Friday, April 22, 2016

4/22/16

Dear McKelvie Families ~

Last Friday, the McKelvie Chorus performed at Fisher Cat Stadium.  As you can imagine, I am so proud of them and all of the students at McKelvie.  While it is my role to facilitate quality learning for your children, I feel as though they teach me more than I could have ever fathomed. Click here to hear our kids sing.

Polite & Right Raffle Winners
5th grade:  Cole Wolfinger, Anna Smith
6th grade:  Olivia MacDonald, Tyler Beekman

Smarter Balanced 
Monday, May 2nd - Grade 6
If your child is in the following classrooms, they will have SBAC testing all of next week: Allen/Mail/Waldman, Oliveria/Ouellette/Rushia, Mueller/Ramsey.  We have 3 requests:
- Students will need a pair of earbuds Monday – Friday.  The teachers will keep them safe.
- Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast
- A good night’s rest is also helpful
The assessment is not meant to add anxiety.  Students should simply do their best and know that we are behind them 100%.

Spring Break
Just a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL the week of April 24th.  We will return on Monday, May 2nd

Math Excel - ACTION ITEM
Information regarding 5th grade Excel Placement can be found on the Mathematics Placement Page on the McKelvie website.  If interested, permission slips can be printed and should be returned to your child's math teacher by Wednesday, May 11.  Excel testing will take place on the morning of Friday, May 13.

McKelvie's Got Talent Show
Auditions - Monday, May 9th, 3:30 - 4:30 in the cafe
Student Council is pleased to invite you to this year's annual school-wide talent show! The Talent Show will be held on Wednesday, June 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, with doors opening at 5:45. Ice cream sundaes and root beer floats will be available for $3.00.  Tickets for those treats will be available upon arrival.  The participants for this much-anticipated show always work very hard, and get very excited to put on a great show!  We hope you can join us!  Those interested in auditioning should click here for the permission slip/audition form!

Teacher Appreciation Week
May 2nd- May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Week.  We have a great week planned to show our appreciation for the wonderful teachers and staff at McKelvie.  We need your help to make it all happen.  Click on this link to see what you can do....
Thanks in advance!

You're A Good Man Charlie Brown
McKelvie students have been working hard to prepare for this spring's production, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.  There will be 3 performances of the show,  Friday, May 6th at 7 pm andSaturday, May 7th at 1pm and 6pm.  Tickets are $5/per person.  Ticket order forms and show information can be found HERE.

Destination Imagination - Shoes, Bags & Belt Drive until May 15th
Bedford DI are having a special drive through Ecosmith Recyclers.  From now until May 15th, you can donate all your old shoes, bags and belts (any condition) in the marked boxes in our school lobby.  This is a great way to get your spring cleaning under way, while helping raise funds for the Lurgio team heading to Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.  Remember, clothing, fabrics and stuffed animals can always be donated in the bin in the parking lot.  We appreciate your support.

National Drug Take-Back Day  
Saturday, April 30th. Click here for information and locations.

In Previous News...

McKelvie Author Visit! - Action Item
Author Lynda Mullaly Hunt will be coming to McKelvie on Monday, May 16th.  While she is at McKelvie she will be signing her books Fish In a Tree and One For The Murphy's.  If you would like to purchase a book for this purpose, the order form is attached HERE.  Order forms and money are due back to your child's homeroom teacher on or before Friday, April 22, 2016.  If your child already has a copy of one of these books, information will be provided at a later date on where to bring there books so they can have it signed.

Spanish Summer Camp
Students entering 2nd grade-8th grade will be exposed to Spanish in fun immersive language environment on July 11th-14th from 8:00am-11:30am at Bedford High School.  There will be different themes each day taught by highly trained and certified teachers with teenaged team leaders. Students will be in appropriate age and ability groupings.  No Spanish experience is required.  Email Laura Chenette at chenettel@sau25.net with questions or to register, spaces are limited.

Parent Involvement Survey
If your child receives special education services, you are being asked to complete a survey about the district's efforts to involve parents in improving services and results for children. Paper surveys are in the mail complete with a pre-paid return envelope. If you prefer, you can go to www.NHParent.com and complete the survey online. Surveys must be completed by May 13th. Your opinions are very important, and we hope you share them. 

Bedford Schools Water Supply
Concerns about the water supply have been in the news recently.  We want to make sure everyone on our community knows that none of the water supplying the Bedford Schools comes from the Merrimack Village Water DistrictManchester Water Works supplies Peter Woodbury and Memorial. Pennichuck Water Works supplies McKelvie, Lurgio, Bedford High School, and Riddle Brook through a Manchester water source. 

Michael Fournier
Principal
McKelvie Intermediate School
108 Liberty Hill Road
Bedford, NH 03110
603.472.3951 (W)
603.472.4503 (F)
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Friday, April 15, 2016

4/15/16

Dear McKelvie Families ~

It has been such a pleasure seeing so many families walking the halls of McKelvie!  I hope that parent conferences have been helpful and positive.  We think your kids are terrific and want to make sure they are gaining all of the knowledge and skills necessary to grow.  Below are my notes from this week:

Polite & Right Raffle Winners
Also pictured: Alisha Juneja
Congratulations!

McKelvie Author Visit! - Action Item
Author Lynda Mullaly Hunt will be coming to McKelvie on Monday, May 16th.  While she is at McKelvie she will be signing her books Fish In a Tree and One For The Murphy's.  If you would like to purchase a book for this purpose, the order form is attached HERE.  Order forms and money are due back to your child's homeroom teacher on or before Friday, April 22, 2016.  If your child already has a copy of one of these books, information will be provided at a later date on where to bring there books so they can have it signed.

Smarter Balanced Starts Monday - Grade 6
If your child is in the following classrooms, they will have SBAC testing all of next week: Burke/Boppel/Thornton, Crowell/Geddes/Steere.  We have 3 requests:
- Students will need a pair of earbuds Monday – Friday.  The teachers will keep them safe.
- Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast
- A good night’s rest is also helpful
The assessment is not meant to add anxiety.  Students should simply do their best and know that we are behind them 100%.

Report Card Reminder
Just a reminder that when you log into the Parent Portal, there is a button on the left that reads "Report Card."  If you click on this icon, a pdf version of your child's report card will be generated to print for your records or sports teams.

Destination Imagination - Shoes, Bags & Belt DriveBedford DI are having a special drive through Ecosmith Recyclers.  From now until May 15th, you can donate all your old shoes, bags and belts (any condition) in the marked boxes in our school lobby.  This is a great way to get your spring cleaning under way, while helping raise funds for the Lurgio team heading to Global Finals in Knoxville, TN.  Remember, clothing, fabrics and stuffed animals can always be donated in the bin in the parking lot.  We appreciate your support.
Perspectives on BullyingParenting New Hampshire Magazine is hosting an educational forum on Tuesday, April 19ththat will bring together experts, parents and educators to discuss different perspectives on bullying.  The guest speaker and panel will discuss the different types of bullying, who is at risk, NH’s anti-bullying law, and support and resources available for children and parents.  For more information, go to www.parentingnh.com/bullying.
In Previous News...

Spanish Summer Camp
Students entering 2nd grade-8th grade will be exposed to Spanish in fun immersive language environment on July 11th-14th from 8:00am-11:30am at Bedford High School.  There will be different themes each day taught by highly trained and certified teachers with teenaged team leaders. Students will be in appropriate age and ability groupings.  No Spanish experience is required.  Email Laura Chenette at chenettel@sau25.net with questions or to register, spaces are limited.

Parent Involvement Survey
If your child receives special education services, you are being asked to complete a survey about the district's efforts to involve parents in improving services and results for children. Paper surveys are in the mail complete with a pre-paid return envelope. If you prefer, you can go to www.NHParent.com and complete the survey online. Surveys must be completed by May 13th. Your opinions are very important, and we hope you share them. 

Bedford Schools Water Supply
Concerns about the water supply have been in the news recently.  We want to make sure everyone on our community knows that none of the water supplying the Bedford Schools comes from the Merrimack Village Water DistrictManchester Water Works supplies Peter Woodbury and Memorial. Pennichuck Water Works supplies McKelvie, Lurgio, Bedford High School, and Riddle Brook through a Manchester water source. 

Have a great weekend,

Michael Fournier
Principal
McKelvie Intermediate School
108 Liberty Hill Road
Bedford, NH 03110
603.472.3951 (W)
603.472.4503 (F)
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Friday, April 8, 2016

4/8/16

Dear McKelvie Families ~

I am so proud of the kids who took the Smarter Balanced Assessment this week.  They were OUTSTANDING!  Thank you to everyone for helping us pull this off - there are a lot of moving parts.  If your child shares that they are mentally exhausted, you can certainly believe them!  Once again, this week's note is chock full of information:

Polite & Right Raffle Winners
Congratulations!

6th Grade Parents - Action Item!
It is time to register your 6th grader for 7th grade!  Please click HERE for a description of course offerings at the middle school, and for directions to log into Powerschool to register for your student's classes at Lurgio. 

Book Fair a HUGE Success
Thank you to everyone who shopped the PTG Book Fair.  Early numbers show $13,314 gross.  Way to go!

Coins for Kids
Mr. Donahue & Mrs. Stank want to recognize their class for the HUGE efforts they put into the Coins for Kids drive.  Click here to see Zach & Ben Nguyen!

Smarter Balanced Starts Monday
If your child is in the following classrooms, they will have SBAC testing all of next week: Lovering/Kelly, Facques/Mazella, & Cleghorn/Hayward.  We have 3 requests:
- Students will need a pair of earbuds Monday – Friday.  The teachers will keep them safe.
- Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast
- A good night’s rest is also helpful
The assessment is not meant to add anxiety.  Students should simply do their best and know that we are behind them 100%.

Q3 Report Cards - ACTION ITEM
This is it!  Our first attempt at digital Report Cards.  If all goes according to plan, simply log into the Parent Portal and click on the Report Card (left column) .  It should generate a pdf.  NOTE: Teachers usually have a "preview" day to look at paper copies to check for errors.  If your child's report card has an error, please notify their teacher.  Clerical mistakes can be easily fixed.

FCCLA Spring Conference
Congratulations to Mrs. Trudel and her FCCLA Team.  They returned today from their Spring Conference.  Those in attendance were: Evan Perry, Jacob Sevigny, Sophie Figler, Amelia Magay, Ava Weld, Emily Walker , Raquel DeLeo, Alisha Juneja, Leigh Rudduck, Kendall Kerr, Michelle Yu, Lucky Kovvuri, Lillian Wade, & Kayleigh Robillard.  A BIG thank you to our chaperones too: Mrs. DeLeo, Mrs. Magay, Mrs. Figler, Mrs. Sevigny, Mrs. Rudduck, Mrs. Perry

PTG Scholastic Feelin’ Groovy Book Fair
If you were unable to attend the Scholastic Book Fair at McKelvie this week or if you just want to keep shopping, visit the Book Fair online at www.scholastic.com/fair. The online Book Fair is available through Saturday, April 16th.Find an expanded selection of books for the whole family. All orders ship to McKelvie for FREE and each purchase benefits our school. Books will be delivered to your child after April vacation. Thanks for your support.

Math Placement Web Page
As a resource for McKelvie families, our Curriculum Coordinator for Math and Science K-8, has developed a web site to assist with math placement questions. This can be accessed under Academics on the McKelvie web page. 

World Language Poster Contest
The five winners from McKelvie School whose posters are being sent to the state poster contest for World Language Month sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of World Language Teachers are Chelsea Ongjoco, Alejandra Kotsinyan, Olivia King, Fiona Gillis, and Christy Elliott. Best of luck to these students in the state competition! Please see the attached photo of these winners and their posters.

Bake-Off at Bedford High School
The Bedford National Honor Society will be hosting a "Bake-Off" on Monday, April 11, from 2:35 to 5:30 in the BHS Library. Bakers are invited to enter their dessert goods for $2. Non-bakers are also invited to attend and may sample all of the entrees for a $5 fee. All proceeds will be donated to the Joe Dambach Memorial Fund. The winner of the competition will receive a cookbook from the Barefoot Contessa. If you are interested in entering the competition, please register using the attached form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1T1Ejb4DHV3zvj_B2SJlO6j4j64t2sImBruYx1lHqbFY/viewform?edit_requested=true
Any questions or concerns may be addressed to either Megan Pemberton (9955491@bedfordnhk12.net) or Anli Zhang (9955683@bedfordnhk12.net). We hope to see you there!

Spanish Summer Camp
Students entering 2nd grade-8th grade will be exposed to Spanish in fun immersive language environment on July 11th-14th from 8:00am-11:30am at Bedford High School.  There will be different themes each day taught by highly trained and certified teachers with teenaged team leaders. Students will be in appropriate age and ability groupings.  No Spanish experience is required.  Email Laura Chenette at chenettel@sau25.net with questions or to register, spaces are limited. 

Hannaford Helps Schools
A BIG thank you to families who participated in the HHS program.  We earned $252.00.  Click here to see the check.

BEEP 2016-2017 Enrollment - Spots still available!
Bedford Early Education Program  (BEEP) continues to accept registrations for the 2016-2017 School Year.  We still have space available in some of our 3 and 4 year old classrooms for 2, 3 or 4 days a week.  Please contact Roberta Keane, BEEP Coordinator at (603) 627-1776 x3216 or keaner@sau25.net.

Community-Wide Substance Abuse Discussion on Sunday April 10
You are invited to an important event entitled "It’s Time to Break the Silence!"  This community-wide discussion will be held at the Bedford Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 10 from 6:30-8:00 PM. This is an opportunity to discuss drug and alcohol abuse and share ways to address these serious challenges.  Parents, teens, and youth from 4th to 12th grade are invited.  For more info contact John Sawyer at jsawyer@bedfordpresbyterian.org or 603-472-5841.

Parent Involvement Survey
If your child receives special education services, you are being asked to complete a survey about the district's efforts to involve parents in improving services and results for children. Paper surveys are in the mail complete with a pre-paid return envelope. If you prefer, you can go to www.NHParent.com and complete the survey online. Surveys must be completed by May 13th. Your opinions are very important, and we hope you share them. 

Bedford Schools Water Supply
Concerns about the water supply have been in the news recently.  We want to make sure everyone on our community knows that none of the water supplying the Bedford Schools comes from the Merrimack Village Water DistrictManchester Water Works supplies Peter Woodbury and Memorial. Pennichuck Water Works supplies McKelvie, Lurgio, Bedford High School, and Riddle Brook through a Manchester water source. 

In Previous News...

New Morning Open House
New Morning Schools is pleased to invite you to our IMAGINE Program Open House, Monday April 11th, 4:30-7 PM at 23 Back River Road, Bedford.  Please stop by and explore our newly expanded space which will house our club based enrichment before and after school programs, vacation and summer camps.  Just for coming to our Open House each family will be entered in a raffle for a free week of camp for one child!

Have a great evening,

Michael Fournier
Principal
McKelvie Intermediate School
108 Liberty Hill Road
Bedford, NH 03110
603.472.3951 (W)
603.472.4503 (F)
"Like" us on Facebook!

Friday, April 1, 2016

4/1/16

Dear McKelvie Families ~

I am so grateful for your kids.  They are funny, smart, insightful, and full of energy.  If I had one child try and play an April Fools joke on me, I had 20!  Boy, do they crack themselves up!  As a reminder, grades closed today.  Report cards will be issued on 4/8 in an electronic format.  We will make sure you understand how to access them next week. 

On another note, a HUGE thank you to Sue Jennato, Kim Beekman, and Lori Cibotti for their hard work on our Book Fair.  The classroom has been absolutely transformed.  You have GOT to see what they have done!

Smarter Balanced Starts Monday
If your child is in the following classrooms, they will have SBAC testing all of next week: Stank, Donahue, Ashby, Francis, Sevilla, Draper, Opitz, Brown.  We have 3 requests:
ü  Students will need a pair of earbuds Monday – Friday.  The teachers will keep them safe.
ü  Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast
ü  A good night’s rest is also helpful
The assessment is not meant to add anxiety.  Students should simply do their best and know that we are behind them 100%.

Q4 Intramurals- April 4 – May 26, 2016
Sign-ups for fourth quarter intramurals will be held from March 25 at 3:30 PM - Sunday, April 3rd at 3 PM.  You will be able to sign up on the McKelvie website under the intramural tab.   Space is limited so be sure to sign up.  Any questions, please contact geddesa@sau25.net.

Parent Night for 6th Grade Parents - IMPORTANT
Click here for an important message from Mr. Joyce (RAL Principal) regarding an Information Night on Tuesday, April 5th @ 6pm in the BHS Theater.

New Morning Open House
New Morning Schools is pleased to invite you to our IMAGINE Program Open House, Monday April 11th, 4:30-7 PM at 23 Back River Road, Bedford.  Please stop by and explore our newly expanded space which will house our club based enrichment before and after school programs, vacation and summer camps.  Just for coming to our Open House each family will be entered in a raffle for a free week of camp for one child!

PTG Scholastic Feelin’ Groovy Book Fair
The PTG “Feelin’ Groovy-Peace, Love and Books” Book Fair will be at McKelvie April 4th – 7th. We will be open Monday/Wednesday til 5:30 and Tuesday/Thursday til 7pm in room 1. We will kick things off with a Tie Dye Spirit Day on Friday, April 1st and wrap it up Hippie Day on Friday, April 8th. Students will all have an opportunity to preview the book fair during the week with their class and create a "wish list" of books they like.  Parents are welcome any time during fair hours to come to shop for great books. There will also be a "classroom wish list" for each teacher on display at the fair.  If a parent/student wants to purchase and donate a book to a teacher’s classroom they can do so at the fair.  Be sure to check out the 1960’s Dance Off competition going on between some staff members!

Clothing Drive April 4th-8th
McKelvie will be participating in a clothing drive with Schoola (www.schoola.com). Schoola collects pre-loved women's and children’s clothes, preps and sells them online, and gives 40% of the proceeds back to McKelvie. Donate clean clothing in like-new condition from April 4th -  8th. To be sure McKelvie gets credited for items sold please label your donation bags with the stickers that should have come home with students. Questions can be directed to Sue Jennato at sjennato@comcast.net

Whole Foods Preview Day to support the Bedford Education Foundation!
The Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) is honored to be the recipient of donations from Whole Foods tours on Tuesday, April 5th from 10-4.
Please stop by the BEF table and say hello to our board members and learn about the work we do on behalf of our teachers and students.  In 2016 the BEF is funding well over $20,000 in grants supporting innovative professional development and program development in the Bedford School District!

Destination Imagination 
Congratulations to the McKelvie kids who participated at the DI Regionals in both in Goffstown last weekend.  We are so proud of these super creative kids and are most grateful to the adult volunteers for giving of their time over the past 4 months. Way to go, Lexy Steffens, Taylor Hatem, Kayleigh Robillard, Selah Kotlar, Aamit Kancherlapalli, Abhinav Challa, Kaleigh Slozak (on RBS team), Xavier Forcier (on RAL team)

Spotlight on Special Education in Bedford
Are you the parent or guardian of a child who accesses special education services in Bedford?  Join us for an informational session to learn about special education services in our Bedford schools!  Meet representatives and gain insight into the different programming at each school through this panel presentation. Tuesday April 19th, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the SAU Board Room, 103 County Road.  RSVP to Robin Palis palisr@sau25.net or 472-3755 (option 2).

Social Media: A Predator's Playground
The Bedford Police Department and The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will be presenting "Social Media: A Predator's Playground" to the community on Monday April 4th, 6:30 - 8:30PM in the BHS Theater.  The presentation will explain the dangers teens face today. Discussions about how various forms of electronic communications (computer, phones, gaming systems, etc.) can put families at risk will be covered.  This presentation is specifically geared towards parents and educators who are looking to better understand technology available to teens today and the way in which child predators use it to exploit them. Click here for a flyer.

Community Presentation:
Monday April 4th
Bedford High School Theater
6:30pm-8:30pm

Staff members and others that attend will receive 2 hours of continuing education credits. 

In Previous News…

Community Action Team Endeavor
Your Coins to Benefit NH's Children in Hospitals! Starting Monday, March 28th, through Friday,April 8th, the Community Action Team (CAT) is collecting "coins" to benefit NH's Hospital for Children at Elliot.  Monies will be collected on the following schedule:
Monday - Pennies
Tuesday - Nickels
Wednesday - Dimes
Thursday - Quarters
Friday - Any monies

The goal of CAT is to make a hospital stay a little more comfortable for children in NH.  Elliot Hospital has a wish list of items that would provide comfort and distraction to children who are facing surgery or hospitalization (Wish List).  Through the student's donations CAT will be purchasing items on the hospital's wish list.  If you have any questions about this drive, please contact CAT Advisors Michael Crowell (crowellm@sau25.net) or Jodi Parsons (parsonsj@sau25.net).

Illusionist Show @ BHS
The Bedford High School DECA chapter will be hosting the magical spectacular, The Magic of Lyn. The show’s award winning illusionist, Lyn Dillies, has toured all around the country and is bringing her 85 minute act to the BHS Theatre at 7:30 PM on April 9th. Tickets will be $10 when ordered directly from a DECA student attending ICDC, $15 online here and $15 at the door. We will also be offering a VIP package special for the kids which includes a light up magic wand paired with a magician’s cape customized with your child’s name on it for $15. All proceeds from the event will go toward funding DECA students to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Nashville at the end of April.  We can’t wait to see you there!

Volleyball Clinic - April Break
Courtney O’Connell, a senior who plays for the Varsity Volleyball team at Bedford High School, is hosting a volleyball clinic from April 25-27 for girls in grades 5-8 for her senior project.  The camp is about improving on fundamental volleyball skills and learning more about the game, with appearances from college and club coaches! Click on the link to sign up!!

Opt in to Text Messages - IMPORTANT
If you have not signed up for text messages from the District's School Messenger system, you still can!  Just text "yes" to 68453.  This is especially important for bus breakdowns and emergencies.

Have a GREAT weekend,

Michael Fournier
Principal
McKelvie Intermediate School
108 Liberty Hill Road
Bedford, NH 03110
603.472.3951 (W)
603.472.4503 (F)
"Like" us on Facebook!