Estabrook BUZZ

Welcome back to school! We're excited to welcome you and your students back through the doors of Estabrook School next week. Our faculty and staff have been hard at work readying for your return. From the carefully placed desk nametags to thoughtfully planned opening day activities, we are eager to see you--once again or for the first time!

Below is important information related to the first days of school. Please review it carefully and be in touch with our office with any questions.

The faculty, staff and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, August 30th!

Mr. LaBroad

Principal

Your student's dismissal plan, parent permissions and updated emergency contacts are A MUST HAVE for us by Friday, August 27. If you haven't already, be sure to:

• complete the DISMISSAL PLAN & PARENT PERMISSION FORM here.
• update your EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION on the Parent Portal here.

Student bus numbers, required for the Dismissal Plan, can be found on your child's page in the Parent Portal. Click on the "FAMILY" tab, then click your student's name to see the bus number and stop. Note that bus numbers may have changed from last year. If you previously entered an incorrect bus number or no bus number, please contact our office at 781-861-2520.

Thursday, August 25 - New Family Tour | 9:00 a.m.

Parents from the Estabrook PTO will be on hand to give tours of our building to new families. Meet in the lobby at 9 a.m.

Monday, August 29 - Educator Professional Development

Estabrook School is closed today to allow our staff to meet. The Estabrook Office will be open 8/29 from 11:00-11:30 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Monday, August 29 - Kindergarten Open House | 11:00-11:45 a.m.

Incoming kindergarteners and their parents are invited to visit their classroom and meet their teachers.

Tuesday, August 30 - The First Day of School!

Arrival begins at 8:15 a.m. Students are dismissed at 12:15 p.m. today.

Parents are invited to join the PTO and me for a Welcome Back Coffee at 8:45 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Wednesday, August 31 - The First FULL Day of School

Students in grades 1-5 are dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Kindergarteners are dismissed at 12:15 p.m.

Thursday, September 1

Students are dismissed at 12:15 p.m. today (and every Thursday).

Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5

School is CLOSED for the Labor Day Weekend

Tuesday, September 6 - Full Day of School for ALL Students

Thursday, September 22 - Back to School Night

Click here for the complete 2016-2017 Academic Calendar

Click here to read the Estabrook School Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Please review the guidelines carefully. Your compliance with the plan ensures the safety of all students and an efficient drop-off and pick up each day. Starting this fall, parking is limited on site to before and after school and between 8:45 - 3:00 p.m.

The goal of dismissal is safety, not expediency. Thank you for your patience with us, especially in the opening days of school and during inclement weather. Please adjust your morning and after school plans accordingly to allow for a procedurally safe dismissal.

On the opening days of school, teachers will meet their classes outside at 8:30 a.m. Parents who wish to join their child at morning lineup are reminded that there is no on-site parking before 8:45 a.m., but off-site parking is available.

Parents are invited to join the PTO and me for a Welcome Back Coffee on opening day at 8:45 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Students have outdoor recess daily. When dressing for school, students are encouraged to wear comfortable, close-toed shoes (sneakers recommended, and required on physical education days). A backpack to carry belongings to and from school is a great idea. Please be sure to label your student's belongings. Students should also pack a healthy morning snack, and a lunch if not purchasing lunch through our cafeteria.

Estabrook will provide any supplies required for student use. While students are welcome to bring their own school supplies, there is no supplies a student must bring to school.

Estabrook is excited to welcome several new staff members to our team starting this fall.

KATIE OSGOOD joins our team as a fourth grade teacher. Ms. Osgood recently concluded a special education residency in the Lowell Public Schools in grades 4-6. SAMANTHA GROSS also joins our fourth grade team. Ms. Gross most recently worked in special education in the Newton Public Schools. MATTHEW WILLIS will serve as our new school counselor. Prior to arriving at Estabrook, Mr. Willis was a counselor at Lexington High School, among other schools in greater Boston. ALICIA LINDENMAYER is our new TLP social worker. Ms. Lindenmayer comes to us from Family Services of Greater Boston, where she served as a site-based social worker at Neighborhood House Charter School. KRYSTAL VELAZQUEZ joins our mental health team as a social worker. Ms. Velazquez most recently worked as an adjustment counselor in the Peabody Public Schools. TOM GRASSO is our new literacy specialist. Mr. Grasso most recently taught reading and served as a reading coach in Cambridge. CAROLYN PLAMONDON joins Estabrook as longterm substitute literacy specialist. Ms. Plamondon most recently served as a literacy coach in the Natick Public Schools.

Our support team is growing as well. CAROLINE NORRIS and NICOLE HAARTZ come to Estabrook as new kindergarten assistants in Dr. Berenson's and Ms. Moretti's classes, respectively. ANNA STERNFELD and MAURICE NOBLES will support our students as instructional assistants. GABBY SALAS is our new TLP assistant. REBECCA NEWHOUSE expands her current role as a Lextended Day teacher to join us as school support personnel (SSP).

In addition, several staff members are taking on new roles at the school. KRISTIN CAHOON will teach first grade this year, having previously taught in our Therapeutic Learning Program. HEATHER GORDON moves from fourth grade to second grade. AMY ROYAL moves from grade two to grade three. MICHELLE BELLAVIA moves from her role as school support personnel (SSP) to instructional assistant. EVELYN SOTO is now serving as kindergarten assistant in Mrs. Linton's classroom, having previously worked as an SSP. CAROL ROCHE is one of our new SSPs, having been the kindergarten assistant in Dr. Berenson's room last year.

Be sure to visit our website, estabrook.lexingtonma.org, for more information on getting ready for the first day of school. There you will find links to our staff, useful information about school lunch and more on busing and transportation--and much more!

Estabrook BUZZ is the parent and family newsletter of Estabrook School, published regularly and distributed to families via email and shared at estabrook.lexingtonma.org

Website: estabrook.lexingtonma.org
Location: 117 Grove Street, Lexington, MA, United States
Phone: 781-861-2520