McKusick School
March 14 Newsletter
The children at McKusick School celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday on Monday, March 3. The highlight of our day was the green eggs and ham cooked by our fathers and grandfathers. Thank you to the fathers and grandfathers for making our breakfast and day special. The children also had guest readers and an assembly where our resident Cat in the Hat, Mrs. Lindberg, read The Cat in the Hat to the whole school. Other activities that some classes engaged in included reading Dr. Seuss books, making lists of rhyming words, watching a Dr. Seuss movie, making Cat in the Hat hats and bow ties. To top off the day, we had a birthday cake for Dr. Seuss. What a wonderful day!
When students arrived at Guilford Primary School, they were greeted by staff members dressed as the "Cat in the Hat"! You should have seen the looks on the children's faces! We also had a special visit from the Cat in the Hat, Mrs. Panciera. She entertained us by reading The Cat in the Hat. After lunch, birthday cake was enjoyed by all! What a fun way to celebrate Dr. Seuss' 99th birthday!
Parkman Pre-School is currently accepting applications for the 2003-04 school year. There are only a few openings left. Please call Mrs. Ringle or Mrs. Ames at 876-4450 for an application and/or more information.
Friday, March 21 is a Teacher's Workshop Day. There will be no school for the children.
A Note from the Kitchen
If your income has changed since the start of the year, please let us know and we will get you a free/reduced lunch application for you to fill out.
Healthy Snack Day at McKusick School
A "Healthy Snack Day" will be held on Friday, March 28th. Each classroom will prepare their own snack from each of the food groups for each child in the building. Each student will travel around to each classroom and gather a variety of healthy snacks and one small, not so healthy snack from the Fat & Sugars Group. Sounds like a yummy day!
March Birthdays
We forgot to include Becky G. at Guilford Primary and Mrs. Turner at the McKusick School. Happy Birthday to both of you!
Healthy Snacking Tips from Metropolitan Life Foundation
Many of us get up to a quarter of our nutrients and calories from snacks, a very good reason to make sure the snacks available to your family are high in fiber and low in fat. Try making some of these healthy snacking tips:
*Buy popping corn and pop it at home. That way, you can control the amount of salt and fat that goes into it.
*Combine cereal with raisins and peanuts for your own brand of snack mix.
*Keep raw vegetables (carrot and celery sticks, cucumber spears, string beans) in plain view and easy to reach. Wash them and store them in the refrigerator in airtight containers to preserve the vitamins.
*Combine compatible leftovers (a little soup plus rice, pasta, or vegetables) make a good wholesome between meals snack.
*Try fresh or dried fruit, yogurt or fig bars instead of ice cream and sandwich cookies for a sweet taste with less fat.
Chewonki
Chewonki was at Guilford Primary School and the McKusick School today. The Chewonki Foundation is located in Wiscasset, Maine. Chewonki provides an outreach program to schools in Maine. The programs have been created to help students discover and explore the lives of plants and animals that comprise the world around them. The Kinders saw a presentation called Scales and Tales, Grade 2 enjoyed Bats, and Grade 3 learned about Birds of Prey. Grade 1 will have Chewonki's program on Owls in Maine next Thursday, March 20th.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration will be held on April 4 at the McKusick School for all children who will be five on or before October 15. Please call 876-4590 for an appointment.
Top 10 Ways to Make Reading a #1 Activity
1. Read
aloud frequently. Repetition is important for children just learning to
read.
2. Read slowly and let your child participate. When
you read books with predictable text and refrains, encourage your child to
join in.
3. Make
reading a reward. When your child has been extra good or has done very
well, read then an extra book.
4. Make reading a personal reward. Allow your child
to take a book break when they've done a job worth complimenting.
5. Make a reading graph. Chart your child's response
to books you read to them and make a poster showing the results. You can
even make a top 10 list of favorite books.
6. Act out your child's favorite book. You can make stick puppets for stories with multiple characters.
7. Have a dress-up day. Your child can dress as a favorite character.
8. Have a reading party. Invite older brothers, sisters, cousins to come and read while they visit.
9. Create
book buddies. Take your child and a friend to the library together.
10. Have a book celebration where everyone in your family
chooses a favorite book to share with the family. Each family member can
tell why he or she chose their book.
Teach Your Child to Be Safe
Be sure your child knows important information and can tell it to others who he/she knows can be trusted to help. This includes:
* first and last name
* street address
* parents' or guardians' names
* phone number
Create an emergency plan in case you cannot pick up your child on time. Make sure he/she knows who to call or where to go if you are delayed. Be sure to inform his/her teacher, too.
McKusick Bus Changes
Please call the McKusick School (876-2656) before 1:30 if you are going to pick your child up instead of the child riding the bus. For safety reasons, do not take your child out of the bus line and leave. Please check in at the office before leaving and not with the Bus Duty Teacher.
Another Reminder
All parents must park in the parking lots of our schools. Please do not park in front of the schools in the morning or afternoon. This area is for busses only!
Specials Schedule
Monday, March 17 Day 6
Tuesday, March 18 Day 1
Wednesday, March 19 Day 2
Thursday, March 20 Day 3
Friday, March 21 Day 0
(No School-Teacher's Workshop)
Monday, March 24 Day 4
Tuesday, March 25 Day 5
Wednesday, March 26 Day 6
Thursday, March 27 Day 1
Friday, March 28 Day 2