OCTOBER 2012

VOLUME 2

Principals
Corner

Columbus News

COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 HICKS AVENUE, MEDFORD, MA 02155

HTTP://WWW.MEDFORD.K12.MA.US

It is seems too soon to be writing againHappy October! We spent September getting to know one another in classrooms, the cafeteria, and through games such as Brain Quest and Buzz Words during lunch. We also spent time teaching our bus expectations. Students may not take the bus back and forth to school each day, but all students need to be familiar with the rules for the time when field trips arrive. Besides, the bus guidelines are expectations that carry over into many of the situations students meet in school each day. We have practiced Fire Drills, Lock Downs, and the many manners in which we as After School Clubs will begin the week a school must work to be Safe, Reof October 8th. I hope that you and sponsible, and Respectful. your children explored the many offerSeptember was loaded with activities ings and signed up for your favorites. such as our 1st Principal Coffee Hour, MCAS reports will arrive home shortly. Back to School Night, and Ice Cream Social. Many thanks go out to the PTO This months Principal Coffee Hour will be dedicated to explaining the new refor their support with each event, as porting format and answering your well as their valuable gift of time. Please contact any member of the PTO questions. Thank you to the members of the Columbus School Council who will to become involved. This years board devote their time to helping improve the members are: Emily Graves, Jennifer Intoppa, Ann Frenning Kossuth, Kelley Columbus as well as finalize a plan for Mulvihill, Nancy Quinn, Susan Schmidt, improved MCAS strategies. This years council members are: Mathew Barlow, and Patty Teebagy. Christopher Carbone, Kathy Dakermanji, Be sure to complete all the paperwork Diana Galluzzo, Vicky Melo, Louise Merthat came home at the beginning of the rigan and Leslie Winslow-Keats. If you year. The information requested is vital have not already done so, please visit to ensuring that we can get in touch http://www.surveymonkey.com/ with you as needed. Be sure to update s/6VJDQ5Z to complete the Entry Plan all information whenever it changes. Survey before the end of the month. Also, this Monthly Newsletter is the first to implement our Oldest and Only paper Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or consaving program. Your family should cerns and have a wonderful October! have received only ONE copy. If you receive more than one, please instruct Kathleen Kay your childrens teachers who is to be your family designated messenger. October promises to be filled with many enjoyable events as well. Be sure to review the calendar enclosed for what this month offers. On October 3rd we invite you to join us in our first Walk to School Day celebration. A note went home last week explaining this event. Our Read for the Record

Event, sponsored by the Jumpstart Organization, will take place on October 4th. Jumpstarts aim is to spread the word that early childhood literacy IS of vital importance. Columbus Elementary School will help to break a world record for having the most people read the same book on the same day. Jumpstarts featured book is Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad, by David Soman and Jacky Davis. I am proud to report that the 4th and 5th grade students will read this story to our Kindergarten and 1st graders. Community members will join us to read to the 2nd and 3rd grade students. Thank you Columbus School for helping to get out the word to READ!

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS * TELEPHONE : 781.393.2177 * FAX : 781.393.2187 * NURSE : 781.393.2175 * ABSENCE LINE: 781.393.3503

Meeting, Title I Parent Meeting 8:45am, Columbus Library October 3 Walk to School Day, 8:25am Release-Dismissal at 1:30am Early Release October 4 Start, Record, ctober Jump Start Read for the Record 9:15am SCHOOL-Columbus Day October 8 NO SCHOOL Meeting, October 9 PTO Meeting 6:30pm, Columbus Cafeteria Release-Dismissal at 1:30am October 10 Early Release School Council Meeting, Conference Room, 7:00pm Days. October 11 & 12 School Photo Days Check paper work sent home for assigned day. October 13 Harvest Your Wind/Energy Festival, Base of Medford Wind Turbine, Riverbend Park, 1:00pm-4:00pm Release-Dismissal at 1:30am October 17 Early Release October 18 Principals Coffee Hour, Topic - MCAS Up, October 21 Fall Garden Clean Up Columbus School, 1:30pm-3:30pm Release-Dismissal at 1:30am. October 24 Early Release Release-Dismissal at 1:30am. October 31 Early Release

October 2

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
The following students should be very proud as they were asked to read five books and write a short summary in their Title I summer reading journals and that is just what they did. Congratulations to: Adianne Braz, Eden Degand, Iasmim DeSousa Vieira, JoMarceline Elysee, Leticia Alves, Randy Marchand, Sarah Bien Aime, Evenson Charles, Tony Huynh, Sachie Jean-Louis, Brianna Lewis, Sofia Szymanski, Tracy Vo, Kayllane Damascena, Diana Lozius, Manuel Magayanes, Eduardo Magayanes, Lara Nasciemento, Cordelia Page, Janora Spain-Grant, Joelle Brown, Jocelyn Hernandez, and Erica Perez

A room without books is like a body without a soul. - Marcus Tulleus Cicero
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Nurses News: Nutri on and Learning

To function at our optimal potential we need various nutrients in our diet. As many of you know, I am a personal fitness trainer as well as a nurse. ready learned. Everyone needs to include 3 macronutritients: Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats (mostly unsaturated fats, some saturated fats and never trans fats) in their diets. When eating the 3 macronutrients together the blood sugar levels are even, avoiding spikes, and you stay satisfied for longer periods of time, are less moody and tired. Additionally, the many nutrients our bodies need can be absorbed with the three macronutrients. Some nutrients bind to protein and others bind to fat that you eat to be utilized by the body/brain. For more information on nutrients and the brain go to http://faculty.washington.edu/ch udler/nutr.html. Children require more calories than adults, allowing many opportunities to provide them with their necessary nutrients. However, be cautious of the serving size. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/p rint-materials-ordering/dietaryguidelines.html. Have your child drink more water and most importantly eat breakfast. The Super Tracker website by the USDA can provide you with valuable information and is a great tool for your whole family. Try the site https://www.supertracker.usda.go v/default.aspx and let me know what you think. If you have any questions or concerns call me (781-393-2175) or your pediatrician. Starting in October the Columbus School will be following the new nutrition guidelines. These guidelines are on the Medford school home page under School Lunches. http://meals4kids.org/massac husetts-nutrition-standardscompetitive-foods-andbeverages-public-schools. The First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to the children about this on a video on You Tube. Type in Welcome Back to School Michelle Obama or http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=vPkJnUuSRIc. So pack snacks and lunches full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient rich foods and dont forget water. Its a great year for learning! Karen Roberto, BSN, RN, NCSN

Throughout my career, I have witnessed the effects of poor eating habits of my hospital patients, my students and their families, and the staff I work with. These habits may lead to heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and the inability to focus and learn. Since I have improved my eating habits, I have more energy, better concentration, and most importantly I am sick less often. I eat a lot more fresh vegetables and fruit of various colors, as well as fish. Not only is my body stronger, but so is my brain. The brain needs healthy, not processed foods, to grow neurons and neural connectors needed for learning new information and to retain information (memory) al-

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nutr.html

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BOOK
Grandpa Green, by Lane Smith.

REVIEWS

Ages 4-8. From the creator of the national bestseller It's a Book comes a timeless story of family history, legacy, and love. Grandpa Green wasn't always a gardener. He was a farm boy and a kid with chickenpox and a soldier and, most of all, an artist. In this captivating new picture book, readers follow Grandpa Green's greatgrandson into a garden he created, a fantastic world where memories are handed down in the fanciful shapes of topiary trees and imagination recreates things forgotten. In his most enigmatic and beautiful work to date, Lane Smith explores aging, memory, and the bonds of family history and love; by turns touching and whimsical, it's a stunning picture book that parents and grandparents will be sharing with children for years to come. ~Amazon.com Review

Wonder, by R.J.Palacio
Ages 8-12.Amazon Best Books of the Month for Amazon 2012: Kids, February 2012: Wonder is a rare gem of a novel---beautifully el--beautifully written and populated by characters who linger in your memory and heart. August Pull10-yearman is a 10-year-old boy who likes Star Wars and Xbox, ordinary except for his jarring facial anomalies. Homeschooled all his life, August heads to public school for experience---something fifth grade and he is not the only one changed by the experience--something we firstlearn about first-hand through the narratives of those who orbit his world. Augusts internal dialogue and interactions with students and family ring true, and though remarkably courageous he comes across as a sweet, funny boy who wants the same things others want: friendship, understanding, and the freedom to be himself. It is only with ones heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. From The Little Prince and R.J. Palacios remarkable novel, Wonder.--Seira

Wilson
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