Hemenway Climbs To New Heights

For three afternoons last week, Mrs. Capuano and Mrs. Schlegel opened up the gym and invited the students to Climb Higher. There is a climbing wall in Hemenway's future and to help raise the funds necessary, this unique fund raiser was put together. For over two hours, each afternoon, the students climbed the cargo nets, and the ropes as well as participated in many other fun activities.

Feedback from my own daughter was, "It was a blast! Can I do that again?"

The three day event raised $1271 towards their goal of $8,000!

Thank you Hemenway parents for supporting Physical Education at our school.

Anyone wanting to make a donation please contant Mrs. Cap.

Jump Rope for Heart

Last month all Physical Education classes participated in the Jump Rope for Heart program sponsored by the American Heart Association. Each student was asked to challenge themselves by selecting an achievable goal plus raise the bar over and over again to get their heart rates up.

Students constantly made changes as they practiced all jump rope skills. They were encouraged to go home and share information with parents about all the progress made during the week.

Donations were made and collected based on conversations and communication between home and school. A $10.00 donation earns a jump rope for a great effort.

The Third Grade Multiplies Up A Fortune!

All the third grade classrooms at Hemenway participated in a Multiplication-a-thon. It was quite a success!

For the fourth year in a row, our third graders have raised over one thousand dollars for the Greater Boston Food Bank.  To be exact, this year they raised $1,448.97!

The students were excited to hear the news yesterday!  Also, they are very proud of this community service and their multiplication skills.

Helping those that help

Annie's Bookstop, in the Nobscot Plaza, is bringing the ideas of recycling and giving full circle. When Hemenway families bring their books, both adult and children's, to Annie's, Paul will donate $1 per adult book and 50 cents per children's book to the PTO. All books not picked up by Paul will be deposited in the Got Books bin at the school. All donators need do is identify themselves as a Hemenway Community member.

Another win win for the community, and the environment.

Thanks Paul.

Thank You!

I want to thank you all for your support and generosity in this year's brain tumor ride. I am so fortunate to have so many caring friends, family, and colleagues.

One of Brian's recent blog posts best captures the emotions of last Sunday, so I've copied it below.

Many Thanks,

Denise (Nolan)

Two days have passed since I completed the 25-mile Boston Brain Tumor Ride, but there will never be a time when I forget the truly amazing day that was Sunday, May 16^th, 2010. Last month when I ran a 10-mile race in Washington, DC, and once again in October when I’ll attempt my first marathon, it’s a race against the clock. On Sunday, with close to one thousand other bikers in suburban Boston, I found no need to race. On May 16^th, I simply reveled in being along for ‘the ride.’ To those that rode alongside me and to those that were there in spirit with emotional and generous financial support, the $33,162 raised by our 23-member team was evidence of our motto at work … “We’re in this together!”

In the 18 months since I was told of glioblastoma multiforme’s typical 18-month prognosis, I’ve experienced a great number highs that have strongly outweighed the few severe lows that I endured. In the last few weeks however, I’ve found myself at the pinnacle of life on numerous occasions. When I learned the results of yet another crystal clear MRI of my brain on May 4^th, I was proud to prove that 18 months is merely a statistic; a statistic which never will define me. On May 16^th, with the support of hundreds pushing me through the streets of Massachusetts, we proved that love, hope and determination conquers all (with a lot of help from Duke and God above, of course).

With my perfect wife, my Mom and Dad, my sisters Denise and Chrissy (and Cheryl from afar), my Uncle Ralphie, Heather and Luke, Ricky, Mike, Jim, Joe, Ed C., Michelle, Robin, Becky, Jeremy, Ed O., Steve, Laura, Stephen and Corey – and the 437 donations that came in from around the world – we stood toe to toe with a vicious foe and came out on top of the world.

At the closing ceremonies following Sunday’s event we were awarded with The Boston Brain Tumor Ride’s highest honor. Expertly captained by my sister Denise, our team was given the Spirit Award, in recognition of the fighting spirit shown by my tight-knit legion. I was honored to accept the award, but more honored to have our entire team on-stage with me. In many ways throughout the past 18 months, my job has been the easiest. It is you all that are deserving of my praise.

On behalf of myself, but also from The National Brain Tumor Society and the hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone currently living with a brain tumor, please accept my eternal thanks…for riding, for donating, for hoping. We are truly in this together, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Ms. Nolan has great news!

I'm writing with terrific news! Yesterday at Duke University, Brian had another perfectly clear MRI! Yesterday's MRI marked a significant milestone for Brian. It has been 18 months since his diagnosis, which is the average life expectancy for GBM patients. Brian is truly a miracle!

With a little more than a week left before the Boston Brain Tumor Ride, our team of 23 riders has raised just over $26,000 for this great cause! I can’t adequately express my thanks to all of you who have donated to this very personal cause! Your generosity is truly making a difference!

Stay tuned for pictures from the ride.

If you'd still like to donate to our team, please donate under my husband Joe's name, as his boss has very generously agreed to match 100% of the donations he receives! You can donate to him by following this link to his homepage.

Many Thanks,

Denise

Team Wiltshire

The Wiltshires are not shy when it comes to giving it all they have for a cause. Here they are after the 5h3 Sharon Timline 5K in Hopkinton which supports ALS and below they are at the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon. For the past two years Mr. Wiltshire had the fortunate opportunity to be a member of Children's Hospital's Miles for Miracles Team.

As a member of the team he trained for and ran in the 2008 and 2009 Boston Marathons. In addition to running he raised over $12,000 for Children's Hospital Boston to ensure they remain the leading pediatric hospital in the country.

This year however, Stephen decided to take a break from his training to raise funds for another worthy cause, The National Brain Tumor Society.

"My co-teacher, Denise Nolan, asked my wife, Laura, and I to join her team to support the National Brain Tumor Society by riding in the Boston Brain Tumor Ride. This May 16th I will be riding alongside Denise, Laura and our teammates to support continued research efforts."

The Wiltshires truly enjoy all of the aspects that go into training and fundraising and believe their athletic abilities can be utilized in ways that help less fortunate individuals. Please consider making a donation to their cause.

"We wish you many years of happiness in your new house."

On Saturday April 10th teachers from all different schools in Framingham came together to work on building a house for Habitat for Humanity. We plastered and dry walled all day, while also having a good time talking and sharing stories. One of the neatest parts was seeing all of the special messages other volunteers had written on the unfinished studs in the walls. Messages like "We wish you many years of happiness in your new house!", or "People make a house a home" filled the house with love.

~Amy
Ms. Brown - Art

SHHHHHH! It's silent auction time....

Starting April 10th you can visit Team Ta-Ta's homepage and check out their, hopefully not so silent auction. Imagine, you could be a click and a bid away from Red Sox tickets, massages, gift certificates and more. So let's bid, bid, bid for the home team, The Ta-Tas. If they don't win, it's a shame.


Image borrowed from Team Ta-Ta.

Many Hands...

make light the work. You walk the halls of Hemenway and you can see the teamwork that takes place. Clusters, reading groups, fifth grade buddies, classroom group projects, it's all there. A scaffolding erected, from kindergarten through 5th grade, of examples of how to proceed in life outside the brick walls.

And proceed they do. The Framingham Teacher's Asssociation Habitat for Humanity build is this weekend. As they were last year, our teachers will be there again.

Photos from the 2009 build

No Fooling: Ms. Beck is in the Lead

Once again Ms. Beck is at the helm of Team Ta-Ta for the upcoming Avon Breast Cancer walk. Just like when she leads our young people in song, Ms. Beck is up front, keeping her team in step and on the beat towards a cure. Yeah! Ms. Beck!

Big and breaking News: Team Ta-Ta will be holding a silent auction April 10th to the 18th. On the block are two sets of Red Sox tickets, plus many more wonderful items. The auction will open via the team page on April 10th. So set your bookmarks for placing a bid or two.

Pedalling to make brain tumors history

Tucked behind those shades is another Hemenway warrior.

As any of her past and present 5th grade students can attest, one of Ms. Nolan's favorite subjects is History. So it is no surprise that she puts her all, one pedal at a time, towards making brain tumors a thing of the past.

Inspired by her brother, Brian's fight and ultimate win over GBM, an aggressive type of brain tumor, she is leading the mighty Whatevros for B.A.S team for a second time in the Boston Brain Tumor Ride.

Making the World a Better Place

Ms. Perry, whether she is in her classroom, or walking the miles of the Avon Breast Cancer walk, always manages to make the world a better place. She, like so many other Hemenway teachers and staff could have Caring for a middle name and it would be so true.

Last year was her first Breast Cancer walk, and this year she is at it again with her team mate Ms. Beck. Care to help her along? Click here.

Habitat for Humanity -- April 10, 2010

On Saturday, April 10th, many Hemenway teachers are participating building a Habitat for Humanity house in Millbury.  So far Amy Brown, Sara Keeney, Stephen Wiltshire, Laura Beck, Tracy Bascetta, have volunteered.  Becky Lepow is organizing the build.
Best of luck to our builders. Pictures and news to follow.

This past February...

In February the teachers throughout the district donated money and to go towards donating books to the newborns and children at Metrowest Hospital in honor of Read Across America.  We purchased over $250 worth of books.
   

Mission Statement

This blog is a showcase for the acts of community service, outreach and compassion that radiate from Hemenway Elementary School in Framingham, MA. From this site it is hoped you will:

• plug into activities
• rally behind your favorite outreach program or cause
• support our dear faculty and staff as they touch the lives of others.