SOUTH SCHOOL

We have entered the month of December and we can't believe it! Thank you to our fifth grade families for supporting their children in the arts and attending their musical performance on Friday and a big thank you to Mrs. Pratt for leading it. It was incredible - from the singing to the dancing to the song writing to the narrators! Thank to Mrs. Chapin for helping the students create their self-portraits that were displayed in the lobby.

We have a busy week coming up! Tomorrow, we have our picture re-takes and our third grade Strings Informance. On Wednesday, author Jason Chin will be visiting grades 3-5 and our district literacy night is that evening. On Thursday, our fourth graders will be archaeologists at the Retelle Reservation, site of a Native American settlement. Finally, Friday will be an Early Release Day and we will dismiss at 12:15.

Please remind your students to look through the Lost and Found - pictures below!

Warmly,

Brenda Lee & Olivia Goodrich

Picture Re-Takes will be on Monday, December 4th. Pictures should be coming home from O'Connor Studios early this week.

3rd Grade Strings Parents are invited to attend their child’s lesson on Monday morning, December 4, 10:25-11:10 AM, in the Cafeteria. Please plan to arrive by 10:15. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the class’s progress to date, receive more information about how to support your student’s music making at home, and ask any questions you may have. Please enter through the Kindergarten Lobby doors and sign in there before entering the Cafeteria.

With the cold and flu season in full force, please refer to the following:

WHEN TO STAY HOME?

• Fever of 100* or higher, chills or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle or body aches
• Cough not due to other known causes
• Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion (not due to known allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
• If your student is staying home due to illness, please call the attendance line (978) 247-9802 to report the absence
• Please do not return before being symptom free (without medicine) for at least 24 hours

CRITERIA FOR SENDING A STUDENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOLLOWING ILLNESS:

• Fever free for 24 hours with no analgesics.
• Diarrhea free for 24 hours
• Vomiting free for 24 hours
• When medication for a contagious infection is prescribed, the student must have taken the first dose at least 24 hours prior to return to school.
• Head Lice - the nurse/designee in the clinic must check the student’s head before a student can return to school.
• There are a number of medically fragile children in our schools. Every effort needs to be made to provide a healthy environment for all students and staff.

Please call me at 977-247-9802 if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Christina Lemonias, RN

Assistance

If you would like assistance this time of year, please fill out the form below by December 8th.

South Holiday giving - request for assistance form

If you prefer, you may contact our South social worker, Andrea Goodman, directly via email at andrea.goodman@andoverma.us or phone: 978-247-9816.

Please know that all information will remain confidential.

Donations

If you are interested in helping us support a South Elementary family during this winter holiday season, please purchase a gift card from Target or Market Basket in $10 increments. You can choose the denomination amount of your choice but please be sure to write the amount on the card and/or include the receipt. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up.

South holiday giving - donation sign up

Gift cards can either be brought into school and given to the main office or can be mailed to Brenda Lee, 55 Woburn Street, Andover, MA 01810 by December 8th.

Thank you for your continued support!

The South Community

Monday, November 27th – Wednesday, December 20th

The South School Community Service is delighted to again collect holiday gifts for children through the Andover Housing Authority. We are one of the only schools in Andover that participate and we have been doing it for over 20 years!

In order to supply gifts for all the families in need, we ask that you donate a new and unwrapped present. The gifts will be dropped off by the South community over the next couple of weeks, someone from the Andover Housing Authority will collect them on Tuesday, December 20th and parents in need will be able to select gifts appropriate for their children.

Grade Gift range

Kindergarten toddler/preschool (ages 1-5 yrs old)

First grade elementary school (ages 6 – 10yrs old)

Second grade elementary school (ages 6 – 10 yrs old)

Third grade middle school (ages 11 – 14 yrs old)

Fourth grade middle school/high school (ages 15 – 18 yrs old)

Fifth grade middle school /high school (ages 15 – 18 yrs old)

For example, if you have a child in third grade you would donate a gift suitable for a child in middle school; if you have a child in first grade, you would donate a gift suitable for a child in elementary school, etc.

Please use this list only as a guideline, as we are trying to ensure that we get enough gifts for all the ages on our list. Certainly any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Drop off: South School Main Lobby - labeled bin

Dates: Monday, November 27th – Wednesday, December 20th

Thank you for helping make the holidays a little brighter for some local families, and Happy Holidays from the Community Service Committee!

Please remind your students to check for their belongings in our Lost and Found in our kindergarten lobby. You are also welcome to stop by before or after school. All items will be donated to charity a week before winter break on Friday, December 15th.

• Mon, Dec 4th: Grade 3 Informances; Picture Re-take Day
  

• Wed, Dec 6th: Author Jason Chin Visiting Grades 3-5

• Thurs, Dec 7th: 4th Grade Field Trip

• Fri, Dec 8th: EARLY RELEASE

• Mon, Dec 25th - Mon, Jan 1st: NO SCHOOL ~ Winter Break

Want to stay up to date with all the latest PTO news?

Visit www.SouthPTO.com

All students are able to receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch daily during the 2023-2024 school year. Lunches will need to be preordered. It is crucial that you order lunches for them each day if they plan to have lunch from the school cafeteria. Our kitchen staff prepares lunches based on the number of orders received, so accurate and timely ordering is essential.

https://family.onlineordering.linq.com/

Email: brenda.lee@andoverma.us
Website: https://www.aps1.net/405/South-Elementary-School
Location: 55 Woburn Street, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: 978-247-9800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southschoolaps