Cutler School Blog

Cutler School Council

2010-10-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Cutler School Council has been in place since October 3, 1993. Their mission is to facilitate understanding within the school community and developing a School Improvement Plan as outlined by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. The School Council is comprised of equal numbers of teachers and parents and it serves as an advisory board to the principal. Currently, we have one parent representative position vacant. The School Council meets monthly after school on Thursday afternoons.

As a preliminary step in the election process, we would like to ask that nominations be submitted to Lisa Little via email at lisalittle@comcast.net or through the Cutler office by Friday, October 8th. You may nominate yourself or another parent with his/her permission. After all the nominations have been collected. we will send out the names on a ballot to our parents. We are hoping that many of you will consider this opportunity to take part in decisions affecting the operation of Cutler School. Please contact Lisa Little or Laurie McKechnie, Co-Presidents of Friends of Cutler if you have questions.

Reminder

2010-10-01T09:56:00.001-07:00

Please be sure to confirm your child's after school plans prior to sending them to school. A note to the teacher is required for any changes to the child's regular transportation routine. Unconfirmed plans cause a disruption to the calssroom and confusion for the child. Thank you for making every effort to have plans in place with notes before your child goes to school.

Game Night

2010-10-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Cutler invite you to a pizza dinner and fun night of bingo with toy prizes. Game Night is Friday, November 19th. First seating is 4:45-6:00, second seating is 6:30-7:45 in the Cutler School cafeteria. Game Night is a family night of fun, pizza, bingo and prizes! On the night of the event, pizza and beverages will be served followed by bingo for everyone. Every child who plays goes home with a prize! This year we will incorporate Toys for Tots and the children will have an opportunity to donate prizes to this charity on the night of the event.

Admission is $5.00 per person and includes one slice of pizza, one drink and two complimentary bingo cards. Additional pizza will be available for $1.00 per slice. Bring along extra change for the bake sale afterwards. Admission is limited so sign up early to get into the session of your choice.

All prizes for Game Night are donated by parents and we are beginning to collect toys now. We need new toys ($5.00 value) and they can be dropped off in the container marked "Game Night" outside the school office. Gift certificates are wonderful ideas and you can also make a monetary donation since we will be shopping for toys as well. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Grade 5 Curriculum Connection

2010-10-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

We are off to a terrific start in fifth grade! In Social Studies, students have been investigating the ancient civilizations of the Inca, Aztec, and Maya. They have been reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through cross-number puzzles and input-output tables in Math. As part of their study of the solar system in Science, fifth graders have been tracking outdoor shadows. They have also participated in skits to demonstrate the earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun. Reading and writing are happening in various forms in all three classrooms, from letter writing to multi-paragraph narratives, non-fiction research to reading fiction for pleasure.

In addition to their academic responsibilities, fifth graders have begun to assume their leadership roles a Cutler School via All School Meeting, assisting with dismissal, and acting as role models on the buses to and from school. String Jam is starting the school year with 32 eager musicians, the largest number yet since String Jam's inception. The fifth grade is looking forward to a year of exploration, learning, and fun!

DATES TO REMEMBER

2010-09-23T05:17:00.001-07:00

• School Picture Day, Thursday, October 7th. SMILE!!!!! Forms will be coming home
soon.
• Honor Chorus –Honor Chorus will start on Tuesday, Sept. 28th and will meet
every Tuesday and Thursday at Buker.

OPENING FOR BUS MONITOR/BUS MONITOR SUBSTITUTE

2010-09-23T05:16:00.001-07:00

The district office is now accepting applications for part-time bus monitor substitutes on the special needs bus(es). There are two routes daily : morning 7:00 – 9:00, and afternoons 2:00 – 4:00 (Wednesdays 12:30 – 2:30). Monitors can work single or multiple routes, and the compensation rate is $11.58/hr. If interested, please call the Student Services office @ 978-468-5303 and ask for Ann, or email butterwortha@hwschools.net.

Friends of Cutler FUND DRIVE

2010-09-23T05:15:00.001-07:00

We haven’t reached our goal yet...
But we have raised $4,000 out of the $14,000 needed. The Friends of Cutler has initiated a Fund Drive this year as our major fundraising effort. Help support Friends of Cutler with our first annual Fund Drive. Our goal is to raise $14,000 with a family donation of only $65 for the year. This will help cover field trips, technology and cultural enrichment programs that support Cutler School outside of the school budget. If each family only donated $65 we would be able to greatly reduce our overall fundraising efforts throughout the year. We hope you will consider making a donation that you are comfortable with. All families are welcome at Friends of Cutler sponsored events regardless of the amount that you are comfortable contributing to our fund drive. Employee Matching Funds: Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by
their employees. Find out if your company has a matching gift program. Request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it completed and signed with your gift. We will do the rest. The impact of your gift may be doubled or possibly tripled! Thank you to the families who have made your donation. We are on our way! Please help spread the word and look for our updates on the progress we are making.
Thank you for your support,
Lisa Little & Laurie McKechnie
Co-Presidents Friends of Cutler
How to make a donation:
• Send an envelope to the Cutler office marked "Friends of Cutler" Attention: Kathleen O'Sullivan
• Mail your donation to: Friends of Cutler c/o Kathleen O'Sullivan 315 Asbury St.,
Hamilton, MA 01982
The Friends of Cutler is a non-profit organization. Tax ID #20-3553632

FRIENDS OF CUTLER: BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

2010-09-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

Make a difference with Box Tops!
Dear Cutler School Friends, Parents, Children and Grandparents,
As the Box Tops for Education volunteer coordinator for Cutler School this year, the 5th graders want to tell you how you can help us earn some money for the Friends of Cutler to support the teachers and extra programs at our school. Last year we earned several hundred dollars, but have a more lofty goal of $1000 this year. Box Tops gives you three easy ways to help. First, clip Box Tops from your favorite brands like General Mills, Betty Crocker (but don’t send in Betty Crocker coupons because those don’t count), Pillsbury, Ziploc, Kleenex and many more…go to www.boxtops4education.com to view all the brands. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents with some Super Box Tops that are worth 30 cents. Please only send in Box Tops! It would also be quite helpful if you bagged the Box Tops in groups of 50 in a Ziploc bag with 50 written on the outside of the bag so we know that it’s the correct count. Super Box Tops need to be bagged separately. You don’t have to do this, but if you have time that would be great. Secondly, through the Box Tops Marketplace you can shop at over 60 popular online stores to earn cash for our school. Stores like Lands’ End and JCPenney have agreed to donate up to 8% our every qualifying purchase (up to $20,000) to our school. We haven’t promoted this before so this could really add to our yearly total. Thirdly, if you get a Box Tops Visa card you’ll earn 1% cash back for Cutler School (up to $20,000) on every purchase you make. You can apply online at www.boxtops4education.com. The boxtops4education website also allows you to download coupons, has new recipes every month and there is an activity center for the kids. So please view the website and start clipping Box Tops to help the Friends of Cutler earn cash for our school. Thanks to all parents, friends and grandparents of Cutler for clipping and saving. Your child can
drop their collection of box tops in the giant box tops box located next to Mrs. Clifford’s office. With all your hard work we can reach our goal!

News from Adjustment Counselor’s office

2010-09-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

On Monday, September 27th, at 7:00, we will hold a parent forum at the Winthrop School to discuss the District’s safety curriculum, Kids and Company: Together for Safety. As you may know, this is a comprehensive program taught in grades K-5 that provides children with the skills, information, self-confidence and support necessary to prevent abduction and sexual abuse. The program takes a positive and constructive approach in helping children respond to various situations and make safe decisions.
Kids and Company has been taught in the district for over 16 years. The forum will provide parents who are unfamiliar with the program an overview of the skills that are taught, and a chance to view the materials used.
If you have any questions about the program or the forum, please contact Dolly McIlvaine, School Counselor at 978-468-847

School Council Volunteer Needed

2010-09-17T11:38:00.001-07:00

Cutler School Council has one opening for a parent representative for the 2010/2011 school year. School Council is responsible for developing our school improvement plan. Meetings are held monthly, on Thursdays at 3:15pm. Please submit your interest in writing to Jennifer Clifford.

Friends of Cutler Update

2010-09-17T11:35:00.001-07:00

In an effort to improve The Friends of Cutler communication we will be using Constant Contact. This system will allow us to keep you informed about Friends meetings, events and volunteer opportunities through out the school year. If you are a new family or have changed your email address and would like to be added to our mailing list please send us an email: friendsofcutler@gmail.com and we would be happy to add you to our mailing list. We hope you will find this information helpful and we welcome your feedback.

Lisa Little & Laurie McKechnie
Co-Presidents
Friends of Cutler

Update from the Art Room

2010-09-17T11:34:00.004-07:00

The art room does not provide paint shirts for students. Although we use ‘washable’ paints and other materials we encourage dressing appropriately for messy projects in art class. Students are welcome to bring their own art smocks, which can be stored in their cubby in a plastic bag and labeled with their name.

Crosby’s Register Tapes for Education

2010-09-17T11:34:00.002-07:00

Our school is participating in the Register Tapes for Education Program. Please help us earn free educational equipment such as computers, science, music or sports equipment and more, by collecting register receipts from Crosby’s Marketplace in Hamilton. Register tapes can be collected from September 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011 are eligible. Please send collected tapes to the Cutler School office. If you have any questions, please contact me at heberth@hwschools.net
Thank you for your help,
Heidi Hebert

Orton Gillingham Reading Clinic

2010-09-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Beginning in October, a small number of eligible students in grades one through three will have the opportunity to enroll in an Orton Gillingham Reading Clinic two afternoons per week for a nominal fee. For more information, please see the letter and enrollment request form posted on the Cutler website.

ATTENTION GRADE 4 AND GRADE 5 PARENTS:

2010-09-17T11:33:00.003-07:00

This week your child will see a demonstration of musical instruments, presented by Erik Fecke, Director of Bands.

As a fourth or fifth grader, your child may participate in the Elementary Instrument Program.
 Beginner Group Lessons are offered for trumpet, clarinet, flute, saxophone and percussion.
 Musicians with at least one prior year of instruction may join the Elementary Ensemble.
For more information and to download registration forms, please go to your school’s homepage, and click on the link to: Hamilton-Wenham Elementary Instrument Program.
Registrations must be returned to the school office by Friday, 9/24/10.
Questions? Please email Chris Petrou, hwelementarymusic@yahoo.com

THANK YOU!

2010-09-17T11:33:00.001-07:00

Thank you to the Friends of Cutler for hosting the Ice Cream Social. It was a huge success and a great way to start the school year!

DATES TO REMEMBER

2010-09-17T11:32:00.001-07:00

• K-5 Curriculum Night, Wednesday, Sept. 29th. Parents are invited to join teachers to learn about this year’s curriculum expectations. Please note the split times; parents of students in kindergarten, first, and second grades will meet with teachers at 6:30pm, all parents may gather to hear Ms. Clifford at 7:15pm, followed directly by presentations for parents of students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.
• School Picture Day, Thursday, October 7th. SMILE!!!!! Forms will be coming home soon

Summer Reading

2010-08-20T06:44:00.001-07:00

Check out the Cutler Summer reading list on the Cutler web site. There are lots of good books for you to read.

Just for fun, email Mrs. Hebert (heberth@hwschools.net) or bring to school in September, a picture of yourself reading somewhere over the summer. You might be on the beach, in a park, in a tent, in a car, on a boat, on a swing…doesn’t matter where, but capture yourself reading! At the beginning of the year we’ll create a slideshow of photographs to share in the library.

Elementary Chorus Piano Accompanist Needed

2010-08-20T06:43:00.004-07:00

The elementary chorus, under the direction of Kendall Georges, is in need of a volunteer piano accompanist for the 2010-2011 season. This is a wonderful and valuable way become involved with children’s voices making beautiful music. It is not necessary to have a child in the chorus or even in the schools…community members are welcome! Rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:15 at Buker School with 3 concerts per year. If interested please contact Mrs. Georges at georgesk@hwschools.net.

Cutler Family Clean-up Day

2010-08-20T06:43:00.002-07:00

Friday, August 27th is Cutler Clean-up Day from 8:30 to 10:30. Participants should bring weeders, weed buckets, trash bags, hoes, rakes and water. Come help make the Cutler grounds beautiful and get a sneak peek at the new playground equipment!

We are almost ready!

2010-08-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

We are almost ready! The Cutler HVAC Project is nearly complete and classrooms are being meticulously cleaned and prepared for students. You may encounter boxes in classrooms and bulletin boards may not be as nicely decorated as they usually are at this time of year, but we are working hard to ready the school for the arrival of students on September 1. Teachers will have a very limited amount of time to prepare their rooms compared to a typical summer (less than a week instead of a month!). A phenomenal amount of work has been done this summer in order to complete this project on time.