WES News

WES News for 12/6/19 School & community info for WES families

December 6, 2019 by WES Newsletter Mailing List 2011/2012 Archive Feed

WES News for 12/6/19 School & community info for WES families

Adventures in Learning, Vaping Presentation Info, PTO Info Session, Principal's Corner,
and many community events and activities!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select Unsubscribe.

W E S N E W S

Friday, December 6, 2019

“It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
– Mother Teresa

W H A T ' S N E W

a t W E S

______________________________

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Dec 8 - Cape Cod Cafe & Craft Fair, 9am-2pm
Dec 9 - Vaping: Talk Early/Talk Often, 6:30
Dec 23-Jan 1 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

______________________________

Talk Early... Talk Often MONDAY

New District Calendar
Check out the new calendar on the District website! It is one stop shopping for all the events going on at all three of the schools in our region. You can subscribe to the calendar for alerts or just check it out as needed.

PTO Info Session & Pizza Party
For parents/guardians of kindergarteners
and new WES students

Wednesday, December 11th, 5:15-6:30pm, WES Cafeteria

Have you been curious about the WES PTO and what we do? Looking to connect
with other parents and get involved at school, but not sure how to find
out about things happening? Join us at this info session to learn more
about the WES community, ways to get connected, and how to plug in to all
of the wonderful opportunities! Current PTO Board Members will be on hand
to share info and answer questions. Pizza dinner will be served and we'll
have activities for the kids; please RSVP to sjm1@williams.edu so we have
a good count on how much pizza to get.

School Committee Meeting Info
School Committee Meetings are held at 6pm at Mt Greylock Regional School in Room A109. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
November 14, December 12, January 9, 2020. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are also broadcast live on the District YouTube channel.

WES PTO Needs
Volunteers at All Levels
The PTO assists with numerous events and programs at our school, including Words are Wonderful, school photos, clothing sale, camp fair, staff appreciation week, Walk for WES, .... To ensure that these and other programs continue, we need volunteers for a variety of roles, from helping with one-time
events to coordinating activities. All help is welcome, appreciated, and needed. If interested or if you would like more information, email the secretary (info@wespto.info); note it is not necessary to come to the meetings to help.

Also, we are looking for two room parents for each classroom; you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0448aaa62daafe3-wesroom2

Adventures in Learning
It's almost January!!! Time to register for Adventures in Learning, an after school enrichment program that includes 21 different classes to choose from. Each class is taught by Williams College students, faculty/staff, or members of the community. Visit https://learning-in-action.williams.edu/education-outreach/adventures-in-learning/ to learn more about the program, browse the brochure, and to register. Registration is open Monday, December 2nd-Wednesday December 11th. Contact Amy Sosne, als3@williams.edu with questions.

What to do about the Flu???
We all know it is coming, some say it is already here! It is Flu season and we try to be as prepared as we can every year! So, what can we do to avoid the flu this year???

The first and single best way to prevent flu this year and every year is to vaccinate! There is still plenty of time to get a flu shot. The formulation of flu vaccines are updated every year to be the best possible “match” to fight flu viruses that may be circulating in the United States. So, please get a flu shot! They are readily available from your healthcare provider, local flu clinics and even pharmacies. A flu shot protects you and the people around you.

Other simple things to keep in mind as the season approaches:

• Avoid close contact with people who are already sick. If you are ill, keeping your distance from others - this protects them from getting sick,too.

• Stay home when you are sick. Staying home from school, work and errands will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Every year the flu can cause people to be hospitalized, even sent to the ICU for complications of the flu, so please be responsible.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough and acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands.

• Clean your hands! Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizers.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, mouth or nose.

• Good health habits apply to flu season as well. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work and school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink lots of fluids and eat healthy foods.

Wishing you health and happiness!
Carol, RN

______________________________

H A V E N E W S T O S H A R E ?

E-mail submissions for our Dec 13 issue by Dec 10 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

______________________________

P R I N C I P A L ' S
C O R N E R

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

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary

• C O M M U N I T Y
E V E N T S •

WILLIAMSTOWN YOUTH CENTER NEWS
K-2 Basketball
The program starts on Sunday, December 8. The first practice will be held at the WYC gym; all other Sunday practices happen at WES. Register here.

Skating and Hockey 101
The program begins on Saturday, December 7, at 8am. Learn more here.

GYBA Travel Tryouts
Boys 3/4: Dec. 7 at 10am at the WYC gym
Girls 3/4: Postponed; new date will be announced soon

LAS POSADAS, WELCOMING THE STRANGER
Las Posadas, Welcoming the Stranger, an Advent tradition and part of the Williamstown Holiday Walk, will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 35 Park Street, at 5:45pm on Saturday. Lift up the cause of immigrants, refugees, and those in need of shelter, safety, and welcome with an indoor candlelight procession and singing followed by a festive celebration with vegetarian and child-friendly food and a piñata with peanut-free candy. If you wish, contribute to the donation jars for the Berkshire Immigrant Center, the Friendship Food Pantry, and Soldier On. The procession will begin inside the red double doors at the far right of the church building. All are welcome!

WINTER HIKING 101
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 7 p.m. at
WRLF headquarters at Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown

Put away your hiking boots for the winter? Don't!
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation (WRLF) is hosting a talk on Winter Hiking 101 by Dave Ackerson of the Williams Outing Club (WOC). Learn about proper dress, safety, equipment, and where to hike. Embrace winter! Free. All are welcome. No reservations necessary. Light refreshments will be served.

KIDS' HOLIDAY CRAFT-MAKING SESSION
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1:30–4pm
First Congregational Church, Williamstown
Come join us for a fun free afternoon of holiday-themed craft-making. Participants will have the opportunity to make easy, attractive crafts at several different “stations” set up in the church’s Community Hall. A light snack will be included. Religious affiliation not required. Hosted by Bridget Spann and Anne O’Connor, with volunteers from the First Congregational Church. Open to all kids in grades 3–6. Free, but registration required. Participation limited. To register, use this Form. Questions? Contact: education@firstchurchwilliamstown.org.

HANUKKAH CANDLE DIPPING WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES
Sunday, December 8th, 10am - 1pm
Congregation Beth Israel, 53 Lois St., North Adams
Make your own, hand-dipped Hanukkah candles out of locally sourced, earth friendly beeswax! Families will learn how to make their own beautiful and fragrant Hanukkah candles to bring home and kindle during Hanukkah. This free family workshop, for families with children ages 3 and up, is offered by Congregation Beth Israel with major funding from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Supplies are limited, so please RSVP by Dec. 4th on our FB event page or by emailing Rabbi Jarah Greenfield at rabbiJgreenfield@gmail.com.

HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE EVENTS
We’ve moved into our holiday hours and are open every Saturday and Sunday through December 22, 10 am-4 pm. (A few exceptions: We’re also open Friday, November 30 and Friday, December 6.) There is so much to do at this time of year: stroll through the festively decorated historic village, hear a talk or see a demonstration, peruse the many Shaker treasures in our collection, hike our trails, enjoy lunch in the café, and shop in Shaker Mercantile.

Brunch With Santa
This isn’t your standard holiday brunch. It’s a glorious buffet and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap, plus craft-making, music, story-telling, and a visit to see the animals in the Round Stone Barn.

Reserve now for Saturday, December 7 or Sunday, December 8 from 10 am-2 pm. TICKETS $45/40.50; children 12 and under $25/22.50 members. Click here for Saturday tickets and here for Sunday. (Pre-registration required.) And the village is open all day, 10-4, if you just want to wander, shop, and be inspired.

Service of Lessons and Carols
“The music was always strong and sweet, as it came from lips on which it had been breathed by angelic inspiration,” wrote American literary critic William Dean Howells of Shaker hymns in an 1876 The Atlantic Monthly article.

Almost 230 years after the Shakers established a community in Hancock, the music is still strong and inspiring. Grammy-award winning musician Brad Wells will lead a community choir at our Service of Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm & 6 pm. This free ecumenical service in the historic Brick Dwelling includes traditional carols and other musical selections, plus readings by Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn, Williams President Maud Mandel, community activist Warren Dews Jr., local architect Tessa Kelly, and others. It’s a beautiful service for all ages and a perfect way to usher in the season.

Join us for a bonfire outside and a warm bar inside, beginning at 3:30 pm. Shaker Mercantile will also be open for holiday shopping until 7:30 pm.

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.

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WES News for 11/22/19 School & community info for WES families

November 22, 2019 by WES Newsletter Mailing List 2011/2012 Archive Feed

WES News for 11/22/19 School & community info for WES families

Tech Night, Vaping Presentation Info, Avoiding the Flu, Principal's Corner, and many community events and activities!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select Unsubscribe.

W E S N E W S

Friday, November 22, 2019

“Rest and be thankful.”
– William Wordsworth

W H A T ' S N E W

a t W E S

______________________________

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Nov 22 - Wreath pick up, 2:30-4:30 TODAY!
Nov 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving
Dec 3 - Tech Night for parents/guardians, 6:30
Dec 9 - Vaping: Talk Early/Talk Often, 6:30
Dec 8 - Cape Cod Cafe & Craft Fair, 9am-2pm

______________________________

No Newsletter Next Week!
Due to the short week, there will be no WES News next week. Please remember that school is closed on Wednesday for the holiday break. Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings!

New District Calendar
Check out the new calendar on the District website! It is one stop shopping for all the events going on at all three of the schools in our region. You can subscribe to the calendar for alerts or just check it out as needed.

Tech Night for Parents/Guardians
of 3rd-6th Graders
WES will be holding a Google tech night for parents and guardians of students in grades 3 - 6 on December 3 at 6:30pm. As the Mount Greylock Regional School District continues to provide online learning opportunities for students in middle and upper grades, this event will delve into the world of Google through the eyes of our students. During this event, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to experience Google Apps for Education at work in classrooms. Please join us for this interactive evening.

WES PTO Clothing Sale
Exciting news! The Fall Clothing Sale raised over $6,000 to help support our teachers in the classroom and programming throughout the grades!! This is a huge amount of funding, and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of the amazing help we get from our volunteers. Thank you to Julia Bowen, Sarah Brill, Meghann Brody, Joelle Brookner, Jaime Campbell, Liz Creighton, Karen Gorss Benko, Becca Filson, Melody Fisher, Sharon Gonzalez, Nicole Keogh, Amrita Lash, Jen McDermott, Alicia Maher, Tanya Maramag, Nate Kornell, Jackie Latimer, Kateryna Latypova, Katie Madrigal, Aimee Poirier, Nicole Porther, Kevin Robbins, Kaye Shaddock, Carrie Snyder, John Spelman, Adriane Strolle, Carl Strolle, Kate Stroud, Anne Sulzmann, Elena Traister, LaTasha Turner, Joy Washburn, Tara Watson, Stephen and Abigail Winkler, the 6th grade teachers and their students who help us move all of the bins and racks into the cafeteria, the babysitters who helped during set-up: Knowl Stroud and Coralea Lash-StJohn, Jen Rork for her creative talents on our flyers and marketing, the custodial staff, Jim O'Brien, Lee Verrier and David Vickery, for their patience and kindness as we sort in the evening and on weekends.
– Jen Bayliss, Cristina Stuebner, Jenna Dickinson, and Hailey Rinaldi

WES-Williams College Partnership
Did you know that for over 20 years Williams College has run programs in partnership with Williamstown Elementary School? These exciting opportunities have grown to encompass science, reading, math, recess, homework, classroom, and specialist support. Programs are conceived of, piloted, and adjusted at the suggestion of WES teachers and administrators, who best understand the needs of children at the school, and administered by staff from the Williams College Center for Learning in Action (CLiA). Over 80 Williams students work throughout the entire school in ongoing programs, dedicated to the socioemotional and academic growth of WES students. Representing a diverse range of backgrounds, interests, and strengths, the Williams students employed at the school through the WES–Williams Partnership add to the rich tapestry of the WES community. In the words of one of our Williams students: "I love working with so many super smart, talented, and creative kids!" Stay tuned for more highlights from our programs and spotlights on our students in action, and learn more about our WES-Williams Partnership online!

What to do about the Flu???
We all know it is coming, some say it is already here! It is Flu season and we try to be as prepared as we can every year! So, what can we do to avoid the flu this year???

The first and single best way to prevent flu this year and every year is to vaccinate! There is still plenty of time to get a flu shot. The formulation of flu vaccines are updated every year to be the best possible “match” to fight flu viruses that may be circulating in the United States. So, please get a flu shot! They are readily available from your healthcare provider, local flu clinics and even pharmacies. A flu shot protects you and the people around you.

Other simple things to keep in mind as the season approaches:

• Avoid close contact with people who are already sick. If you are ill, keeping your distance from others - this protects them from getting sick,too.

• Stay home when you are sick. Staying home from school, work and errands will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Every year the flu can cause people to be hospitalized, even sent to the ICU for complications of the flu, so please be responsible.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough and acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands.

• Clean your hands! Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizers.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, mouth or nose.

• Good health habits apply to flu season as well. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work and school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink lots of fluids and eat healthy foods.

Wishing you health and happiness!
Carol, RN

School Committee Meeting Info
School Committee Meetings are held at 6pm at Mt Greylock Regional School in Room A109. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
November 14, December 12, January 9, 2020. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are also broadcast live on the District YouTube channel.

WES PTO Needs
Volunteers at All Levels
The PTO assists with numerous events and programs at our school, including Words are Wonderful, school photos, clothing sale, camp fair, staff appreciation week, Walk for WES, .... To ensure that these and other programs continue, we need volunteers for a variety of roles, from helping with one-time
events to coordinating activities. All help is welcome, appreciated, and needed. If interested or if you would like more information, email the secretary (sjm1@williams.edu); note it is not necessary to come to the meetings to help.

Also, we are looking for two room parents for each classroom; you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0448aaa62daafe3-wesroom2

______________________________

H A V E N E W S T O S H A R E ?

E-mail submissions for our Dec 6 issue by Dec 3 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

______________________________

P R I N C I P A L ' S
C O R N E R

Students in kindergarten participated in Berkshire Empathy Awareness Mentoring (BEAM) workshops this week, thanks to a grant from WES*e & the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The “hands-on” experiential workshops are designed to enhance participant awareness of and sensitivity to the physical and cognitive challenges individuals with disabilities and individuals with aging related challenges faced on a daily basis.

Students experience the challenges and frustrations of trying to complete simple tasks they may currently take for granted. The workshop helps to break down barriers caused by a lack of understanding and to find common ground. Students learn that people with disabilities want to be treated like everyone else, and that regardless of the unique challenges with which we each live, we all have hopes, aspirations and goals which may be more similar than different. There is a strong anti-bullying component within the workshop. Students are encouraged to be respectful of the differences in each other; to be kind, tolerant and inclusive; and, to act responsibly to discourage intolerant, exclusive behavior, not to join in or laugh when someone makes fun of the differences in others.

The co-presenters, Christine Singer, retiring Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy and Robert P. Dean, former Executive Director of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. have significant experience working with the disability and senior populations and will return in January to do workshops with our students in first and second grades.

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

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary

• C O M M U N I T Y
E V E N T S •

WILLIAMSTOWN YOUTH CENTER NEWS
Register now for in-house basketball
The WYC offers divisions from kindergarten up to 8th grade. Players in grades kindergarten through 2nd grade participate in a co-ed program focused on learning basic basketball skills and terminology. Players in grades 3 through 8 play a full schedule of games in divisions grouped by grade and gender.

Travel Basketball Tryouts
Boys 3/4: Dec. 7 at 10am at WES and Dec. 7 at 12:30pm at LES
Girls 3/4: TBD

Skiing and Snowboarding
All skiing and snowboarding happen at Jiminy Peak. The program includes six Wednesdays of ski or snowboard lessons and free ski time, with a bonus day of just free ski and board time. There are options for just purchasing a lift ticket, a lift ticket with lessons, and a lift ticket with lessons and equipment rentals. Register with the WYC to receive login access to Jiminy's website and steep discounts on lift tickets and lessons. The program begins on Wednesday, January 8. Registration closes on November 30. Register here.

Skating and Hockey 101
Led by an experienced coach, the program will focus on both learn to skate and hockey 101. As each child progresses through the learn to skate program, we will introduce elements of hockey. For kids in grades K-6. Skating happens at the Lansing Chapman Rink at Williams College. Register here.

HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE EVENTS
We’ve moved into our holiday hours and are open every Saturday and Sunday through December 22, 10 am-4 pm. (A few exceptions: We’re also open Friday, November 30 and Friday, December 6.) There is so much to do at this time of year: stroll through the festively decorated historic village, hear a talk or see a demonstration, peruse the many Shaker treasures in our collection, hike our trails, enjoy lunch in the café, and shop in Shaker Mercantile.

This weekend, November 16 & 17, in addition to our regular programs, we have a special tour of the Sisters’ Dairy & Weave Shop at 2 pm. Dairy products were one of the leading commodities made by the Hancock Shakers—learn how the fascinating industry changed over the years with the introduction of technology.

Grateful Shaker Supper
Who wants to cook after Thanksgiving? Join us Saturday, November 30 at 6 pm for a candlelit dinner in the Brick Dwelling with live music. Enjoy one of our most beautiful buildings the way the Shakers did more than 100 years ago, with a harvest feast from the garden, a long table, and a lovely sense of community as we gather for our Grateful Shaker Supper—a Thanksgiving tradition that makes the busy world slow down a few hours.

After dinner, enjoy a tour of the Brick Dwelling, which houses the largest portion of the Village’s collection of Shaker furniture and other artifacts, as well as beautiful built-in cupboards, drawers, and peg rails that illustrate aspects of Shaker life circa 1840-1850. TICKETS $90/81 MEMBERS.

Gingerbread House Contest
Enter our first-ever Gingerbread House Contest and have the chance to win culinary swag from our museum store and Village memberships. All your friends will see your edible masterpiece, along with other entries, when they are on display in the Poultry House during Hancock Holidays, December 6-8.

This year’s contest theme is architecture. Show us your gingerbread creations, be it a Shaker barn, a kitschy cabin, or an ornate castle. Shake up the sugar and have fun with it. Entries will be judged in three categories: adult, family/group, and youth (17 and under). REGISTER HERE by Sunday, December 1.

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.

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WES News for 11/15/19 School & community info for WES families

November 15, 2019 by WES Newsletter Mailing List 2011/2012 Archive Feed

WES News for 11/15/19 School & community info for WES families

Tech Night, In Our Family photo display, Principal's Corner, and many community events and activities!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select Unsubscribe.

W E S N E W S

Friday, November 15, 2019

“How beautiful a day can be
when kindness touches it.”
– George Elliston

W H A T ' S N E W

a t W E S

______________________________

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Nov 13 & 20 - Parent Conferences
Nov 16 - Grand Tradition, 1:00
Nov 20 - In Our Family exhibit, until 7pm
Nov 22 - Wreath pick up, 2:30-4:30
Nov 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving
Dec 3 - Tech Night for parents/guardians, 6:30
Dec 6 - Vaping: Talk Early/Talk Often, 6:30
Dec 8 - Cape Cod Cafe & Craft Fair, 9am-2pm

______________________________

Grand Tradition
Since 2003, WES piano students have gathered together in mid-November to perform in concert for family and friends on our grand piano. The recital is a lovely showcase of students' work and will be held this Saturday, November 16, at 1 p.m. The public is welcome and there is no admission fee.

In Our Family
If you haven't yet gotten to view the In Our Family photo exhibit by the Family Diversity Project, it is on display in our main hallway through November 26. There are extended viewing hours on Wednesday, November 20, during parent conferences until 7:00pm. We hope you will stop by to take a look. The exhibit is made possible by WES*e and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Tech Night for Parents/Guardians
of 3rd-6th Graders
WES will be holding a Google tech night for parents and guardians of students in grades 3 - 6 on December 3 at 6:30pm. As the Mount Greylock Regional School District continues to provide online learning opportunities for students in middle and upper grades, this event will delve into the world of Google through the eyes of our students. During this event, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to experience Google Apps for Education at work in classrooms. Please join us for this interactive evening.

Vaping: Talk Early/Talk Often
Save the date, December 6 at 6:30, for a presentation on how and why parents of elementary-aged students should be talking to their children about vaping. More information to come.

School Committee Meeting Info
School Committee Meetings are held at 6pm at Mt Greylock Regional School in Room A109. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
November 14, December 12, January 9, 2020. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are also broadcast live on the District YouTube channel.

WES PTO Needs
Volunteers at All Levels
The PTO assists with numerous events and programs at our school, including Words are Wonderful, school photos, clothing sale, camp fair, staff appreciation week, Walk for WES, .... To ensure that these and other programs continue, we need volunteers for a variety of roles, from helping with one-time
events to coordinating activities. All help is welcome, appreciated, and needed. If interested or if you would like more information, email the secretary (sjm1@williams.edu); note it is not necessary to come to the meetings to help.

Also, we are looking for two room parents for each classroom; you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0448aaa62daafe3-wesroom2

______________________________

H A V E N E W S T O S H A R E ?

E-mail submissions for our Nov 22 issue by Nov 19 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

______________________________

P R I N C I P A L ' S
C O R N E R

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the 6th grade's winter wreath fundraiser. Nearly 450 wreaths were sold! That's amazing, and we are so grateful for your support! We are excited to let you know that wreaths will be available to us earlier than expected! The pick-up will be Friday, November 22, from 2:30-4:30 in the WES cafeteria. Please plan to either pick up your wreath that day or have someone pick it up for you.

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

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary

• C O M M U N I T Y
E V E N T S •

SHAKESPEARE AT MGRS
Friday, Nov.15 (TONIGHT), 7pm
Saturday, Nov.16, 7pm.
Come support the students at MGRS and enjoy their performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”

Copyright © 2019 Williamstown Elementary School, All rights reserved.

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You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

WES News for 11/8/19 School & community info for WES families

November 8, 2019 by WES Newsletter Mailing List 2011/2012 Archive Feed

WES News for 11/8/19 School & community info for WES families

School Committee Meeting info, Principal's Corner, and many community events and activities!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select Unsubscribe.

W E S N E W S

Friday, November 8, 2019

“Kind words can be short and
easy to speak, but their echoes
are truly endless.”
– Mother Theresa

W H A T ' S N E W

a t W E S

______________________________

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Nov 11 - No School, Veterans Day
Nov 14 - School Committee Meeting, 6pm
Nov 13 & 20 - Parent Conferences
Nov 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving

______________________________

WES PTO Needs
Volunteers at All Levels
The PTO assists with numerous events and programs at our school, including Words are Wonderful, school photos, clothing sale, camp fair, staff appreciation week, Walk for WES, .... To ensure that these and other programs continue, we need volunteers for a variety of roles, from helping with one-time
events to coordinating activities. All help is welcome, appreciated, and needed. If interested or if you would like more information, email the secretary (sjm1@williams.edu); note it is not necessary
to come to the meetings to help.

Also, we are looking for two room parents for each classroom; you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0448aaa62daafe3-wesroom2

______________________________

H A V E N E W S T O S H A R E ?

E-mail submissions for our Nov 15 issue by Nov 12 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

______________________________

P R I N C I P A L ' S
C O R N E R

We are incredibly excited to announce that the touring Family Diversity Projects Exhibit, IN OUR FAMILY: Portraits of All Kinds of Families, will be on display at WES from November 12 - 26. IN OUR FAMILY, with photographs by Gigi Kaeser and interviews edited by Peggy Gillespie and Rebekah Boyd, celebrates the diversity of family life in 21st century America, introducing viewers to single-parent families, families living with physical or mental challenges, immigrant families, adoptive families, foster families, divorced families, gay and lesbian-parented families, stepfamilies, multiracial families, multi-generational families, and many others in the family circle.

IN OUR FAMILY teaches communities:

That every family configuration should be appreciated and celebrated
That there are happy and flourishing families of all types
That childen and adults can be hurt by sterotyping, prejudice, name-calling, bullying, and teasing
The importance of actively challenging prejudice

Family Diversity Projects (FDP) is a non-profit educational organization founded by exhibit creators, Peggy Gillespie (interviewer/editor) and Gigi Kaeser (photographer). They have created four photo-text exhibits (three of which have been published in book form) to help eliminate prejudice, stereotyping, and harassment of people discriminated against due to race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, class, and disability. The mission of FDP is to propel forward a world where all families are recognized, valued and fully supported, when "normal" or "different" are words not used to describe family, and where the right to define family is respectfully restored to individuals.

All children will have the opportunity to visit the exhibit and have classroom discussions with their peers. The exhibit is intentionally on display during the weeks of parent conferences with the hope that you will take the time to stop by, browse, appreciate and extend conversations with your children at home. Extended evening viewing hours, until 7:00pm, will be available on November 13 & 20. Remember, acceptance is the value we are discussing as a whole school through November, and IN OUR FAMILY is a perfect way to help us have conversations with our children and each other about all the ways we can accept and celebrate one another starting at home and spreading everywhere we go.

The IN OUR FAMILY display at WES is made possible by the generous support of WESE (our WES school endowment), a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Press release information used with permission from Family Diversity Projects. www.familydiv.org

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

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@williamstown_elementary

• C O M M U N I T Y
E V E N T S •

WILLIAMSTOWN YOUTH CENTER NEWS
The WYC will be closed on Monday, November 11.

Register now for in-house basketball
The WYC offers divisions from kindergarten up to 8th grade. Players in grades kindergarten through 2nd grade participate in a co-ed program focused on learning basic basketball skills and terminology. Players in grades 3 through 8 play a full schedule of games in divisions grouped by grade and gender.

Travel Basketball Tryouts
Girls 7/8: Nov. 12 at 7:15pm at LES and Nov. 14 at 7:15 at WES
Boys 5/6: Nov. 5 and 7 at 6pm at WES
Girls 5/6: Nov. 12 at 6pm at LES and Nov. 14 at 6pm at WES
Boys 3/4: Dec. 7 at 10am at WES and Dec. 7 at 12:30pm at LES
Girls 3/4: TBD

Skiing and Snowboarding
All skiing and snowboarding happen at Jiminy Peak. The program includes six Wednesdays of ski or snowboard lessons and free ski time, with a bonus day of just free ski and board time. There are options for just purchasing a lift ticket, a lift ticket with lessons, and a lift ticket with lessons and equipment rentals. Register with the WYC to receive login access to Jiminy's website and steep discounts on lift tickets and lessons. The program begins on Wednesday, January 8. Registration closes on November 30. Register here.

Skating and Hockey 101
Led by an experienced coach, the program will focus on both learn to skate and hockey 101. As each child progresses through the learn to skate program, we will introduce elements of hockey. For kids in grades K-6. Skating happens at the Lansing Chapman Rink at Williams College. Register here.

WILLIAMSTOWN RURAL LANDS EVENTS
Fall Fete Dinner & Auction
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is hosting its Fall Fete Dinner and Auction at the Williams Inn on Friday, November 15 from 6 to 8 pm. Support the conservation work of Rural Lands in the company of good friends. Bid on auction items like vacation stays, one-of-a-kind experiences, homemade meals, and paintings by local artists. A delicious buffet dinner will be served by Executive Chef Kevin DeMarco. Tickets are $150; $125 for WRLF members. Pre-auction, online bidding starts at 5 pm on Friday, November 8. RSVP for the dinner by Friday, November 8. For more information, go to: wrlf.org, ruraland@wrlf.org, 413.458.2494

Final Guided Hike of 2019
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is hosting its final guided hike of 2019 this Saturday, November 9th at 9am.
This hike begins along the Taconic Trail, Rt. 2, Williamstown. It takes you through the Tenney Woodland Preserve and down to “Bee Hill Extension,” the abandoned portion of today’s Bee Hill Rd., and then via the Turnpike Trail through Treadwell Hollow, a remote valley in the foothills, and back to the starting point. Moderate, about 3 hours. Meet at 9:00 am at the Sarah Tenney trailhead, halfway up Taconic Trail (Rt.2) on the left. Park in the turnout approximately midway between the A-Frame Bakery and Petersburg Pass. Free, no reservations required. Please dress appropriately for the weather.
Go to wrlf.org for more information.

PAJAMA NIGHT TONIGHT!

HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE EVENTS
Wreath & Sip
Pine cones and pinot noir? But of course. Join uber-creative florist Jed Thompson of Township Four for a holiday wreath-making workshop at the Village on Sunday, November 24 at 2 pm. While you make your unique creation with gorgeous materials (some harvested from our own property), enjoy a glass of wine and light snacks. Bring home some holiday spirit—your front door will thank you.
TICKETS $80/72 MEMBERS; includes materials, wine, and appetizers

Thanksgiving On The Farm
It’s about family. Peace and quiet. Tradition. Create memories during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 29, 30, & Dec 1. The village is open 10 am-4 pm all three days.

Hate Black Friday? Enjoy a mimosa as you shop in Shaker Mercantile on Friday, Nov 29 from 10 am-4 pm, or take a Turkey Walk & Talk on our one-mile Farm & Forest Trail at 11 am. Talks, tours, and demos are available all weekend—learn about the farm and gardens, join a music and dance demo, or explore the Meetinghouse.

Savor a glorious seasonal feast in the candlelit Brick Dwelling at our Grateful Shaker Supper on Saturday, Nov 30 at 6 pm. TICKETS $90/81 MEMBERS.

WES News for 11/2/19 School & community info for WES families

November 1, 2019 by WES Newsletter Mailing List 2011/2012 Archive Feed

WES News for 11/2/19 School & community info for WES families

PTO Needs Volunteers, Math Club, 6th Grade Chorus Concert for Veterans and many community events and activities!

If you no longer wish to receive the WES newsletter, simply scroll to the very bottom and select Unsubscribe.

W E S N E W S

Friday, November 1st, 2019

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
– Aesop

W H A T ' S N E W a t W E S

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Nov 2 - PTO Clothing Sale TOMORROW!
Nov 7 - PTO Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Nov 7 - 6th Grade Chorus Concert, 6 p.m.
Nov 11 - No School, Veterans Day
Nov 13 & 20 - Parent Conferences
Nov 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving

______________________________

Math Club
Do you like logic problems? Do you enjoy engineering challenges? How about working with like-minded math thinkers on complex problem solving? Well, then math club may be for you!
Open to all WES 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.

First meeting: Tuesday, November 4th, room 203 (Miceli), right after school until 4:15
(Parents/guardians are responsible for pick up at School Street door each week)

We'll meet every Tuesday, November through March

Please sign up your mathlete using this link.
Any questions? Please contact Ms. Miceli or Ms. Leonard fmiceli@williamstownelementary.org or rleonard@williamstownelementary.org

PTO Fall Clothing Sale -
TOMORROW!
There are still volunteer opportunities:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4EAAA928A0FB6-november

This is not only the largest fundraiser for the PTO, but it is also a wonderful community-building event! If you aren't able to volunteer, please stop by and shop - there are so many nice items AND.... Winter Gear!

WES 6th Grade Chorus Sings for Our Veterans!
Thursday, November 7th at 6 p.m., WES auditorium
Please join us, as we gather with our local veterans, to sing in recognition of their sacrifice, to remember the fallen, and to express our thankfulness to all who have served.

WES PTO Needs
Volunteers at All Levels
The PTO assists with numerous events and programs at our school, including Words are Wonderful, school photos, clothing sale, camp fair, staff appreciation week, Walk for WES, .... To ensure that these and other programs continue, we need volunteers for a variety of roles, from helping with one-time
events to coordinating activities. All help is welcome, appreciated, and needed. Our next meeting is Thursday November 7th at 8:30am (after drop-off) in the small conference room at WES. If interested or if you would like more information, email the secretary (sjm1@williams.edu); note it is not necessary
to come to the meetings to help.

Also, we are looking for two room parents for each classroom; you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0448aaa62daafe3-wesroom2

Thank You to Our WAW Helpers
Our 22nd annual Words Are Wonderful festival was an amazing success! We enjoyed inspiring visiting author/illustrators, Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Brian Pinkney; storyteller Motoko at the Milne, creative character costumes; Wednesday Word Games; Community Readers; a Willinet workshop; the Berkshire Theatre Group on stage at the ‘62 Center; and an incredible book fair. Many moments made our weeklong celebration special to our students, parents, staff, and to many beyond our doors. You can check out photos from the weeklong celebration here.

None of this would have been possible without our countless volunteers including parents, students, teachers, staff members and community members. We send a tremendous thank you to all who helped as part of our team. We appreciate your time, effort, enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to our mission in supporting WES’s love of language and literacy.

Three cheers for all of our wonderful volunteers:
Dave Armet, Debbie Baker, Jennifer Bayliss, Sarah Brill, Meghann Brody, Joelle Brookner, Corissa Bryant, Mary Ellen Cangelosi, Heather Clemow, Amy Cohen-McFall, Liz Costley, Renee Crisafulli, Judith Cooper, Debby Dane, Carol DeMayo, Jenna Dickinson, Kendra Drake, Rebecca Dravis, Officer Duprat, Randy Fippinger, Melody Fisher, Amy Fredette, Friends of the Harper Center, Sharon Gonzales, Karrie Honecker, Jonathan Igoe, Marianne Judge, Elea Kaatz, Lori Kapiloff, Keely Kempster Sarr, Joanna Kim, Debbie KoaMaya, Ed Lawrence, Rebecca Leonard, Caitlin Lopez, Michelle Lopez, Sue Lynch, Katie Madrigal, Alicia Maher, Susan Mahler, Pat Manning, Tanya Maramag, Peter Mehlin, Lindsay Neathawk, Eli Phillips, Libbie Pike, Sarah Plante, Aimee Poirier, Sarah Raymond, Betsy Reali, Richard Reynolds, Kelley Rich, Kirsten Rose, Margot Sanger, Carrie Snyder, Cristina Stuebner, Noelle Sullivan, Anne Sulzmann, Tara Watson, Cynthia Way, Lisa Waynick, The WES Band, The WES custodial staff (Jim O’Brien, Lee Verrier and David Vickery), Olivia White, Nate Wiessner, Mike Williams, and countless other parents and staff members

Enormous appreciation for our contributors and sponsors:
Williamstown Elementary School Endowment Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (WESE), The Friends of the Milne, Williamstown Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), WilliNet, Inc., and the ’62 Center at Williams College

An extra thanks to any helpers we may have overlooked.
~ Kathleen Igoe, WAW Chair

It's Getting Dark Earlier...
You need candles!
WES is partnering with Yankee Candle® Fundraising to help raise funds for the 6^th grade spring trip to Cape Cod this year. Yankee Candle® is the world's #1 candle brand and they offer a wide range of premium candles, fragrances, and décor items at a very wide range of prices. But the most important thing to know is that 40% of every sale goes to our 6^th grade! To help support us, click on the link and order items online. Your purchases ship directly to your home and our group receives profit on each and every sale.

If you would rather pay by check and not order online, you can shop with any of our friendly 6^th graders, all of whom have paper catalogs for your shopping pleasure. Please note, the paper catalog promotion ends on November 6, with all orders set to arrive before the December holidays. You can purchase through our online shop until Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

(If the above link fails to take you to the shopping site, don't worry. Simply type in www.yankeecandlefundraising.comand enter our Group Number 999988338 in the "Start Shopping" box there. Then you can shop for the same Yankee Candle Fundraising items and your purchases will still benefit our organization.)

Remember, 40% of all orders go directly to our 6^thgrade! Thanks so much for your support!
______________________________

H A V E N E W S T O S H A R E ?

E-mail submissions for our Nov 8 issue by Nov 5 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

______________________________

P R I N C I P A L ' S C O R N E R

It is hard to believe that today was already our third First Friday assembly of the year! We are so proud of the work our Sixth Grade Spirit Committee puts into these all-school gatherings; they give their whole hearts to bringing us together. November's theme/value is acceptance and the message conveyed today was to be who you want to be, love the person you are, and see the strength and beauty that differences among us create in our community. You can check out our Instagram account for a little snippet of our Spirit Committee (above) singing Cyndi Lauper's True Colors. Our hearts were full watching them share this powerful message.

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

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TOO!
@williamstown_elementary

• C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S •

WILLIAMSTOWN YOUTH CENTER NEWS
Register now for in-house basketball
The WYC offers divisions from kindergarten up to 8th grade. Players in grades kindergarten through 2nd grade participate in a co-ed program focused on learning basic basketball skills and terminology. Players in grades 3 through 8 play a full schedule of games in divisions grouped by grade and gender.

Join us tomorrow for a skills assessment session for all kids interested in playing basketball this winter.

Nov. 2 in-house assessment schedule
2nd-4th girls: 9-10am
5th-7th girls: 10-11am
2nd-4th boys: 11-12pm
5th-7th boys: 12-1pm

Travel Basketball Tryouts
Boys 7/8: Oct. 28 and 30 at 5:30pm at MGRHS
Girls 7/8: Nov. 12 and 14 at 7:15pm at WES
Boys 5/6: Nov. 5 at 6pm at WES and Nov. 7 at 6pm at LES
Girls 5/6: Nov. 12 at 6pm at WES and Nov. 14 at 6pm at LES
Boys 3/4: Dec. 7 at 10am at WES and Dec. 7 at 12:30pm at LES
Girls 3/4: TBD

Skiing and Snowboarding at Jiminy Peak
Join us at the WYC for an informational ski and snowboarding meeting on Tuesday, November 5, at 6pm.

THANKSGIVING ON THE FARM
It’s about family. Peace and quiet. Tradition. Create memories during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 29, 30, & Dec 1. The village is open 10 am-4 pm all three days.

Hate Black Friday? Enjoy a mimosa as you shop in Shaker Mercantile on Friday, Nov 29 from 10 am-4 pm, or take a Turkey Walk & Talk on our one-mile Farm & Forest Trail at 11 am. Talks, tours, and demos are available all weekend—learn about the farm and gardens, join a music and dance demo, or explore the Meetinghouse.

Savor a glorious seasonal feast in the candlelit Brick Dwelling at our Grateful Shaker Supper on Saturday, Nov 30 at 6 pm. TICKETS $90/81 MEMBERS.

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