Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to the Mary K. Goode community.  The children were great this week and are all so excited! Enjoy the time off with them and may the new year be filled with hope and joy!

Bus Lineup change

We will be trying a new bus lineup at MKG for dismissal beginning on Monday, January 7th, 2013. Stay tuned for more details, including procedures and a map that will be sent home in Tuesday folders on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. This new lineup will help your children get to their buses in a much more efficient way.

Update

We are writing today to provide information to you about steps being taken with our students and staff in response to the horrific tragedy that happened in Newtown, Connecticut.

Meetings with staff occurred Monday morning and afternoon to provide information regarding safety procedures and support of students. In addition, the Emergency Response Team has met over the course of the last few weeks with the objective of finalizing our Stay Put and Lock down Procedures.

We are not providing a collective message to students in relation to this event. We will answer questions and provide support without providing much detail.

We are asking that when you approach the front door buzzer, that you provide your name, the purpose for your visit and have proper identification available.

Finally, as a reminder, please do not drop your children off to Mary K. Goode School before 8:30 a.m as that is the time the school day begins. The door will be locked with no admittance prior to 8:30 a.m. If you need before school care, you may contact the YMCA program as they are here at our school.

Over the course of the next few days, we will be working with the Superintendent, District administrators and law enforcement to review Emergency Response Plans.

The safety of our students is the NUMBER ONE priority of our schools. If you have any questions that arise, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you.

Thoughts and Prayers for families in Newtown, CT

We are all deeply saddened by yesterday's tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. The senseless violence leaves us upset and at a loss as to why.

The staff at Mary K. Goode School is committed to maintaining safety for your children. The care of students is the number one priority at our school. We are thankful that you trust us to provide a warm, safe environment for them.

Be prepared for your children to ask questions. We certainly encourage you to have conversations using the means you best deem possible. Here are a few links that may be helpful.

http://burnsville.patch.com/blog_posts/how-to-talk-to-children-about-violence-in-wake-of-newtown-school-shooting

http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/talk-to-kids-media-violence.shtml

Dr. Weiss has written a letter to the Middleborough community. You will find it on this blog in today's first post and also on the Middleborough Public Schools website.

http://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families, children and staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School along with the entire Newtown community. Please enjoy your weekend and enjoy some time with your family!

Mr. Cateon

Letter from Dr. Weiss

To Members of the Middleborough Community,


It is with great sorrow that we learned today that children and adults in Connecticut were senselessly shot at school. Our sympathies and prayers go out to all the parents, teachers, children and community members in Newtown, Connecticut.

I want to assure you that the Middleborough Police and I have been communicating during this school year and will continue to communicate to make the best decisions about the safety of all of our students and staff. We have been discussing the safety procedures and protocols necessary to undertake in the event of an emergency.

Police Chief Gates, Lieutenant Ferreira, our safety officer, and I are organizing a walk-through during December vacation time so that all officers, especially new hires, will become familiar with the school geography.

All of our principals and assistant principals are actively refreshing every staff members’ knowledge of the safety procedures necessary for daily school operation. Keeping doors locked, keeping doors closed and not propped open, and general use of common sense help to keep us all safe.

Please know that Middleborough Public Schools is invested in the safety of all who are within our buildings. When you speak with your children about today’s incident, please assure them that they are safe in school.

Respectfully,

Roseli Weiss

Superintendent

From Mrs.. Marinelli and Mrs. Kuketz (please help)

Mrs. Kuketz and I have nominated MKG for to win a grant from the Clorox Power a Bright Future Grant, specifically to help fund classroom technology (document cameras, projectors, and tablets). It is a chance to win up to $50, 000 and all depends on voting. People over the age of 13 can vote once per day through Dec. 19. Here is the link: https://powerabrightfuture.clorox.com/nominees/detail/?nid=1728 I have it posted on my classroom website under Assignments with a "Vote Here" button, also. Thanks for your help, Mrs. Marinelli MKG Grade 5 Room 32

Good evening, Just a reminder, Thursday, December 13 is an early release day. Also, come out that evening and support the PTAs holiday extravaganza. The event will take place between 4:00 and 7:00. The children had a blast last year. We hope to see you there.

Holiday Extravaganza and letter

Good Afternoon, Tonight's Holiday Extravaganza has been postponed to next Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Also, a brightly colored letter will be coming home to parents today.

Hi, There are some exciting events this week. Please take a look at the calendar located on the blog and you will see : Tuesday, December 4th, Grades 3 and 4 - Museum of Science Electromagnetism. Friday, December 7th - Report Cards come home and Holiday Extravaganza (5:30-8:00 p.m.)

Bill Harley is awesome!!!

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back! We hope everyone enjoyed the days off. It is hard to believe that there are only 19 school days remaining until the holiday break. We are excited that Bill Harley will be joining us this week. Tomorrow (Tuesday), he will be with Grade 2 and Wednesday with Grade 4. On Thursday, he will be conducting the family night.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to our students, parents and staff. Everyone enjoy the days off and time with your families.

Student recognition committee

Thank you to our newly formed committee that met after school today and has begun the process of looking at recognition programs in our school. We have two students (Mandy and Carissa), two parents (Mrs. Swindle and Mrs. Shogam), three teachers (Mrs. Germano, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Kuketz), Mrs. Valenti and Mr. Cateon. The ideas were flowing and it is very exciting. Stay tuned for updates as we will conduct a few more meetings that will decide how we move forward.

Kickball with Mrs. Donegan's class

Grade 3 Plimoth Plantation

Our second group of Third Graders will be at Plimoth Plantation today. Students from Mrs. Magnett's, Mrs. Cornell's and Ms. Nieuwenhuis' classes will represent MKG today. Enjoy your time, ask questions and learn as much as you can!

Box Tops Kickball Game

Mrs. Valenti, Mrs. Donegan and Mr. Cateon had a fun time on Wednesday, November 13th playing kickball with our Grade 1 students in Mrs. Donegan's class. The students were awesome. They praised one another, learned about the game but most of all had a blast!

Picture Make-ups

We hope everyone had a nice weekend. The weather certainly cooperated. It is about to change with colder temperatures on the way. Just a reminder, Picture make-ups are on Wednesday, November 14th.

Grade 3 Plimoth Plantation Rescheduled 11/8/2012

In the interest of safety and due to the forecast for tomorrow, Thursday, November 8, 2012 we have decided to reschedule the field trip for the following Grade Three classrooms: Ms. Nieuwenhuis Mrs. Cornell Mrs. Magnett The new date will be Monday, November 19th. A notice has gone home along with a new permission slip. Thank you for your consideration.

Update

Tomorrow Tuesday folders will come home because we didn't have school today. Mrs. Valenti has posted information about Read to Succeed on her website...check it out: http://www.kathleenvalenti.com/read-to-succeed.html The NCLB report card will be coming home. We will post the information on our website by the end of the week. You will find information about picture make ups that will take place November 14th. Finally, a letter about collecting hats and mittens for the needy through Christmas Wishes.

Google Calendar

New Blog

Welcome. Due to technical difficulties with my other blog, I have decided to start over using a different provider. I am requesting that you subscribe to my new blog and it will allow for you to receive updates as they occur.