Thank you to the EES PTO for sponsoring a wonderful author visit for our 4th and 5th graders!
A big shout out to Sara Wolf for arranging this!
Be sure to ask your children what they learned about the writing process.
Here is Mr. Mone's bio:

A history major at Harvard (class of 1998), Mr. Mone's authoritative, detailed descriptions of the sights, the stench, the sounds, routines, and the governance aboard the old pirate sloop are the results of almost three years of research.

A practiced researcher, Mr. Mone is a contributing editor for Popular Science, and author of the novel, "Wages of Genius," and the science and technology spoof, "The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots, and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve." He says, "A lot of times, when doing research for a novel, it puts a damper on your enthusiasm, but in this case, the histories, the research about Ireland and pirates — there were pirates all over Ireland — it backed up all my wild ideas and enthusiasm."

The author, who has duel citizenship in the United States and Ireland, worked briefly as a banker after college, then moved to Ireland where he worked as a paralegal. Now at home in Canton with his wife, Nika, and three young children, he says, "I didn't think I'd wind up doing historical fiction, but doing this book brought me back to my training."

He has a confident, straightforward writing style, infused with humor that moves the story along quickly. The ship's crew includes the vicious and deceitful Scab; the mute, Oxford-educated, giant Moravius; and Fish's allies: Nora, the savvy young cook, and his shipmates Nate and Daniel. Captain Cobb and his wife Melinda, although both hardened and tough, bring a degree of integrity to their larceny.

Fish himself turns out to be rather surprising. Once among the taunting, hazing pirates, Fish takes a stand as a pacifist. He will swab the decks and do all manner of disgusting jobs aboard ship, but he will not fight, despite the goading and provocation. But with help from his friend Daniel, he manages to save both his face and his hide.

"Fish" reads too well to not have been enjoyable to write. Mr. Mone, a full-time writer for the past five years, admits to having a fine time doing it. He drew inspiration from the Vineyard, where he wrote the book while staying with his in-laws, Nick and Nina Thayer.

"The Vineyard Haven harbor inspired my book," he says, noting that his feelings as the ferry approached its slip, the smells and sounds in the harbor, informed his work.

He also personal experiences to draw on: Years of listening to the family stories about Ireland, the pirate games he invented for his nieces and nephews, and like Fish, his own prowess as a swimmer; once New York state champion, he competed in national events. (Mone is also an avid surfer, a regular presence at Long Point.)

Fish is the first in what Mr. Mone hopes will be a series of three books. We can only anticipate more gently doled out life lessons; great adventures, and an entertaining cast of fascinating characters.

Mr Mone signed copies of his new book, Fish, for our students!

New Science Opportunity for MERSD

Faculty from MERSD aboard the Schooner Adele!  Read below to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Maritime Gloucester Expands Ocean Explorers Program to

All Cape Ann Students

Maritime Gloucester is expanding its core marine science education program, Ocean Explorers, to include the Cape Ann communities of Manchester, Essex and Rockport, as well as Gloucester. More than 1400 third, fourth and fifth grade students will participate in this hands-on and experiential marine science program.

Maritime Gloucester’s Ocean Explorers program is built around a series of six contacts for each of the participating classes. Each class comes to Maritime Gloucester for two field trip days – one in the fall and one in the spring – to participate in marine and physical science activities in classrooms and the laboratory, as well as aboard the Schooner Ardelle.  The program also includes four visits to the students' classrooms by Maritime Gloucester educators. 

“This proven program has grown and evolved over the years based on the input of students and teachers in the Gloucester schools, as well as feedback from fishermen, scientists, volunteers and members of our extended Maritime Gloucester family,” said Tom Balf, Executive Director of Maritime Gloucester. “We are thrilled to now offer students from all of Cape Ann a program that provides common marine experiences and classroom activities that connect them to their ocean world in a meaningful way.”

The expansion is made available through a 3-year educational grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Additional funding is provided by local organizations, such as the Educational Foundation for Rockport, and regional foundations such as the McCarthy Family and Amelia Peabody Foundations. Maritime Gloucester continues to seek funding to support the initiative. 

Scott Morrison, Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology at Manchester Essex Regional School District, said “we welcome an opportunity to use a schooner, built in Essex by the Burnham Family Boatyard, as a research and educational vehicle and to connect our students to the marine science and maritime heritage assets found at Maritime Gloucester.”

According to Balf, Maritime Gloucester offers a wide variety of educational programs throughout the year in addition to Oceans Explorers.  These programs, which last year exceeded 4,500 students, include field trips, weekly and daily programs on topics such as robotics, biomimicry, schooner sailing and marine art, fisheries and seafood related workshops, and boat building. We also offer internships for high school and college students.  For a full list of programs visit Maritime Gloucester's web site at www.maritimegloucester.org.

Background on Ocean Explorers and Maritime Gloucester

With respect to field trips at Maritime Gloucester, each class rotates through three one-hour learning units, including life science sessions in our classroom, digital microscope lab, and touch tank aquariums, and physical science sessions in our boat house. Students also sail in Gloucester Harbor aboard our research equipped schooner the Ardelle, which is berthed at our docks, and is designed, built and captained by noted shipwright and Essex resident Harold Burnham. In the winter, Maritime Gloucester educators present four one hour in-class “learning sessions” or “units” for each of the classrooms. The purpose of these lessons is to further develop and reinforce the subjects explored during the site visits. Content is integrated with the 3^rd, 4^thand 5^th grade science content and pacing based on interactions and communications with teachers.

Third grade units focus on science content, how to pose questions for scientific study, field observations and development of science process skills. Fourth grade units focus on the introduction of scientific field methodology and equipment and basic water analysis. Fifth grade units focus on data collection and analysis, habitat monitoring, and human impacts on coast ecosystems.

Pan Balances in 4th grade...the Know Atom Science curriculum!

4th grade Pan Balance
Mr. Sforza's class recently made pan balances during Science.  The  Know Atom science curriculum gives our students many hands on opportunities like this one!  The objective of this lesson was for students to build pan balances to compare the mass of paper clips and classroom objects.  Students are taught that the pan balance is a set of pans used to accurately compare the mass of two objects.  This is a great way to teach students about mass!  If you have a student in 4th grade....ask them about this!  Know Atom is the science curriculum that is used in grades 3-5 in MERSD.  

Every student in the class made their own pan balance!  Young scientists and engineers in the making!!!!!

Our fourth grade students are fortunate to attend the Lexington Symphony each year.  The reason we have chosen this symphony is twofold.  Our very own Mr. Carpenter plays in this orchestra and it is a wonderful opportunity for students to see him perform.  They appreciate knowing that he teaches music, but he "lives it" as well.  Also, the Lexington Symphony does an outstanding job in educational outreach.  Click on this link and learn more about our fourth grade students' experience.....and see if you can spot Mr. Carpenter!  :)

http://youtu.be/IJYzDqBa_rw     

First School Meeting

Such talent!!!!

Our newest students enjoying their first school meeting.

A second grade student leads the Pledge of Allegiance at each school meeting.

Singing as a whole school.

Mrs. Roberts presents certificates to four third grade students for demonstrating one of the core values.

The purpose of a school meeting is to build a sense of community throughout the whole school.  We hold six school meetings over the course of the school year.  The first one is in early September and provides us with an opportunity to explain the Core Values at EES.  It also allows us to demonstrate the structure of school meeting to our new students.  Subsequently, each school meeting focuses on one specific Core Value.  In October, students in one grade will present on Responsibility and representatives from each grade will share their individual goals for the year.  December's school meeting focuses on Caring, February is Honesty, March is Respect, and June is Achievement.  I am proud to say that our teachers and students live by these Core Values.  When a student might need to speak to me about a challenge they are having they routinely can tell me which Core Value they have not been upholding.....it is impressive, and leads to many good discussions.  Ask your students about today's school meeting and see if they can tell you about the Core Values.   

PTO Welcome Back Night

Welcome Back Night was a huge success!  It was a beautiful evening and everyone enjoyed the festivities.   Thank you to the PTO for kicking this school year off in style!

Morning meetings at EES

Morning Meetings take place each morning at EES.  This routine is part of the Responsive Classroom approach to developing a strong classroom/school community.  Students come to school each morning and play outside for approximately 15 minutes.  They line up and come into the building in a respectful manner and join their class on the rug for Morning Meeting.  The purpose of this routine is to set the tone for a respectful learning environment and to develop a climate of trust in each classroom.  The hope is that the tone of Morning Meeting will extend to the rest of the school day.  Another purpose of this routine is to motivate children by addressing two human needs:  the need to feel significant, and feel a sense of belonging.  The other purpose is for students to have fun!  The routine for this meeting includes a greeting where students welcome each other and make eye contact with their classmates as they say good morning.  After the greeting there is usually an opportunity for students to share and then participate in some group activity.  This helps to build a whole class identity.  The meeting wraps up with news and announcements.  This includes a written message from the teacher and an overview of the day.  I hope this information about our daily routine is helpful to you as a parent.  Staff at EES instill a strong sense of community within our school in order for students to feel a sense of belonging!  Ask your child about their morning meeting routine....it will be interesting to hear what they have to say.