Estabrook Buzz

• Monday, January 7 - 3:30 pm Geography Bee Finals (Gr. 4-5 only)
  
• Wednesday, January 9 - Safe Routes to School (Walk, Bike, Car Pool, Bus to School!)
• Thursday, January 10 - 9:00 am & 7:00 pm Gr. 5 Parent Information Session on Human Growth & Development unit

• Tuesday, January 15 - Math Night (Grades K/1). (Snow Date: Jan. 22)
  
• Thursday, January 17 - 6:00-8:00 pm Passport Night (See below for details).

Passport Night is an event that celebrates the varied cultures and traditions that make up our wonderful Estabrook community. It is a beloved tradition that allows our families to learn more about our cultures.

What's running when?

• Cultural Activity Center: 6:00-8:00
  
• Potluck: 6:00-6:45
  
• International Tables: 6:45-8:00

Are you Hosting a Table?

Table setup is from 5:30-6:00. Bring your supplies to Estabrook school, check-in at the front tables in the lobby and get your project space assignment.

• Drop your potluck dish off in the cafeteria no later than 6:00.
  
• Visit the new cultural activity center in the gym any time between 6:00-8:00pm.
  
• Join us for a community dinner at 6pm in the cafeteria before taking an international tour through the project spaces from 6:45-8pm.

Potluck Dishes

Choose a dish that you love to make for your family and friends that you feel represents your culture. For this community event, please make a dish that can feed 18-22 people. If needed for your dish, please bring serving utensils. If it is a reusable dish, please remember to pick it up by the end of the night.

Children Must Be Accompanied by an Adult
This is a family event, so all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. If your family is hosting a table and your child plans on circulating, please make arrangements for your child to be accompanied by another adult.

Email Lori Alberts (lalberts@lexingtonma.org) with further questions.

This year's ACT performances kicked off on Friday. Third grade students were treated to an engaging performance by a group called Illstyle Peace & Productions with their show called "Hip Hop Promotes Positivity." It was a high-energy show with contemporary and old school Hip Hop dance moves mixed with sketches that taught about respecting peers, respecting teachers, and having the courage to speak out when necessary. The students (and staff) loved it! To read more about them, go to: http://yamass.org/our-programs/illstyle-peace-productions/.

Each year, the PTO funds ACT performances and residencies that enrich our core curriculum. In selecting artists, we strive to represent some of the diverse cultures in our school. Here's the slate for our other grade levels. Parents are welcome to attend.

February 1 - Kindergarten

Leeny del Seamonds (Cuban-American Storyteller) ¡Vive El Cuento! (Live the Story!)

February 13

Grade 4 (AM)

Promised Land (Instrumental Group) “Sounds That Shaped America”

Grade 2 (PM)

Sandeep Das (Indian Classical Music) “The Tabla: Talking Drum from Northern India”

February 28 - Grade 5

Valerie Tutson (African-American Storyteller) “Right to Liberty”

May 10 - Grade 1

Li Liu “Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics”

I would like to thank ACT Chair (and PTO Co-President) Pauline Benninga for her excellent work coordinating with Young Audiences to schedule and finalize contracts for each of these performances, which were requested by each grade level teacher team. And thank you to Estabrook families for your continued financial support of the PTO that makes this possible.

Rick Rogers

Registration for the 2019 Estabrook Science Fair is now open! Are you interested in recycling? Would you like to explore and learn more about renewable energy? Is there something you know about the link between pollution and biodiversity that you can't wait to share? Register for the 2019 Estabrook ScienceFair, February 8, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Please read the rules carefully and ensure that you can follow them before registering. The rules can be found at this link: Estabrook Science Fair Rules 2019

To register, fill out the form at this link: goo.gl/forms/AZm4FLSOSyGCfcZj1

This year’s Science Fair theme is Environmental Sustainability. In the spirit of our theme, we will not be distributing paper flyers about the Science Fair, so please forward this email to anyone who might be interested to be sure they received it!

We are looking forward to seeing your research around the hows and whys of environmental sustainability, or other topic you might be interested in! (Participants are encouraged, but not required, to focus their projects on this year’s theme.) Students can find more Science Fair resources at estabrookpto.org/science-fair-2019/.

For guidelines on how to present a science project, this post offers a good overview of a science fair project display board: www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/science-fair-project-display-boards

We look forward to seeing your projects on February 8th!

Estabrook Science Fair Committee

Health Benefits of washing your hands

• Reduces the number of people who get sick by preventing the spread of germs
  
• Reduces respiratory illnesses, such as colds
  
• Reduces school absences due to sickness
  

What's the Best Way to Wash Hands?

Washing hands with soap removes germs much more effectively. Here's how to scrub those germs away.

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold). Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.
  
• Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds. Antibacterial soap isn't a must — any soap will do.
  
• Make sure you get in between your fingers, on the backs of hands, and under the nails where germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!
  
• Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.
  

Washing hands is a basic hygiene skill for kids. The earlier children learn to properly wash their hands, the greater defense they have against germs that may cause illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend washing hands with soap and warm water, scrubbing for about 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand cleaner is a suitable alternative when soap and water isn't available. For tips on ways to engage kids in hand washing:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/156605-fun-ways-to-teach-children-about-washing-hands/