Higgins School News

Welcome from the Higgins PTO

Welcome! - We hope everyone had a great summer. It’s hard to believe we are back for another new school year. We welcome back all the students and their parents from last year and extend an extra welcome to all the new students and parents. If you were involved with the PTO at your primary school, you know what an important role that the PTO plays in bringing great cultural opportunities to the school and other enrichments to our children. This is all due to successful fundraising. We encourage everyone to get involved in some way. Even if you can’t attend all the meetings, we would love for you to give us your thoughts and ideas. We welcome any help you can give throughout the year. Whether it’s making phone calls, baking, chaperoning…it all makes a big difference and ensures in the success of the PTO.

Membership - Membership forms are available for the 2011-2012 school year. Please take a moment to fill one out so we have your information available. Please check off any areas that you may be available to help with or are interested in getting involved.

Schedule for PTO Meeting for the 2011-2012 School Year - Our PTO meetings will be held every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Cullen Library. If there is a conflict throughout the year we will reschedule and post the new date.

Plans, Ideas & Thoughts for the Upcoming School Year- If you have any ideas you would like to present to the PTO, or anything you would like to be added to the agenda during any given month, please to not hesitate to contact the PTO at higginspto@hotmail.com

Sincerely yours,

Susie Winters & Vicki Cormier

Co-Presidents, Higgins PTO

OFFICERS 2011-2012 | HIGGINS MEMBERSHIP

2010-2011 Higgins PTO Executive Board - MINUTES 2012: January
MINUTES 2011: December | November | October |September | June | May | April | March | February | January
December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010

Welcome- We hope everyone had a great summer; it’s hard to believe we are back for another new school year. We welcome back all the students and their parents from last year, and extend an extra welcome to all the new students and parents. If you were involved in the PTO in your primary school, you know what an important role that the PTO play’s in bringing great cultural opportunities to the school and other enrichments to our children. This is all due to successful fundraising. We encourage everyone to get involved in some way, even if you can’t attend all the meeting we would love for you to give us your thoughts and ideas, we welcome any help you can give though out the year, making phone calls, baking, chaperoning, it all makes a big difference and ensures in the success of the PTO.

Membership- Membership forms are available for the 2010-2011 year. Please take a moment to fill one out so we have your information available. Please check off any areas that you may be available to help out in or are interested in getting involved in.

Schedule for PTO Meeting for the 2008-2009 School Year. Our PTO meeting will be held every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM for the General Meeting. If there is a conflict throughout the year we will reschedule and post the new date.

Plans, Ideas & thoughts for our upcoming school year- If you have any ideas you would like to present to the PTO, or anything you like to be added to the agenda at any given month through out the year, please to not hesitate to contact the PTO @ higginspto@hotmail.com

Sincerely Yours,

August 2009

The P.T.O. will be sponsoring a 6th Grade Welcome Ice cream Social on September 9, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., All 6th grade students are invited to bring their parents and show them around their new school. We will have parents from the Higgins P.T.O. to answer questions.

The next Higgins P.T.O. meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2009 in the Higgins library. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. immediately following the Ice cream Social, everyone is welcome to attend.

This year the Higgins P.T.O. will have a booth at the International Festival, please stop by and say “hi”. We are also looking for people to help staff the booth on that day. If you are interested we will be passing around a sign up sheet at the first P.T.O meeting on September 9, 2009

The QSP fundraiser will kick off on September 17, 2009. The Collection Days are Sept. 22, 24 & 29. The Prize Days are Sept. 23, 25 & 30. We need a lot of volunteers to help, and there are plenty of opportunities.

There will be a sign up sheet at the first P.T.O. in September.

The Higgins Craft Fair will be held on November 14, 2009. We are still looking for people to help, if you are interested please call Carolyn Kernweis-Flannigan at 978-278-5214, or e-mail ckernweis@comcast.net.

Higgins PTO News

A “Year at a Glance” and “Thank you”

As the end of the school year is quickly approaching upon us, the PTO feels it is important for us to take the time to say “Thank You” to everyone for your remarkable efforts and support for your school this year. Through out the year, you have been asked to help the PTO in many ways. Some have volunteered their time at events such as the Magazine Drive, the Craft Fair, chaperoning at the dances or many of the other events. Some of you have cooked or baked for the craft fair, or sent in donations such as candy, water, etc. Most of you have participated in our fundraisers, including the QSP magazine Drive which is our largest fundraiser. As a result of your efforts the PTO was able to reach the annual budget. Successful fundraising activities take time and organization. The success of this years fundraising is clear evidence of your outstanding work.

You’re always asked to help, you should know how your contributions have been spent and what you have helped to accomplish. We would like to give you a “Year at a Glance” to show you.

The Higgins Middle School PTO provides a budget each year to bring cultural programs to the students. The cultural arts parent volunteers work with school admininistrators and teachers to provide programming that is grade level appropriate and whenever possible curriculum related. The programs cover music, arts, literature, history, performance and health issues. Over the years we have been able to provide 3-4 programs for each grade level with the budget provided by the PTO and supplemented by grants written by the school administration and staff. For the school year 2008 – 2009 the following programs have been presented:

§ Grade 6 :

§ Wingmasters, a presentation on North American birds of prey.

§ Mallory Bagwell- A program that addressed 6th grade math standards. Students built a geometric shape.

§ Dance Program. TBD.

§ Grade 7 :

§ Poetry Alive, a theatrical presentation of poetry followed by individual cluster workshops that teach students how to analyze and perform poetry.

§ Mythmasters, a theatrical presentation of ancient Greek mythology

§ A Christmas Carol

§ Grade 8 :

§ Yoko Watkins : Author of So Far From the Bamboo Grove, Mrs. Watkins discusses her experiences as a child of a Japanese family fleeing their home in North Korea to return to Japan during WWII. She delivers her message as a plea for peace and human kindness.

§ A Dose of Reality, Linda Dutil, an emergency room nurse, presents an program about the medical consequences of making poor choices regarding drinking, drugs, and other issues facing young teens.

Not only did the PTO bring all these Enrichment/Cultural events to the school this year, here is a list of other ways you helped:

· Provided supplemental funding toward field trips for buses and extra’s.

· Refurbished the Tennis Court Area (project is still on going) to make the grounds more attractive.

· Contributed money for a “Holiday Fund”.

· Provided 3 $500.00 scholarships for graduating high school students who attended the Higgins Middle School.

· Donated funds to the Library for software and programs

· Provided funds toward the School Play.

· Provided funds for Student Agenda books.

· Contributed funds for Grade 8 year end activities.

This has been a very successful year for the PTO, which directly impacts the students at the Higgins Middle School. None of this would be possible without your involvement and all your efforts. So as you can see, no matter how small or big, it all matters and certainly makes a big difference to the children. So again, “thank you” to everyone.

*****Please join us for our final meeting on Wednesday June 10, at 7:00 in the Cullen Library. 2009-2010 Elections will be held as well as discussion and approval of the 2009-2010 budget.

APRIL 2009

Next Meeting Date:

May 13, 2009 at 7:00pm in the Cullen Library, all are welcome to attend

Principal’s Update:

Mrs. Matarazzo discussed the enrichment programs being offered to the fifth, sixth and seventh grade students. There is also a welcome night for fifth grade parents on May 13, 2009 in the Higgins’ Auditorium. The students just finished their MCAS testing, it went well, and they worked very hard.

Craft Fair:

We still have a few chair positions for sub-committees available. Anyone interested in chairing a sub-committee should contact Carolyn Kernweis-Flannigan (978-278-5214) or ckernweis @comcast.net. More information to follow.

P.A.B.:

They discussed the budget and the proposed cuts to extra-curricular programs.

Scholarship:

The Higgins PTO offers three $500.00 scholarships each spring to students who attended the Higgins Middle School and will be graduating this year. A scholarship review committee has been established and winners will be notified.

Eighth Grade Moving On

Many volunteers are needed to help with the eighth grade moving on activities. If interested in volunteering please contact Kathy Korslund (978-535-5082)

Miscellaneous:

If you have guest speakers you may be interested in hearing from, please let Melissa, or any member of the Executive Board know and we will be happy to look into inviting them to speak. Elections will be held at the next PTO meeting for the executive board for the school year 2009-2010.

March 2009

- Next Meeting Date: April 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Cullen Library. All are welcome to attend.

- Budget Review: Nancy Krouse presented the budget and it was discussed that there may be a need for a spring fundraiser.

- Principal's Update: Mrs. Matarazzo discussed the parents' newsletter which would be coming home with the students. The fifth grade orientation night is May 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the Higgins auditorium. Yearbooks may be purchased online or in the cafeteria for $15.00. The faculty basketball game was a great success; everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. It was a close game but the teachers' won.

- Fundraising Schedule: We would like to thank everyone for their generous contributions. Without your help of these donations we would not have been able to raise money for our children. The PTO is considering one more fundraiser. More information to follow.

- Craft Fair: The craft fair was a great success, raising funds for our children. It has been decided that we will run another one next year. Anyone interested in chairing a sub-committee should contact Carolyn Kernweiss-Flanagan (978.278.5214) or ckernweiss@comcast.net. More information to follow.

- P.A. B.: At their last meeting, they were discussing homework being sent home over vacation.

- Scholarship: The Higgins PTO offers three $500.00 scholarships each spring to students who attended the Higgins Middle School and will be graduating this year. A scholarship review committee will be established. Anyone interested in participating should contact Kathy Korslund or Patty Brennan.

- Miscellaneous: If you have a guest speaker you may be interested in hearing from, please let Melissa, or any member of the Executive Board know and we will be happy to look into inviting them to speak. Board nomination sheets are being sent home and distribted at the elementary schools for the school year 2009-2010.

December 1 & 4
CULTURAL EVENT: The Movement Company and Mallory Bagwell - Gradarye 6, Higgins Middle School
A gift of the Higgins PTO. Thank you!

Create a Free Slideshow HMS 12/08 Photos by K. Syska

September PTO news

Our first meeting was held Sept 10, 2008. We welcomed new parents and had copies of membership forms, the budget, and QSP magazine drive for parent’s information.

Board members were introduced; see web site for list.

Principal'S message- Welcomed new [parents, ice-cream social a HUGE success thanks to all who helped. Were off to a very smooth start. Parent conferences are scheduled for October 16 and 23. Please visit the school website for updates. At the next PTO meeting, school personnel will be speaking on Violence prevention. In November, the PTO meeting discussion will be MCAS.

There will be an internet safety class for parents October 7^th.

Fundraising schedule:

QSP magazine drive Sept 22^nd-Oct 1

Student/Faculty basketball –January 29^th

Valentine’s dance February 6^th

Spring fundraising ideas discussed –

Student/faculty Volleyball game to be scheduled.

Cookbook fundraiser discussed

Craft Fair to be held November 15^th 2008 9-3

Volunteers Needed for baking and cooking ahead of time as well as volunteers for working that day –Contact Carolyn Kerweis-Flannigan 978-278-5214

Interested crafters/vendors can contact Heather Hilty 978-536-7457 heatherhilty@msn.com.

Enrichment –Wing masters presented to 6^th grade well received.

Many more events to be scheduled.

Holiday committee was explained –to be formed at next PTO meeting.

Miscellaneous –PTO meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Any changes will be posted on the website.

PTO info will be updated and posted monthly on the website.

Thank you . NEXT PTO scheduled for October 15th-7pm

Welcome from the Higgins PTO

Welcome- We hope everyone had a great summer; it’s hard to believe we are back for another new school year. We welcome back all the students and their parents from last year, and extend an extra welcome to all the new students and parents. If you were involved in the PTO in your primary school, you know what an important role that the PTO play’s in bringing great cultural opportunities to the school and other enrichments to our children. This is all due to successful fundraising. We encourage everyone to get involved in some way, even if you can’t attend all the meeting we would love for you to give us your thoughts and ideas, we welcome any help you can give though out the year, making phone calls, baking, chaperoning, it all makes a big difference and ensures in the success of the PTO.

Join us for the first PTO meeting Wednesday, September 10
We will be holding our first meeting Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. following the ice cream social. We would love for you to join us; we welcome all your thoughts, ideas and help through out the school year.

Membership- Membership forms are available for the 2008-2009. Please take a moment to fill one out so we have your information available. Please check off any areas that you may be available to help out in or are interested in getting involved in.

Sincerely Yours,

Patty Brennan & Kathy Korslund PTO Co-Presidents