July 8 I loaded the final photos of our last days as Fearless Flamingos today. We've had a spectacular year and I've enjoyed this group of students very much. I loved their kindness, their creativity, their enthusiasm, and their wonderful sense of humor. Thank you for all the teacher gifts. We love them but this year, with these kids, every coffee card is just the icing on a cake! Best of luck to everyone, wherever you land next year and beyond, and be sure to stop by to visit. I'll always be there for you.
June 10 The Fearless Flamingos are ready for middle school! We hope our weekly (and daily as well) information on this website, and on Remind, has been helpful in keeping in touch with class and school activities. We've enjoyed teaching your children. We know that this year is such a huge transition year in becoming responsible students and we hope the emphasis on organization, writing, prioritizing assignments and working on projects in a timely manner have made some impact on your children as learners. We thank you for allowing us to be a part of your children's lives.
Today is the Summer Reading KickOff presented by Clapp Memorial Library's Jennifer Whitehead. Sixth Grade Graduation is on Thursday, beginning at 1:30. We will begin rehearsal at 9:30 to be ready for the big finish at 1:30. If you choose to take your child home after the ceremony, we will be asking you to sign them out on on yellow sheets before the ceremony.
June 4 We truly had an awesome Look Park trip on Monday. No rain and lots of sunshine. We thank SO MANY of you who took time out of your week to be with us! Thank you to Ms. Willems, Ms. Larro (Russell), Ms. Rose, Ms. Antunes ( Gray), Mr. Tellier, Mr. Moss, Ms. Jolly, Ms. Misiaszek, Mr. Neiford, Mr. Fleischer, Ms. Mackenzie, and Mr. Mosall. We know that you were a big part in making the day so much fun!
June 3 What an amazing Showcase Festival on Friday. We had lots of Fearless Flamingo representation in the band, chorus and the remarkable specialty acts. What adult reading this would be able to say they could stand up in front of 400 people and sing, dance, play ukulele, and twirl around a baton? Today is our Look Park field trip. The Weather Channel has it being sunny, so suncreen and bug spray would be in order in addition to money for ice cream, a bag lunch and a towel if the plan is to get wet in the spray park. Graduation preparations have been going strong with the cutest baby pictures for the slide show. I really appreciate the paper pictures for me to take for the slide show. We do have some concerns about the number of people arriving to support their 6th grader. While it was never our intention to limit the number of family members, our 1986 auditorium may reach maximum occupancy. We have set the number to only 2 attendants because of space and safety limitations, but we understand if some families require more and some families require less. Join us if possible at 1:30 on Thursday, June 13th
May 27 It's funny how saying the Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of summer makes it the beginning of summer and the feeling that summer vacation can't come any quicker! Our team is going to Jabish Brook for Step Up day on Thursday from 9-11. All permission slips should be turned in by now. Last chance for an opportunity to chaperone our Look Park field trip on Monday June 3 and 6th Grade field Day on June 6! It will be fun and we could always use the help. Please? You do have to already be CORI checked by now.... Graduation preparations have been going strong with the cutest baby pictures for the slide show. I really appreciate the paper pictures for me to take for the slide show. We do have some concerns about the number of people arriving to support their 6th grader. While it was never our intention to limit the number of family members, our 1986 auditorium may reach maximum occupancy. We have set the number to only 2 attendants because of space and safety limitations, but we understand if some families require more and some families require less. Join us for the Annual Showcase Festival this Friday. This has always been a fun event to see special 6th grade talent. While the 6th grade band and chorus have been such strong performers this year, it is delightful to see the individual singing and dancing acts that emerge.
May 20 Today is the Massachusetts Book Award drumming and pizza party ending at 4:00 Permission slips to participate in the Honors Math Tests for 7th grade are due tomorrow. On Friday, representative from the Attorney General's office will be presenting a school discussion on Online Safety and Cyber Security. It is also the day that Jabish Brook will be visiting our wing of the 6th grade. Money and permission slips for our Look Park field trip should be turned in ASAP. Still time to volunteer as a chaperone! Free wristband to Look Park!
May 17 Art show tonight! See the cool projects your child has made in Mrs. LaPlante's Art class. Honors Math test on Thursday. May 20 After School Massachusetts Book Award party with African drumming May 24 Online Safety and Cyber Security presentation for the Attorney General's office May 29 JBMS information night from 6:00 - 7:00 May 30 Sixth Grade Step Up Day to JBMS from 9-11 May 31 Sixth Grade Showcase June 3 Look Park field trip June 6 Sixth Grade field day June 10 Summer Reading Presentation June 13 Sixth Grade graduation in the afternoon - 1:30 - 3:00 June 14 Last day of school. Half-Day with dismissal beginning at 12:00
May 13 Scroll down for our important dates in these final weeks. We will be sending you an email soon inviting you to our graduation on June 13. We will also be asking you to either sending your child in with a baby picture (which will be returned that day) or send us a baby picture by email for the graduation slide show.
May 7 Don't forget- we have math MCAS this Thursday and Friday!
May 6 Showcase Auditions begin this afternoon after school. Further auditions are by appointment with Mr. G. May 7 Look Park Permission slips go home May 17 and May 20 JBMS gives presentation to CHCS May 17 Art Night from 6:00 to 7:30 May 20 After School Massachusetts Book Award party with African drumming May 24 Online Safety and Cyber Security presentation for the Attorney General's office May 29 JBMS information night from 6:00 - 7:00 May 30 Sixth Grade Step Up Day to JBMS from 9-11 May 31 Sixth Grade Showcase (tentatively) June 3 Look Park field trip June 6 Sixth Grade field day June 10 Summer Reading Presentation June 13 Sixth Grade graduation in the afternoon - 1:30 - 3:00 June 14 Last day of school. Half-Day with dismissal beginning at 12:00
May 2 Ahhh, technology! I spent an hour typing every single possible date that you might need to know in the next few weeks and I guess I forgot to save it the other day! Here goes, again: April 30 Community Visit with Woodbury Clift, School Superintendent candidate 4-5 pm May 3 Tacky Tourist day May 3 Community Visit with Brian Cameron, School Superintendent candidate 4-5 pm Public Interview with Mr. Cameron at 6:00 Public Interview with Dr. Clift at 7:30 May 17 and May 20 JBMS gives presentation to CHCS May 17 Art Night from 6:00 to 7:30 May 20 After School Massachusetts Book Award party with African drumming May 24 Online Safety and Cyber Security presentation for the Attorney General's office May 29 JBMS information night from 6:00 - 7:00 May 30 Sixth Grade Step Up Day to JBMS from 9-11 May 31 Sixth Grade Showcase (tentatively) June 3 Look Park field trip June 6 Sixth Grade field day June 10 Summer Reading Presentation June 13 Sixth Grade graduation in the afternoon - 1:30 - 3:00 June 14 Last day of school. Half-Day with dismissal beginning at 12:00
April 22 And just like that, poof! Spring vacation is over, MCAS season starts, and then the downhill run towards June 14 begins! MCAS is from 9:00 to 11:50 on Thursday and Friday. Please help your child by making sure he or she gets a good night's sleep with limited evening screen time. Having a breakfast or insisting they get a school breakfast helps as well! Student Council meets on Wednesday until 4:15. We are still collecting blankets for patients this week.
April 12 Vacation is here! Thank you! A few papers sent home recently were about some cool events. The author Elsie Broach is coming to visit CHCS on May 2 from 3:30 - 4:30. If interested in buying an autographed book, please submit your order online to Mrs. Hanson or on the orange form sent home. Belchertown's Relay for Life is on May 31 - June 1. Join a team or we're thinking of making our own Fearless Flamingos team! Westfield State University has some really cool summer courses for art, theatre, cooking and photography! MCAS on Thursday and Friday after vacation..... :(
April 11 Spring Vacation is finally here! We'll see everybody back here on April 22 Student Council meets on Wednesday, April 24 until 4:15. Consider donating a new blanket for the Student Council collection of Blankets for Patients for Springfield and Worcester hospitals. Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 are ELA MCAS days, until lunchtime. Make up days are March 29 and March 30. Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 are Math MCAS days until lunchtime. Make up Days are May 22,23 and 24.
April 4 Student Council is running a blanket drive for cancer patients at Lowell General and the D'Amour Center for Cancer in Springfield. The blankets must be new!
April 1 MCAS infrastructure went very well. Hopefully, providing access to how the test works clears up some of the jitters! If anyone has any of the boxtops for our boxtops contest, it would be helpful! Vacation is coming!
March 27 "Activity" Day is Friday. Dress in your favorite activity. Examples include dance, karate, karaoke, golf, art, cooking, etc. We'll see how original everyone is!
March 25 MCAS updates: Thursday, March 25 Sixth grade is going through a Infrastructure trial which means we are practicing using the computers for the upcoming computer based MCAS. Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 are ELA MCAS days, until lunchtime. Make up days are March 29 and March 30. Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 are Math MCAS days until lunchtime. Make up Days are May 22,23 and 24. Student Council is Wednesday until 4:15. April vacation is coming up April 13 - 21. We are really looking forward to that!
March 18 Welcome to Trimester 3! With about 60 days to go, we are in the home stretch! Please hold off on removing any papers from binders until after report cards go home this Friday. Important, graded pieces are housed in the binder, so if you have any questions, it's the best place to look. What a great job the Fearless Flamingos in band and chorus did in the multiple concerts last week! Always impressive! We've got 2 special days coming (besides SPRING on Wednesday) This Friday - March 22 is Sports Day - wear something to represent a team or a sport March 29 is Activity Day - wear clothing to represent an activity you like, but doesn't have to be a sport.
March 11 Grades close this Friday, March 15, The Ides of March! Both Mrs. Brach and I have been adamant about all student work for Term 2 must be completed by Friday. We have to turn our grades in next week and report cards go home the following Friday, March 22. Parents have been great at out checking grades in power school and asking questions as the term progresses but as usual, please let us know if you have any questions. We have our Winter Concert on Wednesday. Band and Chorus participants have to be here for 6:15 for the 7:00 performance. Please come out to support our young musicians! The Fearless Flamingos totally ruled the Consumable Contest for Sixth grade this year! Congratulations Flamingos Room 102 for placing Second and Room 104 for placing Third. Thank you for all your contributions!
March 5 Our very first snow day does bring our year end date to Friday, June 14th but, it was worth it, right? It made for a great long weekend. The snow was heavy but afterwards, we had a glorious day off! This Friday, March 8 is a FULL PROFESSIONAL DAY! Students have the day off from school.... We are closing in on the end of the term with grades closing on March 15 and report cards go home on March 22.
February 28 All these weather events better mean that March is going out as a lamb! Tomorrow we watch the Inside Out movie. With popcorn, we bring from home. And, in our pajamas!
February 27 Students did receive permission slips for the Inside Out movie we are showing on Friday to culminate the CHCS Week of Kindness. The entire school will view this movie personifying a young person's emotions in a time of stress. Hey, any movie that has Amy Poehler is a win for me! Students can bring in their own POPPED popcorn to eat during the movie as a special treat, if they choose. No sharing or popcorn which has to be popped will be allowed.
February 25 With this wind, it certainly feels more like March! We hope everyone has had a great vacation. The stories that come in are filled with friends and family time and all kinds of winter fun. The Fearless Flamingos certainly ruled the Consumables contest taking home Second and Third places. Thank you for all you contributed to this fun contest! The chorus and band did such a great job at the Thunderbirds game! And just a side note, if any of you have taken some great pictures of Flamingos on vacation, feel free to email them to me for me to add to the website!
February 15 Be sure to cheer on the CHCS band and chorus at the Springfield Thunderbirds game tonight! We surprised our Fearless Flamingos with an afternoon of Minute to Win It games. So much fun! Have a great vacation!
February 11 Well, between "weather events", Valentines' Day and being the week before vacation, the whole school is just one ball of energy! If you can keep sickness out of the equation, you are ahead of the game. Thank you so much for your generous contributions in the annual Consumable contest! Remember that the band and chorus are performing at the Springfield Thunderbird game on Friday. Join us in cheering on our 6th grade performers as well as the local hockey team. Have a great vacation!
February 4 What a great time we had Buddy Reading with the First Graders on Friday. A big shout out to Mrs. Walker who arranged everything! Thank you so much for all our Consumables! Paper towels, wipes, tissue and index cards have been greatly appreciated! Congratulations all you Patriots fans! And, condolences to the Rams fans....
January 29 Students are bringing home permission slips today for our walking trip to SRE on Friday. We will be leaving from about 10:20-11:00 so we can participate in World Read Aloud Day with some first grade buddies. Please be sure to sign and return these slips ASAP, and students can feel free to bring in their favorite picture book on Friday to share.
January 28 It is interesting that the Consumable Contest arrives just as we're running out of tissues, wipes, pencils and glue sticks! Thanking you in advance for any of your contributions. We really appreciate it. Don't forget to buy your Thunderbirds tickets for the game on Friday, February 15 with the CHCS chorus and the 6th grade band performances. The tickets are $15 and can be both through Mr. Guerraz or online. This week is Color Spirit week: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Friday is World Read Aloud Day. The whole 6th grade will walking up to SRE around 10:20 to read to first graders. Students can bring in their favorite picture book to bring in or there will be books available to borrow. Don't forget that tomorrow, Tuesday, January 29 is a half day for students with dismissal beginning at 1:00
January 22 I always want to say I hope everyone had a relaxing 3 day weekend after Martin Luther King Day. Getting snowed in certainly helped in that regard, but there was quite a bit of reflective information about Martin Luther King this weekend to remind us how important his cause was and still is.... Remember that next Tuesday (1/29) is an Early Release Day Consumable contest!
January 14, 2019 Martin Luther King Day is observed on Monday with schools closed. Tuesday, January 29, schools have an early release day with early dismissal but lunch here at school Belchertown Hockey Night is on February 15 beginning at 7:00. Go to see the CHCS Band pregame show and Chorus at half time at the Springfield Thunderbirds game. Get your tickets by January 25 for $15 from Mr. G or Mr. Mosall. January 22 begins this year's PTO consumable contest. Get ready with those wipes, tissues and glue sticks and index cards!
January 7, 2019 We hope everyone had a great vacation and had some time to relax and actually enjoy the holidays. And, while no one teaches just to get the thank you gift at the holidays, we surely appreciate so many of you thinking of us in such a kind way. With coffee. And sugar. And shopping opportunities. Thank you! Belchertown Hockey Night is on February 15 beginning at 7:00. Go to see the CHCS Band pregame show and Chorus at half time at the Springfield Thunderbirds game. Get your tickets by January 25 for $15 from Mr. G or Mr. Mosall. January 22 begins this year's PTO consumable contest. Get ready with those wipes, tissues and glue sticks!
January 2, 2019 Happy New Year!
December 11 We're running a holiday donation drive until December 15 collected in the CHCS lobby. Instead of the usual food donation drive, we're collecting items for hair care, like shampoos, dental care, like toothpaste, new books for grade levels 4 - 6, board games, puzzles, arts and crafts kits or hobby kits. Join us in Helping Others as Peacebuilders.!
And speaking of Peacebuilders, we are beginning my annual penpal project with the sixth grade English classes of Megenim School in Kiriyat Motzkin, Israel. It was my college roommate's dream to move to Israel after graduation and teach English. Now, we have a collaboration of her sixth grade students learning to write English and our sixth graders writing back to them. We've already picked up some fun culture and so many similarities. Who knew that FortNite would be the universal key? Over the year, we have time to return 2 letters to them. In the last letter, students may be allowed to exchange social media information, with your written permission. This won't be until June, so there's plenty of time you you to mull over the idea. The guarantee is that these are bona fide sixth graders and under the continued teaching of one of my oldest friends, so I'm thinking these will be pretty safe friendships....
December 6 TOMORROW IS PAJAMA DAY! The day we wait for all year.... SCRIPS gift cards will be delivered and next ones sent out, if you're planning on buying gift cards. Remember that a percentage of money gets returned to the school. Buying a $25 card for the 99 Restaurant sends back $3 to CHCS. It adds up, as this was the biggest fundraiser our school had last year! After all, if you're going to get gift cards anyway...
December 3 Grades closed last Friday, with report cards going home on this Friday. As usual, please send us an email if you have any questions. Also due on Friday is the second to last SCRIPS fundraiser forms. We're running a holiday donation drive until December 15 collected in the CHCS lobby. Instead of the usual food donation drive, we're collecting items for hair care, like shampoos, dental care, like toothpaste, new books for grade levels 4 - 6, board games, puzzles, arts and crafts kits or hobby kits. Join us in Helping Others as Peacebuilders.!
November 27 Officer Krol and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, our nurse, did a fascinating presentation for LifeSkills with information about the dangers of smoking and dangers of vaping. It truly is a dangerous world we live in and the more knowledge we have, the better equipped we can be....
November 26 We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving vacation. It was nice to have some time off with family, friends and food! We even had a couple days of sun! Only 19 more days until December vacation! National Grid fundraiser bulbs, strips, etc. are in the lobby and have to be picked up. Remember they cannot go home on the buses. Book Fair in the Library! Our SCRIPS fundraiser is ready to go forward in full swing! The next 2 Fridays are collection days with those gift cards ready for you before the December vacation!
November 19 Our Fearless Flamingos in 104 came in first place in sixth grade for the Walkathon Fundraiser, and 2nd place overall! Great job!! The class won a $25 gift card to Amazon, which we'll use to buy a couple of new games for indoor recess. Thank you for all of your continued support!
Scrip Fundraiser continues with November 30 and December 7 as the last remaining collection days. We hope everyone has a spectacular Thanksgiving vacation full of relaxation, food, family and friends. Enjoy the break! Winter is coming!
November 13 What an amazing performance of the Sixth Grade Band and Chorus on Sunday. The ceremony is a great way for young people to give back to the community. Thanks to all who supported our young musicians and a big thanks to Mr. G and Mr. Mosall who prepared band and chorus Flamingos so well.
Thanksgiving vacation ( whaat?) begins on November 21 - November 25. CHCS grades close on November 30 with report cards going home on December 7.
The SCRIPS fundraiser began earlier this year, to accommodate all those holiday gatherings we guess... Orders received by November 16 will be delivered by November 30 November 30 will be delivered by December 7 December 7 will be delivered by December 14
November 4 A few dates to remember: students have the day off tomorrow on November 6 as teachers have a professional day. We observe Veterans Day on November 12 this year as the actual holiday falls on Sunday. Come see the Sixth Grade band and chorus honor Belchertown veterans at a Concert on Sunday, November 11 beginning, of course, at 11:00. Thanksgiving vacation ( whaat?) begins on November 21 - November 25. CHCS grades close on November 30 with report cards going home on December 7.
A lot has changed in the last 30 years of my teaching. This is Ms. Blunt, of course. As I was doing yard work this past weekend, I was thinking how report card grades used to mean everything. Grades evaluated learning, behavior, initiative, perseverance and study habits. And then, MCAS testing arrived. Suddenly, students had strangers evaluating learning based on a standardized test. Those test evaluators didn't know hard hard a student worked, or if a student was sick, or any of the wonderful qualities a classroom teacher can see in students everyday. Those test evaluators assessed how our students wrote, read and solved problems. Those test evaluators compared our students with every other student in the state. So, our teaching changed. Grades were still important, but how a student learned and how that stacked up in a standardized test became as important. Standardized tests are part of our lives, whether we like them or not. Here's the point. Sixth grade has always been an important transition, growth and learning year. It is possible that at this moment in time, your child is learning how to do something new, something more challenging, and something that he or she may think is hard. It's really ok. It's possible that a test grade may not be what you are used to, but it's all part of the learning process. We are preparing them for difficult assessments. We're preparing them for life. With time, a few mistakes, a few bad test grades, students will begin adjusting and actually learning to make those next steps. Hopefully, you'll see improved grades AND improved MCAS scores. And kids who are confident in their own learning and can adapt to any situation. It's really a win-win-win situation!The best way to support your child is to acknowledge a hard assignment and encourage best efforts. Stressing about individual grades may actual derail the real learning. As long as a student is showing effort by trying all assignments and meeting deadlines, the learning will come.
November 1 We had a great time in the graveyard yesterday. Thank you to Mr. Bergeron, Mrs. Gay and Mrs. Mark for spending some time with us. We're also grateful to Ms. Champagne and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, our CHCS nurse for coming with us! Many are tired today, recovering from late trick or treating and excessive sugar. And our students are pretty wiped too!
October 29 Pictures came in today. We still have about 12 students who did not turn in permission slips for Wednesday. So far we have 3 parents coming in to be with us, in addition to our school nurse and Mr. Moyer-Wilkes.
October 26 It was wonderful to see so many of you at parent conferences. Putting faces and personalities to names are always a good things and further your child's understanding of how important school is. Thank you! Students received a purple permission slip for our annual graveyard field trip. We're only going for an hour and a half, walking to the Department of Developmental Education's graveyard for some math, Reading and local history activities on Halloween day. If there are any CORIied parents who would like to join us, it would be great!
October 22 We had a great time at UMASS last week watching the phenomenal UMASS MultiBands program. Many of those students are still teenagers themselves and are remarkable role models for our young musicians. Thank you to all the parent chaperones:Mr. Neiford, Mrs. Bonsal, Mr. Moss, Mr. O'Donnell, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Gay, and Mrs. LaRoche - we couldn't do it without you! I am pretty sure there is still opportunity to contribute and fulfill pledges for the CHCS Walkathon. Thank you for all the support! Parent conferences are this Wednesday and Thursday. You should have already received your confirmation by Remind or by paper or both. Please let us know if you can't make the time set aside for you, or if you're running late so we can adjust the schedule. We look forward to meeting with you! The Fearless Flamingos do have a special trip coming up on Wednesday, October 31 on Halloween. It will be just us. This walking trip in the morning from 10:00 to 11:00 and would love if CORI checked parents can accompany us. More details and the permission slip to follow! Mix-It-Up Day is on Wednesday. Students will have opportunities to make new friends at lunch by sitting with different people.
October 18 Go UMASS! Tomorrow! A reminder to turn in pledges for the Walkathon. The Walkathon pledges are the biggest fundraiser we have here at CHCS. Thank you for your support!
October 15, 2018 Don't forget that tomorrow is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 1:00. Students will have lunch here. Still squeezing in some National Grid fundraiser forms if you have them.... Please be sure to return parent teacher conference forms asap. The sooner we get them back, the sooner we can send home our meeting times. Our UMASS field trip is this Friday! Students who have not yet returned their permission slips must do so as soon as possible. Please contact us with any issues or questions. We could use some CORIed chaperones who want to spend the day with us too!
October 10, 2018 Walkathon as been postponed until Friday! Wear Blue (102) and Green(104) The Remind app is a text app we offered at Open House. It's a fast way to get messages back and forth between teachers and parents, without giving up personal phone numbers. If you have a smartphone, type in rmd.at/gkh9fh for Blunt rmd.at/7e49h77 for Brach If you do not have a smartphone, text @7e49h77 to 8010 for Brach @gkh9fh to (720)5065952 for Blunt
October 9, 2018 We've had some pretty good weather, and warm temperatures, for our holiday activities so we hope the weekend was enjoyed by all. The National Grid fundraiser is due this Friday. We have the CHCS Walkathon on Thursday. CORIed volunteers are always welcome. 102 Flamingos will wear blue and 104 Flamingos will wear green. We're all going to UMASS on October 19 for the fabulous UMASS Multibands Concert. The cost is $13 for the ticket and the bus. The permission slip includes a spot to indicate lunch choice: bring your own lunch, or cafeteria choices. We leave around 9:15 and return around 1:30 Teacher conference forms went home today on a purple piece of paper. Our conference times are on Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 and October 25th, from 3:30 - 6:30.
October 1, 2018 We're looking at a full week, without dismissals or holidays, as we look forward to Columbus Day weekend! Here's to good weather while we have it! No school on October 8, Columbus Day! The National Grid fundraiser begins on October 3. Besides becoming more energy conscious, it's a great way to contribute to the school as National Grid donates all the profits back to us! Hat Day is October 4 and the first Spirit Day. The CHCS Walkathon fundraiser is October 11. Information sent home on 9/27. Room 102 will wear blue and Room 104 will wear green. Early release day on October 16 begins at 1:00 Sixth Grade will be going to the UMASS MultiBands. The school has a bagged lunch available at school lunch cost that is indicated on the permission slips going home tomorrow. The cost to students is $13.00 with checks made payable to the Town of Belchertown.
September 24, 2018 Great weather for the Fair this weekend. It totally seemed like a fall festival with the crisp temperatures. We loved seeing so many students in their "entertainment mode". Remember that tomorrow is an Early Release day with dismissal beginning at 1:00. Students will have lunch here. Picture Day is Friday. Students received the forms on the first day of school, so long ago, so we have asked them to check with you in case we need to send home a new one, We continue with our RISE initiative in our school (Respect Integrity Safety and Empathy. Today is Say Hello day and Thursday is Wear Green Day, all in reference to the Sandy Hook program. These are all plans to help students become included and aware of each other.
September 19, 2018 Ahhh yes. The Belchertown Fair has arrived. Students in this town treat the Fair weekend as though it's every holiday all wrapped into one. Attention to directions and classwork has been random and it probably won't get better better before the weekend. The yellow forms allowing students to go on the bus are due on Thursday. Know that we are not telling students that this is how to get to the fair. It is simply a safe option we are offering. It is our understanding that both the Belchertown Stingrays and the Girl Scouts are offering bag check - ins on Friday afternoon for students to store their backpacks safely. See you at the Fair!
September 17, 2018 Open House was fun. It was great to meet many of you for the first time and catch up with others of you. It will be important for us to be a team and to work together to provide your children with a terrific experience in the coming year. Early dismissal is next week on 9/25 and begins at 1:00. Students wil have lunch here at school. Students will receive Belchertown Fair permission slips today or Tuesday to be able to ride the special bus to the town common. No students will be allowed to walk to the Fair. Student council elections were great this year. In room 102, all students ran on a platform which included allowing more access to games and equipment for more people at recess, opportunities to have more freedom for better behavior in the cafeteria, opportunities for additional free time and more choices at lunch. Really great ideas! A Note About Power School: You will now find several grades on the Power School program. We hope that you will find it a helpful way to monitor your child's progress; however, we also hope that it won't cause tension or confusion. Sometimes one grade can impact the overall grade. This happens more in the early stages of a marking period before other factors, assignments and projects are included in the grading program. Don't panic. Don't hesitate to contact us either, if you have questions or concerns. Grades in the 6th grade should be kept in some perspective. It is more important to learn how to get good grades and we seem to learn best when we make mistakes. So, let's work together in this area and help your child learn those valuable lessons.
September 10, 2018 So much happening! OPEN HOUSE IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM 6:30 - 7:30. Really looking forward to seeing you if you can make it. We welcome our students to come too, to show you around and introduce you to us. We will offer a short presentation around 7:15 and be here to meet you but remember this is not the time for conferencing. We hope to see you there! Student council Elections will be this week. Candidates took home permission slip last week which have to be signed by you, primarily so you are aware of the meeting dates and times as follows: Student Council meetings will be held monthly after school from 3:00-4:00. Students will need tobepickeduppromptlyat4:00pm. Themeetingdatesarelistedbelow.Ifastudentwould like to enter the election, this signed nomination/permission form must be returned to school by Monday, September 10. Elections will take place the week of 9/10 and if elected, the student will get a confirmation to take home. Wednesday, September 19 Wednesday, October 17 Wednesday, November 14 Wednesday, December 12 Wednesday, January 16 Wednesday, February 27 Wednesday, March 27 Wednesday, April 24 Wednesday, May 22 Wednesday, June 12 Dates to remember: 9/25 Early Release Day 9/28 Picture Day 10/11 Walkathon 10/23 - 10/25 Parent Conferences
September 6, 2018 Awesome performance and talk from Casey McQuillen today. Her inspiring songs and message were part of the "You Matter" tour.
September 5, 2018 The entire school will be going to a concert tomorrow. Casey McQuillen, a contestant on season 13 of American Idol, will be coming to Belchertown to perform just for us. Her show is called the “You Matter Tour” and it is an interactive concert of songs and stories. Here are some cool links!
These weekly newsletters will serve as a window into our classroom and allow you to know what is happening here at school. They will also explain our goals and philosophy as educators. We hope they will help you help your child enjoy a terrific year of learning in sixth grade. )
Just as it may be overwhelming for your children to try and learn every procedure within the first few days, it would be lengthy to explain all of our policies in the first letter. We ask that you check your child’s agenda for information about homework assignments and tests. We do assign a fair amount of homework and classwork. Our phone numbers are 323 0437 X104 for Mrs. Brach and X102 for Mrs. Blunt. It is our hope that this will be a terrific year of learning. We are off to a great start. You can expect letters home like this one at the start of each new week to help you stay connected to all of it. Power School is our on line grading program that allows students and parents access to the student’s grades. Many of you have already been power schooling for a couple of years and if not, please contact us to obtain your child's password. Full Band will be on Thursdays and sectional days will follow as Mr. Mosall works on the schedule. Picture Day is Friday, September 28. Envelopes went home on the first day of school. Open House is Wednesday, September 12, from 6:30 - 7:30. Early Release Professional Day is on September 25. More information of that dismissal time will follow. Finally, thank you for all the tissues and antiseptic wipes on the first day of school! No sick days for us!
Our back to School Letter mailed this past summer.... Hi Sixth Grader!, We (Mrs. Brach and Ms. Blunt) are your teachers this fall at CHCS. We hope you’ve been enjoying these last few weeks of a great summer. We know we’ve been having fun and we wish the summer would never end. But, we are starting to get ready for school and we thought we’d let you know what you may want to buy at all the back to school sales. It would be terrific if you could come in with as many of the following as possible. Most of these will be for your individual use but some items will be for the community:
1 (one) 3 ring 2 inch binder 1 (one) heavy duty double pocket folder without metal fasteners, preferably with 3 holes for the notebook and not made of plastic lots of #2 pencils and erasers (preferably cap erasers) We love Ticonderoga! subject dividers for the binder 1 (one) box of colored pencils with at least 12 pencils 1 (one) 100 page composition notebook, college ruled (not spiral bound) 1 (one) one subject spiral bound notebook 1 glue stick pencil case(squishy enough to fit into your desk) disinfectant wipes box of tissue
Be thinking of our team name. We like to combine an adjective and a noun.
Last year we were: The Raging Rhinos
A Note from Ms. Blunt I love summer as much as you do but I also love my job as a teacher. I love the fun things about learning. One thing you will be saying this coming year is how interesting and exciting school can be. To make that happen all of us will have to come to school with a good attitude and a willingness to take on challenges. I will be your English Language Arts, Reading, and History teacher.
A Note from Mrs. Brach I’m so excited to be a part of the Chestnut Hill Community School team for another year! Though I’ve been enjoying relaxing with my family this summer, I’m ready to jump into the coming year and get learning with all of you. I will be your Math and Science teacher, and I look forward to all of the success and positive experiences that this year will bring. A positive outlook and can-do attitude will go a long way in reaching all of our goals. I can’t wait to meet you!
Any questions? Contact us. Communication by email is the best way to reach us: Our email addresses are: [email protected][email protected].
Be ready to come in and be part of a great community of learners! See you on August 29!