Hello Mason Road Family!!

Welcome to back to Mason Road!! I hope everyone has had a great start to the new school year. While the weather was hot, the teachers and student did an amazing job at keeping things as calm and cool as possible. A sincere appreciation and Thank You to those who have offered fans and those who donated fans to the school. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated.

We are now on week number 3 into the new school year. You would honestly think some of the students have been here for a year! They are doing an amazing job learning the routines and expectations within the classroom, on the playground, and throughout the school. We still have some work to do but I am proud to see that progress is being made.

I am hopeful you have seen my previous message regarding drop off/pick up, potty training, and transportation changes. All of these things are extremely important so that we keep everyone at school safe and going to the right places. Remember, teachers may not access their email during the day so if there are any changes to your child's transportation arrangement, that is different from what we have documented, please be sure to contact the main office. As always, feel free to visit the District Transportation Website for any questions pertaining to transportation. Don't forget! There is a Parent First View app that allows you to track the bus!! Download the Parent First View Set Up guide. It is pretty spectacular!

Lastly, in the very near future, staff and students of Mason Road School will participate in a Lockdown drill in the event of an unwelcomed visitor. All teachers will be preparing students on the necessary steps to take in such an event. This particular drill is always a "soft" drill and not meant to stress students out or cause anxiety. ALL FAMILIES will be notified prior to our drill and then after our drill. There is an expectation that this drill will take place 3 times throughout this school year. Again, ALL FAMILIES will be notified.

I hope the remainder of the month of September is a great one for all! Fall is on its way! As a baseball fan, I am sad to see it fading out for the season BUT I am also a football fan!! Let's Go Patriots!!!

I am sending out a warning that the monthly newsletters will be lengthy but the information included is always important. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at jdesto@dcrsd.org or check out our website page at MASON ROAD SCHOOL.

Sincerely,

Jen D.

Just to reiterate what was stated in a previous email:

PICK UP LINE: I know this is not the best situation but it is the best we have given our limited space.

1. Please be sure to stay in the line to retrieve your child. We will put children into their cars, 4 at a time, closest to the building. Please do not get out of your car unless you are one of the 4 up front. We do not want little ones running around the parking lot, in between cars. If this is frustrating, please consider the bus.

* Preschool families are asked to park and come to the door to retrieve their child, just like drop off.

2. Please be sure to have your child enter the car closest to the school. This keeps your child out of the way of the main parking area.

3. DO NOT PASS OTHER CARS! I get it. We are all in a rush to get somewhere but I need the students to be safe in all areas of the school. Drop off is the most important. We have little people getting in cars and they are required to be buckled. They need help and it is ok! This is not expected to be a fast moving line given those factors. PLEASE just be patient and stay in line.

BUS vs. PICK UP: All adults are to notify the main office if their child is going to be a pick up OR if their child is regularly a pick up and needs to take the bus. We will not go on the word of a child.

As stated previously, a message regarding POTTY TRAINING:

Students entering kindergarten and grade 1 are expected to be potty trained. At this time, teachers are finding that there are quite a few students who are not fully trained. We will do the best we can, but we cannot do it alone and need your support and consistency at home. Unless there is a medical need, please send your child into school in regular underwear and pack a few outfits in the event of accidents. This is a method that will work! I assure you.....it will work! While not the best, students learn quickly that they do not like to be uncomfortable and learn to use the bathroom appropriately. We do have all students on a bathroom schedule and make sure to put those in need in the bathroom more frequently.

We have our dates scheduled for school pictures! Information will be sent home to families prior to picture day. Mark your calendars now so you are ready for it!!

PICTURE DAY: October 2nd ~ GRADE 1 & Preschool
PICTURE DAY: October 3rd ~ Kindergarten & Preschool

If you have any questions, please contact the main office at (508) 943-4312.

Hello Mason Road Families!

This is Mr. Davis reaching out to you! As some of you may know, I am your child’s health and wellness teacher at Mason Road Elementary School. For those of you who do not know, my name is Mr. Davis and this is my third year here at Mason Road! I am looking forward to another fun filled year, with lots of great games and activities.

I am very excited to be back in school working with students as they begin a new school year. In our games and activities this year, I am hopeful to instill confidence, support growth and development, promote health and wellness, and most importantly - ensure safety. Oh…. and bring lots of FUN!

Part of keeping the children as safe as possible in my classroom, involves their clothing and footwear! Although I won’t have a child sit out of class if they are wearing flip flops and dresses (I try to modify as best as possible), it does increase their chances for injuries. Clothes that best allow for a full range of motion, as well as shoes that are supportive and don’t expose the toes are best.

I can’t wait to see what this year brings, and I know you and the children feel the same way!

If you have any questions on class activities, or ways to incorporate physical activity outside of school, please feel free to reach out! You can reach me by:

Email: jdavis2@dcrsd.org

Telephone:(508) 943-4312

Each year, Mason Road School (along with all schools) establishes a School Council to consist of parents/caregivers, teachers, support staff, etc.

What are the main areas of responsibility for school councils?

The law outlines four major areas of responsibility for councils. School councils are to assist principals in:

1. Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards

2. Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school

3. Reviewing the annual school building budget

4. Formulating a school improvement plan

For information regarding the Massachusetts requirements for School Councils, please visit: https://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/schoolcouncils/.

If you are interested in being on our school council, please complete the following form: 2023-2024 Mason Road School Council Interest Survey by September 29, 2023. From there, I will see how much interest we have. If there is a great deal of interest, a voting form will be sent out to all families. The goal this year is to obtain 3 parents/guardians.

Are you interested in volunteering during your child's library class? We are currently looking for volunteers! All you have to do is fill out our MRS Library Volunteer Schedule. Once we have our lists together, Mrs. Tracy Allen will contact you regarding next steps. THANK YOU!

The student handbook is available on-line (click on the picture on the right) and contains important information about school policies, procedures, and expectations for student conduct. It is reviewed annually by the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District School Committee and placed on file with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students and parent(s)/caregiver(s) are encouraged to take the time to review the handbook and become familiar with its contents. If you prefer a hard copy of the student handbook, please notify the main office at (508) 943-4312 and we will be sure to send one home.

It is important to note that forms have been sent home for your consent so that the school has permission to have your child's photograph taken. If we do not receive a form back from you, we will assume we have your permission. Any photographs taken are only shared through classrooms , via monthly newsletters and/or on the DCRSD website. They are not posted on social media in any form.

Matter of fact, there is no social media webpage for Mason Road School (no Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram). There may, however, be a parent/caregiver created page that you are welcome to join. I, however, am not part of that. While I know it is an amazing venue for information, I will be sure to notify parent(s)/caregiver(s) as often as necessary through email, phone call, or text messages.

With the weather cooling down, baseball (I just love my baseball) near the end of its season, and fall sports in full swing, fall is right around the corner. I know that schedules are very busy but it is great if you are able to have the children involved in the community activities. In the future, I would like for our newsletters and district website (will need pictures taken horizontally) to include pictures of students here at MRS so that you can see what is happening. Again, we require permission to share any photos.

Thank you!

The mobile dentist will be coming to Mason Road on 10/23/23. Sign up sheets will be sent home with your student next week and need to be returned no later than 10/2/23. If you prefer to sign up online or have any questions, please visit their website here.

Students will be provided with a snack break as part of the school day. Depending on their lunch time, students could enjoy a snack in the morning or in the afternoon. They are allowed to bring in personal water bottles. Please have your child's bottle labeled with their name. Any liquids from home must either be in a juice box that can be thrown away or clear liquid if in a water bottle. Mason Road School has two hydration stations that students can refill their bottles as necessary.

Mason Road School is not a peanut free school, we do have peanut free classrooms. We strongly encourage that students bring a peanut free snack to school especially since they are eaten in the classrooms. For lunch, pack as you wish and know that your child will enjoy!

Our next newsletter will include more pictures of school happenings. I am just waiting for the majority of consents to come in. Mrs. Harris has been working diligently getting a list of Do Not Photograph students together. Those identified will not have pictures in this newsletter unless we have your permission.

September 22 - Early Release - Staff PD- dismissal at 12:15 lunch will be served - NO AFTERNOON PK

October 6- No school all students- Staff PD

October 9- No school all students - Columbus day

October 26- Early Release - dismissal at 12:15 lunch will be served - NO AFTERNOON PK

November 10- No School all students - Veteran's Day

November 16- Early Release - dismissal at 12:15 lunch will be served- Parent Teacher conferences PK-4

November 22 - Early Release - dismissal at 12:15 lunch will be served- NO AFTERNOON PK

November 23-24 - No School - ALL- Thanksgiving break

The Dudley PTO have been a huge supporter of programs, field trips, etc. for Mason Road School. If you are interested in joining the PTO or want to stay up to date on fundraisers, please click on the picture to access their website.

You can also follow the Dudley PTO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DudleyPTO

WE HAVE A NEW SCHOOL SPIRIT STORE!! A HUGE thank you to Kerrin Graphics, right in Dudley, for creating this amazing store for families to purchase School Sway at a low cost. Kerrin has done an amazing job on may of the things we use in our District. They are the ones who print our Principal Awards! SHOP AWAY by clicking the sun below!!!

Mason Road School

20 Mason Road

Dudley, MA 01507

Telephone: (508) 943-4312

Fax: (508) 949-1005

Principal: Jennifer A. Desto

Email: jdesto@dcrsd.org

Administrative Assistant: Crissy Harris

Email: charris@dcrsd.org

School Hours PreSchool

AM: 9:10 am - 11:40 am

PM: 12:20 pm - 2:50 pm

School Hours K & 1

Arrival begins at 8:30 am

Late Bell at 8:40

Classes begin at 8:45 am

Dismissal begins at 3:00 pm

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact contact me. This cannot be stressed enough especially when there are concerns. I cannot address what I am not aware of. ~Jen