PHT Paws-itively News
March 7th, 2022
Principal's Thoughts
Dear Page Hilltop Families:
At this time you should all be aware of the change in school mandates regarding the wearing of masks in school, effective this past Friday. The decision as to whether or not you want your child to wear a mask in school is totally up to parents. As we move forward I am fairly confident that we will have some students & staff wearing masks while others may not. There may be changes from day to day or during different parts of the school day.
We are an all-inclusive school and we will continue to support all of our students and families with their decisions in this matter. There will always be masks available in classrooms, the cafeteria & at school entrances. Students are welcome to help themselves to a mask at any time.
We have recently installed several more water-filling stations throughout the school, the latest of which was installed in the cafeteria over vacation. Students are encouraged to bring their water bottles to school every day and will have opportunities to refill them during the day. If your child needs a new water bottle, please send them to the office and we will provide one, at no cost.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your children with us!
Fred Deppe, Principal
Matt Lutinski, Assistant Principal
UPCOMING MARCH DATES TO REMEMBER
- March 9th -- Early Release @ 1:45
- March 16th -- Half Day Dismissal @ 12:15
- March 17th -- St. Patrick's Day -- Wear your green!
- March 21st -- First Day of Spring -- Wear your spring colors!
- March 31st -- 1/2 Day (Preschool - 5) for PTC Dismissal @ 12:15
HALF DAY LUNCHES AVAILABLE
5th GRADE POSTURAL SCREENING
If you are opting out of having your child screened for scoliosis, you must fill out this form or send an email expressing your desire to opt-out to Nurse Ashleigh Barter (abarter@asrsd.org).
SPIRIT DAYS for MARCH
Thursday, March 17th - St. Patrick's Day
Dress like a leprechaun OR just wear lots of GREEN!
Monday, March 21st - Welcome to Spring Day
Wear lots of bright sunshine-y colors. Wear clothing with butterflies, birds, ladybugs and other "signs of spring". Wear your favorite spring hat.
BE ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AS YOUR STUDENT?
Page Hilltop is looking for people interesting in providing coverage for classroom teachers and paraprofessionals (on an interim substitute basis). Interested applicants must submit a copy of this application. Applicants, if hired, will need to complete a CORI in the main office and also be fingerprinted. Please email Fred Deppe, at fdeppe@asrsd.org if you have any questions.
Current Employment Opportunities can be found on SchoolSpring -- CLICK HERE
COMMUNITY READER DAY -- 3/4/22
Special "Thank You" to the following...
- ASRSD Admin -- Dr. Adam Renda, Mr. Charlie Caliri, Mrs. Beth Lewis, Mrs. Courtney Noll, Dr. Miriam Meyers, Mrs. Mary Beth Hamel, Mrs. Tara Bozek, Nurse Rene Paine, Ms. Larainne Wilson
- ASRSD Teaching Staff -- Mr. Nick Forrest, Nurse Ashleigh Barter, Mrs. Pat Russell, Nurse Tina Huff, Mrs. Leah Carter
- APD -- Chief Brian Gill and his staff
- AFD -- Deputy Chief Jeremy Januskiewicz and his staff
- Ayer Public Library -- Amy Leonard
- Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce -- Melissa Fetterhoff
- J&S Business Products -- Jose Banchs
- Little Bee Bookshop -- Debra Rivera
- Ayer Shirley Rotary Club -- Lehel Reeves
- Keystone Academy -- Megan Ritter
- Ayer Business Owner -- David Berry
- Ayer Town Clerk -- Susan Copeland
- BAE Systems / First Robotics-- Chris Miska
CLASSROOM SHOWCASE
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY AND WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
What does inclusion mean?
Please use the Google Form below to share what inclusion means to you and your family!
INCOMING PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS
Preschool Registration Slide Deck -- CLICK HERE
Preschool Registration Packet -- CLICK HERE
Kindergarten Registration Slide Deck -- CLICK HERE
Kindergarten Registration Packet -- CLICK HERE
SPRING/END-OF-YEAR EVENTS
- Talk with your children and provide us with any feedback on what special school events they have missed the most these past couple of years. What would they really like to be able to participate in this spring? You may email Mr. Deppe with your family's ideas or send him a note.
- In preparation for the possibility that you may be asked to be a volunteer for a school event or trip, you will need to have a current CORI on file. CORIs are valid for three years. If you are unsure as to your CORI status, you may call our school office and they can check for you.
To submit a CORI only takes about 10 minutes. You may stop by the school office, any day between 9:00 - 2:00, to complete the application. Please bring your driver's license with you.
EVENT SPONSORS
We are all aware that costs have been rising, in all areas of business, these past two years. One area that is facing challenges is school transportation, especially when it comes to a potential field trip vs lack of bus drivers available. The admission costs, for various venues, is also on the rise.
These past couple of years have been extremely stressful and challenging for all of our students. We are determined to provide them with some positive memories as they finish out this school year.
For those of you who are new to the Page Hilltop community, I want to reassure you that we have never allowed any student to miss out on a school event and/or trip due to a family's inability to cover any related costs. The Page Hilltop School community ALWAYS takes care of our family members.
Our PTO has always been very supportive of our school and will continue to do so. However, their funding may be slightly more limited than in past years, due to a cutback in fund-raising opportunities the past two years.
IDEA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: If you could check with your employer (HR or Community Affairs Department) and ask them if they have any special donation accounts that may be used to help support school events. There are some businesses that do this and I figured it doesn't hurt to ask.
PAWS POWER MEETING
CLEAN and BEAUTIFUL
SUMMER CAMPS
AT HOME COVID TESTING PROTOCOLS
To opt into this new testing program use the link to this Google Form -- CLICK HERE
Testing kits will be sent home with students every other Tuesday. Students will need to test at home by 6:30 pm every Tuesday and report positive cases only using the QR code to the Google Form provided with testing kits.
ACADEMICS AT HOME
Please find the links to these online tools below...
Students should have their usernames and passwords written down in their folders. If not, please email your child's teacher for this information.
SPRING MCAS DATES
ELA MCAS:
- Grade 5: April 5 & 6
- Grade 4: April 11 & 12
- Grade 3: April 25 & 26
MATH MCAS:
- Grade 4: May 9 & 10
- Grade 5: May 16 & 17
- Grade 3: May 18 & 19
STE MCAS (5th-Grade Only)
- Grade 5: May 24 & 25
PTO UPDATES
NEXT PTO MEETING: Thursday, April @ 7:00 PM via ZOOM
PTO Website -- LINK
PTO Facebook Page -- Link
Are you an Amazon shopper?
Did you know just by shopping with smileamazon.com you can help support PH!?
Create a FREE SMILE ACCOUNT and link it to Page Hilltop.
Share with family and friends so they can help support PH too!
BOX TOPS
YES, Page Hilltop can still earn with Box Tops!
Here is a video on how to Scan with the Box Tops Mobile App YOUTUBE BOXTOP
SCRIPS YEAR ROUND
The PHT PTO scrip program is a simple and effective fundraising program.
Please email Amanda Lewis at alewis@asrsd.org with any questions regarding the Scrip Program.
Go to: https://www.shopwithscrip.com/how-to-enroll and click Join Your Existing Program
1. Enter the Enrollment Code: 298736BL13535
2. Complete the Family Registration page
3. Start Shopping!