Tag Archives: culture

More P.C.E.S. Fun Events

As the school year winds down (or should that be “as the school year winds up?”) there are more fun events coming up! Yearbooks will be distributed early next week!

2015 Arts Alive Logo-1On Friday, June 5, students, staff, and community volunteers will drive into Arts Alive! This annual tradition celebrates art, learning, community and life! Students have an opportunity to participate in workshops that include book-making, cartooning, crime fighting, decorative initials, ditty bags, dizzy dancing discs, name signs, mini-foosball, message boards, masks, martial arts, resistant painting, sand art, sculpture, slate etching, thumbprint art, tie-dye, tumbling, drumming, finger painting, flubber, origami, origami people, painted pots, paper lanterns, slate welcome signs, stop motion animation, stretch bags, and string art—nearly 30 assorted activities!

On Tuesday, June 9, Sixth Graders will host a Culture Fair–the culmination of a project in which students chose and study a country in depth, then share that information.  During the day, sixth graders share their projects with other students, then with friends and family in the evening from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The fair features create a displays elements of the students’ studies such as history, foods, music, maps, games, puzzles, and sports.  Many students chose a recipe to make in order to give people a “taste” of a dish from their country.

Remember, the District Budget Validation Referendum will be held at the local polls on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, during regular polling hours. 

On Wednesday, June 10 Sixth Graders offer a fast paced Showcase of Skills that includes plyometrics–a form of exercise that involves rapid jumping skills, designed to increase strength—and cartwheels, round-offs, dive rolls, back walkovers, and walking on two hands. Students will also demonstrate a 3-Person weave into a  basketball layup, advanced jump roping skills, hula hoop tricks, and stretch bags—a creative movement piece with a surprise ending. The beat goes on with a very creative mix of percussion performances including recycled percussion, body percussion, and traditional African songs with authentic instruments. This is the fourth year for the drumming program at PCES and sixth graders have working very hard this year to put a fun program to demonstrate their skills. The program begins at 1:15 p.m. in the gymnasium.

On Thursday, June 11, Fifth Graders will be featured in a graduation ceremony celebrating the completion of the D.A.R.E. Program at PCES. The program will include reading of essays written by a representative of each participating class followed by the musical, “Just for Fun!” which is a collection of fun songs and lots of jokes and movement. It is a wonderful way to conclude their fifth grade year — the title says it all “Just for Fun, a lighthearted revue for young voices” The play is written by Teresa and Paul Jennings and directed by homeroom teachers with the assistance of Michelle Briggs, Music teacher, and Sheryl Allen, Physical Education Teacher. The program starts at 6 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria.

On Wednesday, June 17 students leave the school for the last time… until fall!

Grab A Bucket…

The idea of having a bucket list (things you are committed to doing during your life) has become more than popular–it’s nearly viral. Traditionally follks haven’t thought seriously about their life accomplishments until their mortality becomes real. Now I hear young people and kids talking about their bucket list.

Well, here’s another bucket idea that I think is extremely adaptable, practical, and useful. The idea is geared for kids — they get all the good stuff — but once you get the fundamentals, you can see it working in organizations, families, companies… The bucket represents your mental and emotional self. You fill your bucket with words and actions that demonstrate you care about somebody.

One adaption of this was made successfully by the Livermore Maine School Committee with an elementary school program to encourage positive behavior and make it a habit. A feature of the program is a literal bucket–when teachers and staff see a student “being nice” to someone they write the child’s name on a slip of paper and place it in the bucket. A monthly drawing means students receive recognition in the form of extra recess time, books, etc.

Back in my corporate consulting days, we used a similar approach with “something extra” coupons. Every employee was allowed to award a coupon to another employee for positive behavior that “went beyond” the norm. While coupons could be redeemed for lunch discounts, etc. we found that most people didn’t redeem them and kept theirs as trophies!

There are some great kids books about bucket filling–for information and resources visit the Bucket Filler Website. Put on your creative hat and see how your family could have a bucket… or just make it a personal habit of making sure you do something every day to fill your own bucket!

This idea was also posted on New England City and Town News Notes–a great site for news and ideas from around New England!