CORE OF THE APPLE

line drawing by Nancy Lloyd-Fitch

Asa C. Adams School • 6 Goodridge Drive • Orono, ME 04473 • 207-866-2151

CORE OF THE APPLE - NOVEMBER, 2008

November Events

Nov. 3-7 - Scholastic Book Fair

Nov. 6 - Mini day Dismissal 12:45

Nov. 7 - In-Service Day - NO SCHOOL

Nov. 6&7 - Parent /Teacher Conferences

Nov. 11 - NO SCHOOL - Holiday

Nov. 12 - P.T.O. meeting - 7:00 p.m. Art Room

Nov. 14 - Picture Retake Day

Nov. 25 - End of First Trimester

Dec. 5 - Progress Reports Home

A Note From Mrs. Fournier

Through Physical Education and everyday movement, our children are in the process of developing gait patterns. Unsafe footwear can cause improper gait patterns to occur, which may cause ankle, knee, and hip injuries to develop as they grow. Proper footwear should fit correctly. A sneaker should fit snugly around the mid-foot and heel area and cover the entire foot to provide adequate support. Winter weather is fast approaching. When your child wears boots to school, please remember to send sneakers for Physical Education.

Physical Education Student of the Month

September: Braeden S - Grade 2; Isabel H - Grade 3

October: Cali Q - Grade 2; Alex F - Grade 5

The P.E. Student of the month is chosen by Mrs. Fournier based on the demonstration of good sportsmanship, strong leadership, and extra hard work during Physical Education Class. Each month, there will be one student chosen from Kindergarten through 2nd grades and one from 3rd through 5th grades. Congratulations Braeden and Isabel!!!

School Counselor's Corner

I have a lot to be thankful for as we approach November. Near the top of my list is being thankful for working with such wonderful children, caring parents, and awesome staff! I hope you'll talk with your child about all of the things to be thankful for this month.

As I mentioned in last month's Core, I am currently looking to identify families who may need help this holiday season. I am getting offers from local community agencies for assistance, so please contact me if you feel your family has any kind of need this season. We typically can offer warm winter clothing, some limited gifts, and sometimes food. The earlier you are able to make me aware of your need, the better chances are that I can meet those requests. Please be assured that your request will be kept confidential.

I will begin a new round of friendship groups during the second week of November. If your child indicated an interest to me but has not yet been invited, they will get an opportunity sometime during the school year. I have to do some prioritizing based on grade levels and need.

As some of you may know, there is a group of administrators, teachers, counselors, and parents meeting on a monthly basis to discuss topics around bullying and harassment. While we are still formalizing a working name for this group, it is currently known as the Creating Safe, Fair, and Responsive Schools and Community Collaborative. We are working to assess current programming and work toward building resources to supplement the work that is already being done in this area. Your Asa representatives on this collaborative are: Meg Fergusson, parent; Mark Wells, parent; Paula McHugh, principal; Laura Cavazos, teacher; and me, school counselor. Please feel free to bring your questions or concerns in these areas to anyone in this group. We will keep you posted on the work being done.

Just a reminder that I am available to meet with you and your child's teacher during conferences. I am also available to meet before or after your child's conference with a phone call from you to let me know when your conference is scheduled for.

Mrs. Erhardt

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on November 6th, 1:00-6:30 p.m., and November 7th, from 8:30-11:30 p.m. A notice has been sent home regarding your child’s/children’s conference date and time. Please notify the school office immediately if you are unable to make this appointment. Thank you.

Student Council

Student Council will be meeting on most Tuesday mornings this year from 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m. Our first service project will be the annual Trick or Treat for UNICEF. Boxes were passed out in classes by Student Council Representatives and should be returned by Thursday, November 6 so we can count the money and return it to UNICEF. Did you know that 6 pennies can buy water for a hungry child? Did you know that $2.00 can feed a hungry child? Did you know that $44.00 can buy school supplies for 20 children? Please donate to our "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" project!

PTO News

With the holiday season fast approaching, we are starting to gather donations for the craft fair to be held on December 16th & 17th. If you have something you would like to donate, please see Sue White, Teresa Sinclair or Jamie Stiehl. As a reminder, each donation should have at least 20 items so there is one for each classroom.

Since the Soccer Booster table was a success, we are looking at making an appearance at more sporting events this winter. We may be looking for volunteers to staff the tables. If you are interested, please see Kerri Doyle or Krista Culina. Once we have schedules of the event times and places, we will let you know where to expect us.

There will be a Halloween party in the Asa cafeteria on the 31st. As in years past, the PTO will be sponsoring a cookie decorating table.

In November, our Helping Hands projects will be starting up again to help fill some local food cupboards. Be on the look out for boxes to fill or letters home about needed items. If you would like to help out with this project, please contact Alessandra Cunha or Jessica Tyrrell.

Our next meeting will be held on November 12th in the Art Room at 7 p.m.. We hope to see you there!

Fort Kent

Fort Kent, rolling hills, fields of buckwheat for hot warm ployes.

Eagle Lake on a hot summer day is the place to spend with family,

cousins Rowan and Davey!

Sledding down the big steep mounds, winter is coming; it's snow bound.

Potato harvest just begun picking sixty barrels at a time.

Lac a'Basile of frogs and leaches comes to life on a rainy day.

Fort Kent is my place to stay.

By: Erin L, Grade 5

Head Lice

Thank you to all the parents who have been so cheerful, kind, and diligent during this latest outbreak.

It is so easy to get worn down, grumpy and upset, as I did when my daughter and I couldn't get rid of them in 1993.

We have almost overcome this Outbreak of October '08! Continuing to inspect, pick, oil heads, etc., will do the trick. We need to do this for a good 30 days, that is up to about Nov. 13th.

I urge any and all parents to drop by the nursing office to have a look at my specimens with the naked eye and under the scope. I envision Asa Adams Parents as well trained, cool as a cucumber, hard core lice fighters, able to help friends and family should lice appear! Thanks again and hope to spend time looking at the microscope with you. Keep up the good work.

Emily Wesson, RN

Committee for Creating a Safe, Fair and Responsive Community

This fall marked the inauguration of the Committee for Creating a Safe, Fair and Responsive Community to address comprehensive anti-bullying/anti-harassment issues and programming within the Orono school system (K-12). Composed of the superintendent, administrators, school counselors, a teacher representative from each school, as well as four parent representatives, the committee's objectives are to address the needs and concerns of students, staff and parents in our diverse community.

The committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month (Monday if Tuesday is a holiday). The first meeting held in September was primarily organizational in format. The committee discussed existing policies and programs, and how to access resources and technical experts. It was also suggested that a group of high school students form a Leadership Group to become active members of this committee. In October, it was decided to create age-appropriate student surveys to assess the current climate in each of the schools. These surveys are currently being developed and are expected to be presented to students in November.

For a copy of the minutes of the meetings, please feel free to contact the superintendent's office (we hope to have them posted online in the near future). If you would like to discuss or offer your expertise on issues related to this committee, please feel free to contact one of the committee chairs: Bob Sinclair, Wayne Maines, or Carolee Mountcastle.

Next Meeting November 10th at 4:00

Picture Retake Day

Portrait packages have not yet come, but photo retake day has been set for Friday, November 14th in the morning. Retake day is for those children who were not present, or those who were not satisfied with their child’s pictures. Picture order forms may be picked up in the office.

If you were not satisfied with your child’s portrait package and would like to have their picture taken again on November 14th, you must return the COMPLETE package to the photographer on retake day and your child’s picture will be taken a second time. Classroom class composite pictures will be given to each student after the picture retake day to ensure that ALL students are included in the class picture. If you have any questions regarding your child’s package, you may call LifeTouch Studios @1 -800 -287 -4667.

Asa C. Adams Elementary School Choral Program

To Parents Of Chorus Students,

Since we have parent teacher conferences scheduled for Thursday, November 6 and this is an early release day, I am asking that students who are in chorus stay for a rehearsal if possible. Chorus rehearsal will begin immediately after dismissal and will end at 2:00 pm. Parents, please arrange transportation for your child. I hope all students will be able to make this rehearsal since our concert is fast approaching.

Our concert is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, at 6:30 in Minsky Recital Hall at the University of Maine. If possible I am asking that students dress in concert attire for the concert. This means white shirts and tie, black or dark pants for boys. Girls may wear white blouses or tops with a black or dark skirt/pants with black tights or nylons.

If you have any questions, please call. Thank you for your support.

Mrs. De Grasse, Music Teacher

A Note From the Principal

October was a very busy month at Asa Adams. Third graders took a trip to Fields Pond Audubon on October 17th. We had a visit from an award winning mask maker from Michoacan, Mexico named Manuel Abeiro Horta. Student Council got underway, and Mrs. Rutherford's class had their first opportunity to participate in a greenhouse activity thanks to our new greenhouse volunteer, Mrs. DeSisto. We also had Picture Day! Picture retakes will be done on Friday, November 14th.

Teachers also had a very busy month learning. Mrs. Dreher, Mrs. Kreutz, Mrs. Oldenburgh, and Mrs. Dill attended a writing workshop to identify best practices in teaching writing. Mrs. White attended a conference on Technology Leadership in Augusta. Many of our teachers attended half-day sessions involving the use of nonfiction and best practices in reading instruction. We also had a very successful in-service day this month. Teachers utilized this time to work on RTI (Response to Intervention) planning, analyzing the Maine Educational Assessment data from last March, and working on grade level curriculum. Teachers truly value these opportunities to work together collaboratively and refine their classroom practices. As a staff, we are now beginning a book study on Learning by Doing, a handbook for Professional Learning Communities. As educators,we continue to recognize the need to be lifelong learners!

There continues to be a variety of events coming up in November. The annual Book Fair will be held during the week of Parent-Teacher Conferences, which are scheduled for November 6th and 7th. Fourth graders will be going on a trip to the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor as a culminating activity to their Wabanaki unit, and Mrs. Dill's class will be visiting the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery on November 4th. It is hard to believe, but we will also mark the end of our first trimester on November 25th. Progress reports will be sent home on Friday, December 5th. Another exciting happening at Asa Adams was the Mock Election that students participated in on Thursday, October 30th. We will keep you posted with our results.

Also during October we registered seven new students. Three of these students are in Kindergarten, two in grade one, a second grader, and a fourth grader. We would like to welcome them to our school.

I hope that November brings us another month of great learning experiences for both students and staff. Also with November comes the arrival of colder temperatures and the need for warmer clothing during recess. Please remind your child to wear appropriate clothing for this change (hat, mittens, etc.). If you are interested in donating any board games for inside recess, which may occur more frequently, please send your items to the office. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to turn your clocks back this weekend!

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