Winter Weather: While we haven’t seen typical winter weather just yet, this is a good time to share some information to help everyone be prepared. We believe it is important for students to have a break from the classroom to enjoy fresh air and play time with friends. Unless the temperature drops to 10˚or colder, with the wind chill taken into consideration, students will be outside for recess. Please help your child plan accordingly for appropriate cold weather clothing.
When the playground is covered in snow, we strongly encourage students to have boots and snow pants. If your child is reluctant to wear their winter gear at school, then maybe have them store an extra pair of pants, socks and sneakers in their backpack or locker.
One important safety note: Students may not play on the plowed snow mounds in the parking lot. While we understand the attraction, this creates a very unsafe situation for students and drivers. If your child is a walker or parent pick-up/drop-off, please help us explicitly address this concern.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- Friday, December 22nd to Monday, January 1st - NO SCHOOL, Winter Vacation
Sincerely, Carol MacArthur
Principal, Grades 4-5
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In an effort to save on paper, newsletters are sent via email and posted on our web page.
If you would prefer a paper copy each month, please let your child’s teacher know.
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Office Reminders
- Student arrival begins at 8:20 AM.
- School begins at 8:50 AM. If your child arrives after that time, they are tardy and need to check-in at the office before going to the classroom.
- You can report absences, communicate transportation plans/changes or make general inquiries by calling the main office at 829-4815 or emailing [email protected].
We greatly appreciate your attention to these procedures, as they help to ensure that our routines run smoothly and efficiently.
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From your School Counselor and School Social Workers
Great news! Research shows that performing acts of kindness is really good for our own health and well-being!
Here is a short article on 7 Ways Kindness is Good for Your Health.
This video, Change the World with Kindness, includes a specific and simple way to planfully build kindness into your routine.
In kindness,
Katie Campbell, School Social Worker
Ali Waterhouse, School Counselor
Amy Vincent-Cross, School Social Worker
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Community Resource List
Please call 829-4815 or email for help with these resources or support with other needs.
All inquiries are confidential.
Ali Waterhouse, ([email protected]), School Counselor
Katie Campbell ([email protected]), Social Worker
Amy Vincent-Cross ([email protected] ), Social Worker
Meaghan Riemer ([email protected]) & Lora Rolfe ([email protected]), School Nurses
Food:
-The Food Pantry at the Cumberland Town Hall is open every other Friday 3:00-6:00 for pick up. Here is a link to their calendar https://www.cumberlandmaine.com/community-food-pantry. Call 829-2205 for questions about acquiring food supplies.
-To sign up for Meal Baskets for the holidays, email Bill at [email protected]
The Food Pantry accepts non-perishable donations at any time in shopping carts outside the town hall.
Heating assistance:
HEAP- Heating Energy Assistance Program 553-5900
Cumberland Congregational Church 829-3419, woodbank receives donations of wood, sells and delivers cordwood and provides heating assistance (oil or wood.)
Town of Cumberland Fuel Assistance-829-2205
Town of Cumberland General Assistance: Confidential financial assistance to residents who are having difficulty meeting basic needs for housing, utilities and food. 829-2200
Town of North Yarmouth General Assistance: Confidential financial assistance to residents who are having difficulty meeting basic needs for housing, utilities and food. 553-5937
Toys for the holidays:
Firefighters for Kids: Cumberland Fire Department. For more information about donating or receiving toys, email- [email protected]
Congregational Church in Cumberland. Contact the church office at 829-3419
Clothing and other items:
Falmouth Goodwill Store: U.S. Route One Falmouth Shopping Center 347-8252
Portland FreeCycle: www.portlandfreecycle.org: A grassroots, nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free.
The Community Center Thrift Shop: Freeport 865-3985
Lots For Tots Children’s Resale Store: Falmouth (207) 347-8601
Free and reduced cost dental care:
mainelyteeth.com - (207) 808-9498
University of New England Dental Health Services: (207) 221-4900
Community Dental in Portland - (207) 874-1028
Discounted eyewear:
http://www.39dollarglasses.com
Referrals and resources:
Call 211 or e-mail www.211maine.org for a list of state-wide resources, services and volunteer opportunities. School counselors and school social workers can help with community therapist recommendations.
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A Look into Literacy submitted by Janet Giguere, Grades 4-5 Literacy Specialist
Here we are in December! It is hard to imagine that 2024 is just around the corner. As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, grades 4 and 5 literacy teachers will be participating in program pilots this year for reading and writing so different classes will be meeting their learning goals at different times and in different ways.
Currently, all our 5th grade students are working hard in their nonfiction unit in reading. They are investigating how nonfiction becomes more complex, and learning strategies to tackle them. In writing, the 5th grade students are working on combining essays and narratives to create a hybrid text, a memoir.
As part of our first pilot, some classes have started a unit called “Extreme Settings”, that deals with human responses to challenges presented by nature. Students will build knowledge using fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Later in the pilot, they will also apply their learning of extreme settings and how characters respond to them by writing their own survival stories. Teachers doing this first pilot have sent home information to parents.
The other 4th grade classes are learning about nonfiction texts. They are discussing text features that are helpful when reading nonfiction and are focusing on how to read nonfiction to learn new things! In writing, the students are creating a thesis statement, along with a counter argument for their persuasive essays. They will be writing those essays over the course of the next few weeks.
Check out this exciting event going on at the local library!
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Math Matters submitted by Shannon Peterson, Grades 4-5 Math Specialist
Of the different types of numbers elementary school students must understand, fractions can be the hardest. To succeed with fractions, students must build on their understanding of whole numbers and how fractions differ from whole numbers. Both fourth and fifth grades are learning about fractions in their current unit of study. In fourth grade, students explore fraction equivalence and compare and order fractions using different representations. Fifth Graders are building on fraction concepts from previous grades to understand fractions as division, using visual models to represent the problem. They are also learning to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators and mixed numbers.
Try some of these activities to work with your child on fraction concepts.
- Help your child find fractions in the everyday world. For example, fractions are often found in advertisements, measuring tools, recipes, sports reports, etc.
- Encourage your child to incorporate terms such as whole, halves, thirds, and fourths into their everyday vocabulary.
- Make up simple problems for your child to solve about sharing things equally. For example, if four people share three oranges, how much does each person get?
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Library News submitted by Dorothy Hall-Riddle, GMS 4-8 Librarian
The Book Fair was a success but there's still time to order online- until Sunday 12/3! We were also able to donate over $200 in books to the Food Pantry. Thanks to everyone for their support & generosity.
Students in both grades will have another Digital Citizenship lesson in Library class next week. 4th graders will be talking about a Creator's Rights & Responsibilities. The lesson for 5th graders will be about ClickBait.
Please encourage your students to bring back overdue library materials. We'll be sending out reminders soon. We'll also be recommending students check out items for the long holiday break & would really prefer the overdue items come back beforehand. Thanks in advance!
We hope everyone has a great vacation & we look forward to 2024!
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GMS PE News submitted by Becki Dodge, PE Teacher
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AQUATICS INSTRUCTION
Physical education classes will begin weekly trips to the Greely HS Pool beginning the week of December 11, 2023 and conclude on January 29, 2024. Classes are scheduled for one lesson per week on the day that students usually attend PE in the gymnasium.
Swim lessons are coordinated by Rob Hale, GHS Pool Director, with lessons taught by our district aquatics staff. Students will be developing their swim skills with a strong emphasis on water safety. Instructional groups will be approximately 4-6 students to one instructor. Each group will be with the same swim instructor for the duration of the unit.
Aquatics takes the place of regular P.E. classes during this period. Please assist your student in being prepared by packing the following items in their swim bag: swimsuit, towel, hair brush or comb, swim cap for hair longer than 3”, and goggles if they have their own.
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The Late Bus
In addition to regular, daily dismissal, a late bus is also available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for students who stay for co-curricular activities or after-school academic support. Buses pick up students from GMS at 4:15pm and transport them home. Please be aware that depending on the number of students riding the late bus on a given day, your child's arrival time at home may vary. If you have specific questions about the late bus, please feel free to call the Transportation Garage at 829-4820.
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Co-Curricular Activities
Monday:
5th grade Band (starting in Jan) - Ms. Sarah Cummings [email protected]
Tuesday:
5th grade Math Team - Mrs. Laurie Poissonnier [email protected]
Chorus - Mrs. Jennifer Caton [email protected]
Thursday:
Newspaper Club - Ms. Melissa Coughlin [email protected]
5th grade Ukulele Club - Mr. Barry Saunders [email protected]
During the School Day:
Green Team - Mrs. Monica Moore [email protected]
Civil Rights Team - Mrs. Katie Cassessee [email protected], Mrs. Jane Kilbride-Dupuis [email protected], Ms. Molly Russell [email protected]