Volume 25, Issue 2 Thursday, September 24, 2015
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Greetings!
We have had an exciting start to the new school year. It’s a pleasure to welcome so many new families to Swift River. Our classrooms are full and the days are flying by with renewed energy.
Living in New England for the majority of my life has made me really appreciate the four seasons, but I find it difficult to let summer go, especially when it means I have to put my sandals away. However the last few mornings have been reminders that we need an extra sweater or jacket and maybe some closed-toe shoes when walking in the cold, wet grass. The afternoons have been sunny and warm and we may forget that we brought a sweater or jacket, and many are left at school. Please try to label all of your student’s belongings so we can make sure they get back to you when they are left behind. The Lost and Found is already collecting many articles!
After many trainings with the State and Local Police Departments, we are now asking all visitors to sign in at the Office, wear a visitor badge, and sign out at the Office when your visit is over. This includes times when you are dropping off your children and walking them to class. We are also asking for you to stop in the Office before going to the Nurse’s Office to pick up a sick child. We acknowledge that these new procedures can add time to your already busy schedules, but in order for us to keep track of everyone in the building, we are asking for your help with this.
You may have noticed that we are very busy during arrival and dismissal. We’d like to remind families that the driveway is one-way. When students are exiting your vehicles, please make sure they are getting out on the side of the car closest to the sidewalk. We have seen too many parents drive around a stopped vehicle by the front door. Also, when you park in the lots, please keep your children with you at all times, and hold their hand, if necessary. We have noticed many children running ahead across the driveway with no adult attached or close to them. Do not walk between the busses. Lastly, please park in a parking space, and not in front of the school; we will ask you to move if you are not parked properly. Our job is to keep your children safe. Please help us by doing your part.
Wednesday, October 7 is Open House for grades K-6; PK holds their Open House later in October. We will begin the evening in the Cafeteria with an informational meeting at 6:15 PM. Students may show their parents around the school from 6:00-6:15 PM. Classrooms will open at 6:30 PM for presentations. There will be another classroom presentation at 7:00 PM. All students PK-6 are welcome to come to the Gymnasium for a presentation by Animal Adventures to kick off the Science Fair. The presentation will last until 7:30 PM.
Fondly,
Kelley
Open House Schedule
6: - 6:15 Families visit classrooms
6:15 - 6:30 Informational Meeting in Cafeteria
6:30 - 7:30 Children attend Animal Adventures Science Fair Kick-off in the gymnasium
Presentations for parents:
6:35 - 7:00 classroom presentation
7:05 - 7:30 classroom presentation repeated
7:40 Lights out
Year-Round Fundraising for Field Trips
Today we sent home an envelope with a booklet from SchoolMall. SchoolMall links you to online shopping opportunities that will benefit our school all through the year. Swift River will receive up to 50% of proceeds from SchoolMall. Your part is simple! Fill in the name and addresses of family and friends, then return the booklet to School. That’s it! Be sure to write the student’s name on the front of the booklet. SchoolMall will mail information directly to your contacts. Each completed booklet will earn our school $2.25. This is an entirely voluntary fundraiser. Completed booklets are due back to school by Wednesday, September 30.
Nurse’s Notes
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 School if you have questions.
Help Keep Your Child Healthy and Flu-Free: With flu season quickly approaching, it is important that we work together to keep our children healthy. Viruses spread easily among children in schools, and families with school-aged children have more infections than others. By keeping our children flu-free, we benefit the community as a whole. You can help prevent the spread of flu or help your child get better if he or she does get sick by following a few simple steps:
- If possible, you and your child should get a flu shot.
- Remind your child to cover his or her nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing (elbows work well, but if a tissue is used it should be disposed of immediately).
- Have your child wash his or her hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds (antibacterial soaps and sanitizers are NOT recommended unless regular soap and water are not available, as it may contribute to stronger, more resistant bacteria).
- Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and shared items at least once per day.
- Ensure that bathrooms are stocked with soap, hand towels and tissues.
- Teach your child not to touch his or her mouth, nose and eyes.
- If your child is sick with excessive congestion or a fever, keep him or her at home to prevent the spread of illness to others.
If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, call your doctor early on. Common symptoms of flu include high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion, and dry cough. Additionally, children often exhibit other flu symptoms that are rare in adults, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some children might benefit from an antiviral medication, which can be prescribed by a physician and can help lessen duration of the virus and reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia. To be effective, antiviral medication should be taken within 12-48 hours after flu symptoms begin.
Wellness Committee
Celebratory Treats: Schools have an extraordinary influence on the development of lifelong eating habits and lifestyle patterns. When students practice making healthy food choices at School, they reinforce their knowledge of good nutrition and healthy eating habits. When your child is in school on a special occasion, we encourage you to find a way to make him or her feel special while supporting healthy eating habits in the classroom.
The Importance of Breakfast: Research shows that students who eat breakfast demonstrate increases in math and reading scores, improved attention spans, fewer visits to the nurse, and fewer disciplinary problems. Please take advantage of our school breakfast program. Breakfast is available at School each morning from 8:20 - 8:30 AM.
If you have any questions or would like further information, feel free to contact me at the school.
Nan Mead, R.N., N.C.S.N.
[email protected]
Dean’s Beans Coffee Fundraiser
Dean’s Beans is a local, organic and fair trade coffee roasting company. Please use the attached form to order coffee or hot cocoa. All orders are due by Friday, October 2. Contact Nan Mead at the School if you have any questions. Thank you for supporting our PTCA!
Library Lines
Greetings from the Library! I have enjoyed seeing the children again and hearing about the wonderful books they read over the summer! We have discussed proper book care using the “No! No! Never!” box and made place holders to help children select books from the library shelves.
“Check It Out!” is the Swift River School Library webpage which can be accessed from the Swift River School website, or the direct link is www.srslibrary.weebly.com. Library highlights and special dates will still appear in The Current while the webpage will contain more details, photos, links, et cetera.
The Library’s complete catalog of books is also available online and can be accessed through the Library webpage. Students in Grades 3 through 6 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 17. More information will be sent home soon. I hope many families will participate in this fun contest!
Make time to read,
Betsy
Fall Festival Basket Raffle
The beautiful baskets are filling up! If you have yet to send an item for your class basket, please do so soon. For those of you who may not be able to attend Fall Festival this year, or would just prefer to pre-order your tickets; use the attached order form to purchase your raffle tickets. Please be sure to return the form and your payment no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, October 16. Tickets will also be sold at Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with the prize drawing at 2:00 PM. Please contact Nan Mead at the school if you have any questions.
PTCA News
So much is happening with PTCA this Fall! We hope to see some new faces at the next meeting on Thursday, October 1 @ 6:30 PM in the Cafeteria. As always, childcare is provided by the Mahar Key Club.
Fall Fest planning is under way, so mark the dates on your calendars: Saturday, October 17 from 10 - 2. Look for a flier coming home soon with more information.
Our November meeting (the tentative date is set for Thursday, November 12) will bring officer elections to Swift River School. Elections will be held for the following positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. PTCA is always looking for new faces and original ideas. We hope to see you there!
The Enchanted Forest News
The Enchanted Forest has some wonderful programs starting next week!
Soccer Clinic for Grades 1 - 3 will take place on four Wednesdays beginning on September 30 from 1:10 - 2:30 PM. The fee is $20 and there are still openings available.
Soccer Clinic for Grades 4-6 will take place on four Tuesdays beginning on September 29 from 3:00 - 4:15 PM. The fee is $20 and there are still openings available.
Salsa-Making with Barb Haydocy will be held on Wednesday, September 30 from 2:30-3:30 PM. A flier is being sent home today with more details; space is limited, so sign up soon. Join us for a little taste of Mexico!
Stop by the EF Room at Open House on Wednesday, October 7 for light refreshments, a quick autumn-themed craft and to see some of our fun activities!
Come join the fun!
The Enchanted Forest Staff
Team Tenacious
The first days of Fifth Grade have been extreme! Meeting the new kids, doing Team Building, Writing Workshop and much more. I will always remember my LOUD, crazy, energetic class roaming the halls as we come back from lunch and recess. As we meet our new teacher, Danika, she teaches us to be who we are and give everything our best shot. A few days ago we picked our class name; we decided from 30 names to 1 name. We finally chose the name “Team Tenacious”. We chose this name because we are unstoppable! We also wrote a mission statement to represent our purpose and focus for the year. We are proud to share our mission statement with you!
Team Tenacious
will take risks and learn freely.
We will be brave,
be kind, and be responsible.
We can be ourselves, be proud of who we are,
and feel confident to stand up for what’s right.
We strive to encourage each other
and make sure all voices are heard.
We are role models for our community.
We will push ourselves to be the best we can be.
We are who we are and the sky is the limit!
Catalog Fundraiser Coming Soon!
Our big fundraiser this year is very exciting! We are trying a new (to us) company, Jeannine. Jeannine has a beautiful gift catalog, gourmet foods, kid’s corner, and home delivery! Home delivery is important to us since we watched children struggle to get those big and heavy boxes on the bus last year. Speaking of last year, we raised over $3700 for field trips! Participation is voluntary. Catalogs will be sent home on October 5 and need to be returned to school by October 19.
Look for some Jeannine catalog items that will be displayed at Open House!
I MUSTACHE you to run with me!
Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 AM
at Swift River School
Registration starts at 8:30 AM
Run, walk, skip or hop our 5K route! We head out of the School driveway on Wendell Road, U-turn at Neilson Road and finish in our lower field under the Finish Line banner.
Stay after the Dash for Fall Fest.
This event is FREE to all. We are happy to accept donations to our 100 Mile Club.
Mustache Dash
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
These announcements and events are not school sponsored.
New Salem Teen and Tween News
Need a break from all that schoolwork? Come watch a movie or play a video game at the library. Call the library and we’ll request any WII game we don’t have on hand. We have lots of board games, too!
September 19, 1:00 - 4:00 PM Manga workshop! Come make your own manga-style comic book. Please call and sign up for this very popular program.
October 14, 4:00 - 5:00 PM Pizza and Pages, our dystopian book club, is taking a wild leap in a new direction and will be discussing Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman. Come join us for dinner and make some new friends!
Swing Set
There is a swing set available in New Salem for anyone who can move it. It is a Koetler, in good condition, recommended for ages 2-5 with two swings and one seat swing. Please contact Margie McGinnis at 978-575-0438 or by emailing [email protected].
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.