The Thursday Owl - January 6, 2022

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME BACK ALCOTT COMMUNITY! We are grateful to all our teachers, staff and administration for their endless commitment to community safety and transparent communication during this most recent Covid surge. We appreciate you all! Reminder that our Alcott-based Covid email account is alcottcovid@concordps.org if you have any questions.

ALCOTT CHESS CLUB: Is this the year you enroll your child in the Alcott Chess Club? The fun begins Thursday, January 20, 8 a.m. in the Faculty Lounge for 50 minutes. Children enter via the door to the right in front of the auditorium, wash hands and proceed to the game room. The club convenes weekly for 10 weeks through March 31. Any questions, please email alcottchess@hotmail.com, or call Ken Belt at (617) 332-4483. (All District COVID protocols are implemented)
January COVID-19 vaccine clinic happening TODAY. The school district is hosting another vaccine clinic at CCHS today, January 6th. The clinic is open to everyone in the community over age 5. Please CHECK HERE to see if there are any additional appointments available. 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!

The Alcott Lost & Found is here to help! Are you wondering where your student's jacket/water bottle/hoodie/lunch box is? The Lost & Found Gazebo day will be rescheduled soon- please watch your email and social media. Any questions or requests can be sent to alcottlostandfound@gmail.com.

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help!  Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is NOW UNDERWAY!  The goal this year is to collect 300 coats!  Please consider donating any gently-used coats in good condition by sending them to Alcott with your child. The drop-off box is next to the office. We accept any size coat, from infant snowsuits to oversized adult, but please do not donate clothing other than winter coats – no sweatshirts, raincoats, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, or snow pants. The drive runs until January 8th, 2022. If you get a new coat for the winter, consider donating your old coat to Coats for Kids. Thank you very much for your generosity!

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

Jan 17: Martin Luther King Jr Day (NO SCHOOL)
Feb 21: Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)
Feb 21- 25: February Recess

CPS/CCRSD 21-22 School Calendar can be found here

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

Special Town Meeting
Thurs, Jan. 20, 2022
7:00 pm @ CCHS
(Snow Date Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 7:00PM at CCHS.)
The Special Town Meeting warrant posted on November 12, 2021 and can be found HERE. There is one article on the Special Town Meeting Warrant: appropriate a sum of money for the construction of a new middle school. The Concord Middle School Building Committee, whose charge was approved by the Select Board, has been providing periodic updates to the public. Its website can be accessed HERE, and includes project updates, meeting minutes, presentations on design and schematics, and recordings of public forums.

CC YOUTH BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Registration for the Spring Season is open from JAN 1 - JAN 31. Building on an incredibly successful programming and record numbers in 2021, CCYB/S is offering robust programming from T-Ball through Babe Ruth. Don’t miss out on baseball and softball’s showcase season! REGISTER NOW!

Book PALS
Book PALS, an organization run by CCHS students to help kids in urban communities, needs books for kids ages 4-8. Please donate new and gently used children's books by leaving them in the labeled box in Alcott's main entrance hallway. Donate your favorites! CCHS students will read them with their book buddies at the Cambridge YMCA afterschool program, and then give the books to their buddies. The book drive runs through January 14th. Help support kids and reading.

IRISH STEP DANCE The Inishfree School of Irish Dancing offers classes at our studio in West Concord.  Join our Winter Session Beginner Classes for a fun and lively introduction to the basics of Irish step dancing, including posture, foot placement, and musical awareness.  You will even learn a simple reel and jig step to perform for St. Patrick’s Day!  No prior dance experience necessary.

• Tiny tots class for ages 3-4 Saturdays 9:15-9:45

• Beginner classes for ages 5+ Mondays 5:00-5:45 and Saturdays 10:00-10:45

For more details or to schedule a free trial class, contact Meghan at inishfreema@yahoo.com or 551-265-7942

Music lessons with IMSCC
The Winter-Spring session of music lessons starts this month! We welcome new students of all ages and all levels, including adults. Expert instructors are available for all band and orchestra instruments as well as voice, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, and piano.
During this time families have a choice of in-person or remote lessons. In-person lessons are located at CCHS and the Carlisle public school campus and follow school district music protocols for Covid safety. Click here to request lessons, or here for more information about IMSCC. Questions? email Debbie Levine. We look forward to working with you!


Concord Recreation updates:

Mark Your Calendars for registration:
Shamrock Ball (3/12/22) Register – Tuesday, February 1st at 7:30am
Camp Three Rivers - Registration opens Wednesday, February 9th at 7:30am
*** Visit www.concordrec.com for more details ***

Skyhawks Multi-Sport(Ages 7-9, Mondays @ 5:15pm beginning 1/24) This t-ball, basketball, and soccer class uses age-appropriate games and activities to explore balance, hand-eye coordination, and skill development. Skyhawks provides a wide variety of fun, safe, and positive programs that emphasize critical lessons in sports and life; such as teamwork, respect and sportsmanship!

Skyhawks Floor Hockey(Ages 7-12, Mondays @ 5:15pm beginning 3/7) Come join us and learn the skills of hockey!  From stick handling to passing and shooting, we will develop and enhance the abilities to play the fastest game on (ice) the floor!

February Vacation Week Need childcare during February Vacation? The February Vacation Program (Grades K-5) is from 8:00am to 6:00pm at Hunt Recreation Center from 2/22-2/25. (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 visit this space for updates on sports, music and theater registration dates, seminars, and more events throughout town.

The Thursday Owl - December 23, 2021 External

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

HAPPY WINTER BREAK, ALCOTT COMMUNITY! What a first four months it has been! We are truly grateful to the entire Alcott team for inspiring our students and creating a supportive school environment in which they can thrive. Many warm wishes to our students, faculty and staff during this well-deserved winter break with your families. Enjoy this special time, have a happy new year and we will see you in a much-anticipated 2022!

Alcott Wear Store: 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!

Superintendent Hunter announces January COVID-19 vaccine clinic: The school district is again hosting a vaccine clinic at CCHS on January 6th thanks to the arrangements made by the local health officials. The clinic is open to everyone in the community over age 5. The details to make an appointment are found below.

Click HERE to schedule an appointment for the January 6th COVID-19 vaccination clinic:

COVID Vaccine Clinic
Ages 5 and up 
Thursday, January 6
4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Concord-Carlisle High School

The Alcott Lost & Found is here to help!  Are you wondering where your student's jacket/water bottle/hoodie/lunch box is?  It MIGHT be in the Alcott Lost & Found (located in the cafeteria hallway), which students can check during the school day.  While parents/guardians are still NOT allowed into the main school hallways, we will be bringing the Lost & Found items to the Alcott Gazebo on Wednesday, January 5th during the school day.  Please come by and take a look; you might be surprised to FIND your LOST item!  Any questions or requests can be sent to alcottlostandfound@gmail.com.

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help!  Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is NOW UNDERWAY!  The goal this year is to collect 300 coats!  Please consider donating any gently-used coats in good condition by sending them to Alcott with your child. The drop-off box is next to the office. We accept any size coat, from infant snowsuits to oversized adult, but please do not donate clothing other than winter coats – no sweatshirts, raincoats, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 8th, 2022. If you get a new coat for the winter, consider donating your old coat to Coats for Kids. Thank you very much for your generosity!

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

Dec 23: Half-day (12:30pm dismissal)
Dec 24-31: Winter Recess (NO SCHOOL)
Jan 3: Classes resume
Jan 17: Martin Luther King Jr Day (NO SCHOOL)

CPS/CCRSD 21-22 School Calendar can be found here

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

Concord Conservatory of Music: Register now for high-quality, private lessons for Concord Conservatory of Music’s winter semester. Develop your kids' musicianship through individual instruction, workshops, masterclasses, and performance opportunities - included in tuition. Private lessons are offered in banjo, bass, cello, clarinet, composition, flute, guitar, improvisation, mandolin, percussion, piano (classical and jazz), saxophone, theory, trumpet, ukulele, viola, violin and voice. The Music Achievement Program, a free enrichment curriculum, provides access to a broader and more comprehensive music education. A thorough placement process ensures students are matched with a teacher who tailors instruction to best fit their needs and goals. Submit a Student Interest Form at ConcordConservatory.org, or call (978) 369-0010. Financial assistance available.

Concord Recreation updates:
Beede Swim and Fitness Center’s Winter Vacation Program December 27, – December 30. Looking to swim and play over December vacation week? Join us at Concord Recreation’s Beede Swim and Fitness Center for a week of all things aquatics! Participants grades K-5 will have the opportunity daily to participate in free swim, aquatics games, use aquatics props (kiddie pool spray features, diving boards, water slide, etc), do aquatics-based crafts, and more! Participants will be supervised by three camp staff and lifeguards as they get to enjoy all things Beede aquatics!
Code Wiz - online coding classes At Code Wiz, we believe that learning to code is the easiest way to shape your child’s future. Our students develop programming skills along with invaluable approaches to critical thinking and problem solving. Best of all, anyone can learn to code—no matter their age, tech proficiency or personal interests. We’ve designed fun, flexible programs to ensure every child becomes a wiz! Do Minecraft Coding, Roblox Game Development, and so much more!
Kids Night Out Sunday, January 16 - drop your kiddos off at Beede and have a night out! From 5:00pm-8:00pm, kids will enjoy pizza, swim time, and a movie.

IMSCC's Music Lessons are up and running and enrollment is ongoing for the fall session! New students can start lessons at any time; all levels and all ages are welcome. Instructors are available for all band and orchestra instruments, voice, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, and piano. Families have a choice of in-person or remote lessons. Click here to request lessons, or here for more information about IMSCC. Questions? email Debbie Levine.

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

The Thursday Owl - December 16, 2021

Check out the newly-opened Alcott Spirit Wear Store! Our first online school spirit wear store is live! To find the latest and greatest Alcott wear, click on the "Support" tab on the Alcott PTG website or click HERE. Our PTG receives 10% back on all items purchased throughout the school year, so consider purchasing an item today!

Save The Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022--METCO Family Friends Frog Pond Skating event! Come to the Boston Common Frog Pond from 2pm - 4pm, Saturday, Feb. 12, for a bit of winter fun with the community, on skates! METCO Family Friends is sponsoring this wonderful event. Please see the Save the Date below and click HERE to access this Save the Date with a live link to an interest form. Please contact METCO Academic Liaison Savaughn Dickerson (Sdickerson@concordps.org) if you have any questions.

The Alcott Lost & Found has changed its donation day to take place in January 2022. We realize that it may be difficult to find/claim lost items since no visitors are allowed past the office, so the L&F will postpone its scheduled donation day for a date in January 2022. Please stay tuned for more updates on claiming lost items. Any questions or requests can be sent to alcottlostandfound@gmail.com.

Still looking for that perfect holiday gift or year-end memento? Are you planning on buying gifts, cards and mementos on Amazon, Tiny Prints, Shutterfly or Minted? It's time to act! Plus, you can support your Alcott PTG while taking care of all of your gift and photo needs.

• Shop on minted.com using the code FUNDRAISEALCOTT to receive 20% OFF your order + give 15% back to the Alcott PTG!

• Shop on Shutterfly & TinyPrints through our storefront -AlcottElementarySchool.ShutterflyStorefront.com - and they will donate 8% of your order back to the Alcott PTG!

• Shop on the "AmazonSmile" page and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of all qualifying purchases to a charitable organization of your choice. There is no catch and no extra fees; just designate “Alcott School Parent Teacher Group Inc” as your charity, then shop through the “AmazonSmile” link:

Share the code and storefront link with friends and family to help make our fundraiser a success!

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help! Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is NOW UNDERWAY! The goal this year is to collect 300 coats! Please consider donating any gently-used coats in good condition by sending them to Alcott with your child. The drop-off box is next to the office. We accept any size coat, from infant snowsuits to oversized adult, but please do not donate clothing other than winter coats – no sweatshirts, raincoats, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 8th, 2022. If you get a new coat for the winter, consider donating your old coat to Coats for Kids. Thank you very much for your generosity!

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

Dec 23: Half-day (12:30pm dismissal)
Dec 24-31: Winter Recess (NO SCHOOL)

CPS/CCRSD 21-22 School Calendar can be found here

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

News from Concord Free Public Library:
Celebrate Louisa May Alcott Day - festivities will be held at the Fowler Branch Library on Wednesday 12/29, 3:00 - 4:30pm. Click HERE for more information.

Four new events for kids (0 - 3rd grade age range) coming in January:
- Music and Movement with Julie Stepanek - weekly family-friendly Music And Movement program featuring Julie Stepanek on Mondays at 10:30am at the Main Library beginning January 2022! January 3, January 17, February 7, and February 14. 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.
- Music at the Blissful - a monthly family-friendly Music and Movement program featuring Music at the Blissful on Saturdays at 10:30am at the Main Library on January 8th, February 12th, March 12th, and April 9th. Music at the Blissful is a high-energy, interactive movement and music experience for children of all ages. Be ready to move, shake, bounce, jump, and stomp as we become dinosaurs, bunnies, alligators, and cars. These programs are fun for the whole family!
- Children’s Concert with BenAnna Band - a free Children’s concert with the BenAnna Band on January 10, 2022 at 10:30 am at the Main Library. Ben Norton and Anna Delgado are a high energy musical duo utilizing guitar and singing to jam out on pop and throwback covers, traditional Children's songs, and new Children's music. The BenAnna Band stresses the importance of individualized musical interaction, so they bring live musical instruments to all their concerts for the audience to physically participate in the music.
- Animals in Your Backyard - a fun, interactive program on January 12 at 4pm at the Main Library to teach children about all the animals that they might find living in their neighborhood. Michelle Kreell, Community Liaison from Baypath Humane Society, will lead this program which is geared towards children in kindergarten through 3rd grade. No registration required.

Concord Conservatory of Music: Registration is open for Concord Conservatory of Music’s winter/spring semester. Fun group classes offer a collaborative setting with others who share your love of music. It’s your opportunity to receive excellent music instruction that balances rigor with the joy of creating music. CCM offers group classes for all ages and diverse interests taught by world-class instructors. Register as soon as possible due to maximum enrollment per class. Students gain a strong foundation of playing technique, music theory, and musicality. Introduce kids to music, complete with dancing and creative games fostering social growth and development. Early childhood classes, Rhythmic Solfège, Beginner Chorus, Girls Chorus, and more at ConcordConservatory.org(info@concordconservatory.org /(978) 369-0010. CCM is located at 1317 Main Street. Financial assistance available.

Concord-Carlisle Youth Soccer: Registration is open for CCYS Winter/Spring 2022 soccer programs. Travel soccer is open to players in grades 3 through 8. The travel registration deadline is JANUARY 6th. In-town soccer is open to players in grades Pre-K – 4. The in-town deadline is MARCH 4th. Winter futsal sessions run Sundays in Carlisle for players in grades 1-4 and Mondays at Middlesex School for players in grades 5-8. Winter futsal is a fun, low-cost option for your players this winter. For more information go to www.ccysoccer.org. CLICK HERE to register.

Events and Updates from CONCORD RECREATION:

Mark your calendars!  Click HERE for more details.
--Shamrock Ball (3/12/22): Tickets Go on Sale – Tue. 2/1/22 at 7:30am
--Concord Recreation Camp Three Rivers:  Registration opens Wed. 2/9/22 at 7:30am

 - Beede Swim and Fitness Center’s Winter Vacation Program December 27 – December 30, 2021.  Looking to swim and play over December vacation week? Join us at Concord Recreation’s Beede Swim and Fitness Center for a week of all things aquatics! Participants grades K-5 will have the opportunity daily to participate in free swim, aquatics games, use aquatics props (kiddie pool spray features, diving boards, water slide, etc), do aquatics-based crafts, and more!  Participants will be supervised by three camp staff and lifeguards as they get to enjoy all things Beede aquatics!
 - Code Wiz - Online Coding Classes At Code Wiz, we believe that learning to code is the easiest way to shape your child’s future. Our students develop programming skills along with invaluable approaches to critical thinking and problem solving. Best of all, anyone can learn to code—no matter their age, tech proficiency or personal interests. We’ve designed fun, flexible programs to ensure every child becomes a wiz! Do Minecraft Coding, Roblox Game Development, and so much more!
 - Kids Night Out Sunday, January 16 - drop your kiddos off at Beede and have a night out! From 5:00pm-8:00pm, kids will enjoy pizza, swim time, and a movie.

Help support Afghan refugee families.  Open Table Food Pantry is in urgent need of donations to support over 30 Afghan refugee families.  The foods needed to aid these refugees are not in stock but are needed now.  Click HERE for the complete list and further details.  Donations will be collected through the end of January 2022.  Questions may be directed to fooddonations@opentable.org.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

New Year’s Eve Girls Basketball Clinic - Sponsored by CCHS Girls Basketball CCHS Varsity Coach Amy Davagian, her coaching staff and Varsity players are offering a clinic on December 31 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for girls in grades 1-8.  All proceeds benefit the CCHS Girls Basketball program directly.  Register HERE.

Annual Christmas Tree Pickup : Saturday, January 8 (reserve by January 3) - Concord Scout Troop 132 and the CC-Catholic Youth Ministry Concord Scout Troop 132 are again organizing their annual Christmas Tree Pickup! After the holidays, we will be collecting Christmas trees for recycling at the town composting site. Please note: trees can only be picked up from Concord locations.
Pickup Date: Saturday, Jan 8, 2022
Pickup Time: Starts at 8:00am.
Cost: Donation of $20-25 per tree (Paypal, check)
Deadline for reservation Mon, Jan 3 by 8pm.
Please register HERE. More information at Facebook.com/concordtreepickup, concordtreepickup@gmail.com or 978-254-0978.

Last days to Bid, Bid, Bid to support the music programs in Concord grades 4-8! Do you see braces in your child’s future? Would you love to try out the Thoreau Club or the Beede Center as a New Year’s Resolution? Want to get away for a ski weekend or a night at the Bruins so close you can see the fire in their eyes? Is your child determined to shine in the Concord Rec Musical Theater Experience but you might not get them into the coveted class if you don’t click fast? The Concord Association of Music Parents (Concord AMP) has launched its annual online auction HERE. We are especially thrilled that Heart Orthodontics in West Concord, has donated a complete orthodontic treatment (value $6800). Please support our student muscians, and bid now, until Friday December 17!

IMSCC's Music Lessons are up and running and enrollment is ongoing for the fall session! New students can start lessons at any time; all levels and all ages are welcome. Instructors are available for all band and orchestra instruments, voice, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, and piano. Families have a choice of in-person or remote lessons. Click here to request lessons, or here for more information about IMSCC. Questions? email Debbie Levine. Registration for the Winter/Spring session starting in January starts up next month!
Please visit this space for updates on sports, music and theater registration dates, seminars, and more events throughout town.