5.27.19 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend! The month of May was packed with activities at McKelvie School. Last weekend the McKelvie Maskers put on an outstanding performance of Frozen Jr. The cast, production crew, and parents worked incredibly hard to put on such a fantastic show. Special thanks goes to Nate Sawyer and Becky Coughlin for the countless hours spent on this year's production!

This past Thursday, our school had a Memorial Day Assembly. I could not be more proud of how respectful our students were during the assembly that included performances by the band and chorus, poetry readings by various students, a presentation by our very own Mr. Robinson, and taps played by students. The kids were incredible at the assembly from start to finish.

Upcoming Events:
May 30th at 9:30 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in MIS cafeteria
June 10th-Last day of school 1:15pm dismissal No After School Program

Library News:
A "Lunch and Learn" session will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019, for all interested 5th & 6th-grade students. Grace Larochelle, Head of Children's Services at the Bedford Public Library, will be here to discuss the summer reading program, as well as the opportunity to become a Jr. Librarian. She will be conducting 4 sessions during lunch times. A nut safe table will be established for these sessions. Interested students will be allowed to carry their lunch from the cafeteria or bring their lunch to the library to listen and learn! Please encourage your child(ren) to come and hear about the program.

Additional summer reading opportunities will be hosted right here at the McKelvie Library this summer! These "Relax and Read" events will take place on:

Monday, July 1, 2019 from 12:00-2:00pm
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 12:00-2:00pm
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 from 12:00-2:00pm

The students (grades 4-6) are invited to pop in or stay, check out books, and participate in readers' advisory. If a 6th-grade student checks out books during the summer, there will be a box for McKelvie books at the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School Library when school re-opens for the next school year. The Bedford Public Library will be open as well, but I feel strongly that students should be able to access their school library space during the summer. Students can be dropped off at the center side entrance off of County Road. There will be sawhorses and signs marking the way to the library. Please walk your child in to relax and read!

Please consider helping to keep your McKelvie student's home library current by participating in our second annual Summer Reading Book Swap! This will encourage kiddos to keep reading over the summer! This swap will be held Wednesday, June 5th, through Friday, June 7th. Students will be able to bring in 1-2 gently used, grade-level appropriate books to swap out for another 1-2 books. This will hopefully generate some additional excitement about reading over the summer months! "A Universe of Stories" is a common theme to those libraries involved in the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).

Please help your child remember that all library books are due back by June 3rd.

Additionally, this information will be posted on the McKelvie Library Blog as well as the McKelvie Homepage.

I hope you all had a great weekend! 

~Mrs. Cote

Congratulations:
Jessamine Hui is a 6th grader at McKelvie and her FIRST LEGO League (FLL), Blue Box, was recently selected as one of the 20 semi-finalists to compete for the FLL Global Innovation Award (GIA). More information on this can be found at https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/global-innovation. Jessa is the only Bedford student on the team. The team will be holding a fundraiser to raise money to attend and participate in the GIA next month. Click HERE if you'd like to help support Jessa's team by attending the fundraiser.

PTG News:
On behalf of the PTG, we’d like to wish all families an enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend!

BEDFORD PTG COLOR BLAST FUN RUN/WALK SUNDAY JUNE 2nd 9:30AM – Rainbows your thing but running isn’t? Come help out at PTG’s Color Blast Fun Run on Sunday June 2nd …all the color without the running. We need LOTS of volunteers to make this a successful event. Please consider spending the morning with us! Please click HERE to see how you can help. You can help in the morning and still run with your family!

Still planning on running . . . . REGISTER NOW …Online Registration closes NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, May 29th

Visit our Color Blast Fun Run/Walk website for more details.

BHS GRADUATION SEAT RAFFLE - The PTG is raffling off 2 sets of FOUR seats for the June 8th Graduation Ceremony in a prime picture taking spot. Winners will also receive one reserved parking spot that day. $20/Entry or 6 Entries for $100. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by JUNE 3rd. Winners will be drawn & announced on June 5th.

BHS PARKING SPACE RAFFLE The PTG is raffling off TWO prime guaranteed parking spaces in the top lot for the 2019-2020 school year. You must have a valid license and a vehicle sometime during the 2019-2020 school year to be eligible to WIN! $10 Donation Per Entry. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by June 3rd. Winners will be notified before the end of the year. 

Have a terrific week!

Jen Asdot

5.18.19 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

What an amazing few weeks we've had here at McKelvie! The music department put on their spring concert last Friday. Thank you to Becky Coughlin and Christa Wickham for all of their efforts in making our music program so great! The kids sounded wonderful and I am so proud of how hard they have worked all year! Click HERE to see a picture of the chorus.

Yesterday we had Grandparents' Day at McKelvie School. Over 400 grandparents came for breakfast, a tour of the building, and performances by the jazz band, select chorus, and drama club. A HUGE thank you to Alyssa O’Neil & Laurie Wallace, McKelvie's Grandparents Day Coordinators, as well as Cyndi Parker our Food Services Manager and David Orleans our Custodian. Thank you, also, to the families who volunteered to work at Grandparent's Day and/or donated items. Grandparents' Day was a hit and it is because of the terrific community that supported the event.

Upcoming Events:
May 21st at 3:30 Afternoon Movie
May 22nd at 6:00 Lurgio Parent Information Night for Incoming 7th Grade Parents at Lurgio School
May 24th-27th No School-Workshop/Memorial Day

May 30th at 9:30 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in MIS cafeteria

Volunteer Appreciation:
The McKelvie Staff would like to thank the many volunteers we have had over the course of this school year. To show our appreciation, we would like you to join us for a Volunteer Breakfast on Thursday, May 30th, at 9:30am. If you have been a volunteer this school year and would like to attend, please click HERE to sign up so we can get a head count. Thank you again for all you do!

Parents of 6th Grade Students:
Welcome to Lurgio! In a few short months your child will be entering 7th grade, and we would like to invite you to an informational evening to introduce you to the Lurgio Middle School. We will be hosting parents at Lurgio on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00PM. The evening will begin in our dining hall with staff introductions, a brief presentation about the transition to middle school, and time to take any questions you might have about student life at Lurgio. After the presentation, we will be offering student-led tours of the school so that you can get the lay of the land that your child will be entering next August. We hope that you are able to join us on May 22nd. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Ed Joyce

Box Top Contest:
BOX TOPS WANTED!!! This year McKelvie staff and students have collected a total of 8,704 box tops totaling $870.40 toward the school’s goal of $1,000. With the last homeroom competition coming to an end on May 23rd, please check your pantries for the hiding box tops. They expire so getting them into the homeroom teacher would be spectacular! We only need 1,296 more to make our GOAL. With 29 classrooms, that is only 45 box tops per classroom. I KNOW WE CAN DO IT!!!! LET'S GO MCKELVIE!

Library News:
It was wonderful to see the many Grandparents/Special Friends visiting our school Friday! The library was a busy place as these important people came to see our space and how it is different from the school libraries they attended! Many of the special individuals who visited the McKelvie Library completed a small "classwork" assignment. On a Post-it Note, they wrote their grandchild's name, their name, and a special book they recall reading during 5th or 6th grade. These notes are on display at the library! Click HERE to see an image.

A "Lunch and Learn" session will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019, for all interested 5th & 6th grade students. Grace Larochellle, Head of Children's Services at the Bedford Public Library, will be here to discuss the summer reading program as well as the opportunity to become a Jr. Librarian. She will be conducting 4 sessions during lunch times. A nut safe table will be established for these sessions. Interested students will be allowed to carry their lunch from the cafeteria or bring their lunch to the library to listen and learn!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the warmer temperatures! ~ Mrs. Cote

MIS Kitchen News:
The breakfast program will be featuring a brand NEW item for the next 2 weeks: a frozen fresh fruit and yogurt bark. A delicious and nutritious take on a frozen Popsicle or ice cream, this new breakfast item has a lot of essential nutrients to offer our students' minds and bodies. The bark is filled with protein packed vanilla Greek yogurt, hydrating and fiber-filled berries, and is topped with whole grain crunchy granola. In addition to breakfast combo meals, the kitchen will be offering a homemade apricot oat breakfast bar. This lovely, healthy treat will keep you feeling full and satisfied with lots of long lasting energy from whole grain complex carbohydrates. The beautifully orange colored apricot contains powerful antioxidants, beta carotene, and vitamin C. It is naturally a great source of fiber. An amazing effect of fiber is that it helps the body have a slow, constant release of energy throughout the school day. Start the day off with a bang and don't miss out on these healthy, wholesome NEW breakfast items.

The hot lunch program is featuring an exciting homemade mac ‘n cheese bowl on Wednesday the 22nd. Fill your bowl with comforting and delicious mac ‘n cheese, choose from protein options that include crispy diced ham, seasoned chicken strips, shredded pulled pork or roasted chickpeas. Top with an assortment of vegetables that include sweet green peas, diced tomatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted red peppers and sliced jalapenos. Lunch also includes fruit choices and milk. Come and build your bowl any way you like it!

Student Council Movie Night:

Student Council is excited to offer a viewing of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Tuesday, May 21st. The movie will begin after school and is scheduled to end by 5:45 pm. Students will be picked up at their usual parent pick-up place: last names A-J at the front office, K-Z at the canopy. Attendance is $2.00 and snacks can be purchased for $1.00. Students must give a printed and signed permission slip (also found on the McKelvie website) to homeroom teachers by May 21st in order to participate.

PTG News:
BEDFORD PTG COLOR BLAST FUN RUN/WALK SUNDAY JUNE 2nd 9:30AM – This colorful run will be here SOON!! Don’t miss your chance to get in fun while supporting our Schools!! REGISTER NOW …Online Registration closes Wednesday, May 29th
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS: Not participating in the Fun/Run but still want to be involved? We can’t make this event happen without the support of awesome volunteers. Click HERE to see how you can help.  Visit our Color Blast Fun Run/Walk website for more details.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENT: Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you to “Coffee and Conversation” on Tuesday, May 21st, 9:30am at Bedford Town Library (McAllister Meeting Room)…PLEASE RSVP, there is still plenty of space left!
This will be a small, informal, conversation based gathering to discuss Bedford School District happenings. Please click HERE to RSVP if you wish to attend.

BHS GRADUATION SEAT RAFFLE - The PTG is raffling off 2 sets of FOUR seats for the June 8th Graduation Ceremony in a prime picture taking spot. Winners will also receive one reserved parking spot that day. $20/Entry or 6 Entries for $100. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by JUNE 3rd. Winners will be drawn & announced on June 5th.

BHS PARKING SPACE RAFFLE The PTG is raffling off TWO prime guaranteed parking spaces in the top lot for the 2019-2020 school year. You must have a valid license and a vehicle sometime during the 2019-2020 school year to be eligible to WIN! $10 Donation Per Entry. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by June 3rd. Winners will be notified before the end of the year.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Jen Asdot

5.12.19 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

Happy Mothers' Day to all of our amazing McKelvie Moms! I hope you all have a terrific day today. A big thank you to all of the volunteers who helped to make Teacher/Staff Appreciation week so lovely for all of the staff at McKelvie. I can't tell you how much everyone enjoyed the week!

Upcoming Events:
May 17th at 9:30am Grandparent's Day
May 17th/18th Frozen Production
May 21st at 3:30 Afternoon Movie
May 24th-27th No School-Workshop/Memorial Day

URGENT!!!Grandparents' Day:
Volunteers Needed! Last year we had well over 400 Grandparents show up for Grandparents' Day and we currently only have 1 volunteer who has signed up to help with Friday's event. Grandparents' Day is May 17th at 9:30AM. Click this MIS Grandparent's Day 2019 sign up if you would like to volunteer to help with the event or bring in a food item. Click HERE to see a letter with details about Grandparents' Day as well as a sign up to let us know how many are coming.

McKelvie - lunch and recess duty coverage:
The final full month of school is upon us! Let's end the year strong helping our teachers have planning time together. Sign up for "May 2019 - Lunch and Recess Duty Coverage" by clicking on the link below. Thank you for your tremendous help this year!

May 2019 Lunch and Recess coverage

School Play:
This year the Drama Club will be performing Frozen Jr. on May 17th at 7:00pm and May 18th at 1:00pm and 6:00pm. If you would like to pre-order tickets, click HERE. We anticipate a large crowd so getting tickets in advance is highly encouraged!

Student Council Movie:
Student Council is excited to offer a viewing of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Tuesday, May 21st. The movie will begin after school and is scheduled to end by 5:45 pm. Students will be picked up at their usual after school dismissal place: last names A-J at the front office, K-Z at the canopy. Attendance is $2.00 and snacks can be purchased for $1.00. Students must give a printed and signed permission slip (also found on the McKelvie website) to homeroom teachers by May 21st in order to participate.

Library News:
There were many book birthdays (new releases) on May 7, 2019, that were put in the display case outside of the library. Several are no longer in the case as they have been checked out. One of these book birthdays is the sequel to our READ Project book. The sequel is titled The Doughnut King by Jessie Janowitz.

The annual Great Stone Face Tea took place this year on Friday. This tea is where the GSF winner is announced along with the 20 new nominees for 2019-2020. The 2019 Great Stone Face winner statewide that students in grades 4 through 6 selected as their favorite is... The Trail by Meika Hashimoto! This was also the book that the students at McKelvie voted as their favorite! Be sure to check it out!

This past week the library remained a busy place between testing sessions. Click an Adobe Spark HERE is see the display case filled with books on Tuesday morning as well as Keva Plank structures students built in the library.

Happy Mothers' Day to all of the McKelvie moms! Enjoy your special day. ~ Mrs. Cote

Destination Imagination - Help our teams going to Global Finals:
YOGA - Get your zen on18th at Full Circle Yoga Studio - see poster HERE
BOLLYWOOD ZUMBA - A very fun class for everyone Saturday, May 18th at PWS - see poster HERE
BAKE SALE - Harvest Market - Saturday, May 19th
SHOE DRIVE - Continues thru end May - see poster HERE
NOONDAY-Click the link HERE to get to Noonday, whereby a portion of all proceeds goes to the DI program. Noonday Collection empowers women and artisans globally. It is fair trade and helps to build small businesses. Many artisans recycle metals and natural resources. It's creativity at it's best!

MIS Kitchen News:
The breakfast program will be featuring a delicious and nutritious Blueberry Spinach Smoothie. It’s filled with blueberries, strawberries, bananas, baby spinach, vanilla Greek yogurt and refreshing coconut milk. This fresh and naturally sweet combination of fruit, veggies and yogurt is a perfect way to give the brain and body a beneficial long lasting boost of energy. Additionally, this smoothie provides a healthy dose of dark leafy greens filled with iron, calcium, vitamins A, K and C; all essential nutrients for healthy bones, hair and skin. In addition to breakfast combo meals, the kitchen will be offering a homemade cinnamon roll muffin. This lovely, healthy treat will keep you feeling full and satisfied with lots of long lasting energy from whole grain complex carbohydrates. Our from scratch baking also helps to limit unhealthy ingredients and removes processed and artificial preservatives. Start the school day off with a bang and don't miss out on these healthy, wholesome NEW breakfast items.

The lunch program is excited to announce that our new compostable/biodegradable lunch trays have finally arrived! After many months awaiting these environmentally safe, PFOA free lunch trays the Food Service Department, along with the help of the Destination Imagination Team and The Department of Environmental Services, will be swapping out our old styrofoam trays for our new ones. Earth Maize is the manufacturer of these top of line trays. They will be used in the lunch service starting next week!

PTG News:
COLOR BLAST FUN RUN/WALK COMMUNITY EVENT -SUNDAY JUNE 2nd 9:30AM
Don’t miss your chance to get in on the Colorful Fun and Support our Schools. Click HERE to register and visit our Color Blast Fun Run/Walk website for event details.

Not participating in the Fun/Run but still want to be involved…click HERE for Volunteer Opportunities.

BHS GRADUATION SEAT RAFFLE - The PTG is raffling off 2 sets of FOUR seats for the June 8th Graduation Ceremony in a prime picture taking spot. Winners will also receive one reserved parking spot that day. $20/Entry or 6 Entries for $100. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by JUNE 3rd. Winners will be drawn & announced on June 5th.

BHS PARKING SPACE RAFFLE The PTG is raffling off TWO prime guaranteed parking spaces in the top lot for the 2019-2020 school year. You must have a valid license and a vehicle sometime during the 2019-2020 school year to be eligible to WIN! $10 Donation Per Entry. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by June 3rd. Winners will be notified before the end of the year.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Jen Asdot

5.5.19 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

I can't believe we are going into our first full week of May already! There is a lot going on this month. SAS testing for all students begins tomorrow. Monday through Thursday of this week, the building will be testing beginning at 9:00. Arriving at school on time is greatly appreciated during testing.

Upcoming Events:
May 10th at 6:30pm Spring Concert
May 17th at 9:30am Grandparent's Day
May 17th/18th Frozen Production

May 21st at 3:30 Afternoon Movie
May 24th-27th No School-Workshop/Memorial Day

Amazing Feat:
Ava Krueger, grade 5 student, competed at the World Championships of Irish Dancing in Greensboro, North Carolina in April. Ava placed 16th out of the amazing group of 139 and is now a World Medal Holder (awarded to the top 20 only) securing her the opportunity to compete at the 2020 World Championships in Dublin, Ireland! The following day Ava competed as part of an 8 Hand Céilí team! These girls shined bright on the World stage and finished 5th Place out of 24 World Class teams. Click HERE to see a picture of Ava. Congratulations, Ava!

Grandparents' Day:
Grandparents' Day is May 17th at 9:30AM. Click this MIS Grandparent's Day 2019 sign up if you would like to volunteer to help with the event or bring in a food item. We typically have well over 200 grandparents show up every year, so your help is much appreciated! Click HERE to see a letter with details about Grandparents' Day as well as a sign up to let us know how many are coming.

School Play:
This year the Drama Club will be performing Frozen Jr. on May 17th at 7:00pm and May 18th at 1:00pm and 6:00pm. If you would like to pre-order tickets, click HERE.

Grade 6 Music Class:
On Friday in Mrs. Coughlin's 6th Grade Music Class, they experimented with something new. They learned a Mambo bell rhythm and learned how to clap the pattern. Once they were comfortable with clapping the rhythm, they clapped it to an instrumental version of Santana's Oye Como Va. Finally, they took the rhythm and added the challenge of tapping the rhythm with cups. Click HERE to see one of the classes completely engaged and in action! Thanks to Michelle Wirth for the cup idea and to Christa Wickham for taking the video.

Student Council Afternoon Movie:
Student Council is excited to offer a viewing of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Tuesday, May 21st. The movie will begin after school and is scheduled to end by 5:45 pm. Students will be picked up at their usual place: last names A-J at the front office, K-Z at the canopy. Attendance is $2.00 and snacks can be purchased for $1.00. Students must give a printed and signed permission slip (also found on the McKelvie website) to homeroom teachers by May 21st in order to participate.

Library News:
I hope that everyone had a great first week back! We have rounded the corner and are now in the homeward stretch.

Congrats to 6th grader, Noura, from Mrs. Thornton's homeroom! She was the 8th "Search Slip" winner for the month of April. Noura had her "Search Slip" filled out correctly and entered it into the monthly drawing. She won a $5.00 gift certificate to put towards a treat at a local ice cream establishment. Click HERE to see an image. Enjoy your treat, Noura.

Thank you to all of the students, parents, and staff members who emailed pictures of all of the wonderful places books traveled over April break. Books traveled across the United States and across the pond to Italy! Some of our books stayed right here in NH but were read outside or in a comfy spot. It was a treat to receive the pictures and create a display of "Oh, The Places Our Books Go!" Click HERE to see the display located outside of the library. If you visit our building, stop by and see the pictures!

We want to remind parents that there is an option for students to purchase a pair of inexpensive earbuds (similar in quality to what you would purchase on a plane) from the library for $1. Earbuds/headphones are important for NH SAS Testing.

Bedford Community Food Pantry Food Drive:
McKelvie is collecting food for the Bedford Food Pantry during the month of May. Please consider participating by donating cereal. Thanks for your support!




DI Globals Fundraising:
Several DI teams have made it to globals and they need your help to get there!  If you'd like to make a donation, please send it to the McKelvie Main Office.  Checks can be made out to McKelvie School.  Like to shop online?  Click the link HERE to get to Noonday, whereby a portion of all proceeds goes to the DI program.

PTG News:
Lights, Camera, Appreciation! Dear McKelvie Students and Parents, We will be celebrating Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week May 6th-10th. Please click HERE see the attached flyer for a schedule of daily homeroom events for students and families to participate in and click HERE for the Fan Mail Flyer!

BEDFORD PTG COLOR BLAST FUN RUN/WALK SUNDAY JUNE 2nd 9:30AM –Wondering what you need to rock your next Color Run? Just grab a good pair of sneakers, a white T-shirt…and REGISTER! Don’t miss your chance to get in on the Colorful Fun and Support our Schools. REGISTER NOW …Online Registration closes Wednesday, May 29th

Visit our Color Blast Fun Run/Walk website for more details.

Not participating in the Fun/Run but still want to be involved…click HERE for Volunteer Opportunities.

COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPALS: Join the Bedford PTG for a community meeting with Principals from all six of our schools on Thursday, May 9th at 9:30am at BCTV. Come hear the success stories of the 2018/19 school year and get information on some important school topics. We are looking to the community for topic ideas you’d like to hear discussed. Please emailbedfordnhptg@gmail.com by Monday May 6th with your questions and topic suggestions.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENT: Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you to “Coffee and Conversation” on Tuesday, May 21st, 9:30am at Bedford Town Library (McAllister Meeting Room)…PLEASE RSVP.

This will be a small, informal, conversation based gathering to discuss Bedford School District happenings. Please click HERE to RSVP if you wish to attend.

BHS GRADUATION SEAT RAFFLE - The PTG is raffling off 2 sets of FOUR seats for the June 8th Graduation Ceremony in a prime picture taking spot. Winners will also receive one reserved parking spot that day. $20/Entry or 6 Entries for $100. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by JUNE 3rd. Winners will be drawn & announced on June 5th.

BHS PARKING SPACE RAFFLE The PTG is raffling off TWO prime guaranteed parking spaces in the top lot for the 2019-2020 school year. You must have a valid license and a vehicle sometime during the 2019-2020 school year to be eligible to WIN! $10 Donation Per Entry. Click HERE for entry form and details. Entries, with cash or check payable to “Bedford PTG”, are due to BHS school office by June 3rd. Winners will be notified before the end of the year.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Jen Asdot