HIGGINS SCHOOL NEWS

HIGGINS DIRECTORY

HIGGINS HISTORY

CULLEN LIBRARY

PEABODY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NEW Congratulations 
 STARS of the MONTH

2005-2006 HIGGINS PTO BOARD

The PTO meeting will be held on November 16, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.

A report from the October meeting:
Linda Phyles distributed a Treasurer's Report on the status of the budget.  We are approximately twelve thousand dollars under budget at this time.  The PTO has scheduled a few more fundraisers in order to meet the budget.

Mrs. Matarazzo handed out ballots to vote for parents' seats for the school council.  She collected them to be counted later.  Mrs. Matarazzo asked the PTO for three thousand dollars to go to Drama this year.  A one thousand stipend to the Drama teacher and the production.

MCAS pre-testing will be done for each grade twice a year.  These tests are to give the teachers information they need and the students will be asked to set goals for learning.  Scores will be for internal use but the principal will trip to work out a way for parents to get the grades.

Thank you to all volunteers for the Craft Fair!!  The response was incredible.  You helped make it a great success!

The Magazine Drive was another winner!  Top room - Mrs. Cody.  The class receives the traveling bookworm.

First Day Top Seller: J. Atkins

This year's class winner will receive A Rat for the Final Showdown.

Welcome back to the entire Higgins Middle School Community and a warm welcome to our new principal Ms. Matarazzo.

Our first Higgins PTO meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 14th at 7:30 p.m. in the Higgins library.  PTO meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Higgins library.  Please check the school calendar for future dates.  We welcome all parents to join us for this meeting!

Please feel free to contact us with any issues or concerns.  One of our goals for this year year, together with Ms. Matarazzo, is to focus on cleaning up the grounds of Higgins Middle School.  We will focus on the area outside of the library, the mall area, and the back area of the school where the tennis courts are located.  If anyone has contacts with or knowledge of landscaping and/or resurfacing or would just like to help out with the project, please call Donna Craven or Ms. Matarazzo.  We are looking forward to a great year and welcome your support and input as always.

The primary PTO fundraising activity of the school year is the QSP/Reader's Digest Magazine Sale.  The kick-off for this year's activities will take place on Wednesday, September 28th.  All participation in the sale is voluntary, and all profits are used for the field trips, scholarships, cultural enrichments and other activities the PTO provides through the year.

The sale runs from September 28th through October 12th.  New subscriptions as well as renewal of your current magazine subscriptions can all benefit this fundraising effort!

Students receive "Weepuls"  for levels of participation, and tickets for sales levels.  The tickets are redeemable for prizes, and special prize awards are also made on each of the "Prize Days".  Special prizes in the past have included the Limo Lunch, Surround Sound systems, portable DVD players, five pound chocolate bars, and more!  In addition to earning to earning individual prizes, classes and clusters compete for honors in an exciting end-of-sale race that involves science, physics, math and strategy!

Look for more detailed information to come home with your child on September 28.  Volunteers are also needed to assist with this sale, and all are welcome.  Please contact Beverley Dunne at 978.531.2427. The adults seem to have as much fun as the students with this sale!