Invention Convention

On April 13th, the fifth grade students presented their creative problem solving in the form of the Invention Convention.  During the evening, students displayed their work and explained their inventions to over 250 parents and students.  At the same time, in the middle school cafeteria the fourth graders held a Pasta Supper. The profits from the event are going to support next year's trip to Nature's Classroom.  Both events were a huge success.  Below is a link to the Worcester Telegram with 46 pictures of students and their projects.
Invention Convention Pictures

Pick A Time Conference Scheduling

Click the link below to schedule your conference with your children's teachers.
Pick a time scheduler

Read Across America Night

Last week the PTO sponsored the first annual Read Across America Night. The evening featured guest readers from the community, a book fair and community groups such as the Lancaster Library.  Over 200 families attended this fun event.  Below is Nancy Federspiel, a member of the School Committee, with Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Best Buy and Texas Road House Grill also sent mascots for the evening. 

Spelling Bee

The annual Spelling Bee was held last night and was a terrific competition.  The students of Mary Rowlandson were well represented.  Of the 27 participants last night, 15 students were from MRE.  Of the 5 finalist in the championship round, 2 were 5th grade students.  The winner was a 5th grade students, pictured above. The second place student was an 8th grader. 

How to Improve Language and Memory Skills

Here is an excerpt form an article by Eric Jensen.  There is amazing research that shows specific types of sugars lower language and memory skills.

"We know that our brain runs on glucose and oxygen. We know the hippocampus needs glucose to learn, but too much is bad. The form of sugar matters to your brain and there are six types of sugar. The two worse forms of sugar are high fructose corn syrup and concentrated fructose. Every single product that lists fructose as an ingredient might be contributing to problems. High fructose sugar impairs memory, but not learning. Moderate-high levels of fructose in your diet will impair neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons). On-going fructose consumption may damage the liver.
Recently, two large and high-quality studies (both randomized, double-blind) used a total of 780 typical, healthy school aged children. All were given either a combination of vitamins and minerals, a supplement of omega-3 essential fats EPA and DHA, or the vitamins and minerals with the omega-3 fats, or a placebo on 6 days a week for 12 months.
At the start of the trial, the children were tested for blood levels of all of these nutrients, all of which significantly improved when they were retested after 12 months. The schoolchildren on the vitamins and minerals had significant improvement in tests of verbal learning and memory.(Osendarp SJ et al., Am J Clin Nutr. 2007)."

Click the following following link for the full article.  A New Insight to the Brain and Nutrition Puzzle - Eric Jensen

Family Math Night

 On Wednesday, January 19, 2011 the annual Family Math Night sponsored by Title I was held.  Over 100 students and parents attended this fun evening.  Nancy Weber and Deb Doucette organized a series of fun and educational skill based math games for parents to play with their children. 

Making a difference in the community

Mrs. Giumette's 4th grade class collected money to donate to the Sterling Animal Shelter.  After adopting a dog from the shelter, a girl in Mrs. Giumette's class felt compelled to to help the shelter.  She presented the idea to raise money for the shelter to her teacher, her classmates and the principal.  The class then worked together to raise $165 for the shelter.  The quote above their heads is appropriate for this class.

Holiday Sing-along

 On December 23rd, the 36th annual Mary Rowlandson Sing along was held.  Led by Mr. Rossely, the students and staff sounded terrific. The event is so popular that next year it may be held in a bigger space in order to accommodate parents too.