Dear Sprague Community,
The weatherman says it will be in the 80’s tomorrow. I think the good weather is finally here to stay! As Wellesley warms up, we begin the wrap up the school year and plan for the summer and coming year. We received many parent input forms and have been working on class placement for students for next year. At this point, the deadline has passed to submit forms and we are unable to accept any late submissions. I know you trust our teams to make great matches for your child.
The School Committee has been reviewing all of its policies this year. You will be able to find updated policies that they have voted on and approved on the district website by July 1, 2016. Policies will be effective as of that date. The School Committee revised/updated many policies and added a few new ones. One of the new policies will prohibit dogs from being on school property. I realize this is a change for many who enjoy walking to Sprague and bringing their dogs along with them. Here is the new policy from Section E:
“In order to ensure the safety of students and staff, dogs are NOT allowed on school grounds during school hours, including arrival and dismissal times, as well as school-approved events. Service animals are allowed under the provisions of the Animals in Classrooms policy.”
At Sprague, the school grounds do not include the fields as they are considered town property. However, we would ask that dogs be kept away from students if they are on the field when children are present. Many people love to see each other’s dogs, but some children are fearful and/or allergic.
As we think about summer, I’d like to share an excerpt from an article about summer reading. It is VERY important for students to keep reading during the summer months so they don’t lose the great gains they have made during the school year over the summer.
Counteracting Summer Reading Loss
Anne McGill-Franzen and Natalia Ward (University of Tennessee/Knoxville) and Maria Cahill (University of Kentucky/Lexington) wrote an article in The Reading Teacher. See excerpt below:
“Research suggests that the key ingredients (for summer reading) include:
-Students choosing their own books based on their interests; this is especially important for early readers; matching books to students’ reading levels is less important than interest;
-Students getting 10-12 books for the summer;
-Students owning the books (versus borrowing them); research across 27 countries found that a home library is as important as parental education and twice as important as the father’s occupation in predicting educational outcomes;
-Students getting series books with familiar language and literacy elements;
-Students selecting slightly more challenging books each summer;
-Students getting e-book or audio formats that provide access to more-challenging material;
-Teachers and parents framing summer reading as fun rather than work, with the goal being enjoyment and exploration rather than remediation and achievement gains.”
This message is a reminder for 5th grade parents:
Dear Grade 5 Parents,
Thank you to everyone who has already registered for the WMS 1:1 program. Just a friendly reminder that there is only one week left to register for the program for the class of 2023. Registration will close on Friday, May 27. No matter which option you choose, we need all families to register online so we can have your student’s iPad ready for the fall.
For information on our program please visit our 1:1 website at wellesleyps.org/1to1program. Here you will find an overview of the program as well as registration links and user agreements. Registration for the program is open from April 14-May 27.
If you have any questions or need assistance please contact the Technology Department at 1to1coordinator.
Dates to remember:
May 27: Grade 5 Chorus, Band, and Orchestra Concert @ 8:50 a.m.
May 30: No school—Memorial Day
June 1, 2, 3: Grade 5 trip to Hale Reservation
June 7: Family Picnic –bring your own dinner and enjoy the band
June 7: LAST WALK TO SCHOOL DAY OF THE YEAR
June 9: Grade 5 Movie Night
June 14: Field Day (raindate is June 16)
June 20: Grade 5 Farewell Assembly @ 9:00 a.m.
June 21: Last day of school—11:50 clap out; 12:00 dismissal