Highlights from our Memorial Day Community Meeting

May 22, 2015

This morning we came together as a community to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day.  Students from across the grade levels contributed to this meaningful tribute to the fallen heroes.

Second and Fourth Grade Buddies Pay Tribute!

Many Thanks to our Event Planners!

Francis J. Muraco's Sister, Niece, and Great Niece

Our Student Performers Enjoy the Reception

Francis J. Muraco's Close Friend, Bill Shields

You are Invited...

May 21, 2015

Save the Dates

• Friday, May 29th:  Last day to donate to Pages from Patrick
• Sunday, May 31st:  Spruce Up Day
• Friday, June 5th:  Field Day
• Monday, June 15th:  Grades 3-5 Concert
• Thursday, June 11th:  Family Literacy Morning
• Wednesday, June 24th:  Moving on Ceremony

Be sure to check out our Muraco Event Calendar.

Field Day:  Friday, June 5

In order for this day to be a success we need your help!  Please sign up to help at:  https://www.volunteersignup.org/EQ3T7  

Family Literacy Morning:  Thursday, June 11

The purpose of this morning is to give you a glimpse of our literacy program; to share how you can support literacy at home; and most importantly, to give your children an opportunity to celebrate their hard work. Our Library Media Specialist, Lori Staltari, and our reading specialists, Pat DiFranco, Susan Borges, and Diane Maloy will share how to best support literacy at home. Below please find the schedule and an overview of the presentations that will be made in the library.  

Please note that the third grade students will present on a different day. They are working hard on a special production that integrates literacy in the most original way.  More details will be coming from the Third Grade Team.

8:45-9:30:  

• K-2:  Parents will visit the classrooms

• Parents with children in grades 3-5 are invited to the library to attend presentations given by our Library Media and Reading Specialists.

9:35-10:20:  

• Grades 4 and 5:  Parents will visit the classrooms  

• Parents with children in grades k-2 are invited to the library to attend presentations given by our Library Media and Reading Specialists in the library .    

Literary Workshops           

Lori Staltari, the library media specialist, will give an overview of the library curriculum, which:

• Provides opportunities for students become lifelong learners who can independently access, evaluate, and use information.
• Promotes literacy and reading.
• Provides instruction in the use of information technology and search strategies.
• Extends the classroom curriculum through collaboration with teachers, district  library media specialists, and the Winchester Public Library Children’s Room librarians.
• Emphasizes current technology and services to assist students in becoming proficient users of information.

The reading teachers will be available to:

• Explain and/or clarify how literacy instruction is delivered in Muraco School classrooms.
• Talk about how the parent teacher connection can be a powerful way to support maximum literacy learning for each student.
• Address important topics such as the value of reading and enjoying literature at home with your child, reading and learning with informational texts, and using technology to support literacy at home.

Muraco Cares

The Student Council would like to remind everyone that Friday, May 29th, is the last day to donate books for Pages from Patrick.  As part of our Pages from Patrick project there will be an all-school Reading Day on Wednesday, May 27th. Each classroom will spend an hour celebrating reading, and the Student Council is encouraging everyone to donate a new book on this day.

Pages From Patrick promotes literacy by supporting the Freedom School Program. The mission of this organization is to instill a love of reading in children.  The Freedom School Program provides after school and summer enrichment programs to children in need, and most importantly, puts books in the hands of children who don’t have easy access to them.

Our donations will make a difference for many children.  We appreciate your support!

Student Council Members Organizing the Pages from Patrick Project.

Staffing Update

May 15, 2015

Staffing Update:

As we are making plans for the 2015/2016 school year, I wanted to update you on some staffing changes that will be made, as a result of our projected enrollment of 411 students.  We presently have 21 classrooms and next year we will have 20 classrooms. Below please find the number of sections at each grade as well as the grade level teams.  The class sizes projected for each grade level continue to be favorable.  The Superintendent and I will continue to monitor the fifth grade as there are projected to be 74 students next year, and we want to ensure that the numbers remain within the School Committee guidelines.

I am delighted to announce that the school budget has been approved, and we will be adding a .5 special needs teacher to our staff.  This position allows us to expand our successful co teaching pilot in the fourth grade to the fifth grade.  Research shows that collaboration between general and special educators benefits the quality of instruction and supports for all students. We are eager to expand this model.

I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Phelan will be looping to third grade, and Ms. Kelley will be looping to fifth grade.  These talented educators are eager to collaborate with their new team members to best meet the needs of our students.

I will continue to communicate any changes that may occur.

• Kindergarten:  3 sections
• Grade 1:  3 sections
• Grade 2:  3 sections
• Grade 3:  4 sections
• Grade 4:  4 sections
• Grade 5:  3 sections

Grade Level Teams:

• Kindergarten:  Mrs. Haley, Mrs. Testa, and Mrs. Ulacco
• Grade 1:  Ms. Diamond, Mrs. Haines, and Ms. Reyelt
• Grade 2:  Mrs. Fagner, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Webber
• Grade 3:  Mrs. Beauchamp, Mrs. Phelan, Ms. Rose, and Mrs. Souris
• Grade 4:  Mrs. Capodanno, Ms. Dunleavy, Ms. Lassins, and Mrs. McDonough
• Grade 5:  Mrs. Andella, Ms. Ferullo, Ms. Kelley

All teacher assignments will be mailed to families on August 10th.  

If you know that you are moving, please contact Lori Mckinney. This information is helpful when we are creating classrooms for next year.

The first day of school:

• Students in grades 1-5 will be Tuesday, September 8th.  
• Kindergarten students will begin on a staggered schedule: ½ of the students will begin on Tuesday, September 8th; the other ½ of the students will begin on Wednesday, September 9th, and all kindergarten students will come together on Thursday, September 10th.

Follow me on Twitter: @ LaurieKirby33

Beach Day in Mrs. Testa's Class!

Proud Authors Share their Work!

Muraco Cares!

May 10, 2015

What a week that it was!  There were so many signs that Muraco Cares!

Throughout the week I observed students writing sweet notes and creating one of a kind gifts for their mothers.  I am sure that these gestures of love made Mother’s Day one to remember!

I want to thank ALL of you for flooding us with expressions of appreciation last week!  Your thoughtful notes and acts of kindness made us all feel like superheroes.  We ate very well!  On Monday, our gym was turned into a beautiful cafe, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch with many sinful desserts!  I want to give a special thank you to Rena Marignoli for chairing this event, to Andria Bagley for her assistance in decorating and cleaning, and of course, to the many who baked those luscious desserts!  On Thursday morning the staff started the day with a breakfast that had something for everyone!  Many thanks to the parents who baked and brought goodies.  Our week ended with a welcome like no other.  Students cheered for the staff as they entered the building. It will be an entrance that we will not forget.  Many, many thanks to Samantha Shanley and the room parents for planning and organizing a week that made us all feel like superheroes!

Pages From Patrick:  Just a reminder that we will be collecting NEW books for children ages 4-15 until Friday, May 29th. All books will be donated to the Freedom School Program, which provides enrichment and summer programming to at risk students.  There are boxes in the lobby for the book donations.  The Student Council appreciates your support!

Winchester Got Lunch Program:  The Muraco community has been asked to donate cereal bars.  Donations can be made through Friday, May 22nd.  There are boxes in the lobby.

Dining in Style!

High Fiving Superhero!

Superhero Welcome!

Student Council Members Planning for Pages From Patrick.