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Family First Week

There are several opportunities for our families to connect with Curtin.  Start with Grandparent/Parent Lunches for Grades 5 & 6 on Tuesday. Grade 4 families are welcome to A.) Come back for another day or B.) Join us for the first time tomorrow!  Parent teacher conferences are slated for Wednesday and Thursday of this week...please join us.  Below are some scenes from today's family-focused fun.

THE APRIL PTO MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

The Book Fair Begins....Tomorrow.

With the Scholastic Book Fair in town, that can mean one thing...Grandparents Lunch!  If you can't make it on the dates listed below, please come at a time that is convenient for you and yours.
April 14th: Grandparents/Parents Lunch for Grade 4 (12:30)
April 15th: Grandparents/Parents Lunch for Grade 5 (11:30) and Grade 6 (12:00)

Service Above Self

While our country, and yours truly, has been immersed in the Cinderella stories of March Madness – in fact, it might be on in the background as I write, as if pulling my thoughts together at the monthly deadline wasn’t hard enough – two major league baseball players signed contract extensions totaling over $450 million. That’s right, just two.  Now don’t get me wrong, I understand these gentlemen are quite skilled at their craft and millions of us will spend our hard-earned money to see athletes such as them perform. However,  I can’t help but wonder which areas of our country could use that $450 million, or just a portion of it, and some may be more deserving than others.
This is where it gets personal.  About a month ago, I received a phone call that many of you may have experienced and most of us dread.  I heard from my wife that my parents were in an auto accident, with my 3-year-old son in the car.    She quickly informed me that Cortland was OK (actually, he was really excited to have the police, ambulance and fire crews with him) and my parents were OK, too; banged up, but in the BIG picture OK.
In the hours, and subsequent days that I spent in the hospital, I was reminded of the true heroes in our world; not the modern-day gladiators of the sports industry, but those who have dedicated their life to service: from the emergency responders, the trauma staff, the nurses (like my mother) and the doctors who provided genuine care not only to my family but to all who found themselves in the hospital. While their purpose is beyond their paycheck, perhaps some of the $450 million could be sent their way.
Of course, this line of thought then extends to the servicewomen and servicemen who spend, or spent, months, even years, of their lives away from their families (like my father) so we can live freely with ours.  Those individuals, and the collective military branches consisting of each, are the real-life heroes, not the professional or amateur athletes who make the circus catch, or game-winning shots (that the kid from Kentucky just hit). While these individuals will not see a dime of the aforesaid salaries, I am proud AGC takes a moment each day to pledge our allegiance to them, even if it is only a small token.
Finally, as we are in the midst of the PSSA’s marathon, I would be remiss if I did not mention my pride in the students and staff of Andrew G. Curtin. During our first week of testing, our students have put forth a tremendous effort to do their best (which is all we can ask). Our staff, meaning EVERYONE, has stepped up to serve our children and create an environment in which EACH child is valued as our own.  The testing will cease in a few weeks, but our commitment to the spirit of service will exist for decades, which is why it is enshrined on our auditorium wall.   Our performance on high-stakes testing may one day impact our compensation; one cannot put a price tag on the payback from seeing our students believe they can do or be anything. Onward AGC!
To those who serve, and your families,  I simply would like to say thank you on behalf of the Andrew G. Curtin Community. You may never receive the home-run salary, but your impact on our society is nothing less than a grand slam.
With gratitude,
Mr. Michaels

Put Us On Repeat

It's Happening at Hoss's...Today!

Dear Friend of Curtin Intermediate School:
We are excited to team up with Hoss's Steak and Sea House to raise money for a very worthy cause. Please consider visiting the Hoss's location(s) listed below on 3/25/2014 to aid us in raising money to benefit Curtin Intermediate School.
Print this email and present it on 3/25/2014 at Hoss's in Williamsport, PA Williamsport
Hoss's will then donate 20%* or 25%** of your total check paid to Curtin Intermediate School
*To qualify for the 20% payout, our group must have a minimum of $300.00 in total pre-tax food and beverage sales.
**To qualify for the 25% payout, our group must have a minimum of $1,200.00 in total pre-tax food and beverage sales.
This applies to a one-day, single location, pre-scheduled event. The purchase of gift cards is not included as part of your organization’s community fundraising totals.
DISTRIBUTING INVITATIONS ON HOSS’S PROPERTY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND WILL DISQUALIFY OUR ORGANIZATION! Thank you for your cooperation!
Group #22493
Please print and present this post when ordering.

Hey, Curtin Community...

Let's Go

Here is a video to get us in the right "place" for this month's PSSA's!  Click HERE to view it.

HAPPY TO HEAD TO HOSS'S (AGAIN)

Dear Friend of Curtin Intermediate School:
We are excited to team up with Hoss's Steak and Sea House to raise money for a very worthy cause. Please consider visiting the Hoss's location(s) listed below on 3/25/2014 to aid us in raising money to benefit Curtin Intermediate School.
Print this email and present it on 3/25/2014 at Hoss's in Williamsport, PA Williamsport
Hoss's will then donate 20%* or 25%** of your total check paid to Curtin Intermediate School
*To qualify for the 20% payout, our group must have a minimum of $300.00 in total pre-tax food and beverage sales.
**To qualify for the 25% payout, our group must have a minimum of $1,200.00 in total pre-tax food and beverage sales.
This applies to a one-day, single location, pre-scheduled event. The purchase of gift cards is not included as part of your organization’s community fundraising totals.
DISTRIBUTING INVITATIONS ON HOSS’S PROPERTY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND WILL DISQUALIFY OUR ORGANIZATION! Thank you for your cooperation!
Group #22493
Please print and present this post when ordering.

BEHOLD THE POWER OF PI

Our students are getting ready for PI day on Friday, March 14th (3.14). Students are asked to wear a t-shirt with numbers or pictures of a food or brand.

Hey Ladies...You Think You've Got Game?

Don't miss your chance to sign up for the upcoming girl's basketball program!

Read Across America Recap

Our Read Across America week is over but our spirit will live on. Proud to be AGC!

OH, THE PLACES WE WILL GO

Tomorrow, Andrew G. Curtin Intermediate students are asked to wear clothing denoting a place they have been, or may go.

LET'S GET WILD

Tomorrow is animal print, picture or just plain wild day in honor of "If I Ran the Zoo!"

Today is Stripe Day @ AGC!

Perspective From the Bench

I recently wrapped up a gig as the coach of my son Cameron’s third-/fourth-grade basketball
team. Our season ended with our team losing both games of a doubleheader against two separate opponents. As much as the “High School Harry” (uber-competitive) side of me wanted to send my players out on top by stacking my lineup, I believed the lessons on individual growth and development we shared at the end of the games were greater than the thrill of a single team victory. It might just take our players 20 years to realize it.
After stewing over my lineup decisions for a few minutes (perhaps hours . . . I told you I am competitive), I began to equate my gaming experience to the forthcoming PSSA’s. As head coach of the Andrew G. Curtin Intermediate team, I have continually emphasized the importance of a strong showing on the impending state assessment tests. Perhaps it also can be considered our own version of March Madness. While our preparatory efforts have been nothing less than Herculean, we still have a great deal of work to do before and after the testing windows. As a building, we are
ready. Now we will ask you and your child to play your parts this month and beyond.
Much like the child (and/or the parent), who wonders and complains about not getting the ball, not getting playing time, nor remembering how to execute the plays, I want to remind you it is imperative that our children to do their part by working hard in and out of the classroom each day. If learning stops as our students exit the building, we are failing as a community in our call to develop life-long learners. Our coaching staff has worked tirelessly to put forth a tremendous game plan, but without our students studying and executing it, our performance will be lackluster. As a parent, and contrib- uting member of the Curtin theme, we remind you if you have questions about your child’s perform- ance or our expectations, please call a time out and set up a meeting with his/her teacher. Also, feel free to join our community on Monday, March 10th as we explore the PSSA’s in what we are calling, the “Battle of the Ages.”
In closing, what we do each day at AGC is not teaching to a test, it is coaching our students to be suc- cessful in the game of life while also keeping in mind that you win some, and you lose some. Now, if I could just remember this.
Game on,
Mr. Michaels
PS: Please be sure to peruse the rest of this month’s newsletter for more pre-game strategies.

Tomorrow is Green Day @ AGC.

“READ ACROSS CURTIN”: LET’S SWAP A GOOD STORY!

WHAT:  Book Swap
WHEN:  Friday, March 7th
WHY: You may have books at home that you no longer read or want.  The book swap gives you the opportunity to trade books so you have new books to read.
HOW: Please bring to school up to 3 “gently used” age-appropriate books (no rips, tears, marks or toddler books please). You may bring your books on Wednesday, March 5th and/or Thursday, March 6th (give them to your teacher).  On Friday, March 8th, you will select “new” books to take home. Happy Hunting!

CURTIN WILL CELEBRATE “READ ACROSS AMERICA” WEEK

Dear Parents/Guardians,
During the week of Monday, March 3rd – Friday, March 7th, students at Andrew G. Curtin will celebrate Read Across America week. This week is designed to encourage and celebrate reading while also honoring the March 2nd birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel or Dr. Seuss. Curtin is planning a weeklong celebration of Dr. Seuss’s books, beginning on Monday, March 3rd. 
Let’s show some “Seuss Spirit”!!
Thank you for your support,
The Curtin Staff
MONDAY: GREEN DAY – Green Eggs and Ham. Wear as much green as you can.
TUESDAY: STRIPE DAY – Wear as many stripes as you can.
WEDNESDAY: ZOO DAY – If I Ran the Zoo. Dress wild! Wear animal prints, clothing with an animal on it, or mismatched clothing.
THURSDAY: T-SHIRT/SWEATSHIRT DAY – Oh, The Places You’ll Go. Wear t-shirts or sweatshirts with a place to visit on them.
FRIDAY: RED, WHITE, and BLACK DAY – The Cat in the Hat. Wear red, white, and/or black.