Calendar
| Dec. 17 Mon.
3:30 pm Basketball Home with Hanscom
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Dec. 18 Tues.
9:00 am 4th grade state fair
7:30 pm Concert -- Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Middle School Choir, Jazz Band
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Dec. 19 Wed.
8:30 am Ms. Chandler's K authors' celebration
3:15 School Council Meeting
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Dec. 20 Thurs.
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Dec. 21 Fri.
Vacation begins after last class.
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Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!
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| Dec. 31 Mon. |
Jan. 1, 2008 Tues.
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Jan 2. Wed.
Classes resume
7:00 pm School Committee
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Jan. 3 Thurs.
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Jan. 4 Fri.
Tony Vaca Percussion Program
7:00 pm Friday Night Live
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| Jan. 7 Mon.
3:30 pm Varsity Basketball Home with Bedford
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Jan. 8 Tues.
11:51 Early Release 5 - 8
12:30 Early Release K - 4
9:00 am CSA Meeting
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Jan. 9 Wed.
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Jan. 10 Thurs.
8:50 am Ms. King's 4th Grade Publishing Breakfast
3:30 Varsity Basketball at Lincoln
3:30 pm JV Basketball Home with Lincoln
7:00 pm School Building Committee
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Jan. 11 Fri.
9:30 am 8th Graders Visit CCHS
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| 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
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Jan. 15 Tues.
3:15 Math Curriculum Review Team
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Jan. 16 Wed.
7:00 pm School Committee
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Jan. 17 Thurs.
2:30 Math League Meet at Clark
3:30 Varsity Basketball at Blanchard
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Jan. 18 Fri.
1:00 pm 3rd Grade Holiday Crafts
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From the Superintendent's Desk
Marie H. Doyle
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Dear Parents,
Recently the Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA) released the names of schools it is inviting to participate in its process for design studies for new school buildings. We are delighted that Carlisle is on the list! The MSBA action is not an approval for a new building, but it is an important and most welcome first step.
MSBA representatives expect to meet with us over the next two months to outline the process they mean to pursue with us. They will review our building Master Plan and work with us to determine the appropriate scope for a new building. Once we have agreement about the scope and about the rate at which we can expect to be reimbursed by the state, we'll have 120 days for Carlisle to approve funding to hire a designer for the building project. Typically, the design process for a new school building takes about a year and construction about two years after that.
As you may know, the Building Committee has developed three options, as requested by the Selectmen. The first option replaces the Spalding, but does not address our overcrowding. The Committee believes this would leave Carlisle needing another building project in fewer than 10 years, and it is unlikely that the MSBA would provide funding again so soon.
The MSBA wants towns to be thinking longer term, and the Building Committee’s options 2 and 3 do this. Option 2 provides more classrooms so that Grade 2 and the preschool would move to the new building, and space would be opened in the Robbins to ease crowding. Option 3 adds an engineering lab, an additional gym for community and school use, a community area, and an all purpose room. The MSBA has clear guidelines for the number and size of spaces it will approve for reimbursement.
The MSBA process is brand new, and more information will emerge as we participate in it. We are among 49 schools being invited to participate in this first year of the new process; this is great position to be in because more than 400 schools in the state submitted statements of interest to the MSBA. We will share with you what we learn as we go along, and we ask parents to keep informed and to support our work. The CSA will host a meeting on February 14 at 9:00 AM with the Building Committee, and I hope you'll attend.
Sincerely,
Marie Doyle
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Principals' Corner
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Jim Halliday, Middle School Principal
Patrice Hurley, Elementary Principal |
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Unpredictable weather is nothing new in New England but starting off the month of December with a snowy/sleety mix caught us by surprise. Carlisle children, adaptable and positive as always, found joy in the first accumulating snowfall. Despite the two-hour delayed opening of school last Monday morning, many were up at their regular time ready to play heartily in it before school. As teachers and bus drivers struggled to safely navigate unplowed streets and parking lots, parents raced to put their contingency plans in place for their children. I didn’t meet many adults that morning who were happy about the weather, but almost every child I greeted at the bus stop had something positive to say about it. I am fortunate to be so often in the company of your children, who regard life with wonder and expectation, seek out new experiences, and respond to so much of it with joy rather than disdain or fear. I gain strength from them and try to emulate the spirit and excitement they bring to each day!
School Events/Information
School Picture Retake Reminder
Tomorrow, December 14th, Photographers from Lifetouch National School Studios will return to Carlisle to retake school pictures. Please remember that your child must bring either the completed order form with payment enclosed (if it is a case of absence) or the entire picture packet, except for the classroom group picture, (if it is a case of dissatisfaction). Picture retakes will be done in the Corey Auditorium. Thank you.
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.
Lost and Found
If your child has lost an item of clothing during the fall, please check the lost and found before the start of the holiday break on December 21st. All remaining clothing will be contributed to charity over the vacation.
| Fundraiser Aids Less Fortunate Families |
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Carlisle's first graders and middle school student council worked together to collect holiday gifts for 15 children in Massachusetts. We worked with an organization called Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council which works to provide opportunities for families in need. The children sponsored by Carlisle families would not have otherwise received gifts this holiday season. The students collected new toys, movie passes, boots, coats, shoes, sweaters, pants, underwear, socks, books and wrapping paper. We are very proud of the good citizens of the Carlisle School. |
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School Committee -- December 19th Meeting Cancelled
The Carlisle School Committee meeting scheduled for December 19th has been cancelled. The members of the School Committee wish all school families a safe and happy holiday season.
Destination Imagination Needs Volunteers
Please contact Nancy Szczesniak at nancy@employees.org or 978-369-6194 if you would be interested in volunteering for Destination Imagination. High School Students can fulfill this role and earn community service credits. Your help would be greatly appreciated, so please call or email Nancy to learn more.
Kindergarten – Fall, 2008
Do you have a child who is eligible for kindergarten in 2008? If so, have you received a kindergarten postcard in the mail? Do you know of any family new to town with a kindergarten-age youngster? To receive a postcard or to let our Guidance Office know of new families in town, please call Jennifer Lipton or Sheila Morris at 369-6550, so that we may be certain to include all eligible children in our planning for the 2008-2009 school year.
Chess Club
www.carlislechess.org |
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The Carlisle Chess Club has completed its fall session and will begin its Winter Session on Friday, November 30th!!… Our club has a rolling admission policy, so signing on mid-session is fine. This year we have expanded to include a middle school program. Please see the attached flyer for all the information. Thanks!
The Carlisle Chess Club will host the FIRST KNIGHT CHESS TOURNAMENT AND CARLISLE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP on Sunday, December 30th from 4-7 pm. Please see the attached flyer and join us!!!
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8th Grade Constitutional Convention |
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| 6th Grade contributes $1010 to Project Bread to help end hunger in Massachusetts by 2015 |
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CSA Meeting
The next meeting of the CSA will be held on Tuesday, January 8
th at 9:00am in the Corey Dining Room. This meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.
Other Items of Interest
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Program News
Happy Holidays! Carlisle Kids' House has many great programs happening for your children to enjoy. Send them tubing at Nashoba Valley over Winter Break, or to our new Science Adventures Club on Tuesday afternoons. Want your child to take guitar or percussion lessons? Mike the Music Mentor is offering lessons at CKH three times a week. Think your child could benefit from academic coaching? Learning Strategies Unlimited, is also offering programs at CKH. Not familiar with our afterschool programs? Try us for an afternoon FREE! More information avasilable on our website: www.extendedday.org <http://www.extendedday.org>
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Carlisle Recreation Youth Board
The new director of the Carlisle Recreation Department, Ms. Holly Hamilton, is interested in starting two youth recreation boards. One board will consist of high school students and the other middle school students. The student board members will meet after school once per month to discuss possible programs and assist with the implementation of programs for the youth in Carlisle. If any student in grades 5-8 is interested, please call the Recreation office at 978-369-9815 or send an email to hhamilton@carlisle.mec.edu.
| GPL News |
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www.gleasonlibrary.org |
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Early Release Day Movie at the Gleason Public Library
A boy and his new car get much more than either of them bargained for in this high- adrenaline, action-packed movie. Come along for the ride and see if you’ll be transformed by the stellar special effects. Date: Tuesday, January 8th (early release day). Place: Gleason Public Library, third floor Hollis Room. Time: 2:45pm-4:30pm. Movie rating is PG-13. Grades 5-8 only. We’ll provide snacks and drinks. Any questions, please call 978-369-4898 (Gleason Public Library). |
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Learn to Skate
Concord-Carlisle Youth Hockey's Learn to Skate Program is being held at Valley Sports in West Concord every Saturday at 1120am 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!
Summer Fun in January -- Save the Date!!
Summer Opportunities Fair — Monday, January 28th, 2008
Plans are now underway for the 2008 annual Summer Opportunities Fair, which will be held on Monday, January 28th from 5:30-8:30 pm in the CCHS cafeteria. In an effort to give students in grades K - 12 an opportunity to explore some exciting alternatives to their usual summer activities, the fair 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.
Buzz Information
Next Buzz Issue
The next Buzz will be published on January 10th. Please email your submissions to Claire Wilcox at cwilcox@carlisle.mec.edu by Friday, January 4th. 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.
