Calendar Reminders -November
Special Town Meeting
Tuesday, November 12 @7pm - LMHS Auditorium
School Committee Meetings
Wednesday, November 6 @ 6:30pm -Hybrid from Town Hall
Wednesday, November 20 @ 6:30pm - LMS Collaboration Room (Hybrid via Zoom)
Report Cards
Term 1 report cards November 12
Schools & Offices Closed
Tuesday, November 5 schools are closed for staff professional development.
Monday, November 11 schools and offices closed in observance of Veterans Day
Thanksgiving break begins with early dismissal on Wednesday, November 27; schools and offices are closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29.
PACSAL Meeting
November 7 at 6pm in the LMS Project Room. This will be a hybrid meeting via Zoom.
Special Town Meeting
The Special Town Meeting will be held in the Lunenburg Middle-High School Auditorium on Tuesday, November 12 at 7pm.
In the final FY25 state budget, Lunenburg received an additional $31,882 in Chapter 70 funding. The Legislature intended for these additional funds to support our schools. Therefore the Lunenburg School Committee requested that these funds be designated for appropriaition to the school department at the Special Town Meeting. This request is reflected in warrant article 2.
The School Committee feels these additional funds could significantly help in addressing pressing needs within our school system and ensuring that our schools have the necessary resources for maintaining the high standard of education that the children of Lunenburg deserve.
Lunenburg PTO
The next meeting of the PTO is Monday, November 4 at 7pm at LMHS in the Middle School Project Room. All are welcome to attend meetings!
The following is a list of meeting dates for the rest of this school year:
- Monday, November 4th
- Monday, December 2nd
- Monday, January 6th
- Monday, Feb 3rd
- Monday, March 3rd
- Monday, April 7th
- Monday, May 5th
- Monday, June 2nd
The Lunenburg PTO meets monthly, on the first Monday of each month (with occasional exceptions for holidays) at LMHS in the Middle School Project Room at 7:00 pm. Attendees should use the main entrance and turn left. The Middle School Project Room will be on your left just before the cafeteria.
Meeting agendas are posted prior to each meeting and discussions generally involve community-building activities, fundraising and fostering communication between parents and caregivers and the schools in our district.
Upcoming PTO Events
Saturday, December 21 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie - 10:00 a.m. Entertainment Cinemas 45 Sack Blvd, Leominster, MA 01453 - Tickets on Sale Soon
Saturday, February 1- Special Someone Dance - Details to come
Box Tops for Education
For more than 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn money for their schools with products they already buy! Learn more about how you can help your school receive donations through Box Tops for education at this link .
Juniors study American Gothic Literature
As part of the American Gothic Literature unit, Mr. Harmon's students read a few of Edgar Allan Poe's works. They created masks. The front of the mask is symbolic in character choice, color, and symbols. On the back of the masks, students wrote about what what they chose and how these choices are important to understanding the story on a deeper level. They also wrote about their creative process.
Mark Your Calendar -Fall Assessment Presentations for Families
On Thursday, November 14 each school will host a Zoom forum for families. At each school forum, the Principal, Assistant Principal, Literacy Specialist, Math Specialist, Director of Teaching & Learning, and Director of Special Services will provide an overview of the assessments used at the school, the purposes of those assessments, and the results. They will explain the connection of the assessment data to School Improvement Plans and answer any questions attendees may have.
We believe this information is important for all families in order to understand how we use data to understand how your child is performing, growing, and what they may need in order to make optimal progress throughout the year. We hope that this information will also empower parents and guardians as partners with us in their child(ren)'s education.
We recognize that everyone's time is limited and precious. Therefore, each school's forum will be 30 minutes long. The Principal will be sending additional information to their school's families, including the Zoom link for the forum. The forum schedule is below.
6:00-6:30pm Lunenburg Primary School
6:45-7:15pm Turkey Hill Elementary School
7:30-8:00pm Lunenburg Middle-High School
We hope you will all mark your calendar and plan to attend!
Veterans Day
This Veterans Day we will be honoring the men and women who have served our country in each of our schools.
On November 8th, Turkey Hill Elementary and Lunenburg Primary Schools will hold assemblies honoring any active or retired military family members of students and staff.
LMHS will be recognizing staff members, community members, and friends and family members of staff and students that are veterans with a photo slideshow that will play on the tv's at school.
To all the veterans in our schools and community we offer a heartfelt thank you for your service!
LMS Student Assembly with Chris Poulas
LMHS Mock Election
On Monday, November 4, the Civic & Community Engagement classes are running a mock presidential election. The mock election is for students in grades 6 - 12 only. The middle school project room will be the polling station where students cast votes. Participation is completely voluntary. No student is required to vote. Students will be able to cast a vote as they are walking toward lunch, during lunch, or as they are leaving lunch.
The ballot will include President, US Senator, and US Representative. Two out of the five ballot questions - Question 2 and Question 5 - will be on the ballot. Election results will be announced schoolwide at 2:00pm.
Blue Knights Apparel
Missed the PTO apparel fundraiser? Looking for those elusive pajama pants? Sick of feeling a cold chill while sitting on the bleachers at events? Need a holiday gift any student would love? Check on the Class of 2027's Apparel and Merch sale. Most items can even be customized! Ship to your house or save shipping fees for school delivery (week of December 16th). Orders need to be placed by Friday, November 22, 2024.
Curriculum Update from Dr. Deborah Bookis, Director of Teaching & Learning
November
This year, our focus for Professional Development is on creating Safe, Caring, and Inclusive Learning Environments. According to the Design Principles for Schools: Putting the Science of Learning and Development Into Action, a successful educational experience is built on a positive school community where both adults and students share a vision for holistic student success. To create a supportive school environment that promotes safety and belonging, we must:
build a safe and caring learning community with consistent routines, helping students feel known and supported;
develop restorative practices that are informed by trauma and aimed at healing; and
foster culturally responsive and inclusive learning experiences so that all students feel valued.
On September 27, educators from both the Primary School and Turkey Hill Elementary School took part in a session led by Dr. Joel Ristuccia from the Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity (LIFTS) Program. This session focused on understanding the effects of adverse or traumatic experiences and provided a framework for school-wide action. Dr. Ristuccia will return in March to discuss classroom structures and strategies. Educators in grades 6-12 also engaged in discussions about how to best meet student needs through curriculum and assessment.
On November 5, the Lunenburg Public Schools will team up with the North Middlesex Regional School District for their Professional Day. A main focus of this day will be on creating safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments. The event will take place on the North Middlesex campus and will feature a keynote speaker, Dr. Erin Nerlino. Her presentation, titled "Bystander Training," will explore strategies that bystanders can use to address situations involving harassment. She will also empower student voices by bringing some former students to share their experiences. The breakout sessions will be led by outside consultants and staff members from both school districts.
Lastly, the US Department of Education's 2023 report on Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates states that research indicates a positive school climate is linked to better academic outcomes, such as improved test scores and graduation rates, increased student engagement, better risk prevention and health outcomes, and higher teacher retention rates.
Math K-5:
As students are getting further along in the curriculum, completing assessments is becoming part of their monthly routine. Assessing may seem daunting for students, but in addition to regular classroom observations, it is an important piece of information for students, teachers, and families. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning, and receive timely feedback on the errors they’ve been making. Assessments also help teachers determine what additional support they need to provide for specific students, and adjust their day-to-day instruction to better meet students’ needs. Finally, it is an important piece of communication between the school and home, and builds a better partnership between the two.
Students at all grade levels are currently working through the second module of the curriculum.
Kindergarten: Module 3 - Matching and Counting Numbers to 5 Students are making the transition from matching groups of objects to compare, to being able to compare numbers based on numerals. The module reinforces the connection between counting order and magnitude by using vocabulary like “greater than,” “less than,” and “equal to.”
Grade 1: Module 3 - Properties of Operations
Students are learning that by using the Commutative Property and the Associative Property of addition, they can more efficiently solve addition equations. The Commutative Property reduces the number of addition facts they need to learn, since if 2 + 6 = 8, then 6 + 2 = 8. The Associative Property allows students to add in an order that helps them solve the equation more quickly. For example, if students are presented with
2 + 7 + 3 = ?, they can group 7 and 3 to make a quick 10. 2 + (7 + 3) = 12.
Grade 2: Module 4 - Understand Place Value
Students are exploring three-digit numbers to understand that each digit represents hundreds, tens, and ones. This enables them to write numbers in various ways. For example, when given the number 428, students may represent the number in the following ways:
Four hundred twenty-eight
4 hundreds, 2 tens, 8 ones
400 + 20 + 8
Grade 3: Module 3 - Understand Multiplication Strategies
Students will begin their work in memorizing math facts, while also discovering strategies to help them multiply 2s & 4s, 3s & 6s, and 5s & 10s. For example, if a student is presented with 4 x 8 = ?, they may choose an easier fact like 2 x 8 = 16, and then double it to get 32.
Grade 4: Module 4 - Mental Math and Estimation Strategies
Students are discovering that doing calculations in one’s head can help solve a problem quickly, or can be used to get an approximate answer, one that is close to the correct answer. These strategies can help them decide on how reasonable tier solutions are, and gives opportunities for deeper understanding of multiplication and division.
Grade 5: Module 3 -Practice Division of Whole Numbers
Students are not only practicing long division, but also learning to interpret remainders based on the problem. For example, if a cook bakes 38 muffins and packs them in boxes that hold 12 muffins each, how many boxes can the cook fill completely? Students determine that three boxes can be filled, with two cupcakes remaining. However, if the question asks how many boxes the cook needs to transport the muffins to a party, the solution is now four boxes.
Math 6-8:
Grades 6-8 are continuing their work with the EdGems curriculum. The program offers many opportunities for students to receive exactly what they need to be successful on a concept, since there are many activities designed for students with various learning needs. Online practice, homework, assessments, and projects exist in a way that help students who need more support, and challenges students ready for more.
Literacy K-5:
Now that students have completed two modules, they understand the routines and structures of the curriculum. Each module of HMH Into Reading has an essential question to guide learning. Essential questions are important tools that drive students to explore and learn. They should encourage curiosity and lead to new discoveries. Most grade levels are currently in Module 3. Please look for the Family Connections letter that is sent home with each module.
K - My Community Heroes
The essential question of this module is: What makes a community? Students will read books about the people and places in a community, and the ways in which we all work together to make a community strong.
1st - Amazing Animals
The essential question of this module is: How do animals’ bodies help them? Students will learn that animal bodies and animal homes come in many different shapes and sizes. Students will discover that authors of nonfiction texts often include opposing ideas, or ideas that don’t agree between the reader and the text. Teachers and students will work together to think about whether what they read contrasts or contradicts something in their lives or what they already know.
2nd - Meet in the Middle
The essential question of this module is: How can people work out disagreements? Students will be learning about working out conflicts and disagreeing with others in a respectful way. Students will read about how to get along and compromise, and even learn tips about settling differences from a conflict-solving superhero.
3rd - Let Freedom Ring!
The essential question of this module is: How do historic places, documents, and symbols represent our nation? Students will build their knowledge about the documents and symbols of the United States, with a focus on the nonfiction genre. Students will read texts and view videos about why certain things came to represent the values and ideals of our country. Teachers and students will look at the purpose of why authors repeat words and facts within a text.
4th - Rise to the Occasion
The essential question of this module is: What does it take to meet a challenge? Students will build their knowledge about the qualities needed to rise to the occasion, with a focus on the genre of historical fiction. We will read texts and view videos about what it takes to meet a challenge. Students will identify character traits they think are most important to have in order to overcome a challenge.
5th - Natural Disasters
The essential question of this module is: How can learning about natural disasters make us safer? Students will build their knowledge about natural disasters, with a focus on the informational text genre. We will read texts and view videos about how Earth’s movements, features, and weather can cause natural disasters. Students will discover that claims are statements that
the author will attempt to prove to be true using evidence as support.
ELA 6-8
Middle school teachers are reflecting and refining units as this is their second year implementing Amplify. This month, students are continuing with the second unit of Amplify.
Grade 6 - Mysteries & Investigations
Students read like an investigator and embark on a multi-genre study into the world of scientific and investigative sleuthing. Stories of mystery and suspense are closely read to raise readers’ curiosity. Students will discover that not all evidence is created equally and comes in varying degrees of factuality and credibility.
Grade 7 - Character & Conflict
Plays and short stories provide a magnified view of characters responding to conflict. Students are provided with opportunities to observe the growth and change of characters whose motivations are hidden, comparing characters’ experiences and studying the rich language of the authors. This unit pushes students to closely analyze text to notice larger structural moves authors make across narratives.
Grade 8 - Science & Science Fiction
The stars of this unit are two trailblazing women: Mary Shelley and Ada Lovelace. Students will wrestle with some of the book’s central themes: a creator’s responsibility for their creation, the role of society in shaping our presence in the world, and the promises and risks of scientific inquiry. After research and debate, students will write to determine whether or not the creature should be considered human.
Special Services Update from Julianna Hanscom, Special Services Director
Please join us for our PACSAL meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at 6pm. This meeting will be a hybrid meeting: in person being held in the LMHS Project Room and virtually via Zoom. Topics will include - the New IEP, Docusign options for IEP signing, update on Wilson Reading in the district, upcoming Parents' Rights training, and family engagement opportunities.
PACSAL is a group that supports all our learners, including students on IEPs, 504 plans, English Language Learners (ELs), and Title I students - although everyone is welcome to attend!
Please join us if you can!
Food Services Update from Nadine Lorenzen, Director of Food Services
School Meals are free to all students school year 2024-225.
LINQ Connect
All meal account balances have transferred from PowerSchool/RevTrak to LINQ Connect accounts. Please note that food service is no longer using PowerSchool as point of sale or RevTrak as a payment platform. Families will not find meal account balances on either of these sites. Families can find up to date meal account balances on LINQ Connect.
How to Register
Download the LINQ Connect app from your app store or visit linqconnect.com. Click “Register” to create your account. If you have any questions or need assistance at any point during the registration process or while using LINQ Connect, please do not hesitate to reach out to the LINQ Connect support team at support@linqconnect.com or 844-467-4700. For faster response, try the new online web chat support feature at linqconnect.com.
Green Monstah Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 frozen cheese pizza
- 4 cups kale, chopped
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 Tbsp. pine nuts, roasted briefly
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 zucchini, medium, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, sliced thin
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450°. Make kale pesto by placing a saucepan on a burner and bringing water
to a boil. Add 1 tsp. of salt. Cook kale for 10 seconds until bright green.
2. Place in a small metal bowl and add some cold water with ice. Squeeze the water out of it
and place in a food processor or blender. Add the cheese, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and process
to a smooth paste.
3. Place pizza on a cookie sheet and spread with the pesto. Sauté 1 clove of the chopped garlic
with 1 TB oil in a sauté pan, 30 seconds. Cook spinach until wilted.
4. Next, heat 1 TB oil in a pan. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds, add the chopped zucchini and gently
sauté until it begins to soften.
5. Top the pizza with the sautéed spinach and zucchini, the red onion and the crumbled feta
Source: Project Bread cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until hot.
Athletics Update from Kevin Bigelow, Athletic Director
As the fall seasons wind down, we enter into a familiar space for our programs, the playoffs! The golf team had an unbelievable turnaround from a year ago. They won a league championship, and finished 5th in the state match last week down at Foxborough Country Club. Congratulations to all of the team members:
JV - Jack Defelice, Antonio DelPalma, Noah Guliani, Callum Sullivan, Sam Brand, Ethan Dionne, Marcus Carrion, Jayson McKeever, Grady Smith, Teddy Terry
Varsity - Logan Martin, Dom Benner, Cayden Chow, Connor Lammi, Jameson Nicosia, Andrew Nicosia, Jack Heffernan
Girls soccer finished 11th in the final power rankings and will play Nantucket in the 1st round of the MIAA state tournament Wednesday 11/6, time TBD. They finished their season 15-1-1, way to go!
Field hockey and boys soccer finished just outside of the cutoff to make the state tournament. Both teams had deep runs the last couple of years, and look to return to that stage next season.
Our Cross Country program will compete in the state meet on Saturday November 9th at the Wrentham Development Center. Races begin at 11:00am.
Football is coming off of a bye week. They await a matchup from the state football committee. The opponent is chosen according to power ranking. This year football will conclude their season on Thanksgiving morning at Oakmont. Game kicks off at 10:00am.
Our middle school programs have had a successful fall. Field hockey finished their season with a 1-0 win over Littleton. This past weekend they continued the tradition of playing in the Monster Mash! Cross country just competed in the district meet, where our girls team finished 2nd overall. They will compete in the state meet Saturday at Fort Devens. Races begin at 11:00am.
We have our first home Unified Basketball game next week. Come see our team take on Nashoba, Wednesday at 3:15pm.
Additional November Dates of Interest
November is National Family Literacy Month; National Native American Heritage Month; and National Gratitude Month
The week of November 11 is World Kindness Week
The week of November 17 is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
1 National Autistics Speaking Day; National Family Literacy Day
3 Daylight Savings Time Ends
4 World Smile Day
6 National Stress Awareness Day
8 National Parents as Teachers Day
10 National Civics Pride Day
11 Veterans Day
12 National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
14 National Pickle Day
15 National America Recycles Day
16 National Button Day
17 National Take a Hike Day
20 National Child’s Day
27 National Civics Day
31 Halloween
Volunteer with Us!
Do you know someone in the community who is retired and looking for a new way to stay engaged with the community? Are you are a parent, guardian, or family member of one of our students? We have lots of opportunities to engage in our school community by volunteering! On the district website, we have posted a flyer with just some ideas for the ways in which you can help the schools through volunteer work.