Schools

Clark-Wilkins School News

A weekly newsletter including important information.

From the Desk of Mr. St. Amand

March 7, 2014

Dear Families and Colleagues,

Congratulations to the more than one hundred “young inventors” who shared their creations with families, teachers, friends and judges during the evening presentation of the “Young Inventor’s Awards” on Tuesday, March 4th. All of the participants deserve sincere recognition for the time, effort, energy, and creative thinking they put forth in trying to solve problems that many of us encounter in our daily lives. All of the children received pins, certificates, and pencils honoring their work, but only selected inventors along with their inventions will move on to the next level of competition that will showcase winners from multiple schools across the state. Special thanks to Mrs. McIntyre and all of the staff members and families who contributed to the success of this annual event at Clark-Wilkins School.

Find out what's happening in Amherstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All of our third and fourth grade students had the opportunity to listen to a live performance of the New Hampshire Symphony during a morning program conducted at the Elm Street Middle School in Nashua on Wednesday, March 5th. Upon their return, many of the students and staff members commented on what a wonderful experience the visit provided for everyone. Mr. Peter Warburton, superintendent of schools for SAU#39, played a key role in arranging this visitation, so we want to extend our thanks and appreciation to him. As a community, we are fortunate to recognize and value the role of the arts in early education.

Second trimester grades will close on Friday, March 14th. Report cards will go home with all students on Friday, March 28th. Third and fourth grade students will also be receiving results of the October 2013 NECAP assessments in reading and mathematics with second trimester report cards.

Find out what's happening in Amherstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Looking forward to the change in seasons,

Gerry St. Amand

Cyberbullying

During the next few weeks I will be finishing up my Digital Citizenship Project with 4th grade.  One of the focuses has been cyberbullying, and it has been very interesting and eye opening to be involved in discussions with students regarding Cyberbullying.  Many have already experienced it in some form, especially with the X-Box and Play Station Live (playing games while connected to the Internet) and even sites such as Club Penguin.

“Cyberbullying is defined as repeatedly sending or posting cruel messages, images. Or videos about someone else using the Internet, cell phones, or other digital technologies. Kids may call each other names, spread rumors, post threats, or purposefully make others feel uncomfortable or scared. Cyberbullying is especially disturbing because it is constant, inescapable, and very public. It can happen anytime – at school or at home – and can involve large groups of kids.”

Attached is a PDF for families to help begin the conversation around cyberbullying. 

Thank you,

Mrs. McCarthy

Clark/Wilkins Technology Educator

Safari Montage

Safari Montage is our library of educational video and other content for all grade levels. Until now the materials have been accessible only from within our school buildings. At this time we are pleased to announce that students can access the system from home or any computer with internet access. Best results can be achieved using Internet Explorer. The address for access is http://safari.sprise.com . When students access the system it will prompt them to install the Safari player. They should let it install and then access the site again to login using their student network login. The system will also require that Quicktime is installed on the computer. Most computers will already have it. If needed, Quicktime can be found at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/ . 

REMINDER:

On the Tuesday, March 11th Late Start, only AM kindergarten and preschool classes will attend the afternoon session. 

Please note:

  • Afternoon hours are 12:00 to 2:45 PM.
  • Students may be dropped off on Davis Lane between 11:50 and 12:00 noon.  If you arrive after noon, please drive around to the Foundry Street entrance and escort your child into school.
  • Parents of all AM students must enter their child's dismissal plans in Pick Up Patrol whether your child is a pickup, walker or taking the bus home.  If your child is going to take the bus home, please enter the bus number as well as the address that the child is going to, even if it is your home address.  If your child is going to a friend's house, please give us their name also.  If you have any problems accessing your PUP account, please feel free to call or email Cathy Doyle (cdoyle@sprise.com). 
  • Bus transportation is available for dismissal only. 
  • If you choose to pick up your child at the end of the day, please be advised that afternoon students are picked up on Davis Lane.

Amherst Middle School's Theater Club

Get your tickets now for "My Son Pinocchio, Jr." Only $5!
Amherst Middle School's Theater Club celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a rollicking production of "My Son Pinocchio, Jr."  Tickets on sale now at the Amherst Middle School main office, The Black Forest Cafe, and The Homestead. The production runs at the Amherst Middle School at 7:00 p.m. March 13-15, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 15.  Tickets are still only $5. 

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 
(this program is offered to all 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms)

We are gearing up for the wonderful Junior Achievement program.  Included in the Weekly News, there is detailed information on the program itself. We are currently seeking parent volunteers for all 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms. Parent volunteers would work with teacher to determine timeframe to carry out the program in the classroom. The program is a total of 5 sessions, approximately 45 minutes per session. All materials are provided.

Please contact Irene Raissis Alton (Junior Achievement coordinator) directly at 673-2811 orialton125@aol.com for more information and to offer to volunteer to be the classroom Junior Achievement Volunteer. Final volunteer assignments will be determined by the end of February and those volunteers will be notified by Irene at that time.  There will be an info session after volunteer assignments have been made to provide materials to all volunteers. 

Volunteers needed for the following classrooms:

2nd Grade
Bevilacqua
Boothroyd
Dubois
Vaillancourt

3rd Grade
Kellndorfer
Paquette
Piotrowski                          

4th Grade Fond Farewell 2014 

Dear 4th Graders and Parents/Guardians,

In keeping with the traditions of the past, I will be putting together a slideshow for the 4th Grade Fond Farewell.  This slide show will consist of baby pictures of each student, along with other pictures from various events.

So that we have plenty of time to complete the slideshow, please send in a baby picture of your child, along with 2-4 pictures that they consider special, by March 21st, 2014. (A total of no more than 5 pictures).  Due to the large amount of pictures, this is a firm date and no pictures will be collected after this date.  If a student sends in more than a total of 5 pictures, all pictures will be returned and the student will be asked to go home and narrow it down to the 5 that is allotted.  This will not be done in school, as time does not permit. 

If you are not able to send in pictures, please do not feel any stress or added worry.  Students will be pulling from a wide variety of media to create their slide, and in many cases the actual pictures are just a small aspect of the finished project.  I am also able to take pictures of students in class if need be.

The most efficient way to send in pictures would be to email me the pictures at cmccarthy@sprise.com.

Please include your child's name and the name of their teacher in the Subject of the email.

If you are not able to email the pictures, please send them in with your student in an envelope addressed to Mrs. McCarthy Please include my name on it (Mrs. McCarthy) as well as your child's name and the name of their teacher.  Please make sure that your child’s name is on the back of each picture. I will scan the pictures in and send them back to you ASAP.

If you have any questions about the pictures or the Fond Farewell slideshow, please contact me at cmccarthy@sprise.com .

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the Fond Farewell!

Mrs. McCarthy

Clark/Wilkins Technology Educator

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Fond Farewell is a wonderful tradition that is celebrated at the end of each year at Wilkins School.  The 4th grade teachers and students enjoy a fun day of classroom games, BBQ, outdoor good times, and take away great memories.

Mr. Wright is the 4th grade teacher representative and I am the volunteer coordinator.   In order to have a successful Fond Farewell celebration for the 4th graders . . . We’ll need volunteers!

There are a variety of ways you can help out.  Our goal is to try and accommodate everyone who can help, but space is limited to the amount of volunteers we can use on the actual day of Fond Farewell.

Every parent/guardian will be invited to attend the ceremony.  The students receive certificates on stage from Mr. St. Amand and everyone watches an amazing slideshow produced by our technology teacher, Mrs. McCarthy.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jil directly at jilmarc@comcast.net no later than February 21st. The committee will be contacted after the deadline.

The date of this event is typically planned within the last week of school.   The actual date in June will be announced soon!

On behalf of the 4th graders and 4th grade staff, I appreciate your support for a wonderful and memorable experience for our 4th graders. 

My very best,

Jil Romano

2014 Fond Farewell Coordinator

PTA News:

Uno's Fundraiser: Want a reason to get out of the house AND support your schools' curriculum enhancement programs AND not have to make a meal?  Go to Uno's on Amherst Street some time between Feb 22nd and 24th!  Uno's will donate 10% of your food bill to the PTA.  Go to our website www.amherstpta.org for your flyer to hand to your server.  Good food, good cause!

Silver Graphics Art Fundraiser:  Children at Clark/Wilkins will complete an art project in their designated art class which we will submit to Silver Graphics Art.  There are so many great types of products you can then order!  My husband loved his pencil holder my son gave him for Father's Day :)  This link will show you all the items you can choose from. http://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/public/launchNewWindow.jsp?skin=velodrome2&localeId=en_US&full=1   **If you have a middle schooler or high schooler you'd like to have participate, please use this link for guidelines: http://www.silvergraphics.com/Art-Guidelines.html

PTA Family Math and Science Night is coming your way on Monday March 10th from 6-8:30 p.m. (Tuesday the 11th is a Late Start Day). There will be puzzles and games, science experiments, and all kinds of cool STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related things to do!  Have fun while teaching your children how to observe, question, and test! 

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

AMS, Saturday, April 5, 11:00 – 3:00 2nd Annual PTA Fair

$20 gets a family in the door and into a world of fun games: pony rides, bounce houses, carnival games, face painting, Amy Conley, PTA play entertainers, Cake decorating contest (categories of Middle School and below, High School and Adult), Henna Tattoos, arts and crafts, etc.  Local restaurants selling food and Kona Ice selling slushees (*portion of Kona Ice profits go back to the PTA) Come support the PTA at our annual fair and support our students curriculum enrichment programs!  It is going to be an awesome day!  Come join us and bring your friends!

Meadow Farms Fundraiser: MEADOW FARMS has their new spring catalog out – you liked the fall catalog so much we raised over $6500 for our schools last semester!

**All this information and more can be found at www.amherstpta.org**

 Community News:

Check out the Community News Link on our website for the latest information on COMMUNITY EVENTS such as:

  • Beaver Brook Summer Camp
  • Amherst Town Library “Celebration of the Book & All Its Lives”
  • Girls on the Run®
  • Amherst Spring Baseball
  • Bedford Little League
  • Camp Invention
  • Palace Youth Theatre February Camp: February 24 – 28 & April 28 – May 2
  • Souhegan Valley Community Suppers
  • Bedford Youth Performing Center “Dear Edwina Junior” auditions
  • Patriot Cheer and Football
  • Scouting in Amherst


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here