DANGER ZONE

Bus drivers can not see anything in the danger zone area pictured above.  Please teach your children to stay at least 4 feet away from buses at all times.  To cross the street, go at least 4 feet in front of the bus and stand still as you look at the driver.  Wait until he/she gives the 'thumbs up' gesture to signal it is safe to cross.  Remind them if they drop something while crossing, do not stop to pick it up.  Continue to cross, then ask the bus driver to help retrieve it.

As I rode the mid-day kindergarten bus today, I realized this is a procedure we need to practice, practice, practice.  The new buses do not have the safety bar that use to swing way out in front of the bus as a reminder that the driver can not see directly in front of the hood.  Parents, please talk with your children about the above danger zone and model how to wait for the "thumbs up"signal  (more than once today, I saw a parent help their child on the bus then run back across the street without checking to see if the driver could see them).  Picture how difficult it is for a driver to monitor forty children behind them, while also keeping track of who is crossing in front of them.

First Day of School

A mother, grandmother, and little brother wave good bye and watch as children

line up in the cafeteria for morning arrival.

Kindergartners take their first walk in line down the hallway to Mrs. Richard's room.
(Check out how shinny those floors are~ kudos to the custodians!)

Parents, please remember to complete and send back all the beginning of the year paperwork sent home.  

Tips for Talking About Loss

Our Counseling Staff put together this list of tips and resources.  Ms. Sarah Angell, Guidance Counselor, and Ms. Amy Brennan, School Psychologist, work with students and families at both Sweetsir and Donaghue Schools.  They are available to support families and students with helpful strategies in times of need.

Some tips for talking with your child about loss:

·There is no “best” way to talk with students about this.  The main point to remember is to just be honest.  Openly recognize your feelings by sharing that you are upset and feeling sad too. 

 

•Focus on the facts.  Less is more.  It’s ok to say “I don’t know” if they ask you a question you can’t answer.

·Establish open lines of communication.  Let children know it is ok to talk about this.  How they are feeling.

•Avoid euphemistic phrases that may confuse children (i.e. she’s not with us anymore).  Young or very concrete children might think “where did she go?” 

•Remind your child that everyone deals with grief and sadness in different ways.  Just because someone isn’t crying doesn’t mean they don’t feel sad.  Reassure kids it’s also ok if they want to sit quietly or don’t want to talk about it.

·It is not always easy to “hear” what a child is really asking.  It may be necessary to respond to a question with a question to fully understand the child’s real concern. Focus on answering the hidden meaning of the question being asked.  Questions and statements that kids make may reflect fears for their own health and safety or that of loved ones. 

·A death often brings up memories and feelings of a previous death or loss in their lives.

•Suggest ways to help support family and close friends.  (For example make cards, draw pictures, share memories).  School will plan a more lasting memorial in the coming weeks.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Adams, John. The Dragonfly Door.  Feather Rock Books, 2007.  Life cycle of dragonfly.

Bunting, Eve. Rudi's Pond. Sandpiper 2004. A group of school children respond to the illness  

       and death of the narrator's best friend, Rudi, by helping to build a pond in his memory.

Buscaglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf.  Slack, Inc., 1982. 32pp. Story for children of Freddie    the Leaf depicting the balance between life and death.

Cohen, Janice.  I Had a Friend Named Peter.  Morrow, 1987.  Talking to children about the

      Death of a friend. 

O’Toole, Donna. Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope. Celo Press, 1988. 80 pp.   A story for most children of Aarvy’s journey through grief.  Helps express feelings of pain, hope, and growth.

Viorst, Judith. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. Macmillan, 1988. 25pp. Story of the death of Barney the cat, suitable for young children.

Book for Parents

Trozzi, Maria & Massimini, Kathy.  Talking with Children About Loss.  Perigee, 1999. Words,

       strategies, and wisdom to help children cope w

2012-2013 Teacher Assignments

On August 15th, we plan to mail home letters informing HRD & FNS students who their classroom teacher will be for the upcoming year.  Please understand, these letters are going out later than previous years because we were waiting to find out about additional revenue from the state.  Fortunately, our district received enough funding to restore four of the positions recently cut.  One elementary teacher will be restored for each of the three towns, along with a Middle School counselor.  Rob Harrison, Principal of the Donaghue School, met with me to review class sizes at both Merrimac schools.  Although class sizes were also high in several upper grades, we both felt the biggest need was in first grade since it is a crucial year for developing reading skills. Therefore, we will have four sections in grade one this year.  Merrimac is so lucky to have Mr. Harrison as a principal- he is truly a team player who cares deeply about providing all Merrimac children the best possible learning environment!  Our hope for the future is to have lower class sizes in all our elementary classrooms.  Below is a listing of the Sweetsir teachers for 2012-2013.

A clever FNS teacher uses this system so students
always have a sharp pencil available-
without the loud buzz of a pencil grinder.

A number of parents have inquired about purchasing back to school supplies.   As in previous years, teachers will include suggestions in the August 15th letters.  However, please know that this is only a 'wish list' and not mandatory.  While donations of stickers, hand sanitizes, tissues, and extra pencils are always welcome- please know that we will provide students with the necessities.  If you wish to contribute, but do not have a chance to shop before opening day, you may send supplies in later.  We apologize for the short notice this year.  Teachers often spend their own money to buy extra supplies, so your help is greatly appreciated!


I have several backpacks that were donated by community members to assist families experiencing financial need.  Please feel free to contact me via phone or email at mshea@prsd.org if you would like me to set one aside for you.  Also at the upcoming 'Merrimac Goes Back to School' event, on Tuesday August 28th, the PTO plans to give grade 1 & 2 students pencil boxes for their desks. 

Sweetsir Teachers for 2012-2013

Preschool Teachers:   Patricia DiStefano; Tracey McCarthy; Leslie Mitchell                      

Kindergarten:   Susan Richard (part-time sessions); Carol Ruest (full day session)     

First Grade:   Kate Byrne; Jodi Caproni; Kate Carroll; Bridget Murray   

Second Grade:   Colleen Belmont; Kathryn DiGennaro; Kristen Rowley                    

Art:   Drew Duprey (previously known as Miss Duford)                                 

Music:   Mary Ellen Ramsey                                 

PE:   Melody Moody                                           

Title One Teachers:   Toni Sabella; Emily Marsh; Sara Treem               

Special Educators:                                   

Kathleen Sullivan      Team Coordinator

Christine Joyce          Grades k & 2                  

Karen Schwartz         Grade k & 1                    

Julie Healey               Room 25 Communication Program                      

Lisa Mitchell              Speech & Language      

Diane Milewski          Speech & Language       

Julie Walton               COTA                              

Julie Andrews            Occupational Therapist  

Reading Tips from the 'Experts'

Research indicates math and reading skills can regress over the summer if children are not encouraged to read and practice math facts.  To provide Sweetsir parents with helpful information, our Title One teachers hosted a presentation at the Merrimac Public Library on  June 5th.  Ms. Toni Sabella and Ms. Emily Marsh gave an overview of the strategies we use in the classroom to help students learn to read.  Ms. Grimes showed parents the Every Day Math site they can access from home and provided tips on helping children master their math facts.  

Below are videos the Title One Teachers created for the presentation.  They feature the real 'experts'- some of our grade one and two super stars.  (To view videos of students explaining how to master math facts, follow the math label listed on the right).   

Reading Strategies 

First graders share tips with animal helpers.

Non-Fiction Text Features

Second graders share posters they created with text conventions.

Bucket Filler becomes a Trailblazer

Miss Kate Carroll

Congratulations to Miss Kate Carroll~ 2012 Trailblazer! 

The Pentucket Educational Foundation will be honoring one teacher from each Pentucket school with a 'Trailblazer Award' at the June 5th School Committee Meeting.  This is the second year the PEF will be recognizing teachers who 'inspire, energize and motivate others' with $500 to purchase classroom materials.

Miss Kate Carroll is a talented first grade teacher who goes above and beyond to share her passion and skills with others.  Earlier this year, for example, she played a pivotal role in helping colleagues learn to use the online technology component of our upgraded math program.  Her knowledge of smart board technology has made her the building go to person for technology needs.  In May, Miss Carroll was invited to be a presenter at the Teaching and Learning Alliance literacy conference.  She, and colleague Kate Byrne, facilitated a training for Massachusetts educators on how to create focus lessons for Reader's Workshop.  

Miss Carroll was instrumental in bringing the 'bucket filling' concept to Sweetsir School.  I was struck by the warm, positive culture created in her classroom and noticed her using Carol McCloud's book to promote kindness.  The concept has since caught on as our school-wide theme.  Miss Carroll is a prime example of a 'bucket filler.'  She spent much of this year recovering from an injury she sustained practicing basketball for a PTO fundraiser.  She refused to take time off because she didn't think it would be fair to her first grade students.  Instead, she came to work in a wheelchair and used it as a teaching opportunity to help children understand the importance of compassion and acceptance for those with disabilities.  Seeing her smile as she leaned on a chair to reach the smart board, or glide across the hall to share a resource with fellow teachers, one could not help but be inspired.  Miss Carroll's dedication and positive attitude make her most deserving of the title 'Trailblazer'!


Thank  you to the Pentucket Educational Foundation for creating the Trailblazer Awards!  The following list of educators were also selected to receive this honor:

• Bagnall:  Ms. Regan
• Donaghue: Ms. Simmons
• High School: Ms. Sessions
• Middle School: Mr. Beatrice
• Page: Mr. Peterson

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.