will be sent home via backpacks this week.  They are hoping more parents will sign up to help run the events.  To learn more about the PTO, attend their next monthly meeting on October 10th from 7:00pm-8:30pm in the Sweetsir library, and check out their newly revised website with online links to sign up as a volunteer:  http://merrimacpto.org/.  

On October 16th, the Harlem Wizards will be returning to play against some brave Donaghue and Sweetsir staff members.  For those of us old enough to remember, this team replicates the same wacky comedy and amazing tricks made famous by the Harlem Globe Trotters. The last time our PTO brought the Wizards to Pentucket the game was sold out, so be sure to purchase tickets in advance.  This is a really fun, wholesome show for families.  (Check out the video below of their last visit).  The players even came to both schools for a pre-game pep rally to build excitement.

Winter Swap and Take...For Thrifty Parents

It is so expensive to buy winter apparel for growing children each year!  I was fortunate my children were born after many cousins.  They have several aunts who passed along outgrown clothing and a grandmother whose favorite hobby is shopping.  She loved that things were passed along and used it as an excuse to shop at really nice stores so clothes would last through several grandchildren.  As a young mom, I always appreciated receiving costly winter coats, boots and snow pants.

Sweetsir students love to play in the snow at recess, but may only do so if they have all the winter gear listed in the "High Five Rule."  Therefore, for the first three weeks of November we will be having a special 'Swap and Take' table in the front lobby.  Everyone is welcome to participate!  If you like to save money and recycle, feel free to take something from the table.  If you have gently used winter coats, snow pants or boots to share, just leave them in the lobby.  Anything left over will be donated to a local charity over Thanksgiving Break.

High Five Rule:
Students may play in the snow at recess only if they have all of the following:
1) Winter Coat  2) Snow Pants  3) Boots  4)  Hat  5) Mittens or Gloves