Veterans' Day Classroom Activities

PVMHS STUDENTS to LAY WREATH at the TOMB of the UNKNOWN SOLDIER PEABODY - Seven Peabody Veterans Memorial High School students attending the National Honor Society (NHS) National Convention in Arlington, Va., will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 10. The students were chosen by the NHS National Office to represent the group at the ceremony. NHS national director David Cordts said he chose PVMHS because its chapter is an extremely active one and because the name "Veterans" is prominent in the school's name. Students attending the event are NHS president S. Hallinan, M.Richard, S. Mills, E. Van Galen, K. Murphy, R. Mello and M.Diciero. NHS Advisor Bill Toscano said two students will actually lay the wreath, but that all seven will be at the ceremony, which is part of a presentation regarding the "White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance," which will be featured at the convention. The commission established by Congress, honors those who died of our country. The Commission's purpose is to sustain the American spirit through acts of remembrance, not only on Memorial Day, but throughout the year. Its year-long activities include a special Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day. At 3 p.m. local time on that day, Americans are invited to pause for a moment of silence wherever they may be. In this act of national unity to honor our country's fallen, many communities, radio stations and public events, for example, mark the Moment by playing "Taps." The chapter is seeking funds to defray the cost of the trip for the students who are going. Those interested in making a donation may contact Mr. Toscano at 978.979.0933 or send a check made out to the "City of Peabody" to him at PVMHS, 485 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA, 01960.

                    Portuguese | Spanish

                    October 27, 2005
                    Dear Parents:

As many of you have heard, the school district has received a grant from the State Department of Education to pilot a program where we extend the school days at the Welch School and the Brown School for approximately 2 hours per day. I hope that you or a representative will be able to come to the meeting on November 2^nd at 7:00 PM at the Brown School. I would like your opinion as to whether we should move forward.

By the grant rules, all children in the school would have to participate as the school day would be structured differently from our present school day with longer times devoted to activity-based study. The grant asks that we increase learning time in English Language Arts, Math and Science, while integrating more art, music and physical education.

We have received a planning grant. There is no guarantee that we will be funded to implement the longer day. If we are funded, the longer school day would begin in September of 2006. Kindergarten would be excluded.

Parents who would like their children to participate would have the opportunity to apply through the open enrollment process. Parents who live in the Brown and Welch areas who do not want their children to participate would have the opportunity to move their child to another school through the open enrollment process.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, November 2^nd at 7:00 PM in the cafeteria of the Brown Elementary School at 150 Lynn Street, to discuss this matter. I will be there with Principals Patty Messina and Monique Nappi to explain the program and to answer your questions. Prior to going ahead with this grant proposal, I would like to get a sense from parents if you are interested in having the day length increased.

It will be a large job to do the planning. I want to proceed only if there is the support of the parents of Peabody.

If you cannot attend and have questions or would like to share your opinion with me, please feel free to e-mail me at binkleyn@peabody.k12.ma.us or to phone my office.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Nadine Binkley, Superintendent

Mr. McLean as King Tut Ms. Dugas as Albert Einstein
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS visited the Panthers at Higgins on 10/31.

RED RIBBON WEEK
OCTOBER 23-27, 2005

     A national event organized to fight drug abuse through positive activities in schools, Red Ribbon Week will be observed in Peabody in a variety of ways with funding from the Peabody Education Council.
     Students in Peabody will have the opportunity to declare themselves drug free by wearing a red ribbon during the week of October 24^th. In addition, look for the “I’m Drug Free!" banner in your school and sign your name as your pledge to be drug free! Red ribbons will be distributed to all faculty and students and will also be available at City Hall and the Peabody Institute Library.
     At the the primary and secondary levels, students will prepare drug facts. Twenty facts and students will be chosen and read over the loudspeaker during the week. Drug and alcohol information will be discussed daily. Red ribbons will be tied around poles and trees near schools.

HIGGINS PTO RAFFLE BASKETS
on DISPLAY at PARENTS VISITATIONS on OCT.20

The baskets will also be raffled off at the Higgins Craft Fair on
Saturday, October 22 in the school's gymnasium. DIRECTIONS

OCTOBER 2005 - CENTER SCHOOL GRADE 4
STUDENTS MADE PAINTINGS WITHOUT BRUSHES.

Higgins Middle School students in Ms. Soep's Health
Class made "Brain Hats" as part of their study of the
human brain. MORE PHOTOS

OCTOBER 17, 2005 - RECENT HEAVY RAIN and HIGH WINDS BROUGHT BRANCHES
FROM THIS LARGE OLD TREE DOWN ONTO the FENCE at the CENTER SCHOOL.

ART by STUDENTS at the SOUTH, CENTER and WELCH Schools
that was exhibited last spring for YOUTH ART MONTH.

PVMHS STUDENTS' ESSAYS PUBLISHED

OCTOBER 5 - The work of more than 50 students at PVMHS appears in this year's edition of the What is Important to Me book of essays published by Creative Communication, Inc. N. Farrell, A. Saltus and A. Felismino are the English teachers of students whose works were chosen for inclusion in the book. The essay "Reaching Out" by D. Cohen, a junior at PVMHS, is the first essay in the book and was chosen as the top essay for grades 10, 11 and 12. Cohen's work focuses on his community service efforts, which he pursues as part of his faith, specifically the Jewish tradition of "tzedakah", performing good deeds.

Marvelous Marvin performing at the West School on 9/28.

Marvelous Marvin performing at the West School on 9/28.

"Marvelous Marvin" performing for West School students on September 28.
The Cultural Arts Program on the Human Body was made possible by the West PTO.

Higgins students planting pinwheel for peace.

Higgins Middle School students in Ms. P. Nelson's Art Class made and displayed pinwheels for International World Peace Day. Learn more about the world-wide installation art project PINWHEELS for PEACE
MORE PHOTOS
July 2005

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST APPLY FOR TRANSPORTATION

The Peabody School Committee has approved the following change to bus transportation. Beginning in September 2005, all high school students must pre-register to take the bus. If a student lives more than two miles from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, the student is eligible for bus transportation.

All high school students living more than two miles from the high school and wishing to take daily bus transportation, must sign up for a bus pass by July 8, 2005.

Students who register for a bus pass will be given that pass prior to the start of the next school year. The pass must be shown each day. If the student is planning an alternative form of transportation, there is no need to register for a bus pass. In case of an emergency, a student without a bus pass, living more than 2 miles from the school may go to the nearest bus stop in the morning and be allowed to take the bus. In the afternoon, in case of an emergency, the student should notify the office that the student will need to take the bus.

This process will prove to save the Peabody School District a significant amount of money as now many of the busses leave the high school with few students on them. Thank you for your help in our allocating of valuable resources.

June 2005

Fri., June 24 - Sun., June 26
MYTHOLOGY PLAYS by the Broncos cluster
broadcast on cable Channel 8 at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 4% BUDGET INCREASE
= $2.2 MILLION LESS THAN PROPOSED
by SCHOOL COMMITTEE

JUNE 21 - The Peabody City Council voted 10 to 1 to approve a $54.3 million school department budget for 2005-06. Representing a four percent increase over last year, the budget number was proposed by Mayor Michael Bonfanti and is in line with the four percent increase granted to other city departments.

"It means cuts in services. We do not offer frills," said Binkley. "We're cutting away at the fabric of the school system."

After whittling down the Superintendent's proposed 11.6 percent budget increase by nearly four percent, the Peabody School Committee approved an eight percent increase.

About 40 people, including school committee members, principals, administrators and parents, attended the Finance Subcommittee meeting at Peabody City Hall.

Councilor-at-Large and former school committee member James Liacos cast the sole vote in opposition. "I don't think it moves the system forward," he said.

MYTHOLOGY PLAYS - As a culminating project for an English Class unit on Mythology, one hundred seventh grade students in the Broncos cluster performed eleven short plays. These plays were based on myths from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian and Norse cultures. The students were very pleased with their performances and they received rave reviews from their audience of sixth graders, parents and teachers. The plays were directed by English teacher, Winona DiNitto, who, in addition to her B.A. degree in English, holds an M.A. in Theatre Education. A wonderful experience was had by all. The plays will be aired on local cable television during the weekend of June 17th. MORE PHOTOS

TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS

Sun., June 12
PVMHS GRADUATION,
PVMHS Field House, 1 p.m.

Seniors should arrive between 11:00 and 11:15 a.m.

Congratulations!

HIGGINS BAND STUDENTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION
OF T. LAMY, PERFORMED IN THE COURTYARD ON
JUNE 10.2005. PHOTO BY P. NELSON.

Mon., June 6 - Weds., June 8
FIELD TRIP to NEW YORK CITY -
Grade 8 clusters: Orion and Pegasus

Higgins Instructional Technology teachers
and field trip chaperones E. Sandstrom and
J. Theriault pose with Mr. John at Madame
Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York last
week on the 8th grade field trip. MORE PHOTOS
Fri., June 3
7th GRADE BEARS TOURED EASTMAN GELATINE

Supt. Binkley, Bears students and Ms. Bowden, June 3
MORE INFO at MS. BOWDEN'S WEBSITE

May 31 and June 1

Mar Caribe (detail), 1996, Tony Capellán.

FIELD TRIP to the PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM: Island Thresholds Special Exhibit
for some 8th grade students not attending the NYC field trip. Funded in part by the
Peabody Cultural Council, as administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Fri., May 27
PVMHS ALUMS PERFORM
to BENEFIT SOAP
(Stage One Association of Patrons)
including COMEDIAN GARY GULMAN

PEABODY GRAD COMIC GARY GULMAN - http://www.garygulman.com/Flash/Pop-UpFlash.html

PVMHS Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. In addition to the nationally-known comedian, Gary Gulman, the event will feature guest appearances by PVMHS grads who are now performance majors in college. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults. For tickets, please call Joanne Trotta at 978.535.6424.

SOAP is a non-profit organization that raises scholarships for members of Stage One, the high school's drama club. The group recently presented "Seussical - The Musical" and advanced to the state DramaFest finals.
Break a leg!

In cooperation with the District Attorney for Essex County and with funding from the Higgins PTO
ALL HIGGINS 7th GRADE STUDENTS WILL PLAY "MISSING" May 31, June 1, 2, 7

A game about Internet luring
LEARN MORE
Improve your sleuthing skills by taking our
Codes, Ciphers and Cryptograms quiz.
MISSING tells the story of a 14-year-old boy named Zack who goes to an online chat room and meets a mysterious stranger named Fantasma. Students take the role of detectives, helping both the Canadian and American police by collecting evidence, solving cryptograms and identifying Zack's location.
LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY

^{May 16-27} DISTRICT TESTING CALENDAR
TIPS for Students and Parents

Thurs., May 26
PVMHS ART SHOW
Clothes Pins

Featuring Senior work, as well as other grades and subjects.
Upper lobby and balcony of the gymnasium (second level), 7:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

^{PVMHS
"STAGE ONE" PRESENTS}
Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 for adults; $5 for children
Senior Citizen Discount $5 on May 15
For more information, call Tami Cronin at 978.530.1234 or Paula Dooley at 978.535.8289

^{The cooperative effort of four student groups, the Art Club, the National Honor
Society, the Life Skills Class and Culinary Arts students, will result in the
third "Empty Bowls" dinner to raise funds for local soup kitchens and shelters.
Volunteers have stayed after school for the last month to make and glaze
one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls. The ticket price of $10 includes a dinner of
two different soups, bread and dessert, as well as the hand-made bowl produced
by a PVMHS student. Contact Nancy Schaller or Bill Toscano at 978.536.4500
or by e-mail at:

billtoscano@comcast.net. High School teachers will receive an order form in
their mailboxes and ticket forms will be sent to all schools. Each of the
past two years, the "Empty Bowls" dinner has raised $1,000 for the Haven from
Hunger and the Inn Between shelter.}

Peabody's Special Education Parent Advisory Council invited psychological consultant Patricia Ford to present "The Circles: Social Distance Training for Parents" on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. "The Circles" curriculum is a concrete, visual approach to teaching people socially appropriate behavior, as well as strategies for self-protection from potential abuse of others. Pictured are Chis Neena, PAC Vice-President, Patricia Ford, and Rosemary Piaker, PAC President.

8th GRADE STUDENTS SAW "CRY INNOCENT: THE TRIAL
OF BRIGIT BISHOP" by History Alive! on April 28.
The program was funded by the Peabody Education Council
and the Higgins PTO. Thank You! Photo by L. Mackinson

April 2005

PVMHS and PEABODY INSTITUTE HOST
COMMUNITY POETRY CELEBRATION^{6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27

Sutton Room, Peabody Institute Library,

82 Main Street, Peabody, Ma.}

^{To participate, poetry lovers of all ages should bring a favorite poem to the
library, where they will have the chance to read it to the group. The only
rule is that all poems must have been published.

April is
National Poetry Month and
The Favorite Poem Project offers a
model for community celebrations of poetry. The Favorite Poem Project was
founded in 1997 by Robert Pinsky, the 39th Poet Laureate of the United States.
The purpose of the project is to celebrate, document and promote poetry's role
in Americans' lives. During its first year, 18,000 Americans, from ages 5
thru 97, submitted letters sharing their favorite poems to the project.

More information, including video documentaries showcasing individual and
sometimes famous Americans reading and speaking about the poems they love, can
be found at their website at

www.favoritepoem.org.

For more information, call 978.531.0100, ext. 17.}

OUT of the ART ROOM
An Exhibit of Student Art Work
through April 14, 2005
Peabody Institute Library, Main Street, Peabody
Ten Lessons the Arts Teach
STUDENT ART GALLERIES

March 28 - April 8
MCAS
DISTRICT TESTING CALENDAR
MCAS TIPS for Students and Parents

PVMHS TEACHER is
"NHS ADVISER of the YEAR"

April 2005 - Bill Toscano, a Social Studies teacher at PVMHS, was named the National Honor Society Adviser of the Year for the State of Massachusetts. Photo from P. Larkin.

March 2005

MARCH" into a Good Book
March is National Literacy Month
Supt. Binkley reads to a class at McCarthy School

Supt. Binkley reads to a class at McCarthy School

March 2 - McCarthy School Celebrates Books with Reading promotions and Guest Readers.
MORE GUEST READERS

Mar. 23: CULTURAL ARTS EVENT: "Eth-Noh-Tec", Welch School, Gr. 3-5. Sponsored by the Welch School PTO.

BURKE SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR 2005

PVMHS SCIENCE FAIR 2005 MORE PHOTOS

March 15 - EIGHTH GRADE PREVIEWS
PVMHS/VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OFFERINGS
Cosmetology Students at PVMHS braid a Higgins student's hair.

Cosmetology Students at PVMHS braid a Higgins student's hair.

MORE PHOTOS

MARCH is YOUTH ART MONTH
Peabody Public Schools
Elementary Visual Arts Teachers present
OUT of the ART ROOM
An Exhibit of Student Art Work
March 18 - April 14, 2005
Peabody Institute Library, Main Street, Peabody
Ten Lessons the Arts Teach

^{FABULOUS FAKES by Brown School Students,

HARVARD FOGG ART MUSEUM,
April 3, 2005

MORE INFO}

Artwork for OUT of the ART ROOM 2005 POSTER
by R. Jon Sta Crus, McCarthy School
STUDENT ART GALLERIES
Welch School Art Students Showing Off Their Work

Welch School Art Students Showing Off Their Work

The 550 students in the seventh grade at Higgins Middle School will celebrate "Pi" with an assortment of activities and "Pi Kits" provided with funding from the Peabody Education Council. Modeled on the Bear cluster's annual Pi curriculum designed by Math teacher D. Bowden, the seventh grade celebration kits include supplies for circle/circumference measurement activities; "Sir Cumference" story books; beads and cord to make Pi bracelets; and materials to make "Pi Memorials". Students will also eat "pie" !

The one hundred Kindergarten students at the Carroll School have each been asked to bring in a canned good. Before the food items are donated to the Haven from Hunger, the students will use the items to classify, sort and graph. 10 x 10: 100 WORDS and PICTURES that DEFINE TIME The opening screen is a 10x10 grid of photos pulled from news sources every hour. Pictures that show up repeatedly are from top stories around the world. Move your mouse over a picture and you get one keyword from the headline. Click the picture and it takes you to the story. Numberland
View facts and statistics about the number 100,
related poetry and children's artwork.

Use an interactive calculator to observe a counting sequence displayed on a hundred board.

Eighth grade students at the "Courage to Speak" presentation at the Higgins Middle School on February 7.

Assistant Supt. Cate Cullinane, Safety Resource Officer Mario Alves, and guest speaker, Mrs. Ginger Katz, and Mr. Katz.

Poster by Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's Office.

Institute Library hosts a
HELP MAKE HEROIN HISTORY
POSTER CONTEST
for teens ages 11 to 18

Posters will be judged on
strength of message,
accuracy of information and visual appeal.
Cash prizes will be awarded.
Sponsored by the Peabody Chamber of Commerce.

Entry forms are available at the
Peabody Institute Libraries.
Deadline: Thurs., Feb., 10

For more information,
call 978.531.0100, Ext. 14.

January 2005

Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
January 17, 2005

One World Mural from Tolerance.Org

WHAT DOES "ONE WORLD" MEAN TO YOU?
The biggest online collection of pictures and words celebrating tolerance and justice.
What kind of world do you want this to be?
Add to the Mural.

STUDENTS STUDYING GERMAN AT PVMHS VISITED
HIGGINS GERMAN CLASSES Photo by E. Sandstrom

PEABODY, Jan. 6 - Five PVMHS students learning German and their teacher, Ms. Farrell, visited Ms. Kozel's Higgins Middle School German classes and performed an original short play. It taught the Higgins students a German song and some tongue twisters. Did you know that animals in Germany speak German? Yes. The song performed featured German animal noises. The dog says "wau wau", the sheep says "maeh, maeh" and the rooster says "Kikeriki" !

AN OLD ENGLISH PARTY with WASSAIL
The 7th grade attended a performance of The Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theater earlier this month. Characters in the play drink wassail, a hot apple drink. Students in the Lions cluster followed an
original recipe to create Wassail, which is also a salutation wishing health to a person. Wassail!

PEABODY – Seventy-one seniors at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School are among the first 13,000 students statewide to receive the state’s new John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, Principal Patrick Larkin announced December 14.

Mr. Larkin congratulates each of these students for their work ethic.

Recipients are granted four years of free tuition at the University of Massachusetts or at any of the nine state or 15 community colleges in Massachusetts.

At a press conference at Brockton High School on Friday, Romney congratulated the school’s 199 recipients, and congratulated them and their peers across the Commonwealth for their extraordinary accomplishment.

“The Adams scholarship is based on merit and is open to everyone regardless of whether they are black or white, rich or poor, from a suburban school or an urban setting,” he said. “For families struggling to make ends meet, it’s a way to help with the high cost of college tuition.”

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey said the Adams scholarship is partly designed to persuade the best and brightest high school students to continue their education in Massachusetts.

“You are the future leaders of our state. We want you to stay in Massachusetts,” Healey told the students.

“The students receiving this scholarship earned it through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to their education,” he said. “I’m proud of each and every one of them, and pleased to be able to reward their efforts with this opportunity to continue their educations beyond high school.”

WAUGH AUTO GROUP TECHNOLOGY GIFT

PEABODY - Mayor Michael Bonfanti and Dr. Nadine Binkley, Superintendent of Peabody Schools, announced a multi-year gift in early December from the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group to contribute to the teaching and learning of Peabody students.

Wanting to make a difference in the education of students in our community, Mr. Waugh stated that our students must be prepared to play an active role in the workforce. Computer literacy is essential.

Dr. Binkley added that the teachers in the Peabody Schools understand the importance of technology in the teaching and learning of every student. Thirty-three computers donated in the first year will be used to build a well-functioning computer lab at the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.

The Lyon-Waugh Auto Group has been a generous supporter of projects in the Peabody community. The Mayor and the school system are excited and grateful for this contribution to the Peabody Public Schools.

PEABODY HIGH'S DRAMA CLUB
STAGE ONE
PRESENTS A MUSICAL
Image from www.canberratheatre.org.au/ pages/page110.asp

Friday, December 10, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 11, 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 12, 2 p.m.
PVMHS Auditorium - Tickets: $10

Call 978.536.4573 for reservations.

Governor recognizes Higgins' "MENTORS MATTER" Team

NOV. 29, 2004 - Three Higgins seventh grade students participating in the Christopher Columbus Awards contest received praise last week from Governor Mitt Romney for their "Mentors Matter" project. Romney called the school to inquire about the program and requested a year-end report on its success.

S. Syska, A. Brown and M. Perlman entered the contest last year. The competition is open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Three or four students work as a team to identify a problem in their community, research it, and use science to develop an innovative solution, explained team advisor and guidance counselor Jessica Theriault.

The students surveyed random homerooms last year to test their hypothesis that "students who don't have good study habits need some extra support". Their research indicated the hypothesis was correct and they designed a program to assist elementary students with homework help.

The team put together a pilot program that started last week named "Mentors Matter". Twice a month, team members tutor three third grade students at the Welch School. They hope to expand the program..

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, a U.S. government agency that encourages innovation among the nation's middle school students, sponsors the contest. The project requirements include a written entry and the production of a video. The best entries win prizes, including a trip to Disney World.

Photo by P. Nelson
7th grade students in Ms. P. Nelson's Art class
creating a display of "Arbassa", a character in
The Lost Years of Merlin, for the Cullen Library.
All 7th grade students met the book's author,
T.A. Barron, on Oct. 4. MORE INFO

"WINGMASTERS: LIVE BIRDS of PREY" for the 6th GRADE
Red-tailed hawk, the mascot of the Higgins Middle School, in the school library on Sept. 22.
- A gift of the Higgins PTO. Thank you.

Portuguese | Spanish October 27, 2005 Dear Parents:

Portuguese | Spanish

October 27, 2005
Dear Parents: