Dear Center Families,

We successfully completed our first full week of school! The weather cooperated this week for the ribbon cutting ceremony for our Little Lending Library. Many thanks to Nucar Chevrolet for donating the funds for the library, our CSPTO for coordinating the donation and purchase, and Mr. Callahan and Mr. Woodman for having it installed. Please feel free to take a book when you are visiting the playground after hours and consider leaving one in there as well. Students have enjoyed browsing these books during recess; such a nice addition to our playground. Thanks also to our parent volunteers who have refreshed the painted activities on the playground. The students have a renewed interest in 4-square now.

We look forward to having the whole community together for curriculum night on Wednesday. Please see details below. Wednesday is also a professional development day and therefore a half day for all students. Students will be dismissed at 11:45. Please let your teacher(s) know in advance if this will result in a change to your dismissal plan.

Staff Updates:

Marsha Gilmore will be returning to Center school as a reading tutor beginning September 18th. Jessica Pooley will be returning as well, as a math tutor. Welcome back Ms. Gilmore and Ms. Pooley!

Center Chirps:

• Please park in marked parking spots only. Several people have been blocked in at dismissal time. If there are no open spots, please remain in your car until one becomes available. Parking by the baseball fields and walking through the path is a great option as well.

See you on Wednesday. Have a good week.

Warm regards,

Dianna and Donna

5 – 5:25 PM: Principal/Assistant Principal Presentation in the cafeteria for K-2nd grade families

5:30 – 6:15 PM: Grades K-2 Teacher Presentations.

6:15 – 7:00 PM: Specialists/ Reading/ Special Educators and Related support providers available in classrooms/offices

7 – 7:25 PM: Principal/ Assistant Principal Presentation in the cafeteria for 3 & 4th grade families (The 5 PM presentation is repeated.)

7:30 – 8:15 PM: Grades 3 & 4 Teacher Presentations

We kindly request that children remain at home during curriculum night.

Constitution and Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on September 17th to mark the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Each year, since 1952, the President of the United States proclaims the day as Constitution and Citizenship Day and since 1956 they have proclaimed the week of September 17th through September 23rd as Constitution Week.

The Constitution is a living and active document that both establishes a foundation for our governmental structure and protects our rights and liberties as citizens of this great country.

All Chelmsford Public Schools are committed to providing quality educational experiences for all students. We believe there is a direct correlation between school achievement and regular school attendance. With this in mind, the Chelmsford Public Schools encourage daily attendance of all students. The compulsory Massachusetts attendance statute, “General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 2 requires that children, ages 6-16 attend school.”

As building principals, we have seen firsthand, the correlation between attendance and achievement. We strongly encourage you to study the district calendar and plan vacations, medical appointments and personal commitments around our 180 days of school for students. Please help us to build strong learners, committed community members and successful workers.

September

• Sunday, September 17: National Constitution Day

• Wednesday, September 20: Half day/Professional day

• Wednesday, September 20: Curriculum Night, 5-6:15 PM grades K-2, 7-8:15 PM grades 3&4

• Wednesday, September 27:PTO meeting; 7:00-8:00 Library

October

• Monday, October 2: Be Kind Spirit Wear day

• Thursday, October 5: Ice cream social; 5:00-6:00 & 6:00-7:00 (cafe for inclement weather)

• Monday, October 9: No School (Columbus day/Indigenous Peoples day)

• Friday, October 13: Picture Day

• Thursday, October 19: Half day/Professional day

• Friday, October 20: Chelmsford Spirit Day

• Saturday, October 21: Trunk-or-Treat; 1:00-3:00 PM (rain date Oct. 28th)

Increasingly, more students are bringing cellphones, and smart watches which are used as cell phones, to school. Please be mindful of the district policy regarding cell phone use:

If students need to contact home they should see their teacher/administrator to receive permission to use the phone in the classroom or office. Conversely, if a parent needs to speak with a student, the parent should call the school office. All cell phones should be off while in school, unless in use for instructional purposes. Any student using a cell phone for non- instructional purposes while school is in session will have that cell phone confiscated by administration. A first offense will lead to a warning and the administrator will return the phone to the student at the end of the day. Second and subsequent offenses will result in the phone being returned only to the parent and/or further disciplinary actions. (Pg. 18 of the student handbook)

Additionally, students are not allowed to take pictures of others on the bus or during the school day due to privacy issues.

This year Massachusetts is offering all school lunch and breakfast at no charge to students. This does not automatically make families eligible for any other benefits. We strongly encourage families that feel they are eligible for transportation or extended day reduced tuition to fill out the online free and reduced meal application. The links can be found below. https://cpsnutrition.com/index.php?sid=1478035692058&page=lunchapps

If you do qualify for benefits you most likely will be eligible for SNAP benefits. https://www.mass.gov/snap-benefits-formerly-food-stamps

Some examples of SNAP benefits are discounts on gas, electric utilities and internet services.

Please visit our school nutrition website at https://cpsnutrition.com/index.php?sid=1478035692058 for more information about our program and also a link to the free and reduced lunch application.

A picture speaks a thousand words as they say, and we love to include these in our weekly updates and on the website through our Twitter feed. Please let email Ms. O’Hearn at ohearnc@chelmsford.k12.ma.us. if you do not want your child’s picture included in these forums.

Chelmsford Public Schools is utilizing on-line breakfast ordering again this year for ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ONLY.

Orders must be placed the Thursday prior to the week you are selecting.

Instructions on how to set up an account are below. If you need any help, please reach out to the school nutrition department at: (978) 251-5111

Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s Student ID Number- please enter a ticket through the parent tech help desk if you can not access X2. Please call the office during business hours if you do not know your student ID number. The link to the help desk is below.
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student’s name should appear on page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-breakfast online ordering
2. Scroll to day/week you are selecting breakfast (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom
8. Place order

Center is not only a wonderful place to attend and learn but also a wonderful place to work, as many of our parents/grandparents can attest to. We have several para educator positions open as well as a lunch and recess aide position. Substitutes in all areas are always in high demand. Please reach out to Donna or Dianna if you have questions about these positions or click the links below to apply.