Digital Backpack - May 24, 2013

New This Week:

1. No School - May 27^th: Happy Memorial Day
2. Attention Fifth Grade Parents: The WJJMS PTO is sponsoring a climbing activity on Monday, June 10^th, from 3:30 to 5:30 for our incoming 6^th grade students to introduce them to WJJMS. Students and parents will have the opportunity to use the outdoor climbing equipment, visit the 6^th grade hallway, and meet some current 6^th grade students.
3. KIDSMARATHON Day: Saturday, June 1^st, at Norwich Free Academy. A Celebration as our Runners Complete the Last Leg of their Marathon. For more information and details, please click here.
4. PTO Newsletter: May 24^th
5. What do the Common Core Math Practice Standards Look Like in Classrooms? Please click here for information from our Director of Teaching & Learning.
6. How is Information Literacy Taught in our Schools? Please click here for information from our Director of Teaching & Learning.
7. Car Wash: The Bacon Leaders Today and Tomorrow will be holding a car wash at Advanced Auto, 179 Linwood Avenue on Sunday, May 26^th, from 9:00.m. – 12:00 noon. All donations will be given to the Haitian Health Foundation.
8. The Bookmobile is Traveling Through Colchester June 1^st: The Colchester Bookmobile will once again be traveling through town Saturday, June 1^st, beginning at 10:00 am at Balaban Rd (apartment playscape), then to Tavern Lane (10:30 am), and Country Place (11:15 am). The bookmobile offers all residents many services, including book check-outs, book returns, issues library cards, and opportunities to obtain information on available Early Head Start services. If you are interested in volunteering time or donating books, please contact Evamarie Young at evamarie.young@comcast.net. The Colchester Bookmobile has been made possible through a partnership between C3, Colchester Rotary Club, Cragin Memorial Library, Backus Hospital and the Town of Colchester.
9. Community Conversations: Addiction can happen to anyone. On May 30^th at Bacon Academy join us for True Life: “I’m a Recovering Drug Addict”, a story you won’t soon forget. Sponsored by the Colchester Youth Services’ Youth FIRST Coalition and the Colchester Public Schools.
10. Girls’ Basketball Clinic: Colchester Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a girls’ basketball clinic for grades 7, 8, and 9 on July 22-26 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Bacon Academy gym. The fee is $75, non-residents add $20. Pre-registration is required. This is a great opportunity for girls to learn fundamentals and improve on their existing skills. Clinic will consist of drills, scrimmages, and competition. The clinic is directed by Bacon Academy’s Girls’ Basketball Head Coach, Dave Shea, and Bacon Academy’s 2009, 2012, and 2013 state championship coaching staff. For additional information contact Parks & Rec at 860-537-7297. Register online at www.colchesterct.gov/rec. Space is limited.
11. Colchester Learning Foundation’s “Marked for Excellence” Teacher Recognition Program Makes Excellent End-of-Year Gifts: The end of the school year is fast approaching and many parents are thinking about how they will recognize the teachers and staff who made their children’s time in school special. The Colchester Learning Foundation’s (CLF) “Marked for Excellence” Recognition Program is an alternative to traditional end-of-year gift giving. For a nominal donation to CLF made in an educator’s name, the donor is provided with a gift that can be presented to the recipient by the student or delivered to the recipient’s school mailbox. Please click here for more details and order information.
12. School’s Out Bash! Friday, June 21, 4-6 PM at the Children’s Museum of Southeastern CT. Celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer! Creative summer fun with something for everyone.
13. Parent Project: Empowering parents, transforming teens. Classes begin June 20^th at Cragin Library. For more information and to register for classes, click here.
14. Learn to Play Hockey: This Learn to Play Southeastern CT Seahawks Hockey Program is designed for first time skaters. These sessions are the perfect place to start young hockey players. Instructors will focus on stops, starts, crossovers, backwards, stick handling, and shooting. Our Goal is to introduce every player to the game in a positive and enjoyable environment so that they can learn the fundamentals of the game of hockey. Please click here for more information.

JJIS News:

1. News from the Nurse
2. JJIS Students Participated in Equal This Program: This year three grade 5 classrooms at Jackter have participated in the Equal This program, sponsored by Project Learn. Participation in this program is provided at no cost to participating schools and presents an opportunity for our students to travel to an inner city school, compare/contrast different learning environments, be taught by leading math professionals, be exposed to incredible artists, and have our curriculum and school experience enhanced by having a partnership with a school and students they would otherwise never know. JJIS has participated in this program for the past four years. This year, students in Mrs. Totten’s, Mrs. Tedford’s and Mrs. Kurczy’s classrooms participated by visiting schools in either Deep River, Hartford or Middletown once a month. JJIS also welcomed students to Colchester for a visit as well. Students have collectively enjoyed participating in this adventure and parents are appreciative of the different outlook it provides for their children and the varied learning opportunities outside of the classroom. 
3. JJIS Students Hear from The President! Recently, a group of students sent a letter and petition to the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Students were very concerned about the safety and welfare of tigers, so they contacted the White House for the president’s assistance. They were delighted to receive a package from the president, which included a reply letter to the students, an autographed picture, and interview responses from the president answering questions such as, what is your favorite book or sport and who is your best friend? There were many questions and answers that were quite interesting to read about. President Obama also enclosed a map of the White House and even included a picture of his beloved pet dog, Bo! Please click here for photo.
4. Gift Card Fundraiser: Shop from the convenience of your home! Buy cards to give as gifts or use them for yourself and your family! Place your order by Thursday, May 30^th. Every card purchased through this program earns free money for the JJIS PTO. Every dollar directly benefits the students of Jack Jackter Intermediate School by funding Artists-in-Residence and many other programs. Please click here for a list and order form.
5. Spring Weather Dress Code Policy
6. Town Meeting Change In Date: The last Town Meeting of the 2012-2013 school year will now be held on June 14^th (instead of May 31^st).
7. Library News

District-Wide News:

1. Bacon Students Design Early Literacy & Bookmobile Logos: C3 (Collaborative for Colchester’s Children) is pleased to announce that two Bacon Academy graphic arts students have been selected for their design creations. When C3 determined a need for an Early Literacy logo, as well as one for the recently launched Colchester Bookmobile, it seemed only logical to propose the idea to Bacon Academy Graphic Arts teacher, Jo-Ann Campbell, and her talented students. This opportunity provided the artists the unique experience to create an authentic product that will be used outside of the classroom. The students, from multiple graphic arts classes, showed great enthusiasm and each created individual logos. While it was difficult to choose only one from the many creative and professional designs, C3 ultimately chose junior Mikaela Stella for her Early Literacy design and senior Alicia Szostak for her Bookmobile design. Look for both original logos around Colchester soon! Please click here for photos.
2. The Buddy Program Between JJIS & CES Students: For more than 12 years, JJIS students in Mrs. Linda Kurczy’s classroom have walked over to CES once a month to visit and work with second grade students in Mrs. Sue DiCioccio’s classroom. Each fifth grade student is paired up with a second grade student. They have taken this unique opportunity to become role models and mentors to the younger children through friendship and by becoming a student’s “buddy”. Both grade levels are very enthusiastic and engaged in all interactive activities and learning during their visits. Teacher-planned activities enhance the curriculum in various content areas which include reading, the use of poetry, descriptive writing, as well as oral speaking, rap poetry and performance. Both teachers work collaboratively to develop skills for learning which include language arts, social studies, and creative art lessons. They choose skills that both grade-levels have been developing and try to plan fun and creative ways to apply these skills. Mrs. DiCioccio’s second grade students will soon make a visit to JJIS to visit Mrs. Kurczy’s students as well. This visit is a wonderful opportunity for the younger students to get better acquainted with JJIS themselves, making the transition from CES to JJIS much easier. Students expressed how exciting it is when they see their “buddy” outside of school at the park or on the bus. On occasion, a second grade student of Mrs. DiCioccio’s from the Buddy Program will make their way through the grade-levels and be assigned to Mrs. Kurczy’s fifth grade classroom (three years later). They are eager and excited about becoming a buddy to a second grade student now! Please click here for photo.
3. Colchester Schools’ Jazz Bands Receive Recognition at Jazz Festival: On April 25^th & 26^th, William J Johnston Middle School’s & Bacon Academy’s Jazz Bands attended the 20^th annual “Jazz on the Sound” Jazz Festival, held at Waterford High School. This annual event is a 2 day performance with middle schools performing on the first day and high schools on the second.  Although this was an event for middle and high school students, Jack Jackter Intermediate School’s Jazz Band performed, as well. While many were impressed with the quality of all 3 Colchester bands, there were several Colchester band students that received special recognition: Ethan Puetzer, Trevor Howard and Alec Sotomayor, from JJIS, were selected as outstanding musicians; Hannah Forget, on Trumpet from WJJMS, was selected one of four Outstanding Soloists of the Middle School Festival; Brendan Eakin, on Drums from BA, was selected one of four Outstanding Soloists at the High School Festival; and the Trumpet section from Bacon was selected Outstanding Trumpet Section at the High School Festival.  Trumpet students are Ian Beattie, Nick Levine, Colin Hiscox, Rosalind Goodrich and Carey Ozmun.
4. JJIS & WJJMS Students Participated in CT State Invention Convention: Jack Jackter Intermediate School and William J Johnston Middle School students represented their schools in the annual CT Invention Convention held at UCONN on Saturday, May 4^th. There were 7 students from Colchester; five from JJIS and two from WJJMS. Students representing JJIS: Claire Galarneau; Kaylie Maynard; Andrew Navickas; Shaan Parekh; and Mallory Scherff. Students representing WJJMS: Sarah Praisner and Chris Wilson. Out of the over 700 students competing state-wide, fourth grader Mallory Scherff received a special recognition award for her invention "Fire Detector, Me Protector" and sixth grader Sarah Praisner received a special recognition award for her invention "Camera Cloak." Click here for photos.

Community News:

1. Colchester Parks & Recreation Day Camp Activity/Theme Calendar! Entering Grades 1 - 7 in Fall 2013! Archery, arts & crafts, sports & games, nature, drama, weekly trips, entertainers & so much more all included for $140/week!!! 8-One week sessions, June 25 - August 16. Extended Care available from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Register online at www.colchesterct.gov/rec. Your kids will thank you for it!! All information is online, Summer Colchester Connection being delivered in Rivereast newspaper on Friday, May 31^st.
2. Colchester Parks & Recreation Kindercamp Activity/Theme Calendar! Get your kids ready for Kindergarten! 3 years old by 12/31/12 through entering Kindergarten in Fall 2013! 8 weeks starting June 25 - August 16. Monday - Friday & M/W/F options available. New Hours 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. & FULL DAY option also available. Register online at www.colchesterct.gov/rec. Your camper will make friends and enjoy all the traditional camp activities in a fun, safe & nurturing atmosphere! Your kids will thank you for it!! All information is online, Summer Colchester Connection being delivered in Rivereast newspaper on Friday, May 31^st.
3. Boy Scout Troop 109 Car Wash & Bottle Drive: Saturday, May 25^th, from 10 am – 2 pm. at Advance Auto Parts. Please stop by to get your car washed and donate your returnable cans and bottles.
4. Attend a Fun, Educational STEM Summer Camp Held at Wesleyan University! This summer, students can gain a competitive edge at a fun, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) technology program, iD Tech Camps. Ages 7-17 choose from over 40 summer tech courses to create iPhone apps, programs with C++ or Java, video games with Minecraft and other popular titles, robots, websites, and more. These weeklong, day and overnight programs are located at over 60 universities in 26 states including the programs held at Wesleyan, Sacred Heart, Roger Williams University, Vassar, NYU, Stanford, UCLA, and more.  Also for Teens are 2-week immersive, pre-college summer programs:  iD Programming Academy, iD Gaming Academy, and iD Visual Arts Academy. Visit www.internalDrive.com for more info or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324) to speak to a Program Advisor. 
5. Girls' High School Soccer Camp: Eastern CT State University is holding their Annual Girls’ High School Clinics. For more information or to register, please click here.

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