Long Hill School Newsletter

I cannot believe that we have been in school for over a month and that we are already in October! Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Back to School Night this past month. It was great to see so many families in attendance and I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to meet your child's teacher and to learn more about the curriculum and classroom expectations.

Our students are continuing to demonstrate our PBIS expectations of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety and being recognized for SPOT On behavior. So many students have already received “Make My Day” Awards, and this is just another example of how kind and caring our students truly are.

Please help to keep our children safe. I ask you to be mindful of your speed in the parking lot at both arrival and dismissal times - you never know when someone will unexpectedly cross. Pedestrians and buses always have the right of way - especially in the crosswalk. Also, please DO NOT drop your child off in the lot and have them cross alone. If there is no staff outside in the parking lot for drop off, you must park and walk your child to the front door and buzz the main office. In addition, DO NOT pull into the bus loop during arrival time. This is to keep our students safe. I appreciate all your help and cooperation.

• Thursday, October 3: No school - Rosh Hashana
  
• Wednesday, October 9: Valley Goes Pink Day - Wear Pink/White - $1.00 donation
• Monday, October 14: No School - Columbus Day
• Tuesday, October 15: Unity Day - wear orange as we unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion
• Wednesday, October 16-Friday, October 18: PTO sponsored book fair - more information and schedule to follow
• Thursday, October 17: Parent/Teacher Conferences - more information to follow
• Friday, October 18: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Thursday, October 24: Parent/Teacher Conferences - more information to follow
• Friday, October 25: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Thursday, October 31: Orange and Black Day
• Tuesday, November 5: No School - Election Day

Send your favorite student(s) an “I be-leaf” in you gram! Fall Grams will be hung up and on display around the building. Sham-O-grams are not sent to student from another student. $1.00 each gram

We are excited to welcome back our Culture in the Classroom at LHS!

If you are interested in participating in Culture in the Classroom please email Mrs. Krauss at skrauss@sheltonpublicschools.org.

The bus company will not let students off the bus if there is no adult waiting at the stop. Be sure you have a plan in place for your child if you are unable to meet the bus. Traffic and weather can unexpectedly impact your ability to arrive for your child on time. If there is no adult waiting, the bus company will return your child to school and someone must pick them up in a timely manner.

Fall Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, October 17 and Thursday, October 24 from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

• On Friday, October 4 at 4:00pm you will receive an email from your child's teacher about Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences and how to sign up for them.
• Conferences are limited to 10 minutes and will be in-person.
• You must have a scheduled appointment to meet with the teacher.
• This is NOT an event for children. Students and siblings are not allowed to attend.

To inspire reading and foster community Long Hill School has two lending libraries in front of the school. You may visit and take books at any time. If you have books you no longer want you may leave them for someone else to read.

Each month our students will take part in an IXL or Freckle competition. At the end of each month the winning class will earn a reward. To help your child participate in our contest, be sure to have them access our district math programs at home.These programs are adaptive. Please be sure to not provide assistance to your child with the problems. If the problems are too hard, the program will adapt and alter the teacher.

Students have a password sheet that is located in their home folder. On the password sheet students will have their Freckle class code or their IXL username and password. Students are also able to access these programs at home follow these steps;

1. Go the http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/

2. Links for students

3. Click Student Log into Clever

4. Students will put in their district usernames and passwords. (these can be found on the password page in their home folder)

5. Once logged in students will see their apps and can click on Freckle or IXL according to their grade level

Kindergarten and First Grade use Freckle.

Second Grade uses IXL and Freckle.

Third and Fourth Grade use IXL/

If you have any questions or are having any difficulty accessing these programs at home please contact me at jkeene@sheltonpublicschools.org.

Students are expected to attend school each day school is in session for the entire day. Students arriving after 9:00am will be marked as tardy, unless they have arrived on a bus. Being late to school is disruptive for all in the classroom.

Our instructional blocks will be starting promptly at 9:10am daily. To ensure a smooth morning transition, please have your child to school on time.

Students have 9 excused absences allotted to them-after that all absences are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor's note.

• Parents will not be allowed to the rear of the building until 1:35pm on early dismissal days and 3:35pm on full school days.
• There will be NO access for parents or vehicles until 3:35pm when the chain is removed by a staff member. Please DO NOT park in the front and walk to the back of the school if the chain is up.
• Please be cognizant of this because we can not block access to the school and back up traffic on Long Hill Avenue.

Please understand there are classes outside until that time, therefore there is no access until 3:35pm to ensure the safety of our students.

As a reminder, breakfast and lunch are available each day for kindergarten - fourth grade students at a charge. In addition to the hot lunch choice-chicken nuggets, bagel, grilled cheese, and salad are available each day.

• Elementary Breakfast $2.00/ Reduced $.30
• Elementary Lunch $3.45/ Reduced $0.40

A menu will be sent home electronically at the beginning of each month with food choices (subject to availability). Menus are also available on the district's website. Students may also bring lunch from home.

We do not have a microwave for students to heat lunches and staff will not cut up food for students. Please be sure your child knows how to open their lunches, drinks, and lunch boxes.

Households may submit a free-and-reduced-priced-meal-application as soon as possible

to determine a student's eligibility for this school year and to avoid unpaid meal charges. If your children were approved for Free/Reduced meal benefits last school year that eligibility will expire on October 20, 2024. Only one application is required per household.

If you need a paper copy of this application, please contact the main office.

Please find the complete FRAM packet below attached or you may find the application located on the district's website. Please return all completed application forms to the school.

Visitors are NOT permitted to use the playground during school hours; as it is limited to our students during these hours.

1. PTO Membership drive in progress. Pay via https://lhs-pto-membership-dues-2024-25.cheddarup.com/ or cash/ check. Fliers were sent home. 2 Classes that come closest to 100% PTO membership will earn a reward from PTO. Last day Oct 30, 2024.
2. Book Fair in person shopping days from Oct 16th - Oct 18th. Fair will be open on 17th Oct evening as well during parent teachers conference. If you are not scheduled for conference on Oct 17th you can still stop by to shop at book fair. More information to follow with flyer and catalogue. Sign up for volunteers to be shared soon as well.
3. Teachers treat scheduled for Oct 17th Thursday, more details to follow soon.
4. Launching Booster Dance a Thon fundraiser – Dance fit event where every grade will perform 35 minutes of instructed dance exercise while we raise funds for our school. Fundraising goal is 10k. Campaign promotion kicked off on Sept 27th. Program registration opens Oct 11th. Final event day – Dance Fit event on Nov 6th (during school hours). More details and flyers to follow soon. Attractive prizes when fundraising goals are achieved. T-shirt distribution will be closer to the event. Thanks a lot to our sponsors – CX Pharmacy, White Squirrel Service LLC, Center Auto Machine Shop, Bright Giggles Learning Center LLC, Top Martial Arts & Fitness for Life LLC, Steller’s Garage and Amy Varza - Comparion Insurance Agency Middlebury, CT and East Coast Academy of Tae Kwon Do.
5. Annual Trunk or Treat is scheduled for Friday, Oct 25th – 6:00 pm to 7:00pm. Detailed flyer coming soon. PTO Members attend for free. Heads up for Candy donations and Decorated trunks.
6. PTO meeting on October 15th 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
7. Spiritwear distribution after Oct 15th.
8. Spiritwear Socks sale to begin soon.
9. Join us on Facebook by searching LHS PTO SHELTON or https://www.facebook.com/groups/969539826920560

Address: 565 Long Hill Avenue, Shelton

Phone number: (203)-929-4077

Fax number: (203)-929-8250

Website: http://longhill.sheltonpublicschools.org/home_page

Twitter: @DAiutoAndrea

Instagram: mrsdaiutolhs

LHS Policies & Procedures: https://secure.smore.com/n/mhfz9