BOLTON CENTER SCHOOL TRIANNUAL NEWSLETTER

November 2015 A NOTE FROM MARY GRANDE, PRINCIPAL

I hope our BCS newsletter provides you with insight to all of the wonderful things that are happening in our school. Future newsletters will be sent out at the end of each trimester. Please be sure to visit our website at boltonpublicschools.com for our calendar of upcoming events.

As the school year moves on, we continue to send information home with students. Each week, please check with your child to see if he or she has brought any notices home, as they may be left in backpacks. Particularly of importance is the notice that was sent home regarding permission to take photos or videos of students involved in school related activities. Teachers share this information in various ways within their classroom, at open house, or perhaps on our website.

Revised Report Cards for Grades K-4. Our teachers in grades kindergarten – grade 4 have worked diligently over the last year to update our report cards to reflect the teaching of Common Core Standards. We are excited that our work has produced a standards based report card which we will be piloting this year! Our kindergarten-grade 4 report cards will go home on Tuesday, November 24 with your child.

On Monday, November 16 we will do a presentation on our K-4 report card. I will send home a copy of the report card with each student prior to the meeting. Please take the time to look them over and come to our meeting on November 16 at 6:00 PM in the Library Media Center to learn more. We welcome your questions even if you are unable to attend. Please email your questions to your child’s homeroom teacher. I look forward to seeing parents on November 16.

Parent teacher conferences are scheduled for December 2, 3 and 4. Your child’s homeroom teacher will be in contact with you to arrange a date and time. We ask that you adhere to the time frame that has been scheduled for your conference. If you still have questions for the teacher at the end of the scheduled conference time, determine with the teacher how these concerns can be addressed at a later date. Conference days are all half days. Half day dismissal times are as follows: preschool at 10:15 am, middle school at 11:10 pm and elementary school at 12:10 pm.

Delays, Early Closing or School Cancellations are all communicated through “eAlerts”/school messenger. Once you have subscribed to Bolton Public School “eALerts”, parents will receive an email alert to the e-mail address provided as soon as an emergency decision has been made. Decisions are also posted in red bold letters at boltonpublicschools.com. We know that delays and early dismissals can be confusing and hope that having access to both of these options will help these unscheduled early dismissal days be easier for all! Please make sure our office has your most recent contact information for any emergency situations. Now is a good time to review with your child what your family plan is for an early dismissal. Delayed openings for grades 6-8 begin at 9:30 a.m., grades K-5 begin at 10:30 a.m., and Pre-K will not be in session.

Our winter sports season for boys and girls basketball is around the corner. A tryout schedule for both teams has not been established. Once this information is available it will be accessible on our website, under the athletics page, and will be shared during morning announcements for grades 6-8. In preparation for tryouts, all students must have a completed, doctor-signed sports medical form in the nurse’s office prior to tryouts. For schedules and pertinent sports information please visit our athletic page at Boltonpublicschools.com or contact our Athletic Director, David Humiston at 860-643-2768.

Holiday Spirit Week will be December 21-23. Students and staff are invited to wear red and green on the 21st, a festive sweater on the 22nd and a holiday hat on the 23rd.

The days leading up to Spirit week, student council will hang posters within the school, the days will be posted on our website, morning announcements will be made and a school messenger will go home to parents all as reminders to get as many faculty and staff to participate.

As we prepare for the holidays, remember we all have something to be thankful for! Take the time to let people around you know how much they mean to you. Throughout the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, take a step back to appreciate the little things in life. It is my sincere hope that over the Thanksgiving break and winter recess our staff, students, and their families have the chance to revel in the opportunity to be with loved ones, both family and friends. Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and cheerful holiday season!

Mrs. Grande

SCHOOL NEWS PBIS Presentations

On September 9, two very engaging presentations occurred in the Bolton Center School gymnasium. The first PBIS assembly was geared towards the middle school audience. This assembly featured Connecticut high school students who performed skits and stayed in character to answer audience questions. The skits brought to light many powerful and overwhelming situations that preteens and teens need to deal

with, such as: bullying, stereotypes, inappropriate cell phone use, and much more.

The elementary students also had their turn to go to an uplifting PBIS assembly that was filled with singing and dancing to entertain and engage the audience! The presenter, Brian Chevalier, sang songs and led the students in dances and movements that supported our BARK expectations and reminded students to be good citizens.

Author Visit On October 26, Bolton Center School students were fortunate enough to have New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Nick Bruel come to the school. He discussed his book Bad Kitty with the younger elementary students and then changed gears to do a cartoon symposium with the students in grades 5 and 6, and discussed social media and

criticism with the students in grades 7 and 8. Student Reviews:

"It was fun! I learned to always ask yourself questions before you make a story. Then write a story." -Andrew Rose, Grade 2

"I really liked the author visit with Nick Bruel. I liked it because he read 1 or 2 chapters of the book, and he showed us how to draw Bad Kitty with his emotions. It was really cool how he helped us make a story!!” -Anna Carini, Grade 4

"I thought it was cool how he had us use the yellow pages magazine to pick an idea on a random topic. He also taught us how to just keep going and not criticize yourself too much." -Riley Graves, Grade 5

“I think the author of Bad Kitty was interesting. I respect how he is patient with all the people who complained about some of his word choices.” –Chloe Allen, Grade 7

Buster’s Corner

Students all over BCS have been reviewing our BARK expectations and have been doing a superb job exhibiting these behaviors throughout the school. Way to go Bulldogs! Woof! Woof! Buster was very excited to hear about our first PBIS Assemblies on September 9. Our school stores have opened again. We will sell various school supplies for reasonable prices throughout the

year. Order forms for Bark t-shirts and sweatshirts went home in September and the new gear was recently sent home. Buster can’t wait to see students sporting the latest school spirit fashion. Please check out our PBIS website link on the school website for more information.

PRESCHOOL News Fall is filled with fun for preschoolers! They have studied leaves, apples and pumpkins. One of their favorite activities was doing experiments with pumpkins. They asked questions, made predictions and recorded their data. Preschoolers were measuring, weighing, and checking to see if pumpkins float or sink and cutting pumpkins open to see what is inside. They have also begun learning about the bones in their body, why they are important and what some of them are called. In the upcoming weeks they will be learning about what a veteran is in preparation for Veteran’s Day. They will also continue to work on finger strengthening. Finger strength is necessary for activities such as writing, cutting, buttoning, and other tasks. They strengthen their finger muscles when we work with play dough, pinch putty, use tongs, play with Legos, and string beads.

KINDERGARTEN News Kindergarten has had a great start to the school year! The students have begun laying the groundwork academically and socially for their future education. They have been getting to know each other and learning the routines of a school day. Students are learning to use pre-reading and early literacy skills such as letter and sound identification, sight word recognition, and rhyming. In math, they are working on the foundational concepts of more and fewer and numbers from 0 through 10. Students are also strengthening fine motors skills through thematic art projects incorporating cutting, painting, drawing, coloring, and tracing. Their most recent projects are on display in the classroom and the hallway. Recently, kindergarteners learned about farms and pumpkins. These lessons culminated in going to Hurst Farm on a field trip. They explored a hay maze, harvested kale, fed the cows, and went on a hay ride. They are looking forward to learning about friends and the upcoming holidays.

1st Grade News The start of first grade has been exciting! After raising caterpillars in the classroom and watching the life cycle in action, students said goodbye and released their butterflies. In English and language arts, students have been learning how to read, spell,

and identify

short vowels. In mathemat

ics, first graders have been practicing their addition and subtraction skills. Overall, all of the students have been working very hard practicing their reading, writing, and math skills!

2nd Grade News Second graders have been busy readers and writers these past few months. They have read a variety of fiction and nonfiction stories and have been

working on identifying text features. They recently read fairy tales and enjoyed reading various versions of the same fairy tale. Students have been working on the three types of writing; informative, opinion, and narrative. They wrote planet research reports and are beginning to understand how to write about their opinions. In math, students are learning about place value and are continuing to work on mastering addition and subtraction facts. Students were very lucky to have representatives from the Boston Science Museum come and present a demonstration on matter. The students also loved meeting author Nick Bruel and hearing him read Bad Kitty. Thank you to the PTA for such wonderful experiences.

3rd Grade News Third grade is off to a great start! Students have been very busy learning how to read and making maps in social studies. They created Treasure Island maps that incorporated all the skills they have learned. In math, third grade students are beginning to learn their multiplication facts from 0 to 12. They will spend a lot of the year learning their facts! They are also starting to study habitats in science. In a few weeks, you may see their “Build a Beasts” in the hallways or in their classrooms! With all of this going on, students still have time to read and write in different genres! They are currently writing informational pieces based on research they are conducting!

4th Grade News Fourth graders have made a smooth transition to the second floor and have continued to review the school-wide BARK expectations. Students thoroughly enjoyed reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and working on the various activities that went along with this classic story. In science, they have

visited a virtual lab to explore forces and motion. In math, they have been working hard on place value as well as adding and subtracting larger numbers. They have moved on to extending

multiplication concepts and should continue to practice their basic facts to help with these essential skills. Students are eager to choose their states for the State Fair and should be making their picks by Thanksgiving!

5th Grade News Fifth graders are off to a great start. They are getting used to fifth grade expectations and the new routine of switching classes. In math, students have completed a unit on place value, rounding, estimating, and working with decimals. They have integrated topics 3-5 and will be learning the skills through word problems. The skills which are necessary to solve word problems, are essential not just for school or “the test”, but in real life as well. Map skills have been the focus in social studies. Students will soon be “traveling around the world” as we start our study of the continents. Students have been busy exploring the structure and function of the five senses. Next, they will be exploring sound with different materials. Learning about different genres, taking notes while reading, and using discussion to enhance comprehension of texts have been keeping students busy in language arts. They have enjoyed using the periodical Storyworks to practice learned skills.

School safety Within the first few weeks of school, the students were not only reminded of the BARK expectations, but they also had the opportunity to practice several emergency procedures. From the lockdown announcement to actual fire drills, students demonstrated the ability to follow the school procedures. On September 4, BARK expectations were also reviewed on the bus and safety procedures were reviewed as students practiced evacuating the bus out of the rear emergency exit.

Middle school News World language

Sixth grade French (half year) students are able to count to 50, discuss colors, days of the week, ask about names, health, and age. They presented skits on famous French personalities and chose a francophone country to research the flag and facts about that place. The sixth grade Spanish class celebrated El Dia de los Muertos and compared and contrasted the traditional Mexican holiday to Halloween in the United States. Students have learned the Spanish alphabet, numbers 0-30, basic greetings and introductions, Hispanic countries and geography, as well as discussing the date and birthdays. Students will continue to be busy at the beginning of the second trimester as they start to talk more about seasons and weather.

Seventh grade French students completed a geoculture project on Paris and its environs. In chapter one, they learned to greet someone, exchange names, ask how someone is, introduce a friend, discuss age, discuss classroom objects, tell how words are spelled, and exchange email addresses. They will research famous French personalities and present their skits to the class. Mrs. Franco’s seventh grade Spanish students are learning to talk about activities, say where they are from, and express their likes and dislikes. At the end of October, they celebrated Dia de los Muertos and decorated a skull magnet or sugar skull. Mrs. Percy's seventh grade Spanish classes jumped right into grammar, learning how to express preferences with the verb gustar and discuss origin and describe using the verb ser. They also spent several days talking about and commemorating El Dia de los Muertos, one of the most important Mexican holidays. In the second trimester, students will continue to form opinions in the target language both in writing and verbally.

Eighth grade French students did a geoculture project on the west of France and are familiar with geography of the region, history, architecture, foods, and sports. In chapter 5, they learned to ask about interests, how often someone does an activity, and to extend, accept or refuse an invitation and make plans. They were filmed presenting a weather forecast and are now able to play petanque, a popular game in France. They will start preparing a brochure/poster on a resort and compete for a prize for the best one. Eighth grade Spanish classes have been busy learning about clothing and shopping. Their location focus is currently Spain and they have discussed the Spanish accent as well as their use of Euros and exchange rates. Classes have been advancing into more complex grammar structures with stem-changing verbs and direct object pronouns...of course they became more comfortable with English grammar as well! On November 2, they took some time out of their daily grind to commemorate El Dia de los Muertos.

Student council The BCS Student Council is off and running with an ambitious agenda planned for this school year. In an effort to make planning easier for students and their families, the council’s committees have been meeting to develop a calendar of events for the year. Currently, the Dance Committee has planned for 7th/8th grade dances on November 20, January 22, March 11, and May 13. The Social Action Committee has planned to be supporting the district-wide canned food drive to support the Hockanum Valley Community Council in November, a Toy Drive in December, a Carnation Sale for Make-A-Wish around Valentine’s Day, and a middle school “Penny Wars” contest supporting a charity to be named in the spring. The council’s Spirit Committee has 3 school-wide events planned: a December holiday-themed “week” from December 21-23, a “Dress Up” spirit week (including Twin Day – start prepping now!) from February 22-26, and a “Colors of Spring/Crayola Week” in the late April/early May timeframe. Advisory groups

On September 30, the middle school students attended their first advisory session. During their second advisory session, students discussed stress and coping skills. These sessions will occur approximately once a month and serves several purposes. The main purpose of these small groups (typically 8 or 9 students per advisory group) is to establish and strengthen connectedness and to foster a personalized and supportive

school culture. Throughout this year, the students will discuss relevant topics such as time management, goal setting, dealing with friendships, and listening skills.

6th Grade News The reason Mrs. Lopez loves to teach ELA was previously stated at Open House, “No other subject will bring you to tears or make you laugh out loud!” When asked how teachers are preparing students for the future, she responds in kind with….”How much time do you have to talk?” It is through readings, fiction and non-fiction alike, that people meet characters whom they develop feelings for as they are immersed into their stories. Tuck Everlasting is their current reading and students are exploring the concepts of growing up and

how they grow and change in this unfolding process. Through their reading of this novel, students have developed a keen eye in spotting the eloquent use of figurative language. They have examined the numerous examples of simile, metaphor, idiom and hyperbole and uncovered why authors sprinkle these throughout their writings. Students understand that figurative language adds a rich element to a writer’s product.

Non-fiction articles read have brought life to the ELA classroom as they examined the inspirational stories and work of various women. The mission of improving the lives of her Lakota tribe has landed Rochelle Ripley on the CNN’s list of top ten heroes of the year. Additionally, students read a Journal Inquirer article about a local power house and Bolton High School student, Callie Love, and her goals and steps taken to become a doctor in the future. Yet another remarkable woman, Jane Goodall, was read about, and students discussed her lifelong work on the study and preservation of chimps in Africa. Lastly, the young Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Malala was closely examined. The majority of this reading was accompanied with a short vignette. Students needed to sharpen their listening and observational skills so that they could participate in collegial discussion.

Through all of these readings, students are developing essential skills they will carry forward as a middle school student and beyond. Students are expected to be critical thinkers and by doing so, compose well-constructed written responses to questions posed and develop well thought out questions stemming from the reading. Logically, the next step is to present their ideas and thoughts with an age appropriate sophistication. They are expected to use vocabulary associated with the topic and to speak with clear understanding of topic. The sum of these skills is necessary in order to be a successful student and member of the Bolton community.

Social Studies classes have been exploring early man and the introduction of ancient civilizations. Each student completed a hominid poster project which showcased amazingly creative children! The science of archaeology has been discussed along with significant archeological finds related to early man. Students are now examining the traits of a civilization and how they were illustrated in Ancient Summer. Current events have also been discussed and there have been numerous debates about topics in the news such as the presidential candidates, foreign affairs, gun control and the weather. In science, everything MATTERs! Students are hard at work learning about how molecules work, move and change state. They are partaking in various activities to test their ideas about what happens to the molecules as they are heated up and cooled down. Coming up they will be experimenting with elements, compounds and mixtures. Students will purify “polluted water”, model atoms and compounds, and create their own Periodic Table. They are having a great year so far! Sixth grade math students are working on Module 1 from the engageNY curriculum. The lessons that are provided actively engage students in solving ratio and percent problems. The 21st Century skills that this standards-based curriculum addresses are critical thinking, creative thinking, collaborating, communicating, information literacy, flexibility, productivity and leadership. Students are developing an intuitive sense of the meaning of ratio, proportion, and percent, while practicing skills that will be necessary for their future in information-age jobs.

7th Grade News In math, both the Pre-algebra and Math-7 classes have continued their study of integers and rational numbers. They are also beginning to delve into algebraic concepts and skills. They have studied the process of isolating the variable through the use of inverse operations and looking at equations as an ongoing balance that they can manipulate. Math students are now beginning to study inequalities. Ms. Browning’s social studies classes have been busy this fall. They began with a web quest on the migration of early man, an atlatl competition, and a brief study of the ancient Aztec, Mayan and Incan civilizations. Students played detective while trying to solve the “Mystery of the Maid in the Mountains”. They are currently focusing on European exploration and the “discovery” of the new world. Current events have also been discussed and there have been numerous debates about topics in the news such as the presidential candidates, foreign affairs, gun control and the weather. Mr. Lambert’s social studies classes began the year with an examination of Earliest Americans and are now examining the “Age of Exploration” that led to the European settlement of the New World. In language arts, they are concluding a thematic unit on courage and beginning to discuss character as a theme with the reading of Lois Lowry’s classic young adult novel The Giver. Additionally they are focusing on argument writing and thesis creation, in order to enhance and develop necessary skills for high school and beyond. After this they will be moving on to perseverance and the writing process in December/January.

8th Grade News The eighth grade language arts students have been studying setting and its impact on literature, music, and artwork. After recently completing a city setting unit, they are now studying a unit centered on the country setting. The unit will culminate with students writing a creative narrative in which they will use the writing process of brainstorming, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing. Practicing this writing process will be very helpful to the students’ educational future. The unit will

culminate with students writing a creative narrative. In middle school science, the eighth graders are studying cellular biology. They have also been perfecting their skills at using a microscope, which will be an asset for them when they progress to the ninth grade science labs. Social studies classes are covering the American Revolution and are about to start an examination of some of the philosophical foundations of our

nation through an analysis of the core values laid out in Declaration of Independence.

School-wide Fundraiser The eighth grade class will be hosting a school-wide Hat Day fundraiser on Wednesday, November 25 (the half day before Thanksgiving). Students who wish to participate will be asked to donate a dollar. All money raised will help off-set the cost of the eighth grade end-of-the-year activities.

MONSTER BOOK FAIR

It’s that time again, Spooky, Scary, Book Fair Preparing! Please don’t hide, don’t shy away This eerie theme is just a scheme!

For monsters are big and a bit disturbing But books for our kids are all about learning! But in order to provide this monstrous affair

We need you to volunteer time to spare. So shake off those shivers, and lend a hand. Any little bit will help to make this event GRAND! No Experience Necessary! Our Monster Book Fair Runs November 23 – December 4 Help Needed: Setup on November 20

11/23 – 12/4 General help with ringing customers up and helping kids and parents find books, or helping our librarian,

Jennifer Vesci, when younger kids come in Pack up at the end of book fair on December 4th

If interested please contact: Jenn Allyn allyn2@comcast.net

Kathy Giering giering.k@gmail.com

Computer corner Keyboarding: When Are We Ever Going to Use This?

At BCS keyboarding skills are introduced in second grade and students continue to practice to increase their speed and accuracy throughout middle school.

Some might ask: Why are keyboarding skills important to students’ future success? Keyboarding is an essential digital literacy skill that students need for academic and career success. As students move up through the grades more is expected of them as far as the length of their reports and papers. Knowing how to type quickly and accurately will help them complete these assignments faster. Keyboarding is a highly marketable skill for future employment and even a way to earn money in high school and college. Keyboarding is also known to increase one’s concentration level and hand-eye coordination. When putting text to the page digitally, whether it is composing an email, writing an essay or inputting data, it is important that one’s typing speed makes the task easier rather than hampering the process. Keyboarding is an important life skill in our digital world.

TOWN INFORMATION

For information on what is happening in our town, sign up for The Bolton Bulletin. This is a town-wide email informational blast sent through the Town’s website. News and short email stories are sent out from the town about two to three times per month. It is a way to stay informed about our community. Individuals can sign up on the town’s website. Visit the Bolton Town’s website, put your email address in the box on the right hand side called “E-Mail Notifications” and then confirm your email address when you receive an email back. If you have any problems or questions, please contact the Selectmen’s Office.

Upcoming SCHOOLWIDE Events:

November 20: Early Dismissal/PD for Teachers November 20: Grades 7 & 8 Dance November 25: Half Day November 26-27: Thanksgiving – No School December 2-4: Parent Conferences& Early Dismissals December 11: Early Dismissal/PD for Teachers December 24-January 3: Holiday Recess January 18: Martin Luther King Day – No School January 22: Grades 7 & 8 Dance February 12 & 15: Winter Recess (Presidents’ Day) February 16:Professional Development/ No School

*Please check the school’s website for additional dates.

ART NEWS KINDERGARTEN: This trimester the students have successfully completed their Square 1 Art unit on Pop Art creating handprints in the style of Andy Warhol. Check your children’s back packs for fall-themed projects that incorporate the elements of art and principles of design!

GRADE 1: This trimester the students have successfully completed their Square 1 Art unit inspired by Vincent Van Gogh by creating vases of sunflowers. The students learned about both the artist and Post Impressionism. They are currently working on many fall-themed projects that incorporate the elements of art and principles of design.

GRADE 2: This trimester the created their Square 1 Art Pattern Heart utilizing the elements of art and principles of design. The students are currently working on a multimedia fall leaves piece of art.

GRADE 3: This trimester the students have successfully completed their Square 1 Art Owls utilizing the elements of art and principles of design. The students are currently working on a literacy-based piece of art from the book, Elmer, The Story of a Patchwork Elephant by David McKee, (check the library for the series!). This project not only incorporates the elements of art and principles of design, but is also a multimedia 2-D and 3-D piece of art work!

GRADE 4: This trimester the students learned about the life and art work of two famous artists: Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet! They have successfully completed their Square 1 Art Picasso Portraits. During this unit the students learned how to draw a self-portrait using Picasso’s cubist techniques. The students also had fun learning about Impressionism and chalk pastel techniques in their rendition of Monet’s water lilies. They are currently working on a fire prevention unit promoted by the CT Fire Prevention Poster Committee.

GRADE 5: This trimester the students have successfully completed their Square 1 Art unit on Pop Art by creating a self-portrait in the style of Keith Haring. During this unit the students also learned about and effectively created their own semiotic messages in art. They are currently working on a fire prevention unit promoted by the CT Fire Prevention Poster Committee.

GRADE 6: This trimester the students built and glazed clay slab vessels, and created a multimedia 3-D paper sculpture out of the letters in their names. The students recently completed a Van Gogh inspired autumn landscape in the artists style using chalk pastel. The Van Gogh autumn landscapes will be on display at the spring 2016 Art Exhibit.

GRADE 7: This trimester the students have successfully completed a unit on illuminated letters inspired by the Book of Kells. These masterpieces will be on display at the Spring 2016 Student Art Exhibit. The students also designed a mandala using radial balance, and are currently working on an acrylic painting in warm and cool colors and tints. Our next project is to glaze a pinch-coil pot created out of clay.

GRADE 8: This trimester the students learned about the elements of line and value in a still life drawing of an apple. They carried this knowledge over into a project titled “Bad Hair Day,” in which the students learned how to draw a self-portrait and then creatively styled imaginative, crazy hair on their head. The students completed a cultural study on Kente cloth woven by the Asante people of Ghana, using the elements of line and color. Currently, they are glazing slab-rolled clay mugs.

NEW THIS YEAR:

OPEN STUDIO WHO: 6th-8th Grade Art Students

WHAT: To continue work on your art project. WHEN: Tuesday’s 2:00PM-2:30PM WHERE: Mrs. Vouglas’ Art Room

WHY: To keep on track with your art project’s time line.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS The Bolton Public School’s physical education and health program is designed to provide our students with in-depth knowledge of physical principles while offering experiences in a variety of activities. Our students are given opportunities to develop physical and social skills, and life-long values while learning the health benefits associated with participating in team and individual sports. Our program prepares students with information and strategies to deal with pressures. Health related content is integrated throughout the curriculum ensuring students are taught the skills to make informed, appropriate, and healthful choices that will lead to a productive life. The skills learned in physical education and health education are life-long skills that will benefit the future of all students.

Physical Education classes at Bolton Center School have been very busy! The fourth, sixth, and eighth grade classes have been busy preparing for and completing the CT Physical Fitness Assessment. This test assesses students’ fitness in four areas: muscular strength and endurance (curl-ups and push-ups), flexibility (sit and reach), and aerobic capacity (Pacer Test).

Testing started the last week of September and continued into the first week of November. Please be on the lookout for your child’s scores to come home with their first report card. All of the fourth through eighth grade physical education classes have completed a soccer unit. Grades six through eight have moved on to a speedball unit and are transitioning to a football unit. Along with their soccer unit, much of the fourth grade classes have

been devoted to learning more about the fitness test and preparing for the actual assessment. After the completion of a soccer unit, fifth grade classes were busy learning about orienteering and building map reading skills.

Elementary classes in Kindergarten through third grade started their year off with a unit on playground safety and how it is important to follow the playscape rules in order to keep themselves and their classmates safe. All K-3 classes have also been working on foot and ball skills and movement activities. Classes will begin to explore the use of stations through instruction and skill-practice. In kindergarten through third grade physical education classes, ample opportunities for repetition of skill practice is utilized in a closed environment in order to prepare students for using these skills in a more specialized and dynamic (game) environment in future PE classes.

In order to participate in physical education classes, students are required to wear appropriate footwear. Athletic sneakers that lace or tie are the safest shoe for physical education class. As the weather gets colder and students wear boots to school, they should remember to bring their sneakers on physical education days to change in to.

Physical Education Schedule for students in grades K-5:

Mrs. Rechen’s class – Tuesday and Thursday Mrs. Rumovicz’s class – Tuesday and Friday Mr. Crahen’s class – Wednesday and Thursday Mrs. Ferguson’s class - Tuesday and Thursday Mrs. Kemp’s class – Monday and Friday Mrs Brower’s class – Monday and Tuesday Mrs. Casellini’s class – Monday and Tuesday Mrs. Pagani’s class – Wednesday and Thursday

Mrs. Mikloiche’s class–Monday and Wednesday Mrs. Mishriky’s class – Thursday and Friday Mrs. Wunch’s class – Tuesday and Friday Mrs. Dutil’s class – Tuesday and Friday Mrs. Fisher’s class – Tuesday and Friday Mrs. Rose’s class – Monday and Thursday Mrs. Allegretti’s class–Wednesday and Thursday Mrs. DeLeo’s class – Monday and Wednesday Miss. O’Connell’s class–Wednesday and Thursday

BCS Sports Girls & Boys Cross country

Bolton Bulldogs have a strong and large cross country team this year. With almost 45 runners, the team (led by Coach Alexis Noheimer and Assistant Coach Kelly Bucchi) they have had a winning season. Their first meet versus Mansfield ended with a double victory for both the boys and the girls. On Friday, September 18, the team partook in Panther Fest in East Hampton and had four runners take top 10 spots! Kevin Brudz took first place for grade 7 boys and Megan Minicucci, MacKenzie Caruso, and Paige Sciarra all scored in the top 10 for grade 6 girls. During the regular season, both the boys and the girls won their first home and away meets. The victories kept pouring in pretty consistently. At the end of the regular season, the girls’ season remained victorious as they were undefeated and earned 2nd place at conferences. As for the boys’, they only had one loss under their belt, with a winning record.

Team Members include: Captain Samantha Bailey, Holly Begin, Aidan Brown, Kevin Brudz, Elijah Carini, MacKenzie Caruso, Taylor Connolly, Emma Dutil, Andy Fiano, Marshall Flowers, Captain Bobby Flowers, Jada Ford, Catherine Grant, Shane Heller, Marta Herasimowicz, Aiden Ives, Ryan Jaworski, Trevor Juan, Captain Brandon Keeler, Abigail Koval, Madison Koval, Claire Langton, Makayla Lozada, Captain Alissa Madeia, Nolan Meyers, Megan Minicucci, Christopher Nemphos, Christina Pavlik, Anthony Prior, Michael Robbins, Elise Schwartz, Paige Sciarra, Samantha Sondik, Edward Steele, Dakoda Tyler, Alexander Tonioni, Brian Winkler, Justin Yonika

Boys soccer The boys’ soccer team had a 3-11 record this season. Despite their record the team has been competitive in all their games. Coaches from other teams have commented throughout the season about how well they play the game. The team is young with only four eighth graders. The future of the program looks bright! Captain Andrew Dube has led the way this season, scoring 12 goals, and attaining hat tricks in 2 games! Altogether 9 different players have scored goals this season. The team has worked hard throughout the season and has done a great job of consistently representing the town and the school in every game. Team Members include: Finneas Alibrio, Dylan Bonanno, Jason Dean, Adam Dube, Captain Andrew Dube, Cody Fox, Jack Gallacher, Isaac Goncalves, Austin Gorneau, Captain Luke Lourenco, Captain Joseph Maulucci, Michael McDermott, Dylan McDonald, Chris Olson, Quin Potter, Alex Sklenar, Matthew Weir, Craig Wood

Girls Soccer The girls’ soccer team, led by Captains Gracie Ross and Dalaina Cubit, finished the season with a record of seven wins, five losses, and two ties. The girls have worked hard all year improving their skills and knowledge of the game. Highlights of the season included a tie at home against a Columbia team that had previously lost to, and a 2-0 victory over Willington. This victory over Willington was Bolton’s best played game of the season! Team Members include: Madeline Bolduc, Allison Bradley, Evelyn Buckner, Anna Cavalieri, Captain Dalaina Cubit, Rachel Damboise, Halle Gavin, Haylee Granato, Mya Kelsey, Molly Leete, Melissa LeGeyt, Alex Picard, Captain Gracie Ross, Alexis Ruiz, Bella Sklenar, Madeline Szatkowski, Hazel Tonyali

MUSIC NEWS The music room has been buzzing with singing voices and moving bodies!

The Kindergarten classes have been singing and moving to simple songs and rhymes, learning about whispering, talking and singing voices, and playing classroom instruments such as sandpaper blocks and drums. They have also learned a song about “Johnny on the Woodpile” which lets each student sing solo!

The first grade classes have been reviewing songs from last year, as well as some new folk songs, dances, and games. They have also been preparing for the Veteran’s Day presentation in which they will sing “When The Flag Goes By”. The first graders enjoy playing on some of the classroom instruments, listening to song-tales, and moving around the room to rhythm and motion games pretending to be popcorn and fish!

The second grade classes have been learning folk songs and rhymes, as well as how we can put motions to music. They have been using this skill in preparation for the Veteran's Day presentation in which they will sing a patriotic medley, which features the songs "You're A Grand Old Flag", "This Land is Your Land", and "America, The Beautiful". They have spent time learning what the words "patriotic" and "medley" mean, as well as reviewing quarter note and rest and eighth note rhythms. They also had the opportunity to use some of the classroom instruments as they learn new notes and rhythms.

The third grade classes have been spending time learning folk songs and dances, but also have learned about partner songs. Partner songs are two songs that are unrelated but can be performed together. The students took one of the songs and exercised their composition skills by rewriting the lyrics and performing them for one another. They have been reviewing familiar rhythms (ta’s and ti-ti’s) and learning new rhythms (ti-ri-ti-ri) through the cooperative songs and games “Paw Paw Patch” and “Pumpkin Pumpkin”.

The middle school music survey students have been busy expanding their knowledge and understanding on both a personal and global level. Seventh grade students delved into what music means to them and how musical bias can affect how individuals and groups can be influenced. They have also been learning music theory concepts to prepare them for the guitar units in the second half of the school year. The eighth graders have been exploring world music through Australian and Native American cultures. They are comparing and contrasting the cultures and finding some interesting connections, opening their ears to new sounds, and shining a new light on their understanding of being a global citizen.

Grade 4 band students are off to a solid start playing songs like “Hot Cross Buns.” The students are excited for their first evening concert in January, which will feature each instrument section, as well as short pieces played by the entire band. Please encourage your children to practice their instruments at home and share what they are learning with you! All students should be practicing at least 15 minutes every other day to help them get better at the skills they are learning in school. As they continue to grow as musicians they will learn how music applies to many different aspects of life! The fourth grade chorus delivered their first performance at the Veteran’s Day Assembly on November 10. The chorus has also begun rehearsing several songs for their first evening concert in January, including folk and popular songs from around the world.

Grade 5 chorus welcomed many new members at the start of this school year, with a new total of 28 singers. The chorus is busy rehearsing for their winter concert, which will include diverse music selections, a bit of choreography, and a song featuring Tic Tac candy. Band students in grade 5 are working hard to learn

several pieces of sheet music for their winter concert in January. They have a great instrumentation and are excited to be preparing some very challenging music that will blast them off into space with “Space Journey!” This year they are going to be working on learning dotted quarter notes and single eighth notes to add excitement throughout the music that we are able to perform!

Band students in grade 5 have been working diligently on their preparation of “Photofinsh!” as well as “Bobbleheads.” They are exploring how music can be fun and lighthearted while learning new musical concepts that challenge them. The 6th grade chorus also delivered their first performance of the school year at the Veteran’s Day Assembly. They performed a moving arrangement of the well-known poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, accompanied by members of the 8th grade band. The chorus is busy rehearsing a variety of music for their winter concert, including some traditional and popular choral repertoire.

MUSIC NEWS continued...

The 7th and 8th grade band had an excellent first performance at the Pops Concert on October 27! Several grade 8 students worked on a performance with grade 6 students during the Veteran’s Day Assembly in November. They are diving into new and challenging music and hopefully will be able to have some small ensembles that meet during study hall to provide more music at a variety of events in Bolton. Congratulations to the 7th and 8th grade chorus for a successful performance at the Pops Concert on October 27! The chorus is now rehearsing music for the winter concert in January. In addition, they are going to try to organize groups of singers to perform the National Anthem at each of our boys and girls home basketball games again this year.

In grades 6-8 band and chorus, 17 students are auditioning for the Eastern Region Middle School Music Festival, which will be held at RHAM High School in March. This is the largest group of students who have auditioned in several years, and they are looking forward to strong representation from Bolton at the festival!

Guitar Club will meet on Thursdays from 2:30-3:25 beginning in December. This club is for any students in grades 6-8 who is interested in playing the guitar in a social setting. Music will be chosen based on student interest. Students do not need guitar playing experience to join, but they need to either bring a guitar from home or arrange in advance to borrow a school instrument (for in-school use only). Students can sign up in the music hallway, and see Mr. Ayer with any questions.

Upcoming Performances:

Winter Band Concerts: Wednesday, January 27 Grades 4-6 @ 6 pm and Grades 7-8 @ 7:30 pm Winter Choral Concerts: Thursday, January 28 Grades 4-6 @ 6 pm and Grades 7-8 @ 7:30 pm

Instructional coach

Former fifth grade teacher, Becky Sullivan, is very excited about her work this year as BCS’s first K-5 Instructional Coach! An instructional coach’s main goal is to bring evidenced-based practices into classrooms. Most often, this is through meeting with individual teachers or teams of teachers. While meeting with teachers, the coach provides many supports including goal setting and resources. The ultimate goals of a coach include supporting teachers and increasing student achievement in schools.

Library Media Center news The year is off to a great start in the Library Media Center and students in grades K-5 are keeping busy. Kindergartners have been learning how to be responsible library users as well as learning about library manners and how to care for their books. They did a short unit on sequencing and retelling stories using books by Laura Joffe Numeroff and are now learning the difference between fiction and nonfiction.

First grade began their year learning about “Skoob” the shelf elf who lives in our library. They are trying their best to be responsible library users and keep the shelves neat and organized to help Skoob earn the Golden Shelf Elf Award. They have also learned about the parts of the book and how a book shares many things in common with them (ask your first grader how a book is like them). Most recently they have done a short unit on author/illustrator Nick Bruel, author of the Bad Kitty books, in preparation for Mr. Bruel’s visit to BCS. Second graders started off the year learning about how to select books that are just right for them. They have learned that not everyone reads at the same level or even enjoys the same types of books and that it is important that they find a book that is just right for them that they can read, understand and enjoy. In late September, they heard the story of Flat Stanley. In this story, a young boy becomes flat when a bulletin board falls on him during the night. The Flat Stanley book will become the basis for projects and research that the students will engage in throughout the school year. They have also completed a short unit on author/illustrator Nick Bruel to prepare for his visit. Third grade students dove into the Dewey decimal system right from the start of the year. They learned how books are arranged in the nonfiction area of the library and what the Dewey decimal system is. This has helped them become much more independent users of the library when it comes to making nonfiction selections and will help them as they move into learning how to use the automated library catalog. Third graders did a more extensive unit on Nick Bruel having read-aloud Bad Kitty Gets a Bath and taking part in different projects to prepare for his visit. Fourth grade students started their year off learning that Our Librarian Won’t Tell Us Anything! It was actually a story that I shared with them to set the basis for their busy, learning year. Much of their library time is spent teaching the students skills that they will need for years to come (such as locating information, reading to find answers to specific questions, note taking skills, research, word processing, using Google classroom and so much more). Will I TELL the students how to do this all? No, but as made apparent in the story I read to them, I will TEACH them how to do all of these activities and be there to guide them along the way. Students were introduced to a portion of Destiny (our automated library catalog) called Destiny Quest where they can write their own book reviews, recommend books to other students, place holds on library books they would like to read and manage books they have read, are reading or would like to read. Fourth graders also did a unit on Nick Bruel after the read-aloud Bad Kitty Gets a Bath. Students wrote letters to the author and even tried to illustrate Bad Kitty. Their pictures are displayed on the bulletin board at the bottom of the ramp near the Library Media Center. Fifth grade students started the year off with a review of Destiny and Destiny Quest followed by a discussion of and introduction to the 2016 Nutmeg nominated books. Ten books are nominated each year and students in Connecticut vote for their favorite in the spring. It is pretty exciting for the students to know that an award is given to an author that ONLY students in Connecticut had the opportunity to vote on. Fifth graders also did a unit of study on author Nick Bruel. They had a read-aloud of Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble where they learned a great deal of vocabulary and information on how to write a book. Ask your fifth grader what an antagonist or protagonist is. Better yet, ask them what a macguffin is! At the end of the unit, they also had the chance to write a letter to the author and tried to create an illustration of Bad Kitty.

Notes from the Reading Rooms Children need daily opportunities to practice and enjoy reading. Encourage routines at home to promote a positive feeling around reading. Young children love to be read to and bedtime is a perfect time to establish the routine of a relaxed shared love of books. For older children, daily reading helps build their confidence and enjoyment in the process of reading. Here are some helpful activities to encourage literacy skills and reading strategies at home: Kindergarten: Read books to your child. Show wonder and be amazed at the words, phrases, and illustrations used, sing the alphabet song, recite nursery rhymes, use magnetic letters. Have fun! First and Second Grade: Continue to show a love of the written and spoken word. Students are learning to be readers. Here are a few verbal prompts to use as you are listening to your child read aloud: Get your mouth ready, look at the picture, look for chunks in the word (example –at, -it, -and), reread that again in a silly, angry, lazy voice, and ask what would make sense. Third Grade and up: Have discussions with your children. Talk about what you’ve been reading. Show them what you’d talk about, so they have a model. Talk about the books or magazine articles they are reading. What was the book about? What was their favorite part and why? What character traits did your character reveal? Was there a lesson or theme in the story? Think about your family leisure time. Does anyone take some of that time and choose to read for pleasure? You may want to start a new Family Read Aloud. Choose one night a week and choose a great book to either: a. Read to your family b. Have different family members read aloud part of the book or c. Have all your family members choose something to read or look at during a designated quiet time in the evening. It could be magazines, books, newspapers, cereal boxes, etc. Then ask each person to share what they’ve read. It may feel awkward in the beginning, but soon you’ll have set up a family ritual where communicating about what you’ve read is important. If you are interested in learning more about how to encourage reading and help motivate your child to read, Raising Kids Who Read , What Parents and Teachers Can Do is a wonderful resource.

News from the Office of Instructional Technology and Curriculum I am excited to welcome everyone back to a new school year. Our work over the summer focused on preparing all students for the future and there have been a few new initiatives that will continue into the new school year. We applied for a grant for additional Chromebooks and we will likely hear the outcome from the CSDE in the fall. Bolton High School secured a grant that will allow students to use tablets in the various culinary classes. We are excited about the opportunity to continue to integrate technology in all aspects of our curricula; thus helping students acquire the necessary technology skills that will support all future endeavors.

We will also continue to align curricula with the Connecticut Core Standards (formerly Common Core). Social Studies will be a primary focus as the state has newly adopted Social Studies Frameworks. We are looking forward to updating this content area. We are also pleased to offer three new electives at Bolton High School at no additional cost - Peace and Conflict Studies (English), Guitar, and Music Technology II.

To date, we have accomplished the following: Connecticut Core aligned curricula in math in grades K – 8, Algebra I and II, and Geometry. Connecticut Core aligned curricula in English/language arts in grades K – 9 and 12. Connecticut Core aligned literacy standards in history/social studies, science and technical subjects in grades K – 12. Thank you, Sarah V. Malinoski

WELLNESS News from the HEALTH ROOM Section 4 of Public Act 15-215, effective July 1, 2015 changes the grades in which the Boards of Education must conduct vision, hearing and postural screenings of students. Now, both vision and hearing screenings are required for students in kindergarten, grade one, three, four and five. Postural screenings are now required for female students in grades five and seven, and for male students in grades eight or nine. In Bolton, male students will receive the postural screening in grade 9. Public Act 15-215can be viewed at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/ACT/PA/2015PA-00215-R00HB-07023-PA.htm. Currently, vision and hearing screenings are ongoing throughout the months of October and November. If your child does not pass the basic school screening twice, then the nurse will send home a referral that needs to be completed by your doctor and then returned to Mrs. Welsh. The referrals should be going out in the first 2 weeks of December. Mrs. Welsh will first attempt to contact parents via phone, before the referral goes home via backpack mail.

As the weather becomes colder, please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the colder weather with coats, hats and mittens. During this time of year there are MANY cases of chapped lips. Please make sure that your child has an appropriate lip balm for their own personal use.

Please remind your student about the importance of hand washing. Many students are not washing their hands properly if they are actually washing their hands at all. The following guidelines can help with the discussion. When & How to Wash Your Hands http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html When should you wash your hands? • Before, during, and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the toilet • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste • After handling pet food or pet treats • After touching garbage

How should you wash your hands? •Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. •Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. •Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. •Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. •Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

What should you do if you don’t have soap and clean, running water? Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs. Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

How do you use hand sanitizers? • Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount). • Rub your hands together. • Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Why? Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs. Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Stay Healthy! Mrs. Welsh

Our PTA Page My name is Christina Morra-Tiu and I am the PTA President. The PTA works with the school and students to make sure the students have a great school year. The PTA has fundraisers so we can bring Enrichment programs to the school, help teachers get supplies and books for the library. The PTA is run and assisted by a great group of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering a little of your time, please go to our website to see what events we have coming up at www.boltonpta.org. If you think you might want to be more involved, we have five Board positions opening for the 2016-2107 school year. The open positions are: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and 2 people to help co-chair our Ways and Means Committee which handles our fundraising. If you think you might want to get involved please email the PTA at boltonpta@boltonpta.org Thank you, Christina Morra-Tiu, PTA President

Career Day: The next Career Day is Friday, May 13, 2016, but the PTA’s Career Day Committee is already hard at work, and we need your help! Career Day is an opportunity for BCS sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students to learn about careers of interest to them from community members who are successful in those fields. Why do this in middle school? Our goal is to stimulate new interests and inspire students to start thinking about and setting goals for their future. Among last year’s 35 presenters were an artist, dentist, editor, fireman, forensic

photographer, landscaper, nurse, social worker, and veterinarian—all members of the Bolton community—as well as a meteorologist, a former ESPN producer, a college soccer coach, and a video game designer—all recruited by Career Day Committee members. If you’re interested in helping us or in finding out more about being a Career Day presenter, being a volunteer on May 13, or serving of the planning committee, please contact Emily Bradley (eabradley@comcast.net) or Chris Davey (chris@daveyeditorial.com).

Boxtops for Education: The Box Tops program is a wonderfully easy and FREE way for our school to earn cash! For every Box Top you clip and send to school, Bolton Center School will receive 10 cents. This may not seem like much, however it adds up quickly! Last year we raised more than $2200. Our goal for the 2015/16 school year is $2800, and we need your help! We will run contests a few times throughout the year; however you may send them in to school at any time. Simply clip Box Top$ coupons from participating products and send them to school in an envelope or Ziploc. Please label the bag with your child’s name and class. The Top Overall Box Tops Collector in K-5 and 6-8 will receive a prize at the end of each contest!! A great way to increase our collection totals is to ask friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to save box tops for us! This is an easy and FREE way for everyone to help!

Upcoming PTA Fundraisers Square 1 Art – This fundraiser takes our Pre-K - 5th graders artwork and turns it into great products for you to purchase. These products are wonderful keepsakes and gifts for family and friends. Personalized catalogs will be sent home in early November. Orders can be made online with a debit or credit card or you can pay with cash or check using the order form provided on the catalog. All paper orders are due by November 20, 2015. Products will be delivered to the school approximately the third week in December (Exact pick up date will be provided in December).

Five Below – Start your holiday shopping Black Friday Weekend at the Manchester Five Below and help our school at the same time! When you make a purchase on Friday Nov 27 through Sunday Nov 29 and provide the cashier with a copy of our 5 Below event flyer, 10% of your purchase will go to the Bolton PTA. So many people love shopping at Five Below where everything is priced at just $5 or less, so please be sure to share the flyer with friends and family in the area, so they can support their favorite students too! The flyer MUST be printed and handed to the cashier at the time of purchase in order for the 10% to be donated to the PTA. Students will be sent home with a printed flyer in November. To print additional copies visit Boltonpta.org and a link to the flyer is listed under forms on the right side of the page.

The Bolton PTA relies on fundraising efforts and donations from PTA supporters to provide students with enrichment programs, books for the BCS & BHS libraries, and much needed supplies and support for our teachers. We appreciate your continued support!

BACK TO SCHOOL TEACHERS LUNCHEON I want to take this time to thank all the volunteers who helped pull off another “Back to School Teachers Luncheon”. Every year I have the most wonderful moms and children who take time out of the end of their summer to work at this luncheon. Their time and hard work is appreciated greatly and I could not do this without them! Big thanks to Sue DeNunzio, Brett Martin, Kelly Ross, Kathy Giering, and Laurie Gallacher who are always there for me to make this function a success. You help keep me sane and organized and that is always a feat. I would never be able to pull this event off without the many students who, year after year, come and help out. As soon as they walk in the door they are ready to do whatever needs to be done. You all did a great job!

Thank you for working so hard and giving your time! A big thank you to the following students: Chloe Allen, Brooke Begin, Katrina Erwin, Lily Giering, Emily DeNunzio, Katelyn DeNunzio, Nicole DeNunzio, Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Riley Martin, Briana Ross, Emma Ross, Rune Tiu, Gavin Tiu, AJ Gallacher, Jack Gallacher, Abby Gallacher, Nicole Gallacher, Robert Giering, Jacob Tobias, Benjamin Olson and Isabelle Olson. Please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone; please know your efforts were greatly appreciated. Thank you to my daughters Pheobe and Zoe Allyn who sacrificed the last week of their summer for organizing and shopping. I could not have done this without you. Thanks again! Jenn Allyn

SCHOOL SPIRIT

SPIRIT COMMITTEE: Throughout the year, the Spirit Committee comes up with and implements ideas and activities to boost school spirit, pride and cohesiveness. In October, the Spirit Committee decorated the halls with posters announcing the school wide orange & black and crazy hair day that was held on October 30. The event was a success, with teachers and students alike adding a little extra fun and spirit to the school day! Spirit Committee Members: Alissa Madeia, Elise Schwartz, Dakoda Tyler, Eva Romkey, Josh Maura, Aidan O'Brien, Brooke Begin, Corey Peacock, Vincent Loria, Emily DeNunzio, Taylor Lane, MacKenzie Caruso, Shiniyah Fuller, Colin Nichols, Joey Maulucci, Leah Bieu, Mya Kelsey