MASON ELEMENTARY AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS are expanding. This year MES is offering two more after school programs for students:
Monday — Book Club
Tuesday — Drama Club (the play The Wizard of Oz)
Wednesday — Extreme Club (board games and outside activities)
Thursday — Lego Club
Students pay a small fee to help pay for materials. These programs are well attended. We also continue to offer our Senior Breakfast with grade 1 students being the sponsoring hosts. Finally, we are offering at no cost to the parent and students an online enrichment program by Renzulli Learning Systems that we use in school and can be used at home. These activities supplement a lot of our curriculum but also give the students an opportunity opportunity to learn more about their specific interests on what they are studying.
Singapore Math
This year our Grade 1 teacher, Karen McDonough, is piloting a new but established mathematics program called Singapore Math. This widely acclaimed and assessed program is a math system that Mason has wanted to introduce for the past few years. Singapore aligns itself to the New Hampshire Common Core Academic Standing. Usually in Grades 1 and 2 we see very little difference from other programs. In Grade 3 the program becomes accelerated and there is less repetition that has been done for years. The emphasis of Singapore Math is problem solving. Explaining of math concepts are exceptionally clear and simple.
For example, each Singapore Math text book builds on preceding levels and assumes what was taught need not be taught again. Students are assigned to a text book or content that matches what they are ready to learn next. By contrast, typical math programs offer the same grade level instruction to all students. A great deal of instructional time is saved by following essential math skills.
Ms. McDonough has had the assistance of a veteran teacher who has many years of experience teaching Singapore Math. She will be attending an all day workshop this month to meet other teachers who are involved with Singapore Math.
Mrs. Kate Coey and Ms. Colleen Lewis just attended a threeday technology conference at the Christa McAuliffe Learning Center. With the many workshops and demonstrations, they came back with a wealth of information that they can share with their fellow teachers and implement in their classrooms.
Thank You to Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Through the efforts of Mr. Donald Hodges, our Mason School Board Vice Chairman, we recently received 10 refurbished laptop computers. As we receive further donations we will be assisting town departments in need of technology support. Again, through the generosity of individuals and companies, our students are reaping the educational benefits from this.
This past month MES received 16 new classroom dictionaries for Grade 3 from the Watatic Grange #36. We also received National Geographic magazines from Arthur Rafter for use by the Mason Elementary students. The Mason School Club has purchased seven classroom water fountains for our classrooms.
Jim McCormick, Superintendent
