Dear Bates families,

Our Mix it Up Day at lunch last week was a great success. Instead of sitting with their classmates as usual, students were randomly assigned a seat at a table with peers from different classes. Students had the option of using a number of suggested questions to help start conversations. I noticed at each table students buzzed with excitement and eagerly listened to one another answer questions such as, “What is your favorite movie?” We will all work to keep the spirit of Mix it Up Day alive not only in the lunchroom but throughout the day all year long.

This fall Bates teachers and staff are engaged in many exciting professional development opportunities. A number of teachers have been to Teachers College in New York City, others to a regional literacy conference in Providence, RI and in a few weeks our special educators will attend a local conference to learn more about the Zones of Regulation curriculum. We are grateful to the generous PTO who supports many of these valuable learning experiences for our teachers. I had the opportunity to attend a technology conference with other Wellesley administrators and teachers today. I am excited to think about applying what I learned today to our students’ experiences at Bates. As you may know, Bates now has a 1:1 iPad program for students in grades 4 and 5. In addition, third graders are currently sharing a class set of iPads between the three classrooms and students in grades K-2 have a few iPads in each classroom. We are continually challenging ourselves to learn more about the many ways to use iPads to enrich our students’ learning.

As a reminder, on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, all Wellesley schools will open with a two-hour delay. For the elementary schools, school will start at 10:30 a.m. We hope Wellesley voters will take advantage of empty parking lots and vote during the early morning hours.

Finally, thank you to the fifth grade students who participated in the first term of Fifth Grade Student Council and led a “No Idling” campaign. The students reminded Bates drivers to turn off their engines while waiting in the car line and elsewhere. I know their efforts will have lasting effects for the Bates community.

Warm regards,

Toni Jolley

Upcoming dates:

Friday, November 4 Bates Spirit Day

Cradles to Crayons collection last day

Lost and Found items on display outside the office

Monday, November 7 Picture Retake Day

Tuesday, November 8 Two hour delayed start (10:30 a.m.)

Wednesday, November 9 Last day to donate candy to the troops

Friday, November 11 No School – Veteran’s Day

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