Morse Street School News

Dear Morse Street Families,

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting with families recently at our Open Houses. We hope that you were able to gain insights into what your children will be learning this year, as well as expectations for each classroom. As we have the first month of school under our belts we are starting to think about what each student needs and how we would differentiate to ensure that all students are successful. At Morse Street we operate with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. You may have heard of MTSS. What does this mean?

Multi-tiered systems of support include all the stakeholders and we are thinking and planning about ways that differentiated instruction, tiered supports, professional development, family connections and attendance rates all contribute to student success both socially and academically. We are assessing and making decisions about our learners all the time, making this a fluid system. We monitor progress to ensure that students are making expected growth across the course of the year, and when we notice that students are not , we have systems of response. The teacher might do something different in the classroom, and then if that is still not yielding expected growth, we consider each student for tier 2 interventions with our specialist team of providing math, literacy and social emotions support.

If your child has been identified as someone who needs additional support at this time you will have been notified by both your child’s teacher and our Literacy or Math interventionist or our School Counselor. This first round of intervention will last 6 - 8 weeks and then we will reassess, some students will continue, some will be dismissed and some will join intervention at this time. If you have questions about the support we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time. During October you will have an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher so that you can learn about your individual child’s progress.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Warmly,

Julie Nickerson

October 8- PTC Meeting @6:00 pm, MLS

October 8- Kindergarten Field Trip to Hansel's Orchard (Flynn, Grogan & Bowen)🍎

October 10- Kindergarten Field Trip to Hansel's Orchard (MacDonald & Glatter) 🍎

October 11- PLD, No School

October 14- No School, Indigenous People's Day

October 17- Grade 1 Field Trip to Bradbury Mountain🍁

October 21-25- Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 21-25 - Pre-K Parents visit Music and PE classes 🎶

Note on Healthy Bodies from the nurse's office:

As we head into a new season of learning and play, we want to highlight a crucial aspect of your child's health: hydration! Proper hydration is essential for children, especially those in the 4-8 age group, as it supports their growth, energy levels, and overall well-being. Here’s why hydration is so important and how you can ensure your child stays well-hydrated.

Why Hydration Matters

1. Energy and Focus: Proper hydration helps maintain your child’s energy levels and concentration, which is vital for their daily activities and learning.

2. Healthy Digestion: Water aids in digestion and helps prevent constipation, keeping your child’s digestive system running smoothly.

3. Temperature Regulation: Hydration helps regulate body temperature, which is especially important during physical activities.

4. Physical Development: Staying hydrated supports the development of healthy muscles and joints, which are crucial for active play.

Signs Your Child May Need More Water

Thirst: They ask for water more frequently or seem parched.

Dark Urine: Their urine is darker than usual (a pale yellow is ideal).

Dry Mouth or Skin: Their mouth or skin feels dry.

Irritability: They may become cranky or less focused.

Tips for Keeping Your Child Hydrated

1. Set a Routine: Encourage regular water breaks throughout the day. For example, have them drink water before and after playtime, and with every meal.

2. Make it Fun: Use colorful, child-friendly water bottles or cups. Adding a few slices of fruit (like lemons or berries) can make water more appealing. Use fun straws.

3. Hydration with Meals: Serve water with every meal and snack. Sometimes children drink more if it's part of their meal routine.

4. Lead by Example: Children often mimic adult behavior. Make sure they see you drinking water regularly.

5. During School: Pack a water bottle so that your child can have it on their desk or during class.

A Quick Hydration Checklist

• Daily Goal: Aim for about 5-7 cups (40-50 ounces) of fluids per day, depending on your child's size and activity level.

• Monitor Intake: Keep track of how much water your child is drinking each day and adjust as needed.

Remember, staying hydrated is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and with your support, your child can develop good hydration habits early on!

One of our school goals this year is to decrease our absenteeism rate for both excused and unexcused absences. Please make sure that you are scheduling trips and vacations on non-school days as much as possible. The RSU5 school calendar is available online for your reference.

If your child is going to be absent from school you must email mssattendance@rsu5.org or call the school office by 9:00am giving a reason for the absence. A completed “Planned Absence Form” must be turned in ahead of an absence if you are taking your child out of school for any reason other than:

• Personal illness

• An appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day

• Observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day

• A family emergency

As a reminder if your child is absent due to illness after the third day we require a note from your child’s doctor.

We look forward to a successful, collaborative year of learning with your family.

If you have any demographic changes such as, telephone number, address, or emergency contact please logon to your child's PowerSchool and update accordingly.

Thank you!