Center School Newsletter

January 5, 2025

This week:

January 8 - PTA @ 7:00 - 8:00 pm via Zoom

Artist-in-Residence at Center School

Center School is thrilled to announce that local artist Elizabeth James-Perry will teach art classes in grades 1-3 on January 13 and 14, 2025. Students will learn about Eastern Woodlands/Algonquian traditional arts and create individual weavings on small looms with corn husks dyed with local natural plant materials.

Elizabeth James-Perry’s artwork is intimately tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal homeland on Martha’s Vineyard/Noepe. Highly regarded within her community and beyond for her woven wampum, twined basketry, quillwork, and sashes, she is considered one of the most accomplished Native artists working in New England today.

Please click on the link below to sign up to volunteer during art classes on January 13 or 14th.

https://volunteersignup.org/B8PBY

Reading Together in 2025

Welcome to 2025! As we think about goals for the new year - here are a few tips to make reading an enjoyable adventure for families in the coming year:

~ Choose Books Together: Involve your child in selecting books based on their interests. This will make them more excited about reading and help them discover new genres. Please reach out to your child's teacher or Mrs. Mirabito, our school librarian, if you would like information about selecting books for your child to read or for you to read aloud.

~ Set a Reading Routine: Establish a consistent reading time each day. Whether it's before bedtime or during a lazy Sunday afternoon, having a routine makes reading a natural part of their day.

~ Be a Reading Role Model: Demonstrate your love for reading by letting your child see you engrossed in a book. Children often imitate the habits of their parents.

~ Create a Cozy Reading Nook: Design a comfortable space with pillows, blankets, and soft lighting where your child can immerse themselves in the magic of a good book.

~Join a Library or Book Club: Foster a sense of community and shared enthusiasm by joining a local library or a children's book club. This can turn reading into a social activity.

~ Blend Reading with Other Activities: Integrate reading into hobbies or activities your child enjoys. For example, try reading a recipe book together if they love cooking.

~ Encourage Creativity: After reading a story, encourage your child to draw illustrations or act out parts of the book together. This helps them connect with the material on a deeper level.

~Encourage comprehension: Start a discussion about the characters and events in the story to help children practice active reading.

What do you think this story is about?
What do you think might happen next in this story?
What words do you think best describe this character?
Can you connect what’s happening in this book and something in your own life?

Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan

From Dr. Curley, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services:

The Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 is working to update their Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan. Each school district, charter school, non-public school, Department-approved private special education school, and collaborative school must create a Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan (Plan) that prohibits bullying, cyberbullying, and retaliation. The Plan is to include information on reporting, notice to parents and guardians, notice to law enforcement as necessary, and counseling strategies and procedures for creating safety plans for victims. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plans must be updated every other year (See M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, added by Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010.) When developing the Plan, school districts, charter schools, Department-approved private special education schools, and collaborative schools must give notice and provide for a public comment period.

The Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 is seeking the public's feedback on the draft, proposed Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan. Please provide any feedback on this Google Form here by January 6, 2025.

Health Office Update:

It’s that time of year when we are seeing an increase in illnesses at school. As a reminder, here are common reasons when a student should stay home from school:

Fever greater than 100 degrees (must be fever-free for at least 24 hrs without using fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen before returning to school)
Respiratory virus symptoms such as a cough or nasal congestion that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause such as seasonal allergies
Vomiting and/or diarrhea within 24 hours of coming to school
Rash or skin sores of unknown origin
Lingering sore throat with or without fever
For illnesses such as strep throat, impetigo, or conjunctivitis, a student must be treated for 24 hours before returning to school.

In general, a child returning to school should be well enough to participate in school with improving symptoms. They should also be able to manage cough and congestion on their own, and be able to tolerate food and liquids. Parents and caregivers should consult their child’s healthcare providers with specific questions about their child’s condition or illness.

Click for Arrival and Dismissal Information

District Calendar

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Click here for Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Community Flyers

Please click here to view Community Flyers. All flyers are posted online on the linked community page

PTA Events and Information

Amazon Wishlist: The PTA has a wishlist on Amazon that helps them support hospitality events and fulfill teacher requests. You can check it out through the provided link (http://bit.ly/mattapoisettpta)
Minted Fundraising: use the code FUNDRAISEMATTAPOISETT at Minted.com; saves you 20% while giving the PTA 15% back. A win-win for everyone!