Coolidge Chronicle
March 3, 2024
A Message from Mrs. Ostrander
LAST CALL FOR RSVPS! Cultural Connections Week & Celebration of Us- March 4th to March 8th
We are excited to share that Coolidge School will be celebrating our community’s rich culture and diversity from March 4 to March 8th during a Cultural Connections Week! Our school continues to become more diverse, and with that comes a wealth of family traditions and cultural practices. Culture is something typically a shared tradition in a shared community. It is something that may have started in a different country, or right here in the United States.
During Cultural Connections Week, we will have the Celebration of Us as a culminating event to share in a potluck meal, family traditions, and student performances. See the flyer above for more details and to RSVP! (The flyer is clickable!) Some of the finer details include:
In the Gymnasium, you can engage in a potluck dinner and view cultural displays.
In the Cafeteria, you can watch cultural presentations. The cafeteria performances were made possible thanks to student volunteers. The schedule of performances is as follows:
6:05-6:10. Emma & Gianna
6:15-6:20 Dhanush
6:20-6:25. Swarduhni
6:30-6:35. Shriya
6:40-6:45. Ethan
6:50-6:55. Dhanushka
7:00-7:05. Sadie Thompson
7:10-7:15. Priyal, Naayva, Aadya
Along with our cultural celebrations, the Coolidge Book Fair will be available for all who would like to shop in the Media Center. The book fair will be open 6:00-7:15pm.
We hope to see you next week either during the day at Cultural Connections Week and at the Celebration of Us!
COOLIDGE COMMUNITY PHOTOS
Non-Fiction Fossilization!
Teamed up in this photo are Procacini students working together using a non-fiction text to re-read to communicate the steps of fossilization! In grade 2 students use non-fiction texts to ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of the text and communicate technical procedures using the text as evidence.
Mrs. Watkins!
Mrs. Watkins is the paraprofessional who supports Grade 2 classrooms at Coolidge! She works with all three classes, supporting small-group instruction in reading and math. Mrs. Watkins is new to Coolidge this year, and we are so glad to have her on board!
Poetry Writing in Gaines Classroom
Grade 1 Gaines Students are working on creating poetry by using interesting adjectives and prepositions. Their verses are focused on helping the reader to envision what the sun sees.
Total Participation Professional Development
Our Coolidge Educators are working to embed total participation strategies in every subject area. Total participation techniques (TPT) are teaching techniques that provide evidence of active participation and cognitive engagement from all students at the same time. Here are our teachers using response cards as a TPT strategy.
COOLIDGE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
March Musician of the Month - Ludwig van Beethoven
March is Music In Our Schools Month and was created over 40 years ago to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children. Therefore during the Month of March we try to highlight a musician who has a focus on Orchestral music. This month we will be focusing on the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven was born in December of 1770 in Bonn Germany. At the age of 11 he began his career as a performer, acting as assistant organists in a nobleman's court and not long after he began to compose music. Beethoven became known for his skillful piano playing and became very famous following a large public concert in Vienna. In the late 1790’s Beethoven began to lose his hearing. Despite this hearing loss he continued to perform piano and compose. By 1819 Beethoven was completely deaf and no longer performing, rather he focused his energy on composing. If you care to listen to some of Beethoven's greatest works click this spotify link to access a playlist of some of their most notable tunes. Please note that you will need to create a spotify account to play these songs, it is free with some Ads.
NEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Coolidge School Council - Enrichment Activities Survey
The Coolidge School Council, comprised of staff, parents, and a community member, has identified the school improvement goal of creating an equitable and exciting enrichment menu for Coolidge Students. We would like to hear your thoughts on the current enrichment offerings at Coolidge and learn more about the strengths and barriers to programming. Please CLICK HERE or click the pocture above to take this 3-minute survey.
Information gained from this survey will be used to improve the Coolidge enrichment offerings. Your name will not be collected on this survey; however, responses will be communicated with others publicly through the Coolidge Chronicle.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Do you have a child entering kindergarten next year? Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. We invite you to register your incoming kindergartener now in preparation for next fall. Information can be found on the Shrewsbury Public Schools website under Student Registration or click the picture above.
Completion Ceremony Meeting - 4th Grade Parent Volunteers Needed!
Calling all Fourth Grade Parents! We are looking for fourth grade parents to attend a planning meeting for the upcoming 4th Grade Completion Ceremony that will occur later in June. (Date to be determined.) The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 13th at 4:00 at Coolidge in person in room 31. A Zoom link is provided for those who can only join virtually. During this meeting coordinating the 4th grade signature 2024 T-shirt, creating and publishing the 4thgrade yearbook, as well as organizing the 4th grade ice cream social will be discussed as we are looking for parent volunteers to help with all of these endeavors. The meeting should last no longer than 45 minutes.
Zoom Link:
https://shrewsburyps.zoom.us/j/82842897103?pwd=NS95bThxZkkyU0I2OUVKaU5uRlJ3Zz09
Meeting ID
828 4289 7103
If you want to help out, yet are unable to attend the meeting, please send an email to Miss Finneran (kfinneran@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us) so your name can be added to the volunteer list.
REPEATED IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SUMMER ENRICHMENT
Registration for the Summer Enrichment program will open Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00AM.
You can learn more about the program and preview the catalog here.
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/extendedlearning/summer-programs
Location: Sherwood Middle School
For students who will be entering grades 1-8 in fall of 2024
Dates: June 24-27, July 8-11, July 15-18 and July 22-25
Half-day and Full-day options are available, with dozens of classes to choose from each week.
Each half-day class costs $100 per week. Students who meet the financial guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program can use the code SUMMER50 at checkout to receive a 50% discount off their total fees.
SUMMER ROBOTICS
Registration for the Summer Robotics Program will open Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00AM.
You can learn more about the program here.
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/extendedlearning/summer-robotics
Location: Shrewsbury High
For students who will be entering grades 4-8 in the fall of 2024
Dates: July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26 and July 29-Aug 2
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-3:30
Cost: $310 per week.
Students who meet the financial guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program can use the code SUMMER50 at checkout to receive a 50% discount off their total fees.
MCAS Dates for Spring 2024
Below are the MCAS Testing dates for this year in Grades 3 and 4. Please mark your calendars and avoid scheduling appointments or travel on testing days if possible.
DIGITAL LOST & FOUND
Lost & Found
We are taking the Lost and Found digital! Click here to see items that are in our lost & found. Lost & found is located right outside of our cafeteria and can be picked up in person during arrival and dismissal. If you see an item that belongs to your child you can also email nturnblom@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or your child's classroom teacher to claim the item. Please label your child's items.
March PTO UPDATES
IMPORTANT DATES
Reminders: Mark Your Calendars - Important Dates for March!
March
4-8 Cultural Connections Week & Book Fair Week
5- Early Release for Students at 12:30
7- Celebration of Us!
8- March All School Meeting focused on Perseverance
25- Grade 4 ELA MCAS, Session 1
27- Grade 4 ELA MCAS, Session 2
April
1- T2 Report Card Available
1- Grade 3 ELA MCAS, Session 1
3- Grade 3 ELA MCAS, Session 2
Calvin Coolidge School
Website: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/coolidge
Location: 1 Florence Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Phone: 5088418880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoolidgeElementarySchool