Dr. Conti Discusses Re-districting Plans

Dr. Conti attended the Principal’s Coffee last Monday evening, November 29, to explain how things are progressing regarding the re-districting plans. He reviewed the School Committee’s guiding principles along with the timeline. The plan is to reassign about 140 or so students across the entire district to the new Memorial School. Every school will be affected to some degree. He expects FrancisWymanSchool to potentially lose about 60 students. At this point, he is working on determining the district line changes through the use of a computer program that identifies where each student lives. This allows him to explore many different options with relative ease. He expects a first draft of the new district lines to be shared with parents in a week or two. Once this first draft is released, the upcoming months will provide an opportunity for parents to give feedback. He expects that there will be families who have individual concerns or problematic situations. Clearly, not every concern will be easily fixed, but he is committed to working together with families. Students who will be entering grade 5 next year will be allowed to stay in their current schools if desired, however parents would need to provide their own transportation. For families who would like their grade 5 child to remain at a school but who also have children in lower grades, the parents may write a letter to Dr. Conti requesting that the younger sibling(s) also be allowed to stay at the school. The current policy allows parents to request out of district placements and these requests are approved based on the class size parameters. Below are the list of guiding principles and a timeline for the process. Please be aware that some families at Francis Wyman will be affected and that more information will be forthcoming in the near future.

Proposed Re-districting Time Line

November/December 2010

Present proposal to each elementary school and provide opportunity for feedback and comments.
January 2011

Make adjustments

March 2011

Approve new enrollment zones and transition plan

Elementary Redistricting Principles

1. Assign a student capacity to each elementary school – approximately 80-85%.

2. Redistricting to impact all four elementary schools equally – neighborhoods will not be reassigned solely due to the need for additional specialist staff.

3. As much as practicable, assign neighborhoods to the same elementary school.

4. If practical, students will not ride on school bus past an elementary school to reach a home elementary school.

5. All four elementary schools will have programmatic equality for all students.

6. To the extent possible, equally distribute apartment complexes between the four schools.

7. Research new housing developments approved by the Town and assign them to an elementary school.

8. Allow students who will be in grade 5 in September 2011 the option to remain in their home school for one year with parents responsible for providing transportation. If this opportunity is exercised, the request must be submitted to the Superintendent by (date TBD).

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

The Thanksgiving Feast is a kindergarten tradition at Francis Wyman School. This feast is the culminating event of theThanksgiving Unit and integrates all that the students learned.  Students read books, wrote, stories, played math games and completed various arts and crafts projects related to this theme.  Students even helped prepare the food. It is a great celebration when the students finally attend the feast. They come to the feast dressed in the Pilgrim and Native American costumes that they made, each one decorated differently than the next. The students join together to sing the songs that they learned. Then the students sit at the beautifully set tables due in large part to the “woven" placements the students created. Thanks to our parent volunteers, the students are served a plate containing a taste of each food item. Students enjoy a variety of selections such as   “Stone Soup”, corn bread, pumpkin bread, cranberry sauce, and apple pie. Without a doubt the most popular food is the freshly popped popcorn! The true meaning of Thanksgiving is apparent at this festive occasion.

December 3, 2010

FRANCIS WYMAN SCHOOL - WEEKLY BULLETIN


December 3, 2010

Important Dates:

Dec. 4 – 3 – 5pm Jump Rope Activity

Dec 6. – Professional Development, no school for students

Dec. 6 – 22 – Hat and Mitten Drive, see below

Dec. 8 – Used Bookstore

Dec. 10 – Picture Retake Day, see below

Dec. 15 – 20 – Barnes and Noble Book Fair, see below

Dec. 20 – 6pm, Winter Concert – Grades 4 and 5

Dec. 22 – Kindergarten Nutcracker, times TBD



Barnes and Noble Book Fair Dec. 15 – 20

Burlington Public School invites you to an annual holiday fundraiser at Barnes and Noble. Shop from 9am to 11pm and a % of your purchase will benefit our students. If you shop after school on Decemer 15th, you may see FW teachers and principals there!! Mr. Levin is even making an appearance and reading a favorite story! A flyer, including vouchers, will come home next week. Please bring a voucher with you. You may also shop on-line at BN.com/bookfairs and enter code 10321396 at checkout.



Picture Re-take Day… is scheduled for Dec. 10. Bailey’s Photography will be here to take photos of all students that were absent on the original Picture Day. If you are unhappy with your current photos, you may have them re-taken if the entire package is returned. Call the office if you have questions.



Hat and Mitten Drive

As a community service project, FWS 4th Graders are once again collecting *NEW* hats and mittens this month. Collection boxes will be in the office and on the 2nd floor near the elevator.

People Helping People thank you for your support!



Student Council – Coats for Kids Drive

Student Council is collecting gently used winter coats for kids and adults. If you bring in a coat by December 22, you may participate in a School Spirit Day on December 23 – “favorite team day”! Happy Holidays and thank you from student council!



2011 FW MCAS Schedule

MEPA testing March 7 –March 14 – for all ELL students

M T W Th F

March 21



March 22

Gr. 4 Long Composition March 23 Gr. 3 Reading March 24

Gr. 3 Reading March 25 Makeups

March 28

Gr. 4 Reading March 29 Gr. 4 Reading March 30

Gr. 5 Reading March 31 Gr. 5 Reading

Gr. 4 Long Comp makeup April 1

Makeups*



April 4

Makeups*























* Makeups are given as needed.





M T W Th F

May 10

Gr. 3 Math May 11

Gr. 3 Math May 12

Gr. 4 Math May 13

Gr. 4

Math

May 16 Gr. 5 Math May 17

Gr. 5 Math May 18

Gr. 5 Science May 19

Gr. 5 Science May 20 Makeups*

















Art News:

For an upcoming art project, the art teachers will need recycled AAA Road Maps or National Geographic Maps. If you have any at home and would like to recycle them, please send them in to the office.



In addition, parents please have your children wear older, easily washable clothing on Art Class day.



PTO

NSTAR light bulb orders will be available for pick-up at Francis Wyman on Friday, December 10th. Thank you to everyone for all of your support!



Spirit Wear is in and will be delivered to the school on Friday, December 3rd for distribution.



It’s A Wonderful Life

Burlington High School will present the stage version of the holiday classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 5 at 2:00 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of the high school. Bring the whole gang to this great family-friendly production. Adults: $10 and Students/Sr Citizens: $5. Tickets available at www.BurlingtonTickets.org. For more information call 781-A-FUN-TIC.



Parents Night Out, Friday, Dec 3rd, 6-9:00

Let the Den Leaders of Cub Scout Pack 105 take care of your children, grades K-5, while you start your Holiday Shopping, take in a movie or enjoy some much deserved time to yourselves. $15 for the first child/$5 per additional sibling, Fee paid at time of registration. Please make payment to Pack 105 and mail to Kathleen Smith, 127 Mill St, Burlington by Nov 26th.