It’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years--  Abraham Lincoln

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him.--Leo Aikman

Remember to click on the page tabs at the top of this blog, particularly "This Week" to see this week's scheduled happenings.

GROWTH MINDSET: WITH TIME AND EFFORT I CAN IMPROVE!

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.  Never stop challenging yourself.

Dear Quashnet Families,

This link will take you to the Quashnet School Council page on our website.  You can click on the file at the bottom of that page to view the results of our 2014 Quashnet School Council On-Line Parent Survey.  2013-2014 Quashnet School Council Page 

 

We are very excited for our special Mr. Palmer.  He and his paralympic curling team have been invited to visit the White House this Thursday, April 3rd.  

 AUTISM AWARENESS DAY:  TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

 April 2, 2014, is the seventh Annual United Nations World Autism Awareness Day.  Please wear BLUE on this day.  Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism.  Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and to develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges.  The mission of Autism Speaks is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. They are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. For more information, please visit their website www.lightitupblue.org.

RED SOX HOME OPENER—FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Friday is Red Sox Day at Quashnet.  Please wear team apparel or team colors. 

The Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for Mathematics builds on the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The standards in the Massachusetts Framework are the culmination of an extended, broad-based effort to fulfill the charge issued by the states to create the next generation of pre-kindergarten through grade 12 standards in order to help ensure that all students are college and career ready in mathematics no later than the end of high school.

The 6 Guiding Principles for Mathematical Programs in Massachusetts—philosophical statements that underlie the standards and resources in the Curriculum Framework are:

ü  Principle 1—Learning:  Mathematical ideas should be explored in ways that stimulate curiosity, create enjoyment of mathematics, and develop depth of understanding.
ü  Principle 2—Teaching:  An effective mathematics program is based on a carefully designed set of content standards that are clear and specific, focused, and articulated over time as a coherent sequence.
ü  Principle 3—Technology:  Technology is an essential tool that should be used strategically in mathematics education.
ü  Principle 4—Equity:  All students should have a high quality mathematics program that prepares them for college and a career.
ü  Principle 5—Literacy Across the Content Areas:  An effective mathematics program builds upon and develops students’ literacy skills and knowledge.
ü  Principle 6—Assessment: Assessment of student learning in mathematics should take many forms to inform instruction and learning.

The 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice describe the varieties of expertise that all mathematics educators at all levels should seek to develop in their students.
         1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning
 

2014 QUASHNET SPELLING BEE (Update)

75 students have signed up to participate in this year’s Quashnet School Spelling Bee.  All students have received their packet of words—same packet for each student.  Even though the packet is divided by grade-level, all participants are expected to learn ALL words in the packet.  Our Spelling Bee will take place on Wednesday, April 30^th.  Grade-level preliminary rounds will take place at 5:30 PM, and the final will take place at 6:30 PM. If any student would still like to participate, please pick up a permission slip from the main office.  Once returned, the student will receive the word packet.  Last year’s Spelling Bee was a wonderful event.  

 

Mrs. Gilbert's sixth graders are pictured below at the Barnstable Court House.  Last Friday they participated in our annual sixth grade field trip where the criminal justice system is explored.    

Pictured below are fifth graders Clara Signs and Alyssa MacDonald.  (Missing from the photo is sixth grade Hannah Shields). We are very proud of these three Quashnet students. They auditioned and were chosen as members of the first Massachusetts All-State Treble Chorus.  Clara, Alyssa, and Hannah performed in Boston on Saturday, March 22nd.

 

SUPPORT MMS 8^TH GRADER FREDERICK HANNA AND PROJECT 351

DONATE CLOTHING YOUR CHILDREN HAVE OUTGROWN

     Eighth grader Frederick Hanna is Mashpee’s representative on Governor Deval Patrick’s Project 351.  This year’s service project is focused on collecting gently used clean clothing that would fit babies and children up to age 12.  If your children have outgrown some of their clothes and you would like to donate them to a worthwhile project you can send the clothing to the Quashnet School.  Frederick’s sister, fifth grader Alinna, is coordinating the collection at our school.  We have a collection box outside our main office.  The donations will benefit disadvantaged children in partnership with another nonprofit, Cradles to Crayons.  Any donated clothing will be greatly appreciated.

Don't forget to click on the "SY13-14 Pictures" tab at the top of this blog to view all the pictures taken last week.

With Gratitude,
Patty DeBoer, Principal  

YOU COME TO LOVE NOT BY FINDING THE PERFECT PERSON BUT BY SEEING AN IMPERFECT PERSON PERFECTLY.  Sam Keen