Chatham
Elementary School
Rehearsals for “Assignment Earth,” a musical
about the environment, are underway. Twenty students from grades two to
four are meeting each Friday at the community center to learn and practice
lines, songs, and choreography. Chatham Middle School students Elizabeth
Bourget, Becky Ryder, Amanda Malone, and Olivia Malone are creating the
choreography for the production. “Assignment Earth” is one of several
projects of the Community Service Learning Club. Elementary teachers Donna
Smoller and Cheri Armstrong, and Sharon Powell of Chatham Youth Services,
facilitate the club. These projects combine the visual and performing Arts
with community service initiatives both locally and globally. “Assignment
Earth” will be performed on Friday, May 2 to launch a beach clean-up day on
Saturday, May 3. Additionally, the performers and other students will be
working on Earth-friendly endeavors throughout the month of April.
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| Jordan Our brushes up on her brushing
technique with Dr. Rivers while classmate, William Bailey looks
on. |
The kindergarten was abuzz this past month. We
kicked off the month with our Groundhog’s Day prediction and followed up
with our Year of the Rat, Chinese New Year celebration. The children used
their five senses to experience the Chinese New Year. They tasted fortune
cookies, smelled oranges, felt uncooked rice, saw a picture of a rat, and
finally “heard” or rather, mimicked the sound of fire crackers with hand
clapping.
Feb. 14 was a very fun-filled day. It was both
Valentine’s Day and our 100th day of school. To celebrate, the
children were invited to create displays of 100 objects. Many found ways to
count by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, and 25’s. We finished the afternoon with the
delivering of Valentines and creating Valentine scrap books.
February was Dental Health month. Local Chatham
dentist Dr. Justin C. Rivers visited Mrs. Gill’s Kindergarten to discuss how
to care for our teeth. The class discussed how eating health snacks
benefits our teeth and they were able to practice proper brushing
techniques. Each child was thrilled to receive a new tooth brush and tooth
timer from Dr. Rivers so that they could continue with their good practice
at home.
Second graders once again worked with visiting
teacher Jane Moffett. Mrs. Moffett’s association with the elementary school
has enhanced student learning in social studies for the past several years.
Grade two children studied Native American artifacts from the Southwest.
Mrs. Moffett’s extensive collection and presentation furthered their
learning and understanding of Native American culture. Under the direction
of Mrs. Moffett and art teacher Catherine Moye, students will soon begin
creating Kachina dolls. Kachina dolls play a significant role in the Hopi
culture. Mrs. Moffett’s next presentation will be an historical lesson on
Paul Revere in March.
The Chatham Elementary-Middle School Chorus
is on the road. On March 7, the students entertained residents at Liberty
Commons Nursing. The chorus is a group of 30 students who dedicate their
time rehearsing once a week after school. They range in age from eight to
11 years old, grade three, four, and five. The children are wonderful.
Chatham Elementary School is the recipient
of a $1000 State Farm Good Neighbor Service Learning grant. This national
grant was awarded to the Community Service Learning Club to assist with its
environmental projects scheduled for the week of Earth Day into the
beginning of May. Elementary school students will be collaborating with
students at the middle school on their efforts to purchase a portion of the
rainforest, to encourage reuse and recycling, and to heighten awareness of
positive changes everyone can make to conserve energy and resources.
Chatham Middle School
Ms. Bassett’s sixth grade class is helping the
planet stay green. They are teaming up with other classrooms around the
globe, Scholastic Book Clubs, and the Rainforest Alliance to adopt 100 acres
of rainforest along the northern coast of Ecuador in an area known as the
Choco Forest. Our class will read 100 books by Earth Day, April 22, and
Scholastic Book Clubs will adopt 100 acres of rainforest in the name of our
classroom and all others who reach the 100 book goal! This particular
parcel of rainforest is home to the Chachi Indians, a range of endangered
animals including jaguars and black howler monkeys, and more than 9,000
species of plants. For more information and to learn more about this
program visit www.scholastic.com/classroomscare.
Students in the seventh and eighth grades
visited Pleasant Bay recently to write science poetry. Using concepts
taught in the first half of the school year, students looked for examples of
science as a review, and wrote observations about their findings. Students
will use these to create original free verse poems using information and
models demonstrated in their humanities classes. The finished poems will be
shared with the public as a part of the Pleasant Bay Grant program, and will
be assessed for both science and language arts content.
Thanks in part to a grant from the Chatham
Cultural Council, Chatham fifth graders were able to attend a live theater
performance of Old Yeller, adapted from a book by Fred Gipson, written in
1956. Students traveled to New Bedford to the Zeiterion Theater on Feb.
13. Old Yeller is a classic story read each year by fifth grade students.
We observed some creative ways of presenting the many animals in the story,
including Old Yeller himself!
Chatham High School
On Feb. 8, 22 students and three chaperones
traveled to Cambridge for the weekend to take part in the seventh annual
Boston Model United Nations Conference, co-sponsored by the Boston
University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Model UN teams. Twelve
hundred delegates from around the world attended this conference, including
students from Guatemala, Korea, and China. Chatham High School students
began preparing for this conference as soon as school began in September, by
discussing and debating international issues being considered in the United
Nations. In December, our team received our assignments, which were to
represent the countries of Latvia, Ghana, and Argentina. We were also given
positions on the conference press corps, the Ethiopian and Eritrean
historical councils, and a seat on the Indian Parliament or Lok Sahba. Our
students were very well prepared, and participated in all aspects of their
meetings, including proposing amendments to resolutions, and helping to
draft resolutions in response to problems facing their committees. The hard
work and dedication of this team was not rewarded by prizes, but was very
satisfying to all those involved. Our team would like to thank all those who
sponsored us and helped us attend this international conference, as well as
our very supportive parents and teachers. We look forward to attending this
conference again next year.
Community Internship News. The Community
Internship program is off to a good start for the spring semester with its
largest enrollment ever, 32 students. Seniors spend from one to three hours
at their internships Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays attend an
in-school business-related workshop. This year’s class has an eclectic mix
of internships that include placements in business, sports, health and
fitness, education, and local government. During the first week of the
program, students had a five-day in-school orientation that included
workshops on interviews, resumes, workplace attire, ethics, and program
expectations. CHS Principal Maul Mangelinkx attended one of the meetings
and presented a PowerPoint and talk about his experiences on both sides of
the interview table. He also discussed practical “do’s and don’ts” for
effective resumes.
Now that the students have completed the first
few weeks of their internships, they shared several comments about their
experiences thus far:
“Going to Laurel every day definitely makes my
day.” Kathryn Gagnon, interning at Laurel Hill School.
“My mentors are fun and exciting to work with. .
. I have learned how the business runs and what the policies and procedures
are.” Nick Lapham, interning at Chatham Candy Manor.
“This week was awesome! Monday and Tuesday we
went out to potential wetlands/vernal pools and met with an engineer
plotting the sites and testing moisture.” Audrey Hart, interning at the
Chatham Conservation Department.
“Today I put together a proposal for my boss.
The proposal includes a price I think is right for a teen membership.”
Julia Stratton, interning at Fit ‘n Run.
“The first day at Matt’s Automotive, I just
jumped right into work. . . I learned how to properly grease the underside
of a vehicle such as ball joints and steering... I am really enjoying it,
and every day I can’t wait to go.” Jared Bennett, interning at Matt’s
Automotive.
“Chris taught me how to edit all of my photos
that I took in PhotoShop. I did that for awhile and I was very proud of
them. . . . I love my internship so much. I think it is a great chance for
me to get to know about what I want to do when I am older.” Dallas Heller,
interning at Mooncusser Films.
USAF ‘Afterburner’ Rocks At CHS
Chatham high students and staff were
treated to an exhilarating performance by Afterburner, the Hanscom Air Force
Band of Liberty’s rock and roll stars.
SSgt. Jill Jeremenko, Cape Cod’s Air Force
Recruiter, introduced the group on an otherwise dreary winter day. Lead
vocalist SrA. Courtney Clifford commanded the stage like an American Idol
winner and set the tone from the get-go with a request for the students to
cheer with gusto and sing along in full volume “loud!” Colored lights
flickered in geometric shapes on the auditorium’s walls and ceiling marking
the rocking beat to a variety of the students’ top pop favorites, including
“Shut Up and Drive,” “Tell Me Baby,” “Ain’t No Other Man,” and “Original
Fire.” SrA. Timothy Reeder doubled on guitar and vocals to “How Far We’ve
Come.” SSgt. Bennett Weidemann proved that drummers can fill the solo
spotlight in a dazzling display of percussion excellence. Even CHS Athletic
Director caught the afternoon’s excitement leading a center stage guest
appearance of the Girls’ Blue Devils’ Basketball team in a grooving’ dance
in anticipation of a victorious playoff game held later that day.
Students were swaying in their seats clapping to Drop Kick Murphy’s “I’m
Shipping Up to Boston,” the band’s finale. TSgt. Gary Noel (lead guitar),
TSgt. Kenny Maurais (bass), SSgt. Jeffrey Saunders (keyboard), and SrA.
Caleb Sanders (tech specialist) heightened their enthusiastically received
concert which ended to sizzling, heated emotions of joy for a rocking good
time.
Drama Club news
For our spring production, the Chatham High
School Drama Club and the Chatham High School Band and Chorus are combining
talents and vision as we prepare “An evening inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les
Misérables.” Production dates are Friday and Saturday nights, March 28 and
29 at 7 p.m., in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults and
$3 for students and seniors. We look forward to seeing you!
Foreign Language News
The second half the school year brings new
classes for our students: French III and French V. Our students of French
III are busy learning language associated with driving (how appropriate for
the age!) and the culture of La Belgique. Students are using the Internet
to research the culture and writing scripts to process their newly acquired
language. In French V, our students have begun a history and literature
survey. Students are learning how to read and discuss history as well as
the literary genres that correspond to the time period they are studying.
Our Spanish I class is learning how to
initiate and participate in conversations in Spanish. Our culture unit is
based en Los Estados Unidos, the United States, as we look at Miami, San
Antonio, and Los Angeles. Students will learn how to introduce themselves
and others and talk about their friends and families.
Three Harwich Students Recognized As ‘Good Kids’
HARWICH --- The Dennis-Harwich Rotary Club
devoted its Feb. 28 meeting to honoring students from the Harwich Public
Schools. Three students were given awards for being “Good Kids.” The three
honorees were Colleen Beckler and Miranda Lopes from Harwich High School and
Gary Clinch from Harwich Middle School.
Beckler was praised for her work with the Best
Buddies Club, for her contributions to the basketball team, for her devotion
to her academics and for her warm, ingratiating personality. Lopes was
commended for her hard work in all classes and her leadership by example on
the athletic fields. The middle school award winner, Clinch, was applauded
for his fundraising efforts to assist Hurricane Katrina victims housed at
Otis Air Force Base as well as other volunteer efforts helping organizations
such as Angel’s Hope.
The students, their parents and guidance
counselors were treated to breakfast at Grumpy’s Restaurant in East Dennis.
The Rotary members chatted with the students and congratulated them
individually for their successes. Each “Good Kid” was presented a framed,
personalized commendation certificate from the club.
Harwich School Screening
HARWICH — The Harwich Public Schools provide
continuous screening for three- and four-year-old children who may have
special needs. Contact the school department’s special needs office at
508-430-7201 for more information, or email alondon@harwich.edu.
2/28/06
