Newburyport School Notes
Lynne Hendricks
September 30, 2008 03:48 am Students at Inn Street Montessori had an opportunity to peer into the dark and mysterious confines of a PC tower last week — the opening experiment that will kick off the school's newly launched technology program. According to Technology Coordinator Jennifer Esty, children had trouble containing their excitement, anxious to get a first look at the innards of the equipment that's keeping us connected in the 21st century. For lower and upper elementary students (aged 6 to 12 years old) Inn Street plans this year to offer an opportunity for collaboration on a variety of technology projects, including the creation of audio and video recordings, exploring podcasts, multimedia presentations and learning to understand the difference between a hard drive and a USB flash drive. The study takes place in the school's brand-new technology laboratory, with is outfitted with iMAC workstations. Esty feels the lessons will provide students the freedom to explore and learn how technology fuels the way we live. "The most prominent technology application found in the home today is the personal computer," said Esty. "By dissecting the computer, students find technology demystified and even fun." The project computer was donated by Visiting Geeks, a Merrimac-based family computer repair business with clients throughout the greater Newburyport area. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ The first Early Release Day of the year will be Thursday. Oct. 2, and parents are reminded to mark their calendars for early releases in the future. The first Thursday of every month will be an early release day for students, excepting Nov. 20 and Jan. 8. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ Molin Upper Elementary School Open House takes place Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The evening will begin in the auditorium, followed by a visit to students' classrooms. From 7:30 to 8, parents are invited to visit the Explore classes and a book fair that will be taking place in the library. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ Bresnahan's PTO Cultural Enrichment and Green Team is sponsoring an all-day event for students and parents on Green Home/Green Planet, which will take place Monday, Oct. 6, throughout the day for students, and in the evening from 6:30 to 7:30 for families. The hands-on program will allow for the exploration of "Climate Change is Elementary" and help students learn the basics of green stewardship. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ Bresnahan Elementary School's Open House was held last Thursday night, and attendance was reportedly high. Classroom teachers made curriculum presentations with a focus on comprehensive literacy, special subject, literacy support and reading recovery specialists, and special education teachers and related service providers were also available for parent discussion. The Bresnahan Green Team and the Newburyport Education Foundation were also represented, dispensing information and recruiting volunteers. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ The Newburyport Boy's Basketball Association will begin registration for its 2008-2009 season Oct. 7, offering boys in grades five, six, seven and eight an opportunity to develop their skills and play structured competitive games from November through early March. Grade five boys wishing to register can do so Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Nock School gym. Grade eight boys can register the same evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Grade six registrations will take place Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 5 to 7p.m. in the Nock gymnasium, and grade seven will follow from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost of registration is $215. For more information, contact Steve MacRae, 978-380-2907. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ The Box Tops for Education Campaign has officially kicked off at Bresnahan. Parents and students are reminded to collect General Mills products labeled with the Box Tops signature stamp and turn the stamp into the school. General Mills will contribute 10 cents for each box top collected by Newburyport families, which helps purchase supplies and special programs for students. Bresnahan students have extra incentive this year — the class collecting the most box tops will enjoy a class party! ¬¢¬¢¬¢ Lynne Hendricks covers Rowley for The Daily News. She can be reached at wiehe@verizon.net.
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