Thank you to our Alcott team and the Alcott community for a great 21-22 Back To School Night!
Many thanks to the Alcott team members and community members who made last evening's 21-22 Back To School Night such a wonderful success! The virtual event featured an informative webinar led (twice!) by Principal Krakow and Assistant Principal Olson, who welcomed the Alcott community to the new school year. They also introduced our amazing group of new and veteran Specialists including Mr. Gaudreau (Physical Education), Mrs. Gordon (Art), Mr. Toland (Music), Sra. Price (1-5 Spanish), Sra. Krauss (K Spanish), Mrs. O'Rourke (Library/Media) and Ms. Carr (ELA Curriculum). The night continued with all Alcott K-5 classroom teachers hosting their students' families in Zoom sessions that provided academic descriptions and outlooks for the upcoming school year. We appreciate everyone's time, energy and commitment to supporting our Alcott students, families, faculty and staff during this brand-new school year!
ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
SAVE THE DATE--METCO Family Friends Field Day and Picnic: Please save the following information in your calendar for a wonderful day of community-building, activities and fun! More details to follow in the coming weeks.
When: Saturday, October 16, 2021, 1 - 5 pm
Where: Franklin Park, Boston
Who: Concord and Boston families
Now Accepting PTG Dues: All parents and guardians of Alcott students are members of the Alcott PTG! This year we have kept our dues at $40 and invite our members to contribute this amount (or more!) via our website HERE. Please keep in mind that the PTG will spend approximately $125 per student this year on specific student needs, programs, community events, classroom supplies and the ever-popular Alcott Directory. Thank you for making this support possible with your membership contribution!
Room Parents Still Needed: Are you interested in helping out your student's classroom? Come volunteer as a room parent! We are still looking for volunteers to fill spots in several classrooms. To sign up for any listed open spots and find more details, please click here.
**Room Parents still needed in the following grades/classrooms:
K: Chatlosh (2 needed)
1st: Woodman (1 needed)
2nd: Handley (1 needed), Martin (2 needed), Sexauer (1 needed)
3rd: Knowles (1 needed), O'Hara (2 needed)
4th: Besserer (1 needed), McMahon/Chan (1 needed), Woodward (2 needed)
5th: Anderson (2 needed), Gregor (1 needed), Luby (1 needed), Wilson (1 needed)
Pooled Testing: Asymptomatic pooled testing began yesterday at Alcott. If you still have not yet signed your student up to participate in asymptomatic pooled testing this year, we hope that you will consider doing so. You can access the consent form via this link. Pooled testing is an incredibly important way to keep our students safe, particularly at the elementary level where COVID vaccines are not yet available. Please see Principal Krakow's informative letter, which addresses possible concerns and explains this year's testing changes, HERE. And if you have any further questions about the pooled testing process, please do not hesitate to reach out to Principal Krakow or Nurse Amante.
Alcott Chess Club: The Alcott Chess Club is back onsite like before in the Alcott Faculty Lounge, 8 a.m. Thursday mornings, for ten weeks starting TODAY September 23. The Chess Club also offers online sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays at 5 p.m. Click here for the informational flyer (with registration form), or simply email alcottchess@hotmail.com and you'll be emailed a flyer. For all questions, email Ken Belt at alcottchess@hotmail.com, text or call him at 617-332-4483.
***Every Wednesday is now a half-day***
Oct 11: Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day
Oct 16: METCO Family Friends Field Day and Picnic (Franklin Park)
Nov 4*: K-5 Parent-Teacher Conferences (no school)
Nov 10: PTG Open Meeting, 7pm (via Zoom)
Nov 11: Veterans Day (no school)
Nov 24: Half-Day (12:30 pm dismissal)
Nov 25 - 26: Thanksgiving Recess (no school)
*This date was erroneously reported in last week's Owl--PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THIS CORRECTED DATE
CPS/CCRSD 21-22 School Calendar can be found here
IN THE COMMUNITY
Concord Middle School Building Project Community Forum to be held TODAY, Sept. 23: The Middle School Building Committee invites you to our next Community Forum, to be held TODAY, Thursday, September 23 at 12:00pm via Zoom. We hope you will join us to hear the latest updates on the Schematic Design phase, as well as to share your feedback before plans are finalized for estimating. Forum details can be found here and Zoom information follows:
https://concordps.zoom.us/j/96703616065?pwd=N3pVbHA2c29nd2pORnB2WUI4bU9CZz09
Passcode: 110013
Kicks for Cancer – THIS SATURDAY, September 25: After a virtual 2020 event, the 15th annual Kicks for Cancer returns to Concord-Carlisle High School this Saturday, September 25, to bring local men’s and women’s soccer teams together to compete, to build community and awareness with fans, and to raise funds to advance ovarian cancer prevention.
Kicks for Cancer is the cornerstone of an incredible community-building weekend held every September—with more than 20 towns participating in men’s and women’s soccer games this year. Merchandise, opportunity drawing tickets, food and more will be available. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, and the game schedule is available here.
Concord Association of Music Parents: Order Now--Band, Chorus and Orchestra Wear! Show your music spirit and get your Band, Chorus and Orchestra merchandise online today. The store opens on Oct. 1 and closes Oct. 19. Orders will arrive 3-4 weeks after the store closes. Questions? Email Elisabeth Winterkorn at ebwinterk@gmail.com.
October Youth Basketball Clinics at CCHS: CCHS Varsity basketball coaches Amy Davagian and David Cohen and their players are offering 4-week basketball clinics for all players Grades 1 through 8 on Saturday October, 2, 16, 23, and 30 at the CCHS main gym. Clinics are for players of all abilities.
Girls Clinics - Sponsored by CCHS Girls Basketball, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Fee is $120 (donated directly to CCHS Girls Basketball) payable by Paypal or Venmo (@Colleen-Henschke). Your electronic payment is your registration for the girls clinic - please be sure to note your player's name and grade on electronic payments. If you would like to pay by check, please email CCHSgirlsbasketball100@gmail.com to register.
Boys Clinics - Sponsored by Patriot Hoops Clinics, 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. Register at patriothoopclinics.com website. Cost is $120, payable via Venmo (@PatriotBasketball) or credit card.
Concord Free Public Library News:
Fall and Winter Nature Connection programs: CFPL is teaming up with The Nature Connection for monthly programs! We invite children to a nature themed storytime where they can meet an animal and explore nature hands-on. Programs will take place in-person at the Main Library. On 9/28 at 4 pm, we will have a program for all ages focusing on climate change. In October, we will offer a storytime for pre-K children on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30am. We will also offer a program for elementary students on the second Wednesday of each month at 2pm.
Virtual Children's Author Talk: CFPL is excited to host a virtual author talk with children’s author Lucia Van Bebber on Wednesday, October 6 at 2pm on Zoom. Learn more about how she writes stories for children in the hope of inspiring them to learn more about wildlife and wildlife conservation. Lucia’s goal is to help educate young minds in order to save animals that are now on the endangered species list and are on the verge of extinction.
Discovery Museum Acton's "Picture Yourself: A Virtual Celebration of Women in STEAM": Join Discovery Museum as we celebrate the women behind the Museum’s newest exhibit, Picture Yourself: Women in STEAM—portraits of six local female scientists, painted by three local female artists. Listen in as the scientists and artists talk about their work, research, and interests, and be inspired as you learn why they find science and art cool and exciting. They’ll answer your questions as they share what it’s like to be a scientist and artist. Your registration confirmation will include a short survey to provide your questions for the artists and scientists in advance—including whether you or your child would like to ask a question live during the event. This free, live, virtual event is for children, ages 7+ years, and their caregivers to enjoy together. Wednesday, September 29, 6:00pm to 7:30pm EDT via Zoom webinar. The event is free; registration is required. For more information, visit www.discoveryacton.org.