Items #1-39 on a previous webpage.

40.      Developmental Resources is presenting a workshop titled "Bullying: Mean Girls" with Kaye Randall and Allyson Bowen in Boston on January 7, 2009.  For more information call 1-800-251-6805 or email dr@sc.rr.com.

41.      The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Cross-Country Team finished it season with two meets.  The first meet was held at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus on October 17, 2008, and the grand finale was a meet in Gloucester on October 23, 2008.  Mrs. McLaughlin, Cross Country Coach and Team 8B science teacher, has organized an awards ceremony that will be held the evening of November 19, 2009 in the library.  Great job!

42.      Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School was the grateful recipient of Adobe Premiere Pro editing software package, a value of $800, thanks to the Adobe Gifts in Kind Software Donation Program.  The software arrived on September 19, 2008, and will be used in the new MVMMS Broadcasting Studio.  Two cameras and three ceiling lights were recently added to the broadcast studio.  For more information, visit www.adobeprograms.giftinkind.org or stop by the new MVMMS Broadcast Studio.

43.      There was a press conference titled "Energy Initiatives in Melrose" in the main lobby of Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School on October 31, 2008.  Shannon L., 8C, Sarah R., 8C, and Katelyn P., 8C sang "Here comes the Sun" and "You are My Sunshine" as Principal Brow displayed a slideshow of the 170 solar panels that are on the roof of MVMMS.  Mayor Dolan delivered an informative address on local energy initiatives.  Denise Gaffey, Office of Planning and Community Development; David Shakespeare, Melrose Energy Commission; Jack Welch, Melrose Energy Commission; Greg Aloi, Project Manager for Memorial Hall Improvements; and Bob Beshara, Melrose Department of Public Works informed the sixth grade science students of the latest local energy developments.  A special thank you to all the guests!

44.      Staff Development Resources (SDR) is presenting workshops titled "Autism and Asperger Syndrome," with Elisa Gagnon in Dedham on December 11, 2008; "Turn Your Students Into Real Readers," with Lucy Calkins in Providence, Rhode Island on December 5, 2008; and "Boost Math Performance with Singapore Math," with Tricia Salerno in Woburn on February 9, 2009.  For more information visit www.SDResources.org.

45.      Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students visited America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire.  Students on Team 7C visited the site on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.  Students on Team 7B visited the site on Friday, November 7, 2008.  The world history students saw ancient walls, ceremonial chambers, and meeting places built over 4,000 years ago.

46.      Renaissance Learning has offered Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School a FREE six-minute DVD titled "The Power of Personalized Math Practice."  If you are interested, call 1-800-338-4202.  The reference number is #13780.

47.      Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School sixth grade chorus students traveled to the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly to see "42nd Street" on Thursday, November 6, 2008.  A summary of the show is as follows:  Set in 1933, "42^nd Street" captures the spirit of anyone who has ever pursued a dream.  This Tony Award winning musical tells the fairytale story of an aspiring chorus girl and her journey to find love and success on the Great White Way.  "42nd Street" will transport you back to the glamour, spectacle and fashion of the 1930's.  A special thank you to Ms. Corkum, MVMMS chorus teacher!

48.      During the first quarter of the 2008-2009 school year, 1,359 library books were circulated to students from the MVMMS Victoria McLaughlin Library collection.  Over 2,300 student visits during school and after school were recorded at the library in the first quarter. The Library supported on average 45 classes per week.  All sixth-grade students completed a library orientation and training program.  The training program included information on how to access the Online Patron Access Catalog (OPAC), organization of the library, and using the library website to access databases. The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Victoria McLaughlin Library will host a Scholastic Book Fair on December 2-5, 2008, and similar plans are underway for the spring.  A special thank you to Mrs. Arnold!

49.  The Stoneham Theatre has announced its ninth season of student matinees that include: "It's A Wonderful Life," December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 2008; "A Year with A Frog and Toad," March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, 2009; and "Picnic," April 9, 2009.  Student tickets are $12.00.  The Stoneham Theater Company will bring a small cast of talented teenage actors to MVMMS for an abbreviated production of a Shakespeare classic.  For more information call 781-279-7885, ext. 105.

50.   Ms. Dawn Passarrella-Brandao, MVMMS Italian teacher, recently completed a 16-hour Professional Development Workshop for Teachers of Italian sponsored by the Italian Consulate General and Harvard University entitled "Working Toward Goals of Advanced Placement:  Curriculum, Methodology and Visibility". This intensive professional development for K-12 teachers was aimed at developing a new curriculum that embraces teaching possibilities offered by resources found in and beyond the classroom.  This new curriculum bears in mind a vertical progression toward Advanced Placement proficiency in Italian Language and Culture, as modeled in "best practices" courses.  Great job!

51.  The Association of Teachers of Mathematics is sponsoring a math conference and dinner at Boston College on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.  The topic of the conference is "Algebra."  For more information visit http://members.aceweb.com/bowdish/atmim.

52.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School eighth grade students saw "My Heart in a Suitcase"on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Berklee Theatre in Boston.  The play showed what happened in Germany and in other occupied nations prior to and during World War II and how a heroine survived thanks to her own courage and the generosity of others.  The students seemed to enjoy their excursion to the theatre.

53.  Please inform Principal Brow of team events, student accomplishments, meetings, activities, curriculum ideas, and other exciting things that are happening at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Submit your ideas in writing for consideration.  The Summary is an effective way for us to communicate and share ideas. 

                 Posted by Principal Brow - 11/19/08