CALENDAR
May 20, 7pm – PTO Meeting
May 27- Field Day, Grades K -4
May 28 – Field Day, Grade 5
May 31- Memorial Day, no school
June 2 – Colonial Day (Grade 3)
June 10, 6 – 7:30 pm – Dallin Art Show & Imagination Celebration
June 17 – Class Night
June 18 – Dallin End of the Year Picnic
MCAS Dates:
May 18, 19- Math MCAS, Grades 3 – 5
May 24, 25- Science MCAS, Grade 5
Thanks for Teacher Appreciation from the staff
A huge thank you to parents Jenny Brown (mother of Nathan Medros) and Bailee Star (mother of Ben & Talia Fein) for all their efforts during Teacher Appreciation Week. What a week of treats, beautiful flowers, and sweet notes from Dallin’s supportive parents!
Goodbye and Good Luck to Ms. Melissa Dreyer, Gr. 2
Thank you to Ms. Dreyer, who has been substituting for Mrs. Farese in Grade 2 during her maternity leave. Best of luck to you!
Images of Arlington – from Art Teacher Joni Boroda
Dallin's 5th grade artists spent two months working hard on their “Images of Arlington” art. Now their work is on display at the Arlington Center for the Arts! Please join us for a reception and light refreshments on Sunday May 16th from 2-4pm, in honor of our young artists’ achievements. I hope to see you all there!
Colonial Day update
Colonial Day is coming up on June 2nd for the 3rd grade. The costume suggestion sheet has come home with the students via backpack mail. Many parent volunteers are needed for this big event. If you can help, please contact parent Mike McGee if you can help (mike.mcgee@
This coming year, the Arlington Public Schools face a projected deficit of $3.9 million. Next year, the School Department expects to balance the budget by cutting 40 teaching positions, which will:
- Increase class sizes at all grade levels
- Cut elementary art, music and physical education by half
- Leave elementary libraries unstaffed
- Eliminate middle school drama
- Reduce library staff at both the middle school and high school
- Eliminate 6th grade world languages
- Eliminate elementary and middle school gifted programs
- Reduce high school electives
Additional cuts will:
- Eliminate all crossing guards
- Decrease resources for textbooks and supplies
- Eliminate professional development funds
- Reduce the size of the Metco program
Fees will be raised for Instrumental Music, Full Day Kindergarten, riding the Bishop bus and High School athletics.
The FY11 School Gap Fund is a one year emergency fundraiser which aims to bridge the financial gap while Arlington finds long term solutions to the schools' financial stresses. The Fund will support a priority list proposed by the principals and school administrators, which the School Committee voted to authorize on April 27th.
The campaign will close on June 7, 2010 in order to know which teachers and staff can be rehired for next year. Please help by making a donation – then encourage two other people to give too. If we work together, we can bridge the gap and make a difference in FY11 for Arlington’s students.For more information on proposed FY11 cuts, what could be reinstated with funds from the campaign and to donate, visit http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/
FEMA/MEMA – Disaster Assistance
For homeowners, renters and business owners in Middlesex county (and other counties) who were affected by flooding beginning March 12, 2010, disaster recovery assistance may be available. You can apply by phone: 800-621-3362 or apply online at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Please have the following information available when you call:-A phone number in case they need to call you back-Social Security Number-Current mailing address-Address of the damaged property-Brief description of the damages-Insurance information (if you have insurance)
"Summer is right around the corner...”I have had a wonderful year at Dallin, both teaching at school and tutoring after school. I want to let Dallin families know that I am offering tutoring services over the summer for anyone who may be interested. Please contact me if you are considering getting summer tutoring for your child, I'd love to hear from you!Thanks! Marina Ross, Learning Specialist Assistant
The Redbud
You may have noticed a new tree at the school, located in front of the azalea bushes on the Florence field side of the school. This redbud tree was moved here this week from the yard of one of our 1st graders- Halle Snell. The 5th graders have helped with the important job of watering the tree in these early days. The tree will need continued TLC in the form of watering during the summer months. Anyone interested in helping with this effort should contact Ana Rivera at amrivera95@gmail.com with the Subject Heading 'Redbud'.
Massachusetts School Building Authority - “My Ideal School” contest
The MSBA has announced the 4th Annual “My Ideal School” contest. For this contest, you need to draw your ideal school and name 3 things that you love about your school. The entry deadline is May 28th. There is more information on the parent bulletin board as you enter the school. Or any questions to 617-720-4466.
DALLIN PTO
DALLIN ONLINE AUCTION OPEN FOR JUST A FEW DAYS!! DON'T MISS OUT!Would your child love to be Ms. Ryan's assistant for the day? Or how about Kindergarten assistant? Well if you missed the auction on Friday night, you now have the opportunity to bid on these fun and exciting teacher offerings. Yes, Mrs. Ferguson's kindergarten assistant was "appointed" at the live auction, and the other kindergarten teachers want to join in the fun too. Also, Ms. Ryan--Dallin's PE teacher--needs someone to help lead her gym classes for a day. In addition, there are a bunch of new items on the block: a savings bond at Watertown Savings Bank, helicopter flying lessons, memberships at both Rocky DiRico Martial Arts and T&P Karate, and lots, lots more. Please note: many auction items are closing on Monday evening, but the newest items will stay up until Tuesday night around 10. So take a look! And tell your friends too! www.supportdallin.org/auction/online Have fun! Thank you! Kim & Mary
P.S. If you would like to contribute as a "Dallin Angel" please leave your donation in the auction box in the office with a note indicating this.And a recap of last Friday. . . .
Dallin community, you are amazing. Friday night at the auction, we made about $24,000. After expenses! $24,000, which will go directly to our students in the form of technology equipment, cultural enrichment activities, curriculum materials, library books, etc. And that’s not counting the profits from the online auction (more about that below.)Friday night was truly a team effort. Everyone who attended did their part. Whether you bought a ticket, worked a shift at the door, had a drink (or two) at the bar, ran errands beforehand, helped out in the kitchen, helped to clean up or set up, cooked or baked something for the food table, donated or solicited an item, added to the spirit of the evening by dancing up a storm, or bid on one or more of the fantastic items we auctioned off, you helped make the night a success. And to those of you staff and community members who donated personal goods and services, please realize that these were the auction items that drew the most excitement and competitive bidding. The soul of Dallin is definitely reflected in these gifts from the heart.Special, special thanks go out to the person who coordinated all the volunteers for the evening, Julia Schilling. This woman could run the country if she wanted to. Ditto for Tara Rossi, our warm and wonderful principal who has lent her support to the auction from day one. Then there was the tremendous kitchen staff, led by the inimitable Sarah Peterson and Jennifer Davis-Kay. Dave Casanave was the best DJ anyone could have asked for— people danced all night long—and Beth Remillard, Tamsen Towle andLauren Jordahl headed up the team that transformed the beautiful Masonic Lodge into something even more unique and spectacular than it already is. Sette Monte (aka Bill) the classical musician who got everyone in the right mood at the beginning of the night was wonderful, and if you were wondering about those gorgeous flowers all over the place, they were donated by Sheila Jacobson and her sister. The bartenders who happily volunteered to pour drinks all night were Tracey Pinto and Steve Rowen; the beer and wine were donated by Flat Top Johnny’s (owned by Dallin parents John & Catherine Adams), Deep Ellum (owned by Dallin parents Brent and Julie Sanders) and Fresh Pond Liquors. Our auctioneer Charlie Balyozian kept the live auction fast-paced and fun, and Alan Jones from the Masonic Lodge was unbelievably kind and gracious to us all.Then there was the terrific team who spent the night in the checkout room so that people could pay for their items quickly and easily: Mary Jacey, Mike Horgan, Peter Fuller, Mark Jacobson, and Leslie Oringer. And to all the people who stayed late and made the Masonic Lodge look exactly the way it did before Dallin descended upon it: you are troopers in the truest sense. We’d also like to thank Deanna Cook, who helped with almost every aspect of the event along the way.But wait: there’s more. Some of you may have noticed that Dave Juitt, who s running the When we sent our first email about the auction to Dallin back in October, we said it would take an army to make it happen, and everyone who has contributed is part of that army. Thanks to you all—you are a fantastic community and we’re so glad to be part of it.
And of course the biggest thanks of all to our fearless organizers: Mary Horgan & Kim McIlvenna, who have been working tirelessly for months!ATTN: FOURTH GRADE PARENTS:
Please consider volunteering for the Fifth Grade Class Night. June 17 @ 6:30 p.m.
If interested, please contact Liz Diggins at digliznow@gmail.com. Thank you.
Field Day coming!
Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 27 (for the whole school) and Friday, May 28 (for 5th graders only). For new families, it's a day when the kids divide into teams and go out into the field next to the school to run a bunch of much-anticipated relay games involving balloons, golf balls on spoons, plastic Hawaiian skirts, etc. We are looking for one or two more volunteers to help us run this fun event for the whole school. If you are
interested, please contact Mary Jacey at jjacey@rcn.com or Phyllis Wentworth
at phylliswentworth@yahoo.com.
Community Events
Relay Yard Sale tomorrow Yard Sale to benefit the American Cancer Society - Multi-family yard sale on Saturday 5/15, 9 am - 2pm, 73 Rhinecliff Street, Arlington. This is a fundraiser for a high school team for the Relay For Life event. Come support their efforts!
Bishop School Fair – May 15, 10- 3pm
Join the Bishop Community for the Bishop School Fair on the school field. There will be games, food, plants, a giant maze, and tons of fun!
Bridge the Gap Yard Sale
Giant Yard Sale- Sunday, May 16th, 9:30 am- 2pm at 49 Hillsdale Road in Arlington. Proceeds will benefit the Bridge the Gap effort to raise money for the schools next year!
Relay for Life –Arlington’s annual Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society will be held on June 5-6 at Peirce Field behind Arlington High School. It begins at 6:00P.M. on Saturday and ends at about 9:00A.M. on Sunday. This may be the last year for our MrsShusShoes team as it has become quite difficult to recruit participants.
If you'd like to support our 2010 ACS Relay for Life team and/or me or other individual team members and/or join the team...MrsShusShoes, please go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mrsj
-St. Eulalia's Catholic Heart Work Camp Yard Sale to support their annual Youth Service Trip: Saturday, May 22, 50 Ridge Street Winchester.
Proceeds will help support a July service trip to Maryland. Over 70 teens will be participating!! We need your help. Donate your unwanted furniture, household goods, housewares, appliances, dishes, pots and pans, glassware, tchotchkis, antiques, holiday decorations, sporting goods, bikes, tools, gardening supplies, books, clothing (adults and kids) accessories, shoes, pocketbooks, jewelry and whatever else you think might sell!
If you are unable to bring your donations to Manion Hall, please call Michelle Hamblin at 781-307-0280 for pick-up.
Come See what Middle School Afterschool Is All About!Ottoson Middle School - AEC Info Sessions
Tuesday, May 18th, 7:00p; Wednesday, June 16th, 7:00p
Location: Ottoson's Media CenterArlington Enrichment Collaborative (AEC) is a unique after-school program for middle school students that focuses on the strengths and needs of each individual student. AEC offers guided homework time, a myriad of enrichment courses, safe and supervised social time and outdoor activity options.Arlington families are invited to learn about AEC. To RSVP(sessions fill up quickly) or for more info, contact Diana Weisner, AEC Director, at diana@arlingtonenrichment.org
or 781-643-4794. Website:www.arlingtonenrichment.org
Springstep – Free event in May.
Springstep is sponsoring “A Dance Conversation with Ben Vereen” on Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 a.m. Vereen will discuss how dance and education helped him overcome personal adversity, boosted his confidence, and put him on a successful path in life. His story speaks directly to urban youth and to the potential of the arts to illuminate the possibilities in life. All Greater Boston youth and families are invited to attend this FREE event. This event is geared for youth from about 4th grade up; please call 781-395-0402 for more information.
Have a great weekend!
