The Thursday Owl - November 16, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alcott School Turkey Trot: Hello Alcott Community- I just wanted to give an update on our 2023 Turkey Trot.  Over the last 2 weeks we have raised approximately $500.  Just a reminder that pledges can be donated in multiple ways.  Cash or checks (made out to Alcott PTG) can be sent in to classroom teachers or electronic "Paypal" donations can be processed on the Alcott PTG website. Here is a link to the PTG Turkey Trot page, click the donate button on the bottom.  We had 381 students jog on 11/1/23 they completed 1852 laps which is 463 miles.  Last year we raised $9,704, which was the 2nd largest amount in the event's history.  Deadline for pledges is Monday, December 4th.  Let's try to top that this year Alcott!  The Open Table has counted on our generosity for all the great work they do in multiple communities. Thank you for your support.

Tim Gaudreau. Alcott PE Teacher

5th Grade Food Collection to Benefit Open Table: A reminder that our 5th graders have organized a food drive to support Open Table.  The food drive ends on Friday, November 17th - information can be found in this flier. Thanks to our 5th graders for coordinating and to our families for supporting!

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!

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Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Nov 23-24 - Thanksgiving Recess

Dec 22- Half Day

December 25- January 1- Winter Recess

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Attention 1st-8th Grade Girls + Boys CCYL Spring 2024 Registration is OPEN!

 Grades 1-2 take part in an in-town program with 1x week sessions.  

• Grades 3-8 participate in their respective girls/boys leagues, with two weekday practices and Sunday games.  

Please visit: www.ccyouthlacrosse.com and go to REGISTER (top right nav). IMPORTANT: Grades 3-8 registration closes 12/31/23

Concord Conservatory of Music: invites you to Harmolodic Microjam, a jazz concert on Friday, December 1st at 7:30 pm. Enjoy captivating and innovative sounds of Harmolodic Jazz, which integrates harmony, movement, and melody in equal measure, and draws inspiration from diverse cultures and traditions. Harmolodic Jazz will feature guest musicians, percussionist Jonathon Birch, keyboardist Dave Bryant, electric guitarist David Fiuczynski, bassist Anderson Mirafzali, as well as CCM faculty member and saxophonist Tsuyoshi Honjo. We are grateful to 2023-2024 Concert & Lecture Series Lead Sponsor, Emerson Health and Supporting Sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank. $25 General Admission/Free for students age 18 and under. Get tickets at ConcordConservatory.org or at the door. CCM is located at 1317 Main Street in West Concord. Harmolodic Microjam, a jazz concert - Concord Conservatory of Music

The Cognitive Neuroscience Group at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston: is recruiting children between the ages of 8 and 12 years to participate in a research study funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The purpose of the study is to evaluate the learning patterns of children with typical and atypical language development. The study will involve 1 virtual visit via a secured Zoom and 3 in-person visits to the lab at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. During the visits, children complete several cognitive and language-based assessments, play several games on the computer, and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visits include safe and noninvasive EEG recording.  The virtual session will last about 30 minutes, and the in-person sessions will last about 2 hours each. We are looking for children who were late to develop language, have received services for language or learning difficulties, or still have difficulty with language, reading comprehension, or learning. More information can be found at: https://rally.partners.org/study/learning_differences Payment is $150 for completing all study visits. We provide free parking for the duration of the study visit near our lab in the Charlestown Navy Yard. We will mail you a report of your child’s scores on the cognitive and language assessments. Please email us at cnglead@mghihp.edu or call us at (617) 724-7363 if you are interested or if you have any questions. We are running multiple research studies in our lab so please feel free to add your contact information to our recruitment database by right clicking on this hyper link: Child Research Recruitment  and a member of our research team will reach out if your child is eligible for any of our current studies.  

Cool Science Artwork Competition.  Cool Science is a free and public art competition held each fall for all K-12 artists. Cool Science is a collaboration between the UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Kansas, and Kansas City Art Institute.  In 2019, Cool Science received a National Science Foundation grant that helped it expand the project beyond Massachusetts to Kansas, Missouri, and Southern New Hampshire. However, students from any location around the world are welcome to participate. This year’s deadline is January 14, 2024.

Challenge Questions This year, we are asking young artists to answer one of the following challenge questions with a visual work of art: 

1) Sunlight is the largest source of energy on the surface of the Earth. How does sunlight fuel extreme weather (e.g., extreme storms)? 

2) Increases in carbon dioxide in the air lead to more extreme weather. Animal homes do not make carbon dioxide on average (they are Net Zero). What can we learn from animals to help us get our homes closer to Net Zero? 

3) What simple thing could you do now to better prepare for extreme weather in the future?

Competition Winners During this winter, we will select the best entries for display on public buses in Massachusetts and Kansas in 2024.  The honorees will be recognized at our art exhibit celebrations next year.

To Learn More For further information about the contest, please visit: https://www.coolscience.net/artwork-guidelines-rules. We look forward to receiving lots of creative entries from your community by January 14, 2024!

Concord Public Library Offerings

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 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.

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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!