5/10/17 Daily Bulletin

Shout Out

Shout out to Emanuela Alves for organizing the Boston City Singers auditions. We are thrilled to collaborate and partner with such a great organization for students.

Shout out to Adrian Ward-Jackson, Sean Guthrie, Lesley Peck-Oser, Charles Tewksbury, April Pumphret, Madeline Vazquez and David Diaz for their quick response in supporting a student when the elevator broke at dismissal earlier this week. Thank you for helping the student feel safe and cared for!

MCAS Update

We are back MCAS testing for the next three weeks!

MCAS 2.0 Quick Check

MCAS 2.0 Roles and Responsibilities

MCAS Schedule - Overall schedule & daily schedules please be sure to click on each sheet and check daily

Cafe in Room 116

The students in Room 116 have finished a business/entrepreneurship unit in class and have put together a coffee stand to put in practice what they have learned. Please come by and support PACE 6 (room 116 upper school) and buy a cup of coffee for $1.00. Our coffee stand will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30-10:00. We look forward to serving you!

Teacher Appreciation

May 8th-May 12th is Teacher Appreciation Week! We are lucky to have so many amazing educators in our building that includes, teachers, paras, itinerants, coaches, specialists and other student support staff! The Admin Team would like recognize you for all you do and celebrate your successes. Below is a list of events/treats for the week.

• Wednesday - Tennis Lessons on the Field from 3:00-4:00PM get your exercise and learn from our middle school students and Tenacity Staff
• Thursday - Therapeutic Treat
• Friday - Luncheon Hosted by the SPC

Curley Cares Staff Awards

During next week's whole-school PD on Thursday, May 11 from 3:00-4:15, staff members will once again have the opportunity to recognize their colleagues by giving them a Curley Cares award. This is your chance to acknowledge deed s (both big and small) that have made a difference in your work life. So take some time to consider the contributions of the people you work with each day and how their actions support the Curley K-8 "We Care..." philosophy. Chose one person who you would like to recognize and share your appreciation by filling out the Curley Shares Staff Award form. If you have any problems accessing the form, please contact Kate Davis or Laura Shea. Submissions are due by 4:00 Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

ILT

Please join us for ILT on Wednesday, May 10th from 3:00pm-4:15pm in Room 214.

PD

We have our final ALL staff PD on Thursday from 3:00pm-4:15pm in the auditorium.

Retention

Are you thinking about retaining a student for next year? If so, please invite Katie to your team meeting to discuss the student and possible option. All students being retain will need to be submitted by 5/31/17 to Central Office. Please keep in mind that retention is an intervention not a punishment for students. Also complete the following documentation so we can use it as discussion at the meeting. Light's Retention Scale is a researched based tool used to help decide if retention is an appropriate and effective intervention for a student.

May Parent Cafe

The May parent cafe will invite parents and guardians of students in K0-1st grade to a presentation and interactive conversation about self care on May 16th from 5:30-7pm with the help of CSR. The guidance office will provide teachers in K0-1st grade with flyers to send home with students this week. If you have a strong line of communication with your parents, or know a parent that would strongly benefit from this seminar, please reach out to them to encourage their attendance. Thank you for your support!

7th Grade Parent High School Information Night

The counseling office will hold a presentation for our parents and guardians of 7th grade students on May 24 from 5:30-7 pm. This presentation will cover the basics of the 8th grade to high school transition including the citywide policy, choosing a good fit, and the high school choice form. Flyers will go out this week inviting parents and guardians to attend. Pizza will be served and students are encouraged to attend as well!

Pathways

Are you interested in seeking further certification? If so, think about applying to one of the BPS Pathways programs. Applications are due on May 26th and email Katie so she can submit a recommendation. Click below for an application:

ESL Pathways

Moderate Disabilities Pathways

Severe Disabilities Pathways

Homework Meeting

We are adding 40 minutes to our school day and many families are asking us to rethink homework as a community. Please join us for an open meeting to discuss a K-8 homework policy that will be implemented starting in September. We would love to have representation from across K-8. We will meet on Monday, May 15th at 3pm.

Allergies

It is that time of year again! Since the weather has warmed up and plants are blooming, seasonal allergies are on the rise. Allergy outbreaks usually happen when trees, flowering plants, grasses and weeds release pollen. Mold spores in the air also can cause problems. 

Signs and Symptoms of Allergies may include: 

• Sneezing 
• Congestion, Runny Nose, Post-nasal drip 
• Coughing 
• Watery Eyes 
• Feeling Itchy 
• Dark circles under the eyes 
• Difficulty breathing in children with asthma, caused by allergens in the air 

Helpful Hints: 

• Check the Weather. Rainy, cloudy or windless days mean lower pollen counts. Hot, dry, windy weather spreads more pollen and mold spores and can make allergies worse. Limiting time outside on these days could make symptoms better. 
• Clean Clean Clean! Cleaning surfaces, rugs and vacuuming often will keep indoor air cleaner. Wash sheets and pillowcases in hot water. Also showering before bed will help as pollen can build up in hair. 
• Close your windows. This keeps pollen from entering from entering the classroom. Treatment: 
• Antihistamines help sneezing as well as itching in the nose and eyes. But some of these medicines, like Benadryl, have side effects that include sleepiness and loss of alertness. Decongestants helpdrain nasal passages, but these nose drops and sprays should not be used for more than a few days. 
• Although most allergy medication is available over-the-counter, we like to limit the instances of giving them during the school day to keep students awake and alert in their classrooms. For more information please contact the school nurses. 

School Climate Survey

All Student Climate Surveys are online this year! Homeroom teachers should instruct classes to take surveys at the same time to ensure all students have the opportunity to complete the survey. Please have students complete the survey by May 31st. 
Accessing the Survey

• The Digital Backpack is opens by default on all BPS Chromebooks but students can also take the survey by visiting www.bostonpublicschools.org/backpack and signing in with their BPS Google account. The Climate Survey is the first icon listed at the top.

BPS TEACHER CLIMATE SURVEY - THE SPRING 2017 TEACHER SURVEY IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE !!! 

• Please remind teachers to location the surveys in their email inboxes and complete the survey online by May 15, 2017. 
BPS PARENT CLIMATE SURVEY- THE SPRING 2017 PARENT SURVEY IS NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL LANGUAGES ONLINE !!! Please communicate with your families the importance of completing this!

LGBTQ+ Picnic

Please join us for the LGBTQ+ picnic on Thursday May 18th from 6:00-7:30pm. All families and community members are welcome!!!

Wake Up The Earth Parade (WUTE)

Curley K-8 Students, Parents, and Teachers: please join us Saturday, May 13th to represent our school at the 39th annual Wake Up The Earth Parade. We'll meet at 10:30 am outside of Curtis Hall, 20 South Street in JP 02130 (across from the monument), and walk as a group for the (1 mile) parade route; past our school, down to Jackson Square Station, and on to Stony Brook Station. We need volunteers to help carry the art that students and parents created for this years' WUTE. Please remember to wear green or your favorite Curley gear. For more information about the festival and parade, see: www.spontaneouscelebrations.org

Tech Goes Home @ the Curley!

The families of students in grades 2-8 will have the opportunity to attend a Tech Goes Home course right here at the Curley. Technology Goes Home (TGH) strives to ensure that all residents of the City of Boston are equipped with the tools, training, and access to support 21st century skill development. After successful completion of the program, graduates will have purchased their very own Lenovo Chromebook computer for $50.
When:

• Tuesday, May 30th from 3:30-6:30PM
• Wednesday, May 31st from 3:30-6:30PM
• Monday, June 5th from 3:30-6:30PM
• Tuesday, June 6th from 3:30-6:30PM
• Wednesday, June 7th from 3:30-6:30PM

Where: Ms. Smith's Room (204 of the Lower School)
**Applications and money due on or before Thursday, May 25th (cash or money order endorsed to Hi-Q Computers only)
Flyers have been sent to teachers of grades 2-8 and should be sent home with students ASAP. Applications can be picked up in the main office of each building. Any questions should be directed to Ms. Smith (tsmith8@bostonpublicschools.org).

Snack Change

Starting today (May 2nd), FFVP snack bags will be picked up at the upper school cafeteria and lower school main office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

• All upper school teachers: Please send 1 student to the upper school cafeteria between 9:30 and 10:00 to pick up your snack bag and return any FFVP reusable bags you may have from last week. 
• Lower school teachers: Grades 2-3, please send 1 student to the lower school main office between 9:30 and 10:00 to pick up your snack bag and return any FFVP reusable bags you may have from the Fall. For 1st grade and under, the snack bag will be delivered to your classroom. 

Playworks

Playworks is currently conducting our annual School Staff Survey. Every year, Playworks asks the staff at each school to complete a survey about the impact they feel Playworks has on the students and the school community. We use the survey feedback to report our impact to funders and to seek additional support. We also use this information to refine our program to best meet schools’ needs. The survey will remain open until May 19th. We hope to have as many staff as possible share their thoughts about Playworks. The Playworks Annual School Staff Survey can be found using the following link: www.playworks.org/survey2017

SUPPORT THE CURLEY K-8 LIBRARY…AND GET CAR SERVICE FROM MORRISON’S AUTO-RITE

Morrison’s Auto-Rite (475 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain) is offering car maintenance services for FREE with a small donation to the Curley Library (the total cost of the car services far exceed the donation!!!) Bring a check or money order to Morrison’s Auto-Rite made out to the Friend's of the Curley Fund for $95 and Morrison’s Auto-Rite will provide you with the following services and items:

• Free comprehensive multi-point inspection (check over your car’s health) including: 
• Free Oil Change (up to a $39.95 value). NOTE: some cars have additional charges for synthetic oil 
• Rotate tires 
• Balance two front tires (while doing rotation) 
• Free front wiper blades (most cars); no appointment needed for wiper blade install 
• Second free oil change (up to a $39.95 value) 
• Upgraded warranty on repair work done by Morrison’s Auto Rite to 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. (There are a few exceptions for normal wear items, i.e. tires) 
• Unlimited tire pressure adjusting, no appointment needed 
• Unlimited fluid level checks, no appointment needed 

TOTAL APPROXIMATE VALUE (SAVINGS) $295!

You must present the check in the amount of $95, made out to Friends of the Curley Library Fund, in person to Morrison’s Autorite to be eligible for these services! No credit cards, please!S

BTU Vote

Both paras and teachers voted to convert afternoon hours of PD into summer hours. Teachers will report for PD on Wednesday, August 30th and Thursday August 31st for PD from 8am-3pm. Paras will report on Wednesday, August 30th from 8:00am-2:00pm.

Save the Date

Please reserve Friday, June 2nd for our End-of-the-Year and Retirement Party.

Place: Florian Hall

Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Appetizers, Buffet, Music, Dance, Celebrations!

SPED PD Options

Below are some PD options being offered at the Curley during our contractual PD dates. Staff may want to include one or more of these into their team PD plan. Here is the link to sign up   https://goo.gl/forms/BwtGbumLgXBfLUMF2

• May 18th --- Middle School Transition/Life Skills 
• June 1st --- Inclusion