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Page 1 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
How Do You Get to School?
2
“Jeans & Jewels”
3
5th Grade Committee’s Report
4-5
Destination Imagination
5
Meet Hastings New Staff
6-8
4th Annual Market Place
9
Letter from Beautification Committee
10
Kids Cooking Green
11,12
Fun with Family Friends
11
Go Global – Destination: Asia!
By Jane Hundley
Students at
Hastings and all
LPS elementary
schools explored
Asia in a big way
this autumn with
National
Geographic’s giant
map. The map,
measuring 26 feet
by 33 feet and
weighing 101
pounds, is designed as a geo-game board to
introduce students to the power of maps
and the diverse geography of Asia. The
map offers students wide and varied
explorations across the continent, which
encompasses almost thirty percent of the
Earth’s total land mass! Students can brave
Arctic tundra, walk the Gobi Desert, and
visit the highest and lowest places on Earth,
and explore
Asia’s 47
countries.
The
Hastings
PTA
provided
$340 for the
map rental
and its trunk
of
instructional
accessories. The trunk contains
interactive activities, games, props,
and books that teach students about
the physical characteristics of the
continent as well as its rich history
and varied cultures. Each Hastings
class experienced a lesson on the
map during the school day.
(Continue on Page 9)
2nd Annual Hastings Harvest 5K Run/Walk By Ayla Kavanagh
Wow! The Hastings Harvest Run took
place on Sunday, October 2nd. The
weather
forecast called
for rain, but
the sun peeked
through the
clouds. Over
400 people
registered to
participate in
either the 5K
or the 1.5 mile
run/walk.
It was incredible to see runners
and walkers, ranging in age from 5
to 70+, crossing the finish line.
There was an extreme sense of
success and community.
After completing their race,
runners enjoyed the music of 120
Minutes (Jay Burkholder’s band),
games with Katie Boudreau, and
food and drinks donated from
many of our generous vendors ,
including Blue Fin (The Minemoto
Family ), Whiskeys (The Kavanagh
Family), Upper Crust, Meat Market,
Dasani (Brigid McGovern) to
name a few.
(Continue on Page 12)
Fall 2011
Inside this issue:
Maria Hastings Elementary
The Hastings STAR
Page 2 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
“The village called Hastings
where we choose to raise our children is enriched every
time we greet our neighbors,
walk together, or sit with our schoolmates on the bus.”
How Do You Get to School? By Bettina McGimsey
Walking, biking, carpooling, and
taking the bus - Hastings celebrates
all modes of active and communal
transport as part of our Safe Routes
to School program. Moving on our
way to school lets us:
• Get well, stay well. When we
walk, bike, or scooter to school with
our kids, we model an easy way to
get in the 60 minutes of daily exercise
recommended by the Centers
for Disease Control. Walk for
20 minutes on the way to
school, and you are already 1/3
of the way there before the first
whistle is blown. Moving on
our way to school isn’t just for
Walking Wednesdays, but
everyday - rain or shine!
• Put the “safe” in Safe
Routes to School. Using
sidewalks and crosswalks,
walking against oncoming
traffic where
there are no
sidewalks,
and looking
both ways
before
crossing are
all critical
safety skills
that kids
learn as they
walk with
their parents to school. Likewise,
when we bike as a family, we model
the skills our children need to grow
into safety-conscious, independent
bicyclists.
Safe Routes to School actively
supports Hastings parents in these
efforts. Through the second grade
pedestrian safety program, we
provide hands-on tips and tools for
staying safe while walking. Then we
put these guidelines into practice: as
the 3rd graders walk to Fiske Hill for
Big Backyard, as the 4th graders hike
to the Old Res to study tadpoles, and
as the 5th graders make their way to
the Town Pool for their year-end
party. (We hope to implement a bike
safety program for 4th and 5th
graders in the Spring of 2012.)
Hastings bus riders take the
safest form of transport for school
children, according to the US
Department of Transportation. We
are working to make the bus a
more attractive option for Hastings
families. More on that to come in
the future!
• Go green, be green. Walking,
biking, riding the bus, or sharing a
ride all help to decrease the number
of cars we have on the road or sitting
in line at school pick-up and drop-off
times. Fewer cars equals fewer
emissions - protecting the air that we
breathe.
• Check out our new crosswalks
and sidewalks. For our children to
be safe as they move on their way to
school, they need sidewalks,
crosswalks, traffic signs, etc. Safe
Routes has been a key player in
improving infrastructure in the
Hastings area, including the sidewalk
at Roosevelt Road and the crosswalk
at Ross and Paul Revere Roads.
• Support and strengthen
community ties. The more
we are out and about on our
streets, the more we travel
together on the bus or in a
carpool, the more we get to
know each other, the stronger
and more vibrant our
community becomes. The
village called Hastings where
we choose to raise our
children is enriched every
time we greet our neighbors, walk
together, or sit with our schoolmates
on the bus.
Hear more! Get involved! Contact
Bettina McGimsey at
Let’s get moving on our way to
school!
Page 3 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
“Jeans & Jewels” - A Hastings FUNdraiser! By Ann Marie Whalen
Escape the COLD and join us for the HOTTEST night of the year! The PTA is excited to announce:
2012 Hastings FUNdraiser! Saturday, January 28th at 7:00pm
The Heritage Hall (Knights of Columbus) 177 Bedford Street, Lexington
This event is held only every two
years and is the major source of
funding the PTA’s budget for the
2012 through 2014 school years.
It is a wonderful opportunity to
socialize and mingle among new and
old friends alike. The night will be
filled with delicious hors d'oeuvres
& desserts as well as a cash bar.
There will be a fantastic Silent
Auction that will include an
impressive array of unique items and
experiences, as well as some
donations from fellow-parents and
teachers! You might just get to bid on
having your neighbor wash your car
or a weekend stay in Martha’s
Vineyard! For those who enjoy hitting
the dance floor, we’ll have terrific
music from the Improper Bostonian’s
Best DJ of 2011, ‘DJ Die Young’!
Rumor has it, that the play list will be
filled with many of the tunes we all
remember from the 80’s!
Some may be wondering what
exactly does ‘Jeans & Jewels’ mean?
This is simply a fun way of describing
the theme and ‘dress code’. Come in
your ‘Elevated Casual’ attire: dress up
your casual clothes or play down your
dressy duds. All accessories,
especially those of the faux jewel
variety, are appropriate. The ‘fauxer’
the better! Have fun with it, but don’t
put pressure on yourself. The night’s
emphasis is on having fun with friends!
In addition to having a great time,
we’ll also be raising much needed
funds for our school. The Hastings
PTA has been providing resources to
enhance the educational experience for
all of our children for many years. The
funds are distributed through teacher
grants, investments in technology and
other enrichment programs. The PTA
relies on the support of our entire
community to meet the annual needs
of its budget. Your participation in this
event will have an immediate impact
on the children’s educational
experience.
Please join us for an important
evening that will truly make a
difference in our children’s
education and foster the amazing
community spirit we have at
Hastings!
Tickets are $25.00 per person and
can be purchased online at
www.hastingsptaevents.com, or by
contacting either Betty Gau
([email protected]) or Dawna
Cellucci ([email protected]).
Ann Marie Whalen and Lisa
Gelormini are co-chairing this
event and would be delighted to
welcome any volunteers who want
to contribute to making the night a
great success. Please contact them
at [email protected] or
Stay tuned for more information
on the event and updates on
exciting auction opportunities!
In this issue: Photos are courtesy of Kristine Arena, Becky Barrentine, Sharon Caouette, Kate Danielson, Lin Jensen, Lisa Mazerall,
Robyn Piasecki, Kids Cooking Green, and most photos of new staff are self-provided. Thanks to Tina Weber and Lin Jensen for
graphic design, Helen Shaw and Lin Jensen for editing this issue.
Page 4 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Quick Rundown
(All numbers are estimates.)
Fund-raisers Funded Activities
1. Halloween Party, $3,000.
2. Used Book Sale, $1,500.
3. Conference babysitting, $600.
1. Bus transportation for Alton Jones, $3,000.
2. Pool Party, $1,000. 3. Ceremony $300. 4. Yearbook, part of
the $2,000. 5. Class photo, $100. 6. Class gift – any
excess fund.
5th Grade Committee’s Progress Report By Mary Fanucci and Lisa Clough
Fifth grade at Hastings is filled
with lots of exciting and memorable
activities. The kids are finally the
oldest in the school and ready to
head off to middle school next year –
hard to believe! Several fundraising
events are planned to help cover the
costs of the celebration. The kids
(and their parents) work hard and
play hard. Here’s a look at what the
5th graders will be busy doing this
year, besides school work, of course.
FUND-RAISERS
The following three events fund
the activities for the rest of the year.
They are time-honored traditions at
Hastings. The fifth grade students
and their parents work hard to raise
approximately $5,000 in total to use
for the festivities and class gift to
Hastings.
1. Halloween Party: The
Halloween Party is always ‚hosted‛
by the 5th graders, and open for all
to attend. This is the largest
fundraiser of the year for the 5th
grade class. Activities at the party
include storytelling, Frankenstein’s
Laboratory, a haunted maze and lots
of games including the always-
popular Donut Race. There are also
goodies for you to enjoy including
pizza and baked goods. The Fifth
Grade students and parents work
shifts throughout the night to
support this event. This year’s party
on October 28 was a great success
and we all had a ghoulish good time!
2. Used Book Sale: The Used
Book Sale is another fundraiser
organized by the 5th grade class. It is
held during Fall conferences. Each
5th grade classroom has set a goal of
collecting 200 books. The students
then volunteer to work shifts during
the sale. This year, the Used Book
Sale was held on November 2, 3, and
4 and we achieved our sales goal.
3. Conference Babysitting: Not
sure what to do with your kids
during your scheduled conference?
For a nominal fee, the 5th graders
provide babysitting in the Hastings
gym while you go to your
conference. 5th grade parents also
participate, so you can enjoy peace of
mind while your children have some
fun.
ACTIVITIES
Now that the 5th grade class has
raised their funds, how do they use
them? After reading the list of
activities, I think you’ll agree that it’s
money well-spent and definitely
earned!
1. Alton Jones: A trip to the Alton
Jones facility on the campus of the
University of Rhode Island is a
highlight of the year for the 5th
grade students. They spend two
days and one night learning about
nature, themselves and working
collaboratively. One of the most
memorable activities of the trip is the
Underground Railroad. Held in the
evening, the kids recreate what it
might have been like to be involved
in the 19th century network and help
fugitive slaves escape to freedom.
This trip helps create a cohesive
team culture for the kids and sets the
tone for the rest of the school year.
Transportation for the trip is covered
by funds raised through the above
fundraisers.
2. Pool Party: In June, to celebrate
the end of the year and their careers
at Hastings, the class throws a pool
party for themselves at the town
pool. The pool party is a blast! The
year is winding down and the 5th
graders have earned some fun! They
can swim, play basketball, tennis and
enjoy a party for the afternoon.
Teachers and chaperones escort the
kids on a walk to and from the pool.
Pizza or Chinese food is the usual
lunch choice. Let’s hope for a warm
day!
3. Moving on Ceremony: The
Moving On Ceremony is held for the
5th graders to recognize their time at
Maria Hastings, celebrate their
achievements, and wish them well as
they move on to middle school. This
graduation event is so special to the
kids and their parents. It includes a
fantastic slide show created by the
teachers with pictures of the students
from Kindergarten through Fifth
grade. There is a delicious graduation
cake and drinks afterwards. The
teachers, parents and students have a
chance to socialize and celebrate.
4. A yearbook is created by a
volunteer group of 5th grade parents.
Page 5 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
It is a labor of love as it involves a lot
of time and effort to do it well. The
yearbook is provided to the students
for a nominal cost and financial
assistance is available. The students
will have a memento to help them
remember the special years they
spent at Maria Hastings Elementary
School.
5. Class Photo: I find it hard
enough to get my family together for
a photo – how great for the kids to
have a picture of their whole 5th
grade class to help remember their
time at Maria Hastings! Parent
volunteers get each student to sign
the matt, and organize the
photography session. The photo is
beautifully framed and hung in the
stairwell along with photos from
previous years. Students are also
able to purchase a copy. It’s a
meaningful school tradition.
6. Class Gift: Tradition has
been that each year the 5th grade
class presents a gift to Maria
Hastings Elementary School. We
will continue with the tradition and
present something at the Moving on
Ceremony. Item is still TBD.
Gifts from previous years include
the bicycle rack in the front of the
school and the Big Back Yard
boardwalk out back, which were
funded by the excess fund from
previous 5th grade fundraisers but
installed or built by Boy Scout
volunteers and armies of volunteers
from our community.
Dropping in for Eggstra Creativity with Destination Imagination By Robyn Piasecki
‚Aw, it’s dead! That one’s gotta be
cracked,‛ a student predicted
gleefully. A team anxiously awaited
the judges’ verdict while they
carefully investigated the egg.
Beneath the newspaper, the nylon
stocking, and the paper cup - ‚It’s
good!‛ he announced to cheers.
In fact, at the Hastings Egg Drop on
October 19th, several eggs survived
their test flights from the top of a
ladder completely unscathed – and
even those that cracked sustained only
minor injuries. The cafeteria literally
buzzed all evening as nearly 60
Hastings students gathered to test
their engineering, teamwork, and
imaginative skills. 15 teams of 3 to 6
students each received a bag of
materials and fifteen minutes with
which to devise a way to protect their
eggs during the fall. Plastic bags
(almost all of which were used in the
final products!) contained yarn, paper
cups, newspaper, popsicle sticks,
coffee filters, mailing labels, and a
nylon stocking. Judges awarded
points for back stories, and, of course,
successful drops. Teams also had the
option of ‚purchasing‛ additional
materials like cotton balls in exchange
for points.
After time was up,
teams shared their
hilarious back stories
and then attempted
the drop. Names
ranged from
‚Humpty Dumpty‛ to
‚Sol Eggward‛. Some eggs hailed
from such faraway climes as Africa;
and, in the case of ‚Eggie 5,‛ who
survived a previous fall from the
Eiffel Tower, some eggs were quite
accomplished in their careers.
Hastings alumni Abe and Isaac
Benghiat helped judge the drops. In
the end, half of the teams’ eggs
survived the initial fall from the
ladder and three of those survived a
fall from the ceiling. Top points went
to the team of Shelby, Samiha, Emily,
Nikki, and future Hastings student
Max, since their egg ‚Mr. Soda Pop‛
survived both drops with no
deductions for bonus materials. We
think everyone who showed up is a
winner for their amazing effort and
sportsmanship.
The Egg Drop event was sponsored
by Lexington’s Destination
Imagination (DI) program, a
creativity competition for students in
all grades that encourages teams to
choose and solve one central problem
over the course of several weeks.
Solutions are presented at a late
winter regional competition at which
teams also complete a short ‚instant
challenge.‛ Problems range from
engineering (e.g. can you build a
bridge to sustain the maximum
amount of weight) to improvisation
on a researched topic (e.g. can you
create a three minute skit about
pandas using a cane and the stock
character of a wise man). All work is
completely student driven - in fact,
parent involvement is deemed
interference!
This is Lexington’s fourth year with
DI (a nationwide program). Our
town’s participation in creativity
competitions started right here at
Hastings, ten years ago, with
Odyssey of the Mind. Hastings has a
proud tradition of sponsoring these
teams, and judging by the creativity
and enthusiasm demonstrated at the
Egg Drop, we can easily understand
why.
Page 6 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Meet Hastings’ New Staff By Lin Jensen
You might have noticed a lot of
new faces at Hastings since school
started. Are you curious to know
them a bit more?
I interviewed many of our new
staff by email and asked where they
were last year, their educational /
professional background, an
interesting ‚out of school‛ fact about
them, and what they like to do for
fun. The following are the many
great stories I got!
Chris Bouchard, Head Custodian
I worked at
Estabrook
Elementary
School in
Lexington last
year. I earned
my B.S. in
Management
from Endicott College. I love
watching and playing sports, fishing,
and spending time with family and
friends.
Jennifer Cabelli-Lattimer, Second
Grade Teacher
I taught a first
and second
grade multiage
in Hopedale, MA
for the past 3
years. Before
that I taught
second grade
there.
I went to Boston University and
graduated with a B.S. in Elementary
Education. Later, I went to Simmons
College and graduated with a
Master's in Language and Literacy.
I try to get away during most
vacations. Last summer I spent two
weeks in Seattle and Victoria,
Canada. Two summers ago, I spent
two weeks in Germany and Belgium.
Three summers ago, I spent two
weeks in China. My next trip is to
Washington, D.C. for Veteran's Day
weekend.
Now that winter is approaching,
my favorite activity is to go to BU
Hockey games!
Sean Curran, 5th Grade Teacher
Last year I
taught a
6th/8thGrade
History in
Roxbury, MA
after moving to
the Boston area
from San
Diego,
California. I received my
education/history degree from Penn
State University and currently attend
Northeastern University for my
Masters in School Leadership and
Literacy.
An interesting tidbit about me is
that my parents thought that they
were having twins. Instead, they had
triplets...I was the surprise! I travelled
to Indonesia this summer and can't
wait to go back. I coach boys’ lacrosse
and enjoy running and BMX bike
riding.
Overall, I am excited for the year
ahead in Lexington!
Heather Daly,
2nd Grade
Teacher
I worked at
Bowman for the
last two years.
Last year I taught
and co-taught 5th
grade and was also a part time special
education teacher. The year before
that, I was a full time special
education teacher.
I received my Early Education
degree from University of Vermont
and my Masters in Special Education
from Wheelock College.
I backpacked around Australia for
four months in 2001. In my free time,
I enjoy being outside and spending
time with my family. I spend a lot of
time at my parents’ house on Cape
Cod during the summer. My favorite
place to read a book is on their sun
porch on a warm, sunny day. During
the winter, I like to ski and play ice
hockey.
Ashley Gauffin, Art Teacher
I have been in
the district for
four years. Last
year I taught
Visual Art at
Clarke and
traveled to Fiske
for one
kindergarten class. This year I am
teaching Art at Clarke and work at
Hastings on Thursdays as the
itinerant art teacher.
I earned professional status this
year in Lexington. I graduated from
Massachusetts College of Art and
Design in Boston.
In terms of "out of school" hobbies,
I have 5 fish tanks and enjoy keeping
rare and unusual fish. For fun, I
generally focus on watercolor
painting and attend craft fairs.
John Harney, Evaluation Team
Supervisor
I was the
Assistant
Principal /ETS for
the Bridge
Elementary
School in
Lexington last
year.
Page 7 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
I attended Wheelock College for
my BA and received my M.Ed. from
Boston College in educational
leadership. I have worked in special
education--in a variety of settings
and roles--for the last twenty years.
I enjoy playing racquetball and
cribbage and I am a Big Football
(Patriots) Fan.
Meredith Hayward, HASA
I graduated
from Westfield
State in 2010 with
a Bachelor’s degree
in Special
Education, for
students with
moderate
disabilities k-8. I
was a CARE assistant at Estabrook
Elementary School in Lexington last
year. I love spending time with
family and friends, especially if it
includes yummy food! I also love to
play volleyball and relax on the
beach.
Gabrielle Helfgott, HASA
Last year, I was
a grad student at
BU pursuing my
masters in
Education and just
finished my
studies in July this
year. I attended
Brandeis for my
undergraduate
degree where I majored in Art
History. In the past, I worked at an
elementary school in Boulder,
Colorado as a paraeducator.
I have dual citizenship with
Canada. I love being outside and
active; my favorite activities include
tennis, running, skiing and biking.
Kristen Kacamburas, Kindergarten
Teacher
Before
coming to
Hastings, I
worked in the
Wilmington
Public Schools.
I have worked
with children
of all ages
ranging from Kindergarten to 5th
grade. I was the coordinator of a
before and after school program in
Wilmington for 4 years before taking
over a Kindergarten teaching
position. Kindergarten is my absolute
passion and I love my job!
Despite my 5 ft stature, I love
playing in my woman’s basketball
league. I also supervise a
Kindersoccer and Kinderbasketball
program for a local recreation
department. In my free time, I enjoy
spending time with my friends and
family, hiking & watching mindless
TV.
Anne Knight, Assistant Principal /
Literacy Specialist
Last year I was
the Literacy
Specialist at
Peirce
Elementary
School in
Newton.
This is my
18th year of teaching. I have worked
as a classroom teacher, reading
teacher, and literacy coach. I think
reading is so important that I have
spent almost every summer either
teaching in or directing a summer
literacy program. My job at Hastings
is my first experience as an assistant
principal. I moved to Boston 13 years
ago to study Language and Literacy
at Harvard Graduate School of
Education, and I got my second
master's in educational leadership
from the Educator Leadership
Institute (ELI) last year.
I love to travel. I come from a very
large family and have relatives and
friends across the United States that I
love to visit. My husband and I also
enjoy camping, kayaking, and going
to the beach.
Lauren Liuzzo, HASA
I was working as a sub for LPS last
year, and
during the
spring
primarily
worked at
Hastings
covering
medical
leaves. I
have a BA
from Elon
University
in
Elementary
Education and am hoping to start on
my master’s degree in the fall. I am
an avid runner and train for
marathons. I am working on running
a race in every state.
Susan London, Music Teacher
I taught in the town of Brookline at
Lawrence
school last year.
I was a dual-
degree
undergraduate
student at the
University of
Pennsylvania,
with majors in music and business. I
studied music education at Teacher's
College, Columbia University.
I have three children, ages 9, 7 and
3. I love to cross county ski.
Page 8 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Racquel Mangie, HASA
For the past
three years, I was
at Fiske
Elementary
school as a
kindergarten
aide.
I graduated
from Western
New England College in 2008 with a
major in Psychology and a minor in
the Elementary Education program.
I spend some time babysitting
after school. I enjoy reading, and
spending time with family and
friends.
Tammy O'Connor, 1st Grade
Teacher
Last year I
taught first grade
in Arlington, MA.
I have my
bachelors degree in
Elementary
Education from
Stonehill College
and my Masters in Elementary
Education from Cambridge College.
I am getting married in December.
I love to be with my family and
friends.
Lee Rudolf, Reading Specialist
Last year I was
working in Newton
teaching fourth and
first grade.
I have a BA in
Psychology from
the University of
New Hampshire
and a Master in
Education in Curriculum and
Instruction from Boston College. I
have taught fourth and first grade
for the past five years, with one year
devoted to completing the majority
of an Advanced Degree program for
Reading and Literacy at Boston
College. I am currently finishing my
final requirements and will complete
this program by May of this year.
I got married on the 22nd of
October, so now that you've all finally
gotten to know me as Miss Rudolf,
you'll have to get to know me as Mrs.
Manning. I love to Cook and ski!
Joan Strodel, Speech & Language
Pathologist
I was a
Speech and
Language
Pathologist at
Bowman
School last
year. I received
a Masters
degree in Communication Disorders
from the University of Virginia and
subsequently moved to Boston. I have
been practicing as an SLP for over 20
years in the Boston area in a variety of
settings; pediatric rehab hospital,
private practice, and a variety of
schools. An interesting out of school
fact is that I have run the Boston
Marathon several times in the past. I
enjoy spending time hiking with my
husband and teenage children.
Kristin Verity, 5th Grade Teacher
Last year I was
teaching 5th grade
in Reading, MA. I
became a teacher a
little later in life. I
was a journalism
student at St.
Michael's College
and became a
public relations professional. Then I
got my Master's degree in education
at Salem State College and started
teaching in 2007.
I recently traveled to Alaska on
vacation and saw a lot of the wildlife
and many glaciers! I enjoy reading,
sewing, and playing with my two
cats.
Michele H. Welch, Psychologist
Last year I
was assigned to
Bridge School
where I
continue to
work half of my
time along with
the other half at
Hastings. I was
an ETL a few years ago at Hastings,
where I worked with many of the
current staff. I'm also meeting many
new people this year at Hastings.
I am a licensed clinical and
educational psychologist, as well as a
MA certified and nationally certified
school psychologist. In addition, I
have MA licenses in elementary and
middle school education, elementary
and middle school principalship,
guidance counselor (all levels), school
psychologist (all levels), general
supervisor, special educator for
children with moderate special needs
and elementary music. I have taught
elementary school, set up a program
overseas in England for the diagnosis
and remediation of children with
learning disabilities on 2 AF Bases -
working for the DOD. I have worked
as a school psychologist for 23 years,
and have been a guidance counselor,
ETL and an assistant principal. I've
been in Lexington for the past 10
years where I have worked as an
ETL, assistant principal and
psychologist.
I love to sing, dance, walk, hike
and sail. I have been sailing for a
number of years with my husband. I
have two grandchildren whom I
adore and love spending time with.
Page 9 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Go Global – Destination: Asia! (Continued from page 1)
To extend the learning to
our larger school community,
the ACT (Arts Created
Together) Committee hosted
‚GO GLOBAL: Destination
Asia!” Over 200 Hastings
parents and children
attended this evening event.
Jane Hundley, LPS’s K-5
Social Studies Curriculum
Coordinator and Hastings
parent, led the scavenger
hunt on the Asian map.
Three very talented Hastings
parents also presented about Asia.
Jayshree Bala Rajamani is a classical
Indian dancer and demonstrated her
dance that originated from the
temples of South India. India’s
spiritual and yogic history has been
preserved through this ancient dance
form dating back
about 6,000 years.
Jayshree herself has
been a practitioner of
this dance form for
over 35 years and has
taught this dance
form for 25 years.
Cheryl Knott
showed photographs
and described some of the exotic
creatures living in the rain forest of
Borneo, including the wild orangutan
that she has been studying for nearly
20 years. Cheryl, a primatologist and
biological anthropologist, is an expert
on great ape biology, behavior, and
reproduction. She is currently a
professor at Boston University. Her
work has been featured in National
Geographic Magazine, National
Geographic television and numerous
other popular and scientific
publications.
Helen Zhu presented a slide show
on the 2010 World Fair held in
Shanghai, China. She focused on the
fantastic architectural designs of
country pavilions, which represent
art, history, tradition,
heritage, and technologies
of nations from four
continents. As a GIS
(Geographic Information
System) professional
working for environmental
protection, Helen shared
her GIS expertise with the
goal of helping us all
understand the global, Go
Green, message.
Hastings 4th Annual Holiday Marketplace Was a Great Success! By Lisa Mazerall
In the evening of November 17, 2011, the Hastings
gymnasium was transformed into a holiday marketplace
with the participation of over 40 vendors (many of whom
were Hastings parents and alum!). Parents, teachers and
children (the Hastings students enjoyed craft activities and
a movie in the cafeteria) came together for shopping,
socializing and to support local vendors and the Hastings
PTA!
This enjoyable community event and successful
fundraiser earned over $3,000 for the Hastings PTA. It will
help fund this year’s general expense budget supporting
programs to benefit our children such as ACT, Mini-
Grants and much more!
Page 10 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
A Letter from Last Year’s Beautification Committee
Hi Hasting Families,
Let me start by introducing myself: my name is Meenu Khetan and I was the Chair for the
Beautification Committee (or the “Garden Committee”) through the summer. I was very well
supported by Mrs. Lipsitz and the PTA to coordinate the garden in the front of the school
entrance.
The existing garden was unluckily uprooted last year when some work to correct water seepage
was required on the school premises. Fortunately, Mrs. Lipsitz was able to get funding from the town
to recover the loss. I then worked to get quotes and was able to work with Mr. Nat Brown, the
landscaper from New England Nurseries. Mr. Brown, Mrs. Lipsitz, and I chose trees, bushes and
plants that would look aesthetically pleasing. We also procured the rose bushes to add to the garden
before workers from New England Nurseries planted them.
I want to thank everyone who helped to water the plants, especially the PTA
Executive Committee, who cheerfully accepted the task of watering and weeding
the garden through the summer vacation so that the plants could get deep rooted
and withstand the upcoming winter.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank my husband and children who
helped me throughout the summer to water the plants, pull out the weeds, and
watch the garden blossom. Let’s hope that the garden will bring beautiful blooms
and color for all to enjoy in the coming years!
Thanks,
Meenu Khetan
After more than 15 years in the US, the
Khetan family is moving to
Germany. Let's wish them best of
luck there!
Page 11 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Kids LOVE “Kids Cooking Green” By Ellen Touart-Grob
What’s a food mile? How do you make
kale chips?
What does it mean to eat lots of colors? What is a phytonutrient? How much sugar is in
that soda you drink?
These questions were some
of those answered at a recent
Kids Cooking Green course
at Hastings School. Thirteen
5th graders enthusiastically
took part in the program,
which included preparing a
dinner party for 70.
Kids Cooking Green, an
after-school program developed by
Lexington chefs, Lori Deliso and
Liza Connolly, is the educational
outreach arm of the
Lexington Farmers’ Market.
Through hands-on cooking
and lively classroom
presentations, the weekly
classes and activities
introduce kids to the
importance of eating locally
grown foods, and empower
them with the knowledge
that their choices can make a
difference in
their own
health, and the health of
their environment.
At the first Hastings
class, students learned
about local foods and
made butternut squash
ravioli from scratch,
which they took home to
share with their families.
The second class included a field trip to
the Lexington Farmers’ Market where
the kids
learned about
healthy lunch
choices,
Japanese style,
and assembled
‚Bento Box‛
lunches with
local chef and
author, Debra
Samuels. They
also spoke with
farmer Ellery
Kimball of Blue Heron Farm in
Lincoln about local crops and
seasonal produce. At the next class,
the kids challenged each other in a
fruit smoothie competition and also
participated in a lively presentation
and discussion about nutrition.
(Continue on Page 12)
Fun with Family Friends By Kate Danielson
The Family Friend program got
off to a great start on October 2nd
with a kick-off party at the home of
Kim and Sophie Murray. It was a
beautiful fall day and the kids had
fun playing basketball and football
and taking turns on the trampoline,
zip-line, and swings. We enjoyed
pizza, juice, soda, and ice cream and
had fun chatting with old friends
and getting to know some new ones.
After lunch, we tie dyed Family
Friend t-shirts produced by
‚Fotees‛, owned by friend and
Lexington resident Jane Foti. The
front of the shirt reads ‚Got a
Family Friend?‛ and the back says
‚WE DO! Support the METCO
FAMILY FRIEND PROGRAM at
your Lexington Elementary School
TODAY!!‛ It was a messy project,
but a lot of fun! Look for our
creations around Hastings.
The Family Friend program involves
Lexington families hosting students
from the METCO program ONE
Thursday a month. This year the
remaining Family Friend dates are
as follows: December 15th,
January 19th, February 2nd, March
22nd, April 5th, and May 17th. We
look forward to many more fun
times!
Later this year we hope to have
a field trip into Boston for
Lexington families to spend time
with their Family Friends in their
neck of the woods. Stay tuned as
we plan and solidify our
adventure!
Page 12 of 12 The Hastings Star Fall 2011
Kids LOVE “Kids Cooking Green” (Continued from page 11)
The 4th class was the most
exciting, as well as the most
challenging, because the kids
planned, cooked and hosted a multi-
course, nutritious dinner for their
family and friends. Working with
guest chef Binny McNamara and
using locally grown ingredients, the
kids prepared zucchini and goat
cheese roll-ups for appetizers. Fresh
caught, local Hake was the main
course -- and if you think kids don’t
like fish, think again! Kale chips, sushi
rice balls, salad and apple cake
rounded out the menu. It was a very
successful evening… and there were
no leftovers!
The Hastings Kids Cooking Green
program finished up the final class
with a visit from a Lexington
backyard chicken farmer, a lesson
on keeping chickens, and a snack of
deviled eggs!
Kids Cooking Green is proud to
have worked with this great group
of kids, and we hope that everyone
keeps on cooking and spreading the
word about how good local food is
for both our environment and
ourselves! Bon appétit!
2nd Annual Hastings Harvest 5K (Continued from page 1)
The Harvest Run was targeted
to be a community event.
However, due to the
participation and generosity of
our community we raised over
$5000. This money will be used
to enrich our children’s education
and provide them with extra
resources to make their
experience at Hastings an
incredible one.
We are
looking
forward
to next
year!
The “Bento Boxes”
