Hollis School Calendar 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Community

Food Donations

Needed PAPER GOODS

1

2

Flu Clinic

Town Hall

9 – 1

3

Rosh Hashanah

Begins at

Sundown

4

5

Professional

Development

Day

6 1st Grade

Southwick

Zoomobile

Program

Gr 4 Visits

the Revolution

7

Assembly

K – 2 @ 9:00

Gr 3-5 @ 9:30

8

9

10

Columbus

Day

No School

11 Bay Colony

Players

Visit 5th Gr.

12 Parent Math &

Literacy Night

6:00 PM

PTO MTG.

7:00 PM

Yom Kippur

13

14

15

Pond Meadow

Park

Pumpkin Fest

11:30

16

17

Sukkot

18 19 20 Hollis

Dine Out

Night at

21 22

23

24 School

Comm.

Meeting 7PM@

Flaherty

25

26

SEPAC MTG.

6:30PM

Thayer Library

27

28 29

30 Hollis 21st

Annual 5K

Road Race

31 ASSEMBLIES

9AM & 9:30 AM

ORANGE, BLACK

& WHITE DAY

Hollis School Newsletter

October, 2016

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The year is off to a great start. It has been a terrific first month of school. Students have settled nicely

into the routine of school and our excitement for this year continues to grow. On top of that, the Red Sox are

gearing up for the playoffs, the Patriots are playing well and awaiting the return of Tom Brady, and the Bruins

and Celtics will kick off their seasons this month. Who has it better than us?!

Our third annual Fall Carnival was a huge success. It was a little colder than usual, but we enjoyed the

sunshine. Families loved the games, prizes, pony rides, jumpy houses, cake walk, and the DJ. We would like

to thank Kristin Dennison, Heidi Ackerman, and Kara Garrity for organizing this family event. These ladies

spent countless hours planning the event, organizing the volunteers, setting up the games and making sure we

all had a great time. Well done!!

It was great to see so many adults attend our Open House on September 20th

. Continue to communicate

often with your child’s teacher(s). We had a large number of people join the Hollis School PTO. We hope to

see many of you at an upcoming meeting. Our next PTO meeting is Wednesday, October 12th

. Please know

that if you cannot attend a PTO meeting, we still value your input and skill set.

In regard to this month’s PTO meeting, we will be hosting a Math/Literacy Night on the 12th

as well.

Please come at 6PM and you can catch 2 presentations (6:00 and/or 6:30). Our reading and math specialists

will prepare a brief presentation and then have some activities for parents that will help you assist your

children at home. For those who cannot attend, we will put both presentations on our school website

(http://www.gpvillage.com/hollisschool/home) and encourage you to reach out to our staff with any questions.

We also would like to encourage you to participate in one of our largest fundraisers of the year, the 21st

Annual Hollis Road Race! The race, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30th

starting at 10:30 at the Braintree

Town Hall. Feel free to wear your Halloween costumes while you run. AFTER the race, don’t take your bib

off just yet! Meet us at SouthSide Tavern at 941 Washington Street in Braintree for a post-race brunch!

Runners wearing a bib will receive 50% off the brunch menu as long as you “check in” on Facebook or

post a picture of your meal and tag them on Instagram! You can sign up for the race using this link:

https://racewire.com/register.php?id=6699. Thanks to Justin Ackerman (a past Hollis Road Race overall

winner) for all his hard work in coordinating this event.

Please make a note of the calendar this month, especially the professional development day for teachers

on October 5th

. This will be a half day of school and no lunch will be served. Our first assembly will take place

on Friday, October 7th

. The assembly for grades K-2 will begin at 9:00 and grades 3-5 will have their assembly

at 9:30. Please feel free to join us in the cafeteria as we will be distributing “Principal’s Place” and “Bucket

Filler” awards. Remember, future Hollis Hawks should remain with adults in the back of the cafeteria. We

want to keep the focus on the children who are receiving awards. Lastly, please take a moment and review the

procedure for dropping off students in the morning. We need to make sure this procedure is followed closely so

we can ensure the safety of each Hollis student.

Enjoy this month and feel free to contact me at anytime with any questions or concerns. Remember…

Together Everyone Achieves More!!

Sincerely,

Mr. Tim MacDonald

Principal

We are a Bucket Filling School!!

This year we are continuing our school wide character development program called Bucket Filling.

Bucket Filling is an easy-to-understand concept: Everyone carries an invisible bucket that holds our good thoughts and feelings. When our buckets are full, we feel happy and when our buckets are empty, we feel sad.

The program is based on the popular book titled Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily

Happiness for Kids by Carole McLoud. Our PTO has generously purchased copies of the book, individual

buckets for each classroom, and pom poms that will be placed inside of the buckets when children

complete good deeds. We will continue the tradition of placing classroom pom poms in the “tube” during

monthly assemblies.

Children quickly understand that they can fill buckets when they do and say things that are kind,

considerate, caring, and respectful. They also learn that when they are mean, inconsiderate, uncaring, or

disrespectful, they dip into buckets and remove those good feelings. Even the youngest child

understands that actions and words can either fill a bucket or dip into it.

During this school year we are encouraging, reminding, and recognizing everyone’s efforts to be

bucket fillers at home, at school, and everywhere they go. We will recognize our “Bucket Fillers” during

our monthly assemblies.

We are excited about this program and look forward to your support.

If you would like to learn more about bucket filling, visit the Bucket Fillers website,

www.bucketfillers101.com. Bucket Fillers offer a free weekly e-newsletter for parents and teachers.

Hollis Happenings

Kindergarten Korner

Ms. Garrigan and Mrs. Kendrick are

very happy that their kindergarten friends have

settled in so nicely to their new school. They would

like to thank every parent for their great support in

getting their child here for visiting day, first day of

school and of course, “Hollis Open House!”

We have been having so much fun here in

school with rhyming. Rhyming is a critical component

of reading, so we are exposing our kindergarteners to

many rhyming words. This skill can be reinforced at

home playing rhyming “I Spy” in the car or through

brainstorming silly rhyming words, real or pretend.

In the area of literacy, we have also started to work

on letter recognition and have started our

handwriting program. Our current unit in reading is

“All Together Now… How do we live, work, and play together?” We will be reading to answer this

question over the next six weeks. We have and will

continue to discuss literary elements such as

character, setting and plot during this unit.

We have also started our math curriculum.

We have been working on number recognition from

to and have started our subitizing unit. Each

day we reinforce counting skills as we complete our

calendar.

In Science, we have started our very first

unit. We have adopted a tree here at Hollis School

and will continue to follow the changing life cycle of

this tree as the year progresses. We are excited to

see the changes that fall, winter, and spring will

bring!

In Social Studies we are discussing the rules

of our classrooms. We are discussing the importance

of working as a team and supporting one another to

make our classrooms happy places.

What’s the Big Idea in Grade 1?

Grade 1 has begun their journey on Reading Street!

Our first Big Idea is My World wherein students are

steeped in questions surrounding What is All Around Me?

outside, at home, in our family and within our community.

We began reading with a variety of materials from our

anthology, mini books and Concept Literacy books. We will

begin with Week #4 the first full week in October. Your

child should be familiar with 18 Amazing Words (already)

and can identify character, setting and plot in stories read.

Ask them if they can tell you about these concepts at

home. You may also access these concepts, vocabulary

activities and our stories on the pearsonsuccess.net site.

If you would like to explore this at home on a computer,

please ask your child’s teacher if she could provide you with

a Username and Password. This does not work on iPads

however. Many students have

asked about spelling tests…we

will have our first test the last

week in October once we begin Unit 1, Animals-Tame and

Wild. Please help your child study at home and develop a

routine for learning and using their weekly phonics words,

and to include the High Frequency “Trick” words. It is very

important to keep their weekly word rings at home in a spot

where they can practice often for reading and spelling.

In Math, we will continue to focus on number sense

with knowing numbers and number representation through

our subitizing games and lessons. These skills continue to

be the major focus as we build the foundation of counting,

visualizing, reading and writing numbers through mid-

October. We will begin to learn about place values and

numbers in the teens next and then formally begin addition

concepts/strategies in early November.

Literature and Science Labs have been launched

and we are certain you will hear about, and see many fun

and valuable activities come home. Our first themes are

Apples, Johnny Appleseed, and Living vs. Non-Living.

Many thanks for those of you who were able to

come to our Open House to learn more about our

classrooms and the many routines and expectations. If you

were not able to attend, we welcome you to call or write us

if you have any questions about the classroom or routines.

(Homework routines are under way…please let us know if

you have any questions about homework.) Remember to

read 15 minutes each night! Your Book Bags should have

come home and will hold many books that your child can

read to you or with you as they develop their confidence.

Be sure to keep these in a safe spot because

we use them throughout the year. Thank you!

Brown Bagging It in Grade 2

Second grade is off to a terrific start, with routines

falling nicely into place. We’ve met all of

our teachers and are beginning to make

some great new friends. Our brown bag

reports really helped us get to know

one another. Even Mr. Mac shared the

items that are most important to him in his brown bag! We

also shared some of our favorite summer activities in our

summer memory writings.

On Reading Street, we have begun our first unit,

“Exploration”, which will take us through six exciting weeks

of discovering what we learn by exploring new places and

things. The five essential elements of reading – phonemic

awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension,

will be part of your child’s literacy instruction. Please

remember, 15 – 20 minutes of reading is required each

night.

In Math, we have been concentrating on reviewing

place value of numbers to one hundred. We encourage

students to use base ten blocks, expanders, and fingers to

help them identify and write two-digit numbers. We have

also been working on comparing and ordering numbers, using

the “greater than” and “less than” signs, and describing the

relationship between numbers by finding their location on

the number line. We encourage you to be sure your student

practices math facts EVERY night for at least 5 minutes.

Flash cards or www.thatquiz.org are great ways to help.

In Science, we will be studying balance and motion.

Students are sure to enjoy the inquiry-based experiments

in this unit.

The focus in Social Studies this month is on mapping.

Then, we will begin our travels around the world with our

first stop in North America. Get your passports ready!

Thanks to our PTO for bringing the wonderful

production, “Food Play”, to our school. This live theater

presentation featured fantastic feats of juggling, with

motivating messages to help our students take charge of

living a healthy, happy and active life.

It was wonderful to meet so many of you at our Open

House. We look forward to a great year with your children!

Routines in Place in Grade Three

September seemed to fly every bit as fast as

August seemed to slip by us. With the first month of

school under our belt, routines are finally starting to

slide into place. It was fun getting to know one

another a bit better the first week, but the

curriculum started in full swing launching our reading

program which we are all very excited about. Our

first theme, Living and Learning, has us asking our Big

Question for the Unit: ‘What skills help us make our way in the world?’ Rich literature will come to them

in a variety of genres. For example they will be

reading a narrative poem, a fable, expository text,

historical fiction pieces to just name a few. The

spelling words that accompany this

new unit are challenging and

encourage work at home practicing

them a bit each night. You’ll

hopefully hear the kids using new

vocabulary or “Amazing Words” or

maybe humming the tune to the weekly language sing-

a-long, the very snappy Grammar Jammer!

In math we are always reviewing basic facts

for mastery, but our focus for Chapter One is place

value and number sense, even and odds, least to

greatest and investigating some early patterns in

multiplication. Soon we will be comparing and

ordering numbers, estimating and of course rounding.

We have been working with spiraling in other topics

and mastering the new vocabulary that accompanies

each chapter of study.

Our Social Studies classes are exploring

Massachusetts

and the state

symbols,

historical sites

with rich

vocabulary as

we learn about our earlier times. We also all agreed it

was nice seeing everyone at Open House and we are

looking toward a really terrific and productive year

ahead!

Happy Fall!

September has flown by and it has been a

great start to the school year for the fourth

graders.

Students have

adjusted to

having multiple

teachers and

switching classes. Hopefully they are enjoying having

more than one teacher throughout the day.

The beginning of the year has all Reading

classes reading Owls in the Family by Farley Mowatt.

Many Reading classes have started on a quick journey

to Canada and are learning about the many wonderful

things that our neighbor to the north has to offer

both geographically and culturally.

Math classes will be using Stepping Stones by

Origo Education. The program is based on the new

Common Core frameworks and teaches things a bit

differently than how we learned things. It is a web

based text so there is not one to send home.

Language Arts classes got down to business

immediately and have students working on enhancing

their writing skills drafting I Am poems.

This year in Science students will investigate

the topics of magnetism and electricity, weather, and

rocks and minerals. Our first unit of study is

creating amateur meteorologists out of our students.

All students will be participating in hands-on

investigations related to the air around us.

Students will learn map skills while traveling

throughout the United

States this year. On this

“trip” students will

learn about the regions of

the United States along

with their geography,

climate, and natural resources. Their year long

journey begins in the northeast part of our country.

It was a pleasure meeting everyone who

attended the open house in September. We look

forward to having a great year with your children.

We Are Growing Fast in

Fifth Grade!!!!

We are already having amazing

successes in fifth grade. In Science, we are

off and running with our first unit, Plant

Growth and Development. It was so exciting

for the students to plant their own plants!

Its’ been amazing to be able to watch our

plants travel through their life cycles as we

learn about the different job and function

each part of the plant has.

All 7 of our reading classes are

working on Number the Stars. This is always

a favorite in the fifth grade curriculum and

would be a great time to discuss historical

fiction at home and take a trip to the library

to look for other historical fiction novels.

In ELA our students will be starting new

descriptive fall theme essays so be on the

lookout for those.

This will be an important month in

Math as we learn all the

different multiplication

strategies. We are also

spending time learning place

value as well as the powers

of ten.

We have traveled back in time in

Social Studies and are finishing up our

Vikings Unit where we made shields and

learned the Viking alphabet. Next, we are

getting ready to learn about the current

election and prepare ourselves for a school-

wide vote! Overall, we are hard at work and

thank you for your continued support and

trusting us with your children.

Notes from

Mrs. Martin

Students in grades one, two,

and three have been experimenting with

their singing voices, learning proper posture

for singing, and singing Patriotic songs and

American folk songs.

Grade Four students

are excited to begin the

study of flute, clarinet,

saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola,

and cello. Fifth graders are continuing their

instrumental lessons, and will soon be

preparing to sing in the fifth grade chorus.

Please save the information below for

future reference:

Instrument rental, Goulet and Company,

781-829-2282

After School Conservatory(private lessons)

www.braintreeadulted.com

South Shore Children's Chorus 781-428-

4894 info@southshorechildrenschorus.com

Mrs. Martin, Elementary Vocal Specialist

dmartin@braintreema.gov

Mr. Rebrovic, Elementary Instrumental

Music zrebrovic@braintreema.gov

Have a great musical year!

Mrs. Martin

News From

Mrs. Riley

Hello! We are off to a great start in

the Art Room! Here is a list by grade of

the lessons we are creating during the

month of September:

Kindergarten has just completed a

lesson based on a book, “The Dot”

by, Peter Reynolds. Students ex-

perimented with different types

of dots.

First Grade started with a lesson based on

the book, “A Color of His Own” by Leo Lionni.

Students drew a chameleon using shapes

then colored it in using many colors then

added a background.

Second Grade learned about Abstract Art,

creating drawings using lines and shapes,

then coloring in with construction crayons.

Third Grade is finishing observational

drawing of Sunflowers based

on the Artist Vincent Van Gogh

using oil pastels.

Fourth Grade used their observational skills

to draw a shoe, adding an abstract

background.

Fifth Grade used recycled transparency to

create a stain glass design!

First drawing a design and

then outlining in black

sharpie and then coloring in

with colored sharpies.

STARTS

OCTOBER 1ST

SNACK ATTACK!

Is going strong!

Hollis students are encouraged to bring in healthy snacks. During snack time, you child’s

teacher will randomly choose a day and Snack Attack their class. They will then tally up all

the healthy snacks and drinks that their class consumed. At the end of the month, the class

with the highest percentage of healthy snacks to students’ ratio will be declared the winner for

that month at their grade level. The winning teams will then be rewarded with an extra fun

game or activity during their Physical Education class.

According to research, poor nutrition and inactivity are considered major health problems in

the U.S. Three meals a day may not provide the needed nutritional balance that children

require. Healthy snacks can help fill the gap.

Snacking tends to be impulsive and opportunistic.

The following are a few examples for quick healthy snacks: (Healthy People 2000)

Portable Snacks

-Cheese -Graham Crackers -Fruit -Animal Crackers -Vegetables -Pretzels -Low Fat Yogurt -Low Fat Popcorn -Water -100% Juice

*As a reminder, snacks cannot contain any peanuts or nut products*

Also, please take your family’s lifestyle and any possible food allergies into consideration as well.

Check out: http://foodplay.com/free-materials/for-kids/ Choosemyplate.gov and Fueluptoplay60.com for additional nutritional information

I thoroughly enjoy working with your children and helping them in their

pursuit of: “Learning to Move & Moving to Learn.”

Sincerely,

Ms. Katilus

(Snack Attack was originated by: Ms. Jane Gregg; Stevens School, Rocky Hill, CT)

And We’re Off…

And Running!

Just want to thank everyone for such

a GREAT start to the school year!

Grade 1: Is getting it Done – We are mastering our shapes and personal

space, as well as learning all the neat routines that keep us safe!

Grades 2-3: Are breaking Free – We are picking up right where we left-off

just a few short months ago. We’ve reviewed the Class Routines and

Expectations, and have jumped right into Sport Concepts such as:

Reaction Time, Speed & Agility, all of which will help us with afterschool

activities and hobbies.

Grades 4-5: Are Hitting Their Stride- We are really making connections to

21st Century Learning! Our activities have us: Collaborating, Communicating

and Cooperating. What a way to start the year!

“There is no exercise better for the heart

than reaching down to lift someone up!” (John Holmes) ~ Thank you for doing a SUPER job of helping your child

be prepared for both Music & P.E. ~

Self -directed Movers In Learning Experiences

Media Notes

Welcome Back to School!

We have been off to a great start down in

the library. The students have shared with each

other which books we enjoyed over the summer and

which books we look forward to reading! We have

been reviewing the Library classroom policies and

book borrowing procedures. We are looking forward

to borrowing and discussing lots of great books this

year!

This year we will also be covering the exciting

Presidential election. We will be taking a

closer look at each of the presidential

candidates, how the election works and

exactly what responsibilities the President has. It is

all so exciting and interesting.

Happy Reading

Mrs. Hyland

News from Ms. Casey Hello! My name is Caitlinn Casey and I am a

new edition to the physical education department.

Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, Ms. Katilus

and I will be sharing the PE classes for Ms. Tobin,

Mrs. Fletcher, Ms. Garrigan & Mrs. Kendrick.

During our first few PE classes we

have been learning how to “boss our bodies”

and move safely in our own personal space.

We have also been practicing the different

shapes we can make with our bodies.

It is my goal to help students develop skills in

all three dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional

and social well-being. I am looking forward to an

exciting year of physical education at the Hollis

School!

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”

- Tim Duncan

Health Room News

from

Nurse Jane

We are off to a good start. The health room

has been busy but so far not too many students have

been sent home with illnesses. Please make sure you

keep me updated with any changes in your child’s

medical condition or if there have been any

medication changes.

Food allergies continue to grow. We must

take every precaution to ensure each

child’s safety. All classrooms are peanut

free. Your child is permitted to bring

peanut butter/nuts in for lunch only

please. Thank you for your cooperation with this

important cause since some of these allergies can be

life-threatening. In addition, parents, please do not

bring in any food from home for birthdays. Each

child’s teacher will make his or her day very special.

Fourth grade physicals are mandatory. In

elementary schools you are only required to submit

physicals when entering

Kindergarten and 4th grade. Please

submit them as soon as possible.

There are still some fifth graders

who have yet to turn in their

fourth grade physical. Please call Nurse Jane with

any questions.

Regarding the flu, children should be kept

home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have

a fever without the use of fever

reducing medicines like Tylenol, Advil

or Motrin. Do not use aspirin on

children under the age of 18 due to

the possibility of developing Reye

Syndrome. You should get your children vaccinated

against the seasonal flu. These flu shots/mist are

now available through your pediatrician’s office.

Thank you for your help and cooperation in

keeping our children safe, healthy and ready to learn.

Thank You! Nurse Jane

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT DAY

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5th

WILL BE AN

EARLY DISMISSAL DAY

STUDENTS IN FULL DAY

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH

GRADE 5 WILL BE

DISMISSED AT 12:10 PM.

THERE IS NO AFTERNOON

KINDERGARTEN.

BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED.

LUNCH WILL NOT BE SERVED.

Some afterschool care programs do not

provide transportation on

early release days.

Please check with your afterschool

care program and make sure they

provide early release pickup.

If not, let us know your child’s

arrangements on early release days.

BRAINTREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

October 24, 2016 - 7PM @ Flaherty School

November 14, 2016 - 7PM @ Town Hall (Tentative) Colbert (Alternate)

December 19, 2016 - 7PM @ South Middle The agenda for each meeting may be viewed

2 days prior to the meeting date at www.braintreeschools.org

FAMILY DAY/PUMPKIN FEST

AT POND MEADOW PARK

The friends of Pond Meadow Park

will hold a

Pumpkin Fest/Family Day

Saturday, October 15, 2016

(raindate - Sunday, October 16th )

from 11:30 until 4:00 at the park.

Hayrides, games, face painting, pumpkins &

decorations, raffles and food will be

available.

Come, decorate your pumpkin &

enjoy the park as a family.

Contact Pond Meadow Park for more

information @ 781-843-7663.

PTO NEWS OCTOBER 2016

2016 – 2017 Hollis PTO Board

Kristin Dennison, Co-Chair

Kara Garrity, Co-Chair Mary Ellen DeRoche- Treasurer Paula Pizzi, Recording Secretary

Jen Roche, Recording Secretary

Important October Dates to Remember…

PTO Meeting – Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 12th at 7 pm;

it will directly follow the Math Night from 6-7PM that night in the cafeteria.

Hollis Halloween 5K Road Race – Will be held on Sunday, October 30th race start

at 10:30 AM. Runners are encouraged to dress up! See attached flyer for more

details! Any questions contact Justin Ackerman @ jcackerman@hotmail.com.

Please consider donating to our race!!! We depend on sponsorships to make this

fundraiser a success. Any family, group of families, or business who donates $150 or

more is printed on our t-shirts. Please mail donations to the Hollis School P.T.O, 482

Washington Street, Braintree MA 02184, C/O Road Race Committee

Hollis Monthly Dine Out Night – Join other Hollis families on Thursday, October 20th at Bertucci’s in Braintree for the monthly dine out. A portion of your bill will be

donated to the Hollis PTO. A separate flyer will be sent home soon. Give your cook the night off while helping to raise money for Hollis!

Penny Power Plus Day – Every Wednesday - Penny Power Plus is off to a good start this school year. We collected over $200 in only the first two weeks! Collection days

are every Wednesday and all coins: pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dollars are counted towards the classrooms’ weights. The PPP ‘deposits’ help defray the cost

of the Read-a-Thon trophies in June. For October, PPP will be on 10/12 & 10/19 & 10/26. No collection on 10/5 due to the early release day.

Other Program Updates and Highlights…

Cultural Arts News –

o The Zoomobile will be making their annual visit to the Hollis first graders on Thursday, October 6th. The students will get to interact with various animals as they learn about the animals' ecology. This program is a school favorite that

fits nicely with the first grade curriculum of animals and their different habitats. As in years past, the first graders will be sure to love meeting new

animal friends as they learn!

o Bay Colony Educators - Bay Colony Educators will be visiting our fifth grade

students on Tuesday, October 11th to present "The Child's Life in Colonial America" program. This program discusses all aspects of a child's life in colonial times from clothing and chores to education and games. The students

will learn a great deal and will be sure to have a new appreciation for the changing times after this program!

PTO Membership – We are still accepting PTO Membership Forms. Dues are $15 per family. Please send your forms and checks into the PTO as soon as possible. A

sign up form is attached to this newsletter.

Hollis Gear – shirts and decals will be available for purchase at this year’s Holiday Shop. Items can also be purchased online through the Hollis School web site. Thank

you Paula Pizzi for help with this!

And HUGE Thank Yous to….

Tina and Mark O’Brien and Geralyn Lannon who ran the annual Firefighters and

Police Officers Luncheon on September 9th! It was a really nice tribute for all their hard work.

Jessica Cabral, Kristin Dennison, Tina O’Brien, Karen Joyce, and (alum) Lyn McPhail who distributed the SchoolKidz supply kits to the homerooms before the

start of school this year.

Kristin Dennison, Kara Garrity, and Heidi Ackerman and volunteers for another

hugely successful Fall Carnival!! Great time had by all!

Shirley Federico for planting the lovely yellow mums in our flower pots in front of

the main entrance to Hollis. They look lovely!

Just a reminder –

Here are some other ways to raise money for Hollis:

Stop & Shop A+ Bonus Bucks Program - Register your S & S card and have friends and family register @ http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus. See attached flyer for more information.

BOXTOPS4EDUCATION Program - Please save your BoxTops! We have raised over $2,000 during the past several years and hope to make this year another successful

one.

Baystate Textiles – Make sure to put your old shoes, clothes, accessories (hats,

scarves, mittens, etc.), linens and stuffed animals in the Hollis Baystate Textile box

(located in the parking lot near the playground). Hollis receives $100 for every ton of

textiles!!!

******************************************************************

PTO Membership 2016-2017

Name(s)___________________________________________________________

Telephone #________________________________________________________

E-mail address____________________________________________________________

Child’s Name________________________________Grade/Teacher___________

Child’s Name________________________________Grade/Teacher___________

Child’s Name________________________________Grade/Teacher___________

Please make your $15 check payable to “Hollis School PTO”

CULTURAL ARTS SCHEDULE

2016-2017

SEPTEMBER 20 – Foodplay Productions will perform "Foodplay” – it is a nutritional program that empowers

kids with the skills they need to take charge of growing up healthy, happy, active, and fit!

SEPTEMBER 29 – The Blue Hills Trailside Museum and their fascinating Owl Program will be returning to

visit our fourth grade to teach them about the animals they read about in the novel Owls in the Family.

OCTOBER 6 – Southwick’s Zoo will arrive with their Zoomobile to present their Animal Ecology Program to

our first graders.

OCTOBER 11 – The Bay Colony Educators will be arriving to entrance our fifth graders with tales of early

colonial life and times. It will truly make them appreciate their 21st century life!

NOVEMBER 16 – The MARC Program will present their bully prevention program, which helps children

develop the appropriate vocabulary to understand and deal with conflict as well as bullying issues in school.

Each assembly will be tailored and developmentally-appropriate for the different age levels.

DECEMBER 7 – December just wouldn’t be the same without a visit from our dear friend Sparky and her

puppets to our kindergarteners.

JANUARY 11 & 12 – Do you know how to build a tee-pee? Well, our second, third and fourth graders are

going to learn firsthand when Dan Cripps and his Native American Perspectives arrives to teach them about

the Native American culture.

JANUARY 26 – The Blue Hills Trailside Museum will bring some very interesting animals to visit our

kindergarteners! They will investigate the five senses and explore how animals interact with the

environment through their senses and use their senses to survive.

FEBRUARY – TBD – All students will be treated to a program this month, details to follow.

MARCH 8 – Our fifth graders will learn how forces create motion, understand what work is, and discover

how simple machines help us to perform a large amount of work with minimal force.

APRIL 11 – The Museum of Science will be landing at Hollis with their Starlab. Our third graders will be

able to crawl inside to a galaxy of wonder and education as they learn about the stars and constellations.

MAY 3 – The Rainforest Reptile Program is returning for their second year to visit our first grade

students. This “portable zoo” will showcase several animals including frogs, snakes, lizards, and an alligator!

MAY 15 & 16 – Our second graders will attend the “Weather or Not” Program, where they will discover

the amazing properties of air and air pressure, touch a cloud, and watch thunder and lightning being made

before their eyes!

CULTURAL ARTS COORDINATORS

LIBBY COSTELLO (costellolibby@yahoo.com)

KAREN LANE (pandklane@hotmail.com)

SEPAC Agenda 2016-2017 BRAINTREE SPECIAL EDUCATION

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

www.gpvillage.com/braintreesepac

THE SPECIAL ORGANIZER

Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Thayer Public Library,

798 Washington St., Braintree

Are you organized for your next IEP/504 meeting? Teams use evidence to make

decisions. Where is your evidence? Sitting in a drawer? Piled up on the table? In a

bin in the basement? The proof you need to support your position is likely in those

fact and data filled documents waiting to be discovered. An organized file is

powerful and allows you to easily access evidence such as past work, goals and

testing. You can see which areas of need have gone unaddressed and advocate for

additional therapies or services with facts and data. This presentation by

Jennifer Bolduc, Special Organizer will provide tips and tricks on how to

effectively advocate for your child by getting organized.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Kokoros (SEPAC) at

(617) 417-3481 or via email at jkokoros@verizon.net

*For Braintree Public Schools staff; sign up on smart.edu and see a SEPAC

representative for Professional Development credit forms.