August, 2018

Hello Tenney Families,

We miss you! While our building has been filled with all sorts of summer fun - Extended School Year Program, Unified Talents, tutoring programs and more - it is just not the same without our teachers and students filling all our  classrooms.

Soon enough though, we will be together and we look forward to a successful 2018-2019 school year.  Here is some important information to get us warmed up for learning:

Fourth Annual back-to-School Picnic, August 21, 5 to 7 pm on our Pleasant Street lawn, Meet the Tenney staff, play some games, get a back to school haircut for a fee (thank you. Limitless Barbershop!)  You can also meet with representatives from several local organizations that can make life interesting. The Nevins Library, Ranger Club, our Special Education Parent Advisory Council and more will be on hand.  Our friends in the Methuen Police and Fire Departments will bring some vehicles to explore and there will be some free back- to- school raffles as well. As always,thanks to our fabulous PTO for their support! Families are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and dinner and spend a few hours getting acquainted with our school family.

Open House for lower school is set for August 27, 2018.

Kindergarten 3:30-4:30

Grade 1    5:00-5:30

Grade 2 5:30-6:00

Grade 3 6:00-6:30

Grade 4 6:30-7:00

Upper school open house is August 28, 2018.

Grade 5    5:00-5:30

Grade 6 5:30-6:00

Grade 7 6:00-6:30

Grade 8 6:30-7:00

Parents can  learn about learning and behavior expectations for the upcoming year and meet classroom and specialist teachers and administrators during Open House hours. Because teachers are planning brief presentations,  it is a good idea to be in your child’s classroom at the start of the designated time so you do not miss any information.

First days,first week of school schedule is a bit different this year. The first and full day of school for our students in Grades 1-8 on Tuesday, August 28.  Wednesday, August 29 and Thursday, August 30 will be full days as well. Friday, Aug 31 is an early dismissal day with upper school dismissed at 11:15 and lower at 11:45. We have an extra long weekend with students returning on Wednesday, Sept . (No school on Labor day, Monday, Sept. 3 and Tuesday, Sept 4, which is an Election Day.)  We can’t wait to welcome our pre-k and kindergarten students on Sept. 5!

Please visit the Tenney Grammar School page on Facebook and the Methuen Public Schools website for all sorts of helpful information. And of course, call anytime  with questions.

On behalf of our entire Tenney staff, best wishes for a healthy and happy end to summer!  See you soon, Tenney Tigers!

Mary Beth Donovan

Supervising Principal

978-722-9026, ext 4414

As we head into the last days of the school year, there is so much to celebrate at the Tenney. Here are some highlights from May:

• Leah Kiberstis  has been named the top winner in the Israel Arbeiter writing contest and was honored June  10 at a ceremony remembering Holocaust victims in Boston. Her teacher is Sara Calla.  The  marks the  twelfth year Tenney has had a winning writer in this contest.  Leah will receive a scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.c. Thirty of her fellow eighth grade students made the trip into Boston Sunday to support her.

• Congratulations to Dariel Garcia,  the Grand Prize winner of Scholastic Plant Mash-Up Contest! Dariel created a Mash-Up of a Coconut Tree and a Yucca Root,   gets to travel this summer to a National Park of his choice with his family and will take the 8th grade on a science field trip.

• Our  seventh graders known as  Very Important Volunteers (VIV)  spent some time cleaning up our main entrance to our school. Stop by to smell the flowers.

• Our first Computer-Based MCAS testing was a success thanks to the hard work of students and staff.  About 932 students took the MCAS in 4,400 sessions. We had 100 percent participation and our PTO made sure every child who tested had breakfast that morning.

• Our Peer Leaders, Student Council members and JNHS students marched in the town’s Memorial Day Parade. Thank you Joyce Wyman, peer leader advisor for teaching our students the value of honoring those who serve, showing up for every Memorial and Veterans Day parade and - Santa Parade, too! -  and representing our school with such dignity and joy. This was the last parade for Mrs. Wyman who is retiring in June.

• Brian  Fulks hosted another successful Tenney band concert Tuesday and followed it up with a performance by his Junior District-wide  Jazz Band. Holly Gamache  directed her last production as Drama Club advisor with a great production of Flat Stanley.

• Liz Fulks hosted a special seminar on mindfulness last night at the Tenney called Minding Your Mind.

• Our Tenney 8th grade boys won a nail biter of a basketball game - over the Marsh in the district tourney. John Sughrue, Greg Lambert and Brian Fulks are the coaches. And our girls did great, too, thanks to the coaching of Paula Simone and Amanda Goyette Langis.

• Our Junior National Honor Society welcomed 35 new members at a ceremony featuring former Tenney student and Ranger Class of 2018 member Laura Fredette. Miss Fredette, who is headed to the Mass College of Pharmacy  for a doctoral program spoke about the power of hard work and believing in oneself. After the ceremony, guests celebrated in the cafeteria with ice cream sundaes served up by very proud teachers.

We have a number of field trips and fun activities planned for the last days of school.

We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2018 at our Final Assembly on June 15.  Former Tenney student Tram Nguyen, an attorney and the first Vietnamese woman to run for public office in Massachusetts.  

Last day of school, June 22 is a full day.

April brought flowers, pride and families into our community. Here is a quick look at all the spring happenings at the Tenney:

• Grade 2 students and teachers welcomed families into school for an evening of math. Guests visited  classrooms and worked with students to solve math problems.

• Very Important Volunteers (VIV) are making a mark at the Tenney! Forty seventh graders help out in the lower school at the conclusion  of their school day. These students will also spend some time sprucing up our campus.

• Grade 2 students and teachers welcomed families into school for an evening of math. Guests visited  classrooms and worked with students to solve math problems.

• Grade 1 hosted an Author’s Day. Students read their original works to a very  appreciate audience.

• Fifth grade teachers Carrie Barnhardt, Jeannine Peluso and Brandon Bolduc invited parents into our school for pizza and to learn more about Eureka Math and NewsELA.

• Eighth grade teacher Sarah Calla and kindergarten teacher Lisa Feole worked to bring their students together to  for some quality learning time. The eighth graders taught the younger students how to tie their shoes and the kindergarten students reciprocated by reading stories aloud to their buddies.

• Bingo Night drew families and some retired staff members. Money raised by the event, organized by teachers Bill Borrelli and Danielle Abdullah will help fund our eighth grade fun.

• Namaste Wednesday gave Tenney community members  a chance to learn restorative yoga. Liz Fulks, our health  teacher organized the event.

• Eighth grade teacher Doug Patten and his gardeners are beautifying our school. They planted flowers in our upper school entrance.

• The Lower School PBIS team hosted a great International Week, Students got to celebrate their ethnic heritage, life in America and the staff enjoyed a great pizza lunch.

• Or eighth grade basketball team has had a great season  so far. They are being coached by Paula Simone, Amanda Goyette Langis, John Sughrue, Greg Lambert and Brian Fulks.

Coming up:

May 8 & 9 math MCAS, grades 3 and 4

May 10: Music lessons for band parents, hosted by Mr. Fulks

May 11: Flat Stanley: The Musical, performed by Tenney Drama  Club, 7 pm

May 12: Flat Stanley: The Musical, performed by Tenney Drama Club, 2 pm.

May 17: PTO meeting, staff lounge 7 pm

May 22: Band Concert, 7 pm

May 24: Minding Your Mental Health, presented by Liz Fulks, health teacher, 7 pm

May 25: Red Nose Day

March was filled with snow and good things at the Tenney. We honored people who changed the world, talked about the weather, learned how to save lives, thought about the value of water and  got ready for MCAS.

Here is a look at what we accomplished:

• Seventeen Tenney staff members took part in an after- school CPR course Jeff Osgood who directs our Health and Wellness programs was the instructor.

• The 8th grade hosted an MCAS Rally that had an Olympic theme. And if that is not enough inspiration, our JNHS decorated classroom doors with quotes about the value of hard work.

• Channel 4 meteorologist Pam Gardner met with our third graders to talk about the thing we love to talk about - weather!!!! Our students  were featured in a video on WBZ -TV, thanks to Mrs. Toner.

• The Grade 4 team  held its second annual Biography Fair. About 200 family members attended. Our students dressed in character  - as Martin Luther King, Emily Dickinson, Johnny Appleseed - and talked about their lives.

• The Grade 5 team hosted Hands on History for their students. Our kids got a look at life during the Revolutionary War Era.

• Tenney mom Emily Kaminsky introduced  Lindsey Andrews, author of  the children’s book, I Walk for Water, to our Grade 2 students. Ms. Andrews Skyped with us, reading her book aloud. Ms. Norman coordinated the visit which supported the students’ geography studies.

• Mrs. Morin’s Grade 5 students celebrated World Water Day. They dressed in blue and made informational posters to share with lower school students. Her students ask, “Did you know the average person wastes 4 liters of water when they leave the water running while brushing their teeth?"

• Our Grade 7 team  went to Quarrybrook Science Center for hands on learning and  a bit of snowshoeing.

• Ms.  Beauchemin  our media teacher and some devoted volunteers made our annual Scholastic Book Fair  a success!

• Some of our lower school classes  had a visit from Johnny the K.  He rocked the house with messages about good character and the value of education.

• Mrs. Devendorf helped  her sixth graders think about  their futures. Every month, she invites an adult to speak about his/her job and what it takes to do that job!  This month’s guest: Officer Gardner

Coming up:

April 11:Academic Bowl at the Tenney, 3 pm

Bingo Night, 5 pm

April 25, 26: Tenney Drama Club presents Flat Stanley Jr., 7 pm

February was a short month filled with learning at the Tenney!  We:

• Celebrated our second annual Kindness Week. Each day featured something different and gave students and opportunity to contribute a bit of goodness to our school and community. Students said thank you to our community heroes, dressing up as first responders. We wrote Valentines to our school, donated to the food pantry, passed out carnations and our students kept track of  the good they did.

• The 30th annual Mama Tenney Dinner drew 200 guests for a night of pasta, community and fun. Our Peer Leaders and Student Council members served up the food, about 20 staff members plated the food and our friends at Starchey’s donated all the food.  Families of active and past military members were honored and after enjoying the meal, guests visited the Wall of Honor. The wall features pictures of our Tenney family who serve in the military.

• Marked 100 days of school. Kindergarten students created special shirts and posters decorated with 100 items, continued to 100 and walked a red carpet. Some of our older students and their teachers dressed as their future 100-year old selves.

• Enjoyed our new lower school gym floor. The floor features lines for track and of course, our Tenney tiger logo. We are so lucky to have the support of Ranger Club.

Coming up:

March 6: Meteorologist Pam Gardner meets with Grade 3.

March 7: Academic Bowl, Timony Grammar School, 5:30 pm

March 8: Mr. Bolduc, Mrs. Barnhart, Mrs. Peluso hosts an evening of Eureka Math and Newela for their Grade 5 parents, 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

March 8: PTO Meeting, 7 pm.

March 28 : Class photos,

MCAS Dates  English/Language Arts

April 3, 4: Grades 3 and

April 5, 6: Grades 7 and 8

April 10, 11: Grades 5 and 6

April 16-21 April vacation

Math

May 1, 2: Grades 5 and 6

May 3, 4: Grades 7 and 8

May 8, 9: Grades 3 and 4

Science

May 16-17: Grades 5 and 8  

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our MCAS testing is just around the corner and our testing dates have been set.  Here they are:

English/Language Arts

April 3, 4: Grades 3 and 4

April 5, 6: Grades 7 and 8

April 10, 11: Grades 5 and 6

April 16-21 April vacation

Math

May 1, 2: Grades 5 and 6

May 3, 4: Grades 7 and 8

May 8, 9: Grades 3 and 4

Science

May 16-17: Grades 5 and 8  

(These are the only grades taking the science test)

I hope you will take a moment to put these dates on your calendar and make sure your child is in school, relaxed and well-rested on his/her testing days,  The testing “window” established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is very specific. More importantly, the information we get from your child’s testing results help us identify the content areas we need to address in the classroom, plan intervention and  shape how we teach.

Or fabulous PTO is one again providing a free breakfast to every child on testing days. Lucky us to have an organization that supports our  students so generously!

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at 978-722-9026, ext, 4414

Best wishes,

Mary Beth Donovan

Supervising Principal

Tenney staff and students started the new year with a focus on hands-on learning and fun. Here is a quick look at some of the events at our school at the start of the 2018:

• Our Geography Bee was a success! Our first place winner is 7th grader Andrew Le, runner-up is 8th grader Patrick Donovan and third place is 6th grader Luke Polomoscanik.  Marian Magnan, sixth grade teacher,  organized the event.

• Kindergarten teachers Sheena Courage and Lisa Feole- Pickett held a sledding “lesson” for their students.  The teachers knew  the students could use support as they wrote about their favorite moment and decided that having a universal experience would enhance  the writing process.  They enlisted the aid of parents, custodial staff, and other members of the kindergarten team. The result was some fun and most importantly some well-written, detail-rich essays from our youngest writers.

• Tim Vermette from the Methuen Garden Club visited  the Tenney to help Doug Patten, eighth grade teacher and his class create plant cuttings and learn about the growth process. We are grateful to Mr. Vermette for his generous donation of time and supplies with the 8th grade students.

• Guidance counselor Ted Shields led the creation of awesome ROCKS poster in our lower school cafeteria comprised of  Tenney Blue tickets.

• Paula Simone, upper school associate principal,  was the quizmaster at  the district’s first Academic Bowl  competition at the CGS. Our seventh and eighth grade teams had fun. represented us well and will compete again in March.  

• Corey the Dribbler came to the Tenney put on a great show with the focus on respect and the power of education.  Mrs. Morin coordinated the event.

Coming up:

Feb. 12-16: Kindness Week

Feb: 16: Bowling League

            Pamela Gardner, Meteorologist Visit, Grade 3, Auditorium.

            Grade 8 Field Trip to Quarrybrook Experiential Education Center

            Mama Tenney Dinner, Upper School Cafeteria, 5-7:30 pm

We closed 2017 with opportunity to learn, grow and support one another.  We celebrated together, too.  Here is a quick look at some of the Tenney happenings that closed out  2017:

• Our Giving Tree project which has been organized for several years by teacher Dawn Patterson supported 100 Tenney families. Staff and students “adopted” families who needed some extra help during the holiday season.  

• The Fourth Annual Light the Night brought about 400 folks to our campus. We illuminated the giant tree at our Upper School entrance and then invited everyone inside to tour their students’ classrooms and pick out a book to take home, courtesy of our Tenney staff.  Our fabulous PTO sponsors this event every year.

• We hosted assemblies to recognize our students in December and celebrate the holidays.  Upper School students and staff faced off in an epic  trivia contest. Each grade of our lower school staff took a turn with a performance. We were  happy to see so many parents in attendance.

• Our Lower School students kindergarten team joined forces with staff at the Nevins Memorial Library to introduce some of our younger students to  library services and get their library cards. Some of our seventh grade students are participating in a book club hosted by Young Adult Librarian Amy Fowler who also coordinates our Tenney Rocks the Nevins Summer Program. We love our partnership with the library.

• Our second grade team welcomed parents to a Eureka Math Open House.

• Our Girls on the Run, led by teacher Sarah Hudon completing a a 5k race.

• Teacher parents conferences were well- attended.

• Our staff hosted a variety of events for the adults in our Tenney family, including a kissing ball -making craft might, ugly sweater day and a special treats luncheon.

The New Year is shaping up to be a busy one. Upcoming events include:

Jan  9: Upper School Geography Bee

Jan. 10: ACCESS Testing begins

Jan. 17: PTO meeting, 7 pm, staff room

Jan 19: Corey The Dribbler meets with 5th & 6th graders  The former Harlem Globetrotter  and Guinness Book record holder will talk about respect, the value of education and anti-bullying.