1. education
2. school

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Principal’s Message
The last trimester of the 2009/2010 school year
will begin on March 1st. Many times students
believe this is the time of the school year when
they can slack off or take a vacation from
homework. Please help us to make sure that your
student stays on track. You can help by checking
homework assignments every night. Make sure to
actually look at the assignments. Don’t just ask,
“Do you have homework?” Make sure your child
stays on a routine and gets plenty of rest. If your
child is in 4th through 8th grades, please check our
computerized ABI system to make sure your child
is doing her homework and to find out her current
grades.
Congratulations and Good Luck!
Congratulations and good luck to the McSwain
School finalists who qualified to participate in the
Merced County Speech Festival. 6th grade finalists
are Amanda Skidmore, Andrew Skidmore, and
Bailey McParland. Alexandra Dietz, Kaity
Meyers, and Ysmeene Borruel are the 7th grade
finalists. Representing 8th grade will be Josh
Kelley, Catrina Wilson, and Regan Murphy. We
look forward to reporting your successes.
Open House Dates
This year we will divide up the open house dates
to give families more time to visit classrooms.
Kindergarten and first grade will hold open house
on Thursday, April 22nd from 6:00 – 7:00. 2nd
through 5th grade open house will be on
Thursday, May 13th from 6:00 – 7:00.
Thursday, May 6th will be the open house for 6th
– 8th grade from 6:00 – 7:00. Please mark your
calendars and plan to attend.
Report Card Night and Parent
Conferences
Please note the date change: REPORT CARD
NIGHT will now be on TUES. MARCH 9TH.
Parent conferences for Kindergarten through 5th
grade will be held on March 9th and 10th.
Teachers will not be meeting with all families. If
you do not receive a conference request letter and
would like a conference with your child’s teacher,
please call or e-mail the teacher. Report cards will
not be sent home with middle school students. A
parent must pick up the report card.
Save Mart Helps McSwain School
When you do your grocery shopping at Save Mart
and show your Shares card a donation equal to 3
% of your grocery bill is made to McSwain
School. This costs you nothing. What a great way
to help support your school. If you do not have a
Shares card stop by the school office and pick one
up. The Shares card is free.
Thank You United Way
United Way made a $100.00 contribution to
McSwain School for having 10 families
participate in the Community Bike Ride.
McSwain School was the only school who
qualified for the donation.
Thank You!
Generosity seems to be a part of the McSwain
Community culture. Thanks to Joe Stefani, Buffy
and Darin McDaniel, and Jeff and Sonja Denham
all of our “A” boys basketball players received
sports bags. The sports bags were put to good use
throughout the season. Thank you for supporting
our team.
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Interested in Scouting?
Once upon a time McSwain packs and troops
were known to be one of the largest in their
council. Once again we would like to see more
children experience great scouting activities. If
you and your child are interested in joining Scouts
you need to plan on attending the informational
meeting on Wednesday, March 3rd in the East
Campus cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. A representative
from the Modesto Scouting office, Mr. Andon
Barajas, will be on hand to provide you with
valuable information and answer questions.
Principal Thanks Outdoor Education
Camp Teachers and Volunteers
All of the McSwain 5th graders attended classes at
Camp Calvin Crest in February. Every time I am
able to attend camp with our 5th graders my
appreciation for the experience grows. The
learning and social experiences our students go
through while at camp are outstanding. The
classes that were taught included: Orienteering
(correct use of a compass), Initiatives (team
building), Rock My World Hike (geology) and
Miwok Village Hike. Our teachers need to be
applauded for giving up a week of their time with
their families to provide these experiences for our
students. Thank you Mrs. McCollum, Mrs.
Lanum, Mr. Helms, and Mr. Self. A huge gesture
of appreciation goes out to Darin and Buffy
McDaniel for transporting high school counselors
to camp. Thank you. Last but not least, thank you
parents and McSwain Community for continuing
to provide this wonderful opportunity for the 5th
graders.
Music to Your Ears
If you have visited McSwain’s East Campus and
walked past the music room 5th or 6th periods you
might have thought you were on a high school
campus. The music coming from the McSwain
band students is awesome. Our students are really
becoming great musicians. It all begins on West
Campus with our 3rd graders learning the
recorders, which inspires them to enter band in 4th
grade. Yes, we certainly are fortunate to have
music in our school. If you would like to see
music continue then come out and support the
McSwain Friends and Neighbors Golf
Tournament. We need your help with the golf
tournament in order to raise the funds to keep
music programs going at McSwain School.
Please plan on attending the informational
meeting on Thursday, March 18th at 6:00 p.m. in
the East Campus music room. The proceeds from
the golf tournament support the music program by
funding equipment, music, transportation, and
supplies.
McSwain School without Sports?
McSwain Friends and Neighbors
Golf Tournament – Friday, June 11,
2010
Have you ever thought about what life would be
like at McSwain School without sports activities?
It is difficult to imagine what our students would
do with the void it would leave in their lives. No
soccer, no volleyball, no fall cross-country, no
basketball, no softball, no baseball, no track –
let’s hope we never see the day these activities go
away.
How can we ensure we have sports of all kinds
next year? There is one major way to help assure
our students have sports: participate in the
upcoming McSwain Friends and Neighbors Golf
Tournament. Don’t play golf? Not a problem;
there are many ways to help out. The golf
tournament will need hole sponsors, corporate
sponsors, raffle prizes, food donations, tee bag
donations, and volunteers. Most of all we need
you to attend the March 18th 6:00 p.m. meeting
in the East Campus music room. Help keep
sports alive at McSwain School by getting
involved and supporting this event. Proceeds from
the golf tournament provide funds for sports
uniforms, sports transportation, sports officials,
music instruments, music scores, and music
activities.
BINGO Comes to McSwain
The McSwain Community Club is going to
sponsor Family Bingo Night at McSwain. What a
great way to teach your children how to play
games! Mark your calendars and plan to bring the
whole family to the first Family BINGO Night on
April 23rd. You will enjoy visiting with other
McSwain families and your children will enjoy
playing games with friends and winning prizes.
Watch for more to come regarding April 23rd
BINGO Night.
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Smile!
Picture day is coming on March 15, 2010.
Please mark your calendar as the dates have
changed.
Movie Night Attendees Must Be with an
Adult
We love to have our students attend movie night
but they must be accompanied by an adult.
Students will be turned away at the door if they do
not have an adult accompanying them for
supervision. Please don’t put the volunteers in the
position of having to turn your child away
because there is no adult with him/her. Students,
including those in middle school, must be
accompanied by an adult.
Movie night is a great family night of
entertainment. There is no charge for this family
event. This is a great way to meet the families of
your child’s classmates. Please plan to attend with
your child on March 26th at 6:00 in the McSwain
East campus cafeteria.
Thank you Dr. Chad Rowan
Dr. Chad Rowan is a new Merced orthodontist
who is also a McSwain parent. He offered to
provide dental health lessons for several of our
McSwain classes in February. Our students
learned about dental hygiene and information
about the education and duties of an orthodontist.
The students were provided with toothbrushes.
Thank you Dr. Chad Rowan and welcome to our
McSwain Community.
Construction Update!
Our new buildings have arrived and are set in
place. The crews are busy completing the inside
finish work, electrical, and outside stucco and
trim. It is very exciting to see our new science
labs, library, and computer lab progress. We do
ask that you avoid driving and parking in the gym
area. Each day that area is filled with construction
trucks and equipment. Hopefully, we will have the
rooms completed in time for our May open house
dates.
Cafeteria News
Please remember to keep your child’s account
current.
Kindergarten Round-UP
If you have a child or know of a child who will
turn 5 years old by Dec. 2, 2010 then sign them up
for Kindergarten Round-up. It is very important
that we have everyone who may be attending
McSwain kindergarten next year go through
round-up. Round-up is only open to families who
reside in the McSwain School District boundaries.
We will be asking for proof of residency when
you schedule a round-up appointment. To
schedule an appointment, please call 354-2718 or
354-2700. Round-Up is by appointment only.
Your child must be 5 by Dec. 2, 2010 to register
for kindergarten.
Stop by and Welcome McSwain’s
New Health Technicians
McSwain students are fortunate to have two new
health technicians on site. If you need to discuss
your child’s health, medications, or injuries with
school personnel you will find yourself speaking
with Michael Patterson or Brenda Cervantes.
They both bring a wealth of education and
experience with them to help serve our students.
Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself
and welcome our new McSwain staff members.
Book Donations
Oftentimes we get asked about book donations.
Certainly, the economic times have drastically
reduced our "book buying" budget and so we
welcome book donations!! Though we will
accept both paperback and hardback books in
good or "like-new" condition, we generally only
put hardback books in the library for circulation
(some exceptions for the most popular books).
However, we will find a good home (in a
classroom) for your paperback books, too! So, if
you are doing some spring cleaning and come
across books that you'd like to donate, please give
us a call so we can discuss your donation.
The Jacket Lady
Remember to label jackets and send
any outgrown coats to Room 3 where they are
gratefully passed along to those in need.
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Atwater Stingrays Sign-Ups
College for Kids
Merced College Community Services is now
offering expanded programs for kids and youth.
College for Kids Spring Break includes water
polo, children’s choir, tutoring, archeology,
movies in the theater, movie making, a field trip
to Chaffee Zoo, and a host of other classes and
activities. Enrollment is limited, so register today.
Call 384-6224 for more information.
Calendar for March
Mon. 3/1
Fri. 3/5
Mon. 3/8
Tue. 3/9
Wed. 3/10
Th. 3/11
Fri. 3/12
Mon.3 /15
Tue. 3/16
Wed. 3/17
Th.3/18
12:00-2:00 3rd Grade Mosquito
Abatement
3:00-5:00 4th& 5th Track Tryouts
7:00-8:45 Boy Scouts #82 Café
Elective/Tutorial Change
1:40-2:00 K-3 Incentive Assembly
2:30-2:50 4&5 Incentive Assembly
3:00-4:00 Girls BB Open Gym
(Gym)
4:00-5:00 Boys BB Open Gym
(Gym)
7:00-8:45 Boy Scouts #82 Café
3:00-6:00 S/B @ Weaver
7:00-10:00 Board Mtg.
K-5 Parent Conferences
Minimum Day K-5
K-3 out 1:30 & 4-5 out 12:30
Sign-ups for the Atwater Stingrays swim team
will be in front of Atwater Save Mart on Saturday,
March 6th and Saturday, March 20th from 10:00 to
12:00. Children between the ages of 4-17 are
welcome. Cost for the season, including meet
fees, is $170 for the first child, $110 for the
second child, and $100 for the third child. Please
bring your child’s birth certificate to sign-ups. For
more information, contact Robyn Brigham at 3583170.
Fri. 3/19
Mon. 3/22
Tue. 3/23
Wed. 3/24
Th.3 /25
Fri. 3/26
Mon. 3/29
5:00-7:30 MS Report Card Night
Tue. 3/30
Minimum Day K-8
K-3 out 1:30 & 4-8 out 12:30
Wed. 3/31
3:00-6:00 B/S vs. Planada
3:00-4:00 Girls BB Open Gym
(Gym)
Fri. 4/2
4:00-5:00 Boys BB Open Gym
(Gym)
5:30-7:30 Skate Night
8:15-2:45 Spring Pictures
7:00-8:45 Boy Scouts #82 Café
3:00-6:00 B/S @ OLM
6:00-7:00 4-H Club Meeting
3:00-6:00 B/S vs. Livingston
6:00 Friends & Neighbors Golf Tour. Mtg.
3:00-4:00 Girls BB Open Gym
(Gym)
4:00-5:00 Boys BB Open Gym
(Gym)
7:00-8:45 Boy Scouts #82 Café
6:00-7:00 Foundation Meeting
B/S @ LeGrand
DC Parent Meeting
3:00-6:00 B/S vs. Winton
7:00-8:00 DC Mandatory Parent
Mtg.
3:00-4:00 Girls BB Open Gym
(Gym)
4:00-5:00 Boys BB Open Gym
(Gym)
6:00-7:00 CC Meeting
7:00-8:45 Boy Scouts #82 Café
Elective /Tutorial Change
MS Progress Reports Out
8:00-3:00 Kindergarten Round-Up
3:00-6:00 B/S @ Mariposa
8:00-3:00 Kindergarten Round-Up
Signed MS Progress Reports Due
Father of the Year Contest Deadline
3:00-4:00 Girls BB Open Gym
(Gym)
4:00-5:00 Boys BB Open Gym
(Gym)
Spring Break Begins
Have a good spring break. School resumes Monday, April 12.
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January and February Incentive Awards
January
Responsibility
Teacher
Havel
Fluetsch
Garcia
Scott
Avelar
Ramsey
Lopez
Van Horn
Cassady
Smoot
Sutton
Trindade
Adams
Ethan Slate
Elliot Mendez
Brown
Sprinkle
Patrick
Palumbo
Abrams
Anderson
Helms
Olivia Nemmers
Madelyn Freitas
Samantha
Theodozio
Spencer Fluetsch
Charlotte Viney
Hailee Guinn
Garett Groth
February
Friendship
Frank Bettis
Sarah Barragan
Danny Murphy
Emma Garcia
Daniel Casso
Chloe Silva
Tanner Thomas
Isabella Coronado
Nathanial Silva
Mason Reel
Erin Gonzalez
Teresa Villa
Tyler Havel
Isak Valencia
Manuel Avina
Cody Batchelor
Christopher Johnson
Rhea Patel
Victor Ochoa
Dakota Leach
Angelica Uvalle
Katelynn Marcos
Shyla Leonardo
Raul GomezMendoza
Lindzie Skarke
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Case Frank
Lauren Delfin
Lauren Palumbo
Megan Phillips
Madison Kroeker
Matthew Luna
Megan Koehn
Tanner Banks
Kaelani Satterfield
Andrew Bertuccio
Teacher
Havel
Fluetsch
Garcia
Valerie Palafax
Talya Quirarte
Armaan Chima
Jonathan Derricott
Alberto Nava
Michaela Carey
Jenna Stout
Avelar
Ramsey
Lopez
Beau Usry
Angelica Coronado
Ycela Ochoa
Brisa Rodriguez
Jakob Campodonica
Tyler Fontes
Monica Medrano
Cassady
Lucas Suarez
Gracie Boone
Brandon Ralls
Trindade
Adams
Gabi Perez
Jaqueline Aguilar
Joshua Silva
Andrew Correia
Nasier Muldrow
Michaela Wisdom
Brown
Colby Hanning
Amiel Hicks
Thomas Little
Keegan
Patrick
Brookelyn Brigham
Joshua Salm
Palumbo
Abrams
Serena Moreno
Zachary Pisacco
Carolina Brasil
Adisson Ralls
Carlos Wimer
Meghan Van
Horn
Betzaira QuintanaAldarete
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