Estabrook Buzz

All of Estabrook's students and teachers gathered on Field Day June 2 for our first all-school photograph! (Photo courtesy of Britt Hassan)

Dear Estabrook Families,

Though the days are the longest this time of year, they seem to fly by the fastest. In and around Estabrook, we are all running from one milestone or culminating event to the next. The multitude of concerts, activities, open houses and celebrations of learning highlight the immense progress our students have made throughout the year. Behind the poster boards, videos, portfolios and performances is an abundance of individual growth. As we reflect on all that our students have accomplished this year, we maintain a focus on celebrating their perseverance and effort. How much our students have grown this year!

I look forward to continuing to see you at all the events that help us mark the final days of our year together.

Sincerely,

Jeff LaBroad

Principal

On Tuesday evening, Mr. LaBroad presented an update on Estabrook's two-year exploration of homework to the Lexington School Committee and Superintendent of Schools. Together with Dr. Maureen Kavanaugh, Lexington Director of Planning and Assessment, he shared an overview of the pilot program, feedback received by the school, and various points of data collected this year, including highlights from the surveys administered to Estabrook parents, students and teachers.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ESTABROOK SCHOOL HOMEWORK PILOT REPORT TO THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Estabrook parents recently elected Steve Chang and Joyce Dvorak to serve as the newest parent representatives on the Estabrook School Council. The two each serve two-year terms, and will fill seats vacated by outgoing representatives Hema Gandhi and Gretchen Reisig, who are completing their terms on the Council.

The School Council serves as an advisory board to the principal, and assists with the creation and review of the School Improvement Plan, among other duties. It is comprised of school leaders, staff, parents and community representatives.

Estabrook thanks the dozens of parents who helped make Field Day such a huge success. We are grateful for your support. We couldn't have done it without you!

The Estabrook faculty and staff invite all our volunteers to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, June 14 at 8:30 a.m. Whether you've served as a library or recycling room volunteer, chaperoned a field trip, organized a club or done anything else to support our students, please plan to join us as we say "thank you!" The breakfast will be followed by the PTO's June meeting.

Submitted by Amy Burk, Estabrook School Math Specialist

Crazy 8s Math Club is wrapped-up for the year. We enjoyed a successful first year with students and parents in the K-2 and 3-5 clubs. Thank you to all our parent volunteers who showed up ready and eager to participate in some “real life, real fun” math. Special thanks goes out to Misha Dad and Merin Gazell, who took on leadership of the K-2 club. Watch for news and information on Crazy 8s starting up again next fall. In the meantime, you can solve daily, recreational math problems as a family all summer long by going to Bedtime Math’s site: http://bedtimemath.org

As you may recall from earlier in the year, you will able to view and print your child/children's end-of-year grade level Report Card and English Language Learners Report Card via the ASPEN portal. Paper copies of these two reports will not be distributed to students via backpacks on the last day of school.

The viewing portal for these reports will be opened to you on the afternoon of Thursday, June 22, and grades will be posted by 3 p.m. on that day. The primary owner of the Family Portal account will receive a generated email from ASPEN informing you that the report in now available on the Family Portal.

If you haven't already had the opportunity to log into ASPEN recently, you might want to try to do so prior to the June 22nd date to be sure that you do not have any login issues. Should you have a problem with logging in, please send an email to: parentportal@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Directions for accessing reports in ASPEN:

1. End-of-Year grade level report card: The report will be posted to the Pages tab, in the Published Reports section. To retrieve the report, click on the PDF icon.
2. English Language Learners report card: The report will be posted to the Pages tab, in the Published Reports section. To retrieve the report, click on the PDF icon.

The school calendar for the upcoming academic year is available for you to review. Holidays and vacations are shaded in grey for your convenience. The first day of school for 2017-2018 is Tuesday, August 29.

Click here to view or download the 2017-2018 Lexington Public Schools Calendar.

This summer, various classrooms and offices will find new homes at Estabrook School. Grade 1 and grade 3 will return to their original locations on the first and third floors, respectively. Occupational Therapy will move across the hall on the second floor, and a third ELL room will open in the former OT space. Finally, a new Math Center will open on the third floor, providing a home for Estabrook's Math Specialists, as well as serving as an additional coaching and intervention space.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS.

Click here for the complete Estabrook School Calendar

Click here for the complete 2016-2017 Academic Calendar

KINDERGARTEN VISIT DAY | Thursday, June 8, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

A visiting hour for our incoming kindergarten students joining us this fall.

LIBRARY BOOKS DUE BACK TO LIBRARY | Friday, June 9

All books should return to the library on this date to allow time for cataloging and inventorying ahead of the summer break.

GRADE 4 TO WHIPPLE HILL | Friday, June 9

Raindate Monday, June 12

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING | Monday, June 12, 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Estabrook School Conference Room

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL DAY | Wednesday, June 14

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST | Wednesday, June 14, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Hosted by the faculty and staff of Estabrook School for all our volunteers!

JAM THE VAN | Thursday, June 15

Can we beat our latest record? Help us top 251 items at our last Jam the Van of the year by bringing a canned good to support the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

METCO FAMILY FRIENDS DAY | Thursday, June 15

ALL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY | Friday, June 16, 9:15-9:45 a.m.

Hosted by our kindergarten students. Parents of kindergarteners invited to join us.

PTO END OF THE YEAR PICNIC | Friday, June 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

FIRST GRADE TO KINEEN PARK | Tuesday, June 20, 10:00-2:00 p.m.

FIFTH GRADE GRADUATION | Wednesday, June 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL | Thursday, June 22

Students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. Report Cards will be released electronically to parents later in the day.

Estabrook Buzz is the parent and family newsletter of Estabrook School, published regularly and distributed to families via email and shared at estabrook.lexingtonma.org

Website: estabrook.lexingtonma.org
Location: 117 Grove Street, Lexington, MA, United States
Phone: 781-861-2520