Marble Jarble Engineering Task

The kids were given an engineering task today.  Their task was to design an experiment in which a marble could knock down a cylinder.  They could not push or move the marble with their hands or their feet. They had to make the cylinders theirselves.  This is what they came up with for their presentations:

Exploration With Wool

We were so lucky to have Jacob's mom come in today to teach us about wool and how to make yarn. She brought her spinning wheel in and the kids got to see her work at the wheel.  Thanks so much Brady for sharing your very special talent!

Elephant Toothpaste

The children enjoyed another experiment today called Elephant toothpaste.  After seeing the materials and observing the set up of the experiment, the children made predictions and recorded their observations about what would and did happen.

Chemical Reaction

Scientific Question explored today:  What will happen to a balloon filled with baking soda when it is attached to the top of a bottle and its contents are dumped into the bottle filled with vinegar?  

They were scientists recording their predictions, observations, and conclusions. Lots of fun!

April PTO Notes & News

April PTO Notes & News

Join the PTO List Serve - think of this as Front Porch Forum specific to Shelburne Community School, a periodic digest of announcements, help wanted and other topics. It can allow for more timely, easy managed communication within the school and parent community, for key subjects such as upcoming happenings (budget forum, school play, soccer tryouts, get out the vote, etc.),  as well as help wanted (‘we could use a hand with International Pot Luck cleanup’, mentoring volunteers wanted, etc.), among other relevant topics.

If you would like to be added to the List Serve, please e-mail Courtney Tharpe at ctharpe25@gmail.com.

Fundraising Update                                                                                                                                       

▪ Red Wagon Plant Sale – order packets have gone home and orders are due back Friday, April 11^th.  The plants can be picked up on Thursday, May 22^nd from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.  If you need a copy of the order form, you can find it here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1IV5TlL1TUvRjNwWXlPN0psYm8/edit

▪ Amazon – the PTO has made over $500 so far this year.  So please remember, if you shop on AMAZON please take an extra step and enter the site through the link on the PTO page.  The PTO will earn up to 15% of your purchases!  Please remember that you need to use this link each time you shop for the PTO to benefit.

▪ Comedy Night  – Back by Popular Demand – The Comedy Divas are sponsoring another comedy show to benefit the Charlotte and Shelburne PTOs.  The event will be held at the Old Lantern in Charlotte on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 pm. The show will feature local Comedy Divas, Josie Leavitt, Tracie Spencer, Autumn Engroff Spencer and Sue Schmidt.

This is an adult only event and tickets are $20 and can be purchased:
                  - online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-of-comedy-tickets-6632962369
                  - at The Flying Pig bookstore or at the door the night of.

▪ Shelburne Community Night at the Lake Monsters Game – Friday, June 27^th.  Come celebrate the summer with Shelburne Community School students, family and friends!   Tickets will be available for purchase at the end of May.


Fund Spending
▪ March Grant Meeting – The PTO Spring Grant Committee met and distributed $5000 in grants to teachers and staff!  Some of the great things we've funded are:  new choral microphones for the music department, a new camera and lenses for the art department, a theatre-in-action workshop on bullying for all students in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades, and new eBooks for the library.

Help Wanted                                                                                                                            
▪ Red Wagon Plant Delivery – help with unloading and distributing the Red Wagon plant delivery on May 22nd.  Contact Courtney Tharpe at ctharpe25@gmail.com if you are able to help anytime between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

▪ Gift Wrap Fundraiser Co-Chair – if you are interested in helping organize the Gift Wrap fundraiser next October, please contact Randy Sweeney at sweeneyrs@gmail.com

▪ School Directory – if you are interested in helping with the school directory (entering/editing data), please contact Randy Sweeney at sweeneyrs@gmail.com.  This is a job that can be done at home and doesn’t require you being at school.

Highlights from Principals Report
▪ VT Writes Day Celebration: everyone in the school wrote for 7 minutes and shared them all over the building. Quite a sight! 500+ pieces of writing
▪ Winter Band Concert and Stage Band and Cabaret night in the last month were fantastic
▪ Wind Ensemble off to Montreal on 4/9-10
▪ School received an award for energy efficiency from the Vermont Legislature
▪ Joplin James awarded Aw Shucks award for his selfless dedication to the school
▪ Book Fair was a huge success, selling $17,000 in books
▪ End of year schedule: graduation on Thursday 12 June, last day for K-7 13-June
▪ Facilities: new plans are being put in place to hire an architect firm to develop a rough plan to improve the school facilities in a major way.  A presentation will be made on May 13^th at 7:00 pm after PTO meeting from the facilities committee. 

Mark Your Calendars                                                                                                                                                            

▪ April 11^th – Red Wagon orders due

▪ May 9^th – Comedy Night Fundraiser @ 7:30 at the Old Lantern

▪ May 13^th – Staff Appreciation Luncheon

▪ May 22^nd – Red Wagon order pick up from 3- 6 pm
▪ May 27^th – Jog-A-Thon (rain date May 28^th)
▪ June 27^th – Shelburne Community Night at the Lake Monsters Game    

Walk/Bike to school Wednesday’s in May – meet at the Parade Grounds

We look forward to seeing you next month at the PTO meeting on May 13^th at 6:00 pm in the Alpha Space.  Pizza and Babysitting are provided!

Shoo Fly Quilt Observations

Having a "Math talk" time observing patterns, talking about rows and columns, shapes, and connections to each others' thinking.  Simply being the best mathematicians they can be. They are the best!!!!!