With Thanksgiving fast-approaching, local schools are stepping up to collect food and clothing for the less fortunate. The Cashman Elementary School Student Council, in partnership with the Amesbury Police Department, is sponsoring a week-long food drive for Our Neighbors' Table. Tables will be set up in the foyer according to grade level to keep count of contributions. The winning grade level will have popcorn and a movie in the cafĂ© — the winners will be announced Monday.
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The Amesbury Middle School Student Council is holding its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Students are asked to bring in canned items and nonperishable goods for their homeroom's collection boxes. Students are hoping to break the record of 3,109 items that were brought in last year. The food drive will end on Thursday, whereupon all food collected will be given to the Pettengill House to help the less fortunate.
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Amesbury Elementary School is holding a coat drive. Organized by kindergarten teacher Marianne Curry, parents and friends are invited to donate any gently used winter coats to help those in need this season.
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Students at Amesbury High School are asked to bring in canned goods for Our Neighbors' Table during Spirit Week, which begins today. During Spirit Week, students and teachers are asked to dress according to the theme of the day, like Patriotic Day, Tie Dye Day, Twin Day, Black Out Day, College Day, Lumberjack Day and Color Day. There will be a Powder Puff football game on Thursday at Landry Stadium and a Mr. AHS contest on Monday, Nov. 23. The culminating event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 25 with the Color Day Rally.
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Last Monday at CES, classes and local veterans from Cashman families assembled in the gym to celebrate and pay tribute to those who have served and are serving our country. Following the principal's talk about the history of Armistice Day, each grade level, accompanied by fourth-grade teacher Elizabeth Peterson, sang a patriotic song. Victoria Griffin and Troy Pender performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" on their recorders.
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Parent and servicewoman Karen Tuncok visited Sarah Pelletier's AES class, where her daughter Seda is a student. She came to class in uniform to talk about her experiences and what it means to be a veteran.
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AMS fifth-graders will be learning first-hand about the branches of government during a presentation tomorrow from 11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Mayor Thatcher Kezer, Judge Michael Uhlarick and state Rep. Michael Costello are scheduled to join the fifth grade for a question and answer session in the AMS Performance Center.
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The Amesbury High School Grad Night Committee is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 28 between 8 and 11 a.m. at Flatbread Pizza in the Millyard. New breakfast pizzas will be available for dine in or take-out orders. The committee will also be holding a raffle featuring themed gift baskets. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the AHS Grad Night program. For questions about the benefit or the AHS Grad Night Program, contact Karen Parady at 978-388-0551, Colleen Giambaressi at 978-388-0462 or Linda Lynch at 978-388-6463.
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Patti Mooers' third-grade class at Amesbury Elementary School was treated to a presentation by Dee Cote, whose son Ben is a student in her class. Using a program that came with permission from Historic New England and Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, she instructed students about longitude and latitude, after which they sailed on an imaginary voyage to multiple locations around the world, hunting for treasure using longitude and latitude.
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The grade 3 students at AES are studying Native Americans. Students with Cathy Jackson and Pam Gagnon are making replicas of a Native American scene in a shoe box, under the expert guidance of Milly Sanford, who is part Wampanoag.
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The AHS Select Choir participated in the "A Cappella Festival" at Pentucket High School, along with a cappella groups from St. John's, Hamilton-Wenham and Pentucket high schools. The UMass-Amherst Doo Wop Shop also performed. Members of the AHS Select Choir include Sarah Logan, Carly Miller, Emily Noonan, Bella Robinson, Chanelle Havey, Alexa Jackson, Jane Mauriello, Julia McDonald, Jessica McFadden, Greta Gadbois, Roxanne Griffith, Brenna Kenney, Sarah King, Kelsey Little and Tyler Beaupre.
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The AHS Weekly's annual Amesbury photo calendar is now available for $12 and may be purchased from the AHS Weekly staff or Barbara Leary.
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The junior class is selling gift cards from many national vendors; to purchase, contact any junior class member or contact Mrs. Beaudoin or Mrs. Hanscom at 978-388-4800 or visit www.shopwithscrip.com and use enrollment code E1B874CA193L2.
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The new members inducted into the National English Honor Society last week are Meghan Blair, Kristina Chase, Agatha Egan-Anderson, Roxanne Griffith, Emily Kidd, Steven Kligerman, Jennifer Meyer, John Morris, Emily O'Hala, James Parady, Victoria Robles, Delia Rowan, Ashley Shepard, Sara Shirshac, Peter Siess, Kelly Swan, Julia Denietolis, Keating Donahue-Scott, Meagan Gallagher, Alexa Jackson, Bridget Jean, Sarah King, Tyler Law, Mia Lufkin, Courtney Ouellet, Shane Pender, Isabella Robinson and Edward Welsh.
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Important dates:
Today: AHS alumni Veterans Day assembly, 10 a.m.
Tomorrow: Winter sports physicals in the health office at 7:15 a.m.
Through Tomorrow: AHS Class of 2013's holiday wrapping paper sale fundraiser.
Through Thursday: Auditions for PAG-sponsored "Stars on Stage" from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the AMS performance center.
Thursday: Financial aid seminar in the AHS auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m.; AMS Student of the Quarter Breakfast at 8:15 a.m.; AHS school photos retakes during period 1.
Friday: The AHS jazz band performs at the Massachusetts School Committee Association convention at the Cape Cod Convention Center in Hyannis.
Nov. 23: CES second-graders visit historical sites of Amesbury by bus.
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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.
