141 Davis Street, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413.772.1300 (voice), 413.774.7940 (fax)

Gr. K-3

Principal: Joan Schell, EdD, 413-772-1370 Ext: 0
Associate Principal: Maureen T. Ryan, MEd, 413-772-1370 Ext: 117

Newton News February 2012 Readers are Leaders and Mathletes Count (pdf)

February 2012

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Announcing the second annual
Greenfield Public Schools
STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
 April 27 & 28, 2012
Save the date!

All Students are Invited to Make a Film:
1. Length of films:

Grades 8-12: up to 5 minutes
Grades K-  7: up to 4 minutes

2. The topic has to be okay for students of all ages (no violence).
3. Films can be on any topic and should have a connection to Greenfield, its students, or its schools.

Submission Categories:
1. Elementary Students     (grades K-3)  
2. Middle Grade Students (grades 4-7)
3. High School Students     (grades 8-12)

Films must be created by students of Greenfield Public Schools.
(Student submissions can have help from GPS staff or parents.)
Submissions will be accepted until 3:00p.m. on Friday, March 30th

Rules and forms will be available on the GPS website

• If the movie has people in it, they need to give permission in writing.
• For students under 18, parents/guardians have to give permission.
• Most movies need editing—this can be done on any computer with film editing software, at home or school. Entries need to end up on DVD.
• Technical assistance and professional advice is available at school.
• Contact the Principal's office for forms and details.

April 27 & 28 - exciting gala show of selected films & award ceremony!
Cash Prizes & Audience Awards
See you at the MOVIES!
Mary Link, Film Festival Coordinator: filmfest@gpsk12.org or call 413-772-1313.

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Kindergarten News
In February kindergarten will be celebrating the 100th day of school, Groundhog Day, President's Day and Valentine's Day.  Lots of celebrations for a short month!

Kindergartners are always excited to play outside in any season, and many children are so proud to be able to snap, zip and tie!  Please practice these important skills at home if your child has not mastered them yet.  Also, please remember to LABEL your child's outside gear...especially boots and snow pants.  Thank you and stay warm!

First Grade
February is a very busy month in first grade... aside from wondering if the groundhog will see his shadow, celebrating our 100th Day of School on Feb. 6th, and learning about Presidents' Day, each class is also engaged in learning new things in social studies, science, and social skills class!

In Ms. Warren's social studies class, the children are studying land forms and bodies of water; in Mrs. Bejtlich's science class, they are studying mammals; and in Ms. Alvin's social skills class, the children are learning about emotions and gaining calming strategies and skills that help them self-regulate.

Grade 2
It's hard to believe we're almost at the hundredth day of school. We have learned so much in second grade so far, but we are looking forward to learning even more. In English Language Arts most of us are finishing up Unit 2- Working Together and look forward to starting Unit 3- Creative Ideas. In math we're finishing up double digit addition and subtraction without regrouping (carrying). Next chapter we begin regrouping! For Science we'll be finishing plants and moving on to Matter. Social Studies Mapping is coming to an end and we look forward to learning about our Government. This is especially exciting since we're in an election year. In writing most students have learned how to write, edit and publish their own stories. Next they'll be writing many different types of letters while continuing to practice their editing skills.

All three teachers want to remind families that reading with their child every night, practicing math and spelling words will make them successful learners in the classroom.

Grade 3
Third grade is working and stretching our academic muscles.  In reading, we have been traveling along Reading Street and are currently in unit 3.  All of the third graders are tackling reading, understanding, and answering open response questions.  Multiplication is the word of the day in math class and the students are developing strategies to learn and remember multiplication facts.  Mr. Stone's class just finished an exploration of matter, and is now beginning to learn about sound.  They are even making a movie with Ms. C-T about weather! Mrs. Iacuessa's class is making a movie about a fable. In Accelerated Reader we reached our 500 point goal!!!.

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First in Math points to date: 72,683

Accelerated Reader All-School Challenge:
Read 5,000 books.
Our count as of Feb.1st is 1,271

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PTO NEWS

• PTO Meeting February 2nd 6:00 Newton Library
• Hillside Pizza Fundraiser Pickup Friday February 3rd 2:30-5:30
• Coats for Kids Fundraiser, February 6th-10th
• PTO Meeting March 1st 6:00 Newton Library
• Read Across America March 7th-9th

To Contact Newton PTO please email @Newtonpto@gmail.com

Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards
Dear Parents:
Newton School has enrolled in Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards program. Starting October 7, 2011 through March 29, 2012, Newton School will have the opportunity to earn cash through Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Program.

All you have to do is:
Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to register online
OR
Dial 1-877-275-2758 to register your card over the phone.

Dismissal
Note:  Please notify the office by note ahead of time or before 3:00 p.m. if there is a change of dismissal plans for your child.

Winter Weather Reminders
If Greenfield Public Schools have a
2 hour delay, school starts at 9:30.
If school is delayed there is no breakfast served.

Children go outside for recess when it is 10 degrees and above with the wind-chill factor considered.

Please remember hats, gloves/mittens, coats, boots and snow pants are required for playing in the snow at outdoor recess.

Newton Expanded Learning Time Movie
Windows Media wmv or QuickTime mov
(pdf)

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Newton Students Summer Art with Tina Clark 2011

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NEWTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ONE OF 187 COMMENDATION SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Patrick-Murray Administration Releases 2010 School and District MCAS Results; Names 187 Commendation Schools (Newton School is one of them! See below.)

School Leaders Hail Improved Performance and Success at Closing Achievement Gaps

BOSTON - Governor Deval Patrick and state education officials today released the 2010 school and district MCAS results and hailed the achievement of 187 newly-named "Commendation Schools" across the state for their academic growth and continued success in closing achievement gaps. The Commendation Schools, announced at Boston's Eliot Elementary School, were recognized for their steady progress in raising student achievement while at the same time demonstrating a consistent narrowing of achievement gaps among students. "There are so many great success stories in schools across this Commonwealth because of the efforts of administrators, teachers, students and parents who are united and committed to making every effort to ensure that every child that walks through the door receives a high quality education," said Governor Patrick. "I congratulate all of these schools on their outstanding achievement."

"We know the recent good news in our public education system is the result of a focused effort to provide every child with effective teaching and learning that inspires students for opportunities to advance in the classroom today and in the future," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "Our unwavering focus on raising expectations will ensure the next generation of leaders in the Commonwealth are well prepared to succeed."

Annual Yearly Progress (AY) measures district and school progress toward annual performance targets in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Those that fail to meet their targets in the aggregate or for any of their subgroups for two or more consecutive years receive an accountability status and are required to take steps to focus efforts on improving student performance. Alternately, schools and districts are removed from the list when they make their targets for two consecutive years.

Among the 62 schools exiting status are: Joseph Lee Elementary and Michael J. Perkins Elementary in Boston, East Middle School in Braintree, Newton School in Greenfield, the George H Dunbar, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas R. Rodman elementary schools in New Bedford, Park Avenue Elementary in Webster, Nelson Place in Worcester, Benjamin Banneker Charter School, and Sheffield Elementary School in Gill-Montague (http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=5729) Congratulations to everyone at Newton School for our great accomplishments!

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Newton’s Instructional Focus:

A coordinated school-wide effort to have all Newton School students demonstrate growth in their ability to read, comprehend, and respond to open response questions in all academic areas using relevant information and supporting details from the text for support.

Newton School…
Where Readers Lead
and
Mathletes Count!

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PTO officers for 2010-2011
Lynn Facey & Angela Morrissey - Co-Chairs
Erica Burns – Secretary
Chris DeRose - Treasurer

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Newton Movie Highlights:

Holiday Signing, Grade 2

Ms. Zwolski's Grade 1 Fractions, Part 1	Ms. Zwolski's Grade 1 Fractions, Part 2

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Meal Prices for 2010-11

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Teacher Sites:

Ms. Rachel Cronen-Townsend's Web site:
http://msct.crotown.com/

To view the art slideshow, click here! "Art is essential to learning--not just an educational frill. Learning about the visual arts gives students a window onto the rich and interesting world around them, teaching them about their own history and culture, as well as those of other people. It cultivates self-expression, imagination and creativity as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Students who learn about art develop their capacities to weigh meanings and make evaluations and judgments. Understanding and making art can teach students how to work cooperatively in groups and how to work hard to achieve a goal." The Value of Art Education: Education in the Arts and Through the Arts, National PTA & Getty Center for the Arts (http://art-smart.ci.manchester.ct.us/pta_art.html)

Page last updated: February 1, 2012

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