Haggerty Holler: October 11, 2024

Posted on 10/11/2024

FairyTales in Grade 2 with Ms. Olmos Govea and Ms. Dorcean

As part of the district’s new CKLA Literacy Curriculum, Grade 2 students listened and read some of the classic fairy tales represented in many cultures. Beauty and the Beast, Thunder Rose and Swamp Angel were a few of the classic tales the students listened to and analyzed. Students reviewed elements of fiction and discussed the traditional roles of characters, setting and plot in tall tales and fairy tales. The children in both second grades enjoyed reading familiar tales and enjoyed writing fairy tales and tall tales of their own. And, of course, they lived happily ever after.

Literacy-Developing Critical Readers

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 have been learning to become Critical Readers. Students are learning important vocabulary words such as: bias, media, stereotype, and perspective. Teachers are guiding students to think critically about what they read and to consider important questions:

Who is the author of the text? Is their story authentic?
What is the author’s purpose for writing?
Whose story is not being told in this text? Whose perspective might be missing?

In all grade 3-4-5 classrooms students have watched several videos to practice looking for hidden bias and stereotypes. Students and teachers had rich conversations and everyone, including our teachers, left these lessons with new learning and a new understanding about bias in print materials. Please encourage your children to honor the multiple stories and perspectives of native people as we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day on October 14. This holiday serves as a great example of a story that at one time, told history from a single perspective. We are happy to live and teach in Cambridge, where we honor the many stories and experiences of our students and their families, from past to present.

Quotes from students include:

“A critical reader knows there’s bias in every human.”

“A critical reader won’t always believe everything they read or hear.”

Winter Coat Season

Hello all, as the weather turns colder, it’s time to think about winter clothing! Students will go outside most days, unless it is raining or very cold, so we ask that they come prepared with clothing to keep them warm.

If you would like assistance finding your child a winter jacket for the season, please email Lissa. Please include the jacket size, color preference, and your student’s name. If you also need snow pants or boots, please send those details (size, color preference, and student name). Lissa will make requests through the SPOT.

Library Corner

Forts in the Library: Your Personal Reading Haven
I am excited to share a new initiative that will make your students' library class even more enjoyable: reading forts in the library! Each month, classes will have the opportunity to earn a fort, creating cozy nooks designed to offer a peaceful and comfortable environment where students can dive into their favorite books.

Hispanic Heritage Month in the Library
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, our library is excited to showcase special book displays that honors the rich and diverse contributions of Hispanic and Latino authors, artists, and historians. This annual observance provides an excellent opportunity to explore the vibrant cultures, histories, and stories that shape the Hispanic and Latino communities. Our curated selection includes a diverse range of genres and themes, from captivating fiction and engaging children's books.

Music Corner

Our October Musician of the Month is Anthony Santos.

Born in 1967 on a small farm, Santos grew up in an extremely poor household. Santos began his music career as a güiro player in bachatero Luis Vargas’ band. After a public dispute with Vargas, Santos quit the band. He soon released his first single “Voy Pa’lla.”

Long considered a father figure in the Dominican music industry, Anthony Santos defined the modern bachata sound. He added new instruments like saxophone and piano, romantic lyrics, and guitar licks. Even though Santos lives in the Dominican Republic, so many people living across the world love his music. In 2019, NYC mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed that each August 8 would be Anthony Santos Day in New York City.

Anthony Santos has four children, one of whom is bachata singer Yordi Saints. Santos is known as “El Mayimbe” of bachata music. He is also known as El Bachatu.” Listen to our Musician of the Month Spotify playlist at spoti.fi/4dXVbRu or scan the QR code.

As always, be in touch with Haggerty music teachers anytime you have questions!

Shelley Irvin (Mx. Irvin) and Susie Petrov (Ms. Susie)

Coach’s Corner (From Literacy Team)

Reading Workshop for Caregivers of Children in Preschool to Grade 2
November 1 | 7:45-8:45 AM

On November 1, our Literacy Team will be hosting a Reading Workshop for Preschool - Grade 2 caregivers. Please join us for the event on November 1, 7:45-8:45 AM. This workshop will share ideas and games that you can do at home to support your children in their reading and writing development. This is an adult only event, we are unable to provide child care for this event.

Nightly reading is an expected homework routine for all students in grades 1-5. Please be sure to listen to your child read, as well as to read to your child each night. Students in grades K-2 should listen or read for 10-20 minutes each night. Students in grades 3-5 should read for 20-40 minutes each night. An additional Literacy event will be held in December to share information about the new ELA curriculum in grades 1-5. This event will be virtual, date TBD.

If you are interested in learning more about the new Literacy, there is a special website for all Cambridge Caregivers. ELA/Literacy for CPS Caregivers

Suzanne Russell, Literacy coach
Karen Tlili, Early Literacy Interventionists
Patty West, Early Literacy Interventionists

Haggerty Annual International Potluck - Thursday, October, 17th

Thursday, October 17 | 6-7:30PM | Haggerty Gymnasium and Cafeteria

Our Haggerty International Potluck is next Thursday, October 17th from 6-7:30PM. A yellow flier came home a couple weeks ago. Here is a digital form, that also has some questions about helping with set-up, welcome table, and clean up. We could also use some helpers with those tasks. Thank you!

More Details
Time: The International Potluck is 6 to 7:30pm. Please enter through the Lawn Street Door and come down to the basement. The welcome table to make name tags and take a “passport” to use for the evening will be at the entrance to the cafeteria. Please don't enter the building before 6PM unless you are helping to set-up or are hosting a Country Display Table.

Supervision: This is a family event, so children must come with and be supervised by an adult. The event will only be in the gym and cafeteria, so make sure your children do not roam around the building. Please also ask your children not to run or play tag in the gymnasium, as the gym will be more like a free restaurant for the Potluck.

Food: Please bring a dish of food to share! Label your serving dish and serving utensils with your name. (Also sending in serving utensils to use are very helpful.) When you leave the potluck, please collect your dish and serving utensils. (Please include a label for the Dish with name or description of the food, the country it represents, and the ingredients.) All the food will go on very long rectangular tables in the gymnasium.

Country and Culture Display Tables: Families and students will visit tables representing different countries and cultures in the gym. We will provide passports for students, and they can get them stamped after they visit each table. We appreciate the time families and staff took to make these tables to share their culture. Please remind your children to be careful with the items these families bring from home to show them.

Here are the country tables we have so far:

Ethiopia
South Korea
China
Germany
The Gambia and Senegal
India (want to join them? I can connect you)
Thailand (want to join them? I can connect you)

If you would like to "host" a country table - please let me know (Lissa). We'd love to have a few more!

Music and Arts & Crafts: We will have an interactive performance from West African drummer Sidi Mohamed "Joh" Camara. As well as an art & crafts activity in the cafeteria - make your own flag and write "Hello" in your home language to create a Haggerty Poster.

Dress: Everyone is invited to wear traditional clothing to show their pride in their culture!

Thanks to all for helping to make this a wonderful community event! Please let me know if you have questions! Lissa

Upcoming Community Events

Free Food Markets
All families are welcome to stop by our free, school-based food markets. They offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry items. Please bring your own bags.

See the full list of free food markets for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Angyalföldi Vadrózsa Folk Dance Ensemble Legacy Tour 2024
October 19 | 7 - 9:45PM | Morse School
You are cordially invited to the performance of the Angyalföldi Vadrózsa Folk Ensemble on Tuesday, October 29th at 7 PM at the Morse School in Cambridge, MA. The performance will feature traditional Hungarian dances and live music. Participants will have a chance to participate in a lesson session after the show. There will be refreshments served. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, please visit our website here.

Preschool (CPP) Application Now Open
Families can apply for the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) for the 2025-2026 school year now through Thursday, October 31. Several offices are available to support in completing the application. While an appointment is not necessary it is encouraged.

CPP provides free preschool through Cambridge Public Schools, the Cambridge Department of Human Services, Head Start, and select community-based preschool and family childcare providers. Families can apply to a variety of programs all through one single online or paper application. Watch this video for a look into CPP!

A child is eligible if they live in Cambridge and are:
- 4 years old by August 31, 2025 for 4-year-old programs; or
- 3 years old by August 31, 2025 for 3-year-old programs (please note there will be limited seats for 3-year-olds and there may be additional eligibility requirements)

Access Frequently Asked Questions specific to CPP using the links below…
Cambridge Preschool Program | Cambridge Public Schools | Department of Human Services
Access translated Frequently Asked Questions here.

Learn more about the Cambridge Preschool Program here.

Bay State Skating School: Learn to Skate Classes
Saturdays starting October 5 | 2PM | Cambridge Simoni Rink
Develop recreational, figure and hockey skating skills through our Learn to Skate Classes. Classes are available to children ages 4 - 18. To learn more about class details and registration, please visit our website here.
View flyer >>

Empower Your Digital Journey: Free Help From Digital Navigators

Digital Navigators provide one-on-one support to help you access the Internet, set up devices, and use online services effectively. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide in our community.

You can receive a free laptop if: you live in Cambridge, are low-income, and looking for a job or career development classes. You can receive free internet hotspot if: all of the above AND you don’t have internet access at home. Learn more about the program here.

Ready to get started? Call us today and start your digital journey! When calling in, please be sure to state your name and city you live in.

Call 888.551.2167.
massdigitaljedi.org
[email protected]

Cambridge Wrestling Fall 2024

Sundays, September 22 - November 3 | 2:30 - 4PM | Cambridge War Memorial Recreation Center, 1640 Cambridge Street, Door 15

Join us for a 6-week youth wrestling program. Each practice is 90 minutes and available to students from kindergarten to grade 8. September 29 is when our first 6-week session officially begins.