Dear Bates Families,
In this final week of school we have been engaging in our favorite end of school year traditions, including our final Community Meeting on Wednesday. We have much to celebrate in the many ways our children have grown this year. As a reminder tomorrow is our last day of school and students are dismissed at 12:00. Please read below important news about Bates and notes about tomorrow’s fifth grade all-school clap out.
Bates School Award
Last Friday the Bates School was commended at a ceremony at the State House as a MA School of Recognition for high achievement, high growth and exceeding targets on the 2018 MCAS. I was proud to receive this recognition on behalf of all the Bates School and each educator who works to support our students.
Diversity Committee
In recent months the newly formed Bates Parent Partners in Diversity committee convened and worked to create a vision for our committee and begin to form an action plan for the Bates School that realizes our vision. Our vision statement follows:
To create a greater connection between students, parents, and the Bates Community using diversity in thinking and support an environment where all students and parents feel welcome.
With this vision statement in mind, Bates students participated in an all-school “Mix-it Up Recess” with another class last week. In the same spirit as “Mix-it Up Lunch,” students were assigned to cross-grade level groups for play. The goal of Mix-it Up Lunch and Recess is to encourage new connections and help students identify, question and cross social barriers. We know from research that interactions across group lines help reduce prejudice. Our students really enjoyed this experience and look forward to more in the future.
Summer plans
As you head off for summer vacation, please consider planning to incorporate reading and math into your child’s summer activities. The WPS Summer Reading Book List and other resources can be found on the Bates library website or here. Our math department has several suggestions for ways to engage with math over the summer as well, which you can find attached to this email.
Next year
Looking ahead to next year, families can expect an email from me in late July with important information about the 2019-20 school year, including procedures for updating the Powerschool Parent Portal and receiving your child’s teacher assignment. If you need to contact the Bates office over the summer, please call ahead or check the Bates website for summer hours of operation.
Finally, on behalf of the educators at Bates, thank you for the chance to know and teach your children this year. Have a wonderful summer!
Warm regards,
Toni Jolley
Summer Math Activities
Tonight and Tomorrow:
Tonight at 5:30 p.m. Fond Farewell Ceremony for the Fifth Graders in the gym
Tomorrow at 11:57 a.m. Fifth Grade Clap Out
Parents are invited to take part in the tradition of the “clap out” for our fifth graders on the last day of school. The whole school lines the halls, clapping and cheering as our fifth graders make their way around the school. Parents are asked to line the front sidewalk to cheer for students as they exit the building. All parents are asked to refrain from entering the building after 11:45 a.m.