From Mr. Middleton-Cox 6/4/12

We have been having vandalism to our Preschool Playground.  I am writing to ask your help with keeping our playground clean and free from damage.  Recently, at the Cole School there has been a lot of damage to our preschool playground, including the smashing of flower pots, pulling flowers that children have planted, letting dogs go to the bathroom and not picking up, etc.  We have notified the police department each time it happens and I will be installing a security camera in the near future.  If you have any information, please let me know or contact the Boxford Police. It's upsetting to the preschool children and staff to see their items ruined or dog doo in their playground when they go out for recess.  

The last day of school will be June 18th.  There will be a 1:15pm dismissal on that day.  Report cards and teacher assignments will occur on the 18th.   If your child does not attend this last day of school, report cards will not be mailed, however, may be picked up in the Cole School office by Friday, June 22nd.  Report cards will be held if there are outstanding balances with the cafeteria, library, or tuition.  Once bills are paid, reports will be able to be picked up.   

Before the end of the school year, please make sure that your CORI is up to date with our school so that you can continue volunteering or chaperoning field trips.  Each CORI is good for 3 years.  If you would like to know when your CORI expires, please call the Cole School office at 978-887-2856.  

We have a number of items in the Lost and Found.  Please check the bins in the cafeteria when you are in the building and encourage your children to do so as well.  All items remaining on the last day of school will be donated.

Have a wonderful week!

Important Upcoming Dates

June 5:           Open Houses: Stone, Simmons, Cahill

June 5:           Grade 3 Program at Spofford Pond for parents of 2nd 
                               

                                   graders/6:30pm/Spofford

June 7:           Grade 1 Field Trip to Sandy Point

June 7:           Multiage Field Trip to Seacoast Science Center

June 8:           Volunteer Breakfast/8:00am/Library

June 8:           LAST Morning Meeting for the year

June 8:           Open House: Scherbak

June 11:          Preschool Dad's Day/Connery

June 11:          Site Council Meeting/3:30pm/Conf Room

June 12:          Preschool Father's Day/9:00/Rowen

June 13:          Grade 2 BBQ/12:30pm

June 14:          Grade 2 BBQ Rain Date

June 14:          Preschool Father's Day/2:00/Rowen

June 14:          PTO Family Pool Party /evening/Ferncroft

June 15:          Lunch Buddies last day

June 15:          Preschool Father's Day/9:00/Rowen

June 15:          Grade 2 to 3 Step Up Day field trip to Spofford/9:00am

June 18:          Step Up Day/9:00am

June 18:          Last Day of School (1:15pm Dismissal)

Grade Transitions

It's that time of year when we start planning for the transition of students from grade to grade and, in the case of our grade 2 students, from Cole to Spofford Pond. We have many transition activities that take place for students with disabilities. In May, the Special Education Coordinator, School Psychologist and the Grade 2 Special Education teacher attend meetings at Spofford Pond with the appropriate Special Education staff to ensure that all information about these students is imparted in a comprehensive and confidential manner. Then, in early June, we invite parents to attend a brief transition meeting with the Spofford Pond Special Education staff, where parents can ask questions about Special Education services as well as general questions about 3rd grade. The Coordinators at Cole and Spofford Pond work closely with each other and with our respective building principals to ensure a smooth transition and seamless move to Special Education services at the Spofford Pond School. In the fall, 2nd grade classroom teachers and special education teachers meet with each other as well. For students with disabilities who remain at the Cole School, the Special Education staff meet with receiving teachers in September to review the IEP documents and ensure that all accommodations and modifications are clear. 

Julie Jayne

Early Childhood Coordinator

Grade 2 News

Congratulations to the second graders and multi-age students for their great display of work in this year's EXPO exhibit. The innovative songs, art, dance and research were all amazing. Thank you to the specialists for their hard work throughout the year. We appreciate the parental support of the fine arts programs here at Cole School.

As the end of the year approaches, there are many memorable second grade activities. These include the BBQ and Step-Up Day. The students are excited about the Grade 2 Barbeque on Wednesday, June 13 (Rain date June 14). A special thank you to Faith Barringer, Grade 2 and multi-age room parents and numerous volunteers for their organization of this special event. Step-up Day for second graders going to third grade will be Friday morning, June 15.

Please continue to keep daily and nightly routines for your children. This is the time of year that the combination of less sleep and structure is a recipe for fatigue at school and illness.

As we all think about summer, please remember while scheduling camps, play-dates, and visits to museums and libraries to include time for your children to read daily for pleasure. Perhaps they love a series and want to keep reading, want to read a chapter book that has been made into a movie they can watch when finished, or have taken an interest in the daily comics.... whatever the interest, continue to encourage reading over the summer!  There is not a need for a formal log of reading or book reports; however, having book talks with friends and family members will continue to utilize the skills they have learned over the course of second grade and keep them sharp for when they enter third grade in the fall.

Likewise, practicing math facts, money, time, and using basic math in daily life will be beneficial.

Maybe your child would like to keep a journal of summer events. Taking a photo every few days and having your child write about their matching summer adventures also will help maintain writing skills.  Postcards and letters to their second grade teacher, friends, or special relatives are other ways to encourage authentic writing.  We hope your summer is filled with fun and learning!

Appreciatively,

The Grade 2 Teachers

Message from the Library

Birthday Books for those children who have been waiting are due in and that the books MAY go home with the children for a week, rather than having to stay in the classrooms like regular library books.  Please check in with Mrs. Boulay for more information.  

Tri-Town Council News

Updates from Tri-Town Council!

Thank you for a great school year! We are honored to continue to serve the Tri-Town community through children's enrichment, Horizon's programs, parent and educator workshops, and serving as a resource to the community.  Before we break for summer, a few items of interest: 

•   Summer Horizons Programs are available (art, sewing, and more) and open to children in all Tri-Town communities - go to www.tritowncouncil.org for more info;

•   Boxford Parks Program, sponsored by Tri-Town Council, is held in Boxford and open to any child in the Tri-Town area.  Registration, info, and fees are available at www.tritowncouncil.org;

•   TRI-TOWN COUNCIL IS GOING GREEN! TTC will be cutting back on paper flyers, using school newsletters, the Tri-Town Transcript, and our own email service to get the word out about programs.  Don't miss out!  Be sure you receive all TTC program information (including Horizons' Registration) by providing TTC your email (to receive periodic email blasts); you can sign up on our Facebook page or via our web site www.tritowncouncil.org

      (TTC does not share emails with any other organization.)

Thanks and have a happy and safe summer!