Special Readers, Feinstein Challenge, a Saxophone Duo, PTO Fairs and Walking Across America

A lot is happening at the schools in between the reading, writing and arithmetic lessons. Here are a few highlights:

Community Readers:  On April 6, grades Kindergarten through eighth had some visitors at their schools to celebrate Community Reading Day. Readers included mailmen, town officials, state representatives, fire fighters, and police officers to name a few. This is a yearly event that is always a lot of fun for both the readers and kids.

Feinstein Challenge: All the public schools in Northborough, and are participating in this year’s Feinstein Challenge,  which is in its fourteenth year.

Alan Shawn Feinstein will divide one million dollars among hunger fighting agencies nationwide using it to help them raise funds during March and April of 2011. All food donated to the Northborough Food Pantry between March 1 and April 30 is tallied and reported. Funds are distributed based on the percentage of food collected.

Sue Seppa, co-director of the , is amazed at the results this challenge generates each year.

"In 2010, Northborough students donated over 8,000 items and our Food Pantry received a check for $290 from the Feinstein Organization," Seppa said. "More importantly, our schools donated enough juice boxes, cereal and healthy snacks to last three months! In the past we have had to purchase those items week to week as funds allowed."

Seppa explained that 60 to 65 households were served in March each week at the Food Pantry. "It is a manageable task thanks to the continued support we receive from our schools and the community."

Saxophone Duo: 's third through fifth grade students were entertained last month by the Canadian based saxophone duo of Douglas Pullen and Wendy Pullen Tooke of Bach to Beatles. This was the first time this program was offered at Lincoln Street School as an enrichment program sponsored by the school’s PTO.

Humorous stories about some of the composers in the eras dating from the 1600's through the present day, including Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, were included. In addition, the history of brass and woodwind instruments, and the impact that the invention of the saxophone by Adolphe Sax had on music were discussed.

Different musical scales were demonstrated by this musical team as well during this interactive, one hour program which engaged students. The audience especially enjoyed the performance of songs that they were familiar with, such as the theme songs from the "The Simpsons" and "The Pink Panther."

Pullen hammed it up as he had students guess how many notes he could play in one breath. He hit around 1200 notes.

The finale was a tribute to the Beatles as two teachers and five students volunteered to use rhythm instruments during the musical piece.

Christine Thomas, one of the enrichment program coordinators, commented that the PTO "likes to bring in programs each year for the students that not only enrich their academic studies, but help foster interest in special areas such as music."

She added that this particular program was recommended by one of the music teachers and it was geared for the third through fifth graders because those are the grades that begin to become involved in playing instruments, whether it's the recorder or band.

"Several of our teachers commented on the program; they loved it," she said. "They said that Bach to Beatles brought a lot of interesting information to the kids, so much more than just a musical playing group. They were entertaining and educational at the same time."

Support for Japan: In the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, many of the schools have initiated their own efforts to support the citizens of Japan.

Peaslee Elementary School’s Student Council sponsored a Red and White week. Children and staff were encouraged to wear red and white and donations were also accepted in support of the massive relief efforts. These are Peaslee’s school colors as well as the national colors of Japan.

also recently held a spirit day, Hats for Hope Day, which benefitted relief efforts in Japan. For a minimum of one dollar, students had the opportunity to wear a hat to school. They raised approximately $500.

Lincoln Street School raised $1,268 for the American Red Cross when they held a Hat Day last month.

School Fairs: It's the season for spring fairs. Peaslee and Proctor schools hosted their annual kids’ fairs over the last few weekends. These fairs are always well attended and are the biggest fundraiser for the school each year.

Proctor School was transformed into a Grecian Empire as their annual kids fair was held on the school grounds on March 26.

"We had an outstanding response not only by our Proctor Community but by families from the other elementary schools as well," commented PTO Secretary and co-chair of the fair, Alison Cosgrove.

"We have a wonderful committee of volunteers that come together to create games that blend to the theme of the fair," said Cosgrove. "They were beautifully made and so creative. Mr Ray LaChance was offering Beastie classes and Kingdom Cuts from Westborough was there painting nails and applying tattoos."

"The fair cannot operate without the enthusiasm and the help from the wonderful people who volunteer their time" Cosgrove said. "It is a team effort and we are so successful in our efforts year after year due to the help from the Proctor community."

Amy Hopfmann was also a co-chair for this successful event.

Walk Across America Project: has been participating in its Walk Across America Project since March 1. With about 70 percent of the students participating, pedometers are being used to track their mileage through the end of May. So far students have exceeded 5,000 miles and are having fun tracking their mileage on a United States map to see where their steps are taking them.

This column will highlight some of the schools’ many special programs, speakers, events, and community service projects.  If you are aware of a program that you would like featured in this column, please email Liz Nolan at lizard211@gmail.com.

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