Thanksgiving Graph

Kindergarteners graph this week about their favorite Thanksgiving food. They chose between: pie, turkey, mashed potatoes & vegetables. The winne goes to: TURKEY for both Mrs. Lenihan & Mrs. Spaman's class!!!

Apple Fest 2010

Thanks to our incredible PTA for hosting Apple Fest 2010!

Walking Wednesdays on Winter Break

Our Walking Wednesday program concludes for the season on Wednesday, November 24th.  Please join us for the last community walk to school of 2010.

The program will resume again in March when the warmer weather returns.

Thanks for your support of this wonderful program!

Connecticut Odyssey of the Mind

Macdonough School has joined the Connecticut Odyssey of the Mind program!

The Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process.  The program is part of Macdonough School's 21st Century After School programs. 

"By tapping into creativity, and through encouraging imaginative paths to problem-solving, students learn skills that will provide them with the ability to solve problems -- great and small -- for a lifetime.

The Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. The creative problem-solving process rewards thinking outside of the box."

Vistor to Kindergarten

Nate Holmes our Outreach Case Manager spends time in kindergarten on a weekly basis teaching Second Step lessons.

Second Step is a program that teaches empathy, anger management and problem solving.

Guided Reading Groups

Reading has begun in Kindergarten! Children are reading books in small groups and taking them home to read with their families.

Alice in Wonderland

The Middletown High School Drama Department is presenting Alice in Wonderland this weekend.

A Macdonough School family was awarded complimentary tickets to the show as part of our School-Family-Community Partnership Team.  In addition to seeing the show, our family is invited to the Mad Hatter Tea Party on Sunday afternoon where students will recieve a snack and meet the characters.

For ticket information, please contact Middletown High School at 860-704-4500.

Macdonough School Running Club

Mr. Nelson led members of the Macdonough School Running Club through the streets of Glastonbury to take part in the Race to the Pantry.  The 3.1 mile race, hosted by the Glastonbury River Runners, served as a fundraiser for a local food pantry.  Hundreds of non-perishable food items were donated by runners.

Congratulations to Olivia, Ian, Zach, Nora, Aidan, and Dermot!

Kindergarten students dress as Native Americans

Students spent the week making drums, necklaces, vests, and headbands to represent our Native American culture.

Starlab Planetarium at Macdonough

Our friends from Wesleyan University brought their Starlab Portable Planetarium to Macdonough School. 

The planetarium was set up in the school library and members of Miss Weindruch's and Miss DiBacco's fifth grade classes were invited inside to learn about the stars that light up our night sky.

Weekly Kindergarten Graph

This week's kindergarten graph is What is your Favorite Flavor Popcorn? This graph goes along with our Native American theme. The students sampled caramel, butter and cheese popcorn.

Both classes liked cheese the most. Mrs. Spaman's class liked butter the least and Mrs. Lenihan's class liked caramel the least.

Macdonough School Supports Amazing Grace Food Pantry

Kelli Swan, the secretary at Macdonough School, accompanied a group of fourth and fifth grade students on a trip to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. 

The pantry, now located just a block away from our school, received several hundred food items donated by our students.

Each month as part of a school-wide campaign, students are donating non-perishable food items to help families in need.

Our next food drive will be held in conjunction with the Thanksgiving holiday and is being coordinated by the students in Miss Morello and Mrs. Waterman's third grade classes.

Macdonough School on Better Connecticut!

The Better Connecticut television show featured a segment recently promoting the Recess Rocks program at Macdonough School. 

Click on the link to see our wonderful kids in action!

PTA Apple Fest

Mark your calendars for the upcoming PTA Apple Fest on November 18th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm!

Lyman Orchard is coming to do an Apple Pie Workshop.  Every child will leave the event with an apple pie to bring home!

Thanks to our amazing PTA for coordinating this event for Macdonough families.

Native Americans

This week the kindergarten children are learning about Native Americans. They will make drums, headbands, necklaces and vests.

Mrs. Spaman's class has a Tee-Pee in the class for children to sit in and pretend that they are Native Americans.

A special thanks to Quinn's family for bringing in the Tee-Pee for the class.

SOAR for Science program

Macdonough School fourth grade students have been selected for a special field trip to the New England Air Museum!  The trip was arranged as part of the SOAR for Science program.  Located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, the Museum is the largest aviation museum in New England.

Our students will:

• SEE the landmark artifacts of aviation which changed history - Learn about the courage and determination of famous men and women who brought aviation to where it is today.
• HEAR firsthand the stories of veterans who lived the wars of the 20th century and fought to preserve the freedom we now enjoy.
• EXPERIENCE firsthand the principles of flight which have challenged the pioneers of aviation for generations.
• DISCOVER the impact our state of Connecticut has had on aviation and space exploration from the earliest balloon launches of 1857 to the design of space suits and life support systems for present and future space missions.

The trip is scheduled for April 2011.  Stay tuned for a special blog about this exciting experience!

Ray of Sunshine Smoothie

Kindergarten classes enjoyed making homemade smoothies with author Jodie Fitz. She wrote the book "Thumbs Up to Kids Cooking!" The students gave the smoothies 'thumbs up.'

Macdonough Awarded "Horns for Kids" Donation!

Macdonough School was awarded a flute through the Horns for Kids program!

Horns for Kids is a non-profit organization that supports deserving school music programs throughout Connecticut. Its main purpose is to encourage children to experience the thrill of performing music in school, and as a life-long activity.

The flute will be used a part of the Musical Mentoring Program, a new Macdonough partnership with the Green Street Arts Center.

Sign Language Club at Macdonough

Groups of children in second grade are working with Wesleyan University students to learn basic sign language.  A partnership with Professor Sheila Mullen from Wesleyan University and the second grade teachers at Macdonough School made the program possible.

This week the students learned signs for a variety of food items.  Interested in learning the sign for peanut butter and jelly?  Just ask one of our second graders!

Student Leadership Conference

A group of six Macdonough School fourth graders have been selected to attend the Connecticut Association of School's Student Leadership Conference.  The conference is being held at Naugatuck Valley Community College on January 13th.

This one day event is designed for students in grades four through six. Students will participate in hands-on activities designed to foster leadership skills in productive thinking, decision making and communication.

Congratulations to our young leaders!

WES Arts Program

As part of our WES Arts Program, a group of twenty students, parents, and staff members will be attending a concert at Wesleyan University on Friday, November 5th.  The group will be entertained by pianist Donald Berman in a concert entitlted "Celebrating Chopin’s 200th Birthday." 

The WES Arts program is a partnership between Macdonough School and Wesleyan University with a goal of promoting opportunities for our students to experience the arts.  It is a component of Macdonough's School Family Community Partnership Plan.

And the winner is....

Students at Macdonough School participated in a mock gubernatorial election today.  The activity helped us to learn more about the political process in action.

Each student was required to sign in at the registration table and then received a replica ballot to cast a vote.  The process was similar to what eligible voters will be doing in our gym tomorrow. 

Fifth graders tallied the ballots and declared a winner!  They had the chance to use their math skills!

Dan Malloy won our election in a landslide collecting 62% of the vote.  Tom Foley was the runner-up with 33% and Tom Marsh collected 5% of the vote.

Students are eagerly awaiting the results of tomorrow's election to see who Connecticut's next governor will be!

Macdonough Running Club at MxCC Road Race

Members of the Macdonough School Running Club participated in this weekend's MxCC Scholarship 5K Race in Middletown this weekend. 

A group of teachers, parents, and staff all represented the school with pride during the 3.1 mile race. 

Congratulations to Ezra and Olivia for their award winning performances!

The Macdonough School Running Club is a part of our 21st Century School Program. 

Jodie Fitz Coming to Macdonough

Jodie Fitz, author of Thumbs Up to Kids Cooking, is coming to Macdonough School on Monday, November 8th.  

When Jodie comes to visit, she'll be accompanied by a certified nutritionist. They'll work as a team to bring fun, hands-on food and nutrition activities and messages to our kids along with a healthy treat for all students!

Together, they'll lead a discussion through an interactive, hands-on session that demonstrates how kids have the ability to get stronger and healthier bodies simply through their food choices.

Season Ends for North End Farmers Market

Children from Mrs. Walsh's class braved the chilly October weather to visit the last North End Farmers Market for the season. 

Students were treated to an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables during the visit.

We are grateful for the support of the North End Action Team in coordinating these wonderful walking field trips and look forward to visiting again in the spring!

Technology Day for Teachers

Teachers spent the afternoon learning how to incorporate the mimio into their classroom.

Time was spent updating school web pages. Our most veteran teacher, Angela Spaman, learned how to post on the Macdonough School blog.

Pumpkins at Macdonough

As a Hallowen celebration, every student at Macdonough received their very own pumpkin to bring home!

In the second grade classroom, teachers and students incorporated their pumpkins into math instruction.  Children weighed and measured their pumpkins using math tools like scales and tape measures.

Early Release Day - October 29th

Students were dismissed early so that the teachers could participate in professional development programs. 

This month our teachers learned about utilizing technology in the classroom.  They learned about the Macdonough Blog, class web pages, and using our new Mimio boards.

Happy Halloween at Macdonough!

The end of October brings with it the annual Kindergarten Halloween Parade.  Royal Queen Spaman and Fairy Princess Lenihan led a group of superheroes, cartoon characters, stuffed animals, and friendly monsters through the hallways of Macdonough School.

Reflections Art Program

The Middletown School Association (MSA) will be sponsoring the REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM for 2010-11. The Reflections Program is a national art program that provides students with the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition.

A brochure with information about the Reflections Program is available at the MSA website.

Supporting the PTA Reflections Program is one way we can increase student achievement, foster student talents, and promote the arts.

Macdonough Teacher Honored!

Joanne Jukins received recognition last night as a "Local Hero" by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut. 

A reception was held at the Governor's Mansion where Ms. Jukins was honored during an awards ceremony.  Governor Rell made a surprise appearance and shared a moment with Ms. Jukins after the ceremony.

The Local Hero award is presented to teachers who exhibit tremendous dedication to their profession and outstanding efforts in servicing their schools and communities. To further recognize Ms. Jukins for her hard work, RMHC awarded a $500 grant to Macdonough School in her honor.                                                                                      During the presentation, Joanne was described "..As a learner who takes advantage of opportunities for new learning. As a a mentor, who shares knowledge with colleagues. As a model citizen, who is active in PTA events and rarely misses an evening school activity. Above all, as a superior teacher, who gives individual care to each of her students and creates an environment where her students can excel..."

Macdonough's School Based Health Center

The Community Health Center, Inc. is pleased to offer school-based health services at Macdonough School during the school day.

Licensed healthcare providers are available to provide expanded medical (treatment for illnesses or injuries, and physicals), behavioral health (individual, group, and family therapy), and dental hygiene (exams, cleanings, and sealants) services.

Our school-based health services work in conjunction with the care provided by your child’s pediatrician and/or dentist and are not intended to replace regular care by your child’s primary health-care provider.

For additional information about Macdonough's School Based Health Center, please contact Sara Miller or Nat Holmes.

Macdonough Runners to Race in Middletown

Members of the Macdonough School Running Club will be competing in eighth annual Middlesex Community College Foundation $cholarship 5K Road Race scheduled for October 30th at Middlesex Community College.

The 3.1 mile course is a scenic out and back route with several small rolling hills and a downhill finish in the reservoir area near the MxCC campus.  Entertainment for runners and their families will again be provided by the Pratt & Whitney Screamin’ Eagles Jazz Band.

Interested in joining us?  Applications available here.

Homecoming for Macdonough Students

Macdonough students from Mr. Nelson's fourth grade class will experience a bit of Homecoming Weekend at Wesleyan University. 

Mr. Nelson has arranged for tickets to this weekend's Wesleyan vs. Amherst football game.  Parents and students are invited to join Mr. Nelson for the game!

Macdonough Goes Pink

Visitors to Macdonough School on Friday may have noticed that pink was the color of the day!

Staff members at Macdonough School wore pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The teachers contributed to a school donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Throughout the year, staff members "dress down" to raise money for local and national charities.

Macdonough at the Market

Second graders visited the North End Farmers Market today on a walking field trip. 

They were treated to fresh fruits and vegetables!

Our walking field trips to the North End Farmers Markets are supported by our friends at the North End Action Team!

Macdonough School on the Radio!

Representatives from WCNX radio came to Macdonough School to tape the School Lunch segment. 

Fifth grade students read the Middletown Public Schools' lunch menu for a special broadcast.

The School Lunch Menu will be broadcast LIVE on Mondays at 4:20 pm and again at 4:45 pm. It will also be available ON DEMAND through the WCNX website: http://www.cnxradio.com/ from Monday - Sunday of each week. They simulcast the broadcast over 1710 AM in the Middletown area and on the web.

This program is part of Macdonough School's outreach programs into the community.

Middletown Public Schools #1 Readers

Kindergarten students from Mrs. Lenihan's and Mrs. Spaman's classes cheer as our new banner is unveiled!

The banner was presented to Macdonough School by Superintendent Frechette in recognition of our school's participation in the Summer Reading Program.

Thanks to all of the students and teachers for earning this honor!

Kindergarten Students at the Firehouse

Macdonough kindergarten students took a walking field trip to the Middletown Fire Department.  They saw fire trucks, met fire fighters, and learned about fire safety!

Stock Market Game at Macdonough

Fourth grade students at Macdonough School are participating in the Stock Market Game. 

Starting with a virtual cash account of $100,000, students strive to create the best-performing portfolio using a live trading simulation.  They invest in companies, track their investments, and compete with other school teams across the state during a ten week session in a race to make the most of their investments.

Macdonough's fourth grade teachers are also in the game, participating in the teacher division (but with a close eye on how they stack up against the student teams)!

Some teams will make money, some teams will lose money, but all teams will learn something in The Stock Market Game.

Macdonough School Selected for Wesleyan University's East Asian Studies Outreach Program!

Two Macdonough School classes were selected for participation in Wesleyan University’s 2010-11 East Asian Studies Outreach program. 

The East Asian Studies Outreach program is designed to reach students in the community directly, by providing a range of "hands-on" cultural activities that introduce them to various aspects of East Asian cultures.  Topics include Chinese Lion Dance,  Food in East Asian Cultures,  Japanese Tea Ceremony Demonstration, Music of East Asia, and Origami. 

Congratulations to the students in Miss Green's and Ms. Jukins' second grade classes, Mrs. Waterman’s third grade class, and Mrs. Paul's, Mr. Nelson's, and Miss Claffey’s fourth grade classes!