The Thursday Owl - January 4, 2024

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Concord Public Schools: How Are Our Children Doing After Covid? Dr Hunter will be speaking on Friday, January 5, 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Concord Public Library regarding the Concord public schools’ handling of the post-Covid academic, social, and emotional demands on students and challenges for educators. Please consider joining the forum in person or virtually for this update. 

Alcott Before School Sports Session #3: Our program starts back up on Monday, January 8th and ends on Thursday, February 15th. All the info can be found by clicking this flyer. We look forward to your students having a fun-filled session of games, gymnastics and sports. 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." Thanks, Tim Gaudreau and Jan Flannery

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help. Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is underway. The goal this year is to collect 400 coats. Please consider donating any gently-used coats by sending them to school with your child. The drop off box is by 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, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 7th, 2024. 

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Calendar and important dates

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

Jan 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 19 - Hat Day

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

January 4th 7:00-8:30 pm / Online SEPAC Presents:  Summer Programs: Although it’s still winter, we are already thinking about summer! Come join SEPAC to learn more about the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) programs for the summer. Plus a handful of local camps including Concord Recreation & Inclusion Camp, Fuse Academy, Drumlin Farm, Peter Pan Center & Timbernook Camp.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82727052124?pwd=cUgrd05lVTVrQ2JOc283ZUZtcnpSdz09

Meeting ID: 827 2705 2124 Passcode: 631697

Registration is open for CCYS Winter Futsal & Spring 2024 Travel and Intown Soccer. Travel soccer is open to players in grades 3 through 8. The travel registration deadline is JANUARY 5th. Intown soccer is open to players in grades Pre-K – 4. The intown deadline is MARCH 4th. Winter futsal sessions run Sundays in Carlisle for players in grades 2-8. Winter futsal is a fun, low-cost option for your players this winter. More info can be found at: http://www.ccysoccer.org.  CLICK HERE to register.

CCYBS Softball Opportunities

  • WINTER CLINIC REGISTRATION: It’s time to grab gloves, bats and helmets to get ready for the spring season. This winter, we are offering a winter clinic at AtBats in Boxboro, MA. We are thrilled to share that CCYBS Softball will be offering small group instruction this winter for players in Grades 4-8 starting January 16, 2024 and ending February 15, 2024. Please REGISTER by January 8th. For more detailed information about the clinics, visit our website and scroll down to the Winter Clinics section. Stay tuned because we will also be offering pre-season April larger group clinics for Grades 1-8.

  • SPRING SEASON REGISTRATION: Registration for the spring season of Concord-Carlisle Softball is open until February 10th. Beginning on February 11th, there will be a $50 late fee, so REGISTER NOW. Families registering more than one player will receive a $30 discount. If you require financial assistance with the costs for clinics or season registrations, please do not hesitate to contact Toni-Lynn Hansen (Softball Director, director.ccybs.softball@gmail.com).

Concord Public Library Opportunities

All Ages

  • Winter Seed Sow: Sunday, January 7 at 1 PM at Verrill Farm

Register: In this workshop led by Isabel Bailey of the Concord Pollinator Health Committee, we will learn how to sow seeds into milk jugs for easy, outdoor, over-wintering germination of native pollinator-supporting plants. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

  • Winter Seed Sow with Lady Fern Farm: Saturday, January 20 at 2 PM at Fowler

Register: Lady Fern Farm will educate participants about winter seed sowing and the benefits of adding native plants to our yards. Participants will then plant two milk jugs with native seeds that require cold weather for germination. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Teens and Tweens

  • Otaku Bell: Thursday, January 11 at 4 PM at the Main Library

No Registration Required: Join this club and celebrate Japanese media and pop culture! Discuss your favorite manga and anime titles, share art, learn about local conventions and events, and eat delicious Japanese goodies! Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. More info here.

  • Random Insanity Game Show: Thursday, January 18 at 4 PM at the Main Library

No Registration Required: Be a contestant in our mad mash-up of game shows and do your best to navigate the chaos of ridiculous rules to win fabulous prizes! Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. More info here.

  • Video Game Tournament: Tuesday, January 30 at 3:45 PM at Main Library

No Registration Required: Grab a prize at this ranked Super Smash Brothers tournament, but bring your deodorant because the competition in this classic brawler is going to be extra sweaty. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. More info here.

Kids

  • Dance Workshop: An Introduction to Bharatanatyam (Ages 3-7): Sat, Jan 13 at 11 AM at Fowler

Register: Explore the imaginative world of dance through this workshop in the Bharatanatyam repertoire, a South Indian classical dance form. Participants will be introduced to basic steps, rhythm, expressions, and storytelling.

  • Sustainability Studio with Mothers Out Front (Ages 7 & under): Sat, Jan 27 at 11 AM at Fowler

No Registration Required: Together with Mothers Out Front, we'll explore the theme of "Reduce, Reuse" through a mix of stories, songs, and crafting. More info here.

Parents and Educators

  • Opting for Growth by Embracing Stress and Emotion: Let's Get Uncomfortable with Karin Hodges: Thursday, January 18 at 5:30 PM at the Main Library

Register: With the current mental health crisis affecting the younger generation, it's more critical than ever to concentrate on fostering environments that promote growth. Dr. Hodges will share her insights on how to foster such an environment as a parent or caregiver for children and teens.

Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge: Concord kindergarteners and their adults are invited to join us to learn all about Girl Scouts and how YOU can participate as we do a fun activity from the Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge on Thursday, February 8th, at 6:15 PM in the Concord Free Public Library lower-level meeting room. Please confirm your attendance at gsema.org/eventrsvp2. Unable to attend or have an older child and want to learn more? Please visit gsema.org/moreinfo, and a council staff member will be in touch.

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 - December 21, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Happy Holidays from the PTG!  Looking back on the last few months, we are so thankful for our amazing students, their families, our PTG volunteers and our wonderful teachers and staff.  We hoped to create a lot of moments for building community amongst our students, teachers and families and look forward to continuing that for you in 2024. May the holidays give you and your families a much needed break and all you are hoping for in the new year! 

With love and gratitude, Melissa Karczewski & Liz Gibbs

Fabric and Yarn Donations for the Art Room: If you have any extra fabric or yarn around, we would love to use it in the art room for some upcoming lessons. We would greatly appreciate any donations you may have. Thank you! 

Also, don't forget to check out our Art at Alcott Instagram. 

Hannah Brady, Art Teacher

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help. Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is underway. The goal this year is to collect 400 coats. Please consider donating any gently-used coats by sending them to school with your child. The drop off box is by 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, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 7th, 2024. 

Alcott Instagram - Follow Alcott on Instagram

Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Dec 22 - Half Day

Dec 25 - 29 - Winter Recess

Jan 1 - New Years Holiday

Jan 2 - School Resumes

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

January 4th 7:00 pm / Online SEPAC Presents:  Summer Programs: Although it’s still winter, we are already thinking about summer!  Come join SEPAC to learn more about the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) programs for the summer.  Plus a handful of local camps including Concord Recreation & Inclusion Camp, Fuse Academy, Drumlin Farm and more. The Zoom link will be added to the SEPAC website. www.concordsepac.org

Registration is open for CCYS Winter Futsal & Spring 2024 Travel and Intown Soccer. Travel soccer is open to players in grades 3 through 8. The travel registration deadline is JANUARY 5th.  Intown soccer is open to players in grades Pre-K – 4.  The intown deadline is MARCH 4th. Winter futsal sessions run Sundays in Carlisle for players in grades 2-8.  Winter futsal is a fun, low-cost option for your players this winter. More info can be found at: http://www.ccysoccer.org.  CLICK HERE to register.

Come watch and discuss The Busing Battleground- a PBS documentary showing how civil rights battles were fought in Boston as it implemented court-ordered school desegregation in the 1970s. Viewing followed by panel discussion involving individuals with direct experience with the controversial busing plan. Sunday, January 14, 2024, 2:00-5:00 pm. In person and via Zoom. Register here to receive updates and to obtain a Zoom link for the event. Drop-ins welcome. Hosted by the Racial Justice Action Group at First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd., Concord.

Award-Winning Bluegrass Band Mile Twelve to Perform at Concord Conservatory—Mile Twelve returns to Concord Conservatory of Music for a special performance on Saturday, January 20th at 7:00 pm. With a mix of originals and traditional tunes, the band showcases a fresh and dynamic bluegrass sound. They’ve earned an international reputation as one of the most exciting bands in contemporary acoustic music. Known for their originality, talent, and commitment to addressing societal issues—they use lyrics to tell meaningful stories. We thank our Lead Sponsor, Emerson Health, for supporting the 2023-2024 CCM Concert & Lecture Series and our Supporting Sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank. ConcordConservatory.org

Holiday Tree, Styrofoam and Holiday Light Recycling: The Town is keeping the compost site open regular hours through January 6th barring any storms and adding the Fridays around the holidays. What Kind of Styrofoam can be recycled? White, clean, dry, free of all tapes and labels. Bend the material- it should break and snap with loose beads. What cannot be recycled? Packing peanuts, egg cartons, disposable plates & cups, carryout containers, meat trays, painted Styrofoam. How do I prepare my Styrofoam for recycling? Pre-purchase bags ($10 for a 55-gallon bag online). Pick up your bags at CPW, 133 Keyes Rd. Compact and break up the material if possible. How and when do I drop off my recycling? Drop off your pre-purchased bags at Compost Site (755 Walden Street) on Fridays 12/29 or 1/5 (9am -12pm) and Saturdays, 12/30 or 1/6 (9am-4pm.)

More information can be found on the Town website. https://concordma.gov/504/Holiday-Tree-Recycling

Register now for Raising Financially Savvy Kids – Your Role as Chief Financial Parent! Wed., Jan. 31, 7-8:30 at CCHS. Get a jump on the new year by signing up now to get real information and best practices from someone in the industry. Full information including how to register online can be found here: https://ccace.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=293399. Offered by CCACE; fee is $25 and scholarships are available and confidential.

IMSCC Music lessons - registration is open for the Winter-Spring session!

Enrollment is underway for the upcoming Winter-Spring session of one-on-one music lessons with IMSCC's expert instructors. The 16-week session begins in January. Lessons are available for all band and orchestra instruments as well as voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar and ukulele. Lessons take place after school and in the evenings at CCHS and the Carlisle school. New students can start the enrollment process by filling out a lesson inquiry form at https://ccace.asapconnected.com/#PrivateLessons. We will follow up by asking an instructor to contact you to arrange lesson times.

New this year - small group lessons for 4th and 5th graders! IMSCC instructors teach groups of 3-5 students learning the same instrument, with separate groups for first year and second year players. Group lessons are available for most band and orchestra instruments. Click here for information and to register.

More information about IMSCC including tuition rates, instructor bios and more, at http://www.concordcarlisleace.org/instrumental-music-school. If you have questions please email Debbie Levine.

Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge : Concord kindergarteners and their adults are invited to join us to learn all about Girl Scouts and how YOU can participate as we do a fun activity from the Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge on Thursday, February 8th, at 6:15 PM in the Concord Free Public Library lower-level meeting room. Please confirm your attendance at gsema.org/eventrsvp2. Unable to attend or have an older child and want to learn more? Please visit gsema.org/moreinfo, and a council staff member will be in touch.

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 - December 14, 2023

ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Holiday Toy Drive:  The Alcott PTG, in partnership with the CCHS Football Program and the Concord Fire-EMS Department, is helping to collect new toys for families in need locally and in surrounding towns.  If you would like to participate, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to Alcott by Monday December 18th.  The collection box will be in the main hallway. 

Fabric and Yarn Donations for the Art Room: If you have any extra fabric or yarn around, we would love to use it in the art room for some upcoming lessons. We would greatly appreciate any donations you may have. Thank you! 

Also, don't forget to check out our Art at Alcott Instagram. 

Hannah Brady, Art Teacher

Concord METCO Family and Friends invites you to a fabulous afternoon of roller skating at Chez Vous, Saturday December 16, 2023, from 12:00-3:00pm. Come, enjoy, and get out all that energy, no matter what the weather outside! Please register on Sign-up Genius at the link here by Friday, December 15th:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49AEAB2BA5F9C52-46612009-roller

Where: Chez Vous | 11 Rhoades Street, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

When: Saturday, December 16, 2023 | 12:00 - 3:00pm

Please note that transportation for this event is not provided, and parents/guardians will be required to stay with their children at Chez Vous. All Welcome!

The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help. Their annual Anton’s Cleaners Coats for Kids drive is underway. The goal this year is to collect 400 coats. Please consider donating any gently-used coats by sending them to school with your child. The drop off box is by 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, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 7th, 2024. 

Alcott Instagram - Follow Alcott on Instagram

Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on Twitter (X)

Calendar and important dates

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

Dec 15 - Sweatshirt Day

Dec 22 - Half Day

Dec 25 - 29 - Winter Recess

Jan 1 - New Years Holiday

Jan 2 - School Resumes

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

IN THE COMMUNITY

Registration is open for CCYS Winter Futsal & Spring 2024 Travel and Intown Soccer. Travel soccer is open to players in grades 3 through 8. The travel registration deadline is JANUARY 5th.  Intown soccer is open to players in grades Pre-K – 4.  The intown deadline is MARCH 4th. Winter futsal sessions run Sundays in Carlisle for players in grades 2-8.  Winter futsal is a fun, low-cost option for your players this winter. More info can be found at: http://www.ccysoccer.org.  CLICK HERE to register.

Come watch and discuss The Busing Battleground- a PBS documentary showing how civil rights battles were fought in Boston as it implemented court-ordered school desegregation in the 1970s. Viewing followed by panel discussion involving individuals with direct experience with the controversial busing plan. Sunday, January 14, 2024, 2:00-5:00 pm. In person and via Zoom. Register here to receive updates and to obtain a Zoom link for the event. Drop-ins welcome. Hosted by the Racial Justice Action Group at First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd., Concord.

Award-Winning Bluegrass Band Mile Twelve to Perform at Concord Conservatory—Mile Twelve returns to Concord Conservatory of Music for a special performance on Saturday, January 20th at 7:00 pm. With a mix of originals and traditional tunes, the band showcases a fresh and dynamic bluegrass sound. They’ve earned an international reputation as one of the most exciting bands in contemporary acoustic music. Known for their originality, talent, and commitment to addressing societal issues—they use lyrics to tell meaningful stories. We thank our Lead Sponsor, Emerson Health, for supporting the 2023-2024 CCM Concert & Lecture Series and our Supporting Sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank. ConcordConservatory.org

Holiday Tree, Styrofoam and Holiday Light Recycling: The Town is keeping the compost site open regular hours through January 6th barring any storms and adding the Fridays around the holidays. What Kind of Styrofoam can be recycled? White, clean, dry, free of all tapes and labels. Bend the material- it should break and snap with loose beads. What cannot be recycled? Packing peanuts, egg cartons, disposable plates & cups, carryout containers, meat trays, painted Styrofoam. How do I prepare my Styrofoam for recycling? Pre-purchase bags ($10 for a 55-gallon bag online). Pick up your bags at CPW, 133 Keyes Rd. Compact and break up the material if possible. How and when do I drop off my recycling? Drop off your pre-purchased bags at Compost Site (755 Walden Street) on Fridays 12/29 or 1/5 (9am -12pm) and Saturdays, 12/30 or 1/6 (9am-4pm.)

More information can be found on the Town website. https://concordma.gov/504/Holiday-Tree-Recycling

Brighten the Night with WBYC: December 20, 2023: Brighten the night with green luminary kits from William's Be Yourself Challenge (WBYC) as we come together to shine a light on mental health and grief awareness and remember a beloved community member. On February 19, 2019, William Shaw died in a tragic ski accident. He was 9 years old, in 3rd grade at Carlisle Public School. Every year since, the Carlisle and Concord communities have lit luminaries on his birthday, Dec. 20.  This year, WBYC is selling luminary kits with 15 lights - 14 for William's 14th birthday, plus 1 light for you to use in memory of a loved one you have lost. For more information or to purchase a kit online, visit our website at www.williamsbeyourselfchallenge.org. Proceeds will fund a continuation of the speaker series focused on bringing awareness and support to childhood grief and mental health. More to come with dates, times and speakers.

Register now for Raising Financially Savvy Kids – Your Role as Chief Financial Parent! Wed., Jan. 31, 7-8:30 at CCHS. Get a jump on the new year by signing up now to get real information and best practices from someone in the industry. Full information including how to register online can be found here: https://ccace.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=293399. Offered by CCACE; fee is $25 and scholarships are available and confidential.

IMSCC Music lessons - registration is open for the Winter-Spring session!

Enrollment is underway for the upcoming Winter-Spring session of one-on-one music lessons with IMSCC's expert instructors. The 16-week session begins in January. Lessons are available for all band and orchestra instruments as well as voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar and ukulele. Lessons take place after school and in the evenings at CCHS and the Carlisle school. New students can start the enrollment process by filling out a lesson inquiry form at https://ccace.asapconnected.com/#PrivateLessons. We will follow up by asking an instructor to contact you to arrange lesson times.

New this year - small group lessons for 4th and 5th graders! IMSCC instructors teach groups of 3-5 students learning the same instrument, with separate groups for first year and second year players. Group lessons are available for most band and orchestra instruments. Click here for information and to register.

More information about IMSCC including tuition rates, instructor bios and more, at http://www.concordcarlisleace.org/instrumental-music-school. If you have questions please email Debbie Levine.

Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge : Concord kindergarteners and their adults are invited to join us to learn all about Girl Scouts and how YOU can participate as we do a fun activity from the Trolls It Takes Two Activity Challenge on Thursday, February 8th, at 6:15 PM in the Concord Free Public Library lower-level meeting room. Please confirm your attendance at gsema.org/eventrsvp2. Unable to attend or have an older child and want to learn more? Please visit gsema.org/moreinfo, and a council staff member will be in touch.

December Saturday highlights at Fowler Branch Library (1322 Main Street)

  • Ornament Making at Fowler: Saturday, December 16, 2-4 PM

    Drop in to make a range of ornaments. All ages welcome. No registration required.

  • A Family Noon Year's Party at Fowler: Saturday, December 30, 11:30-12:15

    Let's ring in 2024 early! Wear your sparkly best, and join Fowler staff for crafts, music, and a countdown for when the clock strikes 12! We will cheer in the new year with sparkling cider and snacks. No registration required.

Concord Rec Offerings

  • Alcott After School Programming

  • Alcott Before School Programming

    • Can't get enough Orchestra? The String Orchestra before school program is for students who have been studying basic skills since September and can play the first three notes on the D string by January. The program is suitable for 4th-year beginner students or second-year + players (5th graders). Join to further develop your ensemble playing skills on your string instrument. This is an extra enrichment class that is meant to augment your child's ensemble skills and introduce them to their first ensemble experience or add to the existing orchestra class. This class is not meant to replace group skills classes. More information and registration can be found here: https://concordrec.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30108.

    • Does your student want a fun and active morning before they start school? Before school sports is a great way for student to get some energy out, make new friends, and try different types of activities. These sessions are taught by your school’s Physical Education teachers and each grade level is assigned a different morning of the week. More information and registration can be found here: https://concordrec.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30772.

  • Other Concord Recreation Programming

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!