A Fond Farewell...

What a fast and action packed couple of weeks we have had here at Muraco!  Today, during community meeting, we showed our appreciation and love for our most caring and dedicated nurse, Mrs. Magee.  The Student Council planned a special celebration and all members of our community contributed to make this an event that Mrs. Magee will always remember!

Enjoy a few of the highlights, and be sure to watch our video tribute!  Find it at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6-gfmBAXzE

I wish you all a holiday season filled with memory makers and much happiness and good health in the New Year.

Warmest wishes,

Laurie Kirby

Preparing for the big day!

Queen for the day!

Student Council members sharing their original poem, "What If...."

Ms. Meagher pays tribute to the best nurse ever!

Strong show of support, love, and appreciation.

Week in Review 12.5

There was  excitement in the air this past week.  It was clear that everyone enjoyed the time they had with family and friends during the Thanksgiving break, and the students are eagerly sharing their traditions and plans for the upcoming holiday season.  Your children's teachers have been working hard to find the balance of celebrating and recognizing traditions with maintaining the established routines, which our students need to thrive.

You can help us to support your children by making sure they get a good night's rest and that they start the day with a healthy breakfast!  Both are critical to the success of your children, and we can't thank you enough for your support!

Our first spirit day was a huge success!  The Student Council would like to say THANK YOU for making it a fun day.

Apology:  I want to apologize to those of you who have been receiving my Linkedin Invitations.  I was working on the computer, without my glasses, and I inadvertently allowed Linkedin to reach out to all my contacts.  I have learned my lesson and will be sure to wear my glasses when working on the computer!

Mystery Skype:  Below please find the clues given to our fourth graders from another group of students in the US?  Can you guess the location?

Find the answer at:

http://goo.gl/WQnl49

Have a wonderful weekend!

Laurie Kirby

Friendly Reminders

• I am noticing that many students are arriving after the second bell.  Please be sure that your child arrives to school on time.  It makes all the difference!
• Dogs are not permitted on school grounds for the safety and comfort of all.  Unfortunately, in the past few weeks many students have stepped in dog waste on their way into school and out at recess.  Your help in reminder neighbors would be most appreciated!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Dear Muraco Families,

It is a short week, but before we head off for the Thanksgiving break, I want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all of you for sharing your children with us.  How lucky we feel to partner with you during your children's elementary journey, and what a ride it is!  Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that your children arrive to school on time each day motivated and ready to learn, and for collaborating with us when your children experience some bumps in the road.  It truly takes a team to meet the many needs of our children, and I am most grateful that you are such key and caring members!

I wish you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!

Warmest regards,

Laurie Kirby

Thankful for our Buddies!

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2014

It has been a "spook-tacular" week here at Muraco.  Enjoy photos from our week!

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Fourth Grade Museum Monster Match

Third Grade Visits Plimouth Plantation

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Fun!

Trick or Treat!

Basket Full of Fun!

Second Graders Dug for Dinosaurs.  Thank you, MESPA!

Mrs. Testa Leading the Parade!

Week in Review 10.24

Week in Review

10.24.14

What a week it has been!  The weather did not dampen our spirits, and we made the most of our limited time we had with your children.  It was a pleasure to see and welcome you to school for conferences.  My hope is that you left the conferences confident that your child's teachers understand your child and have a plan to bring  him/her to the next level of success - academically, socially and emotionally.  We value our partnership with you, and we greatly appreciate your support.  It makes all the difference for our students!

Enjoy the weekend!

Laurie

Arrival and Dismissal

I continue to have concerns regarding the safety of our students during arrival and dismissal, and I am reaching out to you for your support. As the colder, harsher weather approaches, more families will take advantage of the car drop off and pick up line, and it is critical that everyone follow the protocols to ensure the children's safety as well as to keep these processes efficient. 

Each day I continue to see and hear reports of adults disregarding the protocols that we have in place to ensure the safety of our children.  Below please find the key points regarding Arrival and Dismissal.  Please be sure that ALL daycare providers have this information.

Students should exit the car from the right side of the car anywhere along the sidewalk. Many families are waiting until they get to the front walkway.  This is not efficient, and it frustrates the many drivers in line.

This is a drop and go system.  Once your child is out of the car please do not wait for them to head around back or to enter the school before leaving.  Again, this is not respectful to those behind you.

The speed limit is 15 mph.

Cars should remain in a single line on the right side.  Cutting into the outside lane when your child has exited the car is dangerous.

Drivers should remain in the car at all times.  If your child needs assistance, please park in a marked space. 

Parked in marked spaces only.  Recently, MANY families have been parking along the top of the horseshoe, which poses many safety hazards and halts the traffic.

Use Bates Road when dropping off and picking up your child.  Tufts Road and Irving Street are not designed for this kind of traffic.  

Pumpkin Science in Mrs. Fagner's Class

Learning with Buddies!

Interactive Reading in Mrs. Ulacco's room.

Week in Review

October 17, 2014

It has been another busy week that has flown right by us, and tomorrow night is the Multicultural Fair, which is always a crowd favorite.  It will be held in our cafeteria from 5-7PM, tomorrow evening.

Our MESPA Multicultural Fair Committee has been hard at work preparing to host the 10th annual Multicultural Fair. It is a special tradition at our school where families have a chance to come together to see and meet new friends. Our students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of many cultures around the world, and to celebrate and embrace the cultural heritage that we have in our community. 

There will be plenty of food from local restaurants and families' homes. The front  hallway will be filled with craft activities, representing different countries. This year we'll have European ballroom and Latin dancing demonstrations; a West African drumming presentation; and more than 20 of our own Muraco students are enthusiastically preparing a special program, which includes Irish, Indian, Panama, Mexican dances and singing. It promises to be a fun night! 

Below please find a couple of snapshots from our week.

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,

Laurie

Creating with our third grade and kindergarten buddies!

Mrs. Aceto-Black, Mrs. DeNapoli, and Ms. Reyelt's students are identifying feelings and placing them on the Mood Meter.

Walk to School Day was a Great Success

International Walk to School Day was a huge success considering the weather forecast.  There were 198 students who participated in walk to school this morning.

The class with the most students overall to walk today was the 4th grade class, Mrs. McDonough's.

The most in each grade goes as follows:

Kindergarten-     Mrs. Ulacco's class

Grade 1-             Mrs. Haine's class

Grade 2-             Mrs. Fagner's class

Grade 3-             Mrs. Andella's and Ms. Rose's classes

Grade 4-             Mrs. McDonough's class

Grade 5-             Ms. Turney's class

This is a perfect way to kick off Walking Wednesdays...hope you can all join us next week.

Week in Review 10.3

Week in Review

OOCH:  All students participated in an enrichment program this morning.  Ooch shared an important message about making mistakes.  He assured the students that everyone makes mistakes.  Ooch emphasized that it is always important to tell the truth and to learn from the mistakes we make.  The students loved the performance.  Below you'll find photos of the event. 

MCAS: The results of the 2014 MCAS scores have been released.  You should be receiving your child’s Spring 2014 MCAS results by the beginning of next week.  Muraco's official MCAS report card is available on our website and may be found at the following address: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/accountability/report/school.aspx?linkid=31&orgcode=03440040&orgtypecode=6&

Friendly Reminders

I am reaching out to you to ask for your support.  Arrival and dismissal each day, especially during inclement weather, continues to be a safety issue.  Please adhere to our protocols.  For your convenience I have restated our protocols below.  I would ask that you share them with any day care provider who may be responsible for dropping off or picking up your child.  As always, I count on and appreciate your support.  It makes all the difference.

• To ensure the safety of our students and to show respect for our neighbors please use Bates Road ONLY when dropping off or picking up your child.  I continue to see many families using Tufts Road and Irving Street as drop off and pick up spots, and I am concerned for the safety of the many students who use those roads to walk to school.
• If you are picking up your child at the end of the day please park in a marked spot or use the car pick line.  I am noticing several students are crossing traffic to enter cars on Bates Road.
• Please be sure that your child exits the car from the passenger side on to the sidewalk and not into the traffic.
• Please park in marked spaces only.  
• Many students are arriving after the second bell, which rings at 8:30.  To maximize time on learning and to encourage good habits please be sure that your child arrives to school on time.
• When the red flag is in the front of the school, all students will line up inside the building.

An Invitation to Curriculum Night and Book Fair

You are Invited....

Curriculum Night and Book Fair

This night is intended for parents/guardians.  It is an opportunity for you to meet your child's teacher and to learn more about grade level expectations.  Below please find the schedule and location for the two evenings.  

I look forward to seeing you.

Book Fair will be open from 6-8 on both nights.  It will be set up in the library.

Wednesday, October 8th

6:00-6:30 

• Kindergarten Presentation: (Begin in Mrs. Haley's room) 

6:40-6:55: 

 Presentation in gym -Caren Connelly will speak about WFEE's commitment to our technology plan.

7:00-7:30: 

•  Grade 1 Presentation: (Gym)
• Grade 4:  Mrs. McDonough only (Classroom)

7:30-8:00 

• Grade 2:  
• Classroom visit 7:20-7:35
• Curriculum presentation in gym 7:40-8:00

Thursday, October 9th

6:00-6:30 

• Grade 5 Presentation:  (Ms. Ferullo's room)

6:40-6:55: 

 Presentation in Gym -Caren Connelly will speak about WFEE's commitment to our technology plan.

7:00-7:30: 

•  Grade 4 Presentations: (Classrooms)

7:30-8:00 

• Grade 3 
• Mrs. Andella's and Ms. Rose's classes: (Ms. Rose's room)
• Mrs. Beauchamp's and Mrs. Souris' classes (Mrs. Beauchamp's room)

The Year of Our Best Self

Today we  had our second Community Meeting.  The purpose of community meeting is to celebrate the many great accomplishments of our students.  We recognize students for their acts of kindness, overcoming challenges, and students have the opportunity to share their talents. Throughout the year we will focus on different topics or issues that arise.  Our theme for this year is: "Our Best Self; Treat everyone like it's their birthday!"

Today your child will be bringing home an assignment from me. I am asking each child to reflect on their best self.  All students will decorate a cupcake with words, phrases and sentences that describe their best self.  Below is Ms. Gualtieri's creation.   All cupcakes are due back to school by Friday, October 3rd.

I appreciate your support.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Laurie