Good afternoon, RJ Grey Families:
I hope you are doing well. We have a regular schedule of "Poetry Friday" here at RJ Grey. Every other
Friday, Mr. Malloy, our 8 Red English teacher, uses the morning announcements to share a poem with students. He shares the poems with the staff ahead of time so that teachers can project the poem to allow students to read along as they listen to the poem. Just a few minutes ago, he shared tomorrow's poem, "The Same Cold" by Stephen Dunn.

I think our students will certainly recognize that this poem is timely given the frigid temperatures we've had recently. Even today at morning drop-off, I felt a similar emotion as the author when he writes, "zero would feel warm." Today's 12 degrees felt balmy! I think many of our students will recognize a deeper meaning of the poem, too. At RJ Grey, we try to build students' capacity to empathize with others, speak up when something is wrong, or advocate to an adult if they see someone in need of help. We hope that we can establish a community where we are all "Just two people...in the same cold." I hope they will recognize the kindness and community that makes us all "good neighbors."
In support of our neighbors and the Acton Food Pantry, students are invited to bring in items for our Food Drive by next Friday. The Food Pantry has asked us to help collect these items:
- Baking needs: Flour, Sugar, Baking Mixes
- Mac and Cheese
- Pasta and Jarred Pasta Sauce
- Jelly
- Gluten-Free items: Pasta, Crackers, Baking Mixes
- Vegetable Oil
- Dried Fruits: Dates, Prunes, Raisins
- Nuts: Walnuts, Almonds, Trail Mix
- Non-Dairy Milk
- Canned Pasta Items: Chef Boyardee, for example
- Paper Goods: Toilet Paper, Tissues, etc.
The District is sponsoring a workshop for parents and guardians with Dr. Stuart Ablon on Monday evening at 7 pm. His session is titled, "From Compliance to Collaboration: Combining Neuroscience, Common Sense, and Compassion." In this presentation, Dr. Ablon will explore how traditional parenting models focus on compliance, while his groundbreaking approach shows that behavior is shaped by skill, not will.
Dr. Ablon will share insights from his book, Changeable, selected by leaders like Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Dan Pink, and Susan Cain for their Next Big Idea Club. His evidence-based method, Collaborative Problem Solving, offers practical strategies that reduce challenging behavior, build essential life skills, decrease stress, and foster stronger relationships with our children and others.
Date: Monday, January 27, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual Presentation -https://abschools.zoom.us/s/96975044232
I hope to see many of your students at our Summer Fun in Winter event tomorrow after school. Thank you to everyone who has donated snacks and drinks for the event. Even if your child tells you they don't know what time the event ends, please know that the event ends at 4:30. I appreciate you helping your child to make sure they know how they'll be getting home so that the adults can make our way home on time, too!
Take care and I hope you have a nice weekend,
Jim