Bates Buzz

Dear Bates Families,
The Bates Pumpkin Fair was a huge success again this year.  I would like to thank Kelly Barry and Susan Zimmer for co-chairing this year’s Pumpkin Fair.  They did a tremendous job.  I’d also like to thank the many volunteers who helped organize, set up, operate, and clean up the event.  Bates is so lucky to have such a dedicated community of volunteers. The Pumpkin Fair is such a fun and important tradition at Bates.  In addition to providing enjoyment for many in our community, as you may know, the proceeds from the fair are used to fund many of the enrichment activities that make Bates such a special place to learn. 
We continue to think carefully about our work to support social emotional leaning at Bates.  Much of this work is carried out in the classroom through lessons, class meetings and thoughtful response to behavior.  In addition, we also focus on this work in our monthly community meetings.  This Friday we will focus on one aspect of social relationships: inclusion and exclusion.  Trudy Ludwig introduced students to this concept and read The Invisible Boy to our K-2 students.  Many classrooms are re-reading this book and discussing what inclusion and exclusion looks like and feels like.  In the story, Ludwig shows that it only takes one child to make another feel included.  We plan to help students apply these teachings to actions in school and beyond.  As a school we will be noticing and discussing the various opportunities students are taking to include others and how it makes others feel.  Without using names, we will highlight these positive inclusive behaviors in class and during our community meetings to create the norm that at Bates, we “choose kind.”  For families who wish to continue these conversations at home, I recommend reading The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig for students in K through 3 and Wonder by R. J. Palacio for students in grade 4 and above.
The month of October has been a busy time for professional development for the teachers at Bates.  Teachers have attended all-day workshops to learn more about teaching reading, writing and science.  Our teachers return from these workshops energized and excited to implement their new learning in the classroom.  I commend them for their dedication to our students and their profession.
Last week we said farewell to Dianne O’Sullivan-Gard, our school secretary.  We are fortunate to have Eileen Dorsey filling in temporarily.  Eileen is a retired secretary who worked many years at Wellesley High School, and she will be with us until we complete our search for a full-time replacement.  Thank you for your patience and support in the office during this transition.  
Looking ahead to next week, Bates will have its annual Halloween parade on Kelly field on Friday, October 30 at 8:45 a.m.  Parents are welcome!  Please note that costumes should be appropriate for our K-5 audience, and students should be able to change out of their costumes independently after the parade.   An alternate fun activity will be offered in the gym for any student who does not wish to join the parade. 
Upcoming dates:
Thursday, October 29          New Family Coffee – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, October 30                8:45 a.m. Halloween parade – Kelly Field
Tuesday, November 3          Early Release (Parent Teacher Conferences)Friday, November 6              Walk to School Day                                             Picture Retake Day
Warm regards,Toni Jolley