March 2, 2006

Please Note:
School will be held on Monday, March 6th.

Reminder:
Parent conferences are scheduled for March 16th and 17th. Teachers will be contacting you soon!

Cancellation:
The Putney Rec League basketball practice on Saturday, March 4th has been cancelled. See you on Saturday, March 11th.

All School Sing,
Wednesday, March 15th from 9:00-9:30 AM

Raising Cain: Boys in Focus
America's boys are in trouble. They are the most violent in the industrialized world. Many are unable to express their emotions. On average, boys are doing worse in the classroom than they were 10 years ago.
How do we learn to listen to and support our boys? How can we guide them on the path to becoming responsible, caring men? If you are the parent of boysŠ if you work with boysŠor if you are concerned about how boys are getting on in today's culture, Raising Cain is an opportunity not to be missed.
Raising Cain - Boys in Focus, a video documentary, will be presented at the Putney Central School on Thursday, March 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the music room.
This documentary, hosted by child psychologist Michael Thompson, Ph.D., provides answers, insights, ideas, and hope and surprising new research about boys' inner lives, dispelling a number of commonly held misconceptions, and highlights innovative programs that are bringing out the best in boys.
This presentation is sponsored by Putney Family Services and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 387-2120.

Internet Safety for Children
Brattleboro Police Department will host two Internet Safety programs for the general public this month. The programs will be held on Thursdays, March 9th and 23rd, starting at 6:00pm in the Select board meeting room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center.
Brattleboro Police Detective Erik Johnson will discuss how to make the internet safer for your children, and safety precautions that a parent and/or child can implement in order to make their online experience safe and enjoyable. Topics will include instant messaging, chat rooms, blogs and online websites that allow people to post personal information.
For more information, call Detective Johnson or Robert Perkins, the School Resource Officer, at 257-7950. You can also email the Brattleboro Police Department at bpd@sover.net

Town Meeting News
Lunch at Town Meeting
You won't have to go hungry at Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 7th! On behalf of PCS, Café Services will offer a tasty lunch that includes a variety of wraps, potato salad, chips, pickles, cookies and beverages, all for only $5.50. Just fill out the order form when you arrive at Town Meeting.

Child Care during Town Meeting
Ken Brautigam has volunteered once again to provide free child care during the school portion of Town Meeting, from 1 to 4 pm. Reservations are appreciated (call the school office at 387-5521) but no child will be turned away! 7th & 8th graders -- do you want to help Ken out? Show up Tuesday at 1pm.

7/8 Spring Season is almost hereŠ
It's time to start stretching out your muscles, conditioning your glove and swinging your bat!
7/8 Baseball and Softball is almost here. Look for sign up sheets to play for PCS after the vacation break. For further information, contact Angela Daprato, AD, at 387-2862 or by email: daphil@svcable.net

Dance at the Grammar School
The Grammar School is hosting a dance for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. It will be held Friday, March 3rd from 7 to 10pm. Admission is $5.00, with $1.00 going to Putney Family Services. Refreshments will be available for purchase. To find out more, call the Grammar School at 387-5364.

Introduction to Telemark Skiing
Ever wondered what Telemark skiing is all about? You're invited to a workshop hosted by Living Memorial Park Snow Sports in Brattleboro. It's Thursday night, March 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30pm. This will be a fun and relaxed opportunity to learn and practice the basics of telemark skiing. Amanda Dixon is an enthusiastic teacher who has taught telemark skiing in Norway. All ages are encouraged to participate, but some skiing experience is needed. The $20.00 fee includes lesson and lift ticket.
This event is sponsored by the West Hill Shop in Putney. Please register for lessons at West Hill by calling 387-5718 or e-mailing: diny@westhillshop.com
If you have questions about the lesson you can call Amanda at: 254-9541

The Naturalist/Gardening Club
This new after school program will have two main areas of focus. The first is to learn about our native flora and fauna by inspiring young children to expand their awareness and appreciation of the unique diversity in our own backyard. The second is to learn about horticulture and gardening. We will do a variety of projects which actively involve and engage children in ways that support and develop our existing organic garden.
Activities include: basic identification skills, tracking, birding, frogging, seed collecting and identification, botanizing, plant propagation, scavenger hunts, reading, research, garden design, harvesting and much more. To find out more, call Tara Gordon at 387-4073.

Readers Digest Word Power
Putney Central School's two grade-level vocabulary champions have been invited to compete in the state level competition this March. Thomas Bryant-Williams will represent the seventh grade, and Colin Hinckley will represent our eighth grades in the competition. The date and time have yet to be announced, but if one of them succeeds in winning the state level championship, he will be invited on an all-expense paid trip to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the national vocabulary contest. Best wishes to them both!

Grey Fox Girls
You're invited to an open house for the Grey Fox Girls, a program offered by the Vermont Wilderness School. The program offers girls the chance to explore the wilderness, make natural crafts and medicines, track animals, and learn the many ways that the earth can thrill, challenge and provide for us. This monthly program enables girls to learn respect for all things, including self, each other and nature. It's for girls aged 7 to 16. To find out more or register for the open house, call 257-8570.

Help Wanted:
Putney Central School has been awarded a School Wellness Grant! A project coordinator is needed to assess the current snack program and compile outcomes.
Specific activities will include assessing snacks, coordination with food service providers, promoting school-wide participation in a healthy snack program, and parent and community education. A stipend will be offered. Please apply in writing by Friday, March 3rd to Jane Sbardella, school nurse at PCS.

Box Tops for Education
Please give Ms. Cassidy all of your box tops by Monday, March 6th. All monies raised in this program will go to the PCS Library.

OFFICIALLY NAMED "PORTAL TO THE SACRED WOODS"
BY A VOTE OF PUTNEY CENTRAL STUDENTS.