Volume 24, Issue 2 Thursday, September 18, 2014
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Dear Families,
SRS is hopping with acitivity! Art classes have been decorating our walls with beautiful sights, physical education is sending in rosy red cheeks and tired children, and music is filling our halls. We are a happy place.
After 21 years of service to SRS Mr. Hines, our music director, has decided to retire at the end of this school year. I’m sure throughout the year we will have the opportunity to thank him and reflect on all his years at SRS. Knowing we only have one more year of Mr. Hines, I’d like to welcome families to Community Sing on Fridays. If you want to jump start your day with positive energy and great music, just drop in at 8:45 AM and listen to the voices of our very talented students and adults. You can’t help but feel re-charged!
The Parent Teacher Community Association held their first meeting of the year last week. It was a pleasure to meet many new parents at the meeting. As a school community we rely and count on PTCA funds for many activities; without their support we would not be able to bring some activities to the students. With that being said, the PTCA could really use some help at the Fall Fest. Please consider donating an hour of your time during the Fall Fest, which is one of the largest fundraisers the PTCA hosts. During Open House PTCA members and I will be asking families to sign up for a time to help out at many of the activities being sponsored. If you would like to learn more about the PTCA and volunteer opportunities, please join us at the next meeting on Thursday, October 9th at 6:30 PM in the library. The PTCA needs your support.
Thank you to all of our Swift River School families for turning in their emergency forms. Don’t forget to apply for free/reduced lunch. I would also like to remind our families that the Current will be published biweekly in an effort to save ink and paper. Please check our website (www.swiftriverschool.org) and our Facebook pagefor updates in between publications.
Lastly, I encourage all of our students to read for pleasure at least 15 minutes every night. This could be a parent read aloud, shared reading, or having an older child read to a younger child. Any type of pleasurable reading is very important to build the foundation of lifelong learning. One thing I hear frequently from parents is, “My child doesn’t talk about the school day.” Instead of asking how the day was, ask a specific question like, “How did somebody help you today?” This question will start the conversation about the school day. Just taking a few minutes of every day to talk about what your children have learned at school can be very meaningful and help build success in all avenues of their lives. I will post more questions to ask your children about school on our website.
Fondly,
Kelley Sullivan
SRS Guest Journalist
Recently in 5th Grade we’ve been doing lots of team building to create a strong community. First, we voted on a team name. We are the Creative Warriors! Next, we wrote a mission statement and created a coat of arms to be our logo. We developed goals for the year. Last week, we practiced a game called Traffic Jam. This challenging game helped us use our critical thinking and tested our patience. We also played a game called Human Knot. This game helped strengthen our collaboration and communication skills. 5th Graders are enthusiastic about getting to know each other better. It’s been a wonderful few weeks and we’re ready to make this the best year yet!
By Gareth
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
Starting on Thursday, October 2
The first trimester of instrumental music lessons will start in two weeks. A letter and application form was sent home earlier week. This fee-based program is taught by Brian Bender, a well known and versatile musician who performs often in our area. Lessons are taught during the school day at Swift River School and are available for children in grades 4 –6. Children in grade 3 can be accommodated only if there is room in Mr. Bender’s schedule.
Regular group lessons cost $80, and private lessons cost $160. Mr. Bender offers a special Introduction to Instrumental Music class that costs only $40 and is a wonderful opportunity for children to explore different instruments and discover their interests and talent. Forms and payment must be returned by Monday, September 29th.
PTCA News
The PTCA will be sponsoring our annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 - 2:00. This is a great low-cost event for the whole family to enjoy! Look for the green flyer coming home today to see the many ways you can help. You can also sign up at Open House on October 1st.
Planning for our fall fundraiser is underway; look for a flyer coming home next week!
The next PTCA meeting is Thursday, October 9th at 6:30 in the library. Free childcare is available. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!See you there!
ERVING SCHOOL UNION #28
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
State education officials will visit Swift River School in New Salem, for a program review during the week of October 14, 2014.
During the routine visit, Special Education, Civil Rights, and English Learner Education programs will be evaluated to verify compliance with state and federal requirements.
The officials will interview administrators, teachers and staff, survey parents, and observe instructional spaces.
Anyone wishing to be interviewed by the officials regarding any of the areas of review should call the Superintendent’s Office at (413) 423-3337, no later than October 6th. They may also call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at (413) 314-6708. The interviews will take place within two weeks of completion of the onsite visit.
MILITARY FAMILY STATUS
In May 2012, as part of the VALOR Act, Massachusetts joined other states as part of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The aim is to make the transition easier for mobile children in military families in areas such as enrollment, assessment, graduation, etc.
This information is being requested by the Massachusetts Department of Education. If your family falls under one of the categories listed below, please send an email listing your children’s names to [email protected]:
- Active duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders.
- Members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired within one year.
- Members who die on active duty.
You may also call Christine Heard at 978-544-6926 ext. 0. More information is available at www.mic3.net or www.doe.mass.edu.
Field Trip Fundraiser
The Genevieve’s Fall Fundraiser will take place September 25 to October 15. Packets will be sent home on Thursday, September 25. All proceeds will offset the cost of field trip buses. Delivery will be the week of Thanksgiving.
There will be a prize program for students and a new incentive, Frog Frenzy, which rewards students for selling 3, 6 and 9 items. More info coming soon.
School Cancellations and Delays
In the event of a school closing or delay, a ParentReach call will be sent. These calls are not 100% reliable so if you question a school closing, but have not received a call, check one of these other options.
- Announcements on swiftriverschool.org
- Swift River Facebook page
- School answering machine
- Radio stations*
Amherst WRNX - 100.9 WPNI - 1430 AM
Greenfield WRSI - 93.9 WHAI - 98.3
Northampton WHMP - 99.3
Orange WAHL - 99.9 WJDF - 97.3
- Television*
WWLP Channel 22 WGGB Channel 40
- Check with a neighbor or friend.
*Swift River School is part of Erving School Union #28. School closings or delayed openings are made as School Union #28 or Erving Union #28, not as Swift River School. In an event that Swift River is the only school in Union 28 that is effected, we are called Union 28 New Salem.
Hannaford Helps Schools
When does 4 = 3? When you help your school earn school dollars. It all starts with your next shopping trip. Use this shopping list to get you started. For every 4 participating products you buy, your school earns $3. Look for the schoolhouse shelf tags in-store to find the items you need.
http://www.hannaford.com/helpsschools.
RECYCLING is Our Mission!
Please help to protect the environment by donating your used and unwanted cell phones and ink jet cartridges. We do not accept laser printer toner cartridges at this time. Your used item(s) may be tax deductible and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations. 100% of the proceeds will help fund our school.
Please drop off any items you would like to recycle at the drop box on the bench in the front entrance of the school.
We greatly appreciate your support!
REMINDER
When you have a telephone number change, please let us know immediately. Numbers are quickly dispersed to appropriate personnel and updated in our emergency forms, nurse’s records and Parent Reach program.
Library Lines
“Check It Out!” is the Swift River School library webpage which can be accessed from the Swift River School website or the direct link iswww.srslibrary.weebly.com. Library highlights and special dates will still appear in the Current while the webpage will contain more details, photos, links, etc.
The library’s complete catalog of books is also online and can be accessed through the library webpage. Next week students will receive instruction on how to use this wonderful program called Destiny Quest. They are able to write book reviews, place a book on “hold”, search for a book and much more.
Families are invited to decorate a pumpkin as a favorite book character to enter in the contest at Fall Fest on Saturday, October 18. Please see the information sheet in this issue of the Current. I hope many families will participate in this fun contest!
Make time to read,
Betsy
swiftriverschool.org
Have you looked at our new website? We are working to build a site that will be useful to parents, teachers and students. It is a learning process for us all and we appreciate your patience and feedback as we populate the site with pertinent information. Please let us know what you would like to see on our web page.
Nurse’s Notes
Dental Health Reminders:
- Mobile Dentist Visit has been postponed until October (exact date to be determined). If you would like your child to be seen by the dentist, please return the permission slip sent home at the beginning of the year, we could use a few more participants to ensure the continuation of this program. This is a great, convenient way to ensure your child has healthy teeth!
- Weekly Fluoride Mouthrinse Program: We plan to begin the weekly fluoride program next week, so send in any remaining permission forms this week!
Do you need help finding affordable health insurance for your family? Call the Health Helpline at 800-272-4232. They can tell you what programs are available and help you sign up right over the phone. Call me at the school if you need more information or help finding a pediatrician.
On the same note: Do you need assistance with the cost of medicine for your family? Check out www.NeedyMeds.org. NeedyMeds is a non-profit founded in 1997 as a resource for people who need assistance with the costs of medicine. Again, feel free to call me at the school if you have questions.
Frequently asked questions about school attendance and illness:
Q. When should I keep my child home from school?
A. When your child complains of being sick and has symptoms like sore throat, head cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or has had a fever greater than 100.4°F, in the last 24 hours, your child should remain at home. Keeping your child home when he or she is sick will permit your child time to recover and reduce the spread of illness to others. Please call and inform the school when your child is absent due to illness. If your child needs a dose of medication for the above symptoms in the morning, they need to stay at home. PLEASE DO NOT send your child after having had a dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) in the morning, the effects will wear off during the school day and the fever will return. A more difficult call is when your child complains of being sick in the morning, but you do not see any symptoms. You will then need to use your best judgment.
Q. When reporting my child is sick, what should I report to school?
A. Let us know what is wrong with your child. Instead of saying he is sick, please be specific with symptoms such as a fever, vomiting and diarrhea or she has a head cold, etc. This will allow us to better keep track of the types of illnesses currently in the school. Please let us know if your child has been admitted to the hospital. Let us know when your physician informs you that your child has a contagious illness such as strep throat, mononucleosis, hepatitis A, pinworms, meningitis, shigella, ringworm, scabies, flu, or any of the childhood illnesses (measles, mumps, whooping cough, chicken pox, scarlet fever or fifth disease).
Q. When are children sent home from school?
A. In general, children will be sent home if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if the illness poses a risk of spread of disease to others. This includes children who are complaining of nausea, vomiting, stomachache, headache, sore throat and who appear sick (for example: sleeping, laying around quiet, not talking or interacting with others). Children will be sent home with an oral fever above 100°F. Children may not ride the school bus home. Children must be fever-free (without taking fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.Children with conjunctivitis (pink eye) with drainage, rash due to possible communicable disease, open draining sores with pus will also be sent home. Children may be referred to their private health provider for further evaluation.
Head lice Reminder: I have attached a Head Lice Awareness sheet to this Current; please review it for helpful information on this potentially irritating issue. Please call me at the school if you have questions or concerns.
Wash your hands often & stay well!
Please feel free to call me at the school with any questions regarding your child’s health.
Nan Mead R.N., N.C.S.N.
[email protected]