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.

Mrs. Vienneau named 'Super Lunch Hero'!

Special assembly honoring Mrs. Vienneau

On May 9th, representatives from the MA School Nutrition Association surprised our Kitchen Manager, Mrs. Linda Vienneau, at  a school-wide assembly.  She is the first school nutrition employee to be recognized as "Super Lunch Hero of Massachusetts" for outstanding food service.  For more details about her nomination, view postings on this blog labeled 'kitchen' or the Daily News article:  A Show of Love.

Linda Vienneau (center)
Principal, Mary Beth Shea; Food Service Director, Bonnie Kitsakos; and
Child Nutrition Association Representatives, Janice Watt & Jane McLucas

Career Day

Fashion Designers and Runway Model

 Champion Horse Rider

Secret FBI Agent and Pro Athletes

Rancher

During recent guidance lessons, students have been learning about careers.  On April 23rd, they were invited to dress as a future career option.  As you can see, they were many creative outfits!

Veterinarian

Salon Owner

Business Manager

Doctor

Lego Engineer

Health Care Professionals

Ballerinas

Playwright and Teacher

Military Hero

Future Athletic Stars
 with Photographer (Ms. Carroll)

Gold Medalists

Our Super Lunch Hero

Posters drawn by Ms. V-No
to advertise daily specials.

To kick off "Child Nutrition Employee Week", which begins May 6th, the MA School Nutrition Association is holding an essay contest to find a "Super Lunch Hero."  

Take a peek at the next few blog posts to discover why I am nominating the Sweetsir School Kitchen Manger, Linda Vienneau.  Her contagious sense of humor, tremendous enthusiasm, and dedication make her worthy of such an honor.  Ms. Vieneau (last name sounds like V-No) always has a super clean kitchen and goes above & beyond to promote school lunch as a healthy choice for children.

Career Day
Student inspired by Ms. V-No

In addition to the post below, Ms. Vienneau has been featured in past blog entries.  Follow the kitchen label in right column to see pictures of a brownie troop tour and a video of Mrs. Vienneau making bread.  She is our Super Lunch Hero- Bon Appetite!

Fool's Fun

First grader with Linda Vienneau, our Kitchen Manger.

On April 1st, this first grader made a "Fool's Hat" for Ms. Vienneau, he said it was "to give her a taste of her own medicine."  Throughout the day, Ms. Vienneau had played a number of April Fool's Day pranks on students and faculty.  For example, she cut up the lunch order slips and glued them on to long pieces of paper.  In the morning, when students and teachers went to fill out the order forms they had a good chuckle.

Mrs. V-No has school spirit!

She decorated pumpkins as Ernie & Bert
to decorate the kitchen for fall.

Ms. Vienneau, our Kitchen Manager, has a knack for spreading school spirit!  Her enthusiasm is a perfect fit for prek-2 school.  She even spells her name tag phonetically as V-No.  Here are some examples of the many ways Ms. V-No adds fun to our school:

• Throughout the year, she decorates the kitchen for each season with her own hand-made creations, including gingerbread houses and specially decorated pumpkins.

With students on Book Character Day.

• She randomly surprises students with stickers for eating their vegetables and trying new dishes. 

• She created 'Lucky Lunch Day', to encourage students who might not normally buy a lunch to try school food.  (Students who participate are randomly chosen for prizes she purchased).

• If there is a surplus of a particular side item, she draws funny faces on them to entice students to choose it.  (A clever way to promote white milk over chocolate).

• She not only dresses up for school theme days, i.e., "Career Day" and "Book Character Day," she also creates her own theme days.  For example, on Cinco de Mayo you will find her wearing a sombrero and mustache.

Lucky Lunch Prizes

• On her own birthday, she dons a birthday crown and gives away special pencils.

• She is also a talented cake maker who creates special cakes for staff meetings and retirement parties.

• She participates in school events on weekends and evenings-even bringing along her grown daughter to share a PTO Breakfast with Santa.

Cake she created for staff members
.

• Ms. V-No is always ready with age appropriate jokes. "What do you say if someone tries to take your cheese?....Nacho-cheese."  (Told while serving nachos).

Spending a Saturday morning with
 her daughter at a PTO event.

Posters she created to advertise
lunch menu.