Friday, September 29, 2017

9.29.17

Dear McKelvie Families ~

A BIG shout out to our McKelvie kids and teachers for pushing through the heat and humidity at the start of the week!  Today was MUCH better, as you know.  There are several items this week for your perusal.  

Forgotten Items - updated due to feedback
Unless specifically requested by the classroom teacher, we respectfully ask that forgotten items such as homework, gym clothes, and non-essential items remain at home.  Classrooms have been inundated with interruptions and we are trying to curtail those.

Move-A-Thon Registration
T-Shirt Sales and Registration for MAT Activites has been extended until Monday, 10/2/2017.  Links for the shirt order form and registration can be found on the school website or at this LINK

MAT T-Shirt Design Winner
Congratulations to 6th Grader Nikki Basur who created this year MAT T-Shirt Design: Click HERE

Move-A-Thon Prizes
Raising money for the Move-A-Thon can be FUN!!  For every $10 a student raises they earn a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize basket of their choice.  A theme basket can include items like ski passes, ice cream gift certificates, vertical dreams passes, and other rewards.  

Students can start collecting money from family and friends now for the Move-A-Thon.  Next Week the 5th and 6th-grade homeroom that has brought in the highest amount of sponsor money will be treated to a pancake breakfast fixed by Mr. Fournier and Mrs. Asdot. Have Fun!

From the Library
We have many new acquisitions to our school library thanks to the generous PTG. The Scholastic Dollars from the two book fairs held last year at McKelvie were donated to the McKelvie Library. As a result, new books were purchased to coincide with curriculum as well as pleasure reading. We were able to acquire additional copies of highly circulated titles that have a list of students waiting to check them out. In addition to books, the library was also able to obtain two wooden book displays and littleBits Arduino Coding Kits. Thank you to Sue Jennato and Janine Muir for your help! We are grateful for all the PTG does for the students and staff.

September Safe Sitters
Congratulations to the students who attended the September Safe Sitter session.  Certificates and folders have been returned through your homeroom teacher.  Special shout out to Teagen Jeffers who mastered the CPR challenge on the first try!

The October Safe Sitters list has been posted outside room 33 and on Mrs. Trudel’s website. Classes will begin October 16th.

Bedford Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Please join us as we recognize the Inaugural Class of the Bedford Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place on Homecoming Day - Saturday, October 21st at 2:00 PM - in the Bedford High School Dining Commons.  For more information, and to order tickets, please click HERE.

Bedford Education Foundation
The BEF is holding their annual fundraising event on November 17th from 7pm to 10pm at the Bedford Village Inn.  The theme is Nostalgic November.  For more information on the event and how to purchase tickets, click HERE.  Questions can be directed to info@befnh.org

In Previous News...

Lost and Found
Found items are stored to the right of the stage in the cafeteria. Please encourage your children to check the shelves and hangers for any lost items. Small items such as jewelry and eyeglasses are kept in the Main Office. Any items LABELED WITH FIRST AND LAST NAME will be returned to homerooms. Please label all school supplies, clothing, sports equipment, and lunch/snack gear.

Safety Issue
Please do not drive behind the buses when they are parked at McKelvie for afternoon pickup.  This is a considerable safety concern.  License plates will be recorded and reported to the Bedford Police.

Cell Phones
Just a reminder that student cell phones need to remain off during school hours.  We have over 100 phones in the school and they can be accessed with teacher permission at any time.  Thank you!

Piano Accompanist Needed
If you or someone you know might be interested in accompanying the McKelvie chorus, please contact Rebecca Coughlin at coughlinr@sau25.net.  This position comes with a stipend.

Special Education Parent Focus Group
The district is looking to expand the parent volunteers in the Special Education Parent Focus Group, a formal partnership between special education parents and the school community. Parent participants represent each of the schools and encompass all grade levels. Meetings are held monthly on the third Wednesday from 9-10 AM at the SAU office. Discussion and activities support family engagement and improvements in the district special education initiatives. Please contact Chris Lassonde, Director of Special Services (lassondec@sau25.net). We would love to have more parents join us!

Meadow Farms Gifts, Wrap and More
Our popular Gifts, Wrap & More fundraiser is underway. Brochures, with ordering details, should have come home with elementary students last week.  Families, students, and staff at McKelvie, RAL and BHS will be able to order online via this link McK-RAL-BHS Ordering Link
All orders are due by Monday, 10/2 and product will direct to your home. 40% of sales are donated back to our schools!
Support the PTG
Our support drive is under way and if you’d like to make a donation to the PTG you can do so via PayPal by visiting our website www.bedfordptg.org. Donations via check can be made out to Bedford PTG and returned to school with students in the PTG support envelops that have been sent home. With your support we are able to put over $65,000/year in programs and events into our schools!!
Looking To Volunteer
Volunteer forms were sent home with students in grades K - 8. Please be sure to return these forms in order to receive notifications of volunteer opportunities in your school. Volunteer forms can be downloaded from the PTG website. Bedford High School volunteer opportunities are available by contacting Andrea Ahlstrom via email at andrea.ahlstrom@gmail.com. PTG volunteers logged over 23,000 hours last year, earning each of the six schools the Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in volunteering. We'd love to have you join us!
New To Bedford?  
The PTG will host a welcome for all new families to Bedford. This open house style event will take place on Wednesday, October 4th at the Bedford Town Library at 9:30am or 6:30pm. Families new to the district will be receiving invitations in the mail. Representatives and/or Administration from all 6 schools will be on hand. Families can learn about school events/programs and town happenings. Light refreshments will be served and your children are welcome to attend. If you have any questions or would like to attend this event please contact Aneesa Fallon at aaf4@comcast.net

School Sponsorship Opportunity - 10/6 deadline
This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Intermediate School's Move-a-thon.  If you own a business or know someone who does, we are seeking business/corporate sponsors this year.  Attached is an informational letter and a sponsorship form.  If you are interested or have questions, please contact one of our outstanding committee members (listed below).

Cindy Detscher - mdetscher@comcast.net
Liz Purnell - lizpurnell@comcast.net
Jen Cassidy - jen.cassidy@me.com
Lisa Wolfinger - lisa.wolfinger@gmail.com
Jen Theodore - jentheodore@comcast.net
Jen Spector - jen.spector@gmail.com
Kristen Wenzel - Kristen.Wenzel@comcast.net
Sarah Lacroix - sarahperk@hotmail.com
Jodi Parsons - parsonsj@sau25.net
Jen Asdot - asdotj@sau25.net

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!

BeBOLD Board Member

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Picture Retake Day-October 18

Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, October 18th.  New students and students who were absent on original picture day, which was Wednesday, September 6th, will be photographed first.  If you feel you would like a retake, you must return your unwanted pictures.

Friday, September 22, 2017

9.22.17

Dear McKelvie Families ~

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, consider attending Bedford’s Old Town Day and/or the first annual Art Jam Bridge Fest on Saturday.  Both events will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends, support the community, and celebrate all that is New Hampshire.  This week’s notes are below:

Lost and Found
Found items are stored to the right of the stage in the cafeteria. Please encourage your children to check the shelves and hangers for any lost items. Small items such as jewelry and eyeglasses are kept in the Main Office. Any items LABELED WITH FIRST AND LAST NAME will be returned to homerooms. Please label all school supplies, clothing, sports equipment, and lunch/snack gear.

Safety Issue
Please do not drive behind the buses when they are parked at McKelvie for afternoon pickup.  This is a considerable safety concern.  License plates will be recorded and reported to the Bedford Police.

Forgotten Items
Unless specifically requested by the classroom teacher, we respectfully ask that forgotten items such as homework, gym clothes, and non-essential items remain at home.  Classrooms have been inundated with interruptions and we are trying to curtail those. :)  Necessary items such as glasses and teacher requested items are, of course, encouraged!

Cell Phones
Just a reminder that student cell phones need to remain off during school hours.  We have over 100 phones in the school and they can be accessed with teacher permission at any time.  Thank you!

Piano Accompanist Needed
If you or someone you know might be interested in accompanying the McKelvie chorus, please contact Rebecca Coughlin at coughlinr@sau25.net.  This position comes with a stipend.

From the Library
There continues to be a steady stream of library users here at McKelvie! It is wonderful seeing the students access all that the McKelvie Library has to offer. Just one of the great new additions to our library this year is access to digital subscription magazines. Be sure to have your child show you the magazines available via EBSCO's Flipster. There are 8 subscriptions that are accessible via the Flipster icon located on the "Digital Resources" tab from the library homepage. Be sure to check the 8 titles out!

Congratulations to our 3rd "Golden Ticket" winner! Click HERE to see Kaitlyn, the book she checked out and her prize. Happy reading, Kaitlyn!

Destination Imagination - Registration Closes 9/29
Destination Imagination is a fun academic program that teaches creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and management skills through project-based Challenges. These are key skills that all businesses (and colleges) are looking for – the ability to identify challenges and solve them, while leveraging the talents on your team. Designed to complement K-12 education, we offer seven new academic Challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts, service learning, and early learning. In solving a challenge, students learn the creative process from imagination to innovation and the skills needed to thrive in school, their careers and beyond. Teams can be made up of 2-7 members and must have an adult Team Manager i.e. - a parent or two.  We need volunteers and we will train you! The 2017-18 registration is open thru Friday, September 29th.  For more info, check out www.nh-di.org; Bedford DI on Facebook, or contact our district coordinator, Marie Russell at www.bedfordrocksdi@gmail.com.

  Registration link   https://goo.gl/forms/jIdyNwvAp24wVnFt2


Special Education Parent Focus Group
The district is looking to expand the parent volunteers in the Special Education Parent Focus Group, a formal partnership between special education parents and the school community. Parent participants represent each of the schools and encompass all grade levels. Meetings are held monthly on the third Wednesday from 9-10 AM at the SAU office. Discussion and activities support family engagement and improvements in the district special education initiatives. Please contact Chris Lassonde, Director of Special Services (lassondec@sau25.net). We would love to have more parents join us!


Bedford Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Please join us as we recognize the Inaugural Class of the Bedford Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place on Homecoming Day - Saturday, October 21st at 2:00 PM - in the Bedford High School Dining Commons.  For more information, and to order tickets, please click HERE.

In Previous News...

Meadow Farms Gifts, Wrap and More
Our popular Gifts, Wrap & More fundraiser is underway. Brochures, with ordering details, should have come home with elementary students last week.  Families, students, and staff at McKelvie, RAL and BHS will be able to order online via this link McK-RAL-BHS Ordering Link
All orders are due by Monday, 10/2 and product will direct to your home. 40% of sales are donated back to our schools!
Wonder What The PTG Is And What We Do?
Check us out at Bedford Olde Towne Day on Saturday, September 23rd from 10am-3pm. Learn more about school programs and community events sponsored by the PTG, meet our Bulldog, and see how you can be involved.
Support the PTG
Our support drive is under way and if you’d like to make a donation to the PTG you can do so via PayPal by visiting our website www.bedfordptg.org. Donations via check can be made out to Bedford PTG and returned to school with students in the PTG support envelops that have been sent home. With your support we are able to put over $65,000/year in programs and events into our schools!!
Meet the Principals Event
You are invited to join the PTG and the Principals from all six schools at our annual "Coffee with the Principals" event on Wednesday, September 27th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at BCTV (10 Meetinghouse Road). This is a great opportunity to hear what each school has in store for the year. There will be a Q & A following the presentation. Light refreshments will be served and your young children are welcome to attend.
Looking To Volunteer
Volunteer forms were sent home with students in grades K - 8. Please be sure to return these forms in order to receive notifications of volunteer opportunities in your school. Volunteer forms can be downloaded from the PTG website. Bedford High School volunteer opportunities are available by contacting Andrea Ahlstrom via email at andrea.ahlstrom@gmail.com. PTG volunteers logged over 23,000 hours last year, earning each of the six schools the Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in volunteering. We'd love to have you join us!
New To Bedford?  
The PTG will host a welcome for all new families to Bedford. This open house style event will take place on Wednesday, October 4th at the Bedford Town Library at 9:30am or 6:30pm. Families new to the district will be receiving invitations in the mail. Representatives and/or Administration from all 6 schools will be on hand. Families can learn about school events/programs and town happenings. Light refreshments will be served and your children are welcome to attend. If you have any questions or would like to attend this event please contact Aneesa Fallon at aaf4@comcast.net

School Sponsorship Opportunity - 10/6 deadline
This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Intermediate School's Move-a-thon.  If you own a business or know someone who does, we are seeking business/corporate sponsors this year.  Attached is an informational letter and a sponsorship form.  If you are interested or have questions, please contact one of our outstanding committee members (listed below).

Cindy Detscher - mdetscher@comcast.net
Liz Purnell - lizpurnell@comcast.net
Jen Cassidy - jen.cassidy@me.com
Lisa Wolfinger - lisa.wolfinger@gmail.com
Jen Theodore - jentheodore@comcast.net
Jen Spector - jen.spector@gmail.com
Kristen Wenzel - Kristen.Wenzel@comcast.net
Sarah Lacroix - sarahperk@hotmail.com
Jodi Parsons - parsonsj@sau25.net
Jen Asdot - asdotj@sau25.net

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!

BeBOLD Board Member

Friday, September 15, 2017

9.15.17

Dear McKelvie Families ~

A couple of weeks ago, the Superintendent shared this Ted Talk with the Bedford School District faculty.  I have watched it at least three times.  Further, I have used the concept within my own home as a way of reinforcing hard work and determination.  Angela Lee Duckworth provides a compelling message that I believe is so important in the positive development of our kids.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

This week’s note is chock full of information and action items.  Getting through it may require a cup of coffee! :)

McKelvie Move-A-Thon - ACTION ITEMS
McKelvie School's annual fundraiser, the Move-A-Thon, will be held on Thursday, October 26th.  We will be providing students with more information regarding the Move-A-Thon next week.  This is McKelvie's only school-wide fundraiser.  

Parents complete an online registration for the Move-A-Thon including what activity their child will participate in on that day.  Students then gather pledges or support from family and friends to sponsor them for their 1 hour of MOVING.  

Click HERE to find an information sheet regarding this year's Move-A-Thon and HERE for this year's Activity Options.  

Registration for the Move-A-Thon will open on TUESDAY 9/19 at 7pm on the school's website.  This event is successful each year because of our parent volunteers.  There will be a link for Parent Volunteers to Sign Up when you register your student beginning 9/19 on the website.

Move-A-Thon T-Shirt Contest  6th Grade Students ONLY
Starting on Monday 6th grade students will have an opportunity to submit an original design for the Move-A-Thon -Shirt contest.  Contest information and links will be available on the school's website starting Monday 9/18.  All student work must be completed in Google Draw and must be an original design.  More information on this contest can be found HERE.  This contest will be announced to students on Monday and submissions will be accepted until Wednesday 9/27.

Quarter One Soccer Intramural Announcement
Due to the overwhelming response for the Quarter 1 Soccer Intramural, many students have been placed on a waitlist. You should receive either a confirmation or waitlist notification today from the Intramural Coordinator, Susan Cavanaugh. Registrations were filled in the order in which received and each session has a limit of 24 students. Students who are waitlisted will automatically be placed on either the Q2 or Q3 roster. If you no longer wish to participate, please notify the Intramural Coordinator at cavanaughs@sau25.net.

World Language
As you know, our World Language Teachers have adopted a new and innovative delivery model of instruction within their classrooms.  Click HERE to see a copy of the letter that was sent home with students on the first day of school (and is also on each WL Teacher’s web site).  This document is identical for French and Spanish (just change the teacher name and language spoken).  Click HERE for even more information.

Math & Reading Support
Many families received permission slips regarding their child accessing either Reading or Math Support this year.  Please return the slip to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.  Questions about Reading can be directed to Lee Webb (webbl@sau25.net).  Questions about Math can be directed to Sean Donahue (donahues@sau25.net)

Bedford Old Home Day
The whole community of Bedford will be celebrating Old Home Day on Saturday September 23 from 10 - 3 at Riley Field. Please join us! Click here for details.

Destination Imagination - Parent Info Night 9/18
Destination Imagination is a fun academic program that teaches creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and management skills through project-based Challenges.
These are key skills that all businesses (and colleges) are looking for – the ability to identify challenges and solve them, while leveraging the talents on your team.

Designed to complement K-12 education, we offer seven new academic Challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts, service learning, and early learning. In solving a challenge, students learn the creative process from imagination to innovation and the skills needed to thrive in school, their careers and beyond.

Teams can be made up of 2-7 members and must have an adult Team Manager i.e. - a parent or two.  We need volunteers and we will train you!

The 2017-18 Parent Info Night will be this coming Monday, September 18th in the Peter Woodbury School Library at 7pm.  For more info, check out Bedford DI on Facebook or contact our district co-ordinator, Marie Russell at www.bedfordrocksdi@gmail.com.
Crotched Mountain Ski Program
Join old friends and new ones at Crotched Mountain for some after-school skiing this winter! Sign up by November 15 and your student will hit the slopes on five Fridays after the New Year for just $129 – and they’ll also get a Peak Pass on February 20 which will get them out at seven more mountains for no additional cost for the rest of the season! Email Loren Foxx at lofoxx@gmail.com or visit bedfordski.com for more details.

From the Library
This past week was very busy in the McKelvie Library! All 29 homerooms at McKelvie will have attended an hour long library overview by next Wednesday. Students are being introduced to Destiny Discover as a way to search our online catalog. This new interface has been well received by students. As a result of savvy searching, many holds have been placed by students. This year students will be emailed, via their school email accounts, if a hold is ready to be picked up. An email, sent by the library staff, will be our way to communicate if a hold is ready to be checked out. Please remind your child to check his/her school email account!

On Monday afternoon a second "Golden Ticket" was found in a nonfiction book! Click HERE to see Rani with her book selection, "Golden Ticket", and her prize. Congratulations and happy reading, Rani!

McKelvie Jimmy Fund Walk Team/Panera Fundraiser on September 19
On September 24, a team of McKelvie staff will be walking in the Jimmy Fund Walk to raise money for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  Our community has been greatly impacted by cancer over the last few years, and we want to represent Bedford well and raise money for this important work. If you'd like to donate to our team, please follow this link.

To benefit our team and the Jimmy Fund, we will be holding a fundraising night at the Bedford Panera on Colby Court on Tuesday, September 19, between 4 and 8 p.m.  Please join us as Panera will donate a percentage of the proceeds to our team.  Please bring a copy of the attached "Eat Bread to Raise Dough" flyer with you as we are discouraged from handing them out at Panera on the evening of September 19.  

In Previous News…

McKelvie's Volunteer Orientation
Please join us on September 21 at 9:30 AM in the cafeteria. This is a great opportunity for new and returning parents to connect with other parents and learn about the many opportunities to be involved throughout the year. We are expecting Superintendent Chip McGee to drop in. Light refreshments will be served. Younger children are welcome.

After the meeting, we will provide a brief tour of the building for anyone interested.
Please contact Anne Mikol or Stacy Norris with questions (Mckelvieschool@gmail.com)

Shopping Rewards
A reminder that Hannaford dollars can be dropped off at the Hannaford at Jenkins Rd.  However, we are more than happy to collect them here, if that is more convenient.  Also - keep those Box Tops coming!

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!

BeBOLD Board Member