Squantum School
October 3, 2024
Squantum Elementary School
Stephen Sylvia - Principal
Meghan Healy - Assistant Principal
Dawn Flibotte - Secretary
Office #: 617-984-8706
Email: stephensylvia@quincypublicschools.com
Website: www.quincypublicschools.com
Location: 50 Huckins Avenue, Quincy, MA, USA
Phone: (617)984-8706
Important Dates
October 2: Custodian Appreciation Day
October 8: Grade 4 Field Trip ~ Quincy Historical Society
October 10: Picture Day
October 11: Safety Drills
October 14: Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 14-October 25: Trunk or Treat Candy Collection
October 16: Unity Day
October 16: Grade 3 Fire Presentation
October 17: Unity Day Assembly
October 26: Trunk or Treat 11:00-1:00
Picture Day
Squantum School is scheduled for picture day on Thursday, October 10th. Students will have the opportunity to take individual photos and class photos. Please see below for ordering and pre-pay options. Online ordering is recommended and preferred if possible. Pictures will be taken in the outdoor classroom, weather permitting.
You should also know that we are excited to be offering sibling photos again this year with more information and details on how to order this option below.
**ONLINE PRE-PAY OPTION PREFERRED**
Click on this link www.haywardphotography.com, then the blue "Prepay for Photo Day" button and enter your school code to place your order:
The SQU School code is: SES24
Preorder pricing above only available until 2 days after your school’s picture day. Individual Print Orders and Digital Download Cards will be mailed DIRECTLY to the mailing address provided at checkout (please be sure this is a complete address). Please add the $6.00 shipping/handling charge to your payment total for print orders if paying by check.
How to pre-order sibling packages online: When prompted to enter your child's name you will enter your children's first names in the first name field and the last name in the last name field. For example, siblings John and Mary Smith would be entered as:
- First Name: John and Mary
- Last Name: Smith
If you have more than two children at the school, enter all the first names with no commas. For example, John, Mary and Susan Smith would be entered as:
- First Name: John Mary and Susan
- Last Name: Smith
If you have children with different last names, both last names would need to be entered in the last name field. For example, John Smith and Mary Jones would be entered as:
- First Name: John and Mary
- Last Name: Smith and Jones
Orders for the individual pose will need to be made using each child's name.
Please let us know if you have any questions! Thank you for supporting Squantum School!
ST Math and JiJi
As a supplemental part of our Illustrative Math program, Squantum Elementary and other schools around the district, are part of a ST Math Grant this year. All students have been given an ST Math Account. ST Math is a visual instructional program that uses puzzles to teach math and develop problem-solving skills while having fun. During activities students are helping JiJi the penguin complete various activities to help him get home. The goal is to reach 80% of puzzle goal progress by the end of the year.
ST Math is carefully designed to be effective and challenging. Puzzles start out simple and get harder as your student progresses. To help your student solve problems, ask your student what is happening in the games and have them explain their thinking.
Research shows that love of math (and test scores) increase with more time spent in ST Math.
ST Math focuses on the celebrations. Students will individually be celebrated, along with their class for reaching various goals each week throughout the year. Be sure to ask your student about their JiJi progress and the friendly competitions happening at school.
Below, please find some important links to help with ST Math.
Feed the Monster Candy Challenge
The PTO is asking for candy donations for our 5th Annual Trunk or Treat, which will take place on Saturday, October 26th from 11 AM – 1 PM. Candy collections will begin on Monday, October 14th and continue until Friday, October 25th at 12 PM. *Candy collected after 12 PM will not be included in the weight challenge*
The grade that collects the most candy (by weight) will win an ice cream or pizza party; whichever they choose. The winning grade will be announced on October 25th, before the end of school.
**Candy must be unopened and pre-wrapped**
MARC Bullying Presentation
Last week, Bridgewater State University and the MARC center presented to our fourth and fifth graders on the important topic of bullying. Students were exposed to topics such as argument verse bullying, the importance of talking to adults, tattling verse reporting, and cyber bullying. Thank you to the MARC center for this important presentation!
Chorus ~ Grades 4 & 5
Chorus started this week for grades 4 and 5. Each grade will meet bi-weekly with Ms. Champney to work on singing both in unison and in parts. Students learned rhythmic patterns and applied songs this week. Bravo!
Safety Drills ~ October 11th
As part of the Quincy Public Schools safety and security plan, we will be practicing our safety drills on October 11th. Quincy Police and Fire will be here to assist with the drills. Please reach out with any questions.
Unity Day
Please save the date for Unity Day on Wednesday, October 16th. Students should wear orange clothing and/or accessories as we stand up to bullying and focus on kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Stay tuned for more details.
October Calendar
Attached please find the 2024 Squantum School October calendar for important dates happening around our school community.
Election Day Bake Sale
Grade 5 students will be organizing a bake sale on election day to help raise money for the end of the year festivities. They are looking for donations of baked goods.
Please click here to sign up to donate an item. Please email jenelle223@icloud.com with any questions.
Fruits and Veggies
Quincy Public Schools Nutrition Department is excited to present the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Every Tuesday and Thursday free fresh fruits and vegetables will be delivered to your child's classroom, during snack time, for students to sample. The goal of FFVP is to help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience and increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption. All snacks are individually wrapped.
Please contact QPS Nutrition Department at 617-984-8768 with any questions.
Quincy Public Schools Calendar
Please click here to view the Quincy Public Schools 2024-2025 school calendar for all important holidays, school closures, and early release day information.
QPS Fall Health Newsletter
We wanted to share the district health newsletter with guidelines for a healthy school year. Please click here to read the full message.
Drop Off & Pick Up Reminder
Squantum Staff List
Absences
If your child is going to be absent please email dawnflibotte@quincypublicschools.com, your child's teacher, or call the main office at 617-984-8706 by 8:30. Safety is our top priority, so we will call home if we do not hear from you.
In order for an absence to be considered excused, a written note must accompany the student the first day back in class. The note should include the date returning, child’s name, date absent, and the reason for the absence. Any absence for which the school does not receive appropriate notification will be unexcused.
Tardies
All students that arrive after 8:20 or after the doors are closed, must report to the main office to check in with an office staff member.
Dismissal Plans
Families are expected to provide their child’s regular daily dismissal plan to the classroom teacher at the beginning of each year. If a child’s routine dismissal plan changes or if a different pick up will be occurring, families should notify their child’s teacher and the office in writing by sending a note or email to the teacher as soon as possible. Students will not be dismissed to an unauthorized adult without a note or a phone call to the main office at 617-984-8706. This will ensure that all safety protocols remain in place.
If a student needs to be dismissed early from school, the parent/guardian must send a note to the classroom teacher or call the school’s main office. An authorized adult must report to the office to sign the child out. Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds prior to the regular dismissal time without the authorization of a parent/guardian.
Breakfast and Lunch
Students are given the opportunity to receive a school breakfast, lunch, and/or milk, as part of their daily routine.
Lunch and breakfast will be free for ALL students again this year. QPS strongly encourages parents/guardians to continue to complete the free and reduced lunch application this year in order to receive other benefits from the state, including P-EBT benefits. Menus and applications can be found on the QPS Food Service website.
Breakfast is available for all students beginning at 8:00 am. Any interested student may buzz in through the main door and walk down to the cafeteria. Breakfast is also available in the classrooms once students have entered the building. Please remind your child to let their homeroom teacher know if they need breakfast.
Lunch will be served in the cafeteria during your child’s assigned class time. Lunch will continue to be offered to students on early release days. This time will be built into classroom schedules.
SQU New Building Project
Contractors have set up a temporary fence at the Wendall Moses Ballfield near Mayflower Rd. & Winslow Rd. They have been very busy throughout the summer replacing pipes, doing underground work and getting the site ready for construction. Projects will continue throughout the school year as we prepare for breaking ground in the Summer of 2025.
All updates will be posted on the design website. Please click here for more information.