The Thursday Owl - April 11, 2024


ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Appeal Reminder - Donate Today…Ends 4/17! The Alcott Annual Appeal is in the final week, so don’t delay and make your donation today! A little goes a long way and any amount of support is appreciated! We are a little over 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 next Wednesday 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!

What a great month we had as a community in March! Thank you to all who volunteered and attended all of our community events like Multicultural Night, Math Night and Book Fair. Seeing kids and families inside of the school, having fun and enjoying time together is so great to see. Have a wonderful April vacation and look forward to some hopefully sunny and dry days in the months ahead! Melissa Karczewski 

SPRING/SUMMER ALCOTT SPIRIT WEAR is NOW available for Order! The ordering deadline is April 24th for FREE SHIPPING AND DISTRIBUTION TO ALCOTT CLASSROOMS the week of May 13th. Check out the updated STUDENT NAMES t-shirt in bright pink, Carolina blue, silver and white and new hooded sweatshirts in magenta, royal blue, navy and grey. Brand new trucker hats are available in bright colors and we have fun new tie-dye t-shirts with the Alcott logo! Proceeds benefit the Alcott PTG. Don’t miss out, shop now!

Visit the Alcott PTG website, alcottptg.org and click on “Support” then “Alcott Spirit Wear” or click on this link to place an order.

*The PTG will be picking up the orders at the company so please select 'Customer Pick Up' under shipping and fill out your home address for the ‘shipping address’ as a default. Questions? Please call Amerasport 800-786-9402 or email maryellenmillsharney@me.com.

Happy vacation, Alcott Parents! The wonderful weather has arrived. What a perfect time to take a break. The chess club will take a week break, too, but as a reminder, the Alcott Chess Tournament will be on when you return. 

The fun starts 8 a.m. Thursday, April 25. The first class is a refresher for your children to get them thinking chess again. Thereafter will be 4, count them, 4 games starting May 2, one each week. Everyone plays, everyone wins. We wouldn't have it any other way. And finally, May 30 is Rewards Day when all prizes and medals are distributed. If you haven't registered yet, why are you waiting? We want to hear from you. 

The Alcott Chess Tournament is your children's chess highlight of the school year. The registration form is attached here. Just fill it out and send it in. The name you enter should be exact and be sure to specify medal and t-shirt size. It's that easy. Email alcottchess@hotmail.com or text Ken Belt 617-332-4483 with any questions. All classes are in the Faculty Lounge. Enter by the door to the right of the main entrance.

Enjoy the time away. We look forward to hearing from you. This is your Alcott Chess Club!!

Arts Night on Wednesday, May 29 from 5:30-6:30pm: Please save the date for our 5th Grade Art Retrospective and 4th/5th Chorus Concert. Come walk the gallery halls on the first floor from 5:30-6:00pm to see all of the 5th grade art on display. 5th grade's stop motion animation videos will also be playing in the art room on loop. At 6:00pm, the Alcott Chorus will perform in the auditorium. We hope you'll be able to join us!

Final Before School Sports Session of the school year! Alcott Before School Sports - Spring Session 1: Our Spring Session 1 (Session #5 of the year/last session) will be starting right after April break. Click the flyer to view dates and other information.  Registration is live and can be accessed through this link. It's under the "register here" tab and then "general recreation programs-Alcott Before School Sports." Thank you for the continued support. Tim Gaudreau, Alcott PE Teacher

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Calendar and important dates

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

Apr 11 - Grade 5 ELA MCAS

Apr 11 - Coffee with the Principal (Zoom)

Apr 12 - Crazy Shoe & Slipper Day

Apr 15 and 19 - April Recess

Apr 22 - Classes Resume

Apr 24 - Placement Feedback Forms Due (optional)

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Celebrate Earth Day next week!  Please attend the Concord Climate Festival on Saturday April 20th from noon- 4pm on the Concord Main Library Lawn. More information here.

Please join us for a presentation to the SEPAC highlighting the New Massachusetts IEP form. Student Services Director Angel Charles and our Special Education Coordinators will provide an overview of the New IEP form and discuss what you can expect as we begin to adopt the new form next year.

Topic: SEPAC Presentation: The New IEP 

Time: Apr 24, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting: https://concordps.zoom.us/j/99338135482 (Meeting ID: 993 3813 5482)

7th Annual SEPAC Appreciation Awards - Extended! Spring is coming and so are the Appreciation Awards! Is there a teacher, tutor, counselor, aide, administrator or any other school staff member who has made a difference to your child this year?  

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! 

In our 7th year, the SEPAC Appreciation Awards offer families the opportunity to reflect on the school year and to recognize staff members in our districts who have made exceptional efforts to support our students.

Please complete a submission form to let us know about your special person! The submission form for SEPAC Appreciation Awards is NOW OPEN and has been extended to April 12th. We plan to hold a ceremony for our award recipients on May 9th so please save the date! Questions? You can reach us at appreciationawards@gmail.com.

Sign up for a summer ensemble with IMSCC!

Summer Trombone Choir: Join Alexei Doohovskoy's 15th Annual Summer Trombone Choir for grades 6 and up; all low brass are welcome, including tubas and euphoniums. Click here for more information and to register.

String Chamber Ensemble: Play chamber music with us! Students work in small ensembles with instructor Sargis Karapetyan; for string players entering grades 9-12. Click here to learn more and to sign up.

Orchestra Summer Program: Anna Anderson's summer orchestra is open to all string players with at least one year of experience. Click here for more information and to register.

Summer Lessons begin in June, registration opens April 22. Check the website for details later this month!

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 15-19one-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. More information here!

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!