MHS/WES Newsletter

I am writing to introduce myself as the new Associate Principal at Meetinghouse School and Westminster Elementary. This is my second year in AWRSD and my 12th year as an administrator. During the past 2 weeks, I have spent time getting to know your children and have enjoyed every minute with them. I am honored to become a member of the Westminster community and am looking forward to a fantastic school year, working with our dedicated staff, parents, and community partners to provide an exceptional experience for our students.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

kobrien@awrsd.org

Meetinghouse: 978-874-0163 X302

WES: 978-874-2043

Sincerely,

Kellie O’Brien

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all students and their parents. We are looking forward to working with you and your children at MHS/WES. We would like to share the following important information with you and ask for your cooperation in providing the necessary documentation and communication regarding your child in order to ensure his/her health and safety.

HEALTH CONCERNS: Please inform your school nurse of any severe allergies, surgeries, accidents or medical conditions. This information will be kept confidential and can be listed on the yearly health form that was sent home, but can also be found HERE

PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS – If your child will be taking any prescribed medication during school hours, has been prescribed an Epi-Pen, Auvi-Q or asthma inhaler, or any emergency medications, we will need the following forms completed and returned to the School Nurse’s office as soon as possible:

• Parent/Guardian Consent for Medication Administration

Please be sure the bottom half of the form is signed by the prescribing physician, or a separate signed order form is sent to the school nurse. a prescription label IS NOT acceptable in lieu of an MD’s order.

PHYSICAL EXAMS AND IMMUNIZATIONS: In accordance with the AWRSD Policy and Massachusetts State Law, physical exams and documentation of immunizations are required for all students entering Kindergarten and 3rd grade. All students entering Pre-school are also required to present documentation of immunizations in order to attend. The law states that medical exemptions must be presented at the beginning of each school year. Massachusetts Department of Public Health additionally requires annual renewal of religious exemptions in writing at the beginning of each school year.

ILLNESS/ABSENCES: Please contact the main office in the morning if your child is to be absent and inform them why he/she will not be attending. If your child has been ill, he/she should be free of a temperature for 24 hours before returning to school without the use of fever reducing medication.

Finally, please continue to routinely check our website for the most current health services information Here.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns! We look forward to having a fun, safe, and healthy school year.

Bridget Hurley RN, BSN

Westminster Elementary School

Bhurley@awrsd.org

P: 978-874-2043 ext 5

F: 978-874-0964

Cassandra Benes RN, BSN

Meetinghouse School

Cbenes@awrsd.org

P: 978-874-0163

F: 978-874-0726

First grade has had a fun filled first two weeks! We have spent time getting to know each other and making new friends. We have been learning and practicing classroom routines. This week we started all of our curriculum. Be on the lookout for family letters about how to help your child learn at home.

Back to school and the beginning of first grade can make kids very hungry and very tired. It will help your children be at their personal best if they get to bed early and have a healthy breakfast. Also, please remember a refillable water bottle everyday.

We can’t wait to meet all the First Grade families at Open House on September 29th. Remember this is a family event so all children and siblings are welcome. See you then!

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! I hope everyone had a happy, healthy, and fun-filled summer. I am very excited to be back with the students for my second year! I have worked hard this summer to improve upon the Physical Education curriculum and add many new activities for the students.

Classes have been going great so far. For the first few weeks, we will work on establishing classroom routines and participating in cooperative games with all grades. I learned some new challenges/games over the summer that I am excited to share with the students, especially during the first few weeks of school!

Starting soon, we will be getting into our first units. Grades K+1 will be working on Throwing and Catching while grades 2-5 will start Flag Football. In the Throwing and Catching unit, students will learn how to throw underhand and overhand, how to throw different distances, how to throw with accuracy and the proper form for catching. This unit will help develop students' hand eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills, as well as their spatial awareness which are all building blocks to the skills we will learn throughout the year.

In the Flag Football unit, students will review and build upon skills learned last year, such as proper throwing and catching techniques, throwing lead passes, strategies for creating space on offense/scoring, and defensive skills. Students will work on skill development and we will also play small sided lead up games at the end of the unit. This is a great opportunity to develop teamwork, communication and problem solving skills.

I also encourage you to be active at home! Play a flag football game in the yard, go apple picking, rake leaves that are sure to be falling soon, play pass. Not only will this be good practice for students to master skills learned in PE class, but it is also a great way to spend time together!

I am looking forward to another great year filled with lots of movement and physical activity!