Winter Reading Challenge

Feel free to send me in any photos of your child reading. Refer to the Hot Cocoa paper for ideas or create your own. Students can bring in paper and receive a special note from the Principal and all photos will be shared on our digital bulletin board.

Reading to a Grandparent

Happy New Year Message and January Updates

Good Afternoon,

I wanted to wish families a wonderful and enjoyable break. We have had an extremely busy month for December and I am looking forward to the New Year with your children. School will resume as usual on Monday, January 4th. Mrs. Burke will be returning from her long term leave of absence as our Assistant Principal.
There are many things to look forward to in the New Year at the Shawsheen School. One is our initiative to encourage reading at home and as a school. Some of the ideas were developed  by a team of teachers including having one day a month in school with a special theme associated with reading and other fun ideas to get students excited about reading. We are going to finalize our initial ideas in the next month or so. In addition, a flyer was sent home in your child's backpack today and is attached that will kick off our reading initiative. It is completely an optional and fun paper to do if your child reads over break. They pick a marshmallow from the sheet and read with mittens on or to a pet, etc. If your child does any of these and you would like to send in a photo, I will be creating a bulletin board. This is a no pressure activity that is meant to be fun and can be handed in anytime during the winter months.

Another exciting enrichment program coming up in January is that Ooch is returning. Some families may remember him and his message about kindness and friendship. The students year after year really love his program.

In addition, on January 21st will be a family literacy night to promote digital resources. Barbara Raab, Wilmington Children’s Librarian, will present to parents ideas around new technologies in literacy while Linda Cornell, Elementary Reading Specialist, and teachers engage students with digital apps for education. The evening will conclude with a Winter themed scavenger hunt.
Please register in advance at: http://goo.gl/forms/Y2EwOPEF0f

Please view the principal’s blog for more upcoming dates for January.

Thank you for all that you do for our Shawsheen Staff and Families, we appreciate all your support in so many ways.
Thank you again and have a happy new year!
Mrs. King
Principal

December Updates

Good Evening Families,

This month is going to be very busy and go by fast. I wanted to update families on some staffing changes, upcoming dates and happenings. First, the Festival of Trees was a success and the students contributed by decorating the tree and writing their favorite book on a chain. The teachers donated books with special messages inside them. The tree is in our lobby for all to view as one of our teachers ended up winning it!

We also have some important dates to share. The Second Grade concert is coming up on December 14^th. Please check your child’s folder for your classroom times. In addition, we are having an early release day on Thursday, December 10^th at 12:00 for parent/teacher conferences. No lunches will be served. Please remember to enter through the front door for conferences and the secretary or administration will let you in.

In addition to some events, we have more changes to announce. We were so fortunate to have hired Ms. Gayna Akillian for Ms. Rene’s Maternity leave of absence.. Ms. Akillian has her Masters of Music from New England Conservatory of Music and her BA of music from Boston University. Ms. Akillian has a lot of experience teaching music and most recently just completed a long term leave in an elementary school. We are very lucky to have found someone with such great experience and enthusiasm for her job.

Also, Mrs. Lynn Vik is retired from the Shawsheen Elementary School as our Art Teacher. The children all made her special things from each grade level and we will miss her art expertise and her contributions to the Shawsheen School. However, it is with pleasure that we have hired Ms. Elissa Stopyra for the long term art leave. Many of you may remember Ms. Stropyra when she was here as an aide in the Pathways program. Some of you may not realize that Ms. Stropyra passion has been art and that she has her certification in Art and will be completing her Masters this spring. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Ms. Stropyra back to the Shawsheen.

I also wanted to extend a special thank you to Mr. Richard Dineen who has done a tremendous job filing in for Mrs. Erin Burke as my Assistant Principal. Mrs. Burke will be returning after the winter break and Mr. Dineen’s last day will be December 23rd. We will be having a special assembly for him so that the children and staff can thank him prior to the 23^rd.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year and enjoyable break. For more up to date information, please view the Principal’s blog at http://shawsheenschool.blogspot.com/

And follow us on Twitter @shawsheenschool.

Thank you,

Mrs. King

Principal

November Updates

Dear Families,

We have many events happening soon in the school that I wanted to update parents on. As I stated earlier, the Anti-bullying month went over great within the school. The students really enjoyed working on the pictures and doing different things around the building. To carry this momentum on with community outreach and being good citizens the students are currently working on letters to Veterans. We will be sending these to another teacher in Wilmington who will be sending them along to our Veterans in care packages or to hospitals.  In addition, the Shawsheen School will be donating a tree to the Festival of Trees this year again. Teachers will be donating a book signed by the teacher with a message and each student will write their favorite book on a slip of paper which will be made into a chain around the tree. Look for our tree at the event on December 5^th and 6th! We are continuing to encourage students to read at home and are in the process of formulating some ideas to incorporate monthly reading events at school including book talks, book reviews and much more. 

Some upcoming dates include the following:

November 14^th-PAC Holiday Fair at Shawsheen

November 17^th-PAC Meeting at Shawsheen Evening

November 19^th-Picture Retake Day in the morning

November 20^th-Bus Safety Rescheduled in a.m, Early Release Day

November 25^th-Early Release Day, thanksgiving break, Term 1 closes.
November 26th-27th-No School

Thank you and have a great day,

Mrs. King

Fall Updates

Dear Families,

The fall can be very busy time of year and many things are happening around the building. I wanted to send families an update on all these happenings. We are making a ton of progress with our read a thon through the PAC. It is so exciting to see how much students are reading at home and logging in their minutes. So far for West and Shawsheeen combined we have read a total of 19,312 minutes! Please continue to help your child log minutes in at home and if you would prefer to make direct donations to the PAC instead of the online read a thon, you may do so by sending in cash or check to the Shawsheen/West Pac in an envelope.

In addition to the read a thon the WEF walk will be taking place on Thursday, October 29^th at 2:00. The walk will last for about 20 minutes. The form was sent home and a reminder will be sent home with specifics on Friday. Parents are welcome to join us for the walk!

Also, we sent home a notice to encourage students to create an anti-bullying picture/message that will be displayed in the school for this month. We will be selecting some from each grade to be made into posters for the building. Students can make this on the back of the paper that was sent home or any paper that they wish to use.

In November, there will be a literacy evening at the Woburn Street School for both parents and students. Please click on this link below for more information on this and to register for the event. Registration is required so that they have enough staffing and materials. Last year this event was a huge success and the students had a great time.  https://goo.gl/bJH0qX

Also in November we have vision and hearing screening. This will take place on 11/3-11/9. Please contact the school nurse Mrs. Mary Duffy at mary.duffy@wpsk12.com if you are interested in volunteering. We are in desperate need of volunteers for this.

For more up to date information you can follow the principal blog at http://shawsheenschool.blogspot.com/.

Thank you,

Mrs. King

Parent Volunteers Needed

Parent Volunteers Needed

The Shawsheen School is looking for parent volunteers to assist with vision and hearing screenings, November 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, from 9-11:30.  If interested please contact Sharon Elderd, the Clerical Assistant for Health Services at (978)694-6060 x6615.  Training will be provided.

Stomp Out Bullying Day on Monday, October 5th!

Join the district and wear a Blue Shirt to send the message to Stomp Out Bulling!