Friday, April 22, 2016

April 22, 2016

Dear PWS Families,
Here is a story I have been really excited to write about!  On Friday before the Mother/Son event a Kindergarten girl came up to me and asked, “Why can’t we play dodgeball with our dads?”  I asked her, “How are you going to wear a dress and play dodgeball.”  She looked up at me with great big brown eyes and said, “I can just wear a really short dress.”  We love children!!!
In another story, a first grader asked, “Does being 7 make me young?” The teacher responded, “Yes.” The student seemed disappointed until she asked if her nine year old sister is also young and the the teacher said yes.


PWS Happenings
Mother/Son Event
This event was a big success!  The energy that was in the building on Friday evening was incredible. Mothers and sons participated in dodg ball, a bouncy obstacle course and ice cream sundaes.  What could be better!  A thank you for all the help from parents that made  this event a success.


Here are the first annual Mother/ Son DodgeBall Champions
Kristin D’Urso and Danny Caldwell
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Teacher Appreciation Week
The PTG is looking forward to celebrating Bedford School District Staff during National Teacher Appreciation week May 2nd- May 6th.  Happy Vacation Week!!


Girls Inc. Book Drive
Please consider bringing in new or gently used books to benefit Girls Inc in Manchester. Girls Inc is a great foundation  that supports girls in New Hampshire and gives them a positive environment to grow, learn, and become better people. This book drive will help support the IB C.A.S. (Creativity,  Action, and Service) Project of Paige Wallat, Anna Bogursky, and Lilly Heald from Bedford High School. The class that brings in the most books gets an ice cream party, so let’s get collecting and help Girl’s Inc!


Community Info
National Drug Take-Back Day
Saturday, April 30th. Click here for information and locations.


Destination Imagination - Shoes, Bags & Belt Drive until May 15th
Bedford DI are having a special drive through Ecosmith Recyclers.  From now until May 15th, you can donate all your old shoes, bags and belts (any condition) in the marked boxes in our school lobby.  This is a great way to get your spring cleaning under way, while helping raise funds for the Lurgio team heading to Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.  Remember, clothing, fabrics and stuffed animals can always be donated in the bin in the parking lot.  We appreciate your support.


Spanish Summer Camp
Students entering 2nd grade-8th grade will be exposed to Spanish in a fun immersive language environment on July 11th-14th from 8:00am-11:30am at Bedford High School.  There will be different themes each day taught by highly trained and certified teachers with teenaged team leaders. Students will be in appropriate age and ability groupings.  No Spanish experience is required.  Email Laura Chenette at chenettel@sau25.net with questions or to register, spaces are limited.   


Upcoming Dates
Friday, May 13th 8:30 am-10:30 am Grandparents Day


Have a great vacation week,


Cheryl Daley Dan Mitchell

Principal Assistant Principal

Friday, April 15, 2016

Friday, April 15, 2016

Dear PWS Families,
Did your students come home and talk about the Flamingo they saw at lunch?  Today was the day that Mr. Mitchell dressed up as a Flamingo and served hot lunch to the students.  Mr. Flamingo...I mean Mitchell walked around the cafeteria and may have accidentally pecked some students with his beak.  


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Tonight is another special night at PWS!  The Mother/Son event begins at 6:00.  We noticed many boys wearing their bright colored t-shirts!  This will be a fun filled evening!  We are looking forward to seeing all the moms and sons!


PWS Happenings
PWS Art Show April 21 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Come view some of the fabulous artwork PWS students have created!
Click here for more info.


Lost and Found
The lost and found is quite full of snow gear and other forgotten belongings. Parents, please have your child check lost and found for missing items by Thursday, April 21st. We also encourage parents to come in to pick up items as well.  The bins will be cleaned out and donated on Friday the 22nd.

Community Info
4th to 5th Parent Night - IMPORTANT
All parents of 4th grade students are invited to attend a Parent Information Night on Wednesday, May 25th at McKelvie Intermediate School.  Click here for details.


4th Grade Families: Band Information Night
The McKelvie Music Department will be visiting the elementary schools during the day on Wednesday, May 18th to perform and talk with the students about band and chorus.  On Thursday, May 19th there will be a Band Information Night for students and parents in the McKelvie Cafeteria from 6:00-7:30pm.  We will go over program expectations, renting instruments and how to sign up for band.


Destination Imagination - Shoes, Bags & Belt Drive until May 15th
Bedford DI is having a special drive through Ecosmith Recyclers.  From now until May 15th, you can donate all your old shoes, bags and belts (any condition) in the marked boxes in our school lobby.  This is a great way to get your spring cleaning under way, while helping raise funds for the Lurgio team heading to Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.  Remember, clothing, fabrics and stuffed animals can always be donated in the bin in the parking lot.  We appreciate your support.


Upcoming Dates
Thursday, April 21 Art Show 6:00- 7:30 PM
Friday, April 22 John Farrell Concert
Monday, April 25- 29 Spring Vacation
Friday, May 13-Grandparents' Day


Have a great weekend,


Cheryl Daley Dan Mitchell

Principal Assistant Principal

Friday, April 8, 2016

Friday, April 8, 2016

Dear PWS Families,
We hope you are having a great week. Thank you to everyone who made our BookFair this week a great success. Everyday seemed busier than the day before. A special thank you Mrs. Mindy Bator for coordinating the effort this year. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped with set up, decorations, sales, and anything else necessary to make this event a success.

We were very fortunate to have the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program visit us today. Google Expeditions is a virtual reality platform built with classrooms in mind. It is designed to enhance the experience of the curriculum being taught. All of our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms had the opportunity to participate in this program throughout the day today. They visited US Monuments, National Parks, Biomes, Tribal Pow-Wows and various landforms. Make sure you ask your child all about it! If you follow Peter Woodbury on Instagram or Facebook, you can see more pictures and video posted by Mrs. Cassamassino.


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PWS Happenings
Reading Challenge
Our reading challenge is over and we are so proud of all our readers at PWS.  Our goal was to read 366,000 minutes and we read 335,731 minutes.  The classroom teachers are going to talk to students about this.  One of our messages this year is that “We make goals that are challenging to reach not easy to reach.”  We see this reading challenge as a success and next year we will try to reach the goal again.


BoxTops Program Update: Spring Box Tops Classroom Contest!
We are holding a special collection contest over the next month - the classroom that brings in the most Box Tops by Monday, May 16, will receive a special prize!  The 2015-2016 year totals and the spring drive’s winning classroom will be announced in June.
In addition, we ask for your support in entering the current raffles online at http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/sweepstakes - anyone can enter the raffle for our school once a day until the raffles close in a month. Who knows? Maybe we will win!
WholeFoods Garden Grant
We are very excited to announce that we received a $2,000 grant from our new neighbors, WholeFoods Market. This grant will allow us to continue to do the great work that we do with our community garden and garden club. A special thank you to Mrs. Ferenc, Mrs. Hart, and Mrs. Meisner for spearheading this effort and receiving this generous grant.


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Community Info
Community-Wide Substance Abuse Discussion on Sunday April 10
You are invited to an important event entitled "It’s Time to Break the Silence!"  This community-wide discussion will be held at the Bedford PresbyterianChurch on Sunday, April 10 from 6:30-8:00 PM. This is an opportunity to discuss drug and alcohol abuse and share ways to address these serious challenges.  Parents, teens, and youth from 4th to 12th grade are invited.  For more info contact John Sawyer at jsawyer@bedfordpresbyterian.org or 603-472-5841.


Parent Involvement Survey
If your child receives special education services, you are being asked to complete a survey about the district's efforts to involve parents in improving services and results for children. Paper surveys are in the mail complete with a pre-paid return envelope. If you prefer, you can go to www.NHParent.com and complete the survey online. Surveys must be completed by May 13th. Your opinions are very important, and we hope you share them.


Bedford Schools Water Supply
Concerns about the water supply have been in the news recently.  We want to make sure everyone in our community knows that none of the water supplying the Bedford Schools comes from the Merrimack Village Water District. Manchester Water Works supplies Peter Woodbury and Memorial. Pennichuck Water Works supplies McKelvie, Lurgio, Bedford High School, and Riddle Brook through a Manchester water source.  
Bedford Early Education Program  (BEEP) continues to accept registrations for the 2016-2017 School Year.  We still have space available in some of our 3 and 4 year old classrooms for 2, 3 or 4 days a week.  Please contact Roberta Keane, BEEP Coordinator at (603) 627-1776 x3216 or keaner@sau25.net.


New Morning Announcement
New Morning Schools is pleased to invite you to our IMAGINE Program Open House, Monday April 11th, 4:30-7 PM at 23 Back River Road, Bedford.  Please stop by and explore our newly expanded space which will house our club based enrichment before and after school programs, vacation and summer camps.  Just for coming to our Open House each family will be entered in a raffle for a free week of camp for one child!


BHS DECA
The BHS DECA chapter will be hosting the magical spectacular, The Magic of Lyn. Lyn Dillies, Parent’s Choice and Merlin award winner, is America’s premier female illusionist infusing all the spectacle and flash of Vegas into an enchanting, family-friendly performance.
When: Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 PM
Where: BHS Theater
How to buy tickets: Tickets will be $10 using the attached form, $15 online at http://goo.gl/PUmYr1 and $15 at the door.  


Upcoming Dates


Friday, April 15 Mother Son Date Night 6:00- 8:00 PM

Thursday, April 21 Art Show 6:00- 7:30 PM

Friday, April 22 John Farrell Concert

Monday April 25- 29 Spring Vacation


Have a great weekend,


Cheryl Daley Dan Mitchell


Principal Assistant Principal

Friday, April 1, 2016

Friday, April 1, 2016

Dear PWS Families,
Whew, what a busy week we had at PWS.  Thanks so much for your support with Family Fun Night.  It is so great to have the whole PWS community together.  Our annual book fair has arrived.  Please stop by and see the books and decorations.  It will take you back to the “Groovy” days!


PWS Happenings
Message From Mrs. Ewing
Tick season is in full swing and parents should be checking their children everyday and consider applying insect repellent now that the kids will be outside more often.


Family Fun Night Proceeds
We wanted to let you know what the money goes towards when we fundraise.  Some of it is saved for future use.  For example our school yard equipment cost $60,000 dollars and if we do not start planning for future needs on the school yard then we will not have the money when the time comes.  We did pave the walking path last school year that cost about $13,000.  This year the garden beds need to be restructured.  In addition, some fundraising money goes towards All School Meetings like Rob Suerette the guest artist that came in the winter.


Community Info
Whole Foods Preview Day to support the Bedford Education Foundation!
The Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) is honored to be the recipient of donations from Whole Foods.
There will be tours of the new store this Tuesday, April 5th from 10-4.
Please stop by the BEF table and say hello to our board members and learn about the work we do on behalf of our teachers and students.  In 2016, the BEF is funding well over $20,000 in grants supporting innovative professional development and program development in the Bedford School District!


Parent Involvement Survey
If your child receives special education services, you are being asked to complete a survey about the district's efforts to involve parents in improving services and results for children. Paper surveys are in the mail complete with a pre-paid return envelope. If you prefer, you can go to www.NHParent.com and complete the survey online. Surveys must be completed by May 13th. Your opinions are very important, and we hope you share them.


Bedford Schools’ Water Supply
We want to make sure everyone in our community knows that none of the water supplying the Bedford Schools comes from the Merrimack Village Water District. Manchester Water Works supplies Peter Woodbury and Memorial. Pennichuck Water Works supplies McKelvie, Lurgio, Bedford High School, and Riddle Brook through a Manchester water source.  


Camp Invention
Does your child like to take things apart, and design, color and create? Are you interested in unlocking your child's potential this summer?  Camp Invention, EPIC (click for video) may be a great fit.  McKelvie Middle School will once again be hosting camp June 20 - 24 from 8 am - 3:30 PM. Camp Invention is the only nationally acclaimed summer enrichment day experience for children entering grades 1 - 6 led by NH certified teachers with a staff ratio of 1:8!!  Camp cost is $250, but register before3/21/16 for a $25 discount.  Click here to register online, or here to view our paper flyer.  If you have any questions, please contact the director, Courtney Cheetham at cheethac@gmail.com


DECA Business Club-BHS
The Bedford High School DECA chapter will be hosting the magical spectacular, The Magic of Lyn. The show’s award winning illusionist, Lyn Dillies, has toured all around the country and is bringing her 85 minute act to the BHS Theatre at 7:30 PM on April 9th. Tickets will be $10 when ordered directly from a DECA student attending ICDC, $15 online at http://goo.gl/PUmYr1 and $15 at the door. We will also be offering a VIP package special for the kids which includes a light up magic wand paired with a magician’s cape customized with your child’s name on it for $15. All proceeds from the event will go toward funding DECA students to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Nashville at the end of April.  We can’t wait to see you there!


Internet Safety Presentation
The Bedford Police Department and The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will be presenting "Social Media: A Predator's Playground" to the community on Monday April 4th, 6:30-8:30PM in the BHS Theater.  The presentation will explain the dangers teens face today. Discussions about how various forms of electronic communications (computer, phones, gaming systems, etc.) can put families at risk will be covered.  This presentation is specifically geared towards parents and educators who are looking to better understand technology available to teens today and the way in which child predators use it to exploit them.


Community Presentation:
Monday April 4th
Bedford High School Theater
6:30pm-8:30pm


Upcoming Dates
Monday, April 4th & 5th-Smarter Balance Testing Window-Grades 3 & 4

Monday, April 4th-April 8th-Scholastic Book Fair

Friday, April 15th-Mother/Son Dance-more information to come!

Thursday, April 21st-Art Show-6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Monday, April 24th-April 29th-Spring Vacation Week

Friday, May 13-Grandparents' Day


Have a great weekend,


Cheryl Daley Dan Mitchell


Principal Assistant Principal