ESUMS Samsung Team Needs Your Help

Complete 4 online tasks, no donation required:  https://www.pearup.com/mt4d/rally

ESUMS' Destiny Robinson Performs at Kwanzaa Event

ESUMS high school student Destiny Robinson - aka "Fiction" - raps at #NHV Community Kwanzaa Association celebration http://www.tout.com/m/wjfd0q.

Canned Food Drive Ends Tomorrow

Reminder: Get Those PLTW Forms in by the End of December

Dear Parents and Students in Project Lead The Way Courses:

Since your child attends a PLTW-certified school, she/he can get a head start on engineering-related career and add prestige to their college admissions applications by receiving college credit from University of New Haven (UNH).

The process is simple:

The Peabody Museum is Holding an Art Contest for Martin Luther King Day

High school students should submit artwork by January 8.  $150 top prize.  Details here.

Fall Principal's Report to the PTO

Please read this Report from Mrs. Blue-Ellis.  It has some great information about college placement, teacher news, student awards, test scores, and grants.

New Haven Board of Education Meeting Monday, Dec. 14, at 5:30, Martinez School, 100 James St.

UPDATE: The agenda confirms the superintendent's contract extension will be considered at this meeting.

Meetings of the Board of Education are an opportunity for teachers, students, families, and community members to witness and participate in the decision-making about our schools.  Monday will be the final New Haven Board of Education meeting of 2015.  Though the agenda is not usually published until Sunday night, it seems likely two key issues will be discussed:

1. The vote to extend the current superintendent's contract is being considered before the end of 2015.  As next Monday's meeting is the final one of the year, the decision may be announced then.  Some object that such a significant decision should not be made with a Board of Education that is currently in transition.  If this concern resonates with you, you can read and sign this petition to postpone that vote until next month.

2. The Board of Education is currently in transition and is dealing with an issue that was made public last month: our BoE has 8 voting members, while the charter only allows for 7.  This was discussed at the previous Board of Education meeting where a proposal to keep all 8 voting members was announced.  One of the newly-elected BoE members, Darnell Goldson, wrote this op-ed raising concerns about the proposal to allow 8 voting members and disregarding the charter's referendum that legally only allows for 7 members.  The vote on this decision will happen at next Monday's BoE meeting.

Both of these issues will have an impact on the leadership of the school district and Board of Education.  You can attend the Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 14, 2015 @ 5:30PM at John S. Martinez School (100 James Street).  

ESUMS Wins Samsung Solve-for-Tomorrow Competition and Sikorsky Helicopter 2050 Challenge

http://www.cbs8.com/story/30706753/samsung-awards-20000-in-technology-to-51-public-schools-across-the-us-to-support-stem-learning-through-projects-that-address-community-issues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQzVD5uz5Rg&app=desktop

Please Send in Toys for Holiday Toy Drive

Coffee And . . . Friday, December 4 at 8 am

Coffee And. . .  is back!  If you missed this week's PTO meeting or if you would like to join PTO officers and school administrators for a friendly conversation over coffee and bagels, please come to the conference room just behind the school office at 8 am on Friday morning.

This Looks Worthwhile

You are invited to attend:  Citywide Parents Present: Conversations with the Board of Education! Thursday, December 3, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM You are cordially invited to our upcoming meeting, Conversations with the Board of Education!  Ever wonder how policy is created in our district?  Curious about different practices that take place in our schools?  Wondering how you make your voice be heard?  Join us this Thursday, December 3rd, when parents/caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions to the leaders of our district, our Board of Education members, and learn more about how our district operates.

Help Wanted, Small Job -- Certified Electrician

I need to have a circuit breaker replaced, and I'd prefer to hire an ESUMS parent or alumni.  If anyone is (or knows) an electrician, please post contact info in the comments below.  Thanks!

What to Bring to Tonight's PTO Meeting - A Checklist

[ ]  Stop & Shop and ShopRite cards

[ ]  art supplies for the middle school  (art soap erasers, card stock hyper 8 1/2x11, bright colored card stock, marbled construction paper, colored pencils, Elmer's glue)

[ ]  working, used CD players for the 7th grade language arts classes

[ ]  BoxTops

[ ]  yourself, your creative energy . . . and maybe some cookies.  :)