february 2005
COMMUNITY
If the headline of a story isn't a hyperlink, then the text of the story has not been posted yet. Please check back soon!
Library Beat
R. M. outlines new book search
by A. G.
R. M., the Day Middle School librarian, has designed a revolutionary way to find any book a student might want. On the computers in the library students can now search for a book by the genre.
So if they want fantasy, for example, they would go to “visual search” and click on the “fantasy” button for a list of the books in the fantasy section of the library.
Students will be able to get information about each book right there. There are many categories, and if the category a student wants is not there, they can ask R. M., who will make it for them if he can.
This new and easy way of finding exactly the book students want is designed to enable them to make more efficient use of their time.
Day P. T. O.
P. T. O. pins hopes on fundraisers March the 4th and March the 11th
by M. D. and L. F.
The P. T. O. is still recruiting parent volunteers to help out. The P. T. O. asks students to remember that even the smallest contribution can help. Also donations are always welcome. The P. T. O. wants to say, “...thank you,” for all the contributions already made.
The Fourth annual Day at Night auction will be held on Friday, March the 4th from 7:00-11:00 PM at Post 440. The live auction will be held from 9:00-9:30, and the silent auction will be held from 7:00-10:00. It will be a fun night of dinner and dancing...to see old friends and to meet new ones. Baker’s Best [see THE DAYTIME, page B8, January the 19th - Ed.] will be providing the food for the auction. To help with the auction or to make a donation, please call Mary Reinke-Scorzelli.
Faculty Foul-ups will occur on March the 11th [and, yes, this represents a change from the original February date - Ed.]. It starts when students pledge a fixed amount per basket for each teacher they want to support.
The staff members that volunteer report to the gym right after school on March the 11th at 2:35 and take 25 foul shots. However many shots they make times the money per basket pledged is how much money they raise. The P. T. O. hopes everyone will join the fun in March.
P. T. O. presidents
P. T. O. looks forward to DAY AT NIGHT and FACULTY FOULUPS
by Margaret Hannah
As we look forward to March, we find ourselves preparing for both the Day Auction and Dinner Dance (03/04) and Faculty Foul-ups (03/11).
This issue has information on both these special events [see Annual Auction promises glitz and glamour, and the FACULTY FOULUPS coupon - Ed.], and we hope for record parent/community participation.
The auction is off to a great start with Cindy Kane and Mary Scorzelli at the helm. We have more than 60 items for bid and are looking for more. If you have a special talent, or a vacation home, or a business connection, please let us hear from you. The more items we auction the more successful the evening becomes.
Our children will see the profits in the classroom and with special programs almost immediately! Last year we were able to fund the new athletic equipment and Physical Education Program that has become the envy of middle schools in the area. Look for more ways to help through the web-page and the e-mail, but SAVE THE DATE MARCH the 4th, beginning at 7PM at Post 440.
Ask your child about their pledge intentions for Faculty Foul-ups on March the 11th and then join the faculty and students for fun and food beginning right after school. The event is finished by 4PM and it is a great way to see kids and teachers having fun together. Who knows, you might even get a chance to shoot a few hoops yourself!
March the 11th will mark our 2nd Principal’s Coffee. Look for an e-mail in the next weeks indicating the location. We begin at 7:45AM. Gina Healy will answer any, and all, questions brought to the table. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the current and future plans for Day. Join us!
A special city-wide P. T. O. meeting is planned for March the 2nd at Oak Hill Middle School. The topic is “Your child and the Internet.” This is a program not to be missed. Look to the e-mail for more specific details.
As always, we are happy to hear from you.
Margaret Hannah & Janet Porcaro
Day School Council
School Council takes up issues including bathrooms
by C. A.-L. and J. T.
On January the 19th, Day parents A. H., L. C. , M. H., J. P. and teachers M. P. and M. H. of the School Council met to discuss several issues that the school has been facing.
A conversation was held concerning the Day building’s conditions, particularly the state of the school bathrooms. When a student described one of the school bathrooms as the “throw-up bathroom,” many parents became concerned that there was an anorexia and bulimia issue at Day. However, it was also possible that the student was simply referring to the unpleasant scent of several of the bathrooms.
Though there are certain sanitary accommodations that can be made to improve the bathrooms’ smell, much of the stench is caused by the wrong adhesive used when re-tiling the floors.
Although eating disorders may not have been what the student was referring to, the School Council discussed possibly revising the health curriculum to cover these serious illnesses.
“The School Council would like to help to resolve some of these issues as a political group,” said principal Gina Healy. Many improvements have been made, such as the installation of the school’s exterior lights and the replacement of all of the interior ones. However, many other issues have yet to be addressed. The council hopes to solve these issues in two ways: by organizing parents to write letters to the central department in charge of the building’s conditions, as well as scheduling a project on NEWTON SERVES Day, to improve the school’s “cosmetic” flaws.
Healy hopes to develop a data base to keep track of the various projects taking place in the school.
Also discussed at the meeting was the 8th grade math curriculum at Day. Many students, particularly those in accelerated algebra in 8th grade have proceeded on to the 501 honors math class at Newton North. However, as they progress each year, a number of students are finding the advanced math programs too difficult, even though their previous teachers recommended the class to them.
But the process of reintegration into a lower level math class has proven to be a difficult process, leaving students either overwhelmed in an advanced class or unhappy in an more basic one.
Math coordinator Mary Eich will attend the next School Council meeting to assist in the development of a different articulation pattern that will help students in their math experience in high school. Eich also plans to better inform parents of their children’s options in the math field once they reach Newton North.
Day Student Council
Three projects should carry Council well into Spring
by J. H.
Building on the success of the LiveStrong bracelets [see THE DAYTIME, PAGE ONE, December the 15th edition], Student Council is finalizing its plans to sell 1001 dark blue silicon wristbands which will say “DAY DRAGONS” on them.
Using $1,235 from the school as advance money for their fundraiser, Student Council will hype the bands by means of W. O. R. D., posters, and lunchroom announcements. The bands, priced at a modest $2.00 each, will be on sale before school and at lunches.
Student Council also plans to start a “Pennies for Patients” drive February the 28th. This drive aims to collect students’ loose change for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. The council has adopted a hero for the drive. Derek is a 9 year-old 4th grader from Assonet, Massachusetts. Look for his poster on the student council board on the first floor. The “Pennies for Patients” program will run from February the 28th to March the 18th, 2005.
In addition, the continuation of the courtyard clean-up project will commence this Spring. Advisor M. H. is applying for a grant to help fund the renovation of the courtyard’s soil and for new plants. Also, each team will have space on the concrete ground of the courtyard for painting something related to the “Team as Community” theme. Look for more information in the spring on this great project. F. J. , a Day parent, will be one of the many parents helping out with the courtyard beautification [assisting in the preparation of this article was J. C.].
|
