A Memorable Memorial Day

Sweetsir students singing patriotic songs.

The cafeteria was overflowing with families at our Memorial Day Ceremony on May 24th.  Ms. Ramsey, our music teacher, managed to get all k-2 students on stage waving flags as they sang moving patriotic songs. Several second graders also shared special poems they wrote to thank military men and women for their service.

We are grateful to the veterans and the active military men and women who were able to join us.  Their presence was a highlight for students who have spent the past few weeks learning about the significance of Memorial Day.  A special thank you to American Legion Commander Roger Clark, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, for helping to host the ceremony. 

Special guests:  Stephen True, Dean Lischke, Roger Clark,
Paul Robbins, James Quinn, and Dudley Farquhar.

Ms. Ramsey assists Joey as he shares
a special poem for his grandfather.

Stop-Think-Stay Away!

Electric Safety Lesson at Sweetsir.

On May 20th, the Town of  Merrimac Light Department provided a special presentation on electric safety for our students in grades k-2.  Students enjoyed the opportunity to see the big trucks, safety gloves, and tools up close.

Thank you to Ray Gouley, Safety Consultant, and Francisco Frias, the new General Manager, who visited along with line men, Mr. Jennings and Mr. Saunders!  
Mr. Gouley stressed the importance of calling the Department anytime help is needed (even to retrieve kites, or spray a bees nest around power lines).  Students were encouraged to share the following safety tips with their parents:

• If you ever see power lines on the ground-"Stop- Think- Stay Away!"  Call the Electric Light Department immediately for help anytime wires are knocked over.
• Electricity can travel, so never spray water guns, silly string, or hornet/bee spray near the wires.  
• Only birds that fly can safely touch wires, hence many squirrels met their demise upon touching the ground.... The electricity in power lines is extremely dangerous, and fast moving, so never retrieve toys (such as kites or parachutes) from them. 
• During storms, stay away from tall trees and poles that could conduct electricity.
• Do not use electronics (including battery operated phones and video games) during thunder storms.  
• Call the Town to check where underground wires are located before digging any large holes.
• Always stay behind the coned area when trucks are present.  Ask workers for help if needed. 
• To ensure workers safety, remind parents to keep their eyes on the road (do not use cell phones) while driving.

CALL FOR HELP
 Mr. Saunders encouraged children to peek inside
the bucket.  The crew are happy to use it to
retrieve toys that land in the wires.

DIG SAFE

Before digging, always call the Town
to ensure no lines are present.

Pentucket Cares

Students have decorated posters for the lobby bulletin board
 about the soldier drive.

March 18th-22nd, we will be celebrating "Kindness Week" with theme days and special events.  Students will be encouraged to make cards and write letters of appreciation for members of our school community.  In the lobby, there will be a mailbox to 'mail' the letters in-house.  To show our support to military men and women, we will also be joining "Operation Pentucket Cares."  This High School group will be mailing donations to soldiers overseas.  A box will be placed in our lobby to collect items such as chapstick, popcorn, playing cards, and toiletries.  Students will also be decorating book markers for soldiers during art classes.  Please look for the brochure coming home this week via backpack with more details. 

Stop, Think, Stay Away

Ray Gouley, from the Merrimac Light & Water Department, gave safety presentations to students in grades k-2 on November 27th.  "Stop, Think, Stay Away," is the key phrase students learned to help them remember what to do if they encounter potentially dangerous situations.  

Students enjoyed watching a video featuring the character 'Mr. Ouch'.  We hope you will ask your child to tell you about 'Mr. Ouch' and review these tips Mr. Gouley covered during the presentations:

• Texting while driving leads to distracted drives; so cross the street with caution. 
• Do not play on or near electrical boxes (often they are green).
• Never go near a downed electrical wire.  Stay away and tell an adult to report it immediately.
• You should call the Department for help if kites, or other objects, get stuck in the wires.
• Do not put anything in a light socket. 
• Never put a utensil in the toaster.
• If cords are worn, tell a grown up so they can be replaced.
• Keep hair dryers, and other electrical appliances, away from water. Stay away from cords in the bathroom.  
• Curling irons are one of the most common cause of house fires.  They should be placed on a ceramic plate to cool.

A Community Against Bullying

'Be A Buddy; Not A Bully' banner held by assembly presenters and students.

It sends a powerful message when adults with different roles in the community stand together to speak against bullying.  On October 4th, Police Chief Eric Shears, Fire Chief Ralph Spencer, and Superintendent Dr. Jeff Mulqueen visited both Merrimac Schools to speak with students about the importance of being "A Buddy; Not A Bully."  The event was part of a community-wide initiative, which also included Groveland, West Newbury, and other neighboring towns.  Police Chief Eric Shears helped bring this initiative to all the Pentucket Schools.

The three Chiefs did a wonderful job tying the anti-bullying message in with the "Bucket Filler" theme we use all year long to promote kindness.  (Follow the link at the top of this blog for additional information about Bucket Filling).  After the assembly, students received green bracelets with the motto "Be A Buddy, Not A Bully" thanks to a generous donation from the Haverhill Bank.  School Counselors, Sarah Angell Pond and Amy Brennan, then invited students to sign a banner pledging to "Be A Buddy and A Bucket Filler." 

Below are some age appropriate examples we use as talking points. 

                  Being a Buddy means being a good friend (Bucket Filler):

§  Smiling and saying hello

§  Saying nice things to others- giving compliments

§  Using good manners- (saying please and thank you)

§  Offering to help others- (hold the door/ pick up someone’s pencil)

§  Inviting others children to play at recess or to sit with you at lunch

§  Sharing and taking turns

§  Respecting others space- ‘Keep your hands and feet to your self."

Buddies help to stop bullying (bucket dipping):

§  Remind others to be kind, and help them to learn and remember the rules

§  Using words to solve problems.  If someone does something you do not like, tell them with your words. ('I do not like it when you lean on my desk, please stop'.)

§  If someone is hurt or really upset, get help by telling a grown up.

Safety Practice

Once outside, teachers take a head
count to ensure all are safe.

Sweetsir Cafe seconds after a practice fire drill.

This was the view of our cafeteria seconds after the fire drill sounded on November 14th.  Watching 75 second graders exit quickly and smoothly out the cafeteria doors was impressive!  This was part of our safety plan to practice drills during different part of the day, so students and staff will be prepared in the event of a real life emergency.  

Our school is fortunate to have great support from the Merrimac Fire Department and the Merrimac Light & Water Department who visit several times a year to provide educational workshops for students.  On November 27th, students in grades k-2 will learn about electric safety during a presentation with Ray Gouley, from the Town Light Department.  Last month, several firefighters brought the ESCAPE smoke trailer for students to practice crawling out of a room with simulated smoke (click on labels in the right column to read posts regarding previous visits). The students really enjoy when these community members come by to speak with them.

Honoring Veterans

Many veterans and family members attended our annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 25th.  Children sang patriotic songs and shared heart touching poetry they had written to thank the men and women who served to keep our country safe. 

Kudos to Mrs. Ramsey for conducting
220 children so gracefully!

2011

Last year, these two brothers posed in front of a thank you banner after the ceremony so their mom could take a picture of them to send to their brother, a soldier stationed oversea.  He has since returned home safely and was able to join us this year!

As the bombs blow and the gun shots fire 

2012

you put your life on the line all for your country.

You travel mighty weather and bitter cold all for your country. 

You travel close and far all for your country.  

At the risk of death you never quit all for your country.  

No matter the circumstance you do your job all for your country.  

Thank you for protecting me.  

You deserve this so I'm honoring you with this poem!

-Poem by Aiden, gr. 2

Clark brothers

Commander Roger Clark attended with a group of veterans from the American Legion.  He and his brother had some pretty amusing stories to share after the ceremony.  If you see them around town, ask them to tell you what it was like growing up along the Merrimac River.  

This very moving video features the song, 'Thank you, soldiers.'  As they were learning the lyrics for the ceremony, students were shown this video to help them understand the significance behind the words.  The song was written by Michael and Angela Soulders.

Snack Charts & Carrots

Jennifer Karin, from Anna Jacques Hospital,
Puppeteer Leslie Smith & Sammy the Snail, and  Mary Beth Shea

Anna Jacques Hospital obtained a grant from the Moseley Foundation to fund a 'Healthy Snack' initiative at the Sweetsir School which began in April.  Each classroom was given a chart, as shown in the picture, so they could track the healthy snacks brought in by students.  The kick-off  for this initiative included a puppet show featuring Sammy the Snail and entertainer Leslie Smith.  As an incentive students earned trading cards depicting food based cartoon characters.  The grant also included books and videos about nutrition and exercise for our library.

The feedback from students has been extremely positive.  Last week, a mom told me she really appreciated the focus on healthy eating.  As a result, her son has been requesting she buy carrots and other vegetables for snacks on a regular basis!

Community Outreach

 Firefighter Michel McLeieer as  Preschool Guest Reader

The children of Merrimac are fortunate to have educational programs brought to the school by local community members. Ray Gould, from the Electric Light Department, and Michael McLeieer, from the Merrimac Fire Department, organize several safety prevention programs across grade levels.

On May 29th, the Electric Light Department plans to meet with children in grades k-2 to review summer safety tips, such as staying away from downed wires and kites caught in power lines.

Kids loved the giant mouth & toothbrush

Dr. St. Germain with Kindergartners

Local dentist, Dr. St. Germain, meets with kindergartners each year to teach them about oral hygiene and proper bushing techniques.

5-2-1-0 Puppet Show & Snack Graph

 On Wednesday, March 28th,  Leslie Smith and the Theatre of Life Puppets, will be performing a show about nutrition for Sweetsir students.  Parents and younger siblings are welcome to join us for the 1:30 show!

We are grateful to Anna Jacques Hospital for securing a grant from the Mosely Foundation.  As a result, they will provide the funding for the puppet show along with $1,500 worth of library books and materials to promote healthy eating and exercise!  Teachers will facilitate class discussions to help students decide if the snacks they bring to school are healthy choices.  Results will be graphed and displayed in the classroom for an ongoing period of time.  (Don't worry parents, we will send home hints and ideas for healthy snacks).    

Leslie Smith incorporates the 5-2-1-0 program, daily guidelines to fight childhood obesity, in her show: EVERYDAY eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, engage in 2 hours or less of screen time, exercise at least 1 hour, and, consume 0 sugary drinks.  For more information about the program visit: 5-2-1-0 Healthy or Let's Go.

Spinning for a Sweetheart

Have you heard of the little girl affectionately being referred to as "Mrs. Beiber"?  You may have seen her on the news around Valentine's Day.  This little sweetheart made national headlines when Justin Beiber flew her to New York to play Candyland.  The trip was a media sensation and the world fell in love with her.  Those of us who know her as Avalanna, a Sweetsir kindergartner, were not surprised.  She has that effect on people- her infectious laugh and beautiful personality fills others with joy.

The trip to NY was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the need to raise money to cure AT/RT.  This form of pediatric cancer is so rare that there is no cure and virtually no funding for research.  April 27th-29th, Avalanna's family and friends are putting together a 24 hour Spin-a-thon and a Spa Night to benefit 'Cure AT/RT Now', which they formed to support research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  The Sweetsir School is pleased to announce we are putting together a team to participate in this fundraiser.  Details will be sent home via backpack to explain how you can  form your own team or sponsor the 'Sweetsir Spinners'.   Monetary donations and checks made out to 'Cure AT/RT Now' will be collected at the Sweetsir School Office until April 27th.  Let's join together to prevent other children from experiencing this devastating illness.

Brownies in the Kitchen

Mrs. Linda Vienneau, Kitchen Manager and former girl scout, gave Brownie Troop 63140 a special behind the scenes tour of the Sweetsir kitchen. The girls wore hair nets and gloves while discussing healthy food choices. They said their favorite things to see were the jumbo cooking utensils and funny looking potatoes Mrs. Vienneau had set aside to show them.

Pettengill House

During the month of February, we will be collecting personal care products for Pettengill House. Items most needed include: toilet paper, soap, shampoo and diapers (especially larger sizes).

I have known the caring staff members at Pettengill House for several years and have seen them help many area families through troubled times. The Pettengill House mission is "to support and empower children and families by providing education, extensive case management, family stabilization and basic needs." For more information visit their website at http://www.pettengillhouse.org/
Our guidance counselor, Ms. Angell, and some students decorated this bulletin board in our front lobby.

Merrimac is a Caring Community

The Holiday Helper program was a huge success!  Community members joined with staff from the Donaghue and Sweetsir School to help over 30 families.  Local organizations, such as the Merrimac Garden Club, Merrimac PTO and many others, gave monetary donations to purchase warm clothing and toys.  Throughout the past year, Lion Club Members raised funds to provide each family a turkey dinner.  They partnered with the West Newbury Food Mart to provide the food baskets below.  Students also brought in mittens, hats and food donations. 

 

A special thank you to Kathy Devaney, Judy Kroner, Kathy Sullivan 

and the many other Holiday Helper organizers.

Mr. Ouch

We are very fortunate to have safety prevention programs provided 

by the Merrimac Light and Water Department! 

Earlier this month, the Merrimac Light and Water Department provided a valuable safety presentation for students.  Ray Gouley met with kindergarten, first and second graders to discuss potential dangers associated with common household items such as space heaters, hot curling irons, hair dryers and toasters. Students watched a safety video featuring 'Mr. Ouch' who taught them to 'Stop, Think and Stay away' whenever they spot electrical dangers.  Children were told to tell an adult and encourage them to call the Department if they see downed wires or encounter unsafe electrical situation.

Mr. Gouley also gave us a set of LED colored lights which were used at the PTO Santa Breakfast.
(Tip: the new LED lights are the brightest and use the least amount of electricity).

'Holiday Helper' Tradition

Giving Tree 2010
Girl Scouts handmade stockings
filled with mittens.

For many years, the Sweetsir School & Donaghue School have joined forces with community members and local organizations to provide holiday gifts for families experiencing financial hardship.  This wonderful tradition will continue again this year!  If you would like to contribute, food drives will be held at both elementary schools and gift cards or monetary donations may be brought to the school office (checks can be made payable to 'Holiday Helper').  After Thanksgiving, there will also be a 'Giving Tree' in the Sweetsir lobby for children to hang donations of mittens and gloves.  The tree is named after the book, by Shel Silverstein, featuring a tree that showed unconditional love by giving gifts.

A letter recently went home to let parents know how they can apply for assistance from the 'Holiday Helper' program.  For more information, please contact one of the elementary school nurses or guidance staff members. 

Lion Club Members 
help every year!

Both retired & current staff members
are behind the scene organizers.

Help Merrimac Win Fire Prevention Grant

As you can see from the posts below, the Merrimac Fire Department provides valuable Fire Safety and Prevention Programs for all four of our elementary schools.  Please help them receive grant funding to support this work.  Click on the link below to complete a 10 question quiz and help them earn $10,000!!!  The deadline is October 31, 2011.

http://www.befiresmart.com/merrimac-fire-department

Pentucket Education Foundation Nutrition Contest

Congratulations to Justin who won the PEF contest by drawing this picture of his favorite fruit- an apple!  Thank you to PEF for supporting our schools. For more information about PEF visit their website at:  http://www.pentucketedfund.org/