Kittredge Elementary School

Recently we have had several requests from families taking vacations while school is in session for homework or make-up work. Although there is no policy regarding taking students out of school for a vacation, we do encourage families to plan family vacations to coincide with school vacations. It is very difficult for teachers to prepare work ahead of time, especially at the elementary level. It is also very difficult for students to make up the missed classroom instruction and assignments.

If you do decide to vacation with your children while school is in session, we suggest having your child read a book and keep a journal of the trip while away. Teachers will do their best to help your child make up missed work, however sometimes that is simply not possible. Thank you for your support and understanding regarding this matter.

We will send home a complete schedule the week before the testing begins. It is important for your children to be present and on time, get plenty of sleep and have a good breakfast. Please encourage your children to do their best! Please write the dates on your calendars and avoid scheduling appointments or trips during these times.

Deadline for entries December 8, 2006.

Thank you to all who sent in food, donated turkeys, and helped to sort the food into meals. Kittredge made a difference in 12 families' lives.

A sign up sheet went home in backpacks last week. We are also looking for baked goods and wrapping paper donations. There is a box by the front door for wrapping paper donations. If you have any questions please contact Carrie Bertolino at +1 978 681 8119.

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for our raffle baskets. It was a HUGE success.

The winners are:

• Beauty and Pampering: MaryEllen Dolloff
• Family Entertainment: Jillian Good
• New England Sports: McEvoy Family
• North Andover Town: Cincotta Family
• Taste of Italy: Penny Hogarty(Mr. Landry's Kingergarten teacher)

Be looking in the backpack for information about this program. Do not hesitate to contact your classroom representative if you have questions. All gifts need to be in by Thursday, December 7th.

There are two spots left on the North Andover Creative Tigers Destination Imagination Team for students in grade 3, 4 or 5 at the Kittredge school. Over 10,000 teams from around the world competed last year in the Destination Imagination Competitions. It's a big thing. Meetings are on Mondays from 6:30PM to 7:30PM at the Stevens Memorial Library and will move to Sundays from 3:00PM to 4:30PM in the New Year concluding with competitions in March. Contact David Ghikas at david@ghikas.net or by phone at +1 978 902 5487 for more information.

Visit our Kittredge website at http://www.kittredge.northandoverpublicschools.com/.

We were able to serve over 500 of our family and friends, the proceeds will enable the 5th grade class to defray the costs of the fun-filled "last year at Kittredge" activities. The night would not have been possible without the contributions of our local (and some not so local) vendors and all our hungry guests.

Come to the Middle School Auditorium this Friday, December 1st at 7:00 pm and Saturday, Dec. 2nd at 2:00 pm to see the 6th Grade plays. The 6th graders have worked hard on both "The Hairy Tale" and "The Attack of the Giant Grasshoppers" and the price of admission is FREE! Come have some fun and support our schools.

Seeking input from PARENTS about the attributes, experiences and desired goals for the new North Andover Superintendent. Please attend the Focus Group that is most convenient for you. No previous sign-up is required.

Monday, December 4th at 9:30 am in the High School Auditorium: Please park and enter thru the North Entrance (near the classrooms, not the gym).

Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 pm, High School Cafeteria: Please park and enter thru the South Entrance (near the gym).

If you are unable to attend either of the focus groups and would still like to provide some feedback on what we need, the consultant would be pleased to receive your comments in writing. Direct them to: Dr. Kenneth DeBenedicitis, NESDEC, North Andover Superintendent Search, 28 Lord Rd., Marlborough, MA 01752. The North Andover School Committee and Search Committee want and value your opinion. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to participate

Do you like to see outstanding performances that support your child's curriculum? The NASEC is looking for new members. Meetings are the first Thursday of every month at the Youth center Conference room at 9:00 am. Volunteers are needed to suggest performers and help monitor shows at Kittredge. Come join this great group of parents to make the arts come alive for our students! For more information, please contact Kristen Hollenbeck at +1 978 681 1894 or vinter145@aol.com.

The North Andover Foundation for Education is pleased to announce supporting efforts of local community businesses. Smolak Farms is offering a $5 donation to the Foundation for every tag and cut tree purchased this holiday season. In addition, we are launching a partnership with Georgetown Savings Bank called the PEACH program (partnership for educational assistance and community help). For every new checking account opened at the bank that mentions the PEACH program, they will make a $100 donation to the foundation. For more information, contact Rosalie Schniederjans at Georgetown Savings Bank. For information on the Foundation please visit our website at www.northandoverfoundation.org.

On December 2nd at 11:00 a.m the Stevens Memorial Library will be presenting, "The Art of Storytelling" starring the nationally recognized professional storyteller, Angela Cay Klinger. She will be presenting WINTER TALES from King Arthur and Raven to the Brothers Grimm, traditional European and Native American winter tales. This program is suitable for ages 5 - 12 and the library strongly urges that you pre-register. The sign-up sheet is in the children's room of the Stevens Memorial Library but you may reserve a space by calling if unable to do so in person.

Junior Troop 573 will be collecting baby food during the month of November to be donated to the People's Pantry at the North Parish Church. Offering food for babies is a priority at the Pantry. The Pantry has also noticed that some older folks, those with few teeth also use baby food. The Pantry is in need of jars of fruit, dinners and meats, and boxes of cereal. Fruit is needed in a ratio of 6:1 to other foods. No formula please. By donating baby food you are helping Troop 573 in earning their "Lets' Get Cooking" Badge. Boxes have been placed in the front lobby.

The "65 Roses" Holiday Boutique and Crafts Fair for Cystic Fibrosis is being held on Sunday, December 3rd, 11am-3pm. It is being held at the Stevens Estate Carriage House in North Andover, MA. There will be a raffle, door prizes, bake sale and silent auction. There will be many new vendors this year! Come and do your holiday shopping while supporting a worthwhile cause! This year's boutique is being sponsored by J.Jill of North Andover. All proceeds from this event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org). Any questions please contact Kim Myerson at +1 978 808 3925.

Shop and Support for the North Andover Youth Center - Visit www.northandoverkids.com and click on any of the over 140 online stores including Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, Toys 'R Us, iTunes and more and any purchases result in commissions that are 100% donated to the Youth Center.

Please send via email to kathy.eastwood@comcast.net (please put Newslink in the subject line) or call Kathy Eastwood at +1 978 794 3025 by Monday at noon.

The yearbook is looking for your pictures. We are looking for submissions of any pictures taken in school of Family Fun Day and Halloween. Please email or burn to a cd and forward to Karen Keough via backpack 3A or mackeough@netzero.com. Also any parents who are taking pictures during the following events please remember the yearbook when developing your photos and pass them on. PLEASE SEND IN ALL YOUR KITTREDGE PHOTOS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS YEAR'S YEARBOOK A GREAT ONE. THANK YOU.

• 1st Grade - Thanksgiving Show
• 2nd Grade - Johnson Cottage
  This field trip is also highlighted for the yearbook and we would appreciate any photos.
• 3rd Grade - Plimoth Plantation Field trip
  The more pictures I have the better the yearbook. Thank you.
• 4th Grade - Heritage Day and Immigration Day
  Remember when you're in school that day to take lots of pictures!
• 5th Grade
  I am looking for pictures from the Tide Pool field trip, Squid Dissection and we all know that this Thursday is the infamous Primo Pasta Night. Please, Please remember the yearbook and submit any pictures you take.

There's a new way to help our school! As of this fall, Kittredge is signed up with the Campbell's "Labels for Education" program. What we do is save labels or UPCs (those black and white bar codes) from participating products such as Campbell's soup, Prego spaghetti sauce, Franco American pasta and many more. We send them in and get credit for school related items such as sports equipment, books, software, classroom accessories etc.

The official website is www.labelsforeducation.com, there you will find details about which products participate, which labels or UPCs to save and much more. Watch your kids' backpacks for a flyer that will detail all eligible products. Any questions? Call Ingrid Marstaller at +1 978 682 8552, or e-mail Marstaller@rcn.com.

The Parent Information meeting on the topic of Human Growth and Development for parents of 5th grade students is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16th, 2007 from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Atkinson School. (Snow date is January 23rd).

Noon Attendants Still Needed - We are still in need of Noon Attendants at the Kittredge School. Noon attendants are responsible for supervising the students in the cafeteria and at recess. They work between 2 and 3 hours a day, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The noon attendants who work 3 hours may also do some clerical work for their teachers or tutor one or two students. If you cannot work every day but are willing to work one or two days a week, we may be able to team you up with another person willing to share the week. Please contact the office if you are interested. Thank you!

The hockey league currently has 2 programs open for registration to all boys and girls. Learn to Skate designed for first time skaters and teaches skating fundamentals. Learn to Play Hockey is designed to teach basic hockey skills and further develop existing skating skills. Both programs run through mid March at Brooks School Skating rink. For more info, try our website at www.knighthockey.org or Lou Capobianco at lkcap@aol.com.

Please send via email to kathy.eastwood@comcast.net (please put Newslink in the subject line) or call Kathy Eastwood at +1 978 794 3025 by Monday at noon.

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