Volume 14, Volume Issue 3

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“Creative” Writing from Mrs. Hadlock’s Room

Chris Van Allsburg By Amelia Treat Our class did an author study on . In case you do not know who Chris Van Allsburg is, he is an author and an illustrator. We finished reading 15 of his books and liked every one of them very much. Some of his pictures are black and white. But others are in color. Did you know that Chris Van Allsburg was the one who wrote ? Here are everyone’s favorites: The Garden of Abdul Gazasi 1 2 The Wreck of the Zephyr 1 1 The Widow’s Broom 1 The Sweetest Fig 9 Probuditi 3 My favorite book was Probuditi because it was about girl who got hypnotized or pretended to be hypnotized by her brother and acted like a dog. They were all really good and left you off with either a cliffhanger ending or wondering what really happened. Some kids in our class were inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick . In this book there are pic- tures with captions only. Some kids used the pictures and captions as story starters and are publishing them!

THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE By Maura Zettergren

Twelve-year-old Kyle was exhausted. He just had the longest day at the library. He read a book about a house that went up in space but he didn’t finish. Kyle just slid into bed not noticing any- thing. Just that second Kyle shook, bounced, and leaped. His whole house and room crashed. Nothing was in its place, not even the house. It was a perfect lift off. Kyle was so worried. He was thinking about what his mom and dad had said when they left. “We will be back at 12:00. Don’t get into any trouble,” his mom had told Kyle before she left. There’s no way that there’s time to get the house back down, he thought. Kyle took a deep breath. By now the house was 20 feet in the air. But when the house was at 30 feet in the air something happened. (Now reader I would think it was a good thing but actually the house went faster up in the air.) continued on page 3

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 Page 2 “Creative” Writing from Mrs. Hadlock’s Room (continued)

continued from page 2 Kyle was amazed and frightened at the same time. He pulled up his covers as fast as a cheetah could go. After a while the sky became dark. Kyle opened his eyes and went downstairs curiously. He went to the porch jumping over broken pots and dishes. When he got to the porch, Kyle noticed stars all around him. It was the coolest thing he saw. He actually touched one. It was as cold as an ice cube. Kyle was in space! When he looked around he spotted a star sitting on the bench next to the door. He fainted in amazement. “Kyle, Kyle, Kyle.” Kyle opened his eyes to his mom and dad. Without saying a word, he sprinted downstairs finding nothing around for evidence to show his parents. He was scared. He wanted to show them what had happened. If he didn’t, it might happen again. Right then Kyle remembered the book in the library that he had not finished. He bolted out- side, but that second when he touched the ground, the house blasted off in space. It was another per- fect lift off. All he could do was watch!

THE MIST MAN The man saw where the rug was and it By Drew Morris was indescribably pinned against the wall. The man swore he saw the gold Papers flew everywhere. The house itself doorknob turn back …forth …back … forth. shook. The man dashed outside to see The old dial radio mysteriously started go- who or what was doing this but all he saw ing round and round until it all stopped. But was a man, a single man. This man-thing not for long - all the cans on the shelf pointed directly at the old man. started rattling and moving at will. The Then with a flash, he disappeared, ragged figure skates started spinning faster and just like THAT the mist also immedi- and faster and faster and the mayhem fi- ately disappeared. The old man was nally stopped. The terrorized man hid be- dumbfounded. hind his rug in a corner. Nobody appeared. “It just wasn’t done,” he told him- Two days passed and the man stayed. It self. “It-it’s impossible,” he stuttered. He was as if the world stopped spinning. Nei- slowly walked to the beat up car and ther the man nor the neighbors went out- barely thought about driving he was doing. side because of all the ruckus. He stopped and limped out of his car and The man finally got the courage to went right to the records at Town Hall. He stand and cautiously walk to the old, stained searched every single file and even door. His hand shivered as he rotated the checked nicknames including… “the mist knob and slowly opened the door. But all that man.” was in sight was mist - dark, gloomy, mys- Over time everyone left the old terious mist. You could almost see the horror “haunted” village, except one, just one. bulging out of the man’s eyes. Fear over- The old man appeared from the whelmed him and pushed him back to his shadows speaking three revengeful corner. words. “Come Mist Man.” But something was wrong. Where Then another figure emerged from was the rug? Then it all started over again. the depths of the now peaceful village.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 Page 3 From the JLS Garden Committee

Mark your calendars:

SPRING GARDEN CLEAN UP

Friday, April 26 11:00 a.m. –1:45 p.m.

Parent Volunteers: We need your help!

Even if you can participate for some of the time, we would love to have your help.

It’s time to get the gardens ready for spring. First and second graders will be signing up

in their classrooms to help during recess. Parents who are planning to help are asked

to bring clippers, gloves, a wheelbarrow and a tarp or old sheet, if possible.

Members of the Garden Committee will coordinate the tasks.

We look forward to seeing you there!

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 Page 4 April 22, 2013 Dear Community Members and School Staff, The Governor’s proposed budget eliminated transportation funding that amounted to a loss of $282,000 for Regional School District 13. The Appro- priations Committee also proposed the elimination of transportation funding. Student transportation is fundamental to the educational process and is man- dated to be made available to all students. Transportation accounts for 5% of the total school budget and the elimination of the grant is a significant finan- cial loss to the district. It is imperative that you contact your legislators (listed below) and let them know that you want the transportation grant re- stored. We thank you for your efforts. Susan Viccaro, Superintendent Kerrie Flanagan, Board Chair Laura Francis, Durham Selectman Jon Brayshaw, Middlefield Selectman

Legislator’s Contact Information

Sen. Ed Meyer Email: [email protected] Phone: (860) 240-0455

Sen. Len Fasano Phone: (860) 240-8824 Email: ctsenatorrepublicans.com/hom-fasano/

Vincent Candelora Phone: (860) 240-8700 Email: cthousegop.com/vin-candelora/

Noreen Kokoruda Phone: (860) 240-8700 Email: cthousegop.com/noreer-kokoruda/

Sen. Dante Bartolomeo Phone: (860) 240-0441

State Rep. Emil Altobello Phone: (860) 240-8500

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 Page 5 Notes from the Principal’s Office

Though it feels like it has taken a long time to arrive, spring is finally here! And with spring comes a very busy time at John Lyman School. The next two and a half months will be full of field trips, concerts, and other events, and we hope you will be able to join us for some of them. As usual, I want to update you on recent and future happenings at John Lyman School. Please visit our website frequently for updates as well.

ARTFARM

Thanks to the JLPA, John Lyman students participated in a K-4 teaching artist residency the week before April vacation. Circus artists and performers from ARTFARM, a local per- forming troupe, worked with students during P.E. and Music classes on such skills as juggling, tumbling, acrobatic dance, and hooping. As a culmination of the residency, a focus group of third and fourth graders shared their learning at our Weekly Assembly. It was a great experi- ence for our students, so many thanks to the JLPA!

Leadershop

On Friday, April 12, John Lyman School hosted a HOT Schools’ Leadershop. Educators from other districts were invited to observe HOT strategies in action. Sharon Berndt and Mike Meurs, Lyman’s HOT Schools Co-Site Coordinators, organized the day. Our visitors were able to visit classrooms, observe student-led activities, and join us for Assembly. All in all, it was an excellent day and we received wonderful feedback and compliments from the participants.

David Wenzel ––– April 26

On Friday, April 26, local artist and illustrator David Wenzel will be spending the day at John Lyman School. Mr. Wenzel is perhaps best known for his illustrated version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit . He will be working with kindergarten students and focus groups in grades 1/2 and 3/4. In addition, Mr. Wenzel will do an all-school presentation beginning at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. We are very excited to have an artist of David Wenzel’s caliber working with our children.

continued on page 7

THE INTEGRATED UPDATE Page 6 Notes from the Principal’s Office (continued from page 6)

JLPA Play ––– Annie, Jr.

The JLPA play, Annie, Jr. , is just around the corner. There will be three performances: Fri- day, May 3 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. All of the shows will be at Coginchaug Regional High School. We hope you will be able to join us for one of the performances!

Share Fair 2013 ––– May 9

The Integrated Day Share Fair is coming! The Share Fair will be held on Thursday, May 9, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at John Lyman School. The Share Fair is a K-8 celebration of academics and the arts across the Integrated Day program. The children select work for display from a variety of subject areas, and there are also student performances and interactive math activities that will be ongoing throughout the evening. This is a drop-in event, so we hope to see you there!

Kindergarten Visits

Incoming 2013 – 2014 kindergarten students are invited to visit John Lyman School on Friday, May 10, from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. The children will have an opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and explore the classrooms. This is a delayed-opening morning for professional develop- ment, so the current kindergarteners will not be in the classrooms. We look forward to meeting the newest John Lyman students!

Other Upcoming Spring Events

We will be sending a detailed list of upcoming May and June events, including concerts, field trips, and other Lyman happenings. Please expect to see the schedule in the Wednesday envelope soon. You can also check our website for information.

Buzzing In

As always, we are very concerned about safety and security at John Lyman School. We con- tinue to ask you to state your name and the purpose for your visit when you buzz in at the main door. Even though we know most of you well, we still ask you to do this each time you come to school. In addition, we would ask that you buzz in individually and not hold the door for people who have not spoken to the office staff. We appreciate your understanding and support.

continued on page 8

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3 Page 7 Notes from the Principal’s Office (continued from page 7)

Computer Lab Update

The new and improved computer lab has been hopping since its renovation in late Janu- ary. There are all kinds of wonderful technology projects happening in each grade level, and I encourage you to visit classroom websites to learn more about them. Thanks again to the JLPA for donating the tables and the iPad cart that made the improvements possible!

Twitter

As noted in the last Integrated Update, I am on Twitter along with a number of other John Lyman and Region 13 staff members. I use Twitter as a tool for sharing information about what is going on at Lyman. Here is my Twitter handle for anyone who might be interested:

@TFord_LymanCT

Even with all of the snow days, the next few months will go by very quickly. We are ex- cited about the spring and look forward to closing the year on a strong note. As always, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me if you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts to share. Thank you again for all of your support!

Thomas Ford

Principal

THE INTEGRATED UPDATE Page 8