- Carlisle Public Schools
- March 2024 Buzz
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March 2024
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From the Superintendent's Desk
Dear Carlisle Families,
As many of you may already be aware, our 100th day of school has already come and gone and we are moving forward towards spring. March brings with it one of those long stretches of time when there aren’t any school holidays or vacations to break up the learning, though we do have a day off for parent teacher conferences later in the month. In addition to observing Ramadan and St. Patrick’s Day this month, there are a variety of activities to keep students and families both engaged and entertained.
The Annual PTO Book Fair will be held in the school library from March 4-8, 2024. Mark your calendars for the PJ Storytime on March 4th and an author visit from James Bird on March 5th. For more information on the Book Fair visit http://www.carlislemapto.org/book-fair.html
Also during the week of March 4th, CPS will be celebrating Read Across America. The National Education Association’s Read Across America event is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. This year’s theme is focused on creating and celebrating a nation of diverse readers. CPS is looking forward to having a wide variety of community members in the building on Wednesday, March 6th to serve as guest readers.
On Wednesday, March 6th we also have a Jazz performance in the Auditorium at 5:30 PM that is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. We want to recognize our CPS Middle School students who auditioned and were accepted to participate in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Junior District Festival taking place this month. This year we have six students representing CPS, four choir students and two band students. Congratulations to Aster, Annabelle, Idan, Harry, Alex, and Gavin. Best of luck to everyone performing this month.
Another highlight of March will be the 7th Grade Play, which will hold three performances starting on Thursday, March 21 running through Saturday, March 23. This year’s production is “Newsies, Jr.” Our students have been working hard preparing for this show, so don’t miss this opportunity to see our 7th Graders in this high energy musical, which draws inspiration from the historic Newsboy Strike of 1899. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to https://www.carlislemapto.org/.
We are happy to share that our 7th grade students will once again participate in Challenge Day this year. Activities planned for the day are centered on five competency areas: self management, social awareness, self awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. On Wednesday, March 27th our 7th grade students will go off-site to participate in the Challenge Day program. We are incredibly grateful to the WBYC for sponsoring this powerful program, designed to build empathy and compassion in our community.
Parent teacher conferences are being held at the end of the month for both elementary and middle school families. There will be an early release day on Thursday, March 21 and no school on Friday, March 22.
During the last week of March, we will begin the annual MCAS state assessments. Students in grades 3-8 will be participating in assessments in ELA and Math in March and April. Also in April there will be Science assessments for grades 5 and 8 and a new Civics assessment for grade 8. These assessments are a bit of a disruption to the ordinary school day, but they do provide us with some insightful and informative data. That being said, we do want to make every effort to limit, as much as possible, any negative impact these assessments may have on our students or our school. We try not to over emphasize these assessments as well as work to minimize student anxiety. Principals will be sharing more information about the schedule as the dates approach and the entire schedule can also be found embedded in the District Calendar on the website.
We hope you are able to participate in some of these events over the next few weeks.
Warm regards,
Jim O’Shea
Superintendent
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School Events and Information
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Click here to view and download the 2023-2024 calendar
Click here to view and download the 2024-2025 calendar
MARCH LUNCH MENU
Click here to view the March 2024 Lunch menu
READ ACROSS AMERICA
The Carlisle School Read Across America Team is excited to share that we will be celebrating Read Across America - Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers week beginning Monday, March 4th and continuing through Friday, March 8th. On Wednesday, March 6th, we will have guest readers in all elementary and 5th grade classrooms, and each day will include fun dress-up activities.Monday 3/4- Mismatch DayTuesday 3/5 - Crazy Hat/Hair DayWednesday 3/6 - Guest Readers and Pajama DayThursday, 3/7 - Tie Dye or Neon DayFriday, 3/8 - Carlisle School Spirit DayWe are very appreciative of the Carlisle Parent Teacher Organization for their generous donation of books for all PK through grade 4 students.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT - SNEAKERS for PE!
Please remind your child/children to pack their sneakers for the days they have physical education. Middle School students have PE one day a week. Elementary students have PE two times a week. At this point in the year, many students are forgetting their sneakers routinely and without them they will not be able to participate in class. As the weather improves, we will be having physical education classes outside.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It! 7th grade Play Newsies, Jr.
The 7th grade play this year is Newsies, Jr. Newsies, Jr. is a 60-minute, high energy musical, which draws inspiration from the historic Newsboy Strike of 1899, where a band of orphan and runaway newsies went on strike against Pulitzer, Hearst, and other powerful New York newspaper publishers.
There will be 3 performances:
- Thursday, March 21 at 4:00 PM
- Friday, March 22 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 PM
Tickets will cost $10 and be available for purchase on the PTO website starting March 8. https://www.carlislemapto.org/.
Please save the date and join us for a rousing show with big dance numbers and stirring anthems like King of New York and Seize the Day.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS - Spring sign-ups are online!
Please have your child sign up on the sheets in the gym and please complete the online registration.
The season will run April 1-June 6, 3:00-4:15 PM
PROGRAMS: BASEBALL - SOFTBALL - ULTIMATE FRISBEE - VOLLEYBALL
COST $225.00 paid to the town of Carlisle
Please Note: Programs will not run if we do not have enough interest in each program. All programs need at least 15 players.
*Volleyball tryouts will be held on Tuesday, March 28 & Thursday, March 30 from 3:00-4:15 PM
**All players must have a current physical (within the calendar year) on file with the nurse’s office. **
Athletic online Registration:
Important Information Regarding Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 School Year
All children who will be 5 years of age as of September 1, 2024 are encouraged to register for kindergarten at the Carlisle Public Schools. Please contact Linda Cavallo-Murphy, Registrar, at lcavallomurphy@carlisle.k12.ma.us or 978-369-6550 and provide the following information:
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Student’s full legal name (First, Middle, and Last)
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Date of birth
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Mailing address
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Parent/guardian name(s)
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Parent phone number(s)
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Parent email address(es)
If your child is eligible for kindergarten but you are making different plans, please let us know that as well. Thank you!BACK UP PLANSPlease make sure you have back up plans that your child is aware of, should after school activities suddenly be canceled. During cancelations or emergencies, the Main Office phones are usually busy and not available to call home or relay messages. Please go over with your child ahead of time what they should do in case their activity is canceled.
CHILD FIND NOTICE
Carlisle Public Schools, is dedicated to meeting the needs of all students. In accordance with IDEA and Massachusetts Chapter 71B, all public schools must provide special education for children determined to be educationally disabled. The law requires a school district to identify such children from age 3 to 21 years of age and applies to all children, including those in non-public schools, pre-schools, and hospital settings. In addition, children of migrant or homeless families are also entitled to public education. The Carlisle Public Schools is responsible for students from age 3 throughout their 8th grade year.
Parents or service providers with concerns that a child might have an educationally disabling condition are encouraged to contact Student Support Services. Carlisle Public Schools will provide parent support and arrange for the screening and evaluation of any student who is not able to progress effectively in general education due to a disability.
For more detailed information about the policies, procedures, and services available at Carlisle Public Schools for special education, please contact Lori Bruce, Director of Student Support Services, at lbruce@carlisle.k12.ma.us or 978-369–3758.
Are you without a home or do you know a homeless family?
EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN
Carlisle Public Schools is committed to ensuring that any student who meets the criteria of a homeless student is protected under the rights set forth by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This federal law is designed to ensure that homeless children and youth have the same access as other children to public education, including public preschool programs. To obtain a brochure or the Homeless Education Manual, or if you have any questions about the McKinney-Vento Act, please contact Lori Bruce, Director of Student Support Services, at lbruce@carlisle.k12.ma.us or 978-369-3758.
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Other Items of Interest
Gleason Public LibraryFor all event registrations, please visit gleasonlibrary.org/events. For more information about events, please email childrens@gleasonlibrary.org.
AFTER SCHOOL REMINDERS
The Gleason is happy to see so many students at the Library after school this year! Age 9 and up are welcome to visit the Library on their own. At times the behavior of large groups can be disruptive to other library users. Parents, if your kids are spending time at the Library with their friends, please take a moment to talk with them about how they are sharing the Library with others. Expectations include: no eating food or candy (covered drinks are okay); don’t congregate around the computers; be respectful to staff members; and be considerate of others by keeping conversations relatively quiet and keeping your belongings out of high-traffic areas. If you have any questions, please contact Library Director Martha Feeney-Patten (mpatten@gleasonlibrary.org) or Teen Librarian Tahleen Shamlian (tshamlian@gleasonlibrary.org).Special Events:
FIRST ANNUAL GLEASON GROWN-UP SPELLING BEE - Friday, March 15 | 6:30 PM
The First Annual Great Gleason Grown-Up Spelling Bee will be held Friday, March 15, at 6:30 PM at the Gleason Library. 100% of proceeds from this 21-and-older event will go toward the renovation of the children’s reading room at our community’s historic library. Hosted by the Gleason Endowment Board of Trustees, this special event will feature food, drinks, a raffle, and live music. Teams of grown-ups will compete in multiple rounds of a fun spelling bee, each round with its own theme. Teams can buy mulligans and pay to bribe a panel of judges comprised of local officials (note: all bribes directly benefit the library renovation). Featuring Wayne Davis, Jim O'Shea, and other local guest judges! Come to compete or just to watch and enjoy. $75 per person; pay by cash or check (made out to "GPL Endowment") at the door, or click here to pay online via PayPal.Click here to read more about the library renovation or donate to the Endowment.
SHORT STORY CONTEST
The Friends of Gleason Public Library present the “I went for a walk in the woods” Short Story Contest! Stories should be 2500 words or less and address the prompt, “I went for a walk in the woods…” in some way. $100 prize for the best story submitted in each age group (5th-8th Grade, 9th-12th Grade, and Adult), plus publication in the Carlisle Mosquito. Open to anyone who lives or works in Carlisle. The contest entry deadline is Thursday, April 11th, and the winners will be invited to our awards ceremony on Saturday, May 4th. Visit https://gleasonlibrary.org/short-story-contest/ for full entry guidelines and email director@gleasonlibrary.org with any questions.ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE
The spring Art at the Gleason exhibit will feature stylized photos of vintage cars and an amazing vintage spark plug collection, on display at the Library from March 30th to June 8th. To enhance this exhibition, we are holding a car show/artist reception the morning of Saturday, May 11th, as both a social and educational experience (rain date May 18th). If you have a unique vintage car and are interested in being part of this car show, please contact Sandy Eisenbies at disk4fun@me.com or 937-760-5568 with information about your car. If you don’t have a car to show but love cars, SAVE THE DATE and stop by Gleason to check it out!
COAHS MOVIE - Tuesday, March 26 | 1:00 PM
Carlisle COAHS and Gleason Library present a 1934 Frank Capra classic about a spoiled heiress on the lam from her father, and the gruff reporter who hooks up with her as they travel northward. The pair engage in a series of misadventures and begin to fall for each other. The first film to sweep all five major Oscars: Best Picture, Director (Capra), Screenplay (Robert Riskin), Actor (Clark Gable), and Actress (Claudette Colbert). Rated G, runtime 105 minutes. Open to all ages; refreshments will be served. Email or call COAHS (coahs@carlislema.gov or 978-371-2895) to RSVP.Elementary and Younger:
PLAY TIME FOR TODDLERS - Tuesdays, March 5, 19, & 26 | 11:00–11:30 AM
Play Time for Toddlers is a 30-minute drop-in play time for young library users and their caregivers. Come meet new friends, bond with your little one, and explore the many resources our library has to offer! No registration required.NATURE CONNECTION STORY TIME - Thursday, March 14 | 10:30 AM
Join The Nature Connection as we explore plants and animals and connect with the world around us in new ways—all through nature-based stories and poems! During this monthly 45-minute program for 3-6-year-olds, we will read a seasonally appropriate story followed by fun sensory engagement activities (involving sight, sound, touch and smell). Please register for each session individually.
KIDS BOOK CLUBS1st and 2nd Grade Book Club: Kondo & Kezumi Visit Giant Island by David Goodner - Tuesday, March 5, 4:00 PM
Registration required; email childrens@gleasonlibrary.org or visit gleasonlibrary.org/events to register.3rd and 4th Grade Book Club: Masterpiece by Elise Broach - Thursday, March 14, 4:00 PM
Registration required; email childrens@gleasonlibrary.org or visit gleasonlibrary.org/events to register.Middle School:
5TH & 6TH GRADE BOOK CLUB - Thursday, March 7 | 4:00 PM
Come for a book discussion and activity! Each month we will read a book and talk about it, then we will do a short activity or craft. This month we will be reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones; next month we will read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Copies are available for checkout at the Library. Registration is required; participants only need to register once for the entire school year.EARLY RELEASE DAY MOVIE - Thursday, March 21 | 1:15 PM
Middle schoolers can join us in the Hollis Room every Early Release Day at 1:15 PM for a movie and snacks! This month's movie is rated PG and has a runtime of approx. 1 hr 22 min. Early Release Day movies are sponsored by the Friends of the Gleason Public Library.TEEN WEEKEND READING KIT - Friday, March 22 | 10:00 AM
Grab a kit that has everything you need for a book-lover's weekend. Each kit will include a random YA novel for you to keep (genres and reading/maturity levels will vary), a craft or activity, a snack, a little bookish accessory, and a hot beverage to make at home. Registration is required to reserve your kit, and pickup will be Friday, March 22 through Monday, March 25. These kits are for grades 7-12. Teen Weekend Reading Kits are sponsored by the Friends of the Gleason Public Library.
CONCORD CARLISLE YOUTH HOCKEY 2024-2025 TRAVEL REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration is now open for the CCYH 2024-2025 Travel Season. Evaluations will take place this Spring for the 2024-2025 season and are required for placement on a team.
Evaluations will take place at Valley Sports on the following dates/times:
- Mites (2016 and 2017) will be on Thursday 3/14 and Thursday 3/21 from 5:40-6:40pm
- Squirts (2014 and 2015) will be on Thursday 3/14 and Thursday 3/21 from 6:50-7:50pm
- Peewees (2012 and 2013) will be on Thursday 3/14 and Thursday 3/21 from 8:00-9:00pm
- Bantams (2010 and 2011) will be on Tuesday 3/12 and Tuesday 3/19 from 8:40-9:40pm
Please visit https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/420654 to register your child for the 2024-2025 season. Registration is required prior to participating in evaluations
Please contact Mark Daniel, CCYH Registrar (ccyh.registrar@gmail.com), with any questions.
CONCORD-CARLISLE ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATIONJoin Dr. Rachel Kramer for a conversation about helping children learn adaptive and effective strategies for managing stress. Dr. Kramer will discuss building blocks for maintaining physical and mental health, reducing stress, and improving mood. She will present family-oriented coping skills, physiological approaches to managing stress and worries, and cognitive behavioral strategies. The presentation will provide actionable tactics for building a coping toolbox and will offer many practical tips and tools. There will be ample time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Register at https://ccace.asapconnected.
com/#CourseID=293412 ; fee is $25.BLAST Babysitting Safety & CPR, Friday, March 8, 3:30-6:30 PM at CCHS
The BLAST! (Babysitter Lessons and Safety Training) program provides training in First Aid, in household safety, and some fundamentals of childcare. In addition, this course helps prepare children to interview for a babysitting job, select safe and suitable games and activities, prevent accidents, and begin babysitting safely and competently. We will cover choking prevention and relief and how to call 911. Participants will also be certified in CPR/AED upon successful demonstration of practical skills. This program is for students in grades 6-8. Offered through CCACE; for more information and to register go here: https://ccace.asapconnected.
com/#CourseID=130900 .
IMSCC MUSIC LESSONS
Meet our newest faculty members! Noah Stone, piano and Alex Brander, drums and percussion join the team of 32 dedicated and expert instructors at IMSCC.
Spring lessons are underway and new students are welcome to begin lessons at any time - to inquire about starting lessons click here. We have lessons for all band and orchestra instruments, plus voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar and ukulele.
Summer lesson registration opens April 22. Visit the website in April for more information and to register.
Summer ensembles and classes: some ensembles are online now, others coming soon!
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Next Buzz Issue
The next issue of The Buzz will be published in April 2024. Please email your submissions to Mary O'Regan at moregan@carlisle.k12.ma.us by 9:00 AM on Friday, March 29, 2024. Please attach information to the email in a Word file. Thank you!