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 SCHOOL COMMUNITY,

           “We are not counting the days; we are making each day count.” It is so important to continue to be focused on learning as we wind down this school year.  Every day is valuable, and best effort and excellence must be the norm—academically and behaviorally.
                  Thank you to our third grade teachers and our third graders for providing a welcoming experience to KCC second graders during their shadow visits last week.  We hope that the second graders have gained some knowledge that will help them transition to the Quashnet School community.  Thank you also to the following staff members who attended our Step-Up Night event for second graders and their families last Thursday night:  KCC Nurse Stacy, Mrs. Watka,  Mrs. Arsenault, Mrs. Colantuono, Mrs. Schreiner, Ms. Higgins, Mrs. Sorbo, Mrs. McCue, SRO Will Cuozzo, and Mr. Rumberger who will be joining our school next year as Assistant Principal.  Thank you also to parents Allyson and Mark Brainson for their help setting up and welcoming guests.  Thank you to our PTO for providing refreshments and to PTO President Colleen Austin and her daughter Erica for welcoming our guests.  A special "thank you" to our third grade ambassadors who did an outstanding job sharing their knowledge and experiences as third graders:  Aiden Cuozzo, Pukar Sitaula, Mateo Vasquez, Sarah Landry, Kasey Boettger, Mireya Strom, and Maya Brainson.  Superintendent Hyde's presence and support at this event is greatly appreciated.

           On Monday we celebrate Memorial Day.  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who served our nation and have died.  I encourage everyone to visit the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne tomorrow and Monday.  American flags placed at the entry way as well as at every single gravesite is a site to behold.  We must always show our respect and gratitude to those who are no longer with us (and their families) whose service to our country helped to protect our freedoms. 

               Thank you to Amy Rullo for taking the lead in our Buy One/Get One Free Scholastic Book Fair.  This event was not a fundraiser--just a great opportunity for our students to be able to get extra books to either read now or over the upcoming summer break.  Thank you also to parent helpers Tina Theodore, Colleen Austin, Renee Geiszler. 

                This is the final pledge collection week for our upcoming TRIATHLON.  Current standings:  First Place--Grade 3; Second Place--Grade 6; Third Place--Grade 5; Fourth Place--Grade 4

            We are greatly looking forward to this Friday's CAREER DAY.  This is a wonderful learning event for our students and a great sharing experience for our guests.  Thank you to Mrs. Cheryl MacIntire for planning all aspects of this event.

Pictured above are third grade ambassadors at last Thursday's Step-Up Night for second graders and their families (L-R):  Kasey Boettger, Aiden Cuozzo, Maya Brainson, Mateo Vasquez, Mireya Strom, Pukar Sitaula, and Sarah Landry

Pictured above are sixth graders Tess Hachey and Kyle Puchol.  Each broke the school record on their PACER tests in PE class.

Congratulations to fifth grader Alinna Hanna for winning the Book Fair basket.  Her estimate of the number of Skittles in the cup was only off by 1. 

Congratulations to fourth grader Patrick Morin who won the Harlem Wizards raffle and was "Superintendent of Schools for the Day" last Monday. He is pictured here with his assistant for the day--Superintendent Brian Hyde.

Soon-to-be third grader Lila Burke is pictured above during her shadow visit last week at the Quashnet School.

Pictured above are sixth graders Mary Hachey and Dana Richmond--members of our Student Council--who are helping us take care of our school by weeding one of our courtyards during their recess.

PARENTS:  ALL MATH REFERENCE BOOKS ARE DUE BACK BY JUNE 13TH.

 

Brownie Troop 80730 is collecting new and gently

 used books to benefit a Habitat for Humanity family.  A book collection box has been placed outside of Quashnet's main office.  Your support of this project is greatly appreciated.  

 

Girl Scout Troop 80786 is collecting worn or damaged American flags for proper disposal on Flag Day, June 14th.  There is a box outside of Quashnet's main office for this collection.

 

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

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.

BUY ONE/GET ONE BOOK FAIR AT QUASHNET
ALL THIS WEEK
HOURS:  DAILY 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
THURSDAY EVENING:  6:00 -8:00 PM
BOOK FAIR BREAKFAST DAYS:  TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, and THURSDAY
YOU MIGHT BE LUCKY AND WIN ONE OF OUR RAFFLES.
 

Dear Quashnet School Community,

     Thank you to parent Suzanne Howard for her donation of flowers for our two front-door planters and also vegetable plants for our Quashnet School garden.  Thank you also to parent Kathryn Olson for her help beautifying our back door flower garden.
     All fourth graders participated in a learning field trip to the Cape Cod Canal last week.  In addition to gaining knowledge about the canal, they also had fun.  Don't forget that this summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Cape Cod Canal; many special events have been scheduled.     
     The final batch of Kindle Fires has been distributed for this school year.  Five hundred "Right Choice" tickets were needed to purchase a Kindle Fire from the school store.  Keep saving until next year.     
     It is important that our young scholars remain focused for the remaining 26 1/2 days of school.  Best effort is expected both academically and behaviorally.  We know that many students have very full schedules outside of school.  However, being a rested and engaged learner must remain the top priority.  Students who do not demonstrate consistent best effort on academics or who make poor choices that do not meet our behavioral expectations will be excluded from year-end activities.  We would greatly appreciate all parents having a discussion about this topic with their children.  It is important that we are all on the same page.  We will keep parents informed about their child's status. We are hopeful that this year will end on a positive note for all students--that all will finish strong.        
     Students in two third grade homerooms (Mrs. Arsenault and Mrs. Stickley) have been selected to participate in PARCC testing in mathematics.  Students will take Session 1 on Thursday and Session 2 on Friday.  The PARCC assessment system is being piloted.  No results will be reported.  Our students' participation will provide valuable information to the test developers.      
     We are looking forward to this week's shadow visits by the KCC second graders on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoon.  These visits are a wonderful opportunity for second graders to interact with our third graders, learn more about third grade, and explore our building.  Thursday night is our STEP-UP Night for second graders and their families.  We are hoping to see many families at this event.

 Ms. Martin's fourth graders are pictured above during their Cape Cod Canal field trip.

Final Kindle Fire Purchasers for SY13-14 (500 Right Choice Tickets)

Sixth Grader Shayla Martin a.k.a. Medusa

Sixth Graders Phoebe Cohen (above) and Nicholas Daley (below) are pictured here working with our new IPADs

 

3RD ANNUAL QUASHNET SCHOOL TRIATHLON--JUNE 6, 2014

PARENT VOLUNTEERS  are NEEDED.  Please consider volunteering for one or more of the sessions listed below.

8:30 - 10:00 AM (GRADE 4)

11:30 - 1:00 PM (GRADE 5 and 6th grade pledge collectors)

1:00 - 2:30 PM (GRADE 3)

 

Brownie Troop 80730 is collecting new and gently used books to benefit a Habitat for Humanity family.  A book collection box has been placed outside of Quashnet's main office.  Your support of this project is greatly appreciated.  

 

Girl Scout Troop 80786 is collecting worn or damaged American flags for proper disposal on Flag Day, June 14th.  There is a box outside of Quashnet's main office for this collection.

 

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

 

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 School Community,

          With only 31½ school days remaining in the 13-14 school year, it is important to be mindful as we strive to make the most of these very special days—days that we will never have the opportunity to redo.  We often spend too much time looking forward and planning for what is to come next rather than focusing on and enjoying “today.” We need to maximize the present.  We still have so much important instruction and learning to accomplish in the remaining weeks.  This week, we plan to reinforce with our students the importance of their making good choices, of their being kind and respectful to all, and of their giving best effort to all academic tasks.  Expectations for learning and for behavior will be reviewed. Students are reminded to continue to give their best effort to their academic work and to stop and think during each decision-making opportunity in order to minimize misbehaviors.  Student participation in year-end activities is a privilege—one that is earned by consistently demonstrating respectful and responsible behavior in our school setting.  We encourage parents to have a family discussion around this topic.
           We are so very grateful to our students and their families for supporting and valuing last week’s MCAS assessment process.  Parents are the most important role models in a child’s life, and the messages that parents give to their child have the greatest impact.  Our students worked extremely hard.  Their dedication to the process and application of best effort were clearly observed.  A special thank you to Kellie Alliegro, Colleen Austin, Darliene Phelan, Melissa Burnell,Trish McGrory, Kellie Rozum, Kristine Sullivan, and Kathy Webb for volunteering their time to monitor hallway movement during testing.   

          The Quashnet School staff would like to thank our PTO and the many Quashnet families who donated treats for the delicious Staff Appreciation Luncheon held last Monday.  It was an outstanding event and very much enjoyed by all in attendance.   

2^nd ANNUAL QUASHNET SCHOOL TRIATHLON

JUNE 6, 2014—UPDATE

     This event will be a celebration of three key areas of student achievement and growth:  Physical Education, English/Language Arts, and Mathematics.  On the event day, students will travel with their homeroom to three different stations where they will strive to do their personal best.  Students are encouraged to collect tax-deductible pledges from sponsors, but are not required to do so.  The pledge period runs from Thursday, May 1st to Friday, May 30^st.  Pledges are collected each Friday.  A new pledge sheet will be issued for the following week.  Prizes are awarded based on pledges collected.  In addition to awarding prizes on an individual basis, the grade level which collects the most money in pledges will participate in a special event on Friday, June 20th.  Monies raised are going to be used to improve the playground by adding additional play equipment. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this special event, please contact the Quashnet School PTO at ptoquashnet@gmail.com. This event is being planned by the Quashnet PTO and the Quashnet School staff.  As always, we greatly appreciate your support. We are hopeful that at least 12 parents will be able to join us on the day of the event—the more the merrier.

 The total of pledges collected through 5/9/14: $1,168.00

3^rd Grade--$550.00; 4^th Grade--$0; 5^th Grade--$113.00; 6^th Grade--$505.00

All students who bring in $25 in pledges will be able to choose either a blue and white Mohawk wig or a light-up blue squiggle headband.  Our top three pledge collectors as of Friday, May 9, are third grader Maya Brainson, and sixth graders Zoe Edwards and CJ Cliff.

 Sixth grader CJ Cliff models the blue and white Mohawk wig prize.



Sixth grader Zoe Edwards models the blue light-up squiggle headband.

Fourth graders from Mrs. McKay's homeroom are pictured above celebrating Cinco De Mayo last Friday.  All fourth graders participated in this event as part of their study of Mexico. 

We think fifth grade teacher Mr. Bedard bears an uncanny resemblance to Steve Jobs.

THANK YOU TO SIXTH GRADERS KESHET BAUMFLEK, PHOEBE COHEN, CAITLIN BOYD, AND MCKENZIE TEED FOR PROVIDING BABYSITTING SERVICES AT LAST MONDAY NIGHT'S COFFEE FOR THE PARENTS OF KCC SECOND GRADERS. 
 

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

 

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 School Community,

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK:  MAY 5 – MAY 9

     We would like to acknowledge, celebrate, and thank the intelligent, caring, dedicated, and hard-working members of the Quashnet School staff who spend their days helping Mashpee’s children develop the skills and knowledge required to grow into contributing members of our society—tomorrow’s leaders.  On a daily basis, we witness their well-planned lessons, positive “can-do” attitudes, outstanding effort, and passion.  Our staff is not only focused on each child’s academic achievement but also on his/her social and emotional well-being. Working in the field of education is both challenging and rewarding.  We thank the members of our staff for choosing to be educators.   

WE APPRECIATE THEM!

 National Nurse’s Day:  Tuesday, MAY 6

     Mrs. Watka is a wonderful new member of our Quashnet School community.  Adjusting to her new role has appeared seamless.  Her in-depth knowledge, outstanding skills, calm and nurturing manner, and positive attitude shine through in all of her interactions with our students and staff.  We are very grateful to her and for her. 

     National Administrative Professional’s Day (Secretary’s Day) was Wednesday, April 24th.  We are so lucky to have such fabulous office staff here at the Quashnet School.  Thank you to Mrs. MacIntire, Mrs. Pagano, Mrs. Emery, and Mrs. Wunder for their service to our staff, students, parents, and visitors throughout the day, every day.     

MCAS—MATHEMATICS (ALL STUDENTS)--May 6 and 7

MCAS—SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY (GRADE 5 ONLY)--May 8 and 9

This is an important week at the Quashnet School.  All students will participate in a MCAS mathematics assessment on both Tuesday and Wednesday.  Our fifth graders will also participate in additional MCAS science/technology assessments on Thursday and Friday.  We recommend the following strategies to improve performance. 

Before testing begins

§     Go to bed early the night before each testing session.
§     Eat a healthy breakfast on each testing day.
§     Arrive at school on time (DON’T BE TARDY).
§     Bring a plastic bottle of water each day of testing.

During testing

§     Refer to your mathematics MCAS reference sheet often.
§     Read every question carefully.  Re-read it as many times as needed to gain a better understanding.  Some students find it helpful to read each question aloud using a whisper voice that no one else can hear.  
§     When answering a multiple choice question prove to yourself that the answer you selected is correct by solving the problem using the answer you chose.
§     When answering a short-answer type question, make sure you put your answer in the box provided in your answer booklet.

When answering a mathematics open-response question-ORQ

§     Read and reread all parts of the prompt carefully.
§     Underline important information in the prompt.
§     THINK A.C.E. (Answer each part of the question; Calculations—show all of your calculations; Explain your thinking using your written words.)
§     Organize your work and label all parts of your answer.
§     Check and double-check your work --BE NEAT.

Once you have completed a test session go back over it, pretending to take the test again with a fresh set of eyes.  Challenge yourself to catch any mistakes.

Remember to:

§     Use the problem-solving strategies you’ve learned.
§     Take your time!  You have all day if needed.
§     Relax, think positive, persevere, and give your best effort!

WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK.  WE BELIEVE IN THEM.

 2014 SPELLING BEE

     57 Quashnet scholars participated in this year’s Quashnet School Spelling Bee last Wednesday evening—April 30^th.  Preliminary grade-level rounds took place at 5:30 PM.  The final round began at 6:30 PM and ended just after 8:00 PM.  All participants did an excellent job—role models for academic excellence.  Final round participants:  Grade 3:  Otis Longman, Jacob Sinins, Nathan Shepherd, Noel Johnson, Daisy O’Reilly, Kailyn Westgate, and Harrison Dwinger; Grade 4:  Isabella Bergonzi, Sophia Bergonzi, Skyla Rimple, Peter DeFrancesco, and William Henley; Grade 5:  Caesar Hendricks, Kaylee Fitz-Gerald, Nicholas Reilly, Madelyn Young, and Eddy Hilton-Schmalz; Grade 6:  Cole Lorig, Leilani Strom, Katie-Beth Clark, Ian Miller, and Dasia Peters.   
     Our third place winner was fourth grader Peter DeFrancesco; our second place winner was sixth grader Katie-Beth Clark, and our first place winner was fifth grader Nicholas Reilly.  Congratulations to everyone and particularly our top three finishers.  The event was well-attended and very enjoyable.  Thank you to the many staff members who volunteered their time to make this event a success. 

 2014 Spelling Bee First Place Winner--Fifth Grader Nicholas Reilly

is pictured above with his parents and brother, Daniel.

 2014 Spelling Bee Second Place Winner--Sixth Grader Katie-Beth Clark

is pictured above with her parents.

2014 Spelling Bee Third Place Winner--Fourth Grader Peter DeFrancesco

is pictured above with his parents and grandparents.

 

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