RUSSELL SCHOOL FAMILY NEWSLETTER
August 1, 2022
September 10, 2023
Russell Office Number - 617.635.8803
WEEK 2 UPDATE
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL! To our returning families, we are very happy to see you all again and to our new families, welcome to the Russell! This will be a lengthy newsletter, but we want to give you important information.
Back to School Night:
Our back to school event will be held on September 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Come and meet our teachers and school partners. There will be music, food and fun!
Help Us Welcome Our Staff Back:
Thank you to all of the families who have donated! We are getting closer to having the staff lounge our teachers deserve. If you have not yet donated we have two high wish items, a second microwave and the ice maker. One working microwave has been donated already THANK YOU, but a second would be amazing to support 60 staff. We have created a wish list on Amazon to make it easy for you to contribute and help make their lounge a comfortable and welcoming space. All items were things they personally suggested on our staff survey.
After School Program/Alternate Transportation Request
If you are interested in the afterschool program (program where children attend BGCD each day after school), you must complete the Afterschool Interest Roster. Please note, this is an interest form only. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment at this time. If your child will be attending an after-school program and requires alternate transportation, please complete the request form now. The process takes about two weeks to go into effect, so let's ensure everything is set up smoothly. You can find the alternate transportation request form [Alternate Transportation Request Link].
Dismissal with PickMyKid:
This year, we will be using PickMyKid for dismissal! Check out the flyer on how to get started below.
Classroom Ambassadors & Parent Site Council:
We are looking for one parent from each classroom to serve as a Classroom Ambassador. Your support with communication and family engagement will be invaluable. Additionally, we have various opportunities to join our Parent Site Council, including the roles of Co-Presidents. The Parent Site Council plays a crucial role in school decision-making, and we encourage you to get involved and make a difference in your child's education. More information and application forms are below.
Water Access:
This past week the district added new water refill stations for our students. This means we will no longer have bubblers and will instead have water refill stations. As a result, we will no longer have the single use paper cups delivered to the school and instead are asking that students come to school with a reusable water bottle daily. They will have the ability to refill as needed which is great especially on PE days!!
Our web page and social media are also updated with key dates, helpful links and information.
Happy Back to School,
Russell Leadership Team
Sep 11 - Kindergarten students report to school.
Sep 15 - Pep Rally
Sep 21 - Back to School/Russell Open House @ Russell 5:00-7:30pm
Sep 27 - School Based Equity Round Table
Oct 5 - Parent Site Council
Oct 9 - No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day
Oct 9 - School Site Council
Oct 25 - School Based Equity Round Table
Oct 31 - Harvest Fest
Nov 2 - Parent Site Council
Nov 3 - Pep Rally
Nov 10 -No School - Veterans Day
Nov 16 - School Site Council
Nov 22 - Early Release @ 12:40pm
Nov 23-24 - No School - Thanksgiving
HOME SCHOOL COMPACT
Every Title I school must have a Home-School Compact. The Home-School compact is a document that clearly defines how the school and parents will build a partnership to help students succeed academically. A compact outlines how the school will meet the needs of its students, and the roles and responsibilities of parents and students. It serves as the basis for a written agreement between individual students, their parent/guardian, and the school. The parent/guardian, the student, the student’s teacher, and the school principal all sign the agreement.
What does the compact include?
The compact includes all the responsibilities and tasks that parents, students, and teachers,l agree to do to help students learn. Compacts are school-specific and should be translated into the home languages of the families.
It should cover what the school will do to:
- provide high-quality instruction to all students
- monitor the progress of all children
- make certain that all students get challenging work and high-quality instruction
- create ways for parents and teachers to be in good working relationships
- communicate with families about student progress
- make sure that parents have reasonable access to school staff
- make sure families get the information, materials, and training they need to help students with complex subjects such as math and science
The compact will also outline how parents will:
- Support learning at home
- To the extent possible, avoid tardiness and absences
- Communicate with teachers
- Engage in the shared decision-making process
The compact will also outline how students will:
- To the extent possible, avoid tardiness and absences
- Show respect for themselves and others
- Complete all work to the best of their ability, on time
- Engage in the shared decision-making process
RUSSELL UNIFORMS
Our uniforms are now available through Metro School Uniforms. Please remember that uniforms are not mandatory but recommended.
Please follow the link below to order your uniforms online at the link below or you can also visit the store:
745 Dudley Street, Dorchester MA, 02125
Hours of Operation:
Monday- Saturday 10am-6pm
***We also have uniforms available at our school (cash only). Please call Ms. Lydia to check for size availability or to make an appointment.
STOCK THE LOUNGE
The Russell staff gives 100% every day and they always put our students first. Help us welcome them back with a little extra comfort by helping us to stock the lounge. You can find our Amazon Wish List below.
PICKMYKID
In our ongoing efforts to enhance your children’s safety, we have decided to begin using the PikMyKid Dismissal Application. Throughout the country, it has been proven to simplify dismissal, reduce traffic congestion, and most importantly, improve overall safety. The unique features of PikMyKid allow you, as parents, to easily change pick up modes, quickly delegate to an alternate individual for pickup, change to an ‘After School’ program, and even schedule for future pickup mode, pickup individual, and after school programs. This app allows you to be in full control of your child’s dismissal and it gives us, the school, complete information regarding dismissal and the ability to acknowledge every change and to instantly check your child’s dismissal status should you have a question. We are very excited about this addition and know you will be too. Check your emails over the next week for additional information and we will be on our way to a safer, quicker, and more efficient dismissal process. To Learn a little more on your own, please check out the following link that will show you a few of the PikMyKid features.
TALKINGPOINTS
TalkingPoints is an education technology nonprofit with a mission to drive student success by using accessible technology to unlock the potential of family engagement in children’s education.
Our multilingual technology platform connects and empowers families and teachers by using human and AI-powered, two-way translated communication and personalized content. This unique approach eliminates barriers including language, time, mindsets, and capacity to foster strong family engagement in development of students’ academic success.
BPS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY
In addition to meeting academic requirements, students must meet state laws and BPS requirements for school attendance. Excellent attendance and school success go hand in hand. The more often a student is absent—even if the absence is unavoidable—the harder it is for the student to keep up with the class. Students with good attendance are more likely to show proficiency in MCAS than those with poor attendance. Parents play an essential role in ensuring that their child attends school consistently and on time every day.
In order to excuse your children, BPS requires a note from parents with date, name of the student, reason for absence and parent signature. If the student is out for more than 3 consecutive days, a doctor's note is required. The documents must be provided within seven days of the absence.
First Absence
Teacher contacts parent via Talking Point: Instruct parents to fill out Google form or send written note with date, reason, parent 's phone number and signature within 7 days of absence.
Second Absence
Attendance team will send home letter before third absence
Third Unexcused Absence
Attendance team will send home letter before fourth absence
Teacher must refer student to MTSS
Parent is invited to meeting with the MTSS team
Attendance team starts Attendance Intervention Plan (AIP)
Fourth Unexcused Absence
Parent will meet with School Leader
FAMILY ENVOLVEMENT
"Family engagement is not a single event. It is a shared responsibility in which regular two-way communication insures that the student is on track to meet grade-level requirements." - Heather Weiss
WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO JOIN US AS A TEAM:
1) Parent Site Council:
Co-Chairs:
Provide leadership and direction (schedule meeting, create agenda, facilitate meetings, maintain two-way
communication.
Treasurer:
Keeping records of funds raised by the Russell PSC
Secretary:
Takes notes during the meeting and facilitates communication
City Wide Parent Council:
Participate in the inter-school parent group, and advocate for all students
Special Education Parent Advisory Council Rep (SPED PAC):
Participate in citywide parent organization to provide resource to families of students with special needs
District English Language Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC):
Participate in citywide parent organization to provide resource to families of students who are English
Language Learners
2) Volunteer Parent Ambassador:
As a school, we are actively trying to increase family engagement in our school. We need your help in building strong partnerships between home and school! We are looking to recruit family members who can help us communicate to other Russell families by being Classroom Family Champion / Ambassadors. The roles and responsibilities of the position will include the following:
- Calling families in your class for zoom meeting and in person meetings
- Reminding families in your class of important dates
- Informing families of upcoming events and programs
3) Parent Mentor
Make a difference in your child’s school! Apply for the Parent Mentor Program
We are looking for 3 parents and caregivers interested in the Parent Mentor Program. This program will place you in a classroom in your child’s school for 2.5 hours a day to act as a mentor for our students.
Parent Mentors will receive a stipend of $17/hour for 12.5 hours a week.
4) School Spirit Team
We are recruiting family members to join our School Spirit Team. Spirit Team members will help us create and organize different school activities such as October Fest, Field Day and Multicultural Night among others.
BOYS&GIRLS CLUB LETTER: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Hello Families,
We hope you and your family are having a safe and fun summer. We are excited to launch BGCD's 2023- 2024 membership enrollment and wanted to notify families of our new database system.
After School Enrollment:
- If you are interested in the afterschool program (program where children attend BGCD each day after school), you must complete the Afterschool Interest Roster. PLEASE CLICK HERE (After School Program Interest ).
- Please note, this is an interest form only. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment at this time. We are collecting this information in order to determine the number of members interested and the staffing required.
- You will be notified via an email if you have been accepted into the Afterschool program for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Priority will be given to returning members from our partnering schools.
- Please note- Although capacity in the afterschool program is limited, we encourage families to apply. We anticipate increasing enrollment numbers over the next few months as we add staff and volunteers to our team.
Enrichment Opportunities (evening programs) are open to all BGCD members
Registration information for fall enrichment programs will be sent out on September 18, 2023
Brendan M. McDonald
Vice President of Programming
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester
1135 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02125
Phone: (617) 288-7120, ext. 2120
Fax: (617) 288-0711
COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF BOSTON
We’re so excited to make music with your school community this year! Here are some of the CMCB faces you might see around your school. Have a great school year!
FREE ONLINE TUTORING
FREE ONLINE TUTORING AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR BPS STUDENTS!
Boston Partners in Education matches BPS students with experienced mentors to help improve academics and confidence.
Any BPS student in grades 2-12 is eligible to be matched with a mentor through our Independent Learning Support program in any school subject.
Mentors meet with students online, for one hour a week, to help with classwork and homework.
To learn more about the Independent Learning Support program or to sign your student up for the 2022-23 school year, visit: bit.ly/IndependentLearningSupport
Resources Corner
HELP WITH HOMEWORK:
FOOD RESOURCES
INTERNET OPTIONS:
Subscribe to a fixed home broadband internet connection for more reliable and consistent connectivity. Affordable Connectivity Program: Up to a $30/month discount on broadband internet services for eligible households. For additional information, call (877)-384-2575 or visit https://acpbenefit.org/. Comcast Internet Essentials: Low cost broadband internet ($9.95/month, free with Affordable Connectivity Program). For additional information, visit internetessentials.com.
REMINDER
DISMISSAL REMINDER
The Russell dismissal policy is that students have one mode of transportation home. Students are either a walker or a bus student. Students who are traditionally on a bus but will be picked up at dismissal should report to their bus room. The person picking them up should wait at the front of the school and retrieve them from the bus line. Students who are assigned to a bus should never be released with the walkers.
NO PICK UP AFTER 2:00PM
Early dismissal will not be accommodated during the last block of the day. No student will be dismissed after 2:00pm.
DISMISSAL TIME IS 3:10PM
NO OUTSIDE FOOD
The Russell policy states that families are not permitted to send in outside food to be shared with the class. This is due to a number of students having food allergies, sensitivities and dietary restrictions. Parents are welcome to celebrate student birthdays and holidays with non-edible goodies.