Curriculum Night Schedule

Curriculum Night

Thursday, October 1

You are invited!  

5:30: Melissa Testa's Class

5:45: General Presentation in the gym (K and Grade 1)

6:00: Kindergarten and Grade 1

6:30:  General Presentation in the gym (Grades 2-5)

7:00:  Grades 4 and 5

7:30: Grades 2 and 3

The purpose of Curriculum Night is for parents to meet the teachers, to learn about routines and expectations, and to gain a better understanding of the units of study at your child's grade level. In addition to your classroom visit, I would like to invite you to the gym for a general meeting. I'll highlight some of the curriculum and report card changes that have been made to better align with the standards. 

CHANGE: In the past we have combined the Book Fair with this evening. We have moved the Book Fair to the week of conferences with the hope of making both events less stressful!

We look forward to meeting with you.

First Week

Our first week of school was a great success!  Classroom communities are well on their way to being established.  Classroom Charters are being created, and I have to say it was quite impressive to hear your children articulate how they want to feel when they are in the classroom. Our students are well on their way to becoming confident, independent thinkers and learners. We feel very fortunate to have the privilege to work with your children!

Many thanks for ensuring that your children arrived to school on time!  I encourage you to continue with this good practice as it has a positive impact on your child and their classmates.

I wish all of our families who will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah a Happy New Year!

Friendly Reminders

• There is no school on Monday in observance of Rosh Hashanah.  
• When there is a red flag at the front of the school, all students will line up inside the building.
• Please be sure to pack a healthy snack each day for your child.  They work hard, and they are always eager to indulge in a mid morning snack.

Second Grade Students Practicing their Phonics Chants!

Fourth Grade Students are Determining how they Learn Best

Kindergarten Students Sharing a Good Book!

Mrs. McDonough's Class Creating Their Charter

Welcome Back!

September 7, 2015

It was nice to see so many of you at the picnic last week!  I always enjoy seeing the big smiles on the faces of my young friends when they connect with their classmates they haven’t seen in a while, and hearing about their summer adventures!

Now, it is time to officially welcome all of you to the 2015/2016 school year.  The staff has been working hard behind the scenes to create a warm, welcoming environment for our students, and we are eager to kick off the start of the new year!

Below you’ll find important information that will help to make our transition back to school a smooth one.

I look forward to working with you to make this year the best one ever!

Google Calendar:  Stay updated by viewing the Muraco Open House calendar.  It can be found on our website and this blog.

Upcoming Events:

Welcome Back Coffee: Beginning at 8:30 in the Gym

Tuesday, September 8th

Wednesday, September 9th

• Tuesday, September 8th, and Wednesday, September 9th, students will be dismissed at 11:30.

• Thursday, September 10th, and Friday, September 11th are full days.
• Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 14th, Day Off
• Photo Day:  Wednesday, September 16th
• Yom Kippur:  Wednesday, September 23rd, Day Off

On Tuesday your child will bring home the following forms in their backpack:

• Two-sided Student Information Sheet: Please read carefully and make corrections.  Complete the health form on the back of the sheet.  Return no later than Friday, September 18th. It is critical that this information remain accurate.  Please keep us updated of any changes made during the school y
• Use of Student Information and Images for Educational Purposes: It is important that this form be completed and returned to school.  This information will be kept in your child's records.  Please return the form to your child's classroom teacher no later than Friday, September 18th.
• KINDERGARTEN and NEW FAMILIES ONLY:  Point of Sales (POS) information sheet: Your child’s pin number is on this sheet.  Please help your child remember their number.
• GRADE 1 – 5 FAMILIES:  If your child forgot their pin number, please contact Mrs. McKinney in the office.
• Photo Order Form: Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, September 16th
• Free and Reduced Guidelines
• If you plan on chaperoning field trips, please be sure to come to the office to complete a CORI.

Staff Update:

Since my last update, we hired two more staff members.  I am pleased to announce that Melissa Morris and Marcy Solomon will be supporting students in grades 2 and 3 in their roles as teaching assistants. Emily Martin has joined the kindergarten team as an ADK aide. She'll be lending a hand in Mrs. Testa's room. I know that you will join me in welcoming them to our community.

ADK Families:

Please be sure that you have sent your tuition payment to Nancy Clark at Central Office.  If you have any questions, please contact her at (781) 721-7001.

Arrival/Dismissal:

To ensure the safety of your children and a timely arrival, please adhere to the following procedures:

• Supervision begins at 8:10.  It is critical that students do not arrive to school before there is supervision.
• To help maximize time on learning please be sure that your child arrives to school on time.

• First Bell:  8:25 – Students will begin to enter the building
• Second Bell: 8:30 – Classes begin

• The side parking lot is for staff only.
• ALL students will line up by class on the hard top in the back of the school.
• A red flag placed at the front of the school will be the signal for students to line up indoors.
• When the RED FLAG is out front students in kindergarten, first grade, and Mrs. Fagner and Mrs. Webber’s classes will line up in the front lobby.
• Students in Mrs. Smith and Ms. Goldman’s classes, and all students in grades 3-5 will line up in the gym.
• Students who arrive AFTER the first bell, at 8:25, should enter through the front lobby.
• Students who arrive by bus will line up in the back of the school.
• To ensure the students’ safety parents will not be allowed inside during arrival and dismissal times.
• After arrivals and dismissals, all doors are locked.
• For your child’s safety and peace of mind, please make arrangements before arriving to school and for him/her to be picked up promptly at dismissal.

Parking and Car Safety:

• Use only the front parking lot for pick up and drop off.  Moving traffic into and out of the side staff parking lot is extremely dangerous during these times due to the number of students walking.
• Do not park in restricted areas.
• Do not park around the rotary in the front of the school as it impedes all traffic flow.
• Parents who are dropping off or picking up students will form a single line at the front of the school.
• Drivers MUST remain in their vehicles.  
• To make this procedure most efficient and manageable, students should enter  and exit from the passenger side between the STOP sign and ALL along the sidewalk.
• Teach your child/children to wait for you on the sidewalk. No child is allowed to cross the parking lot to reach a car.
• Turn off your car engine if you arrive early at dismissal time and are waiting in line.  This will reduce the presence of harmful fumes.
• Between the hours of 8:00 AM-9:00 AM and 2:00 PM-3:00 PM all drivers must turn RIGHT from Bates Rd. onto Washington St. after leaving the parking lot to alleviate traffic jams.  

Student Handbook:

Please be sure to check out the student handbook on the website.

Friendly reminders:

Snacks:

Each day students have an opportunity to have a morning snack, and our young friends work up quite the appetite! We encourage you to pack a healthy snack, which can easily and neatly be consumed. Thank you for your support!

Food in Classrooms:

During the school day, all elementary schools will require that parties and celebrations be food free. Food will not be used as a reward or incentive for any student. Children are not allowed to share snacks or food with each other, either in school, on the bus, or at school sponsored events such as Field Trips.

Lunch:

Children may bring lunch from home or may purchase lunch through the school lunch program.  Elementary school lunch cost is $3.00, milk $0.60, water $0.85, and a la-carte $1.25.

You can deposit money into your child’s lunch account with a check, made payable to Winchester School Lunch, or cash, delivered to the school on the first three mornings of school from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. During the school year deposits can be made at school on Monday mornings from 8:00-9:00 am.   You can also pay anytime online at www.payforit.net.  NOTE: There is currently a 5.75% transaction fee for depositing money into accounts online.

Slushies Make it ALL Good!

Catching up with Friends!

Just chilling!

Counting Down the Days....

August 24, 2015

I hope that your summer has been filled with fun and relaxation.  I am looking forward to welcoming your children back to school!

While your children have been off enjoying all that summer has to offer, the school has been a hub of activity.  We have welcomed 26 students.  Students have come from as nearby as Malden and as faraway as China!  I am always so delighted and proud to welcome new families to this amazing community!

There were MANY room changes made this summer with the goal of clustering grade levels. Research supports the fact that proximity makes a difference for student learning. There is so little time to collaborate with colleagues, and we want to capitalize on the time we do have together!

Having said that, I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Muraco staff.  Moving classrooms is a huge undertaking, and they spent countless hours of their own time planning, packing, unpacking, and setting up new classrooms.  The transformation is near completion, and I know that our students will not be disappointed!

I want to give a warm welcome and a big "Shout Out" to Steve Queen, our head custodian.  He handled the many moves in stride and worked with Dave and a crew of High School students to get the job done!  Steve was a custodian at the High School, and his experience shows in all that does. Our floors and carpets have never been as clean!

Staff Update:  I am delighted to announce the newest members of the Muraco team!

• As a result of our growing enrollment in second grade, Ms. Gillian Goldman will be joining the second grade team. For the past 3 years she has worked in the Milton Public Schools as a special education teacher in a co teaching model. 
• Ms. Lynn Mazzocchi is returning from a year's leave and will be joining the third grade team.  Lynn had been a special education teacher in the Muraco community for 5 years prior to her leave, and before her tenure here she worked at McCall for 2 years as a special education teacher. Lynn has elementary education, special education, and reading specialist certifications and is looking forward to working as the lead teacher in a classroom.
• Mrs. Rennee Deschenes has been hired as a .5 special education teacher.  She will be working with students in K-2.  For the past couple of years she has worked in the Acton Public Schools as a special education teacher.  
• Gina Addonizio will be our new reading specialist. She is taking the place of Pat DiFranco, who retired at the end of last year.  For the past several years Gina has worked at the High School as a reading specialist, and she is eager to work with our younger students.
• Dan Htoo-Levine will be filling in for Kit Perkins, our music teacher, who has extended her maternity leave for this year.  Last year Dan completed a similar role in the Lincoln Public Schools.
• Kyle Foley and DeAnne Pontone have been hired as special education teaching assistants.  Kyle will be supporting students in the fifth grade and DeAnne will be supporting students in third grade.

Save the Dates

Wednesday, September 2:  

• Muraco Family Picnic:  4-6 Muraco Playground

Tuesday, September 8:  

• Students First Day - Release Day
• Welcome Back Coffee:  8:40 Library

Wednesday, September 9:  

• Welcome Back Coffee:  8:40 Library
• Release Day

Monday, September 14:

• Rosh Hashanah:  Day Off

Another Great Week!

June 12, 2015

Our week was filled with more celebrations of students' accomplishments!

It was a pleasure to welcome so many of you to our Family Literacy Morning.  The expressions on the students' faces showed just how proud they were to share their writing and projects, and your expressions of love and pride filled your child's and their classmates' buckets! Enjoy some snapshots from the morning.

Today we had our last community meeting of the year, and what a celebration it was.  Enjoy the video that the staff put together for the students in hopes of kicking their summer off in style!
Here is the link:   https://youtu.be/A7KlBKzto88

Our 3-5 concert will be held on Monday at 9:00.  It will be our first outdoor concert.  Please join us in the back of the school on the hill. Please feel free to bring a blanket.  We look forward to great weather and a packed audience!

Have a wonderful weekend!

June 5, 2015

Today was a fun filled day, and the weather couldn't have been better!  Below please find some highlights of Field Day!

Many thanks to the parents who volunteered!

6/2/15

Muraco is a flurry of activity, and given the many events scheduled between now and the last day of school, I don't see the forecast changing!

The parent involvement here is second to none, and I want to take this opportunity to thank ALL of you for support throughout the year. Your commitment to your children's education shows in all that you do, and it is often the little things that make the biggest difference for your child and the community as a whole. 

I want to extend a special thanks to Samantha Shanley, MESPA Chair, and the many MESPA volunteers for all of their work on behalf of our students. The special, enriching events that took place during the year required a tremendous of amount planning, energy, and patience, but seeing the expressions on the children's faces and hearing the chatter leading up to and after each event made it most rewarding.  

Many thanks to the team of parents led by Colleen McInnis who implemented the BOKs program. This early morning workout routine is designed to give the students' brains and bodies a kick start to the day!  This year Erin Ficociello, Pernille Ramm, Kristin Taylor, Jill Branley, Kelly Unger, Sara Brown, Shelley Ayervais, Dana Donovan, Laxmi Prasad and Matt Segal  were the trainers who arrived early to lead our students.  Our students benefited from these early morning workouts!  

Your contributions help to make Muraco a dynamic learning environment, and for that I am truly grateful.  

As a small token of our appreciation, the Muraco staff is inviting all volunteers to attend a "Thank You" breakfast in the library on Friday morning from 8-8:30.  This is an adult only event.  I hope to see you there.