ALCOTT FEBRUARY VACATION WEEK begins tomorrow after school! Classes will resume on Monday, February 28. The Thursday Owl will not be published during vacation week, but will return the week after. The PTG hopes that everyone in the Alcott community has a great February break!
ALCOTT VALENTINE ROSES '22 - A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION! Alcott students and families once again showed the entire Alcott team (faculty, staff, administration, building services, cafeteria team, nursing team, and transportation) how much we appreciate their care and hard work with 1,050 roses on Valentine's Day. Bouquets, vases and cookies were delivered to all Alcott team members with heartfelt gratitude on a wintry Monday morning. The PTG thanks Bloom Concord, Acqua Sotto Baked Goods and our incredible Staff Appreciation Team and volunteer parents for organizing this second annual Alcott Valentine's Day event. Special thanks to the Alcott office for assistance throughout the planning process and to Mr. Peachey for his day-of photographs!
CONCORD TAKES THE ICE AT THE FROG POND, BOSTON COMMON! Thank you to all of the students and families who made the METCO Family Friends Skating Event at the Boston Common Frog Pond such a fun success last Saturday, February 12th! Families enjoyed the warm temperatures while skating and socializing with folks across the elementary schools. Many thanks to METCO Academic Liaison Savaughn Dickerson for her hard work, organization and vision in putting together this amazing event. Looking forward to more events as we head toward Spring!
ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALCOTT MATH NIGHT NEEDS YOU! The Math Night Organizer is looking for a partner in crime: Math Night involves working with volunteers from both Willard and Thoreau. The 3 schools work together to plan and execute a fun night of math games. We meet about 3-4 times between Feb and Mar to finalize theme, games & prizes. Each school helps create the games so there is minimal work required. Each school then uses the tools created by the team to run their school’s math night in March/April. This year, we are planning to have an outdoor Math playground for younger kids. You don't need to be math savvy to help. Please email Basak Karbeyaz (basakkarbeyaz@gmail.com) if interested.
ALCOTT WEAR: Outfit yourself for winter and show off your Alcott spirit! Our first online school spirit wear store is live! Check out the store under the Support tab of the Alcott PTG website or click HERE to find the latest and greatest Alcott wear. Alcott PTG receives 10% back on all items purchased throughout the school year so consider purchasing an item today!
A NOTE FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE: If your student has received both doses of the Covid -19 vaccine, please provide documentation to the Alcott nurse's office. You may send in a hard copy, fax (978-318-9545), or take a photo/scan and email to Nurse Amante (pamante@concordps.org). Thank you!
Feb 21- 25: February Recess (NO SCHOOL)
Feb 28: Classes resume
Apr 7: K-5 conferences
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
CONCORD MUSEUM School Vacation Week -- Come enjoy the Concord Museum’s new interactive galleries during school vacation week! Be sure to drop by the Franklin Lyceum for crafts and fun activities. On Thursday, February 24 come see Sweet History: Colonial Chocolate. Immerse yourself in the colonial home as a living historian grinds cocoa beans, adds spice and concoct delicious treats by the winter hearth. All activities are free with Museum admission. The Museum is open on Monday, February 21, 2022 and Thursday, February 24, through Sunday, February 27, 2022. For more information: www.concordmuseum.org
SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF CONCORD & CARLISLE -- Please answer the call! The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle is gearing up for its annual Phonathon on Sunday, March 13 continuing on Monday, March 14. Over 100 Concord-Carlisle High School students will gather to place approximately 5,000 calls to Concord and Carlisle townspeople in order to raise funds. The Phonathon raises money to help provide need-based college scholarships to students who live in or have graduated from secondary schools in Concord or Carlisle. The Scholarship Fund has been supporting students for 55 years and has awarded over $3 million in scholarships toward post-secondary education, and we can’t do it without your help! For more information about The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle visit www.thescholarshipfundofcc.org
CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY:
Music and Movement -- The Concord Free Public Library will host additional weekly family-friendly Music And Movement programs featuring Julie Stepanek on Mondays at 10:30am at the Main Library in March! The dates will be March 7, March 14, and March 21. Featuring songs you know and some songs you might not know, we'll stretch, stomp, sing, and shake out our sillies - all to the sweet sounds of the ukulele. These programs will run 30-45 minutes and are geared toward children aged 0-5 years.
Read for Seeds -- Kids - make a difference! Join us at the Main Library on Saturday, March 5 at 10:30am to learn about an exciting way that you can contribute to the community through reading. Gaining Ground Assistant Farm Manager Erin will explain the Read for Seeds—an annual program where kids help fight hunger by reading books. We’ll do a seed saving activity using dried flowers and vegetables, as well as enjoy a story. The funds raised through Read for Seeds help Gaining Ground purchase seeds to grow vegetables that are donated to food pantries and meal programs. No registration needed.
Sap to Syrup -- Learn about how tree sap is transformed into sweet maple syrup! Gaining Ground Assistant Farm Manager, Erin Espinosa, will join us on the Main Library’s Front Lawn on Wednesday, March 2 at 2pm. Erin will give us a hands-on lesson for all ages about what's involved in tapping our trees! Gaining Ground is a nonprofit organic farm in Concord, Massachusetts that grows vegetables and fruit with the help of several thousand community volunteers and donates all of this fresh food to area meal programs and food pantries. No registration needed.
Weekend Writing Studio -- The Concord Free Public Library invites individuals ages 11-18 to join the Weekend Writing Studio, every Saturday at the Main Library beginning March 5, 2022, at 1pm. Expand your creative writing abilities with brain-storming, story-telling, genre-busting, and totally not-boring activities! Poet and Youth Services staff member Cary Stough will facilitate. No writing experience required. Email Cary Stough at cmstough@minlib.net for questions or accessibility concerns. No registration required.
Beede & Books -- The Beede Swim and Fitness Center and the Concord Free Public Library are teaming up to bring you Beede and Books. This is a free program available to all. Join us at the Beede Center for a Friday collaboration of reading and swimming. A librarian will read books at 11:30 am, then at 12:00 pm we transition to the Children’s Pool for water fun! This free program happens once a month in 2022 on the following Fridays: February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, and June 17.
Roger Tincknell Performance -- The Concord Free Public Library is excited to offer a highly interactive music program for young children and families on Tuesday, February 22 at 10:30am in the Lower Meeting Room at the Fowler Branch Library. Children sing, dance, move, imitate animals, play rhythm instruments, learn songs in Spanish and other languages through call and response, and explore other cultures through traditional and contemporary children's songs. The program also includes sing-alongs performed on guitar, banjo, and other instruments. There will be limited capacity for in-person seating, but the program will also be broadcast on Facebook Live.
CONCORD CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC:
Connect your children to music today! Join us at the Concord Conservatory of Music for a music, and movement celebration on Saturday, March 5, from 11:30 am–12:00 pm. The free Carnival of Animals – Dalcroze Performance Day will introduce children to the world of music and movement using the lighthearted musical journey of movements by the French composer Camille Saint-Saens. The music for each movement represents a different animal, from the "hee-haw" of the violins to the "roar" of the pianos. CCM’s youngest students will perform for our community. To attend events at CCM, you must show proof of full vaccination. CCM,1317 Main Street in the West Concord Union Church. ConcordConservatory.org/info@concordconservatory.org/(978) 369-0010
Rachel Sumner: A Masterclass & Concert -- Bluegrass singer-songwriter Rachel will perform her original songs at the Concord Conservatory of Music on Saturday, March 12 at 7:00 PM. Attend her masterclass first from 5:00 to 6:00 PM that explores the ties between traditional and modern folk songs and how we as writers can look to those old songs and find something new within them. (Masterclass tickets with concert, $45 or concert only, $20) Free for students 18 and under. Purchase tickets HERE or at the door. To attend CCM events, you must show proof of full vaccination. CCM is the area's non-profit community music school located at 1317 Main Street. ConcordConservatory.org / info@concordconservatory.org / (978) 369-0010.
The Listening Project -- it’s a community-wide opportunity for people to expand their musical horizons and grow their listening skills. Think book club, but for listening to music! Each month, CCM will provide a thrilling playlist that can be found on both Spotify and YouTube, which can be accessed from ConcordConservatory.org. CCM’s website will also have background information on each piece and questions to think about while you’re listening. Get introduced to new music and genres and become an active listener. Sign-up HERE to receive monthly alerts.
CONCORD RECREATION:
Camp Three Rivers Can you believe that we sold out an entire grade in a day? NEITHER CAN WE! Make sure you reserve your spot now for summer camp! We’re excited for the return of field trips, extended care, and all the fun summer camp has to offer. Click the link to see all we have to offer.
April Professional Day Program (Thursday, April 7th) The April Professional Day Program is from 8:00am to 6:00pm at Hunt Recreation Center. Registration open to general public. First come, first serve basis. This program has NO AFFILIATION with Concord Recreation’s Before or Afterschool Program. Please inform Concord Recreation of any medical issues or allergies. Field Trip to Altitude Trampoline Park!
April Vacation Week (April 19th-22nd) Looking for care Tuesday – Friday of April vacation? Look no further than Concord Rec’s April Vacation Week Program. April Vacation Program is from 8:00am to 6:00pm at Hunt Recreation Center (Participants must bring lunch unless noted) $100 per day per person. Registration open to general public. First come, first serve basis. This program has NO AFFILIATION with Concord Recreation’s Before or Afterschool Program. Please inform Concord Recreation of any medical issues or allergies.
NEW Youth and Adult Squash at SquashWest! Have you ever considered the sport of Squash!? Learning strategy, quick wits and practice, Squash provides a vigorous workout and hand-eye coordination practice that can be enjoyed by all ages! Our clinics will teach the two strokes of Squash, forehand and backhand with professional Squash players as instructors, players will be able to jump right into the game!
Patriots Field Hockey Clinics offer players fun and intensive field hockey programs for children entering Grades 3-9. Our clinics are appropriate for players of all levels and allow for maximum enjoyment, improvement and understanding of the game for every camper. Registration is open for our 2022 Summer Camp on our website. https://www.patriotfieldhockeyclinics.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!