CLOUGH CLASSIC

Dear Families:

 

As spring is here and the weather is cooperating with us earlier than usual, now is a good time to get outdoors!  As our calendars begin to fill up with all types of dance, gymnastics and sporting events, we would like you to consider looking "outside the box".   For those of us who enjoy being outside (not necessarily working in the yard), this would make a great opportunity to get together with others, walk the green and "swing" for a good cause... "F-O-R-E!"

As Clough has not had a major fundraiser for several years, the PTO is coordinating their first Annual "Clough Classic" Golf Tournament, on Thursday, May 17th at the Shining Rock Golf Club in Northbridge, MA. 

As we know, the school is always growing and is always in need of supplies.  The money raised from "Clough Classic" will be used in fulfilling the past and present needs of the Technology needs for students and staff.

To access the registration form click on www.CloughClassic.Doodlekit.com
 

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Michelle Kelly or Jennifer O'Donovan via email at CloughClassic2012@GMAIL.com

We greatly appreciate your support!

Purple Day – The Global Day of Epilepsy Awareness

Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness. 

Staff and students at Henry P. Clough Elementary School will be wearing purple to show our support in increasing our awareness. Won’t you join us and help promote Epilepsy Awareness in our Community?

Please take a minute and view the following two YouTube videos:

“The Global Day of Epilepsy Awareness - Serbia 2011”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKN1lLlvTIg .

 “5th Annual Epilepsy awareness video”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5oVK9XdIY8&feature=related

I promise you, it’s worth checking them out.

Music In The Air

We recently held our Winter Concert on February 16^th and what an amazing show this was! Our music teacher, Mrs. Rebecca Eland, directed the performance. To see the students ranging from our little three year old preschoolers all the way up to our fourth graders performing on stage was exhilarating.  Mrs. Eland did a phenomenal job teaching the 499 students to not only learn the songs but to learn movements and play instruments for the production. The variety of the selection was dynamite! The support from the parents was stellar. Both the morning and afternoon shows were full to capacity. Many parents shared with me they had filled up with tears during the performance because the songs were so moving and how proud they were to see their little ones performing up on stage in front of close to 800 people without any hesitation at all. This was a direct tribute to the work Mrs. Eland has done over the past several months in preparing her students for these two performances. I feel so fortunate to have a music teacher of Mrs. Eland’s caliber on staff.

Kind and Caring Students

Miss Leaver's  Second Grade Students wrote letters during the holiday season to  a former Mendon graduate of Nipmuc Regional High School, SPC Jason Papadopoulos. Jason is in the  United States Army and has been serving over in Afghanistan  for the past 278 days. Students asked him  a variety of questions and took time to  thank him for serving our country.  The students received an e-mail back  from Jason to thank the students for thinking of him and  bringing a piece of home to him over in Afghanistan. He also sent us several pictures of him and troop over in Afghanistan.

High School and Elementary Spanish Connection

 

Nick Pezzote is a Spanish teacher at Nipmuc High School. His students from his Spanish III Honors and Immersion classes  wrote Children’s Christmas and winter short stories in Spanish. He brought his students to  Clough today to read their children’s stories to Sra Lopez's 28 Kindergarten Spanish Immersion students. Not only did they read to the students but they spent time chatting with them in Spanish. This was a fantastic activity that brought together students of different grade levels within the district. Having the high school Spanish students reading with the little kindergarteners and talking with them in Spanish was beyond precious. 

I had the wonderful pleasure on December 12th to hold a special luncheon for eight students. I don't know who had more fun ~ me ~ or the students.  The "Lunch with the Principal" was  a direct result of very generous parents who participated in the raffle at the Monster Mash event sponsored by the PTO. Eight students won the raffle and I had the opportunity to have lunch with them. It was so much fun spending over an hour with them getting to know them and them having an opportunity to get to know me better. They asked me some great questions! Can I just say how much I love my job?  I wish I could spend every day like this.

Talk about Kind, Caring, and Compassionate People

Mrs. St. Pierre, one of our second grade teachers, spearheaded a drive at our elementary school to collect  non-perishable items for the Mendon Food Pantry.  Thanks to all who so generously participated in this worthwhile cause.   All donations went to the Mendon Food Pantry which is housed at the Mendon Senior  center.  http://www.mendonma.gov/TownGovernment/FoodPantry.aspx    

The picture below was taken after we already loaded many many bags into Mrs. St. Pierre's truck.