The Thursday Owl - March 28, 2024

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Appeal Reminder! The Alcott Annual Appeal is here! We are halfway to our goal thanks to your incredible support. Help us close the gap and make a gift today to reach our goal of $10,000 and support the Alcott community by April 17, 2024!  As a reminder, there are 3 WAYS TO DONATE:  1) http://alcottptg.org/annual-appeal-1, 2) Send a check (payable to  “Alcott PTG” with “annual appeal” in memo) to Alcott in a sealed envelope; 3) use this QR code.

And don't forget- Donate $100 or more to receive a custom Alcott Umbrella!  Please “Give a Hoot” and donate today. We are so thankful for all of your support!

Alcott Before School Sports: New Session (#5) will start on Monday, April 22, 2024 and run through Friday, May 31, 2024.  This will be our last session of the year. Look for more info next week in the owl as registration will "live" soon.  Thanks for your continued support.

Tim Gaudreau, Alcott PE Teacher

Out of this World Family Night! (Book Fair and Math Night Open House): We will hold an open house for families to come to Alcott after school to visit the book fair and participate in “Math Night from Outer Space” today Thursday, March 28th.  The book fair open house for families will open at 4:00 pm at Alcott Auditorium and Math Night will run from 4:30-6:30 pm at Alcott Gym. There is no need to sign up in advance to attend either the Book Fair or Math Night on March 28.

We also will need parent volunteers to support Family Night.  You can sign up here Parent Volunteer Sign-Up to volunteer during Family Night. Training will be provided to all Book Fair and Math Night volunteers. 

Middle School and High School Alcott Alums: Do you know a middle school or high school Alcott alum who is in need of community service hours? We are looking for student volunteers to help run the math games at Math Night - we would love to welcome back Alcott alumni to help out! Student Volunteer Sign-Up

Alcott Chess: Chess is abounding! Two teams from the Alcott Chess Club participated in the Mass Chess Hurvitz Cup Team Tournament on St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17. One of the teams, consisting of 5th graders Erick Liu, Jasper Weaver, Eric Li, Theo Webb and 4th grader Max Cardinal, was the top Booster Under-500 team. They were rewarded with individual trophies and presented a huge team trophy. Outstanding performance was by Erick Li, who won all four of his games! And Max Cardinal, despite being sick, played tough and made a difference. The other team, comprised of 2nd graders Adam Siala, Alan Karbeyaz, Lucas Perez-Ortiz, 3rd graders Kilian Bosdet, Jacob Stevens, and 1st grader Bill Curran all played valiantly. Each procured at least one game point and together amassed two team points.  Most points was by Kilian Bosdet, for which he got a medal. Congratulations to these Alcott Chess Teams! And don't forget the Alcott Chess Tournament. It will begin the Thursday after April vacation. The flyer will be circulating soon, so be sure to watch for it. And get ready to enter and play!

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Calendar and important dates

***Every Wednesday is a half-day***

Mar 28 - Grade 3 ELA MCAS, Book Fair and Math Night Open House

Apr 1 and 2 - Grade 4 ELA MCAS

Apr 4 - K-5 Conferences

Apr 9 and 11- Grade 5 ELA MCAS

Apr 15 and 19- April Recess

Apr 22- Classes Resume

CPS/CCRSD 23-24 School Calendar can be found here.

IN THE COMMUNITY

As many of you are aware School Committee elections are coming up on April 9. In past town elections, turnout has typically ranged between 11%-15%. It is critically important for everybody’s voice to be heard! Please take the time to get to know the candidates and vote on April 9th. Information on early or absentee voting can be found here: https://concordma.gov/2341/AbsenteeEarly-Voting-in-Concord. Precinct information can be found here: https://concordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33673/2021-Precinct-Map

Are you interested in learning more about the candidates running for local office?  Come to a Town Hall Style Forum on March 28, 1:00 to 3:00 PM, at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main St.  Whether you have burning questions or simply want to hear directly from the candidates, this forum is your chance to engage with local politics.  Joe Palumbo and Pat Brewer, local volunteers, will moderate, ensuring a fair and informative discussion. This forum is hosted by the Concord Council on Aging and is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  Please call 978-318-3020 to reserve your spot.

Milldam Nursery School Open House, March 30th: Join us at Milldam in Concord Center on Saturday, March 30th from 10-12pm to get to know the community and learn about our cooperative preschool over playtime, snacks and crafts. There are still 3/4 and 4/5 openings next year! Visit the Milldam website or email membership with any questions 

7th Annual SEPAC Appreciation Awards: Nominate today! The Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites families from Concord, Carlisle and Boston with a child on an IEP or 504 Plan to honor a special person (or persons) with a SEPAC Appreciation Award! The award is an opportunity to recognize staff members in our districts who have made exceptional efforts to support our students. Please complete a submission form today!  Nominations close on April 5th.  A ceremony for our award recipients will take place on May 9th, so please save the date! Questions?   You can reach us at appreciationawards@gmail.com."

Sign up for the Inclyousion Sports Intro to Soccer and Baseball!  This class was brought to Carlisle for Spring 2024 via a community effort to promote inclusion.  Concord players are invited to join. Does your child get overwhelmed in group movement activities?  Would you like to help build their sports skills in a fun, non-competitive environment, boost their confidence, promote exercise, and have fun with peers?  Small class sizes and coaches trained in inclusion strategies help young children be engaged and explore new skills. Learn more here: https://inclyousionsports.com/ Register here!

Spirited and Progressive Bluegrass by The Ruta Beggars Hosted at Concord Conservatory of Music—Immerse yourself in music that is inspired by bluegrass legends but with a modern twist on Saturday, April 27th at 7 pm. The Ruta Beggars are celebrated for their imaginative musical arrangements, their intricate vocal harmonies, and their impressive musicianship. They have earned a well-deserved place among the top-tier of the bluegrass community, and their live performances are known for their vibrant energy and engaging showmanship. Combining bluegrass with early swing, The Ruta Beggars' music is a unique and captivating sound that's not to be missed. ConcordConservatory.org for tickets.

The Power of Play for All Ages: using play to build a foundation for young learners- Come join us for a fun and informative event discussing the significance of play in early childhood development! Our knowledgeable panel of experts, all of whom are experienced teachers at Concord Children's Center, will share insights on how play at home and in preschool settings can impact school readiness. Discover the benefits of play-based learning and gain practical tips to incorporate play into your child's daily routine. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about the power of play in shaping your child's development! Drop ins welcome, but registration encouraged: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-play-for-all-ages-tickets-858522442737?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Barefoot Books + ThinkGive: ThinkGive is hosting a free event at Barefoot Books in West Concord (23 Bradford St. 2nd Floor, Concord, MA 01742) on Thursday April 11th from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Join us for drinks and appetizers, a raffle, browse Barefoot Books’ award-winning collection of books for ages 0-12, and hear from ThinkGive leaders and an educator about our efforts to empower youth to take actions that positively impact themselves and others; building character, confidence, and connection. Our partner educators have put together a wish list of books that they would love to be able to bring to their classrooms. 40% of all book sales will be donated to ThinkGive! If you are unable to attend, the wish list of books will be available online at www.thinkgiveproject.org between April 11 and April 21. To learn more and to RSVP click here.

CCYL BOYS SPRING REGISTRATION is still open for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd GRADE!!! The details:

What: Fun Friday nights focusing on skill development, scrimmages & love of the game

Where: Concord Carlisle High School (CCHS) Upper Grass Fields

When: Season runs mid April - June. Practices take place Friday nights 6-7:15pm

How: Registration is open @ www.ccyouthlacrosse.com (register HERE)

How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement in Kids | Free, live Zoom webinar, Thursday, April 25, 7-8pm | Discovery Museum Speaker Series event with Chanel Thervil, Artist + Educator; Inaugural Discovery Museum Artist-in-Residence. Chanel joins us to speak about her experience helping children consider what they love about their communities, so they see a place for themselves in making their communities better. She will share her expertise on how the creative process and experience of artmaking is a powerful tool in giving kids the space to connect, share ideas, and be present for others—all important steps in becoming active civic participants. Event is free, advance registration is required at http://bit.ly/DMSpeakerSeries.

 Discover Summer Strings Experience & Chamber Music Afternoons at Concord Conservatory July 15-19—one-week immersive, fun, and focused programs to enhance skills, enrich artistry, and boost confidence for kids ages 5 - 18. Summer Strings Experience for kids ages 5-14 will enjoy singing, improvising, playing games, and developing their technical skills. Ages 5-7 sign up for half-days, while ages 7-14 enroll in a full-day program, 9 am to 3 pm. Chamber Music Afternoons (3:30 – 5:45 pm) target intermediate to advanced students aged 13-18 who play string, piano, woodwind, or brass instruments. They will receive guidance on the technical and musical challenges of their ensemble repertoire. ConcordConservatory.com

Please visit this space for updates on sports, music and theater registration dates, seminars, and more events throughout town. 

PTG online volunteer information and sign-up: Please visit our website to discover all the ways both working and non-working parents and guardians are needed to support our wonderful staff, students, and families. Have something to offer that you don’t see listed there? There’s a place for you to submit that info as well! We hope to hear from you!