Dear Sprague Community,
The weekly note is a day early this week.
We have just 8 days left until the summer vacation. The year has just flown by. On behalf of the Sprague faculty, I’d like to thank you for your support throughout the school year. We are so fortunate to be part of such a warm and giving school community. As a faculty, we understand that our work is closely linked to your role as parent and supporter of education. Thank you!
There has been a little bit of confusion about this Wednesday’s (June 15) dismissal time. It is a regular Wednesday with at 12:00 dismissal.
Volunteer Appreciation from Faculty:
The faculty would like to invite parents to an informal breakfast before school on Wednesday, June 15th. Please consider stopping by for a bite so we can thank you for your time and support. Parents help us on field trips, in the library, in the classroom, organizing class events, donating books, reading, with creative arts and enrichment programs, and in so many other ways.
Kindergarten and Grade 2 Parents:
Grade 2 will present a short concert (3 songs) on Friday, June 17th at 8:50 a.m. for parents. Kindergarten will present a show and song for parents on Friday, June 17th at 2:00 p.m.
Final PTO Meeting and Appreciation:
The final PTO meeting will take place outdoors in our garden on Friday, June 17th from 9-11 a.m. There will be refreshments as our wonderful PTO president, Elaine Marten, passes the torch to her very capable VP, Jill Fischmann. All are welcome!
Field Day—Tuesday, June 14th
***We will be outside for an extended period of time – Students will need to bring:
1) Large water bottle (filled)
2) Hat
3) Sunscreen
4) Please wear:
sneakers, shorts, short sleeve shirts. (Students are encouraged to wear “Sprague School” attire)
* Rain date is Thursday, the 16th
* Spectators are welcome
There’s still time to sign up to volunteer:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sB4MIcsuwfkMZ4WPCm6qla9RTMJwopbnrAo1AaAizwk/edit?usp=sharing
Dates to remember:
June 14: Field Day
June 15: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast (drop in style from 8:00-8:30)
June 15: Regular Wednesday schedule—12:00 dismissal
June 17: Last PTO Meeting/Garden Party (9-11 a.m.)
June 17: Grade 2 Show at 8:50 a.m. (parents invited)
June 17: Kindergarten Show at 2:00 p.m. (parents invited)
June 20: Farewell Assembly for Grade 5 (Grade 5 parents invited)
June 21: Last day of school—Clap Out at 11:50—all are welcome. (12:00 dismissal)
Please see newsletter from Performing Arts Director, Sabrina Quintana:
Dear Parents,
I have had a wonderful first year serving as the new K-12 Director of Performing Arts in Wellesley Public Schools! There are numerous aspects of the department that I am responsible for including curriculum & instruction, leadership, and supervision over all K-12 general music, music technology and music theory, bands, choirs, orchestras, theater tech, drama & acting classes, and after school music lessons; and overseeing Performing Arts programs, performances, and teachers. I am so pleased to be doing what I love …. ensuring that every student in Wellesley Public Schools has equity and access to high quality, meaningful performing arts education.
Instrumental and Vocal Extension Program (IVEP): We are happy to announce that we are implementing an optional installment plan that will allow parents to pay ahead in monthly increments. For example, tuition payments in June, July, and August, will be prepaid by the time lessons begin in September. We are finalizing this system and will begin Fall registration soon for the IVEP program. Please keep checking our website for when registration is live: www.wellesleyps.org, select “online fee payment” in bottom left menu, then select “Performing Arts.” We will also be updating information this summer on our Performing Arts Department website, http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/performing-arts
2016-2017 Elementary Band & Orchestra: We will begin our elementary bands and orchestras the week of September 26th. These ensembles meet before school from 8:00-8:40 a.m. If your child is in band or orchestra, please plan to drop them off at school by 7:45 a.m. so they can unpack their instrument, assemble, tune, and so they can be ready to begin on time. More information will be provided at the start of school. In the meanwhile, mark your calendars:
Bates: Band with Ms. Verret on Mondays, starting 9/26/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Tuesdays, starting on 9/27/16
Fiske: Band with Ms. Verret on Fridays, starting 9/30/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Mondays, starting 9/26/16
Hardy: Band with Ms. Verret on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Thursdays, starting 9/29/16
Hunnewell: Band with Ms. Dexter on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Fridays, starting 9/30/16
Schofield: Band with Ms. Verret on Thursdays, starting 9/29/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16
Sprague: Band with Ms. Dexter on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Fridays, starting 9/30/16
Upham: Band with Ms. Verret on Wednesdays, starting 9/28/16
Orchestra with Ms. McCann on Tuesdays, starting 9/27/16
| BAND Info | If a student is deemed ready to enter band by a Wellesley IVEP instructor, then they may join the band. If the student is studying outside of the Wellesley IVEP system, the student must first play for the band instructor to be sure they are at an appropriate level for success in the ensemble. The student must be able to independently play the current band music with knowledge of note reading, rhythmic counting, articulation, and metronome use. Deadline for entry in the fall is November 1. Please contact Julie Verret (verretj@wellesleyps.org), or Katie Dexter (dexterk@wellesleyps.org) with any questions. |
| ORCH Info | Who may participate in school orchestra? Any string player (violin, viola, cello, bass, or mandolin) who is in grade 3-5, has had at least one year of lessons, and is able to read music at the level expected in most 1 st -year method books is welcome. Sometimes exceptions are made for 2nd graders who meet these requirements and are ready for the elementary orchestra experience. Students must start orchestra in the fall, making a decision about whether to continue with it by the end of the 3rd rehearsal. Please contact Ms. Mary Alice McCann at mccann.ma@wellesleyps.org with any questions. |
POPS: Thank you POPS parents!
It has been a treat working with POPS this year! (Parents Of Performing Students). We have an Executive Board and POPS parents that have been so dedicated and committed to the Performing Arts Department. They are always willing to step up and help with projects and have provided a lot of support our performances. Because of POPS generosity, we have been able to purchase many items needed for our music classes, bands, choirs, orchestras, stagecraft, and drama/acting classes.
A huge thanks to Sharon Lowe, our POPS President, who is resigning after many wonderful years of service to this valuable organization. She has been an outstanding leader of POPS, always staying in contact with parents and organizing every detail of numerous events and projects! We could have not gotten so many things accomplished without her leadership.
My first year working with POPS has been especially enriching because they have consistently expressed their desire to be helpful in a positive, supportive way. If you have not participated with POPS, we need more elementary parents to get involved. I would like to personally invite you to become a member of POPS; we will be distributing information in the fall, so please keep watch. Also, you may visit the POPS website at www.wellesleypops.org for more information.
If I have not had a chance to meet you, I welcome your contact: Dr. Sabrina Quintana, quintanas, (781) 446-6210, ext. 5720. The WPS district-wide Performing Arts Office is located on the 3rd floor of Wellesley Middle School but will be temporarily moved to Wellesley High School during the WMS summer window replacement project.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sabrina E. Quintana
K-12 Director of Performing Arts
Wellesley Public Schools