Buker Family Bulletin The Ice Cream Social was a roaring success, thanks to the leadership of Winnie Rennie and Moira Riccio. What a fun way to kick off our school year! CURRICULUM NIGHT Wednesday, September 23, 2009 K-2 6:30p-7:15p Principal’s Address 7:15p Gr. 3-5 7:30p-8:15p Parents, please plan to attend this important evening to learn about your child’s curriculum for this year. This is a ‘parents-only’ evening. Please remember it is district policy that only 4^th and 5^th graders may ride bikes to school independently. All other students must be accompanied by an adult. All riders must wear helmets, in accordance with Massachusetts law.	September 17, 2009 www.hwschools.net If your child is going to be tardy or absent, please call the Safe Arrival Line, 978-468-8400, (24/7). CHECK OUT “CLASS PAGES’ on our homepage to see what is going on in your child’s classroom. Teachers will keep this information current with newsletters. LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED IN THE FOLLOWING CLASSROOMS: Ms. Miller (K) Tues 10:35-11:25;  Ms. O'Shea (Gr1) Tues 1:05-1:55 Ms. Oliveira (Gr1) Thurs 1:05-1:55; Ms. Blanchard (Gr2) Tues 8:55-9:45 Mrs. Gambino (Gr2) Thurs 8:55-9:45; Mrs. Mastrianni (Gr4) Tues 9:45-10:35  Mrs. Mohan (Gr5) Wed 10:35-11:25; Ms. Reed (Gr5) Fri 10:35-11:25 We are currently looking for library volunteers. Volunteering in the library includes checking library books in and out, assisting students to choose and find age appropriate books and helping Ms. Putnam keep the library well organized. Please consider volunteering in the library. It's an easy, no-stress opportunity to contribute to Buker School. If you are interested please contact Laurie Erhard, library volunteer coordinator, at jlerhard@verizon.net or 978-468-5061).
Dear Parents, The Elementary Schools are implementing a new mathematics program, Think Math!, this year. Think Math! is a comprehensive kindergarten through fifth grade curriculum, developed by Educational Development Center, Inc and supported by the National Science Foundation. This program builds conceptual understanding by focusing on the following skills: problem solving, reasoning, communication, making connections, and representation (vocabulary/symbols). The five content areas that are addressed are computation, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data (probability/statistics). Think Math! lessons address the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework Standards. The components of a lesson include a Headline Story, which is an open-ended problem to solve, a skills practice and review section, and formal and informal assessments. Each unit also includes a Home-School connection. Lessons are designed to encourage students to use many approaches to solve a problem and to share their strategies with each other. We are excited about implementing Think Math! If you have any questions about the program, please contact Carol Bratt at brattc@hwschools.net. Sincerely, Carol Bratt Elementary Mathematics Specialist Jennifer Clifford, Principal, Cutler Elementary School Brian O’Donoghue, Principal, Buker Elementary School Carrie Vaich, Principal, Winthrop Elementary School, Maryellen Duffy, Director of Educational Services	The Second Annual Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30^th and Thursday, Oct. 1^st. Parents are invited to come and shop on Wednesday evening from 5p-7:30p. While parents shop, we will have a pajama party for the kids, with bedtime stories read by some of your favorite Buker grownups! Wimpy Kid book fans can enter a contest to win Book Number 4 for free! Come and draw your version of the Wimpy Kid during the Wednesday evening event! Book Fair attendees may donate their loose change to support Boston Children’s Hospital’s “Reach Out and Read” program. Bring your bags of loose change and receive a $1.00 off coupon towards your purchases. FAMILY PHOTO DAY Karl Blaser, a local photographer, will once again be sponsoring the Buker Family Photo Weekend, with all proceeds going to Friends of Buker.  The event will be held at Bell Hall Field at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th.  For more information watch for a flyer in your child's backpack.
HAVE YOU SEEN….the beautiful new bench in our Buker lobby? Hand sawn by parent Kirk Davis, this new addition was crafted out of the center of a pine tree, and boasts 18 coats of oil. Many thanks for this donation!! CLOTHING NEEDED for those occasional run-ins with mud or ketchup. Tops and bottoms sizes 4-10 would be appreciated. (We are all set with underwear and socks.) Thanks for thinking of the health office when closet cleaning. SALTINES would also be greatly appreciated.	From the Health Office: Emergency Contact Forms must be returned to school by Friday, September 18^th. Last year’s forms will be disposed of by shredding at that time. Each student must have a new form completed every school year. If you aren’t sure whether you sent one in, please feel free to contact the Health Office via phone or email to check. Thank you for your assistance in this safety measure.
SAVE THE DATE: September 23 Curriculum Night September 30 Scholastic Book Fair, 5-7:30 October 1 Scholastic Book Fair October 1 School Picture Day October 12 No school: Columbus Day October 28 Family Fun Night	COMMUNITY LINKS: Use these handy links to see what programs are being offered in our community. Library Programsl Hamilton Wenham Community House Wenham Museum The District does not discriminate in its programs, activities or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.