THE MEMORIAL EAGLE GAZETTE
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Interim Principal, Ryan McCluskey
Assistant Principal, Donna B. Johnson
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Please use this link to keep up to date on all that is happening at Memorial School. This calendar, along with other important information can also be found on the Memorial School website (link is above).
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
My name is Ryan McCluskey and I feel very fortunate to have been selected as the interim principal of Memorial Elementary School. While my move from assistant principal at the neighboring Sanborn Regional Middle School is only a few hundred yards away, it was a difficult decision. However, the overwhelming positive feedback I received about the staff, students, and parents helped to convince me that this is a place that I would really enjoy to call my new home. It is also a place I am confident that I can work to support staff and students to continue the great work already occurring so that we, as a Memorial community, reach our potential.
Originally from a similarly small town in Vermont, I began my journey as an educator 14 years ago as an English Language Arts teacher at Timberlane Regional Middle School, where I taught at both the 6th and 8th grade levels. I worked in a variety of leadership roles during this time from committee work to directing an annual fundraiser 5k to coaching both the cross country and track teams. After completing my CAGS in administration from Plymouth State University, I transitioned to the position of assistant principal at Sanborn Regional Middle School last year. In this short time, I have truly embraced the Sanborn community and enjoyed the many positive relationships I have formed with staff, students, and parents.
As we work through the month of December, I look forward to the opportunity to get to know the building, the school’s culture and community, as well as the wonderful students and staff.
I am truly excited to become a part of the special community that makes up Memorial Elementary School.
Go Eagles!
Ryan McCluskey
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Memorial School Giving Tree
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The Memorial School "Giving Tree" still has gift wishes that need to be filled. If you would like to help make a local family's Christmas a memorable one, please consider purchasing a gift from the link below. All gifts need to be turned in to the school unwrapped with the gift ID# attached by December 14th.
Thank you for your help this holiday season!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094AA4AA2EA5FC1-20181
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IN THE SPOT LIGHT - Unified Arts
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Book Fair Exceeds Previous Years’ Totals -- And It’s Not Over Yet!
A big THANK YOU to all who participated in this year’s Memorial Book Fair. Because of you, we sold more books than ever. Thank you to all who chose to put your spending into our school. It’s greatly appreciated, and all of our kids benefit.
Book fairs would not happen without a team of volunteers. From planning to advertising to setting up to selling to packing up, Memorial parents came through spectacularly. A special thank you to all who gave your time, energy, and heart to this fundraiser. You made a busy week manageable and successful -- and fun!
If we weren’t able to fulfill your child’s wish list because of sold out items, or if you have a few more books you’d like to get,
please click here to go to our online book fair
. It will be available until December 16, and our school receives the same benefit.
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In the spirit of the holiday season, 5th grade students have been working hard on these candy canes in art class. They have been using blending techniques with oil pastels.
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This week was national Computer Science Education Week! To celebrate, students who had Makerspace in the STEAM lab participated in some fun computer programming activities. We created a dance “program” out of commands (dance moves) which were sequenced together like choreography, then tested them with our class. It was lots of fun to pretend that we were robots, who couldn’t speak English, and had to follow the code exactly as it was written! We also practiced programming miniature robots called Ozobots!
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Focus on Fitness
In PE classes we have been focusing on our health-related physical fitness. Students have been participating in the FITNESSGRAM, which is a series of fitness tests used across the country to help students understand the importance of health-related physical fitness and track their own progress through the years. Students work on goal setting and working to reach their fitness goals.
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Music has been off to a FANTASTIC start this year. Students have been playing a variety of instruments, singing a number of songs, and learning folk dances from around the world.
Kindergartners have received an additional time in the music room through Makers Space. They have been exploring different stations that bridge music and physical activity.
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First graders just gave their holiday concert on Thursday, December 6! They worked so hard to put together a truly wonderful program full of song, poems, instruments, and of course—the Nutcracker!
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We also started up the first ever Guitar and Ukulele club to first graders. Students have already learned two chords and several songs that they can play and sing.
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Second graders have been discovering locomotor and nonlocomotor movements and have applied this to different genres of music. Students have also enjoyed meeting Mr. Meow and Miss Daisy, our friends who love to sing opera!
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Third graders gave a Thanksgiving performance for the residents of Packer Meadows Students prepared four songs which tied into their Pilgrim unit!
Third graders have also begun learning recorder and nearly the whole grade attended the first meeting of Recorder Karate Club! Students who want to delve deeper into making music through the recorder can come learn additional songs, harder notes, and get any extra help if needed.
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Fourth and Fifth graders have begun preparing for the District Music Festival which will take place in February. We have been studying the Thai culture and learning about their festivals through song.
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Memorial and Bakie School
Winter Band Concert
Thursday, December 13
th
, 2018 6:30 pm
Sanborn Regional High School Auditorium
The 4
th
and 5
th
Grade Bands are very excited to perform their Winter Concert for you, their family and friends! There will also be a bake sale and raffles at the concert. Hope to see you there!
Performers should arrive no later than 5:30 in their concert dress.
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Outdoor recess clothing
Our students will be playing outside every day, sometimes twice a day for recesses. We are now approaching the colder seasons of late fall and winter, and some of our students are forgetting to bring a warm coat. We suggest that you remind your child of the outdoor temperature to insure that they are warm at play. Please be aware that after wet weather, we may have some puddles on the playground. You are encouraged to send a
spare set of dry clothing
to school for your child to change at school should they become wet during outdoor recess. Please label the clothes with your child’s name, so they can keep the bag in their cubby here at school. Thank you!
Healthcare Assistance
The nurse’s office at Memorial School has many resources available for families. I can help you access free flu shots, connect with local primary care physicians, dental exams, vision exams or covering the cost of glasses. I have access to funds through the Exeter Chamber Children’s Fund to help supply winter clothing for children as well. If you have any questions or need any assistance please call the nurses office or send me an email.
Thank you,
Cindy Cole, RN
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The Memorial Student Council is looking for your help with this year's Food Drive!
The drive ends on Friday the 14th
. We are hoping to make a big push next week to have a lot of items to help the members of our community to have a nice holiday season. Thank you to everyone for you generosity during this time of giving.
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Popcorn Friday Dates (Student Council collects money on Wednesday):
January 11
January 25
February 8
February 22
March 29
April 12
May 10
May 24
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PTO Updates
Please be advised our next meeting will be held on January 10
th
at 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make the Book Fair and Santa Breakfast a success! We couldn’t do it without all our volunteers!
Holiday Shopping will be on held on December 11
th
and 12
th
. We will need volunteers starting on December 10
th
to set up and assist the students during the shopping days. Watch for the sign up!
Family Movie Night will be December 12
th
at Chunky’s Cinema in Haverhill. We will be watching Elf! Still time to sign up!
Click here
for flyer.
Information for Let Go Your Mind for 4
th
and 5
th
graders will be coming shortly!
With the holiday season coming don’t forget every time you shop on amazon, enter the site at smile.amazon.com. With Newton Memorial School PTO selected as your charity 0.5% of every purchase is automatically donated! Amazon will keep track of your support. Every little bit helps!
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Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break and the extra little day off. Thanks to all those who turned in Box Tops for November. Keep Box Tops for Education on your mind as you are shopping for your favorite goodies for holiday parties. Each Box Top is a gift of 10¢ for our kids at Memorial School.
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Gale Library December Fun
Join in the holiday fun and excitement at the Gale Library, Newton! Listen to some special favorite holiday tales and make Holiday decorations, ornaments, cards, and crafts during the month of December.
On Monday, Dec. 10 at 6 PM make a
Snowman or Santa Luminary or Candy Jar.
Materials will be supplied but please notify the library at 382-4691 or on our FB page, The Gale Library, to ensure we have enough jars, etc.
Drop-In Holiday craft
on Saturday, Dec. 15. Drop in anytime until noon in the Children’s Room to make an easy, quick craft.
Need a gift? Come to the library, check out all the great gift baskets and take chances on the
Friends of the Library Basket Raffle.
There are many beautiful baskets to choose from, filled with great gifts for each member of your family and friends. Baskets will be raffled on Friday, Dec. 14 at 1 PM. Buy your tickets now, $1 each-6 for $5.
Storyhours
on Tuesdays each week at 10:00 AM will highlight more of our favorite holiday stories, crafts and songs. Come decorate our tree, make ornaments, and enjoy a party with games and goodies. Storyhour Holiday party will be held Dec. 18 at 10:00 AM.
Drop in any time to make your own
Holiday Greeting Card
from the materials in the Children’s Room. Stickers, stamps, old cards, markers, and lots of imagination can create a very special card for Mom, Dad, or Grandparents.
Make someone’s holiday happier. The
Angel Tree
is filled with children’s Christmas wishes. Come pick an angel tag off the Tree at the Library. Purchase a gift for that child, wrap it, and return it to the library by Dec. 15 so it can be distributed to a happy Newton child.
Many thanks for a successful
Food Drive
to all those patrons who paid their fines with food. Our local Food Pantry will be well stocked and able to help many during the holidays thanks to your generosity.
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