NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL

BARTLETT HALLOWEEN FUN

Even though we had a snow day on Halloween, we couldn’t have asked for a better day on Friday, October 28th to celebrate Halloween. First, it was a perfect day for our Halloween Parade. The students and staff marched down the center of Goffstown. I’m not sure who enjoys the parade more, the students or the many spectators who line the streets!
On Friday night, the PTA held Spooky Story Night. The evening began with the students hearing spooky Halloween stories. Then, they gathered in the gym for Halloween crafts and the Book Fair. Thank you to the Bartlett PTA for organizing another successful and fun-filled evening.

GOLDEN TRAY AWARD
Congratulations to Mrs. Guerrette’s and Mrs. Ward’s classes for winning the Golden Tray Award for excellent lunchroom behavior for the month of October! Great job!

TURKEY WALK
To support the Goffstown Food Network, Bartlett Elementary School is having a Turkey Walk on Tuesday, November 15th around 10:30 am. The students and staff will be walking along Mast Road, to Roosevelt Street, and through the neighborhood behind the school. We will return to the school on Higgins Street. The Goffstown Police will be on hand during the walk. All students and staff are able to participate but everyone is encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Network. When we return, every participant will be provided a delicious snack as a thank you!

HELP WANTED!
The Goffstown School Board is seeking a part-time Recording Secretary for all Goffstown School Board meetings. Typical meetings are scheduled on the first and third Monday of each month in the evenings, although additional meeting times and dates may be scheduled. This position requires a high level of accuracy and confidentiality, and pays $150.00 per meeting. To apply, send letter of interest, resume, and 3 written references to: Stacy Buckley, Superintendent of Schools, 11 School Street, Goffstown, NH 03045. Application deadline: November 10, 2011

NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to another exciting school year at Bartlett Elementary School! We would like to welcome our new staff members to Bartlett Elementary School. They include:

• Kristen Webber - Grade 4
• Jennifer Beardslee - Guidance
• Shirley Quigley- Special Ed.
• Shelley Rines - Title I
• Joyce Pang - Music
• Betsy Lake - Art
• Madeleine Wright- Media Specialist
• Anne Mello - Reading Specialist
• Nicole Ponti - ELL Teacher
• Lena Nizer - Cafeteria Staff

There have been a few changes. This year Ms. McNamee will be teaching first grade. Also, Mrs. Rioux will continue teaching special education this year and Mrs. Lafortune has returned after last year’s maternity leave. We would also like to welcome Kathleen McKernan, who will be a long-term sub, covering for Meagan Nelson while she is on maternity leave!

LUNCH WITH THE PRINCIPAL
Every week, students are chosen to have “Lunch with the Principal”. These students are able to eat their lunch in the office and discuss school and things that interest them. Before the end of lunch, the students listen to a book and talk about the story. Next week, I will be holding our first Lunch With the Principal for the year with students in grades 1 and 2. Students have typically enjoyed this time with the principal and learn that the office isn't such a bad place!

HOMEWORK POLICY
According to the Goffstown School Board Policy IKB-R, which deals with homework, students should have about 10 minutes of homework per grade level each night (second grade – 20 minutes, etc.). Also, all students are expected to read (or be read to) for 20 minutes per night. If your child is having difficulty with his/her homework and requires substantially more than the recommended time, please write a note on the homework paper, informing the teacher of his/her difficulties. This will help us know where your child may be struggling so we can provide extra support and attention.

BES STRING RENTAL NIGHT
We will have our String Rental Night at Mountain View Middle School on Monday, September 26th starting at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. The form for 3rd and 4th graders interested in joining the string program will be sent home soon. The classes will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school day. Ms. Joyce Pang will be their string and music teacher. Please contact Bartlett Elementary School at 623-8088 for more information about the String Program. For student who currently carry a string instrument, please bring it to the string class. Thank you.

SCHOOL DISMISSAL
If your child is to be dismissed from school before the end of the school day or is going home in a different manner, please send a dated note to your child's teacher stating the reason for dismissal, who will be picking up your child, and what time or how they will be going home. Students will not be dismissed from school until the person picking up the student signs him or her out in the office and presents a photo ID. Adults are not to go to the classrooms to pick up their children.

HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS
Hannaford Helps Schools is a program that provides schools an opportunity to raise money for playgrounds, assemblies, etc. When customers purchase participating products at any Hannaford Supermarkets, now through the beginning of December, they will receive “School Dollar” certificates at the register. Just bring these certificates to the school through December 5th and help support the school. A brochure is going home with your child to further explain the program. We appreciate your support.

SCHOOL HOURS
School hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. each day. Staff members are assigned to supervise the playground and the breakfast program beginning at 7:55 a.m. Therefore, children who walk to school or who are driven should arrive on the playground no earlier than 7:55 a.m. Children must not remain on school property after 2:45 unless they are participating in a supervised activity.
Parents who are dropping off their children may use the front circle. Please do not leave your vehicle and be aware of any busses that are trying to enter the school grounds. Students should quickly exit their parent’s car, being aware of other vehicles, and enter the school through the front doors and proceed to the gym. If they are not having breakfast, they will exit through the rear gym doors and join their classmates on the playground. Parents who need to come into the building with their child should park along Mast Road or behind Deep Discount and walk into the building through the front doors. Remember, students do not need to arrive until 8:15 and should not arrive before 7:55!

FREE & REDUCED LUNCH FORMS
Forms for free and reduced lunch have gone home. Please return the form as soon as possible or let us know if you did not receive one. Remember, you can apply for free or reduced hot lunch any time during the year. Also, if you received free or reduced lunch last school year you must still fill out a form for this year.

BIRTHDAY BOOKS
This year students at Bartlett Elementary School will once again be called to the office on their birthday to receive a book chosen especially for them. This program, sponsored by the PTA and coordinated by Mrs. Audley, will begin again soon.

New From the Principal

NURSE’S NEWS
As you are probably aware, Mrs. Laroche, our school nurse has been on sick leave since February due to back problems. I spoke to Mrs. Laroche last weekend. She informed me that she is scheduled for back surgery on May 27th and would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts. She will be out for the remainder of the school year but plans to be back next year!

AUTHOR VISIT
Children’s author Maryann Cocca-Leffler will be visiting Bartlett Elementary on Tuesday, May 31st. She will be telling our students the process of writing and illustrating books. This will be Ms. Cocca-Leffler’s third visit to Bartlett. Each visit has been informative and entertaining.

4th GRADE TRANSITION ACTIVITY
A fifth grade panel of former Bartlett students are coming back to visit on Wednesday, June 15. This panel, along with some MVMS staff, will be discussing the middle school and answering some of our fourth graders’ questions. There will also be a social time for more informal discussions. This has become an annual event, which has helped relieve some of our students’ anxieties about moving on to the “big middle school!”

MVMS STEP UP DAY
On the morning of June 13th, the fourth grade students from Bartlett and Maple Ave. Schools will be visiting Mountain View Middle School during Step Up Day. The students will have a chance to visit the school and learn what to expect next year.

PTA ELECTIONS
Elections were held at last month’s PTA meeting. Congratulations to the newly elected PTA officers:

• President - Maureen Sage
• Vice President-Amber Blanchette
• Secretary - Doreen Bergeron
• Treasurer - Jason Blanchette
• Publicity - Dan Hughes
• Membership - Stephanie Hughes
• Volunteer Coordinator - Chris Bechard

Congratulations to the new PTA Officers. We look forward to an exciting year to come.

FIELD DAY UPDATE
Bartlett Elementary's second annual Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 16th. Last year the event was a huge hit with the students and staff. If you are interested in volunteering for the day, please contact Holly Tate at hmtphoto@comcast.net or 647-7247. All volunteers are required to be fingerprinted this year.

NEED TO GET FINGERPRINTED
According to district policy, volunteers who work with students must be fingerprinted. There will be a fingerprinting session at the MVMS Spring Carnival on Tuesday, June 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. When you are fingerprinted once, you will not have to have it done again!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL???
At this point, Friday, June 24th will be the last day of school. We will be offering school lunch and students will be dismissed at 12:45.


COMMUNITY NEWS

250th GALA BALL
Get out your dancing shoes and join us for this once-in-a-lifetime event, the 250th Gala Ball, in honor of the town’s 250th anniversary. Held on June 25 from 7 pm to midnight at Saint Anselm College, this evening will feature a cocktail reception, desserts, and cash bar, along with entertainment provided by DJ Eric Fletcher and Hypnotist Paul Ramsay. Tickets are $35 each (available until June 15) or take advantage of the 250th Special of a table of eight for $250 (available only until June 1). Tickets may be purchased at Ace Hardware, Apotheca, Howe’s Pharmacy, Bagg Lunch Diner, Two Friends Bakery, Village Trestle, and Town Hall. This event is for those 21 and older. Semi-formal attire. Contact info: www.goffstown250th.net or 497-5046/497-4272.

New From the Principal

EARTH HOUR
This year we will again be participating in the Earth Hour program, a worldwide recognition of global energy usage. On Friday, March 25th all students are asked to wear black and we will be shutting off our lights at 1:45 until the end of the day. We hope you will join millions of people around the world by shutting off your lights from 8:30-9:30 pm on Saturday, March 26th. This will be the beginning of our Earth Day celebration, which will run until April vacation. For more information, please go to www.earthhourkids.org

BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY
On Saturday, April 16, the Goffstown Community Club will host "Breakfast With the Easter Bunny" in the Bartlett Elementary School cafeteria. Besides having a delicious pancake breakfast, children will be able to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny, participate in numerous activities, raffles and enjoy a cakewalk. So join us for a fun-filled morning!

PTA FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
The Bartlett PTA will be hosting a FREE Family Movie Night on Friday, March 25th. Come and see the family movie, James and the Giant Peach at 5:45 pm in the gym. Bring your sleeping bags and pillows.

CALLING ALL FIRST GRADERS!
If you have a child that will be entering first grade next fall, or know somebody who does, please call the school at 623-8088 to begin the registration process. A child must be six years old on or before September 30th to enter the first grade.

REMINDERS
If there are changes in your family’s financial situation during the year, your child may be entitled to free or reduced lunch. If you think you qualify, please contact the school or Food Service Director, Megan Bizzarro at Goffstown High School at 497-4841. And remember, this is strictly confidential!

Our Handbook states, “Children who walk to school or who are driven should plan on arriving as close to 8:15 as possible, but no earlier than 7:55 a.m. Children must not remain on school property after 2:45 unless they are participating in a supervised activity.” We have many students who are arriving to an unsupervised building before the appropriate time. Also, students have been hanging around the playground after school. Parents often wonder where their children are and some students are getting into trouble after school. Please help us keep your children safe and help us enforce these rules. Thank you.

GOFFSTOWN PUBLIC KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Glen Lake School is currently receiving kindergarten registrations for the 2011-2012 school year. All children who will be five years old by September 30, 2011 are eligible for entrance into kindergarten in September. If you have a child eligible for kindergarten, please call Glen Lake School at 497-3550 to begin the registration process.