January 10, 2008

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Superintendent's Desk
Principals' Corner
School Events & Information
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CSA News
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Buzz Information
www.carlisle.mec.edu

Calendar

Jan. 10 Thurs.

9:00 am 4th Grade State Fair
3:30 Varsity Basketball at Lincoln
3:30 pm JV Basketball Home with Lincoln

7:00 pm School Building Committee
7:00 pm CPAC Meeting

 Jan. 11 Fri.

9:30 am 8th Graders Visit CCHS
Jan. 14 Mon.

8:10 am 8th Graders Visit Minuteman High School
3:30 pm Varsity Basketball Home with Weston
3:30 pm JV Basketball at Weston

 Jan. 15 Tues.

3:15 Math Curriculum Review Team

 Jan. 16 Wed.

7:00 pm School Committee

 Jan. 17 Thurs.
CCHS Guidance Counselors at CPS

2:30 Math League Meet at Clark
3:30 Varsity Basketball at Blanchard

 Jan. 18 Fri.

9:00 am CPAC Parent Support Group meeting
1:00 pm 3rd Grade Holiday Crafts
Jan. 21 Mon.
Martin Luther King Day Holiday

Jan. 22 Tues.

9:00 4th Grade Ms. Gray and Mr. Ashe to Museum of Fine Arts
3:30 pm Varsity Basketball Home with Mystic Valley

 Jan. 23 Wed.

Jan. 24 Thurs.

9:00 am CSA Parent Informational Coffee - MCAS
3:30 Varsity Basketball at Hanscom

7:00 pm School Building Committee

 Jan. 25 Fri.
Middle School Interim Reports Distributed

Jan. 26 Saturday
2:00 - 4:00pm Chinese New Year Celebration
Jan. 28 Mon.
Visiting Film Artist, Jeff Warmouth All Week

3:30 pm Varsity Basketball at Bedford

 Jan. 29 Tues.

10:45 am K Mitten Play - Ms Chandler
11:15 am K Mitten Play - Ms Vanaria
3:15 pm Technology Team

Jan. 30 Wed.

7:00 pm Minuteman High School Open House

 Jan. 31 Thurs.

3:30 pm Varsity Basketball Home with Lincoln
3:30 pm JV Basketball at Lincoln

 Feb. 1 Fri.

11:00 am K Mitten Play - Ms Comeau
11:30 am K Mitten Play - Ms. Arnold

From the Superintendent's Desk

Marie H. Doyle

Dear Parents,

This promises to be another difficult budget season. The Finance Committee has given its guidelines for an increase of 0% for all departments, thus resulting in a level funded budget. This means that Carlisle Public Schools will have a deficit of $605,000. Should we not secure additional funding, we will need to make drastic cuts to our program.

There will be a School Committee Meeting at Town Hall on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:00 PM. Our budget will be presented along with recommended cuts. I urge parents to attend this meeting in order to learn more about potential cuts to our program.

 Sincerely,
Marie Doyle

Principals' Corner
Jim Halliday, Middle School Principal
Patrice Hurley, Elementary Principal

Dear Carlisle Families,

January in New England!  Winter is truly here and isn’t leaving anytime soon. Snow, early darkness, and cold weather often keep children indoors more than we would like both at school and at home. For those who love to read, play chess, have hobbies, or are engaged in extracurricular activities, life goes on much as before. For children who truly miss the activities that can only occur outdoors, it is time to find other creative ways to use that time without resorting solely to television or video games. Perhaps this is a time to begin a parent/child home improvement project, read and discuss together current events, or begin planning and preparing meals together.  In any case, the slowness of winter often promotes an opportunity for more time together as a family. 

The January-March period can also be a time when children also “feel” differently about their schoolwork.  They have completed four full months of work and some may feel very comfortable with expectations and their progress. Some children may now become a bit too comfortable and let their effort slip in their academic work. At the other end of the spectrum, some children may feel frustrated and pressured that the year and expectations stretch long and hard before them, with too many commitments and too much to accomplish in the winter months. Although educators want children to feel comfortable and secure, we also want them to feel continually challenged to explore, experiment, and remain excited about learning. 

Teachers will continue to keep parents informed about progress but we seek your support through talking with your children about how they are managing in the next three months. Encourage them to share how they are feeling about their work, by reviewing how the day in school went, asking for a highlight about what was learned, and discussing what homework assignments are due the next day and projects over the next month and whether any support is needed. Make a connection between what your child is sharing with you and a real life application if possible so that they realize they are not learning random information they will never use.  Be available to review homework, answer questions, and ask a provoking question or two that will allow your children to think deeply about what they are learning. Through this, you demonstrate that you value and care deeply about the work they do each day and that you are available to support them in their efforts.  Also, keep your child’s teacher informed of any difficulties your child is having so that we can provide support in school. We appreciate working in partnership with you!

Sincerely,
Patrice Hurley and Jim Halliday

School Events/Information

Snow Day Information
Winter is almost upon us, and parents should be aware of our snow day procedures. If school is canceled or delayed, the following radio and TV stations and websites will have the information:

You may also register on the websites to be notified by email or voicemail if the station receives a cancellation or delay for the Carlisle Public Schools. In the case of an early release, we will implement the One Call automatic telephone calling program to inform parents that children will be sent home early.

Delayed opening time:

Length of Delay Grades K - 4 Grades 5 - 8
1 hour 9:50 8:50
90 minutes 10:20 9:20
2 hours 10:50 9:50

Kindergarten and Pre-School Note: In the case of a delayed opening, Pre-School will always be cancelled. Kindergarten will be cancelled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the delay will pertain to Kindergarten.

Special Education Parent Groups
Carlisle Parent Advisory Council meeting Thursday, Jan. 10th, 7-8:30 pm at the Gleason Library Hollis Room. The topic is Special Education and the School Improvement Plan.
CPAC Parent Support Group meeting Friday, Jan. 18th 9:00 am at the home of Lonnie Harvey- 63 Rodgers Rd.

STEP News (Science, Technology, Engineering Program)
Our goal is to provide quality afterschool classes that relate to Science, Engineering, Technology and Math.  STEP is a self-supporting program, so your program fees cover all the costs of the programs.  We would like to thank Ginny Lamere for her work developing and running the STEP program.  Starting this year, Wendy Powell, Peg Gladstone and Eileen Faber are the new co-coordinators.  We hope to continue providing the classes that have been popular in the past and to add new exciting and interesting classes.  Sheila Morris, the school Registrar, is processing registrations for us.  
 
Our recent registrations for the KnowAtom and Lego classes (Grades Pre-K - 6) were sent out via the school email system because we wanted to take advantage of a new opportunity that just presented itself.  We are hoping that in the future, notices will be in the Buzz – so watch this space – there are more classes that will be announced soon!  Registrations for the recently announced KnowAtom and Lego classes are coming in quickly.  At this writing, there is still space in some of the classes. Please contact Sheila (smorris@carlisle.mec.edu) by Friday, January 11th!
 
INTERESTED?  - Are there any students in grades 5 to 7 who are interested in a Lego Robotics club?  Please contact Wendy Powell, wendyCM@comcast.net to let her know if you and/or your child is interested in a club this spring.  If there is enough interest, we will work toward fielding a team to go to a First Lego League (www.firstlegoleague.org) competition in the fall.  This is way cool!!  Also, we would need some adult volunteers (that hopefully know something about software programming) to mentor the team.
 
WE NEED HELP - We are looking for parents or community members with aviation experience and who are willing to assist in a flight simulation class for the older middle school students.  Walter Hickman will be offering a class that we hope to announce soon.  Contact Walter at:  walter@hickmanpartners.com or (978) 371-0141 if you can help. If you or a community member is interested in presenting a class, we would love to hear from you!  If you are interested in sharing your science, technology, and engineering or otherwise appropriate expertise with the students, please let us know.  This can be done by speaking to a class during subject (school time) or with an after school club or class. Contact Peg or Wendy at: Peg Gladstone peg@gladstonefamily.net or 978-246-6793, Wendy Powell wendyCM@comcast.net or 978-287-0876
Carlisle seventh grade to present Willy Wonka, Jr.

Who can take a sunrise and sparkle it with dew? Come find out at Willy Wonka, Jr. the Carlisle School 7th grade musical. Performances at the Corey Auditorium are on Sunday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m., Monday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Tuesday, February 12, at 3:30 p.m. (early release day). The musical is based on Roald Dahl’s timeless story, “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,” which tells of the world-famous candy maker (Willy Wonka), and his sweet-filled quest to find an heir. This new musical version, which features the songs from the classic family film “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory,” is sure to be a family favorite! Tickets are $8 and can be ordered by email at holly.salemy@comcast.net, nikipu@comcast.net, or Marty.Blue@reebok.com. They can be purchased at Ferns starting on January 21. Tickets will be available at rehearsal pickup time at the school (5:00 pm) starting January 28. Questions, please contact (978) 369-2875.

ITEMS NEEDED to borrow/keep for 7th grade musical, Willy Wonka, Jr.
We'll need them from Jan 28 thru Feb 13. Please contact Kelly Driscoll at kpdkod@yahoo.com or (978) 318-9202. Thank you!
- Clean packing peanuts
- One brass bed, full or queen, condition not important, mattress or box spring
- Fake plastic chains approx. 6-10 ft.
- Shabby valence or cafe curtain
- One park-style bench
- Two Victorian floor lamps  
- Plain table 3 – 4 ft., by 2 ft. Drop leaf okay
- Two 6' or 8' safety step ladder (folding portable ladders, hinged at the top). You must be willing to let us paint your ladder black and return it to you painted!)
- German alpine hat for boy

Chinese New Year Celebration
Come and celebrate the Year of the Rat on January 26th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the school. Festivities will include Chinese crafts and performances by the Carlisle School Chinese classes and parents. Among the events are the traditional flag dance, Chinese yo-yo demonstrations, Tai Chi, and Chinese songs. Food will be provided by a local restaurant. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors. You can purchase tickets at the door or in advance from any of the Chinese students or at Ferns. Please mark your calendars and join us for this festive event!

School Committee News
The next School Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, January 16th. Please note that this meeting will be held in the Clark Room at Town Hall and will be televised to the community, beginning at 7:00 pm. The main discussion topic is the budget for the 08-09 school year. The School Committee encourages all parents and interested citizens to attend.

Photos

A Snowy Recess in December
Warming up for the Winter Concerts
Spanish Class Celebrates Holidays Tony Vacca Percussion Program

CSA News
www.carlisleschoolassociation.org
Parent Informational Coffee
The next parent informational coffee, sponsored by the Carlisle School Association (CSA), will be held on Thursday, January 24, at 9 a.m. in the Corey Dining Room. The topic of this meeting will be Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). The presenters, all from Carlisle Public School, include Marie Doyle, superintendent; Patrice Hurley, elementary school principal; Jim Halliday, middle school principal; and Karen Slack, director of Student Support Services. This meeting is open and free to all.

Carlisle School Association seeks nominations
The Carlisle School Association (CSA) is currently accepting nominations for board positions to serve for school year 2008-2009. Board members do not have to have children currently enrolled in the school. Serving on the CSA is a rewarding volunteer position which directly impacts the teachers and children in the school system. If you are interested in a position or would like to learn more about what is entailed, please contact Dale at ryderfam@hotmail.com or 371-9673.

Other Items of Interest

Program News
 Check our website: www.extendedday.org <http://www.extendedday.org>     

Adult & Community Education Advisory Committee is seeking new members
Are you aware that more than 45% of the participants in the Community Ed program are K-12 students? Instrumental music lessons and summer enrichment classes are among the largest programs offered by the department.

The Concord Carlisle School Committee and the Advisory Committee encourage participation by parents so that Adult & Community Education and the School Committee have good perspectives about how they can best enable the community to use after-hours school access for lifelong learning and other community objectives. The Advisory Committee meets monthly and helps to identify and recruit resources that can be used to support K-12 enrichment and adult continuing education. Members are typically appointed for 3-year terms by the CCRSD School Committee, and represent both Carlisle and Concord.

The Committee expects 2-3 openings in 2008, and is currently seeking parents who may be interested in serving. The primary criterion is simple: the Advisory Committee needs people who will share opinions and advice, and follow through to help the program fulfill its potential within its self-funded mandate. If you are interested and want to be considered, please contact Community Education Director Court Booth at cbooth@colonial.net (318-1540).

GPL News
www.gleasonlibrary.org

Five Wishes Program
On January 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gleason Public Library, Louis P. La Bella M.Ed., LSW, Bereavement and Volunteer Programs Coordinator for the Merrimack Valley Hospice and local college professor will present the informative Five Wishes Program.

There are many things in life that are out of our hands.  The "Five Wishes" Program gives participants a way to control something very important: their treatment if they are faced with serious illness or unexpected injury and cannot speak for themselves.  Participants will receive an easy-to-complete booklet that helps them record exactly what they want or do not want in their care. Once the booklet is filled out and properly signed, it is valid under the laws of Massachusetts.  This is something that should be considered for all adults (no matter their age).

This program is presented by the Friends of the Gleason Public Library and the Friends of the Carlisle Council on Aging.  The program is free and open to the public.  No pre-registration is required.  To learn more about this program, contact the Carlisle Council on Aging at 978-371-2895.  In case of snow, this program will be held on January 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

This program is part of a series made possible by an Equal Access grant funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  Future workshops in this series will offer free "how-tos" on a variety of topics at the library. To learn more about other library events, please visit www.gleasonlibrary.org or call 978-369-4898.

Gleason Gossip
Anyone with an email address can sign up for the Gleason Public Library’s enewsletter “Library Latest.” These monthly mailings keep Gleason goers current on coming library events, great books, music, and movies, plus much more. Short and sweet, the enewsletter is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Gleason Public Library. To sign up go to visit www.gleasonlibrary.org or call the reference desk at 978-369-4898.

From Carlisle Recreation
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Recreation Director for the Town of Carlisle. Over the next few weeks I will be preparing the spring/summer programs. If you have any ideas for programming please let me know and I will be happy to look into it for you.

I would also like to take this time to inform you that the ice rink at Kimball's Farm is ready for ice skating. There are shovels by the ice cream stand to clear any snow. A big THANK YOU to Cindy Nock, the Landon Family, DPW and the Fire Department for their time and assistance with the set up of the ice rink.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Stop in the Recreation Office any time with all of your ideas, thoughts and concerns about any recreational issues in town.

Holly A. Hamilton, Recreation Director

Learn to Skate
Concord-Carlisle Youth Hockey's Learn to Skate Program is being held at Valley Sports in West Concord every Saturday at 11:20am through early March. The program is open to children ages 3-10. Helmets, skates and gloves/mittens are required. USA Hockey certified instructors are on the ice with your child. The children really enjoy learning this new activity, which may lead to a love of recreation, figure, hockey or even speed skating as they get older. Sign up today at www.ccyh.org <http://www.ccyh.org> ! Your kids will have a lot of fun!

CCY Soccer
Just when you thought spring training was a long way away...
Concord-Carlisle Youth Softball is pleased to announce Sunday winter clinics Sunday January 6th – Sunday March 23rd:

  • Kindergarteners and 1st graders          12:00 – 1:00
  • 2nd and 3rd graders                                1:00 – 2:00
  • 4th grade and up                                    2:00 – 3:00

 All clinics will take place in the CCHS lower gym. No need to pre-register. Grab your glove and a friend and come have some softball fun!

Concord-Carlisle Youth Soccer
Registration for spring In-Town soccer is open from January 10 through February 25, 2008. Concord Carlisle Youth Soccer (CCYS) In-Town runs a fun and appropriately competitive soccer program played in Concord and Carlisle for boys and girls. The Pre-K division is for children who will enter Kindergarten in September 2008.  Kindergarten through Grade 6 divisions are for children who entered those grades in September 2007. 

  • Schedule: Games are played on Saturdays, May 3 through June 14, 2008.  Practices are usually scheduled during the week by the team’s coach.  Players in the Pre-K division meet only on Saturdays. A schedule of playing times by division should be available mid to late March from the In-Town page of our website.
  • Fees: Registration fee per player is $60.  Additional children within a family are $50 each.  Scholarships are available. We (and other Concord Carlisle youth sports) also assess a field use fee of $35 per registration to fund construction and maintenance of new playing fields in Concord and Carlisle.  After February 25, a $20 late fee applies to each registration taken.
  • Shirts: In-Town players may purchase reversible shirts for $20 during the on-line registration process.  Blue/white reversible shirts purchased in previous seasons may be worn.  Other clothing for soccer may be purchased at local sports stores.  Please go to the In-Town page of our website and click on Program Information for more details.
  • Register Players On Line: Go to www.ccysoccer.org  Click on Registration from the left-hand menu options.  We use AdminSports for our registration system.  If you did not register with us last fall, you will be asked to create a new login ID and password to access your account.  We strongly urge registration before February 25 to be guaranteed a team for your player.
  • Coaches: CCYS relies on parent volunteers to coach.  Please consider choosing “Coach” from the pull-down menu in the Volunteer Section when registering your player.  Your children will benefit!
  • New! G License Expectation for In-Town Coaches.   The In-Town program now expects all coaches to complete the four-hour Mass Youth Soccer "G" license course as a requirement for coaching. Coaches who have completed the “G” course say they run much better practices and games after completing it.  If you have not completed the “G” course, register for a spring “G” License course by May 1.   There is a course in Acton on Sunday, March 2. There will be other courses each month, January – May. Look for the link on the www.ccysoccer.org  site or go to www.mayouthsoccer.org, click on "Coaches" and look for "Coaching Events Schedule" on the left. ­
  • Late registrations: Registrations taken after March 14 will be added to our player waitlist with placement based on coach and team space availability.  When placement is confirmed you will be contacted and asked to enter payment information into your player’s on-line registration.

For more details about our program check out our website at www.ccysoccer.org , or contact Nancy at nancydiromsoccer@comcast.net or 978-369-7978. CCYS is a community-based, not-for-profit volunteer organization providing school and community soccer teams and games in Concord and Carlisle.

Summer Fun in January -- Save the Date!!
Summer Opportunities Fair — Monday, January 28th, 2008
Come join us at the 2008 annual Summer Opportunities Fair, which will be held on Monday, January 28th from 5:30-8:30 pm in the CCHS cafeteria. This event provides students in grades K - 12 the means to explore some exciting alternatives to their usual summer activities, and brings together representatives from over 80 organizations to present information about summer opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad.  Exhibitors will display information on traditional summer camps, wilderness adventures, education and enrichment opportunities, sports camps, special needs camps, foreign language and student exchange programs, volunteer opportunities, and more.  Sponsored by the CCHS Parents' Association.

Center for Parents and Teachers Parent Workshop
Beginning January 16!... Registrations still being accepted!

Guiding Good Choices (for 5th - 8th Grade Parents), facilitated by Kathy Bowen, Concord Public Schools K-12 Health Coordinator and Parent Educator, is a highly-regarded, 4-part workshop that has become a favorite over the past 3 years among parents in the Concord area. Through presentations, group discussions, and role plays, parents will become better equipped at handling the prevailing question facing them during the preadolescent years: “Social pressures! How will my child respond?!?”  They will feel clearer about the teenage social environment and their values in relation to it; and will gain confidence in communicating their values to their children to help them make good choices and avoid harmful behavior.  

WHEN:  4 sessions meeting every other week: Wednesdays, Jan 16, 30, Feb 13, 27; Snow Date: March 5, 2008; 7-8:30 PM.
WHERE: Concord Middle School, Sanborn Building, (Location change!!) 835 Old Marlboro Road, Family & Consumer Science Rm.
FEE:$40 for all four sessions. Underwritten by the Drug Free Schools Grant. 

Register now by contacting Angela Martinez @ amartinez@colonial.net or 978-202-1146.
 (Note: If you can’t make this workshop, it will be offered again on: Tuesdays, March 4, 18, April 1,15; Snow Date: Apr. 29.  Register now to hold your place!)

Buzz Information

Next Buzz Issue
The next Buzz will be published on January 24th.  Please email your submissions to Claire Wilcox at cwilcox@carlisle.mec.edu by Friday, January 15th.   Please attach information to the email in a Word file. To view the Buzz schedule for the year, click here.

To add your email address to the Buzz notification list or to make changes in your email address for the Buzz, please visit the following web address:   http://lists.carlisle.mec.edu/mailman/listinfo/buzz.