The period after the December break is always a time of high activity in the schools.  What follows is a list of events and activities which might be of interest to all residents, business owners and others across the city:

1. The Food Services Department is starting a Student Advisory Board this February!  The purpose of this group is to give students the opportunity to voice their thoughts about school meals.  Students will meet with the Food Service Director and Nutrition Outreach Coordinator on a monthly basis for the rest of the school year.  Dates and times TBD.  Student input will be used to improve food choices at both breakfast and lunch.  All interested students should contact Charlotte Stephenson, Nutrition Outreach Coordinator, at (617) 625-6600 x6095 or cstephenson(at)k12.somerville.ma.us.

2. “How is equality promoted in our schools and our classrooms?” is the question posed to students in Grade 5-8 from across the city on the new We the People” blog created by librarians in the Somerville Public Schools as part of the month-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  With support from the “We the People” program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, librarians have teamed up the Somerville Human Rights Commission to engage students in reflective activities and discussions about the meaning of equality.  See the walking peace museum depicting students’ vision of peace will be created by East Somerville Community School students and other examples of these efforts at the city-wide celebration of Dr. King on Monday, January 19^thbeginning at 10:00 at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue).

3.  Do you know a high school student who needs a boost to meet the MCAS portion of their high school graduation requirements?  Free, individualized tutoring in all three MCAS subjects is available at SHS to students in Grades 9-12  every Saturday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.  MCAS Saturday School, managed by a team of caring teachers from Somerville High School, is partially responsible for Somerville’s extraordinarily high MCAS competency determination rate.  Students simply need to show up to receive free tutoring, or talk to their Guidance Counselor at SHS or their Teacher-Counselor at Full Circle.  Funds to pay for free MCAS tutoring are provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Consider attending any of these events for a quick photo opportunity or to interview students and families about education-related issues.  For a complete list of events in Somerville schools or across the District, please visit our online calendar.

· Registration for the Winter 2009 session of the Somerville Adult Evening School takes place from 6:00-8:00 PM on January 6^th, 8^th, 13^th and 15^th at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue).  A complete list of courses is online at www.somerville.k12.ma.us.  Click on “Adult Learning” and then “Adult Evening School.”

· January 24, 2009 launches the start of Kindergarten registration for the 2009-2010 school year.  Registration packets will be mailed home to every family with a child who will be 5 by August 31st and who was born in Somerville.  Registration packets may also be obtained by visiting or calling the Parent Information Center (42 Prescott Street and 617-625-6600 x6960).  Welcome videos for each elementary school are available on the district website (www.somerville.k12.ma.us – click on “Our Schools” and then on any school) and open houses will be hosted at every school from January 21-23.  Look for more details on the Kindergarten registration process in mid January.

· Somerville’s College Goal Sunday is Sunday, January 25^th from 2:00-4:00 PM at Somerville High School.  Volunteers organized by Somerville High School, the Community Action Agency of Somerville and other partners will help families complete the FAFSA, the financial aid paperwork used by colleges and universities to determine eligibility for college financial aid.  This is a FREE event.  If you plan to attend college in the Fall, come to College Goal Sunday to get help with your FAFSA.

· Bye Bye Birdie, the story of the fictional 1950’s pop star Conrad Birdie, is the musical production being mounted by Somerville High School the weekend of February 6-8.  Visit the calendar on the home page of our website for details on show times or contact Producer Rosemary Sears at rsears(at)somerville.mec.edu.