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WES News for 4/12/2019

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WES News for 4/12/2019
A note from Nurse Carol, Preschool Registration info and more! Learn about fun spring and summer camps and community events!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select the Unsubscribe option.
 
Having trouble viewing this email?
www.williamstownelementary.org
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Apr 15-19 - April Break, NO SCHOOL
May 27 - MEMORIAL DAY, NO SCHOOL
May 29-June 2 - 6th Grade Musical Performances
WHAT'S NEW AT WES?

Front Office Changes & Welcome, Eli!
Emily Betti has left WES to pursue other interests, and we are excited to announce that Eli Phillips will be our new office manager beginning Monday. Eli is a WES and Mount Greylock alum who, since graduating from Bennington College, has been off adventuring and gaining experience in a variety of jobs, most recently as a supervisor at Disney World in Florida. 

We remain tremendously grateful to Pennie Bopp who has been holding down the fort this week since Emily's departure, as well as being our office sunshine (and always). She will be in the office Monday through Wednesday next week to help get Eli oriented to WES.

Please stop by and say hello - or welcome home - as the case may be, to Eli the next time you're in the building. Eli will be reachable by dialing the main office or via email at ephillips@williamstownelementary.org.


A Note from Nurse Carol: Tick Safety
Now that we finally beginning to have some warm weather, students can really enjoy the outdoors. However, we already are seeing tick activity, so some extra care needs to be taken. If your child is going to be spending time in the woods or anywhere with tall grass or brush, consider having your child wear light-colored pants tucked into light colored socks. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that children can use insect repellent containing DEET (NN-diethyl-m-toluamide) if they are over 2 months of age. Repellent can be sprayed on clothing or skin, but avoid using near the face or on the hands of young children who might put fingers in their mouth or rub their eyes, causing irritation. Repellant should not be used more than one day in a row. After some fun in the woods or fields, remember to do a head-to-toe tick check. Ticks are very small, some the size of a lowercase  “o” in the newspaper, some even smaller. Ticks have some favorite places to hide - check extra carefully along hairline, in hair, behind ears, and in armpits and belly buttons. Our area is endemic for Lyme disease, but there are other tick borne illnesses as well, so don’t forget to do your tick checks! If you do find a tick on your child, remove it if you can, as soon as possible. If it seems difficult, call your provider for help. Let your provider know about the tick regardless, as they may prescribe an antibiotic depending on how long it was on. Make a note on your calendar when you found the tick and watch for any flu symptoms for 30 days - this can indicate Lyme disease and should be treated. Please watch where the insect bite was to make sure there is no redness or infection. These simple measures can keep us enjoying being outside the way we should!

Be Well,  Nurse Carol


Calendar
Next year's calendar can be found here. Though it is not noted on the document, WES will continue to have a 1:30 dismissal for teacher professional development on Wednesdays through the end of next year.


Preschool Registration
Side by Side registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Side by Side is an inclusive preschool that includes students with special needs and typically developing students. There is a morning (8:35-11:20) and an afternoon (12:20-3:05) session. Children who are three or four by September 1st are eligible to enroll. Should we have more interest than spots available, a lottery will be held in May. To receive an informational packet and to put your name on the enrollment list, please stop by the WES main office or call Emily Betti at 413-458-5707 x 301.


Did you know?
Did you know that you can watch School Committee meetings from the comfort of your own home? Well, you can! Just click here to watch live and archived meetings of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee as well as the Mount Greylock Building Committee. Once you subscribe to the channel you can even receive notifications when there are new streams!


Projected Last Day...
Barring additional snow days, the current last day for WES students will be Thursday, June 20, a noon dismissal. Think spring!
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Words Matter


Word Tennis was lots of fun today in Ms. Reali's classroom. Not only is it a great game for building vocabulary, but it is also a perfect reminder to be thoughtful and purposeful with our words. 


Joelle Brookner, Principal
Elea Kaatz, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Twitter: @WES_Principal

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary
By Joelle Brookner




WES PTO Needs New Leadership
The PTO needs someone who is willing to plan/lead monthly meetings, oversee coordination of PTO-sponsored events, and answer questions about various topics within the WES community. Please send a message to info@wespto.info if you are interested. 


PTO Clothing Sale: Save the Date!
The Spring 2019 clothing sale is on the calendar for May 18th!!  
 
Many hands make light work - We could use all the hands we can get as the sale gets closer. Don't be nervous... we'll help you if you are new. We enjoy meeting new people in our small school community. Come join us!
 
Oh! And did we mention?  ...There are perks, but you'll have to come join us to learn about them!
 
To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4eaaa928a0fb6-sorting


Add the PTO to your contacts list
Are you getting emails from the WES PTO? If not, they’re probably going in your spam folder. Please add info@wespto.info to your contacts list, and you won’t miss special event news and reminders. ​
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
E-mail submissions for our Apr 26 issue by Apr 23, 2019 to: wesnews@williamstownelementary.org

Submit non-WES information at least 1 week in advance
to Principal Joelle Brookner at
jbrookner@williamstownelementary.org
or call: 458-5707
THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(These events are not endorsed or sponsored by WES)
WYC NEWS
Springfest
Join the WYC for 4 hours of fun at Springfest on Sunday, April 28, from noon to 4pm. Bouncy houses, field day games, art activities, face painting, grilling, parents vs. kids dodgeball games, and more. Springfest happens at the WYC and at WES.  RSVP here to this free and fun community event.

April Vacation Camp
The WYC is open from 8am to 5:30pm, Tuesday - Friday during April vacation. Join us for 4 days of on-site activities, indoor and outdoor play, art activities, with a pizza day on Friday.  Register here.
 
Lacrosse 
Any interested boys and girls are encouraged to give lacrosse a try this spring. Offered for kids K-8, GLAX teaches basic skills and fundamentals of the sport in a safe and nurturing environment. Learn more and register here.
 
Summer Camp registrations are open now
WYC camp runs from July 1 to August 23, for a great combination of onsite, local, and regional activities. Learn more and register for our full-day summer camp here. Details about swimming lessons at Sand Springs and Rob Livingstone's FITKIDZ program coming next week.

 
THE ART OF IMPROV AT THE CLARK 
Workshops: April 16-19, 2–4 pm
Performance: Saturday, April 20, 2 pm
 
This school-vacation program will introduce upper-grade elementary students to improvisational comedy (“improv”). The four workshop sessions will include engaging with art in the galleries, playing classic improv games and developing original scenes inspired by the Clark collection, with a culminating performance for friends and loved ones. The program will be led by Amanda Bell Goldmakher, Clark art educator and a graduate of the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.
 
All materials and a daily snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 8 children. Reserve tickets now at http://www.clarkart.edu/ImportedEvents/1424-43672 Financial compensation may be available.


LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT
Ice Cream Social Foster Care Recruitment Event
April 15, 6–8pm
Williamstown Youth Center

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month the Department of Children and Families is hosting several Ice Cream Socials. The goal of the Ice Cream Socials is to attract, engage and present information about the Department's need for Foster Families in the Berkshires. 



 

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BERKSHIRE BITES
April 27, 7-10pm
Williamstown Community Preschool
777 Main Street, Williamstown
Please join us for our annual fundraiser BERKSHIRE BITES, a night out for us adults to enjoy local food and drink from your favorite restaurants, dance the night away with the Misty Blues… all while viewing and bidding on various auction items. Tickets: $40 pre-sale, $50 at the door. (413) 458-4475


ACTING FOR KIDS AND TEENS!
TEENSACT! (ages 11-14) & KIDSACT! (ages 7-10)
Openings available for Spring Break Camps: APRIL 15-19
 
All camps run Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM
Spring Tuition: $250, Early Bird Rate $225.
 
For information contact Jane O’Leary, 
Director of Education,
At (413) 499-5446 x117
or Education@BarringtonStageCo.org
https://barringtonstageco.org/education-bsc/kidsact/


SPRING BREAK SOCCER CLINIC
This annual clinic with the Williams College Women’s Soccer team will run Tuesday, April 16th through Thursday, April 18th, from 12 pm to 3 pm. Please click here for more information, and here for the registration and waiver form. Please submit form and payment to Assistant Coach Tressa Palcheck, or reach out to her with questions at tlp1@williams.edu. 


WOODCHUCK WEDNESDAYS AT WRLF
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation will once again be running its Woodchuck Wednesday program at Sheep Hill. This program, led by WRLF Education Coordinator Kathy Chesney and Williams College student assistants, features outdoor activities such as hikes and nature exploration, nature crafts, games, and stories. Woodchuck Wednesdays, designed for children in kindergarten - through 4th grades, will start April 3rd and run through May 1st from 1:45 - 4pm. The fee for the five week session is $100 for WRLF members and $130 for non-members. Snacks will be provided and drop off transportation can be arranged from Williamstown Elementary School.


APRIL VACATION EXPLORATION CAMP AT WRLF
Vacation Exploration will once again be offered by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation at its Sheep Hill location during school vacation Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th from 1 – 4. The program is open to children in grades K – 4. Outdoor activities will be nature oriented and include hikes, crafts, cooking/baking and more!
Cost: WRLF members $115 / Non-members $140
Registration form and details at WRLF.org
Email ruraland@wrlf.org or call 413-458-2494 for more information 


BE A GIRL SCOUT!
Join us for a  "Daisy Launch" Troop Formation Meeting!
Parents of girls in Pre-K & Kindergarten will recieve information about how Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character that make the world a better place; and girls will complete a fun activity to receive their first patch!
 
David & Joyce Milne Public Library
1095 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
April 17, 5:30–6:30 PM

RSVP to save your spot!  Want more information, but can't make it?  Contact Laurie Dimock, 413-224-4028,  LDimock@GSCWM.org 
   
Girl Scouts membership fee Spring 2019 until September 30, 2020 is $55.00 
Financial assistance available 


ROPES PROGRAM - FREE FOR 6TH GRADERS
The Northern Berkshire Youth R.O.P.E.S. Summer Program provides a free week long summer camp, once in July and once in August, for more than 200 children in Northern Berkshire County. This program is staffed by police officers, firefighters, EMTs and teachers from participating cities and towns; Adams, Clarksburg, Cheshire, North Adams, Florida and Williamstown.
 
A parent/guardian must stop in on ONE of the following dates to register your child for ROPES Camp this year: Thursday March 28, 2019 (Between 6-8 PM) or Tuesday April 23, 2019 (Between 6-7:30 PM) or Saturday May 25, 2019 (Between 10 AM and Noon). All registrations will take place at the North Adams Elks, 100 Union St, North Adams. Please keep in mind: There are 72 campers (not including mentors) accepted per camp. Once full, a waiting list is kept in case of a cancellation.
 
Application forms are available to download here.


FRESH AIR FUND
Make a difference, one child at a time: The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local families to host visiting children for one week this summer.  Income-qualified children from New York City are provided a chance to visit beautiful, safe, and quiet areas such as the Berkshires for a break from the city.  With your help a child can experience the freedom of playing outdoors, swimming in clean water, and breathing fresh air.  For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family please contact Rachel, Rachel.Louis.241@gmail.com or 413-458-1678.


BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball registration for the upcoming 2019 season is now open online at WilliamstownCalRipken.com. 
 
Boys and girls are eligible to play in our baseball league.  Your child must be age 4 (before 1 Sept 2019) through age 12 (as of April 30, 2019 for baseball or December 31, 2019 for softball).    
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is comprised of four levels:
- Grant League (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
- Rookie (Grades 1 and 2)
- Minors (Grades 3 and 4)
- Majors (Grades 5, 6 and 7)
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Softball is comprised of two levels:
- 10U Softball:  Ages 8 - 10 (Girls in 3rd and 4th Grade)
- 12U Softball:  Ages 10 - 12 (Girls 5th and 6th Grade)
 
If you have any questions, please contact Allen Hall at allen_l_hall@yahoo.com. 


KIDS' SUMMER SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
4th and 5th graders - Do you LOVE experimenting with science???
Williams College is offering an amazing science experience at the Williams College Summer Science Lab  the weeks of July 8-12 and July 15-19, 2019. This week-long lab is run by two Chemistry Faculty at Williams College using the fully equipped Chemistry Labs at Williams with the help of Williams students and two local teachers. 

Any child entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019 is invited to attend. We encourage students to attend for a second year to investigate and experiment more deeply and explore new extensions. Summer Science Lab's hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm with Thursday Pot Luck & Presentations 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
 
The cost of the program is $225 for Early Bird registration through April 30th and $250 for registration on or after May 1st. Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding from Williams College. To request scholarship funding check the appropriate box on the online registration form and submit the form by May 1st.  Please note that Summer Science Lab fills up quickly, so early registration is advised! Contact sslab@williams.edu with questions.

Design by Diane Gottardi

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp


WES News for 4/5/2019

by

WES News for 4/5/2019
Camp Fair and Pancake Breakfast Tomorrow! Preschool Registration info and more! Learn about fun spring and summer camps and community events!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select the Unsubscribe option.
 
Having trouble viewing this email?
www.williamstownelementary.org
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Apr 6 - Camp Fair & Pancake Breakfast, 9-12
Apr 15-19 - April Break, NO SCHOOL

 
WHAT'S NEW AT WES?

Front Office Changes & Welcome, Eli!
Emily Betti has left WES to pursue other interests, and we are excited to announce that Eli Phillips will be our new office manager beginning Monday. Eli is a WES and Mount Greylock alum who, since graduating from Bennington College, has been off adventuring and gaining experience in a variety of jobs, most recently as a supervisor at Disney World in Florida. 

We remain tremendously grateful to Pennie Bopp who has been holding down the fort this week since Emily's departure, as well as being our office sunshine (and always). She will be in the office Monday through Wednesday next week to help get Eli oriented to WES.

Please stop by and say hello - or welcome home - as the case may be, to Eli the next time you're in the building. Eli will be reachable by dialing the main office or via email at ephillips@williamstownelementary.org.

Calendar
Next year's calendar can be found here. Though it is not noted on the document, WES will continue to have a 1:30 dismissal for teacher professional development on Wednesdays through the end of next year.

Preschool Registration
Side by Side registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Side by Side is an inclusive preschool that includes students with special needs and typically developing students. There is a morning (8:35-11:20) and an afternoon (12:20-3:05) session. Children who are three or four by September 1st are eligible to enroll. Should we have more interest than spots available, a lottery will be held in May. To receive an informational packet and to put your name on the enrollment list, please stop by the WES main office or call Emily Betti at 413-458-5707 x 301.




A Successful Student Author Night 
Thank you to the 60 WES student authors who shared their wonderful writing during last night's event. Also, thank you to the students for being great listeners and providing thoughtful, supportive feedback to your fellow authors. Thank you to our facilitators—Liz Costley, Peg Kern, Kirsten Rose, Anne Sulzmann and Rebecca Tucker-Smith—for creating a warm and positive atmosphere where students felt comfortable reading their writing. Thank you to Sarah Gilooly, Maureen Andersen, Jaime Elder, Susan Langman, Kate Seid and Deanna Osborn for allowing us to use their classrooms for the event. Thank you to all WES teachers for teaching and encouraging our student authors to have confidence in the writing process. Thank you to the WES custodial staff for cleaning the rooms before the event. Finally, thank you to the WES PTO for sponsoring Student Author Night.
 
~ Kathleen Igoe, Student Author Night Coordinator
 

Did you know?
Did you know that you can watch School Committee meetings from the comfort of your own home? Well, you can! Just click here to watch live and archived meetings of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee as well as the Mount Greylock Building Committee. Once you subscribe to the channel you can even receive notifications when there are new streams!


Projected Last Day...
Barring additional snow days, the current last day for WES students will be Thursday, June 20, a noon dismissal. Think spring!

 


 
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Busy Week!

  

Scenes from this week... Hamlet & Student Author Night

Joelle Brookner, Principal
Elea Kaatz, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Twitter: @WES_Principal

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary
By Joelle Brookner


 




WES PTO Needs New Leadership
The PTO needs someone who is willing to plan/lead monthly meetings, oversee coordination of PTO-sponsored events, and answer questions about various topics within the WES community. Please send a message to info@wespto.info if you are interested. 


PTO Clothing Sale: Save the Date!
The Spring 2019 clothing sale is on the calendar for May 18th!!  
 
Many hands make light work - We could use all the hands we can get as the sale gets closer. Don't be nervous... we'll help you if you are new. We enjoy meeting new people in our small school community. Come join us!
 
Oh! And did we mention?  ...There are perks, but you'll have to come join us to learn about them!
 
To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4eaaa928a0fb6-sorting


Add the PTO to your contacts list
Are you getting emails from the WES PTO? If not, they’re probably going in your spam folder. Please add info@wespto.info to your contacts list, and you won’t miss special event news and reminders. ​
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
E-mail submissions for our Apr12 issue by Apr 9, 2019 to: wesnews@williamstownelementary.org

Submit non-WES information at least 1 week in advance
to Principal Joelle Brookner at
jbrookner@williamstownelementary.org
or call: 458-5707
THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(These events are not endorsed or sponsored by WES)
WYC NEWS
Springfest
Save the date for Springfest! Sunday, April 28, at WES and the WYC. RSVP here to this free and fun community event.

April Vacation Camp
The WYC is open from 8am to 5:30pm, Tuesday - Friday during April vacation. Join us for 4 days of on-site activities, indoor and outdoor play, art activities, with a pizza day on Friday.  Register here.
 
Track & Field
Track & Field is back this spring. Bi-weekly sessions with local coaches and high schoolers for K-6th-grade students happen on Mondays and Thursdays at Williams College’s Weston Field. The program begins on Monday, April 8. Register here.

Lacrosse 
Any interested boys and girls are encouraged to give lacrosse a try this spring. Offered for kids K-8, GLAX teaches basic skills and fundamentals of the sport in a safe and nurturing environment. Learn more and register here.
 
fEMPOWER
fEMPOWER seeks to empower 4th- and 5th-grade girls through hands-on lessons about nutrition and the importance of teamwork, as the whole group trains to run a 5K road race. There is no running experience needed and people of all ability levels are encouraged to join. fEMPOWER meets at the WYC on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3pm. The 5K road race is on May 11.  Register here.
 

THE ART OF IMPROV AT THE CLARK 
Workshops: April 16-19, 2–4 pm
Performance: Saturday, April 20, 2 pm
 
This school-vacation program will introduce upper-grade elementary students to improvisational comedy (“improv”). The four workshop sessions will include engaging with art in the galleries, playing classic improv games and developing original scenes inspired by the Clark collection, with a culminating performance for friends and loved ones. The program will be led by Amanda Bell Goldmakher, Clark art educator and a graduate of the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.
 
All materials and a daily snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 8 children. Reserve tickets now at http://www.clarkart.edu/ImportedEvents/1424-43672 Financial compensation may be available.


LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT
Ice Cream Social Foster Care Recruitment Event
April 15, 6–8pm
Williamstown Youth Center

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month the Department of Children and Families is hosting several Ice Cream Socials. The goal of the Ice Cream Socials is to attract, engage and present information about the Department's need for Foster Families in the Berkshires. 



 

(back to top)

ACTING FOR KIDS AND TEENS!
TEENSACT! (ages 11-14) & KIDSACT! (ages 7-10)
Openings available for Spring Break Camps: APRIL 15-19
 
All camps run Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM
Spring Tuition: $250, Early Bird Rate $225.
 
For information contact Jane O’Leary, 
Director of Education,
At (413) 499-5446 x117
or Education@BarringtonStageCo.org
https://barringtonstageco.org/education-bsc/kidsact/


SPRING BREAK SOCCER CLINIC
This annual clinic with the Williams College Women’s Soccer team will run Tuesday, April 16th through Thursday, April 18th, from 12 pm to 3 pm. Please click here for more information, and here for the registration and waiver form. Please submit form and payment to Assistant Coach Tressa Palcheck, or reach out to her with questions at tlp1@williams.edu. 


WOODCHUCK WEDNESDAYS AT WRLF
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation will once again be running its Woodchuck Wednesday program at Sheep Hill. This program, led by WRLF Education Coordinator Kathy Chesney and Williams College student assistants, features outdoor activities such as hikes and nature exploration, nature crafts, games, and stories. Woodchuck Wednesdays, designed for children in kindergarten - through 4th grades, will start April 3rd and run through May 1st from 1:45 - 4pm. The fee for the five week session is $100 for WRLF members and $130 for non-members. Snacks will be provided and drop off transportation can be arranged from Williamstown Elementary School.


APRIL VACATION EXPLORATION CAMP AT WRLF
Vacation Exploration will once again be offered by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation at its Sheep Hill location during school vacation Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th from 1 – 4. The program is open to children in grades K – 4. Outdoor activities will be nature oriented and include hikes, crafts, cooking/baking and more!
Cost: WRLF members $115 / Non-members $140
Registration form and details at WRLF.org
Email ruraland@wrlf.org or call 413-458-2494 for more information 


BE A GIRL SCOUT!
Join us for a  "Daisy Launch" Troop Formation Meeting!
 
Parents of girls in Pre-K & Kindergarten will recieve information about how Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character that make the world a better place; and girls will complete a fun activity to receive their first patch!
 
David & Joyce Milne Public Library
1095 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
April 17, 5:30–6:30 PM

RSVP to save your spot!  Want more information, but can't make it?  Contact Laurie Dimock, 413-224-4028,  LDimock@GSCWM.org 
   
Girl Scouts membership fee Spring 2019 until September 30, 2020 is $55.00 
Financial assistance available 


ROPES PROGRAM - FREE FOR 6TH GRADERS
The Northern Berkshire Youth R.O.P.E.S. Summer Program provides a free week long summer camp, once in July and once in August, for more than 200 children in Northern Berkshire County. This program is staffed by police officers, firefighters, EMTs and teachers from participating cities and towns; Adams, Clarksburg, Cheshire, North Adams, Florida and Williamstown.
 
A parent/guardian must stop in on ONE of the following dates to register your child for ROPES Camp this year: Thursday March 28, 2019 (Between 6-8 PM) or Tuesday April 23, 2019 (Between 6-7:30 PM) or Saturday May 25, 2019 (Between 10 AM and Noon). All registrations will take place at the North Adams Elks, 100 Union St, North Adams. Please keep in mind: There are 72 campers (not including mentors) accepted per camp. Once full, a waiting list is kept in case of a cancellation.
 
Application forms are available to download here.


FRESH AIR FUND
Make a difference, one child at a time: The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local families to host visiting children for one week this summer.  Income-qualified children from New York City are provided a chance to visit beautiful, safe, and quiet areas such as the Berkshires for a break from the city.  With your help a child can experience the freedom of playing outdoors, swimming in clean water, and breathing fresh air.  For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family please contact Rachel, Rachel.Louis.241@gmail.com or 413-458-1678.


BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball registration for the upcoming 2019 season is now open online at WilliamstownCalRipken.com. 
 
Boys and girls are eligible to play in our baseball league.  Your child must be age 4 (before 1 Sept 2019) through age 12 (as of April 30, 2019 for baseball or December 31, 2019 for softball).    
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is comprised of four levels:
- Grant League (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
- Rookie (Grades 1 and 2)
- Minors (Grades 3 and 4)
- Majors (Grades 5, 6 and 7)
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Softball is comprised of two levels:
- 10U Softball:  Ages 8 - 10 (Girls in 3rd and 4th Grade)
- 12U Softball:  Ages 10 - 12 (Girls 5th and 6th Grade)
 
If you have any questions, please contact Allen Hall at allen_l_hall@yahoo.com. 


KIDS' SUMMER SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
4th and 5th graders - Do you LOVE experimenting with science???
Williams College is offering an amazing science experience at the Williams College Summer Science Lab  the weeks of July 8-12 and July 15-19, 2019. This week-long lab is run by two Chemistry Faculty at Williams College using the fully equipped Chemistry Labs at Williams with the help of Williams students and two local teachers. 

Any child entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019 is invited to attend. We encourage students to attend for a second year to investigate and experiment more deeply and explore new extensions. Summer Science Lab's hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm with Thursday Pot Luck & Presentations 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
 
The cost of the program is $225 for Early Bird registration through April 30th and $250 for registration on or after May 1st. Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding from Williams College. To request scholarship funding check the appropriate box on the online registration form and submit the form by May 1st.  Please note that Summer Science Lab fills up quickly, so early registration is advised! Contact sslab@williams.edu with questions.

Design by Diane Gottardi

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp


WES News for 3/29/2019

by

WES News for 3/29/2019
Preschool Registration info, an Open House for Rising 7th graders, Student Author Night and more! Learn about fun winter community events!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select the Unsubscribe option.
 
Having trouble viewing this email?
www.williamstownelementary.org
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Apr 1 - PTO Meeting, 3:15pm
Apr 4 - Student Author Night, 6:30pm
Apr 6 - Camp Fair & Pancake Breakfast, 9-12
Apr 15-19 - April Break, NO SCHOOL
 
WHAT'S NEW AT WES?

Last Day of Math Club
The last day of Math Club will be Tuesday, April 2. Thanks for a great year!

Calendar
Next year's calendar can be found here. Though it is not noted on the document, WES will continue to have a 1:30 dismissal for teacher professional development on Wednesdays through the end of next year.

Preschool Registration
Side by Side registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Side by Side is an inclusive preschool that includes students with special needs and typically developing students. There is a morning (8:35-11:20) and an afternoon (12:20-3:05) session. Children who are three or four by September 1st are eligible to enroll. Should we have more interest than spots available, a lottery will be held in May. To receive an informational packet and to put your name on the enrollment list, please stop by the WES main office or call Emily Betti at 413-458-5707 x 301.
 

Invest in the Long Game... 

Invest in the Long Game:

Step into Awkward Conversations with Young People to Help Them Navigate Cultural Pressures
and Develop Healthy Relationships 
with Cindy Pierce
Wednesday, April 3rd
6:30 - 8:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Mount Greylock's Auditorium

Cindy Pierce discusses the ever-changing pressures and challenges that teens face as they attempt to feel relevant in a fast-moving world. Cindy brings examples from her research and interviews that shed light on how stressful it can be for teens to navigate the overwhelming influences of social media, porn and hookup culture. She speaks to middle school, high school and college students around the country, as well as to their teachers, counselors and parents, about how to develop healthy relationships, navigate cultural pressures and make sense of the pervasiveness of porn. 

Cindy Pierce, a social sexuality educator and comic storyteller is the author of Sexploitation: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Sexuality in a Porn-Driven World and Sex, College and Social Media: A Commonsense Guide to Navigating the Hookup Culture.

Sponsored by the MGPTO
Generously funded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and The SEE Fund



Last Chance to Sign Up for Student Author Night
Sign up here to participate in Student Author Night on Thursday, April 4th from 6:30-7:30 pm at WES if you are a student in kindergarten through 6th grade. It’s a fun evening during which students read a piece of their writing in a fun, comfortable environment. Each student will read a short piece of his or her own work (4 minutes or fewer) in a small mixed-age group facilitated by a parent or a community member. Students may select anything that they have written in or out of school this year—a poem, fairy tale, short story, excerpt from a story, weekend news, essay, journal entry, report or letter.
 
If you have questions or would like to help with the event, please email Kathleen Igoe (judgeigoe@gmail.com).


 
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Cross Grade Learning

 
 
Guest blog from Mrs. Gilooly's class: This week, third graders took a walk across school to the sixth grade to help them with their writing project. It was such fun to help a sixth grader who had helped us for the last few weeks on work of our own in our classroom. Here's a happy group of writing buddies!

Joelle Brookner, Principal
Elea Kaatz, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Twitter: @WES_Principal

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary
By Joelle Brookner

Did you know?
Did you know that you can watch School Committee meetings from the comfort of your own home? Well, you can! Just click here to watch live and archived meetings of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee as well as the Mount Greylock Building Committee. Once you subscribe to the channel you can even receive notifications when there are new streams!

Projected Last Day...
Barring additional snow days, the current last day for WES students will be Thursday, June 20, a noon dismissal. Think spring!

Open House for Rising 7th Graders
6th graders -- Meet us at Mount Greylock!
Thursday, April 4th
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Doors open at 6:00 pm
No RSVP necessary
 
Rising 7th graders and their families are invited to Mount Greylock for an orientation evening.  Students will work with the Peer Team while parents enjoy a panel presentation from faculty and administration with a Q&A to follow.  Everyone will have a chance to tour the new facility. Child care will be provided for younger siblings (call the Main Office at 413-458-3242 to reserve a child care spot).

Next PTO Meeting
The next PTO monthly meeting will be on Monday, April 1 at 3:15pm in the conference room next to the main office. All are welcome!

WES PTO Needs New Leadership
The PTO needs someone who is willing to plan/lead monthly meetings, oversee coordination of PTO-sponsored events, and answer questions about various topics within the WES community. Please send a message to info@wespto.info if you are interested. 


PTO Clothing Sale: Save the Date!
The Spring 2019 clothing sale is on the calendar for May 18th!!  
 
Many hands make light work - We could use all the hands we can get as the sale gets closer. Don't be nervous... we'll help you if you are new. We enjoy meeting new people in our small school community. Come join us!
 
Oh! And did we mention?  ...There are perks, but you'll have to come join us to learn about them!
 
To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4eaaa928a0fb6-sorting


Add the PTO to your contacts list
Are you getting emails from the WES PTO? If not, they’re probably going in your spam folder. Please add info@wespto.info to your contacts list, and you won’t miss special event news and reminders. ​
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
E-mail submissions for our Apr 5 issue by Apr 2, 2019 to: wesnews@williamstownelementary.org

Submit non-WES information at least 1 week in advance
to Principal Joelle Brookner at
jbrookner@williamstownelementary.org
or call: 458-5707
THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(These events are not endorsed or sponsored by WES)
WYC NEWS
Track & Field
Track & Field is back this spring. Bi-weekly sessions with local coaches and high schoolers for K-6th-grade students happen on Mondays and Thursdays at Williams College’s Weston Field. The program begins on Monday, April 8. Register here.

Spring Swim Lessons
Swimming and diving lessons with the Williams College Swim Team returns on April 4. The 8 sessions of semi-private lessons happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Williams' Samuelson-Muir pool. Register here.
 
Lacrosse 
Any interested boys and girls are encouraged to give lacrosse a try this spring. Offered for kids K-8, GLAX teaches basic skills and fundamentals of the sport in a safe and nurturing environment. Learn more and register here.
 
fEMPOWER seeks to empower 4th- and 5th-grade girls through hands-on lessons about nutrition and the importance of teamwork, as the whole group trains to run a 5K road race. There is no running experience needed and people of all ability levels are encouraged to join. fEMPOWER meets at the WYC on April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 8, and 15, from 1:30-3pm. The 5K road race is on May 11. Register here.
 
Save the date for Springfest! Sunday, April 28, at WES and the WYC. RSVP here to this free and fun community event.


FREE FAMILY FUN @ THE CLARK 
Enjoy complimentary admission to the galleries and activities that encourage visitors to reflect on the small ways we can be heroic in our everyday lives at the Clark during the museum’s April Free Sunday — this month, visitors are invited to make a custom superhero mask and cape to help you assume your secret identity, and stop by the Small Heroics station to receive your mission before heading out to do good. Continue your heroic day in the galleries with a self-guide for conversational talks that explore themes of everyday heroism in the Clark’s permanent collection and in our own lives.
 
The Clark offers free admission and special activities on the first Sunday of each month October-May check out clarkart.edu to find more info about free artmaking, music, and more!  


THE ART OF IMPROV AT THE CLARK 
Workshops: April 16-19, 2–4 pm
Performance: Saturday, April 20, 2 pm
 
This school-vacation program will introduce upper-grade elementary students to improvisational comedy (“improv”). The four workshop sessions will include engaging with art in the galleries, playing classic improv games and developing original scenes inspired by the Clark collection, with a culminating performance for friends and loved ones. The program will be led by Amanda Bell Goldmakher, Clark art educator and a graduate of the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.
 
All materials and a daily snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 8 children. Reserve tickets now at http://www.clarkart.edu/ImportedEvents/1424-43672 Financial compensation may be available.


LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT
Ice Cream Social Foster Care Recruitment Event
April 15, 6–8pm
Williamstown Youth Center

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month the Department of Children and Families is hosting several Ice Cream Socials. The goal of the Ice Cream Socials is to attract, engage and present information about the Department's need for Foster Families in the Berkshires. 



 

(back to top)

ACTING FOR KIDS AND TEENS!
TEENSACT! (ages 11-14) & KIDSACT! (ages 7-10)
Openings available for Spring Break Camps: APRIL 15-19
 
All camps run Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM
Spring Tuition: $250, Early Bird Rate $225.
 
For information contact Jane O’Leary, 
Director of Education,
At (413) 499-5446 x117
or Education@BarringtonStageCo.org
https://barringtonstageco.org/education-bsc/kidsact/


SPRING BREAK SOCCER CLINIC
This annual clinic with the Williams College Women’s Soccer team will run Tuesday, April 16th through Thursday, April 18th, from 12 pm to 3 pm. Please click here for more information, and here for the registration and waiver form. Please submit form and payment to Assistant Coach Tressa Palcheck, or reach out to her with questions at tlp1@williams.edu. 


WOODCHUCK WEDNESDAYS AT WRLF
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation will once again be running its Woodchuck Wednesday program at Sheep Hill. This program, led by WRLF Education Coordinator Kathy Chesney and Williams College student assistants, features outdoor activities such as hikes and nature exploration, nature crafts, games, and stories. Woodchuck Wednesdays, designed for children in kindergarten - through 4th grades, will start April 3rd and run through May 1st from 1:45 - 4pm. The fee for the five week session is $100 for WRLF members and $130 for non-members. Snacks will be provided and drop off transportation can be arranged from Williamstown Elementary School.


APRIL VACATION EXPLORATION CAMP AT WRLF
Vacation Exploration will once again be offered by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation at its Sheep Hill location during school vacation Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th from 1 – 4. The program is open to children in grades K – 4. Outdoor activities will be nature oriented and include hikes, crafts, cooking/baking and more!
Cost: WRLF members $115 / Non-members $140
Registration form and details at WRLF.org
Email ruraland@wrlf.org or call 413-458-2494 for more information 


ROPES PROGRAM - FREE FOR 6TH GRADERS
The Northern Berkshire Youth R.O.P.E.S. Summer Program provides a free week long summer camp, once in July and once in August, for more than 200 children in Northern Berkshire County. This program is staffed by police officers, firefighters, EMTs and teachers from participating cities and towns; Adams, Clarksburg, Cheshire, North Adams, Florida and Williamstown.
 
A parent/guardian must stop in on ONE of the following dates to register your child for ROPES Camp this year: Thursday March 28, 2019 (Between 6-8 PM) or Tuesday April 23, 2019 (Between 6-7:30 PM) or Saturday May 25, 2019 (Between 10 AM and Noon). All registrations will take place at the North Adams Elks, 100 Union St, North Adams. Please keep in mind: There are 72 campers (not including mentors) accepted per camp. Once full, a waiting list is kept in case of a cancellation.
 
Application forms are available to download here.


FRESH AIR FUND
Make a difference, one child at a time: The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local families to host visiting children for one week this summer.  Income-qualified children from New York City are provided a chance to visit beautiful, safe, and quiet areas such as the Berkshires for a break from the city.  With your help a child can experience the freedom of playing outdoors, swimming in clean water, and breathing fresh air.  For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family please contact Rachel, Rachel.Louis.241@gmail.com or 413-458-1678.


BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball registration for the upcoming 2019 season is now open online at WilliamstownCalRipken.com. 
 
Boys and girls are eligible to play in our baseball league.  Your child must be age 4 (before 1 Sept 2019) through age 12 (as of April 30, 2019 for baseball or December 31, 2019 for softball).    
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is comprised of four levels:
- Grant League (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
- Rookie (Grades 1 and 2)
- Minors (Grades 3 and 4)
- Majors (Grades 5, 6 and 7)
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Softball is comprised of two levels:
- 10U Softball:  Ages 8 - 10 (Girls in 3rd and 4th Grade)
- 12U Softball:  Ages 10 - 12 (Girls 5th and 6th Grade)
 
If you have any questions, please contact Allen Hall at allen_l_hall@yahoo.com. 


KIDS' SUMMER SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
4th and 5th graders - Do you LOVE experimenting with science???
Williams College is offering an amazing science experience at the Williams College Summer Science Lab  the weeks of July 8-12 and July 15-19, 2019. This week-long lab is run by two Chemistry Faculty at Williams College using the fully equipped Chemistry Labs at Williams with the help of Williams students and two local teachers. 

Any child entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019 is invited to attend. We encourage students to attend for a second year to investigate and experiment more deeply and explore new extensions. Summer Science Lab's hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm with Thursday Pot Luck & Presentations 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
 
The cost of the program is $225 for Early Bird registration through April 30th and $250 for registration on or after May 1st. Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding from Williams College. To request scholarship funding check the appropriate box on the online registration form and submit the form by May 1st.  Please note that Summer Science Lab fills up quickly, so early registration is advised! Contact sslab@williams.edu with questions.

Design by Diane Gottardi

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp


WES News for 3/22/2019

by

WES News for 3/22/2019
Preschool Registration info, an Open House for Rising 7th graders, Student Author Night and more! Learn about fun winter community events!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select the Unsubscribe option.
 
Having trouble viewing this email?
www.williamstownelementary.org
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Mar 13 & 27 - Parent Conferences
Apr 4 - Student Author Night, 6:30pm
Apr 6 - Camp Fair & Pancake Breakfast, 9-12
Apr 15-19 - April Break, NO SCHOOL
 
WHAT'S NEW AT WES?

2019-2020 Calendar
The School Committee unanimously voted on next year's school calendar at their meeting yesterday. You can find the calendar here.

Preschool Registration
Side by Side registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Side by Side is an inclusive preschool that includes students with special needs and typically developing students. There is a morning (8:35-11:20) and an afternoon (12:20-3:05) session. Children who are three or four by September 1st are eligible to enroll. Should we have more interest than spots available, a lottery will be held in May. To receive an informational packet and to put your name on the enrollment list, please stop by the WES main office or call Emily Betti at 413-458-5707 x 301.
 

Invest in the Long Game... 

Invest in the Long Game:

Step into Awkward Conversations with Young People to Help Them Navigate Cultural Pressures
and Develop Healthy Relationships 
with Cindy Pierce
Wednesday, April 3rd
6:30 - 8:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Mount Greylock's Auditorium

Cindy Pierce discusses the ever-changing pressures and challenges that teens face as they attempt to feel relevant in a fast-moving world. Cindy brings examples from her research and interviews that shed light on how stressful it can be for teens to navigate the overwhelming influences of social media, porn and hookup culture. She speaks to middle school, high school and college students around the country, as well as to their teachers, counselors and parents, about how to develop healthy relationships, navigate cultural pressures and make sense of the pervasiveness of porn. 

Cindy Pierce, a social sexuality educator and comic storyteller is the author of Sexploitation: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Sexuality in a Porn-Driven World and Sex, College and Social Media: A Commonsense Guide to Navigating the Hookup Culture.

Sponsored by the MGPTO
Generously funded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and The SEE Fund



Sign Up Now for Student Author Night
Click here to sign your child/ren in Kindergarten through 6th grade up for Student Author Night on Thursday, April 4th from 6:30-7:30 pm at WES. 
Each student author will read a short piece of his or her own work (4 minutes or less) in a small mixed-age group facilitated by a parent or a community member. Students may select anything that they have written in or out of school this year — a poem, fairy tale, short story, excerpt from a story, weekend news, essay, journal entry, report or letter. Parents and siblings are welcome and encouraged to sit in on the reading. Witnessing brave, WES students sharing their writing in small, supportive groups is a treat.

If you are interested in helping with the event, please email Kathleen Igoe (judgeigoe@gmail.com).


 
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Lego Success!

 
 
Sending a big shout out to our three Legoheads teams that competed in Saturday's Berkshire County Lego Robotics Challenge at Lenox Memorial High School. This year's challenge was, well... CHALLENGING, and our teams did great! Two of our three teams made it to the quarterfinal round with the team of Everett, Kofi, Max, Nora, Tre, Will A., Will S. tying for third place. The team of Kaeya, Maddy, Mai, and Solana survived to the final round and placed second overall. Competition was fierce, and we are so proud of all our students' creativity, teamwork, and perseverance. Thanks to Legohead coach, Tom Welch for a wonderful day and a fantastic season.

Joelle Brookner, Principal
Elea Kaatz, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Twitter: @WES_Principal

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary
By Joelle Brookner

Did you know?
Did you know that you can watch School Committee meetings from the comfort of your own home? Well, you can! Just click here to watch live and archived meetings of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee as well as the Mount Greylock Building Committee. Once you subscribe to the channel you can even receive notifications when there are new streams!

Projected Last Day...
Barring additional snow days, the current last day for WES students will be Thursday, June 20, a noon dismissal. Think spring!

Open House for Rising 7th Graders
6th graders -- Meet us at Mount Greylock!
Thursday, April 4th
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Doors open at 6:00 pm
No RSVP necessary
 
Rising 7th graders and their families are invited to Mount Greylock for an orientation evening.  Students will work with the Peer Team while parents enjoy a panel presentation from faculty and administration with a Q&A to follow.  Everyone will have a chance to tour the new facility. Child care will be provided for younger siblings (call the Main Office at 413-458-3242 to reserve a child care spot).

PTO Clothing Sale: Save the Date!
The Spring 2019 clothing sale is on the calendar for May 18th!!  
 
Many hands make light work - We could use all the hands we can get as the sale gets closer. Don't be nervous... we'll help you if you are new. We enjoy meeting new people in our small school community. Come join us!
 
Oh! And did we mention?  ...There are perks, but you'll have to come join us to learn about them!
 
To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4eaaa928a0fb6-sorting


Add the PTO to your contacts list
Are you getting emails from the WES PTO? If not, they’re probably going in your spam folder. Please add info@wespto.info to your contacts list, and you won’t miss special event news and reminders. ​
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
E-mail submissions for our Mar 29 issue by Mar 26, 2019 to: wesnews@williamstownelementary.org

Submit non-WES information at least 1 week in advance
to Principal Joelle Brookner at
jbrookner@williamstownelementary.org
or call: 458-5707
THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(These events are not endorsed or sponsored by WES)
WYC NEWS
Spring Swim Lessons
Swimming and diving lessons with the Williams College Swim Team returns on April 4. The 8 sessions of semi-private lessons happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Williams' Samuelson-Muir pool. Register here.
 
Lacrosse 
Any interested boys and girls are encouraged to give lacrosse a try this spring. Offered for kids K-8, GLAX teaches basic skills and fundamentals of the sport in a safe and nurturing environment. Learn more and register here.
 
fEMPOWER seeks to empower 4th- and 5th-grade girls through hands-on lessons about nutrition and the importance of teamwork, as the whole group trains to run a 5K road race. There is no running experience needed and people of all ability levels are encouraged to join. fEMPOWER meets at the WYC on April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 8, and 15, from 1:30-3pm. The 5K road race is on May 11. Register here.
 
Save the date for Springfest! Sunday, April 28, at WES and the WYC. RSVP here to this free and fun community event.


THE ART OF IMPROV AT THE CLARK 
Workshops: April 16-19, 2–4 pm
Performance: Saturday, April 20, 2 pm
 
This school-vacation program will introduce upper-grade elementary students to improvisational comedy (“improv”). The four workshop sessions will include engaging with art in the galleries, playing classic improv games and developing original scenes inspired by the Clark collection, with a culminating performance for friends and loved ones. The program will be led by Amanda Bell Goldmakher, Clark art educator and a graduate of the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.
 
All materials and a daily snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 8 children. Reserve tickets now at http://www.clarkart.edu/ImportedEvents/1424-43672 Financial compensation may be available.


LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT
Ice Cream Social Foster Care Recruitment Event
April 15, 6–8pm
Williamstown Youth Center

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month the Department of Children and Families is hosting several Ice Cream Socials. The goal of the Ice Cream Socials is to attract, engage and present information about the Department's need for Foster Families in the Berkshires. 



 

(back to top)

FRESH AIR FUND
Make a difference, one child at a time: The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local families to host visiting children for one week this summer.  Income-qualified children from New York City are provided a chance to visit beautiful, safe, and quiet areas such as the Berkshires for a break from the city.  With your help a child can experience the freedom of playing outdoors, swimming in clean water, and breathing fresh air.  For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family please contact Rachel, Rachel.Louis.241@gmail.com or 413-458-1678.


WOODCHUCK WEDNESDAYS AT WRLF
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation will once again be running its Woodchuck Wednesday program at Sheep Hill. This program, led by WRLF Education Coordinator Kathy Chesney and Williams College student assistants, features outdoor activities such as hikes and nature exploration, nature crafts, games, and stories. Woodchuck Wednesdays, designed for children in kindergarten - through 4th grades, will start April 3rd and run through May 1st from 1:45 - 4pm. The fee for the five week session is $100 for WRLF members and $130 for non-members. Snacks will be provided and drop off transportation can be arranged from Williamstown Elementary School.


APRIL VACATION EXPLORATION CAMP AT WRLF
Vacation Exploration will once again be offered by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation at its Sheep Hill location during school vacation Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th from 1 – 4. The program is open to children in grades K – 4. Outdoor activities will be nature oriented and include hikes, crafts, cooking/baking and more!
Cost: WRLF members $115 / Non-members $140
Registration form and details at WRLF.org
Email ruraland@wrlf.org or call 413-458-2494 for more information 


BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball registration for the upcoming 2019 season is now open online at WilliamstownCalRipken.com. 
 
Boys and girls are eligible to play in our baseball league.  Your child must be age 4 (before 1 Sept 2019) through age 12 (as of April 30, 2019 for baseball or December 31, 2019 for softball).    
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is comprised of four levels:
- Grant League (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
- Rookie (Grades 1 and 2)
- Minors (Grades 3 and 4)
- Majors (Grades 5, 6 and 7)
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Softball is comprised of two levels:
- 10U Softball:  Ages 8 - 10 (Girls in 3rd and 4th Grade)
- 12U Softball:  Ages 10 - 12 (Girls 5th and 6th Grade)
 
If you have any questions, please contact Allen Hall at allen_l_hall@yahoo.com. 


KIDS' SUMMER SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
4th and 5th graders - Do you LOVE experimenting with science???
Williams College is offering an amazing science experience at the Williams College Summer Science Lab  the weeks of July 8-12 and July 15-19, 2019. This week-long lab is run by two Chemistry Faculty at Williams College using the fully equipped Chemistry Labs at Williams with the help of Williams students and two local teachers. 

Any child entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019 is invited to attend. We encourage students to attend for a second year to investigate and experiment more deeply and explore new extensions. Summer Science Lab's hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm with Thursday Pot Luck & Presentations 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
 
The cost of the program is $225 for Early Bird registration through April 30th and $250 for registration on or after May 1st. Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding from Williams College. To request scholarship funding check the appropriate box on the online registration form and submit the form by May 1st.  Please note that Summer Science Lab fills up quickly, so early registration is advised! Contact sslab@williams.edu with questions.
 

Design by Diane Gottardi

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp


WES News for 3/15/2019

by

WES News for 3/15/2019
Preschool Registration info, an Open House for Rising 7th graders, Student Author Night and more! Learn about fun winter community events!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select the Unsubscribe option.
 
Having trouble viewing this email?
www.williamstownelementary.org
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Mar 13 & 27 - Parent Conferences
Mar 20 - Half day, noon dismissal, staff PD
Apr 4 - Student Author Night, 6:30pm
Apr 6 - Camp Fair & Pancake Breakfast, 9-12
Apr 15-19 - April Break, NO SCHOOL
 
WHAT'S NEW AT WES?

Preschool Registration
Side by Side registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Side by Side is an inclusive preschool that includes students with special needs and typically developing students. There is a morning (8:35-11:15) and an afternoon (12:15-3:05) session. Children who are three or four by September 1st are eligible to enroll. Should we have more interest than spots available, a lottery will be held in May. To receive an informational packet and to put your name on the enrollment list, please stop by the WES main office or call Emily Betti at 413-458-5707 x 301.


Projected Last Day...
Barring additional snow days, the current last day for WES students will be Thursday, June 20, a noon dismissal. Think spring!


Open House for Rising 7th Graders
6th graders -- Meet us at Mount Greylock!
Thursday, April 4th
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Doors open at 6:00 pm
No RSVP necessary
 
Rising 7th graders and their families are invited to Mount Greylock for an orientation evening.  Students will work with the Peer Team while parents enjoy a panel presentation from faculty and administration with a Q&A to follow.  Everyone will have a chance to tour the new facility. Child care will be provided for younger siblings (call the Main Office at 413-458-3242 to reserve a child care spot).


Sign Up for Student Author Night
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade, sign up here to participate in Student Author Night on Thursday, April 4th from 6:30-7:30 pm at WES. It’s a fun evening during which students read a piece of their writing in a fun, comfortable environment. Each student will read a short piece of his or her own work (4 minutes or less) in a small mixed-age group facilitated by a parent or a community member. Students may select anything that they have written in or out of school this year—a poem, fairy tale, short story, excerpt from a story, essay, journal entry, weekend news, report or letter.
 
If you have questions or would like to help with the event, please email Kathleen Igoe (judgeigoe@gmail.com).

 
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER



Guest blog from Ms. Miceli's class: If the sun is scaled to the the size of cantaloupe and set at the north end of Southworth Street, did you know that Neptune would be the size of small marble and positioned just across Route 2 at the edge of Williamstown Savings Bank’s parking lot?  That’s what some 5th graders learned when they built a true scale model of our solar system on Tuesday. After completing research about our solar system in library with Mrs. Lynch, we set out to create a true-to-scale model using Southworth Street as our classroom. At WES, we do-hands on, experiential learning that's truly out of this world!

Joelle Brookner, Principal
Elea Kaatz, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Twitter: @WES_Principal

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary
By Joelle Brookner

 
PTO Clothing Sale: Save the Date!
The Spring 2019 clothing sale is on the calendar for May 18th!!  
 
Many hands make light work - We could use all the hands we can get as the sale gets closer. Don't be nervous... we'll help you if you are new. We enjoy meeting new people in our small school community. Come join us!
 
Oh! And did we mention?  ...There are perks, but you'll have to come join us to learn about them!
 
To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4eaaa928a0fb6-sorting


Add the PTO to your contacts list
Are you getting emails from the WES PTO? If not, they’re probably going in your spam folder. Please add info@wespto.info to your contacts list, and you won’t miss special event news and reminders. ​
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
E-mail submissions for our Mar 22 issue by Mar 19, 2019 to: wesnews@williamstownelementary.org

Submit non-WES information at least 1 week in advance
to Principal Joelle Brookner at
jbrookner@williamstownelementary.org
or call: 458-5707
THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
(These events are not endorsed or sponsored by WES)
WYC NEWS
Spring Swim Lessons
Swimming and diving lessons with the Williams College Swim Team returns on April 4. The 8 sessions of semi-private lessons happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Williams' Samuelson-Muir pool. Register here.
 
Lacrosse 
Any interested boys and girls are encouraged to give lacrosse a try this spring. Offered for kids K-8, GLAX teaches basic skills and fundamentals of the sport in a safe and nurturing environment. Learn more and register here.
 
fEMPOWER seeks to empower 4th- and 5th-grade girls through hands-on lessons about nutrition and the importance of teamwork, as the whole group trains to run a 5K road race. There is no running experience needed and people of all ability levels are encouraged to join. fEMPOWER meets at the WYC on April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 8, and 15, from 1:30-3pm. The 5K road race is on May 11. Register here.
 
Save the date for Springfest! 
Sunday, April 28, at WES and the WYC. RSVP here to this free and fun community event.


THE ART OF IMPROV AT THE CLARK 
Workshops: April 16-19, 2–4 pm
Performance: Saturday, April 20, 2 pm
 
This school-vacation program will introduce upper-grade elementary students to improvisational comedy (“improv”). The four workshop sessions will include engaging with art in the galleries, playing classic improv games and developing original scenes inspired by the Clark collection, with a culminating performance for friends and loved ones. The program will be led by Amanda Bell Goldmakher, Clark art educator and a graduate of the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.
 
All materials and a daily snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 8 children. Reserve tickets now at http://www.clarkart.edu/ImportedEvents/1424-43672 Financial compensation may be available.


 

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FRESH AIR FUND
Make a difference, one child at a time: The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local families to host visiting children for one week this summer.  Income-qualified children from New York City are provided a chance to visit beautiful, safe, and quiet areas such as the Berkshires for a break from the city.  With your help a child can experience the freedom of playing outdoors, swimming in clean water, and breathing fresh air.  For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host family please contact Rachel, Rachel.Louis.241@gmail.com or 413-458-1678.


WOODCHUCK WEDNESDAYS AT WRLF
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation will once again be running its Woodchuck Wednesday program at Sheep Hill. This program, led by WRLF Education Coordinator Kathy Chesney and Williams College student assistants, features outdoor activities such as hikes and nature exploration, nature crafts, games, and stories. Woodchuck Wednesdays, designed for children in kindergarten - through 4th grades, will start April 3rd and run through May 1st from 1:45 - 4pm. The fee for the five week session is $100 for WRLF members and $130 for non-members. Snacks will be provided and drop off transportation can be arranged from Williamstown Elementary School.


BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball registration for the upcoming 2019 season is now open online at WilliamstownCalRipken.com. 
 
Boys and girls are eligible to play in our baseball league.  Your child must be age 4 (before 1 Sept 2019) through age 12 (as of April 30, 2019 for baseball or December 31, 2019 for softball).    
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is comprised of four levels:
- Grant League (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
- Rookie (Grades 1 and 2)
- Minors (Grades 3 and 4)
- Majors (Grades 5, 6 and 7)
 
Williamstown Cal Ripken Softball is comprised of two levels:
- 10U Softball:  Ages 8 - 10 (Girls in 3rd and 4th Grade)
- 12U Softball:  Ages 10 - 12 (Girls 5th and 6th Grade)
 
If you have any questions, please contact Allen Hall at allen_l_hall@yahoo.com. 


KIDS' SUMMER SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
4th and 5th graders - Do you LOVE experimenting with science???
Williams College is offering an amazing science experience at the Williams College Summer Science Lab  the weeks of July 8-12 and July 15-19, 2019. This week-long lab is run by two Chemistry Faculty at Williams College using the fully equipped Chemistry Labs at Williams with the help of Williams students and two local teachers. 

Any child entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019 is invited to attend. We encourage students to attend for a second year to investigate and experiment more deeply and explore new extensions. Summer Science Lab's hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm with Thursday Pot Luck & Presentations 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
 
The cost of the program is $225 for Early Bird registration through April 30th and $250 for registration on or after May 1st. Scholarships are available thanks to generous funding from Williams College. To request scholarship funding check the appropriate box on the online registration form and submit the form by May 1st.  Please note that Summer Science Lab fills up quickly, so early registration is advised! Contact sslab@williams.edu with questions.
 
 

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