Mathematics Competition - Forwarded Notice

As you know, we are piloting a mathematics team as an after-school club for grades 3 and 4 this year.  They had a great first practice last night with well over 20 team members!  In addition, I received the following email from a professor at Bridgewater State University this week.  As this reaches out to students in grades 1-5, I thought I would pass it on if it is of interest to your family.  

"The Mathematics Department at Bridgewater State University is excited to announce our first year of hosting the International Math Kangaroo, a low stress mathematics competition for students in grades 1 – 12. All students are welcome! The competition this year will take place at 6pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013. We will provide a safe and comfortable site for the students and their parents for the time of the competition.

We encourage parents to register Manchester Memorial Elementary students for this fun event. Included in a $20 registration fee is a toy and certificate of completion on the day of the competition. State winners receive special awards in the spring.

We look forward to seeing your students in Bridgewater in March. If Bridgewater is a little too far, there are many other centers in Massachusetts which might be more convenient. For more information and to register (before December 15), please go to:http://www.mathkangaroo.org.

Thanks for your help in opening the students’ eyes to the beauty and fun of mathematics! I would be glad to answer any questions that you may have about this event.

Sincerely,

Dr. Polina Sabinin

Department of Mathematics

Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics

Bridgewater State University

Conant Building, Room 353

Bridgewater, MA 02325

Phone: 508-531-2204

Let me know if you decide to have your child participate...I'd be interested in hearing about it!

John J. Willis

Principal

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we all settle into the holiday season and spend much deserved time with our families, I wanted to take a second to let my Memorial School Family know how much I appreciate all of you!  This is a very special building filled with amazing children, dedicated and talented staff, and parents who are always there for us!  I thank all of my staff and all of the parents for their support over the past year and a half.  We have come a long way and could not do it without all of you!

Enjoy the time with your families...looking forward to everyone returning rejuvenated and ready for a great winter season!

MMES GRADE 3 and 4 Math Team

Math Team!

Led by Coach Blanchette (grade 3 teacher)

This team is for students who really enjoy math and like a challenge.  This year we will be working with Perennial Math, which provides an online mathematical competition.  The competition consists of four assessments that stimulate enthusiasm for problem solving and may serve as math enrichment.

Perennial Math offers…

• Cool awards and virtual recognition
• Monthly competition (November – February)
• Instant scoring and feedback for students
• Practice questions

Who: 3^rd and 4^th graders
When: Mondays from 3:00-3:45 (1^st Team Practice Nov. 26^th…schedule to follow)
Where to Meet: Mrs. Blanchette’s Classroom (Room # 21)
Cost:  FREE (funded by MERSD)
Maximum # of Students: 30 (first come, first serve)

Practices and assessments will end promptly at 3:45.  Students may also need to practice at home in between sessions.  Students need to be picked up by car (no walking home).  Pick up will be at the front of the building.

If your child is interested, please email the information requested below to blanchetteh@mersd.org .  Deadline to register is Friday November 23, 2012.

Child’s Name: _____________________
Grade Level: _______

Parent/Guardian Name: _____________________
Parent/Guardian Contact Phone #: ____________________
Parent/Guardian Email Address: ______________________

MMES Mock Election Results are IN!

And the winner is....

In our MMES Mock Election, the following candidates rose above the rest!  Thank you to Samantha Silag and her crew for pulling together a great election!  It was priceless to see the kindergarten students on step stools voting in the official voting booths on loan from Town Hall!

Cartoon Character of the Year:

Sponge Bob beat Dora the Explorer!

Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney!

Enjoy the weekend...

Inspirational...This will make your day! It made mine...

I promise you that taking time out of your day to read the following article will truly make your day!  It took me a grand total of 4 minutes to read, and it is the best thing I have read in a long time.

My wife and I often wonder and search for what we can do as parents to raise children just like this young man.  We try different approaches and techniques with the hope that one day our children will grow up to be young adults who have the heart to "do what is right even when nobody is looking."  Modeling, open communication, and informal lessons that we teach our son and daughter every day are what we believe make the difference.  The road is not easy.  If we all "stay the course" there will be more people in the world like the young man in this article

As a parent and educator, I wanted to share this story with you.  Forgive me if you have already read it...

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8579599/chy-johnson-boys

Lillian Muise - Award Winning Head Cook!

Lillian Muise is the head cook in our cafeteria.  She is responsible for ensuring that our students are offered nutritious and appealing meals at lunchtime.  Recently, she was awarded the "Heart of the Program Award" for Massachusetts and the Northeast Region!

From Sheila Parisian (Director of Food Services):

On October 23, 2012, at the School Nutrition Association of Mass Annual Conference, Manchester Memorial Head Cook  Lillian Muise was recognized with the Heart of the Program Award.  The award recognizes an outstanding school nutrition employee who exhibits an  extroadinary commitment to the nutrition program. The award weighs heavily on customer service, participation in professional growth training, cooperation, work attendance, and the willingness to go the extra mile. Lillian not only was recognized as the Massachusetts winner, but she moved on and was  recognized as the Heart of the Program Winner for the Northeast which includes the New England States, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  Congratulations Lillian!  We are fortunate to have you on our team!