RUSSELL SCHOOL FAMILY NEWSLETTER
August 1, 2022
September 24, 2023
Russell Office Number - 617.635.8803
WEEK 4 UPDATE
Thank you to all of the families that attended our Back to School Night! Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to postpone the food and entertainment portion of the event, we will reschedule those portions as circumstances permit.
Parent Site Council elections will be held on October 5th and WE NEED YOU! Every school should have a Parent School Council (PSC). The PSC brings together all parents in the school community to support the school and advocate for quality education. All positions are available, join us! Learn more about the positions below.
Dismissal with PickMyKid:
If you still need help with PickMyKid for dismissal, please check out the flyer on how to get started below. Please know that every parent must download the app even if your child is a bus student.
Safe Mode Drill:
On Wednesday, September 27th The Russell Elementary School will be conducting a Safe Mode drill. Safe Mode is a protective action used to safeguard faculty, staff, and students from an EXTERNAL THREAT due to law enforcement activity near the school or a potentially dangerous situation near the school. Schools will typically be placed into SAFE MODE by the Boston Police Department or BPS Safety Services, but each school can enter SAFE MODE on its own. BPS requires all schools to conduct these drills. We will be happy to answer any questions or concerns about our drill. Thank you in advance for you attention to this matter.
Sep 27 - School Based Equity Round Table
Oct 5 - Parent Site Council- Election Night/Invited guest: St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
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
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.
***Please download the app even if you child is a bus student.
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 ENGAGEMENT
"Students whose parents stay involved in school have better attendance and behavior, get better grades, demonstrate better social skills and adapt better to school."- Annie E. Casey Foundation
WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO JOIN US AS A TEAM:
1) PARENT SITE COUNCIL
We need you! The Russell School is better when parents and staff work together. To make this possible we need leaders and volunteers for elected positions and support roles. We are in need of parent/guardian volunteers for the following positions.
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.
5) Catie's Closet Champion Volunteer
We are looking for one of our parent/caregiver to become a Catie's Closet Champion.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintain a clean and organized closet
- Assist in replenishing items and identifying closet needs
- Communicate with Catie’s Closet staff and school personnel
- Perform a mid-year and end-of-school-year assessment
Please contact Ms. Sharon for more information or if you wish to volunteer.
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.
AROUND THE CITY
Cambridge Science Festival returns with an unmissable program of events across the city. See the full listings now, check out this year's themes & series. Please click HERE for more information.