Anne T. Dunphy Newsletter

Anne T. Dunphy student art work is highlighted in Downtown Northampton in the window of Broadside Book Shop! The Mill River Greenway has been selected as their "Non-profit of the Month!" As you may recall, last year our 3rd graders were engaged in an in-depth unit of study about the Mill River and the Mill River Flood, important parts of Williamsburg's history. One of our student's work from that unit of study was chosen to be highlighted as part of their display!

Congratulations to all of the classes who grew, harvested, and entered submissions into the recent Grange Fair! We were excited to have the displays in school last week!

We hope that ATD families will consider coming out to celebrate HRHS' Youth Sports Night! This is a great opportunity for families to engage with our district middle and high school facility, and cheer on our local sports teams!

The next PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, October 2nd at 3:15.

(Please note, this is a change in meeting time!)

Hope you'll join us! Harvest Feast planning and winter event scheduling will be on the agenda!

As in the past, our 4th grade students are excited to be tasked with our daily Morning Announcements! Each day, a team of students heads down to the office to share the news of the day! Our 4th graders have been waiting for years for their turn, and have been excited to take on this challenge.

Recently each student came home with a piece of Will-wear! We love to see them popping up on kiddos each week! While I used the sizing of their field day shirts from the spring, this line of clothing had a different fit than those. If your child's shirt is not a fit such that they wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it, please let me know! I plan to do a small re-order to ensure that everyone has some new Willi-wear for the school year!

Our 1st graders recently spent some time with Ms. Michelle learning about strategies for managing our feelings when we get "out" in a game. Here, you see kids practicing some of the language she taught them:

"It's okay." "No big deal." "It’s just a game." "I might get another turn."

At Open House this week, be sure to stop at the Florence Savings Bank's "Savings Makes Cents" Program! Once students open a savings account, they can make a weekly deposit of any amount right at the school ~ thanks to our dedicated parent volunteer, Kara Schnell! Stop by the table to check it out!

After reading a series of books about feelings, first grade students created a classroom Mood Meter to help provide language around these emotions that pop up during (and outside of!) the school day.

Each school in Massachusetts is required to have a School Council. The ATD School Council is made up of the principal, two staff members, two caregivers, and one School Committee liaison. Marissa Nye is currently serving as one of our Caregiver representatives. However, there is an open seat left with the ending of Rachel Marino's term. (Her kiddos are both at HRHS now!)

The School Council typically meets 4 to 5 times per year. Most recently we have been meeting on a Monday at 3:30. The council is tasked with the drafting of a School Improvement Plan, laying out specific goals on which our school community would like to focus. If you have completed a Caregiver Survey in the past, that information was likely being sought by this committee!

If you are interested in serving on the School Council, please reach out!

Stop in at Open House to see what it's all about!

The Anne T. Dunphy School was so saddened to hear of the passing of Agnes Lulek.

Mrs. Lulek was a long-time staff member in the Williamsburg Schools - 37 years to be exact! During those years, she spent time as a cafeteria support staff, paraprofessional, and as the secretary and security guard 😊 at the Helen E. James School. She loved all the students as if they were her own, and had a soft spot for those with that special twinkle in their eye! To us all, it was clear that she thought the world of her two grandkids, Jake and Eden.

In the front foyer of ATD, you may have noticed our Lost & Found bench has a special plaque above it - "Waiting with Mrs. Lulek." Mrs. Lulek sat with many, many kids as they waited to be picked up at Helen E. James for appointments, or waited for that caregiver who was running a few minutes behind. "Waiting with Mrs. Lulek" became a common phrase during those years in our school community. Upon her retirement in 2014, this bench was purchased so that Mrs. Lulek could be a part of our new building.

Along with the whole community, we are sending love to Agnes' family, and enjoying sharing memories of her with each other.

(Below are some photos from her retirement celebration in June 2014.)

Susannah Bastek, the Hampshire Regional High School Varsity Field Hockey Coach, will run a youth field hockey clinic at Ames Field in Haydenville on Saturday, September 27th, fro 3:00-4:30. (Raindate: Sunday, September 28th from 3:00-4:30).

The clinic is open to 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders of any gender from Williamsburg, Goshen, Chesterfield, Westhampton, and Southampton.

Equipment (sticks, balls, etc.) will be available to those who don't have their own equipment. For more information, contact the Williamsburg Recreation Commission at burgyrec@gmail.com

October 2: PTO Meeting, 3:15

October 2: National School Custodian Day!

October 10: HRHS Youth Sports Night

October 13: Indigenous Peoples' Day, No School

October 14: No School, Teacher Professional Development

October 15: School Committee, 5:30

October 16: Kindergarten Families to Fletcher Farm

October 16: 5th grade to Historic Deerfield

Email: sjenkins@hr-k12.org
Website: www.burgyschool.org
Location: 1 Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 268-8421
Facebook: Williamsburg Schools