Wesleyan Jazz Band comes to Macdonough!

Professor Jay Hoggard of Wesleyan University brought a 20 piece jazz band to Macdonough School for a Thursday afternoon concert.

The band delighted students and staff with the sounds of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Among the crowd favorites were "Don't Be Sassy" and "Pick Me Up."

Yet it wasn't all entertainment. Students learned about various instruments including the drums, guitar, bass, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. They saw first hand how many individuals working together can make wonderful music.

The Macdonough School staff donated a book to the school library in honor of Professor Hoggard.  The book, Dizzy by Jonah Winter, chronicles Dizzy Gillespie’s life and his music.

Special thanks to the Wesleyan Office of Community Partnerships for coordinating the performance for Macdonough School.

O for Octopus

For the letter "O" week, the kindergartners had a special visitor. "Ollie the Octopus." Children were able to take a closer look at the octopus that they heard about in a non-fiction read-a-loud done by the kindergarten teachers. Ollie will be back to visit next year!

Turn Off the TV Night

Thanks to the Macdonough School PTA for hosting a "Turn Off the TV Night" at Macdonough School on Wednesday, April 20th. Activities ranging from board games to art activities were held for some old fashioned fun!

We Love Mrs. Spaman!

Students and staff honored the one and only Mrs. Spaman this morning for her 35 years of dedictation to our learning community.

Mrs. Spaman's family and friends were on hand as a tree was dedicated to her.

Twin Day at Macdonough!

Students were amazed to see so many sets of "twins" and "triplets" at Macdonough School today!

From Apr 19, 2011

"Can You Hear Me Now?"

Hooray! 

Thanks to a technology grant and our wonderful technology department, each of the classrooms at Macdonough School is having a new phone installed. 

The phones are state of the art and will provide additional options for enhanced home-school communication!

Spring Pictures at Macdonough!

Everyone had a smile day today at Macdonough... It was school picture day!

Pictures will be available from Grynn and Barrett Studios in a few weeks. For more information, parents may visit the Grynn and Barrett website.

2011 Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Awards

A student group from Wesleyan University was honored with a 2011 Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Award.  The ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 12th at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford.

The Wesleyan students who were honored are part of the WES Reads / WES Math initiative at Macdonough School.  This program provides small group enrichment support to more than fifty students each week.

The program was co-sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and the Connecticut Commission on Community Service.

Keigwin Band Performs at Macdonough School

The Keigwin Middle School Band was at Macdonough for their annual spring concert.

The band played a variety of songs and introduced the elementary school students to an assortment of instruments (brass, woodwind, percussion, and strings). 

Former Macdonough School students who now play in the Keigwin Band received big ovations from students and teachers alike. 

 
Special thanks to Mr. Daddario, Director of the Keigwin School band for making this performance possible.

Macdonough Teachers Present at Literacy Essentials Conference

Congratulations to Sarah Claffey and Michelle Maletta! 

The pair was invited to Central Connecticut State University's 5th Annual Literacy Essentials Conference to discuss reading initiatives in place at Macdonough School.

Their presentation, "12 Things You Can Do Tomorrow to Raise Reading Achievement," was modeled after the work being done at Macdonough School.

Macdonough Students attend An Evening with Author Bryan Collier

Children from Macdonough School were invited to a very special literacy event to kick off this year's Literacy Essentials Conference at Central Connecticut State University.

An Evening with Bryan Collier is the first annual community literacy event sponsored by the Literacy Essentials Conference. The event was held at the New Britain High School on Friday, April 8th at 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Grades 3 to 5 students, teachers and parents were invited to an evening that celebrated the work of award-winning author/illustrator Bryan Collier, who has illustrated numerous children's books, including Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport and Rosa by Nikki Giovanni both of which were awarded a Coretta Scott King Award and a Caldecott Honor. Included in the evening’s program were literature circles, dinner, an art walk and a presentation by Bryan Collier.

Special thanks to Miss Claffey and Miss Maletta for arranging this wonderful experience for our students!

Julia's Star

Macdonough School fifth graders participated in a Wesleyan University outreach program connected to a book that a Wesleyan student, Johanna Justin-Jinch, wrote when she was 15 years old.  The outreach project is another example of the strong connections between Wesleyan University and Macdonough School. 

Julia's Star tells the story of a young girl who wears the Star of David on a necklace to school and how when her friends ask her questions about it she becomes uncomfortable.  The young girl is unsure of what her friends think about her and her religion. The outreach activity provides elementary school students with an opportunity to discuss differences, stereotyping and how to sensitively ask questions about their friends to learn more about the cultures, beliefs, and families.

A Cheetahriffic Staff

We took part in a cheetahriffic day at Macdonough.

The staff was in a jungle spirit!

All City Music Festival

The All City Music Festival showcased the music programs in the city schools on Saturday night. The Festival, hosted by Wesleyan in the ice hockey arena, students from all of Middletown's schools, starting with the 4th grade bands and ending with the high school band and chorus.

Congratulations to our music teachers Mr. D'Amato and Miss DeAngelis as well as to all of the Macdonough students who participated. 

Special recognition was given to Macdonough School by Mr. Gaylord, Director of Fine Arts for Middletown Public Schools, for our participation in a world premiere of a piece by composer Glenn McClure, Dear Mother Earth: Letters to the Planet.

Connecticut Student Poet at Macdonough School

In only the second time in its history, Middlesex Community College has an official “Connecticut Student Poet” among its ranks. The student, Hannah Watkins, is the first MxCC student to receive this honor in more than 36 years. As part of this honor, Watkins will read her poems at events throughout the state, and will have some of her work published in the fall 2011 issue of the prestigious “Connecticut Review” creative arts publication.

Hannah visited Macdonough School today to share some of her poetry with students and talk about the writing process!  She was accompanied by Professor Christine Ruggiero from MxCC.