Phone: Eagle Express 413-423-3326 http:// SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER www.erving

VERY BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ERVING, MA NOVEMBER 22nd, 2019 EES students and friends demonstrate their thankfulness by tracing their hands, and writing out what they are thankful for. Those thankful hands are then arranged into a beautiful tree of gratitude!

Some examples of what our students and friends are thankful for!

Monday, December 9th 6th Grade Holiday Bazaar begins November 27-28-29 Wednesday, December 11th “Secret of Parenting” th th th 5:30 – 7:00 pm THANKSGIVING November 27 , 28 & 29 No School for Thanksgiving Break Cafeteria BREAK Wednesday, December 18th Savings makes “cents” NO SCHOOL Friday, December 20th Cookie Exchange and Holiday Concert Early Dismissal 12:00 All-School Sing Monday, December 23rd – th Wednesday, January 1st Monday, November 25 Tuesday, December 3rd Winter Break – No School 2:30 pm PTO Meeting - 6 PM Thursday, January 2nd Wednesday, December 4th Return to school from Winter Break Savings makes “cents”

Sunday, December 8th CNC Playgroup 10-11:30 am From The Principal’s Desk:

Dear Families and Friends of Erving Elementary School,

Even though the beautiful butter7y garden at Erving Elementary School is put to bed for the winter, our 8rst and fourth grade students, community helpers, and staff members planted a mini-meadow pollinator garden at the school this week. Through the support of the Erving Conservation Commission, our new pollinator garden will allow EES students an opportunity to learn about the science of pollination by participating in the Pollinator Protection Program; a program that is sponsored by the Nolumbeka project.

The Nolumbeka project, is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Native Americans/American Indians of New England through educational programs, and they have offered to work with our students, staff, and community and bring their work to Erving Elementary. Their program will give students an opportunity to visit with a professional, indigenous, storyteller; and participate in a community-wide project to create seed balls that will be planted in the mini-meadow pollinator garden. The garden will be part of a pollinator highway that will include other schools that stretch across Franklin County. This is truly an amazing opportunity for the entire EES community, and we are all grateful to the Erving Conservation Commission for funding this project.

On Thursday, I enjoyed my 8rst Thanksgiving Dinner with this amazing school, community members, and parent volunteers. The cafeteria was decorated with beautiful place settings and centerpieces for the festive occasion. I would like to say a big thank you to Donna LaClaire, Yvonne Johnson, Deb Porlier, Gloria Churchill, and Brittanie Mimitz for all of their cooking and preparation. Also to the wonderful group of volunteers that helped make our Thanksgiving dinner a success for all. I would also like to recognize Charlene McDonough for her continued commitment to EES and for organizing the volunteers for the event.

To all members of the Erving Community, I am thankful to be a part of the Erving community and I would like to wish all of you a wonderful, peaceful, relaxing time with your family and friends during the Thanksgiving break.

Sincerely,

Lisa Candito

Please see the pictoral documentary on the following three pages!

……………………………….5th Grade, Mrs. Flaherty

What’s Going on in Fifth Grade Science

The 8fth grade students are just 8nishing a Science Unit on Sound. They have participated in hands-on activities and experiments. Students documented their understanding of how vibrations travel using a model of their paper cup telephones. Students also conducted investigations with balloons to experience the vibrations caused by the sound of their voices. Students constructed an explanation that sound is a vibration. Students then developed a model to explain how sound travels through a medium and how it can cause distant objects to move. In the Spirit of Shel Silverstein’s The The Giving Tree, our Giving Tree is set up in the front lobby to help aid some of our EES families during the holiday Giving season. On the tree are paper mittens: each Tree mitten has an item on it with a speci8c request from one of our Helping Those families. You can come to the school in Need to take a mitten and purchase the item.

PLEASE NOTE: the mitten tags need to be taken off by an adult, and NOT one of our students.

We are asking that all purchased items be returned to the school no later than Friday, December 13th, so we can get them to their 8nal destinations. Items should be delivered to the school unwrapped AND with the mitten attached.

If you would prefer to make a monetary donation to the Giving Tree program, please feel free to leave it in the appointed collection container in the of8ce. Those funds will be used to purchase a requested gift or gift cards.

Thank you all for your help and support to make our Erving families’ holidays special.

Kitchen Corner We want to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to all the volunteers who generously gave their time and effort to make the (no particular order) Yvonne Johnson, Rachelle Sloan, Brittanie Mimitz, Katrina Richotte, Maria Rubinaccio, Donna LaClaire, Tina Spano, Danielle Thanksgiving Lunch Royer, Mark Blatchly, Jillian Betters, Shelagh Andrikidis, Dulcie possible! We could not McAndrews, Taryn McDonough, Jolynn Novak, Sarah Cyhowski, Jess have done it without Allen, Holly Myers, Katie Sadler, & Charlene McDonough you all!

Our Erving Elementary School Family wishes you and your family a happy, and safe, anksgiving Holiday!

ERVING SCHOOL UNION #28 (Erving, Leverett, Shutesbury, New Salem and Wendell)

INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION

WHO IS WATCHING THE WEATHER? The Superintendent and school administrators carefully watch the weather conditions during the snow season.

WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION? Our school district staff listens to the weather forecasts. The Superintendent of Schools and Town Road Superintendent test the road conditions on our bus routes. We also contact the local police about road conditions. We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous bus routes in the district. So, even if it looks clear on your street, dangerous conditions may exist in other parts of our district.

WHAT FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING THE DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOL? The safety of all district children is our primary concern in making our decision. In deciding whether children will be safe, we look at the following factors:

• Information on road conditions from the town’s superintendent of roads and from the police, including whether roads are icy • Time snow starts and the amount of snow • Weather predictions • Building conditions (e.g. whether we have power and heat) • Parking lot conditions • Temperature and wind-chill

WHO MAKES THE DECISION? The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision, based on the above factors and recommendations from the road crews and police.

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE? The Superintendent must make the decision at the earliest possible time so that radio and TV stations can be notified.

HOW IS THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED? Radio is the official medium for notifying all students and parents as to whether or not schools are closed because of weather conditions. Tune to the following stations for up-to-date information on school closings. Do not call the school unless it has an emergency weather extension.

WHAI (98.3 fm) – Greenfield www.whai.com WPVQ (95.3 fm) – Greenfield www.bear953.com WHMP (101.5 fm) Northampton (107.5 fm) Greenfield www..com & WRSI (93.9 fm) Northampton www.wrsi.com KIX (100.9 fm) mykix1009.iheart.com WHYN 560 am – Springfield whyn.com WGAW (1340 am)(wgaw1340.com) – Gardner WWLP Channel 22 – www.wwlp.com WGGB Channel 40 – www.wggb.com NECN www.necn.com/weather/school-closings

WHAT IS THE PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY? The safety of your child is first and foremost! The Union #28 school district covers an enormous amount of geography with many terrain variations. Conditions can change suddenly. On days of questionable weather, you are empowered as a parent to make decisions on what is best for your child.

11/5/2019

Northampton Area Pediatrics Parenting Workshop

When Worrying Takes Over: Managing Anxiety in your Child or Teen with Sharon Saline, Psy.D. and Jonathan Schwab, M.D.

Living in a world that's increasingly unpredictable, today's children and teens are more anxious than ever. Dr. Saline will explain the causes and treatment of anxiety while showing you how to manage it successfully at home and school.

Sunday, December 1st 4pm to 5:30pm 193 Locust St., Northampton

Childcare will be provided at this workshop. Please RSVP for the workshop and childcare. Call us at 413-517-2226 or email [email protected]

Parenting workshops are open to the community and free of charge.

Union #28 Schools Community Network for Children PROGRAM SCHEDULE July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 Call 978-544-5157 for more info or find us on All programs suitable for newborns through preschool age. Combination of free play, music, movement, books, and nursery rhymes at all programs! Come join us! a FRIDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY SUNDAY SUMMER Shutesbury New Salem Erving Wendell Leverett Shutesbury Erving Outdoor TALES & PLAYGROUP PLAYGROUP PLAYGROUP TALES & PLAYGROUP Family PLAYGROUP TUNES 8:45 - 10:15am 10:00 - 11:30am 10:00 - 11:30am TUNES 8:45-10:15am Playtime Joie C. Northfield 9:30 - 11:00am Emily J. Emily J. Sylvia W. 10:30 - 12:00pm 10:00- 10:00-12:00pm Katie T. Heleen C. 11:30 Gillian B. JULY 12,19,26 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 NONE NONE 10, 17, 24, 31 10, 17, 24, 31 NONE NONE AUG 2 5, 12, 19, 26 NONE NONE 7, 14, 21, 28 7, 14, 21, 28 NONE NONE SEPT X 9, 16, 23, 30 10, 17, 24, 11,18, 25 4, 11,18, 25 4, 11,18, 25 13, 20, 27 NONE OCT X 7, 21, 28 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 18, 25 20 NOV X 4, 18, 25 5, 12, 19 6, 13, 20 6, 13, 20 6, 13, 20 1, 8, 22 17 DEC X 2, 9, 16 NONE 4, 11,18 4, 11,18 4, 11,18 NONE 8 JAN X 6, 13, 27 7, 14, 21, 28 8, 15, 22, 29 8, 15, 22, 29 8, 15, 22, 29 10, 17, 24, 31 12 FEB X 3, 10, 24 4, 11, 25 5, 12, 26 5, 12, 26 5, 12, 26 7, 14, 28 9 MAR X 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 4, 11 4, 11, 18, 25 4, 11, 18, 25 6, 13, 20, 27 15 APR X 6, 13, 27 7, 14, 28 8, 15, 29 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 3, 10, 17 5 MAY X 4, 11,18 5, 12, 19, 26 6, 13, 20, 27 6, 13, 20, 27 6, 13, 20, 27 1, 8, 29 17 JUNE X 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 NONE NONE 3, 10, 17, 24 3, 10, 17, 24 NONE NONE Northfield Mt. M.N. Spear Swift River Erving Wendell Library Leverett Shutesbury Erving Recreation & Memorial School Elementary 7 Wendell Depot Rd. Library Elementary Elementary Environmental Library 201 Wendell Rd. School Wendell, MA 75 Montague Rd. School School 28 Center 10 Cooleyville New Salem, MA 28 Northfield Rd. 978-544-3559 Leverett, MA 23 West Pelham Rd. 99 Millers Falls Northfield Rd. 978-544-5157 Erving, MA 413-548-9220 Shutesbury, MA Rd. Rd. Shutesbury, MA (CNC Office #) 413-423-3326 413-259-1212 Northfield, MA Erving,MA 413-259-1213 Please note: Ongoing programs may not occur during school vacations or holidays. Please check the schedule! If inclement weather is a concern, call the CNC office for message/update, check Facebook or the CNC Website for info. All programs are supported in part by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant from The Department of Early Education and Care. Programs also supported by the Friends of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library, Friends of the Leverett Library, Friends of the Wendell Free Library, Shutesbury Elementary School, Erving Elementary School, Swift River School, and donations from friends in the community. Updated 9/5/2019