2008 December Loring Link
December Calendar
1- No School, Teacher Professional Development Day
4- Creative Enrichment, David Schwartz
10- Early Release, 12:05pm dismissal
12- Food Pantry
24-31- No School, Holiday Recess
January Calendar
1-2- No School, Holiday Recess
14- Early Release, 12:05pm dismissal
16- Food Pantry
26- Kindergarten Turnaround
28- Early Release, 12:05pm dismissal
Check out the PTO Website
www.LoringPTO.org
From the Superintendent’s Office
It’s December. I think it is a wonderful time in New England.
I recently participated in that special New England tradition of putting up driveway markers. I am not sure why I do, but I don’t want to be the only one in the neighborhood to not have these reflective sticks along my driveway. (I have come to realize that they serve as targets for the snowplows to hit in the first major snow of the season.) The chill in the December air, the morning frost, darkness at 4:30 pm, and the on-going wonder when the first snow will fall all make this a special month. (I will not mention snow days. I will not mention snow days.) December is, of course, also the time when shopping malls are abuzz, television and radio airtime is filled with holiday music and commercials about holiday sales and things they hope we can be convinced are life’s necessities. We see Christmas trees and Menorahs in windows, there are holiday parties, special programs and the observance of many religious, cultural, family and community traditions.
It is also a time when our thoughts of others less fortunate stare down the commercialism that surrounds us. This will be even more prevalent this year as so many of us are feeling the reality of the economic hurricane. I hope that in that stare-down, commercialism blinks. If Sudbury Public Schools students are an example, outreach and caring define our character and actions.
December is also the time when we tend to get very cautious, and in some cases, uneasy, about what to say to each other and what we should, or should not, do to recognize the holidays and celebrations. Can we agree on one thing? The celebrations, festive decorations, music, excitement and preparations in December, are about more than the winter solstice. For some, its holy days, for some holidays, for some it’s cultural traditions, for some it’s about Hanukkah, for others, it’s about Advent and Christmas, for others, Kwanza or Diwali, or Eid al-Adha, and for some, it’s about the new year. In our desire not to offend, show insensitivity, or to promote a particular belief, we tend to make our schools and classrooms devoid of any recognition of the very things that our students should be proud of and are certainly ensconced in when they are not in school.
At times, it seems that in our attempt to be politically correct, we end up ignoring the rich diversity that could be a wonderful, deep learning opportunity for our children. At times, it feels like we are walking on eggs in our attempt not to recognize the holidays. I fear that in our attempts not to offend, we lose reality. I think this was captured so well by Rabbi David Thomas of Congregation Beth El, in an Op-Ed piece in the Town Crier last year when he so eloquently stated, “Americans place a high value on our pluralistic society, celebrating and embracing diversity. Sometimes we are so friendly to the ‘other’ amongst us we bend over backwards, evening the playing field and inadvertently eliminating the very differences we celebrate.”
Before you fire off that email to me, understand that I am not proposing that our teachers or schools espouse specific religious or cultural beliefs, traditions, symbols or celebrations. Only that we allow the wonderful spirit of this season to shine through; that we let our differences become the source of common learning. To borrow from the work of Wilfred Cantwell Smith and Diana Eck, it’s not about avoiding, or talking about us or them, rather it’s about talking with one another about us.
To inform and help staff, parents and students with this sensitive issue, the SPS School Committee spent time thinking about this issue and adopted a policy in 1995 that still guides us today. It seems to convey that “teachable moment” approach that is so important in learning. The statement not only conveys the governing policy but provides some examples of what this might look like in our schools and classrooms.
5.2.2 Religious Holiday Policy
The Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) are committed to respecting cultural and religious diversity and demonstrating respect for all individual beliefs. The SPS recognize the cultural importance that religious holidays can hold for children. The SPS will encourage children-initiated sharing of stories, experiences, special objects (including food), and ideas about how children celebrate holidays or other special days and why these are important to them. We believe that sharing benefits everyone in the classroom. As children learn about various traditions and important events, so will their tolerance and respect for differences increase. Teachers may provide appropriate opportunities in the classroom for children to express ideas and thoughts about the holidays or to use interest in holidays as part of a school activity. For example, students in an early-grade art class should have the option to make a wreath, a menorah, or other symbol of importance, if they want. However, it would be inappropriate for the teacher to direct all the students to make and hang up wreaths or menorahs or other symbols. The SPS also recognize their responsibility to provide an open learning environment that does not sponsor, promote, impose, or denigrate the practice of any religious beliefs. Staff should exercise care to ensure that concerts and plays, as well as any decorations and symbols made or displayed, are consistent with this principle. There are, of course, times throughout the year when celebrations, that are not widely perceived as religious events, take place. However, parties that would be perceived as celebrating a particular religious holiday will be avoided. Despite everyone’s best efforts, there may be times when a child or parent feels the need to be excused from a particular activity that is objectionable on the basis of religion, or personal belief, or practices. Provision for this excuse must be made without causing embarrassment or penalty to the student. 11/25/95
So, as we go into and through this season of holidays and celebrations, I hope we can find the teachable moment of caring over commercialism and of conversation over circumvention. Whether your holiday is symbolized with candles, trees, lights or driveway markers, it is special, it defines us and it enriches our lives and our community.
John R. Brackett
Superintendent of Schools
From The PTO Co-Chairs
We have some winners to announce:
Congratulations to Teddy Sullivan who won the Hummer Limousine for an evening. Teddy was drawn from participants from the Innisbrook fundraiser.
And the winners from the Learning Express raffle are:
$25 Gift card for Sky Restaurant: Susan Herel
$25 gift certificate for Elizabeth Grady: Maura Carty
$50 gift certificate for Thunder Sports:Cara Maxwell
A ‘Signature pedicure’ from Soma: Janice Darias
Gift bag of products from Trader Joes: Marci Murray
$15 gift card from Rugged Bear: Lynn Pellegrino
Large one topping pizza (3) from Dominos: Kathy Kinzfogl
$50 certificate for free catering from Whole Foods: Nikki Misra
One child’s haircut at Styles & Smiles: Anne Lee
$25 gift certificate from Moodz salon: Beth Palmerino
An ice cream cake from Friendlys: Joy Weiler
Perfect Petzzz toy from Learning Express: Darcy Heindel
These winners were chosen from the receipts of those who shopped at Learning Express during the Loring Day. Learning Express donated 20% of all proceeds purchased by Loring families and friends to Loring. Thank you to Gillian Kelleher for running this event. And thank you to Learning Express and the merchants listed above for the generosity to the Loring PTO.
Thank you to Linda Cass for the beautiful holiday boughs that she made. Linda cut branches from a tree in her yard and decorated them with bows. All proceeds were donated to the PTO. Thank you Linda for your hard work and generosity! And thanks to her daughter Anna and Mr. McGuire for helping to sell these on a bitterly cold Saturday morning.
Thank you to Mr. Dees for the very informative school improvement plan that he presented at the School Committee meeting on November 13th and again on November 20th. Your ideas, energy and enthusiasm for the Loring School are greatly appreciated.
Please remember to buy your holiday gifts through Box Tops (btfe.com) and have a portion of your purchase benefit the Loring PTO at no cost to you. Additionally, gift certificates from Amazon make great class gifts for teachers. You can access the link for Amazon from our website loringpto.org.
Our 2nd annual Loring auction/parent night out is on March 21. If you would like to help or donate items of any value please contact Cara Maxwell at maxcara@aol.com. Additionally, if you frequent a particular merchant, salon, restaurant, hotel, etc. please inquire if they would like to donate a gift certificate or product. We are counting on a portion of the proceeds to fund current expenses for this year including creative enrichment programs across all grades.
We wish your family a wonderful holiday season and are so appreciative of your help during the past year.
| Susan Smith 443-6874 skmksmith@comcast.net |
Robin Cavanaugh 443-4605 rmcavanaugh@verizon.net |
Social Action Committee (SAC)
On a cold and rainy November 15th, more than 83 students, 5 alumni, 4 younger siblings, and 62 parents raked 18 lawns as part of the Fall Senior Lawn Clean-up Program!!! As they would say on Comcast SportsNet during a Celtics game, time for a Tommy Point! The 5th grade students were divided into teams, and under the guidance of parent and teacher chaperones, they raked leaves at the homes of Sudbury seniors who are no longer able to rake the leaves themselves. The Loring Community’s response to this clean-up program was outstanding, and we want to thank all the parents, students, and teachers who volunteered their time and energy for this wonderful community service project! Thank you so much to Christina Granahan and Brad Jones for organizing this event.
The Kindergarten classes will sponsor their annual Buddy Dog Drive this month. The students will be baking dog biscuits and collecting animal food and supplies for the Buddy Dog Humane Society. The children will kick off the project with an announcement at Community Celebration on December 3rd, and they will make posters to display throughout the school. The event will culminate at Community Celebration on December 17th when the donations are presented to Buddy Dog and the morning Kindergarten classes perform “Oh, I Want To Be A Dog.” Thank you to Michelle Titus and Bethany Weart, who have kindly volunteered to coordinate this project. If you are interested in helping, please contact Michelle at (978) 443-4183.
If you have any questions about any of the projects, please feel free to contact me at (978) 579-6964, or by email at jeffreyandkarenina@comcast.net. Thanks for your support!
The Loring Link will not be published in January or February. We are currently re-evaluating the various announcements sent out by the PTO, school, and district, and we will determine whether the Link is still serving a separate purpose. We will then decide whether we should continue to publish it on a monthly basis.
Ilene Ben David (bendavid4@verizon.net)
Marta Hersek (mhersek@verizon.net)
