Dear Parents, It’s getting close to summer vacation and the weather is definitely cooperating!  All of us at Aitken School wish you and your family a fun and safe summer! Thank you! The entire Aitken staff truly is thankful for everything that the parents and students did to show their appreciation during Seekonk Elementary Staff Appreciation Week.  A special thank you is extended to Kim Glenn who chaired the event! Thank you to our business partners! Field Days Field Day for kindergarten is on June 6 .  Let’s hope for a great day! Field Day for grades 1-5 is scheduled for June 13th (in the event of rain, it will be rescheduled).  In advance, a huge thank you is extended to our chairs, Karen Araujo and Lynne Simpson, and their crew of volunteers.  The students are looking forward to an exciting, sports-filled day! Student Awards Ceremony On Thursday, June 23 – our last day of school, there will be an awards ceremony at 9:30 A.M. for students in grades 1-4.  Awards will be given for students receiving AR awards and for students in grades 3-4 who achieved high scores in our end of the year math and science tests (parents will be notified in advance).  Parents are invited to attend this brief assembly if they wish.  Teacher assignments During the week of August 13th, you will receive a letter notifying you of your child’s teacher for the 2008-09 school year.  If you do not receive a letter by Friday of that week, please give me a call. Dates to remember Last day of school – June 23, 2008 and it’s a full day! First day of school for grades 1-5 – September 3, 2008 Kindergarten orientation/open house at 11:30 – September 4, 2008 First day of school for kindergarten – September 5, 2008 Summer Learning Activities Your child’s teacher and the town librarian have made suggestions for enriching the summer with learning experiences.  Summer is quick, but can be too long if your child does not read and have other opportunities to extend learning.  Try setting some time aside each day to read and do hands-on math and science activities.  Day trips to historical places in New England will certainly enhance your child’s understanding of U.S. history and geography concepts taught in grades 3-5.  Enjoy your summer and help your child get a great start in September!  Fees Again, next year, there will be no transportation or athletic fees for our students.  Thank you! Aitken’s Mother’s Day Plant Sale was outstanding!  Kim Lima, the plant sale chairperson, delighted the students and staff with flowers, colors and smells! Our reading program continues to flourish thanks in part to the wonderful support of the PTO.  A special thanks is given to the chair people who worked throughout the year – Michelle Luizzi and Lauren Sicard for Reading Is Fundamental, Cheryl Mullen and Sue Rutter for the book fairs, Jen Leonard and Renee Ferrick for Dedicate a Book, Kristin Garabian for classroom library purchases and Karen Abbott, Dana Silveira and Diane Pereira for the Accelerated Reader Program! There are so many individuals who support Aitken School behind the scenes and at various events and the entire staff truly appreciates all you do!   Aitken School recognizes and thanks the following: Paula Robitalle for Box Tops for Education Deb McKenna for organizing our puberty programs Paula Robitaille for Membership Alisa Bourque for Sunshine Valerie Carroll who types and puts together Aitken to Know each month and the Feinstein newsletters Kelly Accardi for the Feinstein Program and the PTO web site Jenn Leonard for the Recycling program John Pozzi for chairing our playground committee Paul Robitaille, Sue Rutter and Kara Salit for chairing the end-of-the-year fifth grade events A final note of thank you is extended to the PTO officers Alisa Bourque, Liz Marilus and Paula Robitaille – co-presidents, Dana Silveira – secretary and Karen Abbott – treasurer.  Their commitment to the students, staff and Aitken community has been outstanding and has truly been appreciated!  Thank you! Staff Celebrations Mary Meli will receive a Mentor of the Year award from the Massachusetts Association of Curriculum and Development on June 20 at 1 PM at Aitken School.  She earned this distinction from her exemplary work as a mentor to two of Aitken's new teachers during the 2007-08 school year. Karen Capello recently published her first children's book Taylor's Puppy!  Please stop by the office if you would like to read this wonderful story! Congratulations, Karen and Mary! Reminder – all dates to be included in the Seekonk Elementary School Calendar Handbook are due by Friday, June 9.  ?   Have a super summer and we look forward to seeing you in September! And good luck to the 5th graders as they begin their middle school years! Yours truly, Nancy Gagliardi