Wow! Hard to believe this is the last newsletter of this school year. What a fast year! I am truly appreciative of the commitment of staff and families to make Eliot Elementary the best school anywhere. It IS a lot of work to teach both a social and academic curriculum that ensures excellence in education for our students, and most importantly, that this education happens within a safe, child centered, and fun learning community. And it sure was great to be "appreciated" all last week during Staff Appreciation Week! Once again I was amazed by the generosity of our families. Each day there was a special surprise, and the luncheon was truly amazing! I speak for my whole staff in thanking the PTO and everyone who helped make the whole week so terrific!

Educators do have a tough job. They must balance all the demands and expectations that come with a job that quite possibly has the highest expectations and outcomes of any career ~ preparing our children to be good citizens and educating our future leaders. As I interviewed candidates for the first grade position we have open next year, it struck me (as it does each day!) that with all the qualities we were looking for, including the overall knowledge that a really good teacher must possess in both academic and social curriculum, a positive outlook, sense of humor, patience, flexibility, energy, and the ability to get along well with a multitude of people ~ that the right person is next to saint like! And in the end, no matter how good someone might look on paper, really great teachers have a "natural gift" that shines through ~ they really love kids and truly believe that EVERY child will succeed. And they accept this challenge and make it happen in a positive and fun way.

I’d like to share from the book 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny…Life Lessons From Teaching, written by Phillip Done, a third grade teacher with over 20 years experience. (Thank you Devan McClenny for telling me about this book~ it’s great!) Throughout the book the author writes in a truthful and very funny way "the delight of learning something for the first time and the value of making a difference…the enduring promise of elementary school as a powerful antidote to the cynicism of our times." As I was reading his chapter, Interview Questions, I thought how some of those questions that we just asked were the same as his from twenty years ago, and laughed at how he compares how he answered the questions back then, and how he might answer them now. We sure do learn from experience and we better have a sense of humor!

Question: If I walked into your classroom, what would I see?

Answer at first interview: You would see children working collaboratively in peace and harmony, praising each other, and sharing their supplies happily with one another. You would see children thinking critically, helping their classmates, and encouraging one another.

Answer today: You’d see Brian hiding the soccer ball between his feet, Peter connecting the markers together to make one really long one, and me looking for my coffee mug.

Question: What are your strengths?

Answer at first interview: I’m energetic and enthusiastic and extremely hard working.

Answer today: I can pull off a Band-Aid so it won’t hurt.

Question: What are your weaknesses?

Answer at first interview: I need to learn to not work so late at night and on the weekends and on all my holidays too.

Answer today: I steal apples off kids’ cafeteria trays when I’m hungry.

Question: What is your philosophy of education?

Answer at first interview: I believe in giving children lots of positive reinforcement, and praising and encouraging students throughout the day, always working to build their self-esteem.

Answer today: Take away recess.

Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Answer at first interview: Teaching at your school and working toward a Masters in Education and participating in curriculum review and leadership training, and organizing the school’s fundraisers and selling wrapping paper for the band.

Answer today: Under an oak tree in Heavenly Gardens.

Question: Why should we hire you?

Answer at first interview: I like kids.

Answer today: I like kids.

Mr. Done sure has the big picture, and some things never change!!

As I send off our third graders, the Class of 2016, I thank them for always making me feel very proud of them each day with their cheerfulness, humor (they win the award for the Best Jokes of the Week!), and just the way that everyday they really showed that they understood what our Eliot Elementary School rap was all about. What a great group of kids and families who have made such a positive difference at Eliot Elementary. I wish you all good things, will miss you lots, and you have to promise that you’ll come back to visit!

Hope you all have a happy and healthy summer filled with great beach weather and fun adventures!

Always,

Margaret

All the EES families who support your children by working with the school to provide the best educational experience possible. We appreciate all the time you give to school events, projects, homework, volunteering, and ALL the things you do to support your child’s learning.

Our outgoing (in more ways than one!) ECPTO board, Cindy Waters, President, Cori Cullen, Vice President, Sue Moynahan, Treasurer, and Stephanie Holland, Secretary, for all their time, talent, and dedication to the students and staff at EES. You have accomplished so many wonderful things to enrich our programs to make learning even more fun for the students and staff alike!

We could not do it without you!

Thank you to Favorite Things of Portsmouth for the beautiful roses, and to the Bagel Caboose and Noels for their generous donation of food and drink for Staff Appreciation Week.

Yvonne Cedergren for all her effort lining up volunteers to help out in the office. We don’t know what we would do without you!

Many, many thanks to the following people for their time, effort, contributions and donations to the

2007 – 2006 Wellness Fair. We couldn’t have done it without you!

To everyone who donated to the Ice Cream Smorgasbord:

Helene Carle and Michele Rider. Helene will be retiring after 36 years teaching here at Eliot Elementary, now teaching second generations! She has made a difference in so many lives, and we wish her all the best for a relaxing and fun retirement! Michele will be leaving us to take a full time prek position at Central School. We will certainly miss her positive energy here at EES, but will still be keeping in touch and sharing ideas since she’ll be right down the road!

May 24 Artist & Authors Night 6-7:30

May 31 Gr 1 & MG Field Day

June 1 Ice Cream Smorgasbord 6-8

June 5 PreK & Kind. Field Day

June 7 GR 2 & 3 Field Day

June 6 School Board Mtg MHS 7PM

June 12 School Budget Vote @ Marshwood Jr High School 8AM – 8PM

June 13 Step Up Day

June 13 ECPTO mtg 6:30 EES Library

June 14 Grade 2, History of Eliot Concert, 10 and 2 (Info coming soon!)

June 15 Grade 3 graduation 2:00

June 18 Last day for PM prek and kindergarten

June 18 School BBQ

June 20 School Board Mtg MHS 7PM

Remember that June 18^th is our last full day of school, and we will be having our annual BBQ! Parents/families are invited, so be sure to let us know by sending back the form that will be coming home asking for a count. We cook on the grill, and the menu is hamburger or hot dog, pretzels, fruit, and milk at the same price as a regular lunch. (Student lunch 1.25 – Adult lunch 3.25.) Everyone eats outside for a school picnic and it’s a great time ~ and I know it will be great weather!

We’ll be having a school wide Step Up Day on June 13^th. This will give students a chance to meet their new teacher, see who will be their classmates next year, and get an idea of their new classroom. Kindergarten students will also be having an extra Step Up time on June 13th to have snack in the cafeteria, giving them a chance to experience the "lunch line" and a little bit of the cafeteria dining experience! We will be proving a muffin and juice to the kindergarten students on this day. We know that the move to the next school year can create some nervousness for children (and parents!), and this will help with the transition.

The PTO will hold their final event of the year, our Ice Cream Smorgasbord, on Friday, June 1^st, from 6-8. This is always a fun family night, with great make your own sundaes, cake walks, and special events for the kids. I’ll be scoopin’ that hot fudge sauce and hope to see you all there!

The 2007 York County Special Olympics Spring Games was held on May 3, at Shapleigh Field in Kittery. Athletes from the Eliot Elementary School were dressed in purple, turquoise, and mauve tie dyed t-shirts that were beautifully made by Linda Brake, who put hours of time and love into their dazzling appearance. Linda also supported Mrs. Shisler and Mrs. O’Malley’s students in making their shirts. We were thrilled to have these two incredible classes accompany us and cheerfully support our athletes and their friends. We were the coolest looking teams and school there!

As our anxious athletes prepared to leave the building for the bus, they were unaware of the amazing display of enthusiasm and heartfelt cheers they would receive. As we exited, we were astonished and overwhelmed by the line of students, staff, and families that stretched down the walkway and continued on both sides of the sidewalk. The moment was magical! Each athlete stepped into a world of possibilities and the will to succeed. With confidence soaring from the amazing applause and a brilliant display of signs and posters, they were transformed into supreme athletes! What an awesome celebration of all those special talents that have been placed within and would be unmasked on the track and field. Victory was ours that day! We are grateful for the encouragement and school pride that was demonstrated on that special occasion. Opening ceremonies started at 9:15. Our athletes had a successful and rewarding day. We thank you all for your support and kindness!

Denise Meagher Functional Life Skills Teacher

On Friday, May 18 Sammie Hayes performed two concerts at EES. Sammie is an award winning children’s music writer and performer. Her new CD, "Nature’s ABC’s" produced by A Gentle Wind, has received a National Parenting Publications Award, a Children’s Music Web Award, and the Film Advisory Board’s Award of Excellence! Sammie had students and staff singing and moving!

Author, illustrator, and publisher of the "Fairy House Series", Tracy Kane visited EES on May 21 – 24. Tracy visited us from Lee, New Hampshire and opened the doors of fantasy for our students. Maybe you are familiar with her series some of her titles include Fairy Houses, Fairy Boat, and Fairy Flight. During her visit at EES Tracy read students one of her stories and then headed outside to build fairy houses with them. Students were so excited and their creations were spectacular! Fairy houses are everywhere at EES!

On Thursday, May 24^th from 6-7:30 Eliot Elementary will turn into a museum to host our Artist and Authors Night. Creative works of our own artists and authors will be on display. The children worked all year to get ready for this special evening. Work was completed with classroom teachers and with Mrs. MacGown in art. Student made stories, poems, and artwork were on display throughout the school. It is a truly amazing showcase of student work!! All students should be very proud of their accomplishments. What talented students we have!

The 3^rd Grade Eliot Elementary Student Advisory is holding a canned food drive for the local Food Pantry for needy families. We are collecting non-perishable canned and boxed foods beginning the week of May 21^st and running until June 8^th. The students would like the food drive to focus on families and children. Please donate food for kids such as macaroni and cheese, cereal, fruit snack, etc. Boxes will be placed in the school hallways near the front office.

The 3^rd Grade Student Advisory appreciates your support.

Randy Thomas

It is hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. Ten weeks may not seem like a long time, but your child’s reading skills will slide if they don’t continue to read over the summer. Please, if you don’t already, make reading a habit in your home. Read with them every night before bed and before you know it – you’ve started a habit of reading that will last a lifetime! Research states, "of all the activities in which children engage outside of school, time spent actually reading is the best predictor of reading achievement – the more students read, the better readers they become" (Allington, 2006).

If you need books to borrow, more ideas or just plain help to keep your kids reading this summer – please stop by the reading room!

Joanne Hoerth Marianne Nice, Margie Bosse

The BOGO beach theme was a lot of fun. I hope that everyone was able to get some great books for the summer. I would like to thank the following volunteers who helped with the book fair: Kim Sturdevant, Sara McDaniel, Kerri Bryant, Carrie Tice, Kelley Sewell, Julie Kahler, Heather Benedetto, Diane Repucci, Susan Albers, Amanda Ouellette, Nancy Collins, Whitney Brown, Jen Doyon, Kim Martin, Beth and Olivia Tsamparlis, Nancy Noyes, Nancy Cohn, April and Natalie Herbold, and Beth Hirt. I would also like to thank Mark, Leigh, Dana, Garrett Robinson and Alyssa Beach for a number of hours helping with the wave and other beautiful displays that the children truly enjoyed. Enjoy your summer vacation!

Jane Beach

As the closure of another art year nears, and a successful Artist and Authors Celebration ends, I want to thank our imaginative and talented art students for all of their hard work. We have accomplished a great variety of artwork and experimented with many kinds of colorful media. Best of all we’ve had fun!

Congratulations to the students who had their art exhibited and the Barn Gallery in Ogunquit on May 11th through the 13th. This art show honors students in grades Pre-K to 12 from all over York County.

All students will be making portfolios for safe storage and transportation home of their artwork. They will be bringing everything home during the last two weeks of school. If you wish to pick up the work, please check with me to see when it will be available. We know you will enjoy your children’s many creative projects.!

I hope you all have an art filled summer and keep art in your heart!

Love,

Julianne Mac Gown

The end of the year is almost here and we’re finishing strong!

Congratulations to the kindergarten students on their concert May 17! They did a wonderful job and I am very proud of them and their hard work.

Pre k students have just finished their unit on dynamics. We’ve practiced singing with a piano voice as well as a forte voice. We also finished a unit on the form (or pattern) of songs. There are all kinds of different patterns, but a popular one we found went "ABACADA…" Do you know a song that has that form?

First graders have been busy composing their very own rhythms and then performing them using body percussion (clapping, stomping, snapping, etc.).

Second graders have been learning about the blues … and how to play the blues! They’ve been practicing the chord progression on the xylophones (using colors instead of chord names) and improvising over that on the glockenspiels. Now that they know the pattern they are ready to play just about any blues song ever written! They’ve also been learning songs relating to the history of Eliot in conjunction with their classroom curriculum.

Third graders finished a mini-unit on jazz. We listened to Coltrane’s "Giant Steps", saw film footage of Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performing, and decided that all jazz music is NOT the same! We’re working our way backwards and learning about a few other composers and the music they wrote.

We’ve been so busy in music that spring has been flying by quickly! The next (and last) few weeks of the year we will all be working on reviewing major topics covered this year (I have quite a few review games) and wrapping up our last few projects.

Have a great summer!

Mrs. Doiron

The Wellness Fair was a GIGANTIC success due to all of the support from our fantastic community. The gym was transformed into a park with a fountain, light posts, flowers and a cobble stone path. Our creative parents really out did themselves. Thank you to our decorating committee made up of Kim Sturdevant, Keri and Dan Tice, Cori Cullen, Suzanne LaPierre, and Jen Pettigrew.

We have formed a mutually beneficial relationship with The University of New England, Nursing and Health Services Management Department. Jen Morton, who is a professor at UNE this year, brought her students here to share up to date educational information with the children. The topics they taught were: Nutrition and TV time, Motor Vehicle Safety, Bicycle Safety, Effects of the Suns Rays, Keep ME healthy and Outdoor play with chalk. Other contributors at our booths were Pam Scheeler (Dental Health). Joli and John from Elements Martial Arts, Tom Pray and his students with ECSD Martial Arts, John, Natalie and Julie from ECSD discussing their programs, and Girls Inc. (Stranger Danger).

A highlight of the Wellness Fair every year is sending the children home with a bag full of educational information...and some really cool toys!!! Due to our major fundraising this year we were able to purchase the bags and get a HUGE donation of the Frisbees from Bradbury Promotions. A sincere thank you to Chuck and Carey Bradbury for their continued support!!

The week after the wellness fair we began working on our baseball and softball fundamentals at each grade level. Throwing catching, striking different objects, learning positions, rules and other baseball terms have been the focus of our lessons.

Jump Rope for Heart is complete...we raised 3000.00 for the American Heart Association! The students had many personal stories of how they have been affected by heart disease and were eager to help any way they could.

The upcoming Field Days are taking center stage. The number of volunteer responses was AMAZING One of our volunteer coordinators will be in touch with you about an activity or group that you will be working with. Thank you for your willingness to help. Please email me if you do not receive a phone call and would like to help.

I hope you all have a happy, safe summer full of wonderful adventures. I love being the PE teacher here because of the FANTASTIC students, families, staff, teachers and administration at EES. Thank you for another great year!!!

Renee Caverly

WOW! The Pre-K children are busily finishing their year. It’s hard to believe that the last day of school is fast approaching. It just goes to prove that time flies when you’re having fun! It is interesting to see how the children are becoming more aware of print and how it works. They have enjoyed learning about rhyming words, beginning sounds, the number of sounds in a word, listening to big book stories and going on letter hunts for the letters in their names.

Our classes will be concluding the year with exploration themes centered on animals and plants in nature and water in our world. We will have some fun singing and reading about different plants and animals found both in and out of water, and completing many projects that go along with these topics.

Our volunteer program has ended. I have greatly appreciated the assistance of our dedicated families. Their time and efforts have helped contribute to successful school year for all the children

The children are looking forward to a fun Field Day. Our field day is scheduled for Tuesday, June5^th with a rain date of June 6^th. Hopefully you’ll be able to join in the fun by volunteering to help with the various stations.

A big thank you to the PTO who sponsored a wonderful luncheon and a week full of little surprises for Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s great to have such a supportive and generous P.T.O. You are appreciated!

It has been a wonderful journey with you and your children. I would like to thank you all for being such caring families. I’ve had such fun and hope you and the children have too. Have a safe, fun-filled summer! …And remember to keep reading.

Barbara Kumin Michele Rider

We have enjoyed getting to know our "Superstar" kindergarten friends. It has been fun watching each child shine in the spotlight of being the star and share information about themselves and their families.

This is a wonderful time of the year to watch the children using all of the emergent reader and writer skills they have learned. The children are so excited about what they can do. We spend much time with writer's share and partner reader's share!

Our interesting science/social studies units this spring are birds, plants, the ocean and Maine. Thank you to ECPTO for sponsoring The Center for Wildlife Reptile and Raptor presentation for PK/K in June.

The children are so excited about the upcoming kindergarten concert. They have been practicing very hard and can't wait to perform for everyone! We have had such a busy and wonderful year in kindergarten. Thank you to everyone for your support.

HAPPY SPRING!!

Colleen Beausoleil Joy Carl Michele Rider

Although the end of the year is fast approaching, our first graders are working hard getting ready for Artist's and Author's Night. We are busy writing and illustrating our books. We have learned about editing and revising our work before we produce our final copies.

Everyday Math is now focusing on money and making change. Place value and measurement are also areas that we are still reinforcing. Some of us will be making three dimensional shapes as part of our geometry study.

In science all three first grades have planted seeds. We have taken seeds apart to see what is inside and learn the parts of a seed. We will be charting the growth of our plants and keeping a record of this. The root system and the parts of a plant are areas we will be investigating. Students will also be learning about the differences between vegetable and fruits.

Summer safety is another area that first graders are checking out. We will be learning about safety around the water, and being safe on our bikes or skateboards.

We have number of special days coming up. We will soon be seeing Harold and the Purple Crayon at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre. All three classes will taking walking field trips to the Fogg Library at various times. Field Day will take place on May 31.

Marcia Andrade Maryl Kilbourn Kathy Avery

The multigrade classes have been very busy with our Eliot Unit. Our kickoff was a visit from the folks at the Gundalow Project. They brought a great model of the boat, pictures, and all of the materials for the children to make their own half hull. We've been to the William Fogg Library and seen the photographs of our town forefathers and foremothers. Also in May we will visit the gundalow as it makes its way back to Portsmouth from South Berwick. We hope to visit the one room school house on Greenwood Street the same day. June will see us at Olde Yorke visiting the school and home there with the docents who do such an excellent job of sharing living history with the children.

In addition we prepared for Artists' and Authors' Night and eagerly awaited the making of fairy houses with Tracy Kane, author of Fairy Houses. We've been practicing on the playground for a few weeks now! How wonderful to end the year with such exciting projects and activities.

Susan Barbary and Andrea Rohde

This week we started our last social studies unit. Students are learning about the history of Eliot. As many of you may know the Piscataqua River was the primary means of transportation and the venue for goods bound for England and other ports. Did you know that until 1820, when Maine became a state, the town was Eliot, Massachusetts? Some topics we will cover are Eliot landmarks, early business and industry, school days, and notable citizens. Projects and field trips will play a major role in covering the material for this unit! On April 30th Barbara Maurer and her associate from the Gundalow Project of Portsmouth, NH visited all second grade classes. They gave background information on the Gundalows, talked about local rivers and made Gundalow models with the students.

On May 30th we'll be heading to Dead Duck to visit the gundalow, students will be able to climb aboard (with life jackets) and the Captain will give them a tour! We will also visit the newly restored one-room school house on Greenwood St. Florence Moulton, who used to teach in a one-room schoolhouse, will be there to talk to students and Janette Paul will show a PowerPoint presentation on the restoration process.

On June 6th, second grade students will be going to Old York. Students will participate in several activities showing what life was like in the 18th century. Students will be hearth cooking, playing games, carting and spinning wool, listening to the story The Ox-Cart Man, and visiting a one-room school house.

Field Day is scheduled for June 7th. Thank you for your promptness in returning the t-shirt order forms!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER and KEEP ON READING!

Devan McClenny Ann Shisler Helene Carle

Marcia Wilson, also known as the "Owl Lady" visited our third graders on May 15th. Mrs. Wilson is an expert on owls and has been sharing her knowledge and love of owls here at E.E.S. for the past 7 years. Marcia brought six owls with her, including a Screech Owl, a Saw- Whet Owl, a Barred Owl, a Great Horned Owl, a Spectacled Owl, and an Eurasian Owl. Kids learned a lot about owls and their habitats from her.

They also had a chance to participate in owl hooting lessons, and the Eurasian Owl actually hooted back at them! Students also learned clues of how to find owls right here in Eliot! One clue is to look for white wash on branches (ask your child what this is!) and owl pellets on the ground at the base of a tree. Kids are familiar with what owl pellets are because they each had a chance to dissect one. Third graders were excited to have Mrs. Wilson and her owls visit us for the day!

Lisa Hippern Kathy O'Malley Amy Rivard Julie Morris/Katrina Scribner

Third Graders had the opportunity to participate in a public school Math competition sponsored by Mathfax of South Carolina. Four times throughout the year, students met during their 30 minute recess time and worked through 25 very challenging Math problems without the use of a calculator or any assistance from each other.

Any third grader was welcome to participate in one, two, three, or all four of the sessions. It was remarkable the number of students who gathered together at tables, desks, and even spread out on the floor filling two rooms in the upstairs grade 3 wing. Congratulations to all of the boys and girls who took time out of their recess to work through tough math problems. We are very proud of their efforts.

The top three scorers for all four sessions will receive a certificate from the sponsors of this competition at the grade 3 graduation ceremony. A special thanks to Mrs. Fiorentini who assisted with the Math League this year.