Swift River

Volume 27, Issue 2                                       Friday, October 27, 2017

NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Greetings,

Thank you to all the parents who took time during Open House to schedule their Parent-Teacher Conferences. I appreciate the commitment you demonstrate by coming into School to learn about your child’s progress. If you haven’t signed up for your child’s conference, please contact their classroom teacher as soon as possible.

I’d like to remind families that school starts at 8:18 AM. Any child who arrives after 8:30 AM is marked tardy. No matter what the situation or time of arrival, all tardy students must check in at the office. By doing so, they will ensure that their attendance is properly recorded, that their bus notes will be honored, and that they will get a lunch of their choice. Also they will help to clear up any potential confusion, especially when Nan makes absence-related phone calls. We appreciate your cooperation with this necessary step.

If you plan on dropping off your student between 8:00 AM and 8:18 AM, please check in at the office. We do not have staff available to watch students who are dropped off early. All students who arrive early will be sent to EF for $6.00/hour.

We ask that parents dropping off preschool students escort them to the preschool door. We ask that parents dropping off students in all other grades drop them off at the front door (by the office). Once students are in the building, we expect them to make their way to classrooms independently. Also, changes to afterschool plans should be communicated by means of a note, and should not necessitate a trip to the classroom.

During school hours, the school grounds are reserved for Swift River students. Parents should not use the school grounds while school is in session, especially while students are at recess. Our students follow the rules of the playground; visiting children may not be aware of these rules. Also, parents must always sign in when visiting the building. After they have completed their stated purpose, they must sign out and leave. If a parent wishes to stay in the building after their stated purpose, they must check in at the office.

Please be sure to join us for Monster Dash this Saturday, October 28! There will be a Fun Run from 4:00 – 5:00 PM, and students can earn laps for 100 Mile Club. From 5:00 – 6:00 PM, there will be a Spooky Spaghetti Supper in the Café. Other fun activities will include the SRS Library Pumpkin Contest, a Spooky Nature Trail Walk, a Bake Sale, and a Gym Games. All proceeds will support the Fall 2018 trip to Nature’s Classroom. We hope to see you there!

Fondly,
Kelley

Student Council Scoop

Spirit Day! Friday, November 3 is Stuffie Day!!! Bring your favorite stuffed friend to school (as long as they fit in your back pack)! Instead of bringing in a quarter to participate, please bring in a canned or nonperishable food item. The Student Council will be kicking off our annual can drive next Friday, November 3, and it will continue until Thursday, November. The class with the most canned and nonperishable food items will win a pizza party!

Fall Fundraiser

Thank you for making our Cherrydale Fundraiser a success! We made just over $1500 to help defray the cost of field trip buses! All orders will be shipped directly to homes. When you receive your order, please check it carefully and contact the company directly if there are any discrepencies.

T.E.A.M. SRS Update 

Thank you to all who sent in coins to kick off Penny Wars! Please continue to send in pennies and other coins to help your student’s class reach their goal. The class with the most coins by May 31 will win a prize! Proceeds from Penny Wars will fund events, field trips, and other student fun.

Make sure to visit our table at Monster Dash on Saturday, October 28! We will be kicking off our sale of Supermarket Sweep tickets! This school year, Supermarket Sweep will be held on January 28. Only 150 tickets will be sold for your chance to grab as many groceries as you can in two minutes at Hannaford Supermarket in Athol!

Please continue to send in items to donate to your students’ classrooms for their raffle baskets. The baskets will be raffled at a Winter Warmer event on February 3 (details coming soon)! Raffle tickets for the baskets will also be on sale at our Monster Dash table!

Raffle Basket themes will be:

Preschool: Things That Squish                       

Kindergarten: Arts and Crafts

Grade 1: Let’s Have A Party           

Grade 2: Winter Fun

Grade 3: Family Game Night                          

Grade 4: Chocolate

Grade 5: Rest and Relaxation             

Grade 6: Anything Goes

Library and Lab: Kindle Fire

Field Trips: Dinner and a Movie         

Community Network for Children (CNC): Family Brunch

100 Mile Club: Running         

We have a lot of fun events in the works! Join us at next month’s TEAM meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria (childcare will be provided free of charge in the gymnasium)

Mobile Dentist 

Great news! Our school has partnered with Smile Programs to offer in-school dental care with the mobile dentists on Tuesday, December 19.

Best of all, in most cases there is no cost to you if your child is insured with Medicaid or CHIP! Private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available.

Easy and Convenient: Having your child seen by the in-school dentist saves you valuable time. Local, licensed dentists provide top-quality care in the familiar surroundings of your child’s school. Dental care includes: a complete exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride and sealants (when needed). Restorative care, such as fillings, may also be provided:

Keep Your Child Healthy: By having your child see the in-school dentist, you can help reduce the risk of:

• Early tooth loss caused by dental decay
• Gum disease
• Heart disease
• Impaired speech development

For this visit to happen we need at least 25 students to register, and we only have 3 forms back so far. To enroll your student, simply fill out a permission form and return it to the school TODAY. If you need a new form please let us know!

New Salem Library News

Teen and Teen Program is back with more programming and fun from 1:30 – 5:30 PM. 

November 7: Thanksgiving Food Fun from 3:30 – 5:30 PM. The instructor will demonstrate how to make yummy food and everyone will make it for themselves. Contact us at 978-544-6334 or stop by the Library to register. The class is limited to 10 children! Sign up at the New Salem Public Library by filling out a waiver form for you and/or your child. Waivers must be returned by October 21, 2017 for registration to be considered complete. (There will also be a short waiting list.)

The New Salem/Wendell School District assures that all programs, activities and employment opportunities are offered without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, economic status, homelessness, sexual orientation and physical or mental disability.