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May 1, 2008 Dear Middle School Parents and Students: There is a mystery living on top of the filing cabinet in my office. When I came to the Middle School to be principal, a friend of mine brought me a little gift. Since I used to teach science she knew I would like a “biosphere.” It is a glass globe about 6 inches in diameter with sand and sea shells on the bottom. In it were three sea monkeys or more accurately named “artemia nyos.” The artemia part is the genus name and the nyos comes from New York Ocean Science Laboratories where they were developed. Some people call them brine shrimp but they are actually crustaceans. They are found in salt water but not in oceans. These little creatures can be purchased and arrive in what looks like a packet of Kool Aid. They have the ability to lie dormant for years and when poured into warm water—they hatch. This is called “cryptobiosis” which means “hidden life.” They are born with one eye and eventually add two more to have three and they breathe through their feet. They are supposed to live up to two years. My sea monkey was given to me my first year as principal in the old middle school—and that was 13 years ago. (the age of a 7th grader) There is only one, so it is not reproducing. Should I be calling Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute--- or maybe David Letterman. End of weird science lesson…. We held a very successful Walk for Hunger. Thank you to the many parents who either walked, or helped out at the check in stations. The students love to see you along the route, handing out cookies and water, stamping hands or providing words of encouragement. To date, we have received over $13,500! It is still not too late to send in additional money. We can accept donations for another few weeks. Thank you to Scott Jewell and his crew for the best Walk yet. Remember, every single penny goes to support the Ipswich Food Pantry. As I write this, the grade 6 students are about to enjoy their last day at Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine or local trips. Meredith and I had fun fishing in the tide pools with them and the sun was shining. All students had a jam packed week full of science activities and fun. At the end of May, (May 27-30) the 8th grade travels to the Adirondacks for a science/geology trip. We will climb, float, spelunk and play as the class of 2012 culminates the middle school years. There will be a parent meeting for the grade 8 New York trip on Monday, May19th at 7pm. This is a change!! Parents who are interested in helping with decorations and refreshments for the wonderful graduation ceremony on Friday, June 13th are asked to stay for a brief organizational meeting that same evening. May is “Choosing to Participate” month in the 8th grade as students conclude their study of history with a closer look at decisions we all make as participants in today’s world. Included in this study will be a trip to the Boston Public Library to experience an exhibit called, “Choosing to Participate.” Check it out online at www.choosingtoparticipate.org Your student will be scheduled for one of the trips on May 7, 9, or 14, and will need a bag lunch and $4 for the bus. Please watch for permission slips this week. Another highlight of this month-long study will be a visit on May 15th with Holocaust survivor and educator Sonia Weitz. Students are asked to contribute $2 to the Holocaust Center North Shore as an honorarium for Sonia’s time with us, which continues to be an amazing privilege. We are also proud to announce that through the efforts of parent Larissa Goldstein and the Goldhirsh Foundation, we have been awarded $1800 for a year long study grant working with the “Facing History” curriculum which I hope you saw in the Boston Globe this week. Track, softball and badminton are up and running. Track is coached by Laura Schofield, Dan Tivnan and Scott Sudol. There are over 130 students involved with a busy practice and meet schedule. Softball is coached by Jen McNichols. Badminton is coached by Steve Veiga and is an intramural sport. Games run through May 20th. We will post the schedules on the website; and we have copies at all times in the office. There are many opportunities for summer camps and activities which are coming into the office to keep your student busy over the summer months. We have brochures for North Shore Community Kids to College, Whittier Discovery Program (ages 11-13), Blue Dog local Adventure Camp (ages 13 and up) and Crane Beach’s new Summer Quest Camp (ages 9-12) in conjunction with the YMCA. There is also an exciting North Shore summer jazz Camp for woodwind, brass and percussion players. Please call Tom Palance at 978 412 5438 or tompalance@yahoo.com Journeyman Theatreworks is also being offered as a theater camp for grades 6-8 and will run here from July 7-18. Please call Marc Francis at 508-843-8800 or info@journeymenshows.com. Please stop by or call for more info on these as they come in to us. Applications are also being accepted for the 4th annual IMS/IHS Summer Art Studio. This very successful program will take place from July 21-25 and is open to students in grades 7-12. Instructors are our own Ms. Eaton and special guests. Extensive studio resources will give students an opportunity to explore Digital Photography, Painting, Ceramics, Semi-Precious Jewelry, and other wonderful mediums. Enrollment is limited to 25 students and costs $185 for the week including all materials. A deposit of $75 will hold your spot. Please call Ms Eaton (x174) or email at Virginia.eaton@comcast.net for more info. Registration forms are in the main office. May is also MCAS month. We test from May 12-21st. Please ensure that your students are rested and have breakfast on all those mornings. Students who have been on the Honor Roll for the first three quarters of school this year are invited to an Honors Reception by invitation on June 2nd. Grade 6 students are honored at 6:30PM and grade 7 & 8 students are honored at 7:30 in the PAC. Speakers include the top three students from the high school class of 2008. Invitations will be sent through the mail. May is the month we pull out the lawn mower and get green thumbs… May 9th, Friday, Progress Reports go home for the last time—please sign and return May 13th, TOWN MEETING May 15th, Sonia Weitz, Holocaust survivor, visits grade 8 ---$2 donation please May 16th, Friday last dance for grades 7 & 8 and movie night for grade 6 students (baseball players can come late) May 19th, Monday, Grade 8 Parent Meeting for NY trip and graduation plans May 20, Tuesday, Grade 5 to 6 Parent Orientation Meeting in the PAC and IMS ART SHOW— PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE BEFORE COMING TO THE MEETING
May 21, Wednesday, Last Coffee with the Principal, 7:45-8:45AM May 26, Monday, Memorial Day-- NO SCHOOL May 27-30, Grade 8 Trip to NY and local trips June 1, Sunday, IHS graduation June 2, Monday, Honors Night (Grade 6 @ 6:30 and Grades 7 & 8 @ 7:30) June 3, Tuesday, Choral Concert, 7:30 PM June 9th, Monday, Instrumental Concert, 7:30PM June 10th, Tuesday, Move Up Day June 12th, Crane’s Beach Day (Raindate 6/13) June 13th, Friday, Grade 8 Graduation, 7PM IN THE THEATRE June 16th, Monday, Last Day of School September, 2, Tuesday, First day of school for 2008 The Bench A few weeks ago I talked my husband into driving down on a precious Saturday to Belmont to take my 85 year old aunt out to lunch and “pick up the bench.” She had called me last fall to tell me that there was an old bench she salvaged from the people who clean out houses. She said I should have it and it was heavy. It sat on her porch all winter covered in snow and finally we were there to pick it up from her. Why should I have this bench? The story goes like this. I was born in the not so nice side of Newton where people were allowed to buy houses for $1 from the railroad company as they knocked them down to lay rail. My great grandparents bought two of these houses and stuck them together. I was born there; no hot water, no heating system, no tub and not much room. I played in that yard amidst the fruit trees and in the flower gardens and under the apple tree next door where my Aunt Mildred was born until I was 5. Under the apple tree was a bench. It had been there for 40 years before I arrived and I am now 60. She said that they used to go next door to visit the rag man who collected junk with his horse and wagon to see what treasures they could find. The bench was given to my family by the rag man in exchange for some small deed, and there it sat for generations under that apple tree. Oddly enough, I remember as a little girl standing on that bench trying to reach those apples. The bench has been moved to a place of honor in my yard and given a fresh coat of paint. We will, once again, sit as a family in it and the story of the bench and the apple tree will be told to my grown children and to theirs—a gift from a rag man in a time gone by. Thank you, Aunt Mildred, for caring enough to pass it along. Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for all you do. Cheryl Forster-Cahill
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