Good afternoon,
Our staff and students were greeted by signs of spring when we returned to school on Monday. Our PTSO worked with us this year to install four beautiful planters at two of our main entrances. Special thanks to Kristina Rychlik for doing this beautiful work. Creating a welcoming, attractive setting to learn and work helps contribute to positive feelings about being members of this community. I am very grateful for the PTSO’s support. If you haven’t yet contributed to the PTSO this year, I hope you will consider making your annual donation. The PTSO’s work not only sponsors our beautiful garden baskets but will also help us to run our year-end field trips this spring. If you happen to have a special interest in gardening and want to continue the work
that Kristina has started, please be in touch with me and I’ll connect you to the PTSO to talk about how to take over this work.
The cruel irony of the picture and paragraph above is that I write this message in my office, with no power, with the shades pulled way up, on borrowed time with our wifi. Spring will come soon enough! It seems that we just need to be a bit patient this year.
On Monday, I had the pleasure to observe several 7th grade social studies classes. Students from our A World of Difference club taught mini-lessons to all 7th graders. The AWOD student leaders designed lessons focused on bias, identity, and creating supportive communities. The students designed these lessons over the winter, with help from their Advisors, after being trained as peer leaders by the Anti-Defamation League. I was proud to see the work that our students put together for their peers, and I was happy to see the response from their “students” was positive and engaging. On April 25, we welcome back Mrs. Janet Applefield, who has visited RJ Grey many times before. She will talk with 7th graders about her experience living through the Holocaust. Both of these activities are in service of our work to create a safe and supportive community for all students and staff.
Upcoming Dates
-
Thurs, April 4: Spring Play Performance, 7 pm
-
Mon April 8: MCAS ELA Make-ups begin
-
Mon, April 8: Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, 2:45 - 3:30
-
Wed, April 10: No School for Eid-al-Fitr
-
Mon, April 15: Fri, April 19: School Closed for April Vacation
-
Tues, April 23: Last day of PE and Health classes for Round 4
-
Wed, April 24 : Welcome night for 6th grade families, 6:45 pm
-
Tues, April 30: Annual Town Election in RJ Grey Gym
Take care and have a great weekend!
Jim