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Butler Family Newsletter
January 7, 2024
Hello Butler Families!
Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the Winter Break and found create to make memories with family and friends. I was able to see my family in Arizona, where the warm, sunny days were a welcomed relief! We have completed our first week back at school and have quickly jumped right back into it!
Warm Regards,
Julie Babson
Principal
In this newsletter you will find information about:
- Winter Weather
- Snow Reminders
Fire Safety Lessons
School Committee Meeting
School Spirit Day
Nurse's Notes
MCAS Dates
Important Dates
Resources
Winter Weather
We want to remind you of the various ways you can find out about school delays and closings. As always, Belmont Public Schools will put out an automated call and email to parents and staff.
School closing or delay decisions are made with the support of the other town departments as we consider the safety of our staff and students traveling to school. As usual, any snow days are made up at the end of the school year.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the various ways you can find out about an unexpected school closing or delay due to weather:
WBZ Radio (1030 AM) and TV (Channel 4) http://boston.cbslocal.com/closings/
WRKO Radio (680 AM) and WHDH TV (Channel 7) http://whdh.com/storm-closings-delays/
WCVB TV (Channel 5) http://www.wcvb.com/weather/closings
The BPS Website School Closing Delayed Opening
Snow Reminders
The Department of Public Works does a remarkable job clearing the parking lots and playground area for Butler staff and students. With the large snow piles that appear after a heavy snowfall please make sure your child is not climbing them as you arrive at school. During school hours students are not allowed to climb the snow piles or throw snowballs. Students must have snow pants and snow boots in order to play on the fields. We look forward to your continued support in making sure students are safe when on school grounds.
Fire Safety Lessons with Belmont Fire Department
This past week, Butler students were treated with a visit from the Belmont Fire Department where each class learned about different ways to stay safe in a fire. Thank you to the BFD for their time and support!
School Committee Meeting
The next School Committee meeting will take place Tuesday, January 9, 2024
in the Homer Municipal Building Gallery Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Agenda items include:
- Budget FY25 Draft 2
- School Calendar 2024-2025 DRAFT
- BHS Program of Studies 2024-2025
- Special Education Parent Advisory Council Update
- Strategic Planning Process
You can access the meeting via the link listed above or view the meeting live or later On Demand at Belmont Media.
School Spirit Day Wednesday!
Students have filled up the giant paw print again with lots of positive behaviors! The kindergartners had their turn to vote for the Spirit Day and everyone is invited to wear their favorite team jersey or anything Belmont/Butler. Looking forward to seeing your spirit!
Nurse's Notes
Illness Guidelines
We continue to see an overall increase in illness in our community. Early symptoms of Covid, RSV and the flu can look similar for many children, including congestion, cough, runny nose, muscle aches, fever, and headache. At home COVID testing is still recommended; testing more than once is highly suggested as it may take time for the virus to show on a home test. If your child continues to feel unwell, please reach out to your pediatrician for further guidance.
When to keep your child home
A cold or COVID-like illness, in the early contagious stages (frequent sneezing, coughing, nose stuffed up, nose constantly running, child feels ill ) Please use a rapid antigen at-home COVID test prior to their return to school.
A temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher. Keep children home until their temperature is less than 100.0 for 24 hours without fever reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin etc.).
Vomiting or diarrhea. Students should remain home for 24 hours after the last episode.
An undiagnosed skin rash.
Infections such as strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye), ringworm, or impetigo. Keep your child home until they have been on prescribed treatment medication for 24 hours.
If your child has been sick and is still requiring frequent over the counter medications for cough, fever, or other symptoms, they are not well enough to return to school. Please be sure to keep them home until they are able to make it through the day without medication.
Call the absence line at 617-993- 5552 to report your child’s absence (messages can be left 24 hours a day). ALL positive COVID-19 cases are to be reported on this FORM If your child has been diagnosed with an illness, it is helpful to let me know so that I can help you plan a safe return for your child and keep track of potential trends and outbreaks in school.
Head Lice Information
Head Lice LOVE Vacations! These times when we visit relatives and children snuggle together for movies, sleepovers or share pillows to read a book together are times when head lice can travel to your child’s head. Although head lice do not jump or fly, they can be transmitted by direct head to head contact.
Head lice are always in the community, and routine inspection of children’s heads by parents is ESSENTIAL to combat the spread. .
Please take a moment at home to check your child’s hair for head lice and their eggs (also called nits). Work under good light, such as the natural sunlight from sitting by a window or going outdoors. If eyesight is a problem, have a magnifying glass on hand. Use a bright light and magnifier as you methodically check your child.
Use a white hair conditioner, and a good lice comb to detect lice or nits. I have more information and written materials regarding this treatment.
Regular checking at home (monthly) dramatically decreases transmission. Please make checking for head lice a part of your routine hygiene just like brushing one’s teeth.
If your child is found to have head lice at school, you will be called and advised to seek treatment. After treatment, please have your child check in with me for a quick exam.
No extra precautions are needed at home or in class, as research has shown this is spread through behavior, not objects. Belmont public school policy on head lice can be viewed HERE An article detailing evidence based practice from the American Academy of Pediatrics can be found HERE
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns
Lisa Harteveldt BSN, RN
Butler School Nurse
617-993-5556
lharteveldt@belmontschools.net
MCAS Dates
This spring, third and fourth graders will be participating in MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System). While this is long way off, we want to provide the specific dates students will be testing to avoid any conflicts with travel plans or appointments.
English Language Arts
Grade 3 - April 4 & 5
Grade 4 - April 8 & 11
Make-up Testing - April 22-26
Math
Grade 3 - May 13 & 15
Grade 4 - May 16 & 20
Make-up Testing - May 21-24
Important Dates
January 12 - Coffee with the Principal 9-9:30 (virtual link: meet.google.com/ckr-fzde-heh)
January 11 - PTA General Meeting (in-person) 5:30-7pm
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 26 - Butler Art Night 6:30-7:30pm
February 1 - School Advisory Council 7pm
February 2 - Coffee with the Principal (in-person) 8:45-9:15am
Resources
To receive emails from our school, please follow this link and sign up for the listserve.
Here is the district webpage with resources for new families.
About Butler
Email: jbabson@belmontschools.net
Website: https://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/bps/butler/
Location: 90 White Street, Belmont, MA, USA
Phone: (617) 993-5550