Dear Sprague Community, As we wind down with the final 3 weeks of school, I’d like to again say thank you for all of the support I have received from the Sprague community this year. There will be lots happening in these last 14 days of school. Sharon Kahn returned today from her medical leave. We are happy to have her back in the nurse’s office! Mrs. Mandel has asked me to pass along the attached note regarding Summer Reading lists. I have been impressed by our students’ love of reading and know that parents are aware of the importance of being sure children continue to read during the summer months. The good news is that many kids like to read so much; they will likely be motivated to read on their own. If your child is not one of those children, please be sure to encourage reading, set aside some time for reading at night, on rainy days, or at the beach. When children see that their parents love to read, they are inclined to do the same. That means that you should be sure to go to the beach so you can read a good book and relax too. J Field Day Field Day is taking place next Thursday, June 11th. Ms. Flitsch is still looking for a few dedicated volunteers to help out. There are many fun and engaging activities that our students will enjoy! Ms. Flitsch has done a wonderful job of planning 19 different stations where students will participate in fun physical activities that day! We can’t wait! We also are hoping for good weather, so remember to apply sunscreen that morning. Parent volunteers are still needed! Ms. Flitsch has asked for 10 volunteers who can help set up at 7:00 a.m., 36 volunteers to run activity stations from 9:00-11:30 a.m., and 10 volunteers to clean up from 11:30-12:30. If you are available for any of these times, please see Sprague Announcements from the PTO for sign up information or contact Matthew McKay. Thank you! Grade 5 A 5th grade tradition in Wellesley is the annual trip to Hale Reservation. Our 5th graders will have the opportunity to meet some 5th graders from other schools and engage in science lessons, learn about orienteering, and try the ropes courses on a ‘challenge by choice’ basis. They will go on this trip this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 3, 4, and 5, leaving school shortly after 8:30 and arriving back at Sprague by 3:05 each day. The Brain Game will come to Sprague on June 15th for a special show for our 5th graders. The Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Concert will take place on June 17th at 9:00 a.m. Parents are invited to attend. The Farewell Assembly will take place on June 18th @ 9:00 a.m. Again, families are invited to this event with a cake and punch reception to follow. The last day of school, June 19th is a half-day that ends with the famous CLAP OUT for our fifth graders as they get ready to move on the Middle School. They will do a lap around the building while all the younger students line the hallways to clap and cheer them on. Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast If you have volunteered at Sprague in any capacity this year, you are invited to a casual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Monday, June 15th from 8:15-9:00 a.m. We will set up outdoors in front of the school, weather permitting. In the event of bad weather, we will have the breakfast in the atrium outside the gym. Thank you for supporting our school! Proposed Kindergarten Start Times for 2015-2016 A committee of kindergarten teachers and administrators (Jeff Dees, Upham principal and Rebecca Zieminski, PAWS Director) has been meeting and seeking feedback from parents and other teachers about our first year of implementation of full day kindergarten. They completed their work this year with a parent and teacher survey and presented their results to the School Committee last week. They made a recommendation to the School Committee to adjust the start times for kindergarten as a result of feedback they received. The committee recommended that kindergartners start the school year on the same first day of school as all grades and attend for half days for the first 7 days of school. Students will be given appointment times to come back during an afternoon to meet with the teacher individually and participate in assessments and get to know the teacher. These assessments had been completed during the first 3 days of school this year, when kindergarten classes did not meet. Kindergarten classes began on the 4th day of school this year. The School Committee is considering this recommendation and is open to feedback from parents. If you would like to express an opinion about this proposal for kindergarten, you may go to the link below and share their thoughts about the seven half days. School_Committee@wellesleyps.org Details of the proposal are as follows: School begins for K-5 students on September 2, 2015. K students will have half days for the first seven days of school. K students will start their full day program (Wednesdays half days for all) on Monday September 15th. Each building will be provided with a WCCC program from 12:00-3:00 if the K classroom is available. Dates to remember: June 3, 4, and 5: Grade 5 Trip to Hale Reservation June 9: Walk to School Day–rescheduled June 9: Family Picnic @ 6 pm June 11: Field Day June 15: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast from 8:15-9:00 a.m. June 17: Band, Orchestra, and Grade 5 Choral Concert @ 9:00 a.m. (Parents invited) June 18: Grade 5 Farewell Assembly @ 9:00 a.m. (Families invited) June 19: Last day of school–half day
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