Newsletter for Shutesbury Elementary School

Publication Information
Please email RT submissions to me at sespowerschool@crocker.com by Wednesday at 12:00pm for that week’s Roadtown.  Any fliers that need to be attached must be in to the office by 2:00pm on Thursdays.  If you are interested in receiving the Roadtown via email on Friday mornings, please make your request to the above email address or directly to me at costat@shutesburyschool.org.  The RTN is now available on our website!                                    -Toni Costa

Dates to Remember

Dear SES Community:

As the weather turns a bit colder PLEASE send a sweater or sweatshirt to school with your child. We will be doing everything that we can to reduce our heating costs this winter including turning down our thermostats. So, although the kids tend to ”run hot”, the building will be a bit cooler and those sweaters will come in handy.

We have resumed buying milk in the small plastic bottles -– this is a great favorite for the kids and they are drinking milk for snack. The cost for the snack milk is 50¢. This cost has surprised folks as Chef Lonny Ricketts has sent unanticipated bills to some families. 

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for: November 4^th, 5^th, 19^th and 20^th. These may be different dates than were on previous calendars. Please take note and mark on your calendars at home.

Thanks for your on-going support.

~Bob Mahler

KITCHEN NEWS….DID YOU KNOW??  A cup of cooked broccoli contains almost twice as much vitamin C as an orange and almost as much calcium as a cup of whole milk…all in just 44 calories!  Broccoli also contains the phytonutrients sulforaphane, indoles, kaempferol and isothiocyanates (they’ll be a test later).  Broccoli’s nutrients are best released when they are lightly steamed.  Toss them in a vegetable steamer/basket and put them on the stove or in the microwave.  You can also enjoy them raw in soups, stir fries, casseroles and just about anything (except ice cream, that’s just gross).  Cheers!

                                                ~Chef Ricketts

SES BOOK CLOSET

We are in the process of establishing a lovely leveled text book closet for the students.  Ms. Michele Dufresne, of Pioneer Valley Educational Press, has generously donated several thousand dollars worth of her fabulous books to this closet.  Many thanks to Michele!  The book closet will be up and running soon!

       ~Christina Larson, Reading Specialist

GARDEN DAY!

We are gearing up for a major landscape renovation!  (Think beautiful shrubs and grasses that bring movement and shape to our school in fall and winter.)  The Smith family (parents of Brody and Trevor), who own the lovely Wholesale Shrubs and Trees Nursery in Sunderland, are donating a mess of plants.  Now we need you to help weed, plant and mulch on Saturday, October 18 at 9:00.  We also need donations of compost/manure, and mulch.  Please contact Chris Labich at 259-3784 to help organize.

LEARNING PARTNERS 

Learning Partners is a popular and fun program in which an interested student is paired one-on-one with an adult volunteer for 30 minutes a week to engage in educational enrichment.  Often Learning Partners read aloud together, but they may engage in math, science, social studies, art, projects or games.  Children from first through sixth grade may request Learning Partners and classroom teachers may recommend children who would particularly benefit from some individual attention.  Some kids want an opportunity to work ahead; others need extra support in some academic area.  However, this is not a remediation program.

There will be an orientation session on Monday, October 20 at 7:30 PM at the school.  As Program Coordinator, I will do my best to accommodate your preferences with respect to age, gender and interests.  We always need more adults to volunteer and the children would love to have you!  If you would be interested in being a child’s Learning Partner, please contact me at 259-1722 or jollyrogersmo@hotmail.com.

~Andrea Rogers, Learning Partner Coordinator

PTO NEWS

TARGET - Thank you for your support of the Take Charge of Education program at Target.  We just received a check for $29.95!  To learn more about the program, visit Target.com/tcoe.

STOP & SHOP A+ BONUS BUCKS program information is attached along with “Hannaford Helps Schools” program.  Thank you for supporting our school!

COMMUNITY NEWS

(The following are not school-sponsored) 

***TONIGHT***
ANDRES ZAVALA & FAMILY BENEFIT NIGHT  Come to one or both to help raise funds for Andres Zavala and his family who were involved in a serious car accident:
5:30 – Melinda’s famous lasagna at the Shutesbury Athletic Club -$5.00
7:30 - Latin and American Folk Music at Shutesbury Elementary School - $10.00
Join Eduardo Reyes, Roger Tincknell, Juan Carlos Arian & Peter and Annie Blood-Patterson (creators of “Rise Up Singing”) for an evening of live folk music. CD’s & books will also be available with a percentage to be donated to the cause.
Volunteers needed for the Latin & American Folk Concert - shifts of child care, ticket sales & Questions?  Email Susan Reyes at sreyes7@mac.com or call 259-1658
Tickets at the door.

HALLOWEEN FAIR – Sunday, October 26^th 2:00-4:00 here at the school.  Volunteers are needed desperately.  PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SIGN-UP FORM.

STEM RAYS  After School Science Club coming soon!   4th, 5th & 6th graders are eligible to apply for this free, National Science Foundation funded experimental after school program where kids are encouraged to take on the role of a scientist, and do some authentic research.  Our theme this year is “Global Environmental Change and Sustainability” working with mentor scientists Robin Harrington, Brian Adams and others. Activities planned include study of invasive species, seasonal change, arsenic, wind energy and more. We will also continue work on the solar table & take some science field trips. We will meet Tuesdays till 5 pm beginning October 21. Look for more information and applications in your child’s backpack soon or contact me. Call Susan Reyes at 413-259-1658 or email me at sreyes7@mac.com with any questions. A regular adult volunteer participant would be a welcome addition to the club! Contact me to discuss what this might entail.

                                                       ~Susan Reyes

<http://www.wendellfullmoon.org> www.wendellfullmoon.org  Partial proceeds to benefit the Montague Reporter

HITCHCOCK CENTER – ENCHANTED FOREST - Don’t miss the Hitchcock Center’s Enchanted Forest!  This non-scary Halloween family event takes place Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 from 5-8:30p.m.  Adults and children of all ages will enjoy meeting our magical “Creatures of the Forest” as you are guided along the pumpkin-lit trail.  Walks leave the Center every 15 minutes and last 45 minutes.  Enjoy crafts, games, and snacks for sale.  Pre-registration required. Register early as this event fills fast!  Call 413-256-6006.