Hello, Howard!

The December PRIDE theme of the month is ingenuity. Teachers at the Howard School work hard to create classrooms that encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and risk-taking.

Sometimes this open-ended approach can cause students (and parents!) anxiety. It would be so much easier if there was just one correct answer! Learning how to be a flexible thinker can be challenging, but it's SO important.

One of my favorite sayings is, "There is no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone." Learning is sometimes uncomfortable, but that doesn't necessarily mean that anything is WRONG. Sports practices are often uncomfortable, but kids know that the sweat and sore muscles will result in better performance. The same is true in school. Learning isn't always easy and comfortable, but encourage your child to keep pushing. Remind them that they can do hard things! They are strong, capable, and ingenious!

Daily fresh air and exercise is vitally important for kids. Howard Schools students will go outside unless it is dangerous for student health. I will be using the Child Care Weather Watch guidelines linked here. It will be very important for students to come dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. This includes appropriate layers and footwear.

"But my kid refuses to wear a coat!"

It's typical for early adolescents to want to abandon their coats. If you can't face another morning battle, make sure they're wearing long pants, a warm sweatshirt, and closed toed shoes. (I may be hearty, but even I draw the line at short sleeves, shorts, and crocs.) Encourage them to wear a hat and gloves, maybe even tuck some into their backpacks along with a dry pair of socks.

We will bring EVERYONE outside, so the natural consequences of leaving the house sans coat will be a cold recess experience. Remind your child of that, and then allow them to learn from the experience.

If you need help providing warm clothing for your child, please reach out to me. We can help!

Thank you to the families who responded to the recent questionnaire about bullying. School administrators have spent time reviewing the responses from families, students, and staff. While the majority of respondents feel that WB Schools respond appropriately to allegations of bullying, we've found some areas where we can improve. Below you'll find a slide from our presentation to School Committee identifying our proposed next steps.

One important step is making the reporting of suspected bullying easier for students and families. All school websites now feature an easy-to find, easy to complete "Bullying Reporting Form." You'll also be able to find a button to report bullying included in every school newsletter. I've included it below in this newsletter, and plan to put it at the bottom of every future newsletter.

Wednesday, Dec. 11 is a half day.

Friday Dec. 20th is the last day of school in 2024.

We'll resume on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

With only 9.5 days of learning left in December, please do everything you can to get your (healthy) kiddo to school! We need every second we can get!

We heard your request for aligned spirit days, and we have obliged! All elementary schools - Spring Street, Rose L., and Howard, will have the following spirit days in December.

Breakfast/Snack Menu

Lunch Menu

Looking for a fun and tasty holiday snack? Make a Grinch-kabob!

Students who are learning English work with Mrs. Cashman on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. These skills are assessed by the ACCESS test that will be administered in January or February. English language learner students are working hard to prepare for the upcoming ACCESS test. We can't wait to see how much they've learned!

On November 19th, author Steve Sheinkin spent the day with Howard students, speaking about life as an author, leading a readers discussion and writing workshop, and, thanks to the PTO buying a book for each student, signing LOTS of books.

I'm already thinking about who we can invite next year. Rob Buyea and Leslie Connor are at the top of my wish list. If you have suggestions, let me know!

The Howard School Winter concert will be at the high school auditorium on Tuesday, December 10th (along with the MSHS Band and Chorus) at 6:30 PM (6:00PM students should arrive so they can set up and be ready). The Howard Band will be going on first.

The band should wear black pants and white dress shirts for the concert. Also, to make our band concert festive, I am allowing students to wear festive hats for the holidays on a voluntary basis (not required). This includes Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and general winter or Hanukkah items to make it a little more entertaining. Please use your judgment to select appropriate festive attire that will not interfere with them playing their instrument. I like the students to treat the winter concert as a festive celebration of the holidays rather than a more formal concert as our spring concert will be. If there are any questions or problems with concert dress, please contact Mr. LeMarier at least two weeks before the concert to help you.

During the month of December, we will be wrapping up our first Wit and Wisdom module. To culminate the module, the students will be writing an essay telling what makes a great literal and figurative heart. Students have been working hard to gather evidence and write informative paragraphs to prepare for the end of the module task.

Our next topic will cover factors and multiples. Then, we will begin division. We are continuing to practice our multiplication facts.

We will begin our unit on the regions of the United States and mapping out the major physical features in North America. Keep an eye out for information about our state fair!

We will work on creative problem solving skills and improving our ingenuity.

In math, we are wrapping up "Coordinate Grids" and moving onto "Division". Please continue practicing math fact fluency as needed.

In Social Studies, we wrapped up the geographical locations of the 13 Colonies. In a few weeks, we will be taking a deep dive into the similarities and differences of the history, economy, and religion pertaining to the 13 colonies.

In Science, we will be starting to learn about the Earth's water supply, the water cycle, and the positive and negative impact on the environment.

In order to understand ingenuity, students will brainstorm concerns at the Howard School. Using their problem solving skills, students will explore ways to remediate the concerns.

Students did a fantastic job presenting their first book talk! Be on the lookout for the next book talk assignment. Happy reading!

We are finishing up our math review on decimals and fractions! Check out the pictures of the food truck projects.

In Math class we just began Topic 4, coordinate geometry. Students will be graphing ordered pairs using integers and rational numbers on the coordinate plane in all four quadrants. We will learn how to calculate the distance between points on the coordinate plane. Students will also be graphing various shapes on the coordinate plane and calculate the area and perimeter.

Students have begun their unit on fossils and evolution. We are beginning to look at rock layers and the law of superposition. We will also make connections about what fossils can tell us about past environments. Students will look at different types of fossils during this unit as well!

We are wrapping up our Mesopotamia unit. We just finished our major project - a student choice activity demonstrating understanding of the history, geography, and culture ancient Mesopotamia. Students will take a test on this content next week.

For the Pride theme of Ingenuity , students will write about an invention that can help solve a problem 6th graders experience in their school day. They will envision an invention to make their lives easier and more productive in school.

Mrs. Wenzel's homeroom will be walking to the Spring Street to work on a holiday project with Mrs. Jennings kindergarten class!

We are excited for our Door Decorating contest next week on the half day.

During the November half days we had 2 homeroom challenges in 6th grade. Mrs. Wenzel's homeroom won the Breakout Thanksgiving challenge and Mrs. Mills homeroom won the Quizizz Challenge!

In Music class during the month of December, students are focusing on the Science of Sound. This involves learning about how sound is created, how sound travels through different forms of matter (solids, liquids, gases), and how different frequencies interact with matter (this is referred to as Cymatics). Another aspect of this unit is related to health, and will explore the effects of music and frequency on human well-being (mental, physical, and emotional). It also involves learning the basic functions of the human ear, how our ears can become damaged over time, and how to take care of and preserve our hearing.

To spark INGENUITY in our students, I will be showing them some cymatics sound experiments, and a device called a Cymascope which allows us to see 3D vibrational images of frequencies as they travel through water. The images as fascinating!

Students in 4th grade are trying to get their first 5 notes learned and demonstrating proper playing technique and sound on their instrument. Students in 5th and 6th grade have been and are focusing on putting on a successful performance at our concert on Tuesday, December 10th.

4th and 5th graders will explore what it means to be a responsible digital citizen in today’s connected world. Through engaging discussions and activities, they’ll learn about online safety, respect for others, and the importance of ethical behavior online. Then, students will dive into the exciting world of coding, using simple programs to create projects that showcase their understanding of responsible digital practices. By combining digital citizenship with coding skills, students will build both their technical abilities and their awareness of how to positively impact the digital community. 6th graders will investigate their personal carbon footprints and how everyday choices contribute to global carbon emissions. Through hands-on activities and discussions, students will learn how their actions impact the environment and explore the science behind climate change. They’ll then create short-term action plans to reduce their carbon emissions, empowering them to make sustainable choices that can positively influence their communities and the planet. Together, we’ll discover how small changes can lead to meaningful environmental solutions!

Students in all Art classes will be learning about one point perspective. Fourth grade will be creating creatures in a box. They will learning how to draw a three dimensional box and add a creature or other object to the box. Fifth grade will be creating an aquarium using one point perspective, showing depth by using different sizes of sea creatures. Sixth graders will be creating cities in a circle where the vanishing point is in the middle of the paper and the buildings are larges around the circle and smaller as they go towards the middle.

At first, dipping toes into the world of Canva felt like diving headfirst into a sea of frustration for many health students. While the platform boasts a user-friendly interface, its seemingly endless options can be overwhelming. However, with perseverance and a strong dose of growth mindset, students have been flexing their creative muscles and exploring Canva’s vast potential. Challenges have turned into opportunities for creativity and learning. From templates and elements to animations and transitions, we’ve been learning essential technology skills to craft eye-catching wellness messages. As confidence has grown, groans of hesitation have been replaced by enthusiasm and pride. Classmates have proudly showcased their creativity by presenting thoughtful wellness messages about staying active, eating well, and getting enough rest—all while honing their budding graphic design skills. Ask your future graphic designer to show you what they’ve created and you may get hooked on Canva, too!

Important dates:

Dec. 10th - The Little Leo Coat Drive Ends; Regular Meeting - party planning

Dec. 17th - Little Leos Party (Club members only)

The peace poster winners were recognized at the school committee meeting on Dec. 2nd

Thank you to everyone who has donated coats to our Anton's Coats for Kids coat drive. We have collected 46 coats so far. We have one week left - our coat drive ends Dec. 10th

The Little Leo's Holiday Party is on Dec. 17th in the Gym until 4PM. Club members can sign up to bring something for the party during our club meeting or via google classroom if they are unable to attend the meeting. Club members can drop off the party supplies anytime before school on the days leading up to the party. Please have a post it that says its for the Little Leo's Party. Thank you!

Happy Holidays from the Little Leo's club!

We’ve taken full advantage of a beautiful New England autumn, absorbing all that extra sunshine for our walks through the changing landscape. These walks are a time to connect with nature, chat with friends, and get to know the high school community service volunteers who’ve joined us each week. Our high school mentors are just as exciting to see as the farm and animals!

Working with the farm animals has taught us plenty. They bring out our calm, encouraging us to slow down, listen, and look beyond our own needs to understand theirs. Each farm animal has as unique a personality as our students, and it’s been fun discovering them all.

Between seasonal tasks popping up each week and the consistent jobs of egg collecting and animal care, there’s always an engaging and hands-on task to connect us with the dirt, the farm, and working with one another. We are wrapping up our last visits before taking a winter break, and are grateful for the hard work, the fun—and for our high school students who make each farm day even more rewarding!

Student council is excited to announce our December theme days. For starters, in the weeks leading up to break we will have a door decorating contest. Each room will decorate their door in the theme of the season. The doors will be judged and prizes will be awarded for the following categories:

4th grade - coziest

5th grade - funniest

6th grade - most creative

There will also be a general winter wonderland award.

Then, in the week leading up to break, we will have a full-fledged theme week. Here is the schedule:

12/16 Reindeer Day

12/17 Elf Day

12/18 Grinch Day

12/19 Polar Express/PJ Day

12/20 Ugly Holiday Sweater Day

Student council wishes everyone a restful break and a happy New Year.

Hi, we are Tucker Stewart and Zachary Enos, we interviewed Mrs. Mills. She went to college at North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her favorite subject was art. She is a good artist and she is looking forward to Nature's Classroom. Her kids are 14 and 11 years old. She also has three pets: 1 dog, 1 cat and 1 bunny. When she was a kid she wanted to be a fashion designer, an astronaut, a teacher, and a zoo owner. Fun fact: she also marched in front of 60,000 people at Panthers stadium. She also checks out big maps to use in class. Her favorite book is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Her favorite movie is Stardust, and her favorite show is Lost. She loves to draw and create fun lessons. Her favorite color is purple.

Hi. I’m Asher Donna and I’m Elijah Baptista and we interviewed the STEM teacher Sophia Lunae Sullivan. Ms. Sullivan went to Fitchburg State University. Her favorite subject in school was social studies. This year she's looking forward to starting grad school. Ms. Sullivan also has one cat named Reese. She just moved into her first home with her boyfriend James. When She was a child she always wanted to be a teacher just like she is now. Ms. Sullivan says that her talent is trivia. She said that she could go on Jeopardy or Family Feud. Talking about TV, her favorite TV show is 90 Day Fiancé. She also has some hobbies. She likes going to the gym and also running. Facts about Ms. Sullivan: she loves dessert and she says that she can eat dessert for any meal like pie ice cream.

We are Noelle Gauthier and Allison Craig and we interviewed a fifth-grade teacher Brandi Richmond. She attended high school at West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School and got her masters in reading at Bridgewater State College. Her favorite subject as a kid was ELA. She is looking forward to seeing her class grow and have them become independent students with stamina that allows them to go above and beyond expectations. Her husband and her have two daughters and a dog. Ava is 16 and is a junior in high school. Alexandra is 9 and is in 4th grade. They have a labradoodle named Grady and his birthday is July 4th, he is 16 months old. When she was a child she wanted to be a teacher, would play school with her siblings and would always be the teacher. She had a giant chalkboard in her basement. Her hobbies are decorating and designing things. She loves to change her house design all the time. This is her 25th year teaching in West Bridgewater. Mrs. Richmond is a great teacher and we had fun interviewing her.

Today Makena Buckley and Comfort Ojugbana have decided to have an interview with our guest, Jenna Hegarty. She graduated high school in 2007 and claims her favorite subject was math. This year she says she looks forward to having fun with her students and leading her class. Beside her job as a teacher, she says she is married and has 3 kids ; Gavin, Liam, Nolan and a dog named Cooper! Before her occupation of being a teacher, she dreamed of being a doctor. Her favorite movie is Beauty and The Beast. She loves a calming life, to read books, go to the beach and watch sports. This year she looks forward to continuing her job and meeting new people!

Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is that she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she'll have to answer the question over and over again.

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It's hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven's about to discover she can do it all... even without arms.