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TO: Secondary Students and Staff
DATE: November 9th, 2015
FROM: Alexa Kontes and Pat McCall
Meetings this week include:
Mon, Nov 9 MCAS Retest, Math Session1
10am PPT/ITP for MA led by S. Redmond/D. Fitzgerald, 11W
10:10am CR for LP led by J. Peters, Jodi’s classroom
1:30pm CRL mtg led by R. Dubuque, 11W
AEC Rachel Dubuque
Tues, Nov 10 MCAS Retest, Math Session2
9:45am IEP for AM led by D. Dvorak
1pm IEP for MD led by J. Potter, 11W
2:30pm TA mtg with Betsy Bixler, 11W
AEC Rachel Dubuque
Wed, Nov 11 Parent’s Day
2:15pm May cottage mtg
3:15pm RSP campus wide mtg
AEC Chris Underwood
Thurs, Nov 12 9AM ITP for HS led by D. Fitzgerald and D. Moskowitz, TILL, by invite
9:45am CR for BL led by S. Fox, IMC
1:20pm KS Cottage mtg, group 2
1:30pm – 3:30pm New Rep Theater will be performing the play 1984, Dwight Hall, teachers need to approve students going
2:30pm Fisher Behavior mtg
2:30pm TA mtg with Betsy Bixler, 11W
MFA Trip group departs at 3:30pm
AEC Jessica Erlich
Fri, Nov 13 MCAS Retest make-up date
10:10am CR for IP led by S. Fox, 11W
AEC Bryce McKnight
The November Secondary Student of the Month is Laura Boelens!
If you would like to submit something for the newsletter, please email it to Alexa Kontes by Wednesday at 4:00. Any students interested in reporting for the newsletter should contact Alexa.
On Thursday November 12th, the New Rep Theater will be performing the play 1984 in Dwight Hall from 1:30 to 3:30.
As many of you have heard, Sherri Myers had to stop working very suddenly last week due to health concerns. Sherri has been a dedicated teacher at Perkins for decades, and she will be greatly missed by all of the students and staff. Sherri will keep us updated over the next few weeks, and we are hopeful she’ll be able to visit soon. I know Sherri would love to receive cards and notes from everyone. You can drop them off with me, and I will get them to her. Dan Moskowitz has graciously agreed to be the classroom teacher in Sherri’s absence. Please welcome Dan in his new role. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Pat
Perkins has a new programdesigned to prepare young adults who are blind or visually impaired, ages 15-22, with the skills and expertise they need for employment.For students who are headed for college or competitive employment, this course would be a great fit. It begins January 16, 2016 and runs on 10 alternate Saturdays through May here at the Watertown campus. Perkins designed the course in consultation with Karen Wolffe, a nationally known expert in the area of Transition and Career Education.
If you have questions or are considering referring a student, please call or email Patrick Ryan at x7812 or .
There will be Adult Living First Aid classes on November 16, 23, and 30 (please note date change from previous email). They will be from 3:10 to 6:00, in KS.
The students involved are:
Mercedes Austin
Alex Berthiaume
Laura Boehlens
Michael Daggett
Brendan Flynn
Jonathan Gardner
Logan Kelly
Ben Light
John Shea
Ronen Young
On Wednesday, November 18th participants of the Educational Leadership Program will have an exhibit from 9:00-2:00 in the Museum Area featuring information from their countries.
* Antigua * Argentina * Armenia * China *
* Croatia * Egypt * Ghana *
* Iran * Kenya * Malawi * Moldova *
* Nepal * Philippines * St. Lucia * Vietnam *
All are welcome to stop by and learn about
these 15 beautiful & exotic countries.
AND
At 4:00 p.m.
Join us at Dwight Hall to enjoy an hour of international entertainment with our ELP participants.
For more information visit https://askhowe.perkins.org/events/elp-international-exhibit-and-entertainment
Writing group meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 4:00 in the Secondary Library. Please contact Alexa if you plan to attend. Students may not skip other school commitments in order to attend writing group.
The 4th Annual Gobble Wobble for SMILE Mass is on Saturday, November 21st
beginning at 10:00 am at the Curtis Middle School, 22 Pratts Mill Road in
Sudbury, MA. SMILE Mass is still accepting Captains and Ambassadors for this Road Race. Captains are special--needs children and young adults of any ability who will either be pushed in specialized joggers (200 lb. limit) or, if able, they can bike, walk, etc. Captains will be accompanied along the entire route by Ambassadors. An
Ambassador is either a SMILE Mass volunteer or a parent/caregiver of the participant.
The Ambassador will become the eyes, ears or legs for your loved one.
Captains participate free of charge. Ambassadors pay the standard race fee.
For more information or to sign up a Captain go to www.smilemass.org/running-team.html
SMILE Mass is proud to offer Ambassadors for Perkins students a
discounted rate of $20 to participate in either the 5K or the 10K. Use
discount code “perkins”. The mission of SMILE Mass is to provide happy, healthy memories to individuals with disabilities and their families through recreation and vacation experiences.
www.smilemass.org
National Novel Writing Month has begun. Please contact Alexa for more information.
You are invited to a special Halloween plant display in the greenhouse! Please stop by to explore fun and “spooky” plants and pumpkin chimes. You will learn about herbs which were used in witch magic and believed to protect families from evil spirits, and one which cats love. Plants will be set up on the first table on the right as you enter the greenhouse. You are welcome to come Tuesday October 27 through Thanksgiving. Please contact Deborah Krause at or x7685 for more information.
Perkins Student Intramural Program
**Recreation component of the Expanded Core Curriculum**
WHO: This is open to all programs!! Secondary, Lower School and Deafblind students
WHEN: Monday Nights
6:30-7:00 (Session 1)
7:00-7:30 (Session 2)
WHERE: Howe Gym
November 2: Tennis Serves
November 16: Soccer
November 30: Goalball
December 7: SURPRISE!!!
FAQ’s
Do I have to attend all four of the sessions offered?
Answer: No, you can pick and choose and only come to those that you want.
Do I have to come for the whole hour (6:30-7:30)?
Answer: Only if you choose to. There will be two sessions offered. You may come to the first and second session or choose only 1 session. That’s up to you.
Who is leading the activities?
Answer: Maebh Barry and Megan O’Connell-Copp
Do I have to sign up for this?
Answer: No. You can just show up. Don’t forget to bring your friends for some fun.
Will I have fun?
Answer: OF COURSE YOU WILL HAVE FUN!!!!
Early Winter Enrichment Program
Starting this November, there will be a new 6-class enrichment program coming to Perkins. We will be offering Archery in the Howe gymnasium starting on Wednesday from 4:00pm-5:00pm (See the dates below). Since we have an off campus outfitter coming to help us, it is very important that we have a consistent roster for the class. No prior knowledge or experience needed for this activity.
Please share this with the students in your cottage and encourage participation. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be a part of. If you have questions or want to sign up, please contact Matt LaCortiglia (7338) or Megan O’Connell-Copp (7267). Please sign up by Friday, October 30 in order to participate.
Howe Gymnasium
November: 4, 11 & 18
December: 2, 9 & 16
4:00pm-5:00pm
------
ARCHERY FUN Coming Soon!!
The Word of the Week is: oneiric: Of or relating to dreams.
The following students will be participating in the November MCAS testing:
Patrick Bucci, Iree Christenson, Michael Cote, Jacob Pine, and Logan Kelly.
The Food Service Students have been working hard to become acquainted with the kitchen,practice skills, learn about sanitation, and test some new recipes. Soon we will be selling lunches and posting the lunch list. We will increase quantities as the students progress throughout the year. On Wednesdays, Anicia Almeida, Michael Cote, and Izzy Primeau prepare lunches 2nd thru 5th. On Thursdays, Aiden Stott, Alex Figueroa, and Mikolai Friendare block scheduled toprepare lunches. Zach Gousie assists during 2nd period. This is an on- campus paid work experience. We plan in advance for it, and order and buy food ahead of time for class. So, please do not schedule these students to participate in other activities during their food service class time without contacting Karen Keeler and discussing it 2 weeks ahead of time. This includes participation in assemblies, rehearsals, plays, meetings, sports activities, field trips, concerts, etc. Thank you for your cooperation. We are looking forward to a delicious year of serving you. Thank you, Karen Keeler
Scholastic's Scope magazine is sponsoring a first-line contest. If you can dream up the first line for one of award-winning author Linda Sue Park's stories, you will win $50.00! Students in grades 4-12 may enter. The deadline is November 15th. Please contact Alexa for more information.
Reminder: Secondary now has an advice column called Howe and Why. If you have a question, or would like to sign up to be a columnist, contact .
New in IMC: UEB Basic Math feel ‘n peel brl/print stickers; Labeling, Marking, and Organization Guidebook LP and audio cds; brl/LP yardsticks; brl/LP protractor.
Margie has a bag on her classroom door, room 114 Howe West for redeemable cans and bottles. We recycle and donate the money to a good cause every few months. Please leave cans and bottles in the bag.
Margie recycles ink jet cartridges; please leave them in her mailbox or in the bag on her door.
If you are interested in delivering produce and herbs from the student garden to the Watertown Food Pantry, please contact Deb Krause. The pantry is open Tuesdays 10-12 and Thursdays 4-6. You can also harvest and prepare the produce or just pick it up at the Horticulture Center to deliver it weekly or occasionally. Tuesdays 2nd period can work well or Thursdays 7th period – we can discuss other options.
The Student Store would like to have plants again this year. If you and your students are interested in taking care of plants in the Student Store, please contact Deb Krause. This can be any day or time – and can be done weekly. Training and technical assistance provided!
Cello club will meet approximately once a month on Thursdays this year. Our next meeting will be on November 19th at 4:00, weather permitting. Location TBD. Contact Alexa with any questions. Please note: You may not skip other school commitments in order to attend cello club.
Please contribute to the Sunshine Fund. Donations can be given to Kendra.
We are an entirely NUT free school. No nuts at all, not even in private staff offices.
This year we will be focusing on two general rules for all students:
1. Students are expected to be on time for class (teachers should keep attendance)
2. Students should be prepared, including having technology charged and materials organized.
We will continue to focus on our Secondary Program standards in addition to the new campus-wide Core Values initiative.
Secondary Standards:
We RESPECT each other, and we respect ourselves.
We HELP each other to become better citizens and to achieve our goals.
We CREATE and SUPPORT an atmosphere promoting high achievement and independence.
We are EMPOWERED to grow and advocate for ourselves.
We HONOR our rights and responsibilities as members of the Perkins community.
Students who are interested in writing group or cello club should contact Alexa.
Please note: The library will close promptly at 4:00 on Tuesdays for the remainder of the school year. There will be no after school study hall or clubs on Tuesdays.
We, William and Stephanie, are doing a job called “Goodwill”. What we do is collect items such as, clothes, shoes, toys and books. We are going to donate these items to Goodwill and other donation spots. If you have any lightly used or new items please email Ms. Randi and we will pick them up as soon as we can.
Thank you for your support!
Notes for Staff
Perkins will host our Annual Parents Day on campus on Wednesday, November 11th.During this day there will be approximately 35-40 families who will visit the campus. The purpose of Parents Day is to enhance the collaborative relationship the school has with our families.
Hosting this event on campus is a key component of our success as many families will be able to observe our classes, network with other parents, attend teacher conferences and valuable workshops, and tour our campus. For some, this is their first time on our beautiful campus, and for returning guests, they look forward to visiting us each fall.
Parking:
We are encouraging all families to park in the Beechwood lot for this event and ask that all staff seek alternative parking and/or transportation.
The Watertown Police Department has authorized parking on the following streets during from 8:00 am – 5:00pm on November 11th.
· North Beacon Street
· Beechwood Avenue