170 Plympton Rd. Plymouth, MA 02360

February West World

Mr. Cummings Scholarship

The West School community was saddened by the passing of Mr. Robert Cummings on January 18, 2005. Mr. Cummings was the beloved principal of West School for eighteen years prior to his retirement in June 2002. The staff of West School and the West Home and School Association have established a scholarship in his memory. A scholarship will be given to a former West School student as he/she graduates from high school. If you would like to contribute to this scholarship, please send your donation (checks payable to the RGC Scholarship) in an envelope marked “Mr. C. Scholarship Fund” to the West School office.

Reading Wonderland: Snow if Falling, Books are Calling Readathon 2005

Many exciting activities have been planned for our February 1-17 readathon which is designed to encourage children to read. Students will record the books that they read on a snowflake pattern. These snowflakes will decorate the hallways of the school along with snow scenes created by art classes in each grade level. We will also have “Drop Everything and Read Time” and share a book with a younger class time throughout the month. The last day of our readathon will be Thursday, February 17th. We will celebrate by wearing hats and scarves and having hot cocoa and snowball cupcakes. Each child will also receive a bookmark for participating. So, please set aside time each day for your child to read.

Parents and guardians, please contact Sharon Brocklesby, WHSA’s Room Mother Chairperson at 508-732-0284 if you can send in hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, cups or white frosted cupcakes for your child’s class. We are also looking for volunteers to assist each teacher prepare the hot chocolate. Thank you in advance for your donations and assistance.

Jeffrey Kelly, Author in Residence at West School

Wynne Gerhard, the WHSA’s cultural arts coordinator has kindly arranged to have author Jeffrey Kelly spend time with each grade level at West School during the week of February 7th. He will be sharing how to develop story ideas into a final form. Mr. Kelly will also be selling and autographing his books for interested students.

Heart Healthy Day

Students will participate in a thirty-minute aerobic session at this annual event on Friday, February 18th. The children will exercise at various stations in the gym. The Home and School Association will donate a gift to participants to remind them to keep healthy by exercising. We are still looking for volunteers to lead some stations. Please call Trisha Le Grow at 508-747-4715 if you can help out for a few hours on this day.

March Math Month is Coming – Keep studying your math facts J

Kindergarten Registration for School Year 2005-2006

Children who will be five on or before September 1, 2005 are eligible to attend the Plymouth Public Schools’ kindergarten programs for the school year 2005-2006. You now have two options available to you. Children may attend the free half-day program with sessions changing at the mid-point at the child’s home school or you may apply for the full-day, tuition based kindergarten program at Oak Street School.

Application and information sheets are available for the full-day program at all Plymouth elementary schools and at the Administration Building at 253 South Meadow Road. Applicants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until the program is filled. Tuition is $400 a month and there is before and after school childcare available for an additional fee. Please contact David Sinclair, the principal of Oak Street School at 508-830-4335 if you have any questions.

Registration for the half-day program has been scheduled for all Plymouth elementary schools during the week of March 7-10, 2005 from 9:00-11:00 A.M. at the child’s home school. Parents must bring copies of their children’s immunization records and copies of their children’s birth certificates with them to register. Students enrolled in private kindergartens, and who are anticipating entering first grade in the Plymouth Public Schools in September, should also register at this time. Kindly inform your neighbors and friends with children entering kindergarten or first grade next fall about this registration.

If there are extenuating circumstances and parents can not register their children during the scheduled days and times, they are urged to call the school at 508-830-4350 to make an alternative arrangement.

Important February Dates

February 1 - February 17: Reading Wonderland Readathon

Wednesday, February 2: Early Release Day: 1:00 P.M. Dismissal (No P.M. K)

Wednesday, February 2: School Council at 6:00 P.M. in the Art Room

Wednesday, February 2: Home & School Meeting at 7:00 P.M. in the Art Room

February 7- February 11: Author in Residence at West

Tuesday, February 15: Grade 5 Musical – “Heroes” at 7:00 P.M. in cafeteria

Friday, February 18: Heart Healthy Day

February 21- February 25: Winter Vacation

Upcoming MCAS Testing – The following testing periods and subject areas are determined

by the Massachusetts Department of Education:

Grade 3: March 28-April 8 - Reading

May 16-27 - Mathematics Tryout:

Grade 4: Wednesday, April 6 - ELA Composition

May 16-27 - ELA Language & Literature and Mathematics

Grade 5: March 28 - April 8 - Reading Tryout

May 16-27 - Science & Engineering, Mathematics Tryout,

History/Social Science Tryout

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