Happenings on the Hill 2015-16 Winter Newsletter

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InThisIssueUpcomingEvents

• CulturalArts• BoxTopsforEducation• Square1Art• GivetoGrow2014• 3rdAnnualScienceFairandRyerson

LovesScienceWeek• RelayforLife• FunFair• FieldDay

PastEvents

• TalentShow• ChessClub• ScienceExplorationwithCool-ology• WinterWorkshops• HolidayLuncheonforRyersonStaff• WinterAssembly

Announcements

• 2013-2014CalendarofEvents• SchoolYearbook• SchoolStore• GardenCommittee

NewsletterEditor:Carrie Burton

LetterfromtheRyersonPTOExecutiveBoardDearRyersonFamilies,Wow!2016hasarrivedandwearethreemonthsfromtheendoftheacademicyear!Whenwelookbackonallthathashappenedoverthepastfewmonths,wearefilledwithgratitudeforbeingapartofthisschoolcommunity.Duringthehecticrushoftheholidaysfamilieswereincrediblygenerous.First,yourdonationstothefooddriveinsupportoftheMadisonFoodPantryinNovemberweighedinatoverawhopping375pounds.InDecemberwefoundtheToyDriveboxwasoverflowinginthelobbyandfoodselectionswereinabundanceattheTeacherHolidayLunch.Inadditiontoallthat,manyfamiliesfoundthetimetopurchaseanextrabookortwotohelptheMauro-Sheridaninter-districtMagnetSchoolforScience,TechnologyandCommunicationsinNewHaven.ThiswasaschoolwideeffortthatPrincipalSpoonerchampionedaspartofourwinterassembly.Thankyouforthisunwaveringsupport!Wealsothankyouforsupportingalltheprogramsattheschoolbyinvolvingyourchildren.WinterWorkshopshadover100participants,andourWednesdaymorningChessprogramisatfullcapacitywith33students!The2ndAnnualTalentShowwasrepresentedbystudentsineverygradeKto4.Weappreciateyourchildrenenjoyingtheactivities.ThiskindofencouragementisverymeaningfultotheRyersonPTO.InthepagesthatfollowyoucanfindmoreinformationaboutthepastandupcomingPTOactivitiesatRyerson.Ifyouwouldliketovolunteerorhaveanyquestions,pleasefeelfreetocontactanyRyersonPTOExecutiveBoardmember.Youcanfindeachmember’scontactinformation,aswellasfuturemeetingdates,ontheRyersonPTOwebsite.BestWishes,RyersonPTOExecutiveBoardCarolAhlijanian~PresidentKevinWolfe~Co-Tri-VicePresidentBeeGordon~Co-Tri-VicePresidentDianeInfantine-Vyce~Co-Tri-VicePresidentMichelleMenard~SecretaryPamSchneider~Treasurer

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UpcomingEvents

• January12:DominotheGreat’sBuddiesNotBulliesprogramshowedstudentshowrespect,

teamworkandapositiveattitudecanhelpthembebetterfriends.Usingmagic,humor,audienceparticipationandstorytelling,DominoTheGreatpresentedthemessageinamemorableway.

• March29th:DanielHandHighSchool’sJazzBand,ledbybanddirectorJohnGageTheDanielHandHighSchoolJazzBandisanauditionedensemblecomprisedof9th-12thgradersintheDHHSbands.TheJazzBandplayseverythingfrom1920’sswingtoLatinjazztoprogressiverock.

• April8th:BashTheTrashThisgroupisallaboutScience,SoundandSustainability!TheywillbethegrandfinaletoafunfilledScienceWeekatRyerson.Thestudentswillbeeducatedandentertainedwithmusicalinstrumentsmadeentirelyfromrecycledandreusedmaterials.

Fordetailsonanyoftheseevents,pleasecontactPTOPresident,CarolAhlijanianatcpenahl@yahoo.com.

CongratulationstoMs.DunbarandMrs.Bell'sclasseswhowerethebigwinnersthispastsemesterfortheBoxTopicecreamparty.SinceAugust2015,ourschoolhascollectedalmost9000BoxTops,whichtranslatestoalmost$900.00forourschooltousetowardsprogrammingforourchildren!!AllthoseBoxTopsneedtobecounted,cut,andsortedbythefabulousBoxTopTeamof:ColleenAnderson,SusanBoroczky,EileenBorowiec,HeatherCrawford,Kerri-AnneMoore,DianeNesci,JuneNuzzi,BethO'Keefe,LaurenOsterman,KimSchiavone,SarahShelton,CarolStotz,andStephanieSweeney.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorwouldliketobecomepartofthisfabulousteamnextfall,pleasecontactthechair,JaniceWolfatjaniceadam1@yahoo.com.Asareminder,pleasekeepclippingyourBoxTopsallyearround!

BoxTopsforEducation

CulturalArts

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It’sback!IntheSquare1Artfundraiser,yourchild’sartistictalentwillbenurturedandmemorialized.Thisfundraiserisloadsoffunforkidsandparentsalike.OurchildrenareworkinghardcreatingtheirdesignsinartclasswithMrs.Smith.OnMarch28th,stickersofyourchild'screationwillbesenthomeandyouwillhaveanopportunitytopurchasefunobjectsthatshowcasetheircreation--pillowcases,shirts,coffeemugs,cookieplates,notecards,etc.TheorderdeadlinewillbeApril6thtoensuretheseitemsarriveintimeforMother’sDay.Whataperfectwaytorememberthisspecialyearofyourchild’slifeatRyerson.ThankyoutoMrs.SmithforyourassistancewiththisPTOfundraiser.ForanyquestionsaboutSquare1ArtpleasecontactKellyBettuchiatkw1362@att.com.

OnFriday,April29th,pleasejoinusatGivetoGrow,our4thannualfundraisertosupporttheartsandsciencesatRyerson.Thisisanightforustoleavethechildrenathome,cometogetherasadultsandhavefun!GivetoGrowwillbeheldfrom7p.m.to10p.m.attheMadisonSeniorCenter.Informationwillbecominghomesoonforticketorders.Therewillbeactivefoodstationsandjazzmusic,aswellasaliveauction.Children'sartworkandthecoveted"ReservedParkingSpot"arepopularitemsthatwillbeonthebiddingtableagainthisyear.Wearestillseekingvolunteerstohelpmakethiseventasuccess.Ifyouwouldliketovolunteer,orhaveanyquestionsregardingtheevent,pleasecontactCarolAhlijanianatcpenahl@yahoo.com,

The5thAnnualScienceFairandRyersonLovesScienceWeekwilltakeplacetheweekofApril4th,withtheScienceFairtobeheldontheeveningofWednesday,April6th.The2016ScienceWeekbeginsandendswithtwoallschoolassemblies.MadSciencewillpresentSpin,Pop,Boom!andBashtheTrashwillbethegrandfinalewithaconcertperformedonmusicalinstrumentsmadeentirelyfromrecycledandreusedmaterials.DuringScienceWeekchildrenwillengageinexcitinghands-onactivitieswiththegoalsofexploringthewondersofscience,nurturingtheirscientificcuriosity,anddevelopingalifelongloveofscience.Childrenalsowillhavetheopportunitytodesignandcarryouttheirownindependentscienceexperiments,thendisplayandsharetheirresultsattheScienceFair.MoreinformationcreatingaposterfortheScienceFairwillbecominghomewithyourchildsoon.

April4–8:5thAnnualScienceFairandRyersonLovesScienceWeek

April29:GivetoGrow2016

Square1Art

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TheRelayforLifeoftheShorelinereturnstoWalshIntermediateSchoolinBranfordonSaturday,May21,2016foritsannualfundraisingeventinsupportofTheAmericanCancerSociety.Withsupportfromourschoolcommunitylastyear,Ryersonteam“WalkOn!”raisedover$5,500forthisimportantcause.IfyouareinterestedinlearningmoreabouttheShorelineRelayoraboutstartingaRyersonFamilyteam,pleasecontactChristineAckermannatackermannc@madison.k12.ct.usformoreinformation.Together,wecanmakeadifference!Pleaseclickhereformoreinformation.

TheRyersonPTOwillhostitsannualFunFaironSaturday,May21st,from10a.m.to3p.m.ontheRyersonschoolgrounds.Thefairincludesgames,prizes,acakewalk,food,music,take-a-chancebaskets,mysterybags,andmuchmore.Intheupcomingmonths,lookforadditionalinformationabouttheFunFairandopportunitiestocontributetoitssuccess.Itisagreattimefor"children"ofallages,sopleasesavethedate!Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactthechairpersonAmyJohnsonatkiteri@sbcglobal.net.

Onceagain,thestudentsofRyersonwilltaketotheoutdoorsonJune1st(raindateofJune3rd)forFieldDay!Ourterrificphysicaleducationteachersarebusyplanningthisyear'sFieldDay;thankyou,Mrs.JarvisandMrs.Daub!Wewouldlovetohaveparentsjoinusasvolunteers.IfyousigneduptovolunteerforFieldDayinthebeginningoftheschoolyear,youwillbecontactedastheeventgetscloser.Keepalookoutforaflyerlaterthisyearwithallthedetails.IfyouhaveanyquestionsregardingFieldDay,orwishtovolunteer,pleasecontactchairsLindaManiattyatseaestalc@aol.comorMichelleMenardatmichmenard@gmail.com.Hopetoseeyouthere!

May21st:FunFair

May17th:RelayforLife

June1st:FieldDay

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PastEvents

OnMarch4th,Ryerson’smultipurposeroom,filledtostandingroomcapacity,wasagaintheplacetobeforthe2ndannualRyersonTalentShow!Ryersonstudents,fromkindergartento4thgrade,tookthestagetosharetheirtalentswithaneveningofjokes,singing,dance,hulahoop,jumprope,instrumentalperformance(drums,piano,violin),taekwondo,andpoetrydeclamation.Wearesoveryproudofallofourstudentstars:NorahStotz,WillKennedy,TaiNuzzi,IanLehman,KatieButler,KalistaMcPherson,HarrisonTore,ChristinaCase,KatelynZagami,AllisonMulhern,AlexMarino,KellyKelly,AntoinetteLowy,SamuelLizondro,AbbyAhlijanian,TaraSantanello,Maewyn,Griswold,RachelLehman,EmilyWarner,GillianBrown,JackTanner,GraceAckerman,EmilyCozza,AvaAboulian,SophiaLind,JoshuaLee,EllaLee,KeilyButsch,BenjaminButsch,MathewAckerman,LukeSoja,EamonPantano,AdamStotz,JacquelineVyce,OliviaGordon,CarolineStella,GedeonLariviere,DillonDiprospero,MattKasper,JakeRoberts,EllaEvans,MeghanO’Keefe,NoelleSoja,NoraHughes,ArianaPotter,ArcherWarren,EliAckerman,GraceBurton,VanessaRuiz,BenjaminLizondro,McKennaFisher,KosetteMcPherson.KarenBurns,chairfortheTalentShowgivesabigTHANKYOUtoallwhovolunteeredtohelp;withoutwhomtheshowwouldnothavebeenpossible.

OnWednesdaymornings,startinginFebruaryandendinginMarch,membersoftheChessClubhavebeenlearningtoplaythe“gameofkings”.Thisyear,theChessClub,sponsoredbytheRyersonPTO,has33participants!TheChessClubistaughtagainthisyearbyDr.AniDeshpande,aUnitedStatesChessFederationCertifiedChessCoachandtwo-timeWisconsinStateChessChampion.

TalentShow

ChessClub-February3rd–March30th

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ThemorningofFebruary5thbroughtusourfirstofficialSNOWDAY.Italsomadeforsometrickydecisionmakingonwhetherornottomoveforwardwithourplannedspaghettidinnernight.ThemeatballshadalreadybeenpreparedsotheRyersonPTOdecidedtoproceedasplanned.Wearesohappythatwedid.ThankyouRyersonfamiliesforcomingoutandsupportingthisevent.Wemadecloseto$850dollarsonceweaccountedforourfoodexpenses.AhugethankyougoestoKevinWolfewhoworkedmagicinthekitchenoftheMadisonSeniorCenterplatingsaladsanddinners,coordinatingour"waitstaff"andwashingdishes!WealsoappreciatethehelpinghandsofJaniceLehman,BethAckerman,MichelleMenard,BeeGordon,PamSchneider,AndySchneider,MadelineSchneiderandNoelleSolis.TheRyersonPTOwouldalsoliketothankLaurenOsterlingforhergenerousdonationofthedessert-cannolifromMeriano'sBakeShoppe.

StudentshadagreattimeparticipatinginScienceExploration,anafterschoolprogramwithCool-ology.Thisprogramintroducedthechildrentochemistry,physics,andengineering,throughprojectsthattheyworkedoningroups.Theywerereallyexcitedtoexploretheworldofsciencethroughhandsonprojects.Theylearnedtoworkasagroup,andcollaboratewiththeirpeerswhiledesigningtheirscientificexperiments.WewouldliketothankLindaManiatty,IngridVelentzas,andLauraOvertonforvolunteeringandmakingthisprogrampossible.Ifyouareinterestedinbeingchairmanofthisevent,orjustinterestedinvolunteering,pleaseemailLindaatseaestalc@aol.com.

BeeGordonandPamSchneiderorganizedWinterWorkshopthisyear.Theyhad120studentseagertoparticipateinBasketball,Science,Crafts,Bakers,Computers,Theaters,Legos,ScrapbookingandJewelryMaking.ThankyoutoalloftheinstructorsandhelpersthatmadeWinterWorkshoppossibleincluding:

• Crafts-KimSchiavone,MichelleMenard,CarolAhlijanian• Science-AmyParadisoandLoriHall• Basketball-AndySchneider,MatthewMenard,MadelineSchneider• Bakers-BethO'Keefe,DianeVyce,SuzanneOwen• Computers-ErinChester,HappyMarino

WinterWorkshops

ScienceExplorationwithCool-ology

SpaghettiDinnerFundraiser

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• Theater-AmyJohnson,VioletJohnson,KyleOsterling• Legos-CarolynVarone,BeeGordon,KevinWolfe• Scrapbooking-AlisonKeating,• Jewelry-JaniceWolf,JuneNuzzi

OnDecember17th,thePTOsponsoredourtraditionalholidayluncheonfortheRyersonstaff.BethO’Keefe,Hospitalitychair,organizedandoversawthisbeautifulevent.Specialthanksgotoalltheparentsfortheirgenerosityandtimeincontributingthesavorydishes,sweettreats,andrefreshingdrinksforourspectacularRyersonstafftoenjoy!

OnDecember18th,theRyersoncommunitycametogetherforawinterextravaganzaoffun!LibrarianTinaPerryandParaprofessionalJenniferCaroneputtogetherafantasticslideshowofstudentsenjoyingtheirfavoritewinteractivities.Mrs.SpoonerreadSnowman'sStorybyWillHillenbrand.Thiswordlessstorycametolifewithaschoolfullofauthors-yourchildren.Everyclasshelpedtoputwordstoallthepicturesandthefinalstorywasreadtoall!Anothercomponentoftheprogramwastointegrateacommunityoutreachinitiative.OurschoolcommunitycollectedbookstodonatetotheMauro-Sheridaninter-districtMagnetSchoolforScience,TechnologyandCommunicationsinNewHaven.ThegenerosityofRyersonfamiliesisamazing!ThankyouforhelpingoursupplytotheseK-8thgraderstobesoplentiful!Thecelebrationconcludedwithanexuberantholidaysing-a-longledbymusicteacher,ChristineMurphy.

Announcements

Clickhereforthecalendarofeventsforthe2015-2016schoolyear.

2015-16CalendarofEvents

WinterAssembly

HolidayLuncheonforRyersonStaff

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2015-2016RyersonSchoolYearbook

WinnerCoverArtGoto:https://images.schoolannualonline.com/loginIfitdoesnotautomaticallylogyouintothesite,enterusername:403413589Browseyourfilestoselectthephoto(s)youwishtouploadEnterinformationaboutthephotoandprovidecontactinformationincasethestaffneedsadditionalinformation.Click"SaveDetails"*TheYearbookStaffwillreviewallphotosanddeterminefinalyearbookcontent.Wecannotguaranteethatallsubmissionscanbeusedinthebook.Please,noboy/girlscoutpictures.

YEARBOOKORDERINGDEADLINESAREEXTENDED!Thelastdaytohandinyourpaperorderformwithyour$20cashorcheckpaymentisFriday,March18th.Checksshouldbemadepayableto“RyersonPTO”.ThelastdaytoorderonlineisFriday,April1st(nojoke)!Toorderonlinewithacreditcard,gotowww.schoolannual.com,click“BuyYourStudent’sYearbook”buttononthetopofthepage,enterschoolname&chooseourschoolfromthedropdownmenu.Youwillreceiveareceiptinyouremail.Ryerson4thgraders,withtheguidanceofartteacherMarySmith,createdtheirartworksubmissionsforthisyear’sYearbookCoverContest.ThefinaldesignswerepickedbyMrs.Spooner,Mrs.Smithandthe4thgraders.Thewinningdesignwasvoteduponbytheentirestudentbody.CongratulationstotheCoverDesignWinnerJacquelineVyce!AndabigthankyoutoMrs.Smithforallofherhelp!Westillneedphotos!Parents-pleasehelpusputtogetherthebestyearbookyet!Ifyou'vegotgreatphotosofyourchildrenatschooloratanotherschoolrelatedevent,we'dliketoseethem!Hereishowyoucansubmitphotosonline:

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StudentscanvisittheRyersonSchoolStoreoneFridaypermonthinthelobby.Hoursarebeforeschoolfrom8:30a.m.until8:50a.m.Thestorecarrieslotsofgreatstuff,suchasteeshirts,rulers,pencils,crayons,calculators,anderasers.Pricesrangefrom$0.25to$10,withlotsofoptionsinbetween.Althoughsizesarelimited,westillhavesomeRyersonteeshirtsavailable,andtheyareagreatwaytoshowyourschoolspirit!ChairpersonMaryBethHugheswouldliketothankallthestudentswhosupportthestoreeachmonth!Inaddition,abigthankyougoesouttoMeghanMcGuireforherhelp,andstudenthelpersWillMcGuire,NoraHughes,HannahRich,andNoelleSoja.Remainingdatesforthestoreinclude:March18May13June3TherewillbenostoreinApril.Ifanyoneisinterestedinbecomingavolunteerortakingoveraschairpersonfornextyear'sschoolstore,pleasecontactMaryBethatneehughes0720@yahoo.com.

Asspringquicklyapproaches,theGardenCommitteeisgearingupforaSpringCleanUp.Thispastfall,withthehelpofPack495,variousbulbswereplantedalongthefrontentranceoftheschool.Hopefully,somenewcolorswillbepoppingsoon.TheGardenCommitteewillbeinneedofanewChairforthe2016/17schoolyear.Ifyouareinterestedpleasecontacttheromblads@comcast.net.

Ifyouhaveanythingyouwouldliketoincludeinourupcomingnewsletters,pleaseemailinformationandphotostoCarrieBurtonatcarriebburton@aol.com.

GardenCommittee

SchoolStore