September 2004
Volume 18
Number 1
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September 2004 |
Newsletter
of the Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools Parent-Teacher-Student Organization
RPTSO Website: http://abrptso.ab.mec.edu
Welcome back to school! We are excited to share this year’s first newsletter with you as our faculty, staff, and administration prepare to welcome about 2,700 students to our junior high school and high school. Although parents and guardians are not as closely involved in older children's school experiences, your help and attention is still very much needed and appreciated! Please take a few minutes to look over this information. You might find something interesting on one of the volunteer forms, or on the schools’ web site at http://www.ab.mec.edu/. To join the PTSO’s informational email list, send a note, including your child's grade, to BPetr@att.net.
Thank you for sending in your annual PTSO dues of $25 per family using the enclosed form. Dues are the PTSO’s main source of funding and primarily cover the monthly production and mailing of this newsletter, several scholarships, and some funding given to our two principals for needs they identify.
The PTSO would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who responded to our dues reminder letter sent out last spring. This was for last year’s dues (2003-2004) and resulted in $7,500 in additional dues income. $5,000 was given to HS Principal Steve Donovan who allocated it to an in-house leadership workshop for students this fall, as well as other enrichment purposes (such as field trips, guest speakers, and materials for classes and clubs not included in the school budget). The remaining $2,500 was given to JH Principal Craig Hardimon who allocated it toward the cost of equipment for the new attendance procedures for RJG students. This additional $7,500 was a significant increase over the annual $3,000 that the PTSO gives our principals, and was very much appreciated. Although only 25% of our families had paid their $25 dues, we were hesitant to send out the reminder letter. Thank you for understanding that we did so in an effort to help our school system deal with today’s increasingly tight budgets. Please give either of us a call if you have questions or comments as we begin dues collection for this school year. As stated in the letter, “We understand that in these economic times, there are valid reasons why dues may go unpaid, and of course, that is fine. If this is the case, please don’t feel like you need to respond.”
Our first PTSO Forum is on Tuesday, September 14 at noon in the Acton Memorial Library. ABRHS Principal Steve Donovan and RJG Principal Craig Hardimon will be our presenters. There will also be a few words from several community groups that support our regional schools, including the PTSO, the Regional School Committee, ABSAF (Acton Boxborough Student Activities Fund), and CAFY (Community Alliance for Youth). Meetings are written up in the newsletter, so folks who cannot attend can stay informed.
Finally, thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be on the PTSO Board this year. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our next Board meeting in October. Watch for details in the next newsletter.
- Beth and Jan
Volunteers' Corner
The Volunteer Coordinators would like to thank all the people who have
generously volunteered their time this past year to help at the junior and senior
high schools. Parental involvement is one of the factors that distinguishes
our schools and enables our students to continue the tradition of excellence
that we have known in Acton-Boxborough. Your help really makes a difference
for our students! There are many types of volunteer opportunities available
at both the junior high and the senior high schools. Time commitments vary greatly
among the jobs, so we hope you will find something that fits into your schedule.
Please note that there are separate forms for the junior high and senior high;
they are included in this newsletter. Please take a moment to look them over
for an area that might interest you. Please contact either of us if you
have any questions or would like more information. We would be glad to help
you find the right place to help!
- Debbie Clough, RJGJHS (978-266-0153)
- Sue Moncrieff, ABRHS (978-635-8099)
Welcome, students and parents, to the kick-off of the 2004-05 school year. We anticipate a good year working together.
We particularly welcome the over 450 freshmen who have moved up from the junior high and the students new to the school district. We hope everyone will join us in helping our new students feel at home at Acton-Boxborough.
We also have an exciting new group of faculty members this year. New staff include:
- English: Julia Buonopane
- Social Studies: Mary Price Maddox and Patrick Grucella
- English/Social Studies: Christopher Beck
- World Language: Nicolas Cosseron, Helga Moe, Krista Schepanovsky, Diego Mansilla, and Corinne Dubay
- Science: Heather Magner, Alice Witsell and Mary Kozik
- Performing Arts: Jennifer Moss
- Physical Education: Suzanne Hoag
- Special Education: Tammy Morgan (coming from the junior high)
- Psychologist: Kate Aleardi
- Librarian: Renee Voorhees (coming from Acton Public Schools)
- Library Services Manager: Susan King
- Athletic Director: Steve Desy (coming from the Central Office)
- Parents elected in the spring as representatives to the ABRHS School Council are: Jonathan Chinitz, Shaila Golikeri, and Jana Kertzner.
· High School Construction
The high school has undergone another transformation this summer. The south wing (housing the administration and counseling offices, the library, the Academic Support Center, and several classrooms) is open, and most of the north wing (including the spaces formerly occupied by the administration and counseling offices and the performing arts rooms) is under construction. We expect this phase of construction to last until November.
· Back-to-School Night
Our Back-to-School Night for parents will be held this year on Wednesday, October 20. Please plan to join us to meet your student’s teachers and learn about the expectations of the courses he or she is taking.
· ABRHS Web Site
We are constantly adding information to the school web site (http://ab.mec.edu/abrhs) to make timely information readily available to parents. Parents with Internet access may want to check this site regularly for daily announcements and other school information. Comments about the content of the web site or suggestions about additional information that would be useful can be directed to Susan Sousa at ssousa@mail.ab.mec.edu.
· Student Drop-off and Pick-up at ABRHS
Vehicle access to the high school before and after school will be available from Hayward Road and from Charter Road (from Route 111). From Hayward Road parents can enter and exit through the east parking lot, which surrounds the new tennis courts, and proceed to the new front circle. From Route 111 parents can also access the new front circle, which is on the junior high side of the high school building.
During afternoon pick-up time, school buses will be stacked in the south parking lot, which may block egress until student boarding is complete. Campus monitors will be on-site to direct traffic flow. Although it is possible to drive through the campus from Route 111 to Hayward Road, all of this route goes through parking lots and may be blocked during bus drop-off and boarding time. Please follow the directions of the monitors in the parking lots who are there to maintain a safe environment for everyone. The monitors can also assist drivers with questions about where to park and where to enter the building.
· Student Parking at ABRHS
We continue to face a shortage of parking at the high school. Although the campus looks large, the need for athletic fields and an enlarged building allowed us to add only a modest amount of parking during the construction project. Only seniors are eligible for on-campus parking privileges during school again this year. Seniors may apply for a parking permit at the school store; the cost is $200. The parking permit is affixed to the automobile the student will use on campus, so students who may be using more than one family car should ask about parking procedures when applying for a permit. Seniors will park in the upper parking lot. Fines for student parking violations this year are $20.
When it snows, the number of parking spaces available decreases, so we appreciate having students carpool or take the bus on these days to alleviate the problem. Questions about parking can be directed to Lani DeRome at 978-264-4700, ext. 3450.
· ABRHS First Day Schedule
On the first day of school, Wednesday, September 8, ABRHS students should report to their homerooms by 7:23 a.m. Homeroom assignments can be found on the schedules that were mailed to students and will also be posted at school entrances. The schedule for the first day will be modified to allow for distribution of student information, class assemblies and all eight periods of classes, so it is important that students attend homeroom to know the schedule for the day. Juniors who received incorrect locker assignments on the schedules mailed in August will received the corrected information in homeroom.
· High School Extracurricular Activities
Clubs and other extracurricular activities can contribute to a student’s education and enrich his or her life. ABRHS has a wide variety of activities in which students can participate. At the Freshman and New Student Orientation on September 2, students receive a list of extracurricular activities so that they can begin thinking about how to become involved. Returning students can pick up a copy of this list in the Counseling Center. During lunch on September 22 and 23, there will be an Activities Fair at which students can pick up additional information about the clubs and organizations at A-B and can talk to club members about their organizations. Information about volunteer opportunities will also be available. Students should listen to the morning announcements (or check these announcements on the school web site) for information about the first meeting of organizations that interest them. Parents who would like more information about extracurricular activities at the high school can contact Kay Steeves at 978-264-4700, ext. 3444 or at ksteeves@mail.ab.mec.edu.
· Attendance and Tardiness
Tardy Policy
School starts at 7:23 a.m. If a student comes to school later than that, he or she must sign in at the Main Office. Students arriving late to school in excess of three days will be required to meet with their Vice Principal before gaining admittance into class. Students chronically late to school will be assigned detention. If a student is late to class during the day, the classroom teacher may require the student to attend after school detention and /or reduce the student’s class participation grade for that day.
Absences Policy
Parents are to notify the Main Office of all student absences. Please call 978-264-4700, ext. 3500 on the day of the absence. If a parent call is not received, the absence will be recorded as unexcused. An unexcused absence will be defined as a truancy and the student will be required to serve an after school detention for each truancy recorded. In the event that a student does not serve an assigned detention within the time specified in the Student Handbook, three points will be deducted from the student's final term average for the class for which the detention was assigned. In accordance with the school policy, each student is granted an opportunity to earn full credit for any course as long as his or her total absences (excused and unexcused) do not exceed 20 days per full-year course, 10 days per semester course, or 5 days per semester course meeting on alternate days.
-Steve Donovan
Recruiting Information for the Armed Forces and Post Secondary Educational Institutions
Federal law requires schools to provide information on students to military recruiters and representatives of post secondary educational institutions. Upon request from recruiters or school representatives, ABRHS will provide the name, address, and telephone listing for all high school students. If an eligible student and/or parent does not want this information released, they must notify Principal Stephen Donovan in writing. Notification may be made by mail (Stephen Donovan, ABRHS, 36 Charter Road, Acton, MA 01720) or by email (sdonovan@mail.ab.mec.edu).
A-B Alumni Association Update
This summer, steps have been taken to jump start the A-B Alumni Association. Communication has been the focus. Announcements, through the Boston Globe and Beacon newspapers as well as emails to alumni, have described the association’s focus and provided a means to request input from them. A continual effort is sustained to contact alumni. If you are an A-B Regional alumnus and haven’t received an email, send us your address so we can keep you up to date! As of the writing of this article, a mass mailing, via USPS, is being prepared and sent to confirmed addresses of alumni. The association’s web site and new database designs have been started and are currently being worked upon.
Looking forward, we are eager to unveil our web site, create a full functioning database, and make plans for alumni Thanksgiving Day events.
There are volunteer positions that need filling. Anyone who understands how important it is for the Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools to have an A-B Alumni Association will make a great volunteer. In the years to come, the A-B Alumni Association will be managed largely by A-B alumni. Yet to get started, the association needs volunteers to contact these alumni. If you feel you have something to contribute, don’t be shy! And if you are alumni, please step forth!
For your consideration, you will find the most urgently needed positions listed on the junior and senior high volunteer forms included in this newsletter. And do let us know if you have anything else to offer such as financial or technical expertise, communication or marketing skills, development office experience, etc. Or perhaps you would like us to find something for you to do. We can genuinely say this is a fun and very interesting project and that you won’t be disappointed. Please join us!
- Carol Jette & Suzanne Brozek, Co-Chairs
ABRPTSO Alumni Liaison Committee
Connect@ABAlumni.org
978-263-7124
Craig Hardimon
I’d like to welcome new and returning families to R.J. Grey Junior High for the 2004-05 school year. The summer is rapidly coming to an end and I am thrilled and excited to have students in our building soon.
· Communication
To develop and maintain clear lines of communication this year, I will continue to utilize my principal’s email list. If you wish to receive my weekly newsletter, Grey Matters, the daily announcements, and other timely school information and news via this method, please send me a quick note at chardimon@mail.ab.mec.edu. Be sure to put “principal’s email list” in the subject line and tell me your name and your child’s name and grade. If you do not have email but wish to receive this newsletter, just send a note to my office either with your child or at the address above. Copies of Grey Matters can also be found on our web site: http://ab.mec.edu/rjweb/index.html
There are other opportunities for communication. We have a monthly RJG newsletter called the Shades of Grey, which includes articles from various teams and teachers, as well as a calendar of events to keep families informed. As principal, I participate in the monthly PTSO forums to talk about what is going on in our school and to answer questions from parents. Additionally, each month I have a “Drop-in Hour” for parents who might want to stop by the office and ask questions about the school or share their thoughts. I have had a number of great conversations with parents and I look forward to continuing the dialog. The first “Drop-in Hour” will be on Tuesday, September 14, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Communication with your child’s teachers is also important. If you have a question or concern, feel free to let us know. Teachers can be easily reached through email or voice mail. The format for our email is first initial, last name, followed by our server address (mail.ab.mec.edu). For example, my address is chardimon@mail.ab.mec.edu. Teachers can also be reached through voice mail by calling our main number 978-264-4700 and asking for the teacher’s voice mail.
· Team Assignments
In an effort to reduce anxiety, students will now have the opportunity to learn what team they are on before the first day of school. On Friday, September 3, at approximately 4:00 p.m., we will post the team assignments on the front door of RJG. To ensure confidentiality, students will beidentified by their ID number. This ID number can be found on the envelope in which my summer welcome letter was mailed. We will also post the team assignments on our web site: http://ab.mec.edu/rjweb/index.html.
A significant portion of the summer was spent building these teams in order to balance them by: sending school, gender, World Language request, teacher recommendations, and parent requests. I am confident that the teams have been built in a manner that will ensure that every student will have the opportunity to maintain old friendships and develop new ones throughout the school year in an academically challenging environment.
· New Attendance Procedure
Another way in which we are increasing our communication is through the implementation of a new attendance procedure. If your child will be absent from or late to school, please call the absence line at 978-264-4700, ext. 3333 by 7:30 a.m. and state your child’s:
We hope to have parent volunteers transcribe the information. Our office staff will then compare the messages with our homeroom attendance records. Students who are marked absent in homeroom but for whom we did not receive a call will be marked as “unexcused.” An unexcused absence will generate a call home. Please assist us in this new process and remember to call the school if your child will be absent. Remember that we still need your child to bring in a note for our records when he or she returns.
· The First Day of School
For seventh graders, the first day of school is Wednesday, September 8. Students should report to the following areas by 7:30 a.m. where they will meet with their team teachers and other members of their team:
7 Gold - Cafe
7 Green - Library
7 Orange - Front Gym
7 Red - Back Gym
All eighth grade students new to the Acton-Boxborough District are invited to participate in an orientation program on Wednesday, September 8 beginning at 12:30 p.m. and ending at 2:06 p.m. Students may ride home on their regular bus.
The first day of school for all other grade eight students is Thursday, September 9. Eighth graders should report to the auditorium by 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, September 9 for a short program before proceeding, with their homeroom teachers, to their homerooms.
I hope to meet many of you at our Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 30, for parents/guardians of both seventh and eighth grade students. You will receive more information about this event in a few weeks.
Enjoy the last weeks of summer. The building seems empty without the hustle and bustle of students. I can’t wait for school to finally begin and to hear the sounds of students in the building again. This is going to be a fantastic year!
-Craig Hardimon
ABSAF Kicks Off 2004 – 2005 Fundraising Drive
On September 8th, ABSAF (Acton-Boxborough Student Activities Fund) kicked off its 2004-2005 fundraising campaign. The mail appeal is addressed to all residents of Acton and Boxborough and seeks to raise funds to support extracurricular programs at the regional schools. Members of the ABSAF board believe that extracurricular activities help to develop well-rounded children with healthy self-esteem. The range of activities at our junior high and high school is impressive as is the fact that over 85% of our students participate in these activities. Whether students are interested in music, sports, academic teams, theater, speech and debate or community service, there are many wonderful programs that provide constructive and creative outlets for them.
Supporting a broad range of extracurricular activities is a challenge for us all, particularly when school finances are under pressure forcing come communities to completely eliminate extracurricular programs. Although taxes, gate receipts, and activity fees help to fund these programs, revenue from these sources is not enough to cover the total cost. ABSAF was founded in 1981 to help bridge the gap. Since that time, the organization has been making a significant difference in the number and quality of extracurricular activities at the Acton-Boxborough regional schools.
This year alone, with contributions from over 1400 Acton and Boxborough residents, ABSAF donated over $94,000 to support a broad range of extracurricular activities. Some examples of how ABSAF funds have been used in recent years include: donations to Proscenium Circus (the high school theatre group), purchase of band uniforms and instruments, new stage curtains and sound system for the junior high, supplies and equipment for all athletic teams, study guides and league dues for academic teams, athletic uniforms, and transportation to events for all the groups mentioned above.
Donations in any amount are appreciated, and for a donation of $150 or more, you and your immediate family will receive an ABSAF pass admitting you to most home extracurricular events sponsored by the regional schools as well as two tickets to the school plays/musicals at the junior high and the high school for the 2004-2005 school year. ABSAF passes are now on sale at football and soccer games at Leary Field or by mail at P.O. Box 662, Acton, Massachusetts 01720. In addition to supporting extracurricular activities, the pass is a bargain for many families. If you have questions about ABSAF, please contact Rebecca Scheier at 978-263-7047 or absafinfo@yahoo.com. Please help to keep the extracurricular activities at the regional schools strong and vibrant. Thank you.
The 2004-2005 ABSAF Board of Directors
Board Members: Suzanne Baum, Sue Blaney, Ellen Boyle Brown, Jack Boyles, Sasha DeMello, Lisa DiBartolomeo, Mary Duggan, Terri Emerson, Mary Federico, Sheila Giglio, Mary Grazewski, Ginny Greene, Sue Grossman, Phil Landry, Mickey Lieto, Andrea Magner, Lynn Martin, Sharon McManus, Maura Murphy, Debbie Namias, Damara Press, Mac Reid, Rebecca Scheier, Gayle Shenson, Wendy Tarson, Lee Ann Tyler, Mary Ellen Wilson
Student Members: Carley Cesare, Eric DiPaolo, Renee Gliddon, Ankit Gupta, Eric LaForest, Casey Lundberg, Katie McManus, Erin Mulcahy, Patrick Sloan, Laura Thistle
Administration and Ex Officio: Steve Desy, Steve Donovan, George Frost, Craig Hardimon, Mark Hickey
Two parents or guardians of 7th graders are needed for participation on the RJGJHS School Council. The council consists of elected parents/guardians, teachers, community members, and student representative led by the school principal. Meetings are held monthly throughout the school year to discuss relevant concerns and issues, as well as to develop a school improvement plan. Interested candidates should submit a short paragraph about themselves by noon on Friday, September 17th for the ballot. Voting will be done at Back-to-School Night on Sept. 30th. Write-ups should be sent to PTSO Co-Chair Jan Couch at jccouch@comcast.net or Principal Craig Hardimon at chardimon@mail.ab.mec.edu. Paper copies may be mailed to RPTSO, P.O. Box 912, Acton, MA 01720, but please confirm with a phone call to Jan (978-263-2118).
ABRHS Volunteer Opportunities for Parents 2004-2005
Volunteers are needed in many different capacities this year to help with activities organized both by the High School and by the PTSO. A description of each activity is listed below; please check each activity with which you would like to help. When you have completed this form, please mail it to: A-B Regional PTSO, H. S. Volunteer Coordinators, P.O. Box 912, Acton, MA 01720-0912. Thank you in advance for your help!
Your name(s):___________________________________________ Telephone: (day):___________________ (evening): _________________________________Email: _________________________________________
Your child’s/children’s name(s) and grade(s): _____________________________________________________
Days and times you are available to help: ________________________________________________________
If both parents are completing this form, please write in the name of the interested parent in the margin next to the activity.
On-going activities (help on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis)
q Office support: Help in one of the school’s offices. No experience is necessary. Training is provided.*
q PTSO Newsletter: The PTSO Newsletter is a monthly Junior/Senior High School publication, which requires many hands to help out for 1 to 2 hours each month, on the last Thursday of the month, in the High School where newsletters are folded and labeled. No previous experience is required. Training is provided. Chair: Marney Forbes
Activities at the High School that occur on an irregular or infrequent basis
q
Career speakers: Speak to groups of interested students about your career, including
the education and training required and job prospects for the future. Presentations
may be given in a classroom or the Counseling Center.
Please indicate your career. ____________________________________________________________________
q Host a job shadowing student: Provide valuable insight into your chosen field of work by spending the day at work (typically one day mid-November, but at your convenience) with a junior or senior student who has an interest in pursuing a career in your occupation. May also involve setting up or arranging an internship at your place of work, if this might be mutually beneficial.* Please indicate your occupation. _______________________________________
q Provide support to community service projects: May involve providing ideas, contacting agency or program managers, picking up supplies, transporting students, assisting students with organizing projects, compiling student interest directories, updating student volunteer opportunity files, sending out memos, and helping with community service projects.*
q Translate school information: Translate school information from a student’s native language into English or communicate via sign language with hearing impaired students. Some work may be done at home. Please indicate the language(s) with which you are familiar. ____________________________________________________________
q Help to proctor exams: Supervise groups of students taking standardized exams. A commitment of 2 hours 1 to 2 times a year.*
* Requires CORI check.
PTSO activities that occur on an irregular or infrequent basis
q Junior High Back-to-School Night: Parents of High School students are needed to help with the Junior High Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 30. Assistance will be needed to help with refreshments, collecting PTSO membership forms and dues, and distributing volunteer forms.
q Hospitality/Teacher Appreciation Committee: Provide refreshments and/or assist with various events (e.g., coffees). Help organize or set up an annual “thank you” event for the teachers in June. Coordinators are also being sought, primarily to make phone calls from list provided. Involvement is much more sporadic than at the elementary level. Indicate if you are willing to coordinate. ____________________________________________________________
q Project Graduation Committee: Help chaperone (1 ˝ to 2 hour shifts), decorate, or organize this popular all-night extravaganza held at the High School for graduating seniors, which relies heavily on parental support (not parents of seniors). This year’s date is Friday, June 3. Remember, your underclass son or daughter will be a senior before you know it!* Chair: Sharon Smith McManus
q ABRPTSO Alumni Association: Currently the PTSO is looking for assistance with the following: Publicity Coordinator, Graphic Artist for alumni web site, Web Page Developer (HTML…), Database Input Screen Developer (.Net infrastructure), Database Administrator (.Net, MySQL), help with data entry, party planners, and event coordinators. Please specify interest _________________________________________. For more information please see the article in “ABRHS News” in this newsletter. Co-Chairs: Carol Jette and Suzanne Brozek
q Gardening Committee: Meet as needed several times a year to beautify the grounds of the school. Although construction is underway, there is still some work to be done! We are looking for many helpers to assist the chairperson, already in place, to organize workdays, and possibly to plan activities with the students. Green thumbs are not required. Chair: Damara Press
q
New family support: Help
families new to the school system or community feel “connected.” Be available
to answer questions by phone or in person. May help organize or attend a get-together
with new families.
Co-Chairs: Andrea Magner and Ginny Greene
q Help make telephone calls for PTSO or other school-related organizations: As many hands make light work, parents are being sought to help make phone calls to contact volunteers to help out with various school-related issues and events. Calls may be made from school or home. A great job for those who need flexibility in scheduling!
q One-time miscellaneous projects: Help with clerical projects or social events that may come up sporadically throughout the year. If you can’t decide where to help out, this may be the category for you!*
*Requires CORI check.
Please note that most activities will require a completed CORI form (forms completed last year for the High School are still valid). Forms may be obtained from the High School office.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. The time you spend volunteering is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Susan Moncrieff at 978-635-8099.
R.J. GREY JUNIOR HIGH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2004-2005
Our teachers and PTSO members are searching for volunteers to help in many different capacities this year.
A description of each activity is listed below. Please check each activity with which you would like to help.
When you have completed this form please MAIL it to:
AB Regional PTSO
R.J. Grey Jr. High Volunteer Coordinator
P.O. Box 912
Acton, MA 01720-0912
You may drop off this form at the Junior High office c/o RJG Volunteer Coordinator
Name: ________________________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________
Child’s name: ________________________________________________________
Grade & team: ________________________________________________________
On-Going Activities
q Library support: Many jobs are available, some with limited time commitments, others that require a weekly commitment; training is provided where needed. Coordinated by RJG Librarian, Sandy Egnatz
q Health office support: Parents are needed in this busy office to assist with vision and hearing screening (tentatively November and March); computer data entry using a very simple program; filing; occasional one-time jobs. No medical experience necessary. Coordinated by RJG Nurse, Erin Livie
q
Safe Arrival: Safe arrival volunteers are needed
to listen to a phone tape and record the names of students who are absent.
Help is needed for about 30 minutes per day, Monday – Friday starting at approximately
7:45 a.m.
Coordinator: Sue Hart
q
Shades of Grey: The
junior high newsletter is collated, stapled, and labeled on the second Thursday
morning of every month from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Come once,
twice, or every month.
Coordinator: Dolores Crofton-MacDonald
q PTSO Newsletter: Help is needed for 1 to 2 hours, the last Thursday of each month in the high school cafeteria where newsletters are folded and labeled. No experience is required. Coordinator: Marney Forbes
q
Gardening Committee: Help maintain our newly landscaped grounds. Green thumbs are not required.
Coordinator: Subha Thiagarajan
q A-B Alumni Association: (see the article in “ABRHS News” in this newsletter). The A-B Alumni Association is looking for volunteers to fill the following positions:
Graphic Artist for alumni web site Web Page Developer (HTML…)
Database Input Screen Developer (.Net infrastructure) Database Admin. (.Net, MySQL)
ABRPTSO Alumni Assoc. project (see article) Data Entry
Party Planners Event Coordinators Publicity Coordinator
One-Time Activities
q Back-to-School Night: Parents of RJG students (without high school students) are needed to help at the high school Back-to-School Night on Oct. 20 at 7:00 p.m., distributing volunteer forms, selling directories, and collecting PTSO membership forms and dues. Familiarity with the high school is not required. In a similar manner, we will need parents of high school students to assist with the junior high school evening on Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Please check below on which evening you would like to help.
______ Junior High School, September 30
______ High School, October 20
q Bakers: Throughout the year people are needed to provide baked goods for different events. You may be called only once or twice, depending on the list. Please indicate if you’d like to coordinate this activity _____ (we will need someone to coordinate bakers for the Back-to-School Nights).
q National Foreign Language Week Activities: This exciting week of festivities occurs during the first week of March to celebrate the world’s cultures. Volunteers are needed during the celebration week to help with the breakfast, teachers’ lunch, decorations, sharing experiences gained in other countries, etc. Check if willing to: coordinate the student breakfast _____, coordinate the teachers’ lunch _____ or share another culture with our students_____. Coordinator: Joanne Lazdowski
q Project Wellness: Parents of eighth graders are needed to volunteer the day of the event, in March, at Merrimack College. Please indicate if you’d like to help coordinate this activity _____.
q Teacher Appreciation Lunch: Assist with the annual last-day-of-school teachers’ lunch. This may involve making phone calls, helping on the day of the event, or providing food. Please indicate if you would like to coordinate this event _____.
q Sixth Grade Social: In June all sixth graders and their parents are invited to attend a social and information night. Junior high parents are needed to help chaperone this event. Please indicate if you would like to coordinate the student portion of this activity _____.
q Help make telephone calls for PTSO or other school-related activities: Parents are sometimes needed to help make phone calls concerning various school or team related issues and events.
q Miscellaneous projects: Help with clerical projects (e.g., copying), social events for the school or team that may come up sporadically throughout the year. If you can’t decide where to help out, this may be the category for you!
q Project Graduation Committee: Help chaperone, decorate, or organize part of this popular all-night extravaganza held at the high school for the seniors who have just graduated. This event relies heavily on parental support (not parents of seniors). Your 7th–11th grader will be a senior, too, before you know it! This will take place on Friday, June 3. Coordinator: Sharon Smith McManus
q Host a job-shadowing student: Provide valuable insight into your chosen field of work by spending the day at work (typically one day mid-November, but at your convenience) with a junior or senior student from the high school who has an interest in pursuing a career in your occupation. May also involve setting up or arranging an internship at your place of work, if this might be mutually beneficial. Please indicate occupation ______________________________.
Please note that most activities will require a CORI check. Please refer to the Families of RJ Grey Handbook for further details. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated! Volunteers will be called on an as-needed basis and not everyone will necessarily be contacted. If you have any questions, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Clough at 978-266-0153.ABRPTSO ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP 2004-2005
Funds raised through Membership Dues provide for grants to the Junior High and High School, graduation scholarships, programs such as Project Wellness, Freshman Orientation and Project Graduation, the monthly PTSO newsletter, and student directories. In the past, PTSO funds have provided guest speakers in the classrooms, subsidized field trip costs, printed school newspapers and magazines, purchased supplies for special class projects, and supported students’ community service activities.
Only one contribution per family is requested per year, regardless of the number of students in grades 7-12.
Parent name(s): ______________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________
Student(s) name(s): _____________________________________________
Student grade(s): RJGJHS: ______7th grade ABRHS: ______9th grade
______8th grade ______10th grade
______11th grade
______12th grade
Basic dues: $25.00
RJGJHS student newspaper/The Blueprint $ 5.00
Project Graduation contribution (anyone may contribute): ______
Additional contribution: (GREATLY appreciated and tax deductible) ______
Please make checks payable to ABRPTSO. TOTAL: $______
If you would like to receive PTSO emails, and are NOT already on the list or there has been a change in address, please clearly print your email address:
_______________________________________________
Mail to: ABRPTSO, P.O. Box 912, Acton, MA 01720 THANK YOU!
Deb Mozzicato (HS) 978-263-3567 and Holly Ben-Joseph (JH) 978-266-1436Changes and/or Deletions
Student Directories
RJGJHS and ABRHS
September 2004
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Telephone directories for the students at RJGJHS and ABRHS will be produced this year by the PTSO in conjunction with the schools. These handy references will be available for purchase by students and parents as soon as they are completed.
The PTSO is sensitive to concerns about privacy and the release of personal information. Please indicate on the form below only if you, as parent/guardian, DO NOT want your child’s name, address, and/or telephone number published in the directory or you wish your child’s own telephone number published. Return this form to the PTSO Student Directory, P.O. Box 912, Acton, MA 01720-0912 by Friday, September 10.
You do not need to fill out this form if you do not wish to make any changes.
Thank you,
Judy Peters
Sue Hart
ABRHS Student Directory
RJGJHS Student Directory
Please fill out the section that pertains to the changes and/or deletions you wish to make regarding your child’s information in the Student Directory.
|
Please include ONLY my child’s: ____ Name ____ Name and Address ____ Name and Telephone Number |
 |
____ Please DO NOT includes my child’s name, address or telephone number
____ My child has a different phone number, please use this number _____________________
Student’s Name ________________________________________________ Grade __________
Parent/Guardian Signature _______________________________________________________
(Attach a second sheet for additional children if necessary.)
Only return if changes are requested
Regional School Calendars
High School Dates of Interest
September
8 School opens
9 – 10 Student photos
7 – 10, 13 Senior portraits (see also October 25 & 26)15 Information session for freshmen interested in running for Student Council or class offices
16 Rosh Hashanah (no school)
20 Deadline for freshman nomination papers
20 Fall College Night for Students and Parents (Early Decision and College Application Information)
22 - 23 Activities Fair (during lunches)
29 Grade 9 elections, 2nd period
October
8 Interim reports for Term 1 issued
9 SAT I & II
11 Columbus Day (no school)
16 PSAT/NMSQT
20 Back-to-School Night, 7:00 p.m.
25 & 26 Senior portraits
Junior High School Dates of Interest
September
8 School opens, Grade 7 students 7:30 a.m.; New Grade 8 students 12:30 p.m.
9 All students report for school
16 Rosh Hashanah (no school)
17 School pictures
22 Student Council Representatives/Alternate elections
30 Back-to-School Night, 7:00 p.m.
October
2 Activity Night
6 Student Council Meeting, 7:36 a.m.
8 Grade 7 Social, 2:30-4:40 p.m.
11 Columbus Day, no school
12 School Council Meeting, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
14 Mid-Term Reports mailed
22 Grade 8 Dance, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
29 Halloween Dress-Up Day
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEWS
Welcome back to school!
The campus has been a very busy place this summer. The new south wing
at the high school looks fabulous and is ready to open. We owe the Building
Committee a huge debt of gratitude for transforming the campus in the last several
years.
The Regional School Committee has also been working hard over the summer.
The Committee deals with issues pertaining to the R.J. Grey Junior High and
Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. The budget continues to take considerable
effort and time of the Committee and the Administration. We have already started
working on the '06 budget. As we face probable overrides in both towns, we are
starting to grapple with many decisions. One of the first decisions the School
Committee will have to make is whether we will go for an override that will
restore services that have been previously cut (like the 7th grade team and
teachers at the high school) or whether we will go for an override that will
simply maintain our "reduced services" budget.
I would encourage all citizens to become educated about the budget process,
by reading newsletters and The Beacon, attending School Committee meetings,
and asking questions.
Equally as important is letting the School Committee know how you feel about
the budget by calling or emailing us, or attending a meeting. Members
of the Committee are: Marie Altieri, Mary Ann Ashton, Jo-Ann Berry, Michael
Coppolino, Terry Lindgren, Liz Markiewicz, Becky Neville, Bruce Sabot, and Jeff
Vandegrift. All nine members can be reached by using abrsc@acton-ma.gov.
Our next meeting is Thursday, September 2nd at 7:30 p.m. in the R.J.
Grey Junior High School library. These meetings are open to the public
and your participation is welcome and encouraged. School Committee meetings
are also usually broadcast live on cable channel 8.
We look forward to a positive and productive year.
- Becky Neville
ABRSC Chair
978-263-3285
neville317@juno.com
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
September 14 PTSO Forum with
Steve Donovan, HS Principal; Craig Hardimon, JH Principal; Community
Group Reps
12 Noon at the Acton Memorial Library
September 2 7:30 p.m. Regional School Committee Meeting
RJG Jr High Library
September 14 12:00 p.m. PTSO Forum with
Steve Donovan, ABRHS Principal
Craig Hardimon, RJGJHS Principal
& Community Group Representatives,
Acton Memorial Library
September 30 7:00 p.m. Back-to-School Night, Grade 7 and Grade 8
October 12 12:00 p.m. PTSO Forum with
Susan
Serino, Chairperson of Counseling and
Psychological
Services, Acton Memorial Library
October 20 7:00 p.m. Back-to-School Night, ABRHS
November 4 9:30 a.m. PTSO Forum
THE DEADLINE FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSION FOR THE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER IS SEPTEMBER 16th