Catching Our Breath After a Busy October!
It is hard to believe that fall Conference Days have come and gone. The year already seems to be zooming by. I used to think that the fall felt a bit long, since it is the longest stretch of the year without a long break, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore! It won’t be long before the trees are bare of leaves and snow (dare I utter the word) will be flying. We are all trying to peer into a crystal ball to try to discern whether Mother Nature will attempt some havoc with our school calendar.
Perhaps the year is moving fast because life at LES has been so full of late! Ten days ago, we had a ‘Safety Day,’ and students practiced bus evacuations, and then a full school evacuation to the Leverett Library and an offsite location. For the first time, we practiced ‘reunification,’ the system by which parents and children would be reunited after an evacuation. Some local volunteers played the parts of parents. As we visited yet another possible evacuation site, the police and fire departments supported school staff in discerning the best places to house students. The Fifth and Sixth graders were wonderful Safety buddies to our youngest students, and everyone took the drill in stride.
Earlier in October, the Fire Department visited an all-school assembly to present the fourth graders with their certificates for completing the SAFE program. This program teaches fourth graders all about fire safety. In the final component of the classes, students practice making 911 calls, something that every child should learn to do.
October at LES also included a very successful Harvest Festival. Though Mother Nature tried to put a damper on our celebration, we managed to fit everyone in the gym, and we all had a wonderful time. There was a great mix of food, activities, information tables, and conversation. The School’s classes, PTO, and greenhouse realized over $2000 from the event, and the sixth graders raised over $2400 with their evening spaghetti dinner. That money will go towards their class trip at the end of the year.
Finally, last Friday, came the PTO’s Halloween event. Many hardworking parents put together an absolutely wonderful evening, with food, fun, dozens of costumed kids, and a very spooky haunted hallway! While the main focus of the evening was on fun and families, PTO also managed to raise over $1100. Wednesday, the 31st, was Book Character Day, and the halls of the school were humming with excitement and glee over the costumes worn by both students and staff.
What a month it has been! It certainly has been a powerful example that “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
- Margot Lacey
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