The Thursday Owl - November 9, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

5th Grade Food Collection To Benefit Open Table: For the next two weeks, 5th graders will be working together on a community service project to benefit Open Table, a local food pantry and meal program whose mission is to provide fresh food and household supplies to keep families healthy. From November 6th to November 17th, Grade 5 students are hosting a school-wide collection of items needed to make Kids Bags for Open Table, and we need your help to make it a success! Open Table distributes more than 150 bags a week containing kid-friendly food to children who visit the food pantry with their families. Each grade is being asked to bring in different items to create the Kids Bags. For example: Kindergarten should bring fruit cups or applesauce cups - no sugar added, First Grade should bring small, individual boxes of cereal or oatmeal packets, Second Grade should bring 100% juice boxes, Third Grade should bring boxes of macaroni and cheese, Fourth Grade should bring granola bars or fruit bars, and Fifth Grade should bring cans of soup or canned ravioli or snack size packs of crackers or pretzels. Students can bring donations to school and drop them off in the bins outside their classrooms. All donations will be sorted and Kids Bags will be prepared by fifth graders and delivered to Open Table in early December. Please see this flyer for more information. Many thanks for your support of this great organization and the kids and families they serve!

The Meadow Farms sale has been extended! Continue to shop until December 1. As a reminder, Meadow Farms provides an opportunity to purchase items from their catalogue and a percentage of the proceeds goes back to Alcott as part of our fundraising efforts. It's a win win!

You can purchase anything from candles, to wrapping paper, to food and kitchen items, to flower bulbs! Use the following link to browse the online storefront: Meadow Farm Alcott Sale. Or follow the instructions in the flyer sent home to set up your own account to share with family and friends. Get those perfect holiday gifts and give back to the Alcott community!

Alcott Instagram - Follow Alcott on Instagram

Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Nov 10 - Veterans Day Observance

Nov 23-24 - Thanksgiving Recess

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Concord Middle School PTG & School Council Presents a “Who brought Who” Speaker Series on Monday, November 13 at 6:30pm. Kati Preston, Author and Holocaust Survivor, will present in the CMS (Sanborn) auditorium. RSVP here.

SEPAC Presents: '24 Summer Programming & Extended School Year (ESY) Forum

Tuesday, November 14th at 5:30 pm

Changes are underway for general education and special education summer programming.  The one size fits all approach is out and personalized learning is in! Please join us for an online forum on November 14th with our new Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, who will provide an overview of the changes and answer parent questions.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://concordps.zoom.us/j/99099044203 / Meeting ID: 990 904 4203

Concord Carlisle Youth Hockey In Town Registration Open

Registration is now open for Learn to Skate, Mosquitos, and Hot Shots. 

  • Hot Shot Hockey is for Boys and Girls 8-15 yrs old and is an in-town hockey league. Our season consists of 14+ weeks of games and practices starting on November 15th.

  • Learn-to-Skate is for children 3yrs and up and teaches skating fundamentals. The CCYH Mosquito program is considered our "Hockey 101" program and is geared for Girls and Boys who were born between 1/1/2015 and 12/31/2018. Both programs begin November 18th at the Middlesex School rink. 

    Please visit www.ccyh.org for more details and to register your child.

The CCHS Boys Basketball Program is once again hosting its annual Veterans Day Fundraiser on Friday, November 10th at CCHS from 9am - 2pm. Please click here to register and learn more. All proceeds benefit the boys basketball program. 

Concord Public Library Offerings

  • Nutcracker Reading with Commonwealth Ballet Company: Tuesday, November 14 at 4 PM
    Join us for a free reading of the classic tale, The Nutcracker. Several ballet dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet Company will help bring the story to life in their elegant and colorful costumes as the story is read aloud. Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/46WQK5I.

    Teens and Tweens

  • Homeless Care Packages: Tuesday, November 21 at 4 PM

    Come help us assemble care packages for the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest. One hour of community service will be given for participation. Do something kind for a neighbor in need! Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/3QypcOM.

  • Videogame Tournament: Tuesday, November 28 at 3:30 PM

    Prizes are up for grabs at this ranked win Super Smash Bros tournament, but bring your deodorant because the competition in this classic brawler is gonna be extra sweaty as you fight to be the tournament champion! Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/3McWD6Y.

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!

The Thursday Owl - November 2, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming PTG Open Meeting: The PTG invites all parents and guardians to attend its Fall Open Meeting on Tuesday, November 7th at 7pm in person at the Alcott library and over Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82729133631?pwd=aXd2Zy9vY2VFYlNZeWZFaUlPRnh2Zz09 and Meeting ID: 827 2913 3631 / Passcode: 073603). Looking forward to seeing many faces in person for the first time in awhile! Melissa Karczewski and Liz Gibbs

Dining for Dollars at Comella’s - Tuesday, November 7th! NEED AN IDEA FOR DINNER? Eat at Comella’s (dine-in or take-out) on Tuesday night and help raise money for the 5th grade at Alcott Elementary! With every purchase on the evening of November 7th, Comella’s will donate 10% to the Alcott 5th grade fundraiser! Enjoy delicious pizza, salads, pasta or chicken meals and know that you are also contributing to the 5th grade Yearbook, t-shirts, and other fabulous events that mark the last year in our beloved Alcott Elementary School. See you there!

Note from Alcott Nurse Colleen Asselin: As the cold weather approaches, so does the increase in head lice. I would like to remind all parents about how head lice are transmitted and how they are treated.
Information about head lice: What are they? Head lice are tiny insects that live only on people’s scalp and hair. They hatch from small eggs (nits) that are firmly attached to the individual hairs near the scalp and cannot be easily moved up or down the hair (as can specks of dandruff). They look like grains of sand. Nits may be found throughout the hair but are most often located at the back of the scalp near the neck and behind the ears. The eggs hatch in 6-10 days, with new lice reaching adulthood about 2-3 weeks later. The lice live by biting and sucking blood from the scalp. Lice can survive 1-2 days away from the scalp. Until a person with head lice is treated, they can transmit them to others. How should you check for head lice? You may not see the lice, only the eggs. These are tiny, pearl-gray, oval-shaped specks attached to the hair near the scalp. Look carefully, using a magnifying glass and natural light. Search for nits at the back of the neck, behind the ears, and at the top of the head. How does a person get head lice? Anyone who has close contact with an infested person or shares personal items can become infested. Lice are spread only by crawling from person-to-person directly or onto shared personal items, such as combs, brushes, head coverings, clothing, bedding, or towels. They do not fly. Please remind your children not to share hats, combs, and brushes. I always recommend that the students with long hair wear it up in a ponytail. What should you do if your child has head lice? If your child does have head lice, everyone in your family should be checked, and anyone with nits should be treated. Please refer to the CDC website for more information on lice prevention and treatment: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html
Thank you for helping us keep the Alcott School a healthy and happy learning place for all of our
students.

Alcott Instagram - Follow Alcott on Instagram

Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Nov 7 - PTG Open Meeting and Dining for Dollars at Comella’s

Nov 9 - K-5 Conferences (No School)

Nov 10 - Veterans Day Observance

Nov 23-24 - Thanksgiving Recess

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Concord Carlisle Youth Hockey In Town Registration Open

Registration is now open for Learn to Skate, Mosquitos, and Hot Shots. 

  • Hot Shot Hockey is for Boys and Girls 8-15 yrs old and is an in-town hockey league. Our season consists of 14+ weeks of games and practices starting on November 15th.

  • Learn-to-Skate is for children 3yrs and up and teaches skating fundamentals. The CCYH Mosquito program is considered our "Hockey 101" program and is geared for Girls and Boys who were born between 1/1/2015 and 12/31/2018. Both programs begin November 18th at the Middlesex School rink. 

The CCHS Boys Basketball Program is once again hosting its annual Veterans Day Fundraiser on Friday, November 10th at CCHS from 9am - 2pm. Please click here to register and learn more. All proceeds benefit the boys basketball program. 

Concord Youth Theatre announces its Mainstage production of A Year with Frog and Toad, a hit Broadway musical based on the children's books by Arnold Lobel. What happens when two best friends with opposite personalities wake up from hibernation? Hilarious adventures throughout the seasons! Frog,Toad and their memorable friends plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. This upbeat musical will entertain the whole family! CYT’s Mainstage Company is made up of students in grades 5-12 and performs plays that are literature based and age appropriate for all. Showtimes are November 3 and 10 @ 7:30PM, November 4 and 11 @4:00PM, and November 5 and 12 @ 2:30PM. All performances are held in the CYT theater at 53 Church Street in Concord. For tickets and more information, visiting concordyouththeatre.org.

Pumpkin Smash at Codman Farms Lincoln, MA: November 5, 2023, 10:00am - 2:00pm Codman Community Farms, 58 Codman Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773. Join us for a smashing good time at the third annual Great Pumpkin Smash at Codman Community Farms! This family-friendly event is all about having fun while also making a positive impact on our planet. Learn more HERE.

Concord public forum:  Nov. 9 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Concord Town Hall. On behalf of the Task Force, you are invited to learn about and comment on its work for the Select Board, advising on whether to acquire the superfund site in West Concord known as the NMI/Starmet site, and on potential uses for the 46-acre site. The Task Force will describe its membership, its organization, its work, and describe the questions it is aiming to address to arrive at its recommendations. Importantly, the forum will be a prime opportunity for the public to provide suggestions and ideas and to ask questions. Please consider attending to help shape the Task Force’s important work on this rare opportunity for the town. And tell your friends!

Concord Rec Offerings

  • Before School Programs: There are still spots left for Before School Sports. Program days depend on your student’s grade and run from 8:00 am until the start of school. For information and registration, please visit HERE.

  • Other youth programs: Concord Youth Basketball has plenty of spots available, however they can fill up quickly! For information and registration, please visit HERE.

Concord Public Library Offerings

  • Fowler Family Diwali Gala! Saturday, November 4 at 10 AM

    Let’s celebrate Diwali! Join us to make rangolis, get henna art, craft garlands, and learn about the Indian Festival of Lights. Feel free to bring snacks to share! Fowler Branch Library. More info and to register here:https://cfpl.info/3QkSGiW.

  • Nutcracker Reading with Commonwealth Ballet Company: Tuesday, November 14 at 4 PM
    Join us for a free reading of the classic tale, The Nutcracker. Several ballet dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet Company will help bring the story to life in their elegant and colorful costumes as the story is read aloud. Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/46WQK5I.

    Teens and Tweens

  • Teen Advisory Board: Tuesday, November 7 at 3:30 PM

    Teen Advisory Board is a monthly meeting of teen volunteers who work with the Library to help us plan programs, buy materials, and run events. Attendees receive 1 hour of community service and get first crack at future community service opportunities! Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/3Me0WyI.

  • MCBA Book Club: Wednesday, November 8 at 2 PM (recurring every 1st Wednesday)
    Grades 4, 5, and 6

    Do you love to read? Would you like to meet new friends? Each month, we will discuss a new title from the Massachusetts Children's Book Award list. At the end of the program, participants can vote for their favorite book from the list. Maybe the book you nominate will receive the award! Snacks provided. Fowler Branch Library. More info and to register here: https://cfpl.info/3Mjk3Yi.

  • Homeless Care Packages: Tuesday, November 21 at 4 PM

    Come help us assemble care packages for the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest. One hour of community service will be given for participation. Do something kind for a neighbor in need! Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/3QypcOM.

  • Videogame Tournament: Tuesday, November 28 at 3:30 PM

    Prizes are up for grabs at this ranked win Super Smash Bros tournament, but bring your deodorant because the competition in this classic brawler is gonna be extra sweaty as you fight to be the tournament champion! Main Library. No registration required. More info here: https://cfpl.info/3McWD6Y.

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!

The Thursday Owl - October 26, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Alcott Family Movie Night, Friday Oct. 27th at 7pm: Bring a blanket, or a chair (to sit in the back) and enjoy your favorite show! Get your tickets here! Movie choices this year are: Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken (2023), The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), and Elemental (2023);the winner will be announced midday Friday via social media and email.

Event opens at 6:30pm to set up your blankets or chairs on the blacktop, Movie starts running at 7pm. Snack concessions available at the event for $1 and $2.

If you can volunteer, either to purchase and/or donate for the concessions, or to help with clean up, and working ticketing and concessions, please sign up here!

Alcott Before School Sports

  • Session #1 ends Thursday, 10/26

  • Session #2 starts on Monday, 10/30 registration is open and flyers were sent home in student's backpacks last week.  You can sign up by visiting www.concordrec.com or calling 978-287-1050

Thanks for your support- Tim Gaudreau- Alcott PE teacher

Alcott School Turkey Trot - Save the Date! The Turkey Trot is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 1 from 9:45-11:45am at Emerson Track. Last year we raised $9,181. We have raised over $140,000 in the past 27 years and helped multiple local and national charities. This year our pledges will be helping the Open Table and the Concord Recreation Department Scholarship Fund. Please note this is not a PTG fundraiser. 100% of what we raise goes directly to the charities! See Mr. G.’s letter here.

Interested in Volunteering for the Turkey Trot? Email tgaudreau@concordps.org by Friday, October 27, 2023. All volunteers can meet Mr. G. at the Emerson track.

The Meadow Farms sale is here and runs through October 26! Meadow Farms provides an opportunity to purchase items from their catalogue and a percentage of the proceeds goes back to Alcott as part of our fundraising efforts. It's a win win! You can purchase anything from candles, to wrapping paper, to food and kitchen items, to flower bulbs! Use the following link to browse the online storefront: Meadow Farm Alcott Sale. Or follow the instructions in the flyer sent home to set up your own account to share with family and friends.

November open PTG meeting: Save the date! The first Open PTG Meeting will take place in person at Alcott and over zoom on Tuesday, November 7th at 7pm.

Alcott Instagram- Follow Alcott on Instagram

Alcott Twitter- Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Oct 27- Alcott Movie Night

Nov 1 - Alcott School Turkey Trot

Nov 7- PTG open meeting

Nov 9 - K-5 Conferences

Nov 10 - Veterans Day Observance

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Concord Carlisle Youth Hockey In Town Registration Open

Registration is now open for Learn to Skate, Mosquitos, and Hot Shots. 

  • Hot Shot Hockey is for Boys and Girls 8-15 yrs old and is an in-town hockey league. Our season consists of 14+ weeks of games and practices starting on November 15th.

  • Learn-to-Skate is for children 3yrs and up and teaches skating fundamentals. The CCYH Mosquito program is considered our "Hockey 101" program and is geared for Girls and Boys who were born between 1/1/2015 and 12/31/2018. Both programs begin November 18th at the Middlesex School rink. 

The CCHS Boys Basketball Program is once again hosting its annual Veterans Day Fundraiser on Friday, November 10th at CCHS from 9am - 2pm. Please click here to register and learn more. All proceeds benefit the boys basketball program. 

Concord Youth Theatre announces its Mainstage production of A Year with Frog and Toad, a hit Broadway musical based on the children's books by Arnold Lobel. What happens when two best friends with opposite personalities wake up from hibernation? Hilarious adventures throughout the seasons! Frog,Toad and their memorable friends plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. This upbeat musical will entertain the whole family!  CYT’s Mainstage Company is made up of students in grades 5-12 and performs plays that are literature based and age appropriate for all. Showtimes are November 3 and 10 @ 7:30PM, November 4 and 11 @4:00PM, and November 5 and 12 @ 2:30PM. All performances are held in the CYT theater at 53 Church Street in Concord. For tickets and more information, visiting concordyouththeatre.org.

Pumpkin Smash at Codman Farms Lincoln, MA: November 5, 2023, 10:00am - 2:00pm Codman Community Farms, 58 Codman Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773. Join us for a smashing good time at the third annual Great Pumpkin Smash at Codman Community Farms! This family-friendly event is all about having fun while also making a positive impact on our planet. Learn more HERE

Concord public forum:  Nov. 9 from 7:00:– 8:30 p.m. at Concord Town Hall. On behalf of the Task Force, you are invited to learn about and comment on its work for the Select Board, advising on whether to acquire the superfund site in West Concord known as the NMI/Starmet site, and on potential uses for the 46-acre site. The Task Force will describe its membership, its organization, its work, and describe the questions it is aiming to address to arrive at its recommendations. Importantly, the forum will be a prime opportunity for the public to provide suggestions and ideas and to ask questions. Please consider attending to help shape the Task Force’s important work on this rare opportunity for the town. And tell your friends!

The Concord Education Fund Invites you to its Fall Fundraiser - 80's Prom! Please consider joining the Concord Education Fund and other parents in support of our public schools at this Fall's Fundraiser Event - 80's Prom!  Food catered by Saltbox Kitchen and fabulous 80's music will set the scene for a memorable and fun night raising money for our students, teachers and schools.  The party is Saturday, November 4th at 7:00pm at the Concord Scout House.  80's Prom attire is encouraged!  More details and the link to purchase tickets are on the Concord Education Fund's website.  We hope to see you there!

First annual Bandemonium concert:  The Concord Band is hosting a musical event for children and families. The band will play a variety of music, including Disney favorites, pop hits, and classic movie soundtracks. Participants are encouraged to engage in the music through a game of freeze dance, sing-alongs, and an opportunity to sit on stage with the band. Following the concert, children will have the opportunity to explore a variety of concert band instruments at our instrument petting zoo. This event is geared toward children grades K-5, however, all ages are welcome to participate. We hope to provide a fun experience for kids to see the band in action, gain exposure to classical instruments, and above all, enjoy their interaction with music! This event is held on Sunday, November 5th from 2:00pm-3:00pm at 51 Walden St., Concord, MA. We encourage families to purchase tickets ahead of time using the following link: https://www.ticketstage.com/concordband  Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per family. Light refreshments will follow the concert.

Kicks for Cancer Gear - limited time only! Did you miss out on Kicks for Cancer gear in September? As the temperature drops, it’s time to bundle up with official Kicks for Cancer hoodies, sweatpants, and winter hats. Kicks gear is great for holiday gifting! Available only online at https://kicksforcancerstore.wixsite.com/website from October 20 - October 31.  Advance sales only, pick up at CCHS on 12/2.  Questions?  allison_girolimetti@yahoo.com

Concord Rec Offerings

  • Before School Programs: There are still a spots left for Before School Sports. Program days depend on your student’s grade and run from 8:00 am until the start of school. For information and registration, please visit HERE

  • Other youth programs: Concord Youth Basketball has plenty of spots available, however they can fill up quickly! For information and registration, please visit HERE

  • Events: Trunk or Treat is October 29th 2:00-3:30 at The Beede Center Parking Lot.  – Host a car or table at our very popular event.  Decorate your trunk in a theme or just in Halloween décor.  We provide candy.  Register your car  HERE. Registration is open for the Sleepy Hollow 5K on October 28th.  Bring your family and friends, prizes will be awarded to top finishers as well as best costumes. You can register  HERE

Concord Public Library Offerings

Children’s

  • Spooky Storytime (for Big Kids!)

    Saturday, October 28 at 2 PM: Join us for some (slightly!) spooky stories on an autumn afternoon! Recommended for spooky story fans ages 4 and up. Main Library. No registration required.

  • Pumpkin Decorating for Kids

    Monday, October 30 at 4:30 PM: Drop in for a festive evening decorating pumpkins! We'll provide the pumpkins and decorations; you provide the creativity. Then, enter your pumpkin in our Pumpkin Decorating Contest (beginning at 5 PM) for the chance to win special prizes! Main Library. No registration required.

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!