Rockport Elementary School

Principal

Shawn Maguire

Dear Parents,

As I pen my January/February newsletter principal’s note, I find it almost unbelievable that the holidays are securely behind us, and the New Year is off and running. I hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays. My family certainly did. However, my wife and I are glad to have the fast pace and pressures of the holiday season behind us.

We are now at the halfway mark of our school year. The infamous and forever popular 100th day of school will occur in February, prior to the winter break. Our early elementary students historically mark this occasion with hands-on “100” projects. Students in grades three through five are immersed in the heart of their grade level curriculums and are preparing for the upcoming MCAS test in the spring. I hope the nightly homework routine is working in your household. As a parent of a fourth grader and a first grader I have realized that sticking to a consistent and predictable nightly homework routine is what works best in our house. The problem we consistently encounter is balancing school and homework responsibilities with the “endless” extra curricular opportunities in which we would like to see our children participate. Practices that are scheduled at night are the most difficult to juggle. We’ve settled on what seems to be the most successful routine in accommodating both, and that is making sure we get to the homework first, then head off to practice. This, of course, is not always so simple or straightforward, and inevitably leads to additional stress and late bedtimes. We are also struggling with inescapable parenting question of when is enough, enough? I am sure many families are dealing with this issue, as well. I just do not remember my parents dealing with this.

We have been conducting a fundraiser to benefit the relief effort in Haiti. Our students have been dropping off their coins into collection jars every morning. Our current focus is on raising money, but this may change as prompted by continued updates specifying what the Haitian relief effort most needs. We may also be teaming up with our local Rotarians for a future fundraiser for Haiti. Please stay tuned for further information on current and potential new endeavors.

I would like to close by thanking our hardworking PTO, as well as parents Diane Ambrose and Tina Lammond for their help in making my Stop and Shop A+ Bonus Bucks Principals’ Challenge such a success. I hope your child/children came home and relayed the news about making me into a human birthday cake. It was a silly, but fun, stunt that happened to garner our school a $1,000 dollars! An unexpected bonus was hearing all the creative and thoughtful classroom wishes that were developed by the students and their classroom teachers.

Sincerely,

Shawn Maguire

LATEST NEWS

RES Science Day Video http://media.townonline.com/rockport/slideshow/CX_rockportscience_ptw/ Click on the link to view the video from the RES Science Day!

MUFFINS WITH MAGUIRE All parents are invited to an informal gathering with Mr. Maguire! Muffins With Maguire will be hosted, monthly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the RES Cafeteria. Upcoming dates are: Tuesday, February 24th Tuesday, March 17th Tuesday, April 28th Tuesday, May 19th

CHECK OUT OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE! Click on the "NEWSLETTER" link on the left of this screen, to view our monthly Principal's Newsletter, in COLOR, online!

MORNING DROP-OFF RULES

To assure the SAFETY of all the children, please follow these rules:

•No Parking in the Bus Area

•Do Not Leave Your Car! (If you need to leave your car, for any reason, please pull up beyond the bus area and park your car in the appropriate spot.)

•Drop off your children at the curb.

•Do not drop off your children in the outer lane.

•Do not angle your car to drop off your children.

•Drop off area is ONLY before the loop crosswalk.

•Please use turn signals at all times.

•Please DRIVE VERY SLOWLY!

HELP OUR SCHOOL YEAR-ROUND!
http://www.innisbrook.com
Our school can continue to earn money year round, through the Innisbrook Wrapping Paper Fundraiser!
Just visit www.innisbrook.com and place an order any time of the year. (Great for birthdays, anniversarys, graduation!)
The items ship directly to you and RES earns the credit! Just enter our school number #102339 and your high quality gift- wrap items will arrive on your doorstep!
Thank you for your continued support!

SAVE YOUR BOXTOPS for RES! The elementary school receives 10¢ for every General Mills boxtop collected there are over 3,000 items. This money is "earmarked" by the PTO to help maintain the playground. Please check your General Mills box tops for the “Big G BoxTops for Education” symbol. Please send these boxtops in with your child to their classroom teacher. Thank you!!