THE SOURCE

Community gathering meeting to address bullying

• The primary topic of discussion at the school's next community gathering meeting on Feb. 25 will be on bullying and harassment, in light of the recent bullying incidents at the Triton Middle School and in surrounding area schools. Pine Grove Principal Christine Kneeland, Assistant Principal Margot Lacey and guidance counselor Sharon Odle will all be on hand to speak to the student body.  The community gathering meetings, which are the way in which the school comes together to address certain issues or discuss a particular topic, will also address students' attitudes, respect, responsibility and appropriate school conduct, topics that are regularly part of the meetings. Kneeland extended an invitation to parents to attend the meetings as well. Third-graders will have their community gathering meeting on Friday morning because they will be off on a field trip on Thursday.
• The student council recently collected 184 Valentine's Day cards for the troops, and they were mailed off in time to be there for the holiday. The group also raised nearly $400 to benefit those in Haiti.
• The members of the Rowley Public Education Fund will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Rowley Public Library.
• Beginner band practice starts on Wednesday after school for those in grades four through six who have started playing an instrument this year. Students will prepare for a May 27 concert.
• A School Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Triton Regional High School. Budget discussions will take place, as well as the naming of the finalists in the superintendent search for the district. The meetings can now be viewed live, as Viking Television will stream the meeting on the Web at www.ustream.tv.
• The third-graders will head to the Museum of Natural History in Cambridge on Thursday for a daylong trip.
• The parent and student book club will meet on Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the school. Under the direction of the school's reading specialist, Adrienne Mavragis, the group will discuss the book "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson.
• Friday, Feb. 26, is an early release day, with dismissal at 11:40 a.m., to allow for professional development for staff. There will be no afternoon kindergarten that day.
• Local Scouts will participate in the annual Pinewood Derby race on Sunday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the school's all-purpose room. The Scouts build their race cars from a uniform kit with very specific guidelines in the hopes of building the fastest racer in the event.