Community Input Meeting about the Student Placement Task Force
Monday, June 28, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Room 210
In response to recent discussion of various student placement policies, the Superintendent of Schools has established a task force to:

• review all existing policies and procedures related to student placements
• review enrollments and feeder patterns, including the goal of two high schools of equal size; out-of-district policies for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as policies for students in choice and/or optional zones for elementary schools and feeder patterns to middle and high schools
• recommend timelines for all out-of-district placements
• review recent enrollment projections and procedures for placement of Boston (METCO) students and students of staff who are eligible to attend the Newton Public Schools.

It is not the charge of this Task Force to study facilities use or facilities planning.  However, to fully complete its work, the Task Force will review: school capacity, potential redistricting, and School Committee guidelines around class size.  This information will inform the work of the Long Range Facilities Committee and short-term space options.

The Student Placement Task Force is a school department working group that will be led by Sandra Guryan, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Finance, and Planning.  The timeline for the review will be June 2010 through October 2010. A second public forum will be held in September and a final report will be presented to the School Committee for their approval in November 2010.

We will be voting on the PTO Slate for next year (the 2010-2011 school year), as well as approving amendments to the PTO Bylaws.

Being at the meeting is also a sure way to claim a good seat for the Arch Day program, when each grade will perform a song or two and be announced by Dr. Connolly as an official member of the next grade.

Monday’s Schedule:

10:00 a.m.– PTO Spring Meeting
10:30 a.m. — Arch Day Program
12:00 p.m. — Dismissal!

While you are at school on Monday, don’t forget to check the Lost and Found, on the first floor outside the gym and on the second floor in the hallway near the copy machine!!  All unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill at the end of the day on Monday!

Looking Ahead:

• Tuesday, September 7, First Day of School!

Come to the meeting to hear directly from the developers. This is your opportunity to learn more about the proposed project, and to ask questions and raise concerns about the impact this development will have on our neighborhoods and schools, including Williams.

For more information, visit the Riverside Station Neighborhood Coalition’s website: www.riversidestation.info

Things to remember:

The 5th Grade Play, The Wizard of Oz, will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, June 15. (Please note that the correct time is 7:00 p.m.; the blast on Friday listed an incorrect time!)

Library Gift books must be ordered by Wednesday morning, June 16, in order to be acknowledged on the last day of school.

Thursday, June 17, is a school-wide early release day, and all students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

Looking ahead:

• Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m., 5th Grade Play, The Wizard of Oz
• Thursday, June 17, School-wide Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 17, 7:00 p.m., Meeting at Williams about Riverside development
• Monday, June 21, Last Day of School! Dismissal at 12:00 p.m.
• Monday, June 21, 10:00 a.m., Last PTO Meeting, Williams Gym
• Monday, June 21, 10:30 a.m., Arch Day Celebration, Williams Gym

Library Gift Books are available now!
Each year, our school library grows when parents underwrite the purchase of new books through our Gift Book program. These tributes offer a great way to honor and show gratitude to a special teacher, administrator or friend while complying with Newton’s No Gift Policy. We will pick a wonderful book from Ms. Kosmo’s wish list to dedicate to your honoree.
Your honoree will receive notice of your Gift Book donation on the last day of school.  The name of the honoree, the dedication and your child’s name/family’s name will be inscribed on a bookplate in the book, which will be available for all to enjoy in the Williams library!
Your order must be received by Wednesday morning, June 16th.
Please send a check to the Williams PTO for $15.00 per book, in an envelope marked “Library Gift Books;” also email Carole McElduff (Cmcelduff@msn.com) with your child’s name, the name of the honoree, and an optional short personal message that can be included on the bookplate.

Get your Williams Nation t-shirt and Williams mascots while they last!
We have a limited supply of t-shirts ($10) in youth and adult sizes and stuffed animal mascots ($8.50).  If you are interested in purchasing Williams Wear, please email Sarah Broughel (sbroughel@choate.com).

Riverside Development Informational Meeting:
Developer BH Normandy will be presenting its most recent proposal for the development of the Riverside MBTA station to the community on Thursday, June 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Williams Auditorium.
The developer is planning to create more than one million square feet of offices, retail stores, residential housing and parking at the current Riverside T station on Grove Street. The housing includes a five-story apartment building with 240 housing units, including 23 one-bedroom studios, 103 one-bedroom units, 109 two-bedroom units, and 5 three-bedroom units. To try to handle an expected 12,000 – 13,000 vehicle trips per day, BH Normandy is planning two roundabouts on Grove Street.

Come to the meeting to hear directly from the developers. This is your opportunity to learn more about the proposed project, and to ask questions and raise concerns about the impact this development will have on our neighborhoods and schools, including Williams.

For more information, visit the Riverside Station Neighborhood Coalition’s website: www.riversidestation.info

The Lost and Found bins are overflowing!
Don’t forget to check the Lost and Found, on the first floor outside the gym and on the second floor in the hallway near the copy machine!!  All unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill at the end of the school year!

Looking ahead:

Sunday, June 13, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.,  End-of-Year Picnic CANCELLED
Tuesday, June 15, 7:30 p.m., 5th Grade Play, The Wizard of Oz
Thursday, June 17, School-wide Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, 7:00 p.m., Meeting at Williams about Riverside development
Monday, June 21, Last Day of School!  Dismissal at 12:00 p.m.
Monday, June 21, 10:00 a.m., Last PTO Meeting, Williams Gym
Monday, June 21, 10:30 a.m., Arch Day Celebration, Williams Gym

All of the information about the program, including fees, application procedures and answers to frequently asked questions can be found in the Elementary Early Morning Program Information Packet.

We would like to thank you for the generous donations that were put toward new technology for our classrooms. It is amazing to see the amount of financial support and generosity given by you, the parent community. It has truly enhanced our teaching practices and is helping us cultivate 21st century learners.  Most importantly, it is extremely exciting to see the children as they explore all of the new equipment and extend their learning. Thank you for making Williams School such a wonderful place to be!

Sincerely,
The Williams School Staff

Please view our Thank You Video:  welcome.sfly?fid=8b7289c2ea288741&sid=0ActGrlm4bt2Tlg

Thanks to all the families who are planning to host a table about their country; we are all looking forward to learning from you.
It is not too late to sign up to perform a brief song or dance on Thursday.  If you are interested, please email wendyhurwitz@rcn.com.
We also hope that all families are planning to bring a favorite dish to share that evening, whether or not you are hosting a table.

Williams t-shirts and stuffed animal mascots are available!

On Multicultural Night, you will also have an opportunity to purchase Williams Nation t-shirts ($10) for adults and children in white, grey and red.  We will also be selling lion and teddy bear mascots ($8.50).

These items will also be available at the Book Fair on June 11.  Please contact Sarah Broughel with questions.
Playground Improvement Committee forming now!

If you are a dreamer, a planner or are good with a hammer (and paint brush) join the playground committee!

We are currently in need of someone to re-paint the four square, hopscotch and basketball lines on the Williams black top.  There are also a few rust spots on the play structure that need to be sanded and painted.  Going forward, we would like to find a few parents to be in charge of small playground maintenance jobs like this.  Please email Liz Mirabile if you can help with this now or in the future.

We are also forming a committee to research improvements to the current play structure and the back field.  In 2012, we’re slated to receive some money for our playground from the Boston Marathon.  We are beginning to collect ideas about what we’d like to do and how we will fund these ideas.  If you’d like to join us and/or have some ideas or photos of great play spaces, please email Liz Mirabile.  Thanks!

Trekking Tuesdays continue!
As the nice weather continues, we encourage you to leave your car at home and take your children to school on foot, bicycle, or scooter!  Do you live near other Williams students?  Bring a group with you as you walk!
On Tuesdays, all children, whether they have walked to school or come by car or bus, should come to the back of the school to join Dr. Connolly as she walks with kids around the back field.
Questions? ChristineLacey@gmail.com.

Look for the May Word From Williams in a backpack near you!
We hope you enjoy the hard copy of this issue of the WFW that we sent home in backpacks today.  We are so proud of the Williams Community and the support for our amazing technology fundraising campaign!  The Word is also available online, as always!  And don’t forget to check out the latest Community News!

Looking ahead:

• Thursday, May 27, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Multicultural Night
• Tuesday, June 1, Color Day
• Wednesday, June 2, 7:30 p.m., 4th/5th Grade Band Concert
• Tuesday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Williams Art Show
• Tuesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m., Orchestra and 4th Grade Chorus Concert
• Friday, June 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Book Fair
• Sunday, June 13, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.,  End-of-Year Picnic on Williams field
• Tuesday, June 15, 5th grade play
• Thursday, June 17, Schoolwide Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 21, Last Day of School! (10:30 a.m., Arch Day Celebration)

Enjoy the weekend!

Attention: Second Grade Parents

Next Wednesday, May 19, the second graders will have pedestrian safety training. The training involves taking students outdoors to streets around Williams, and showing them how to walk safely using real streets, sidewalks, and situations.  We will work in small groups: one adult for every three or four students for maximum safety and individual attention. Trained teachers and parent volunteers will lead the training.Your child brought home information and a permission slip in their folder today. Please return the permission slip to school as soon as possible.  We need parent volunteers to help with the training at Williams on May 19 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.  To volunteer: ChristineLacey@gmail.com

Newton Affordable Housing Lottery Information:

Please read this Informational Flyer about affordable housing from the Planning and Development Department at Newton City Hall.

Looking ahead:

• Tuesday, May 18, Trekking Tuesday, Walk or Bike to School!
• Wednesday, May 19, Second Grade Pedestrian Safety Training
• Thursday, May 27, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Multicultural Night
• Tuesday, June 1, Color Day
• Wednesday, June 2, 7:30 p.m., 4th/5th Grade Band Concert
• Tuesday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Williams Art Show
• Tuesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m., Orchestra and 4th Grade Chorus Concert
• Friday, June 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Book Fair
• Sunday, June 13, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.,  End-of-Year Picnic on Williams field
• Tuesday, June 15, 5th grade play
• Thursday, June 17, Schoolwide Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 21, Last Day of School! (10:30 a.m., Arch Day Celebration)

Enjoy the weekend!

Don’t forget to sign up to bring something for the Teachers’ Appreciation Luncheon, a special feast that parents provide for the Williams teachers and staff each spring.

• The theme year is International Cuisine; we hope to feature foods from around the world to celebrate our school’s rich cultural heritage.
• If your family has a favorite item, i.e, salad, entree or dessert, please consider making it for the lunch (we suggest 6-8 servings per item).
• We would love some more international/world music CDs to borrow so we can put together a lively soundtrack for the party.
• We also need an assortment of candy for the pinata (we are hoping for something that would appeal to grown-ups and have an international flavor in keeping with the overall theme)!
• We have set up an online sign-up to make it easier to track what is needed and avoid duplicates. Please make sure to scroll all the way to the right to see the complete list. You can also scroll down to add comments.
• Non-perishable items may be dropped off outside the library on May 11th anytime after morning drop-off. Please bring other items by 11:30pm to the tables outside the library.
• Help will be needed to set-up between 11:30-12:30pm and clean up between 3:00-4:00pm.

If you can help or have any questions/suggestions, please contact Suruchi Kaul (kaulx013@umn.edu) or Heidi Tobin (tobinh@verizon.net)

Fundraising brainstorming session:

If you are interested in thinking about fundraising activities for the 2010-2011 school year, please join the amazing Gail Sokoloff and Carol Bradford-Roe for a brainstorming session on Tuesday May 11, 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. at the Giesser’s, 119 Hancock Street.
The plan for the meeting is to gather feedback on how things went this year — what worked, didn’t work, could be improved etc. and to brainstorm ideas for next year.

Based upon the ideas that come out of this meeting — and the work of several committees  (technology, playground, PTO Board) — Carol and Gail will develop a draft workplan with fundraising goals for next year.

New at Williams! Pedestrian Safety Training:

The Safe Routes to School program is doing a pedestrian safety training with all second graders on Wednesday, May 19 at 2:15 p.m. Parent volunteers will be taking small groups of 4 or 5 students on a walk around the block adjoining Williams.
We will work with the children on looking both ways when crossing, what drivers can see, and why children should walk and not run across the street.

The second graders will be bringing home more information and a permission slip in their folders next week.
Meanwhile, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help run this program. Volunteers will arrive at 1:45 p.m. on May 19 for a brief training, head out with the children at 2:15 p.m., and be back by 2:45 p.m. in time for dismissal.

This is a wonderful program that has been very successful at other Newton schools, and we are excited to bring it to Williams.

Questions or to volunteer: Christine Lacey (ChristineLacey@gmail.com)

Reminder: Please let Mrs. Callaghan in the Williams office (dottie_callaghan@newton.k12.ma.us) know immediately if your child will not be returning to Williams in September!  Thanks.

Medication Information from Nurse Dolly:

Liquid formulations of four infant and children’s medications have been recalled by the manufacturer – Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl.

I have checked all medications here at Williams and have already contacted parents if they needed to replace anything.  So if you haven’t heard from me, your child’s medications at school are all set!

A list of the recalled medications and lot numbers is available online:
http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc

The products were recalled by the manufacturer, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, because they may not meet required quality standards. Some products may contain a higher concentration of the active ingredient than listed; others contain active ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. The Food and Drug Administration says the potential for serious medical events is remote, but it is important for parents to discontinue use of these products.
Consult your health care provider or pharmacist for an alternative, or if you believe your child may have experienced illness because of the recalled medication. Remember, all medication to be administered at school must be accompanied by a physician’s order.

Thank you!

Nurse Dolly (dolly_staulo@newton.k12.ma.us)

Please check the latest Community News listings! Thanks to Webmaster Doug Cornelius for keeping up with all these announcements!

Looking ahead:

• Tuesday, May 11, Trekking Tuesday, Walk or Bike to School!
• Tuesday, May 11, Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
• Thursday, May 27, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Multicultural Night
• Tuesday, June 1, Color Day
• Wednesday, June 2, 7:30 p.m., 4th/5th Grade Band Concert
• Tuesday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Williams Art Show
• Tuesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m., Orchestra and 4th Grade Chorus Concert
• Friday, June 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Book Fair
• Sunday, June 13, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.,  End-of-Year Picnic on Williams field
• Tuesday, June 15, 5th grade play
• Thursday, June 17, Schoolwide Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 21, Last Day of School! (10:00 a.m., Arch Day Celebration)

Enjoy the weekend!