[Apssan] April 8th Sanborn Weekly

Tue Apr 8 11:59:51 EDT 2008

The Sanborn Weekly ~ April 8, 2008

FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

Looking Ahead to 2008-09

It is hard to believe that we have entered our last trimester of the
2007-2008 school year.  Heading into spring, we all begin to look ahead
to the coming year.  As we think of children moving up to the next grade
level often come questions about student placement.  I want to explain
the process that we will be using so that you will have a better
understanding as to how decisions around placement will be made.  

I want you to know that this is a thoughtful and deliberate process and
our greatest priority will be to balance the classrooms in order to
provide the best possible learning experience for all of the children.
Goals include making sure that classrooms are balanced with equal
numbers of boys and girls (to the best of our ability based on
enrollment), and that each child is placed in a classroom with a buddy
or someone familiar from his/her current class. We consider
social/emotional factors, whether students work independently or need a
great deal of support and balance ability levels in each classroom.
These are the criteria considered when placing each child.  We use
existing assessment data, as well as teacher input during this process.
Most children adapt well to their new classroom situations.  However,
occasionally there are a few children that require special consideration
and there is a need to carefully place a child in a particular setting
and we deal with these instances as they arise.  

Coming home today in the backpacks of children in grades K - 4 is a
Student Placement Information Sheet.  If you have information about your
child that you would like us to consider, please complete this sheet and
return to your child's current teacher by Friday, April 18th.  Please do
not request a specific teacher.  Please be assured that the entire staff
is working incredibly hard to honor this process so that we create
well-balanced classrooms for the children.  Should you have any
questions, feel free to contact me via phone or email.  

Walk to School Day

This Thursday, April 10th is Walk to School Day.  Children are
encouraged to gather at one of the "start points" at 7:45 A.M. and walk
to school as a group, accompanied by parent volunteers.  The "start
points" are:  driveway of 11 Lovejoy Road, Holly Terrace/Lovejoy Road
intersection (7:55 start time from this meeting point only), Wabanaki
Way/Shawnee Circle intersection, Lowell Street at Andover Bible Chapel
parking lot and Boston Sports Club parking lot (near the basketball
court). Another Walk to School Day will be held later this spring.  For
our future Walk to School Day, we will select a day, other than
Thursday, so those who are unable to participate this week will be able
to join in.

May MCAS Dates

The MCAS schedule for the May test administration is as follows:

Grade 3 Math:  May 15 and 16

Grade 4 Math: May 13 and 14

Grade 5 Math:  May 12 and 13

Grade 5 Science:  May 19 and 20

Grade 5 Social Studies:  May 22 and 23

Expanded Learning Time Informational Meetings

Please join us on Thursday, April 17 to hear more about Expanded
Learning Time.  There will be a brief slide show presentation followed
by a question and answer period.  The meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M.
in the Sanborn cafeteria.  Also, parents of fourth and fifth graders who
will attend Wood Hill Middle School are invited to attend an ELT
informational meeting at Wood Hill Middle School on Tuesday, April 15 at
7:00 P.M. in the Wood Hill Auditorium.

FROM THE P.T.O.

Sanborn Spotlight Talent Show

Rehearsals for the talent show will be held today and Thursday, April
10th from 3:00 - 4:00 P.M.  The dress rehearsal will be Tuesday, April
15th from 3:00 - 5:00 P.M.  The talent show will be held for the
students on Wednesday, April 16 at 1:00 P.M.  There will be an evening
performance, also on Wednesday, at 6:30 P.M.  Everyone is invited.
Admission is free.

FROM THE COMMUNITY

Zero Waste Day ~ Saturday, May 3rd

Save the date for the Andover Recycling Committee's fourth annual Zero
Waste Day event!  Spring is coming and it is time to clean out those
closets, basements and garages!  Zero Waste Day is coming again.... it
is a perfect opportunity to de-clutter your home while helping our local
charitable organizations:

When:  Saturday May 3rd, 9:00am - Noon

Where: At the rear of Brickstone Parking lot.
Charities such as St. Vincent's de Paul, Lazarus House, Lowell Wish,
Bikes Not Bombs and Got Books will be there, along with a few new ones:
MSPCA of Nevins farm and Community Giving Tree of Boxford.  So, start
cleaning out your closets and drive on through Zero Waste Day.  The
volunteers even help you unload your car!

Dates to Remember

Tuesday, April 8 - Author Kathleen Duble visits Sanborn.

Wednesday, April 9 - Author Kathleen Duble visits Sanborn.

Thursday, April 10 - Walk to School Day; PTO Meeting, 9:00 A.M.; ELT
Meeting, 3:30 P.M.

Friday, April 11 - PTO-sponsored Movie Night, 7:00 P.M.

Sunday, April 13 - TV Turn-off Week begins

Tuesday, April 15 - ELT Meeting, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.

Wednesday, April 16 - Talent Show, 1:00 and 6:30 P.M.

Thursday, April 17 - Grade 3 Bee Keeper; Sanborn Mini-Marathon, 3:15 -
4:30 P.M.; ELT Parent Information Night, 7:00 P.M.

Friday, April 18 - Student Placement Information sheets due; School
vacation begins

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