Blue Knight Highlights
What's Happening in the Sandwich Public Schools - 09.02.24
Summer is (unofficially) over, and we are starting a new school year in Sandwich! Our teachers and staff are filled with optimism and excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead. Each new beginning brings with it the chance for growth, learning, and the creation of lasting memories. Our commitment, as always, is to support the academic excellence and social-emotional well-being of every student.
We believe in nurturing the whole child, ensuring that our students not only excel in their studies but also develop the resilience, empathy, and interpersonal skills necessary for success in life. We are deeply committed to creating an environment where every student is seen, heard, has a sense of belonging, and is encouraged to reach their fullest potential.
All of us in the Sandwich Public Schools look forward to partnering with you in this journey and wish your child and family a successful, enriching, and joyful school year ahead!
With Blue Knight Pride,
Dr. Joseph Maruszczak
Superintendent of Schools
The bus routes for the 2024-25 school year may be found at these below links:
PLEASE NOTE: For the first few days of school, students are asked to be at their bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time. Thereafter, the bus company asks that students be at their bus stop 5-minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time.
More information regarding transportation, change requests, and route building can be found here.
WELCOME BACK!
We hope everyone had a happy and healthy summer, but are looking forward to seeing all of our students back for another exciting school year! Below are reminders about many of the most common issues the nursing department handles. The nursing staff will be returning to the offices on the afternoon of August 28 and all day on August 29th. Should you have questions ahead of time the staff has begun checking and returning email messages a few times each week.
Medication
All students who require access to medication during school hours must have an updated physician’s order, written parental permission, and a medication supply provided to the building nurse at the start of the school year. Medication cannot be accepted by a nurse until the proper documentation has been received. All forms are accessible on the school website under Health Services.
Students with asthma, life-threatening allergies, and/or seizure disorders should also provide an updated emergency action plan signed by their physician when bringing in emergency medications.
Lastly, please remember students are not permitted to carry or deliver any medication. All medication, both over-the-counter and prescription, must be delivered to the nursing staff by an adult and administered to students by the nurse. Please contact your building nurse to discuss dates and times for medication drop-off.
Physical Examinations
Per Massachusetts General Law students entering into grades K, 1, 4, 7, and 10 must provide an updated and current physical examination to the school nurse at the start of school. “Current” is defined as within 12 months of the start date for the school year.
In grades 7-12, ALL students who wish to participate in interscholastic sports are required to have a current physical examination on file.
Immunizations
Sandwich Public Schools require that all students be immunized under the State Mandated schedule. The schedule can be found here. If you have questions please reach out to your school nurse or primary care provider.
If your child exercises a religious or medical exemption from some or all vaccinations, please remember that this documentation must be updated and submitted annually at the start of the school year.
****** PowerSchool Forms *******
Each year students in ALL GRADES require updating of all forms in PowerSchool. These forms ensure that staff have accurate contact information for your children in the event of illness, injury, or emergency. In addition, these forms provide the nursing staff with permission to provide first aid and medical care to your children while they are in school.
At some point in the next few days, you will receive an email notification from the Sandwich Public Schools reminding you to complete these forms. It is VITAL for the safety and comfort of our students, that we have accurate, current information on our students. If you have problems accessing PowerSchool or have forgotten your username or password, please email help@sandwich.k12.ma.us
As always thank you for your prompt attention to these issues!
Nicola Bordelon, MSN, RN, SPS Nursing Department Head
All children in Sandwich will once again enjoy a free breakfast AND lunch every school day. Nutrition is key to staying focused and doing well in school so please remind your student(s) to visit the cafeteria in their school and enjoy a free meal with their friends!
Here are the September menus: