The Hour of Code

Mrs. Klipfel worked with students to code and the children were so engaged and learned so much! 

Happy New Year!

I wish you and your family a happy, healthy and peaceful new year! 

Happy Holidays!

Festive Sweater Day

And the winner was...Mr. Kilham!

Happy Holidays!

Festive Sing-A-Long

Thank you, Miss Swanson, for an incredible and festive sing-a-long today!

Assets in Action: #105 - Help kids learn something new

Assets in Action: #105 - Help kids learn something new

Learn Sudoku!

To promote problem solving and critical thinking skills, children at Steward often engage in practicing Sudoku!  Ben had a simple way to teach those who are new to these fun and addictive puzzles and we had to capture it on film.  Try one and use Ben's strategies to help you!   Sodoku by Ben from Michelle Costa on Vimeo.

Trash Free Tuesday

Our students did a great job preventing waste from filling our trash cans on Trash Free Tuesday! 

Preparing for Trash Free Tuesday

Students from student council played the role of the Super RS (reduce, reuse, recycle, rot and rethink). They were at each lunch this week teaching the children about things they could bring the next day to prevent waste.

Flipogram Friday: December 11, 2015

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Innovation Incubator

Dear Family, We have started an “Innovation Incubator” that will help us grow and cultivate our creative ideas into more creative ideas! If your child has had an innovative idea at home or has a business (yes, we have several developing), a creation, invention, game or other product that demonstrates true innovation, please send it in for a short time to help others become inspired! When your child sends it in, please have him/her write a short description of how the idea was generated, what they have created and how it could potentially help others. We love innovation here at Steward School. It is an important component of G.R.I.T! Sincerely, Mrs. Costa

Chris Van Allsburg!!!

Look who Mrs. Costa met...Chris Van Allsburg! If you are reading my blog, you will be able to tell me which book he wrote when you see me this week!! 

Flipogram Friday: December 4

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Barynya: Russian Dance Group

Valerie Tutson

The children were mesmerized yesterday as they listened to Valerie Tutson share stories from South Africa. They learned so much about captive and expressive storytelling! The children were active participants throughout the show and we are hoping they come home and share stories in a similar way after her incredible modeling. Thank you, TESPTO!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Steward in a Second

Do you only have a moment? Come by our "Steward in a Second" display to learn all about our happenings and what is coming soon!

Preschoolers are Thankful!

Spreading Our Message

Members of our third grade student council took on the role of "activist" today to spread a message about anti-idling laws during pick-up. They braved the wind and cold to spread the word!

Judith Jango-Cohen

Students in all grades learned about writing non-fiction from author Judith Jango-Cohen.  The third graders engaged in a writing workshop on a subsequent day.  We thank her for telling us about her experiences as a non-fiction author and sharing many fun facts!

Victoria Arlen

Our students were visited by motivational speaker and G.R.I.T expert, Victoria Arlen. Victoria’s life drastically changed in 2006 at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. This was an incredibly rare scenario and Victoria quickly lost the ability to speak, eat, walk and move. She slipped into a vegetative state and Victoria spent nearly four years “locked” inside her own body completely aware of what was going on but unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope of survival and that recovery was unlikely. In 2010 after almost four years she began the nearly impossible fight back to life.  Although she faced the devastating reality of paralysis from the waist down due to damage to her spine, she went on to exceedingly defy the odds and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished Motivational Speaker, Actress, Model, and Swimmer. Her swimming includes three Silvers and a Gold medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as multiple World, American and Pan American Records. Victoria recently joined ESPN as the youngest on-air talent and made her television debut this past Summer reporting at the Special Olympic World Games in Los Angeles. At just twenty-one years old Victoria has become world famous not only for her story and accomplishments but for her message:

“ Face It, Embrace It, Defy It, Conquer It “and “Rock Your Disability “

Happy Thanksgiving from our Preschool!

Miss Carol's class sang songs, shared what they are thankful for and had quite a feast to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Ragan's Kindergarten Classroom: Turkeys, Turkeys, Turkeys!

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Mrs. Ragan's Kindergarten Classroom: Turkeys, Turkeys, Turkeys!: The children had a great time creating a turkey headband along with a turkey promoting options for another food to eat!

Flipogram Friday (my first one)

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Finalist Candidates: Tri-Town School Union Superintendent Search

Dear Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield Families and Community Members:

The two finalist candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Tri-Town School Union will be visiting our district next week and we invite parents and community members to meet them at our Community Forums.  The Community Forums are scheduled as listed below:

On Monday, November 23rd, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Proctor School Library, 60 Main Street, Topsfield, with Patrick Daly , Assistant Superintendent of the North Reading Public Schools

On Tuesday, November 24th, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Harry Lee Cole School Library, 26 Middleton Road, Boxford, with Scott Morrison, Director of Curriculum and Technology of the Manchester-Essex Regional School District

Refreshments for the Community Forums are being kindly provided by TESPTO, Boxford PTO and BEST.

You are invited to submit questions for the candidates in advance via email to:

TTUSuptSearch@tritownschoolunion.com .  Please understand that submitted questions will be shared with the Tri-Town Union School Committee. It may not be possible for all questions to be asked of each candidate depending on time available.

You may also use the same email address above to provide feedback and input to the members of the Tri-Town Union School Committee, whose responsibility it is to make the selection of the next Superintendent of Schools.

On Tuesday, December 1^st the TTU School Committee will conduct public interviews of the two finalists in the Nathan Media Center at the Fuller Meadow School in Middleton (143 South Main Street) the first interview is scheduled at 5:30 PM. The second interview is scheduled at7:15 PM. The interviews will be public. MCATV will broadcast live and record the interviews for rebroadcast on CATV in Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield.

Members of the TTU Committee will be conducting site visits to North Reading and Manchester-Essex between December 1^st and December 10^th to learn more about the candidates by meeting with a variety of stakeholder groups in the respective communities.

On Thursday, December 10^th the TTU School Committee will meet to deliberate and elect a new Superintendent. This will be a public meeting. Information about the time and location of the meeting will be communicated once decided by the TTU Committee.

We look forward to your participation in this most important decision making process.

Sincerely,

Members of the Tri-Town Union School Committee

Boxford Members                                            Middleton Members                                   Topsfield Members

Christine Bolzan, TTU Secretary        Mark Moreschi, TTU Vice Chair                 Joseph Quigley, TTU Chair

David Rivers, Member                                    Tasha Cooper, Member                               Gordie Spater, Member

Heather Vaz, Member                                     Amy Karas, Member                       Katherine Carlson, Member

Project-Based Learning During WIN (What I Need) Block

Children created their own games and projects in third grade during WIN block.  I have an appointment with one child to "test" his game.  I can't wait!  Another group was true to Jeopardy by increasing the difficulty level as the money amount increased.

Tinkering

During their tinker time in first grade with Mrs. Dunn, the children started using paper clips and inventing things when someone started making jewelry.  Look at what happened!

Veterans Day 2015

Today we were honored by the number of veterans who came to our annual assembly.  Six or seven years ago, we had four veterans and today we had over 20!  The children sang songs, read letters and held the flag high as we celebrated those who have made sacrifices for our freedom and their families who have sacrificed as well.  At the end, the veterans all saluted our students, which was a tremendous honor.  We had a reception following the ceremony and were able to hear stories and mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, our own local community members and Master Sargent Monbleau from our own staff were able to bond over their experiences and the meaning of this important day that we honor each year.  Please take some time tomorrow to talk with your child(ren) about the true meaning of "Veterans Day" and why we are not in school.  Thank you!

Mrs. E Teaches Empathy

Our School Psychologist, Meredith Edelstein, taught the girls in second grade a lesson about empathy. She taught them by making connections to looking at the weather and deciding what to wear. The children understood that by looking at a person's body language, facial expressions and listening to their words you can better understand how to respond to their needs. They also completed an empathy chain, which is hanging in our second grade hallway.