To start the New Year off right, students at Amesbury Elementary School will participate once again in the fitness and literacy program, Fit & Lit. It is part of a national program that is helping to fight America's war on youth obesity, Type II diabetes and Sedentary Death Syndrome. The national program, the Mileage Club, has encouraged students to improve their reading comprehension as well as increase their physical activities to build muscles, reduce stress and create good lifetime habits. During the months of February, March and April, students will bring home a calendar for recording days and minutes of reading and exercising. When the month is completed, students will bring back the calendar and receive a decorative chain that contains collectable book and feet tokens. These chains can be placed on backpacks or coat zippers and demonstrate participation in the program. The goal is to help families understand that reading and exercise are equally important to the well-being of the whole child.

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Alex Olsen, former AES student, came in on Friday to speak to the children in second grade about the Chinese New Year. Alex has spent time studying in China and was able to share her knowledge of China's customs, holidays, language, etc., through a very informative presentation. The question-and-answer period that followed showed that students really were interested when they asked Olsen what a school day was like for Chinese children, if they played any sports and what they did for fun. Following the presentation, she headed back to the University of Rochester to continue her studies.

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When you hear the names Wilbur, Fern and Charlotte what do you think of? For many people E.B. White's classic children novel "Charlotte's Web" is the answer. For the next five weeks, all of AES will be reading and listening to this wonderful story of friendship in the first installment of our AES Read-Aloud series. It will be our goal for our whole school to read between three and five children's classics each year over a five-year cycle. Teachers will focus on words of the day from the story to help build vocabulary as well as share discussion questions to improve our comprehension.

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On Jan. 22 and 23, Amesbury High School students will take final exams for first semester and second quarter classes. During these days, students will have two classes in addition to the exams. Students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. as opposed to the scheduled half days that have occurred in the past.

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Members of the sophomore class will be attending the 12th annual Grade 10 Career Exploration Fair at Northern Essex Community College. The career fair is one of the offerings of the School to Career Program. Students will be scheduled to hear three to four presenters in various careers based on the student's Career Choice Interest Inventory in hopes that they might begin to think and plan for their future endeavors. This project is sponsored by the Greater Newburyport School to Career Partnership which involves Triton Regional, Georgetown, Amesbury and Newburyport High Schools, along with the Sparhawk School.

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AHS's Science Team will make its debut on Jan. 13 competing against various teams in the area at the North Shore Science League Science Competition. The team, consisting of Kate Kozacka, Jessica Marx, Adam Dunford, Jeff Larnard, Aislyn Schalck and Jackie Webber, will travel to Masconomet Regional High School to tackle problems in categories such as R & A, Histology and a category called "the Perfect Storm," which will require building a boat and racing it. Adviser Wayne Adams will also take the team to the National Science Bowl at Boston University on Feb. 28.

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AHS Peer Leaders are sponsoring a clothing drive for the children and infants of Afghanistan in support of Operation Troop Support. The group will be collecting new and gently used clothing this week. Clothing must be clean and in good condition. Donations may be dropped off in the front lobby of the high school.

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On Jan. 23 at 8 p.m., the AHS Drama Club will present a student showcase in an effort to raise money for its musical this year. The show entails musical selections from various Broadway shows, tap dancing and a performance of scenes from the comedy, "Check Please." Tickets will be sold in advance and at the door for $5.

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Amesbury Middle School will soon be starting postural screening in accordance to the Massachusetts School Health Policy. The purpose of the screening is to detect possible signs of spinal problems in children in grades five to nine. To find out more about this screening, check the forms found in the Poly on the Web.

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AMS art teachers are asking students and parents to save the following items for them. They are in need of calendars (especially botanical, landscape, photography and artists), yarn, ribbons, wire, fibers and magazines (sports, nature and people doing things). To donate any of the above, drop them off to AMS Art teachers Ann Bartkiewicz and Susan Olsen.

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AMS Math Team high scorers for the Dec. 4 meet were: seventh-grader Deanna Havey, eighth-graders Connor O'Dea and Austin Parker, all scoring 10 points. This was their second meet of the year. The team is currently practicing for their next meet to be held at Triton on Thursday.

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AMS fifth grade is preparing for its annual Family Math Night. This year's Night of Numbers will be on Jan. 22 (snow date Feb. 5) from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

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AMS Ski club will be traveling to Bradford Ski area on Monday, Jan. 26. Students will leave AMS at 2 p.m. and return to the horseshoe area around 6 p.m.

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AMS' Stars on Stage will be holding a rehearsal for all participants on Friday in the Performance Center from 2:30 to 5 p.m. This is the first of two weeks of rehearsals to prepare the students for the show.

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AMS parents are reminded that the Homework Hotline is a tool where they can check on and keep up with their children's daily homework assignments. To access the Homework Hotline, call the main school number, 978-388-0515, and follow the directions given by the menu directory.

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AMS is going green! AMS has begun Poly on the Web and will now send Blue Poly information home to only those who do not have Internet access. To access the AMS Web site, go to www.k12.amesbury.ma.us, and click on "Poly on the Web."

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AMS Drama Club members find out today who the stars will be for this year's production of "Beauty and the Beast."

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Important dates coming up:

Wednesday, Jan. 14, a grad night meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the library.

There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday holiday.

Friday, Jan. 23, there will be a production by the Amesbury High School Drama Club at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30, will be the Amesbury Middle School's Stars on Stage Performance at 7 p.m. in the performance center.

Sunday, Feb. 1, there will be a celebration of Amesbury High School's building completion from 1 to 4 p.m. In the event of snow, it will be on Feb. 2.

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Liz King covers Amesbury schools for The Daily News. She can be reached by e-mail at lking@newburyportnews.com, or by calling 978-462-6666, ext. 3230.