

South Row's Home Link
Week of: March 17th, 2025
Message from the Principals
Hello Families,
Thank you for supporting South Row and your student during our Book Fair charity drive these past couple of weeks. We appreciate your support!
Registration for the Multicultural Festival is now open! Please see below for details and the registration link.
We will be kicking off our iReady Challenge on March 17th. The grade level with the most minutes in Reading will earn a reward and likewise the grade level with the most minutes in Math will win a reward. We will track school wide minutes on the lobby bulletin board and report out grade level totals weekly. Students are encouraged to complete their minutes during school, but can also bank minutes at home. The challenge ends on March 25th.
Please click on this link to view our first edition of the South Row Times, written by our Student Council members.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Respectfully,
Terri and Jayson =)
Week at a Glance - Week of March 17th
Monday, March 17th
- Book Fair Week - students visit during library specials block all week
- School Spirit Day: Green, Orange and White Day
- Placement Input letter sent to families
Tuesday, March 18th
- Grade 1 Professor Bugman Enrichment Program
Wednesday, March 19th
- Grade 4 Boston Symphony Field Trip
- Family Book Fair Shopping and Game Night, 5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, March 20th
- Multicultural Festival Planning Committee, 3:45pm, Conference Room - new members welcome!
Friday, March 21st
- Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day
Looking ahead...
Monday, March 24th
- Playful Engineers Enrichment Program (Grade 4 Classrooms) at Aldersgate Church
- Playful Engineers Family Night for Grade 4, 5:30-7:00pm, Aldersgate Church
Tuesday, March 25th
- Playful Engineers Enrichment Program (Gr. 3 Classrooms) at Aldersgate Church
- Playful Engineers Family Night for Grade 3, 5:30-7:00pm, Aldersgate Church
Wednesday, March 26th
- Grades Available online portal Gr 1-4
- Playful Engineers Enrichment Program (Abbott, Bullock, Richman, and Patriquin) at Aldersgate Church
Thursday, March 27th
- Playful Engineers Enrichment Program (Frasca, Costello, Rigby and Cassidy) at Aldersgate Church
- Playful Engineers Family Night for Grades K and 1, 5:30-7:00, Aldersgate Church
Friday, March 28th
- Tentative Whole School Reward
Monday, March 31st
- Placement input due from families
Tuesday, April 1st
- Early Release Day - Teacher Professional Development - students dismissed at 11:45am
- Book Buddies Duncan/Bullock in the Cafe
Wednesday, April 2nd
- Para Educator Appreciation Day - Thank you to our Support Staff!
Thursday, April 3rd
- Animal Adventures Gr. 4 Enrichment Program
Friday, April 4th
- School Librarian Appreciation Day - Thank you Ms. Hamm
- Multicultural School Spirit Day - This is a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity in our South Row community. We encourage students and staff to dress in attire representing where their family originated or clothing representing their culture(s).
Saturday, April 5th
- Multicultural Festival, 1:00-3:00pm - Mark your calendars!
Monday, April 7th
- Kindness Matters Day - Students and staff encouraged to wear kindness shirts and/or complete kind act
- MCAS - Grade 3 - ELA
- Student Council, 3:30-4:15pm
- School Council, 5:30pm, Conference Room
- PTO Board Meeting, 6:30pm, Conference Room
- PTO Meeting, 7:00pm, Lab
Tuesday, April 8th
- MCAS - Grade 3 - ELA
- Try it Tuesday
- Curious Creatures Kindergarten Enrichment,
- Grade 4 Field Trip to the Performing Art Center, Internet Safety Speaker
Wednesday, April 9th
- MCAS - Grade 4- ELA
- Wingmasters Enrichment Program (Grade 2)
Thursday, April 10th
- MCAS - Grade 4 - ELA
Friday, April 11th
- MCAS Make Up (also will carry over to the following week as needed)
Monday, April 12th
- Student Grade Level Meetings w/ Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho
Friday, April 18th
- No School - Good Friday
Monday, April 21st - Friday, April 25th - No School - April Vacation
- School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day, 4/22, Thank you Bus Drivers!
- Administrative Professionals Day, 4/23 - Thank you Mrs. O'Neill and Mrs. Sepe!
Monday, April 28th
- Welcome Back to School!
Staff Retirements
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Lisa Tice on her retirement at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Mrs. Tice has been a fourth grade teacher at South Row Elementary School for the past 22 years. She has enriched countless young minds, and was active in our PTO for many years. We will truly miss Mrs. Tice and wish her the very best in retirement. Please join us in wishing Mrs. Tice well in future endeavors!
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Kim Lefebvre who recently retired at the end of February 2025. Mrs. Lefebvre was one of our special education servicing students in grades 2-4. Mrs. Lefebvre was instrumental in supporting many students over the course of her career. She is already missed at South Row. We wish her the very best in retirement. Please join us in wishing Mrs. Lefebvre well in future endeavors!
Reminders and Updates
MCAS Dates: MCAS testing for grades 3 and 4 are as follows:
ELA
- Grade 3 - April 7th and 8th
- Grade 4 - April 9th and 10th
Math
- Grade 4 - May 12th and 13th
- Grade 3 - May 14th and 15th
Recurring Reminders:
- Smartphones and Smart Watches: We strongly discourage sending your child to school with smart phones or watches. If your child brings either of these devices to school the expectation is that they are turned off and in their backpack.
- Snacks: Please remember to send your child in with a snack. The school has a very limited supply that gets depleted quickly and it is not to every students liking.
PE Reminder: Please help your child to remember to bring sneakers when they have Phys Ed. Snow boots are great for recess, but unsafe for the gymnasium. Also on PE days, I would suggest students wear T-shirts or layers so they can take their long sleeve off when they get hot. Thank you!
IIQ Help Desk Tickets: Some families have been using an unmonitored email for support with accessing the Aspen Family Portal. Instead, please use the incident IQ request form located on the CPS website under the parent drop down menu. Here is the direct link: https://chelmsford.incidentiq.com/guest/TKHNDKXH/parent-support#top .
Nurses Corner
Dear South Row Families,
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather! Unfortunately, strep throat is still going around. I am seeing more cases in kindergarten in comparison to the other grades but even then I have not seen more than 3 cases in one classroom this month. Overall, we are doing well!
Spring is coming, yay! And so is allergy season (boooo). If your child has early Spring allergies, you may need to start their daily allergy medication soon.
Parents of 4th grade students: If you did not send a physical for your student last year, please send their most recent physical to the health office. You can send it with them in their backpack or email it to me as an attachment. Please note, that school email is not encrypted. If the pediatrician is going to fax a physical to the school, they can send it directly to me at 978-256-9475.
Parents of 3rd grade students: Please send your studentβs 2024 physical to the health office if you have not already done so. You can send it with them in their backpack or email it to me as an attachment. Please note, that school email is not encrypted. If the pediatrician is going to fax a physical to the school, they can send it directly to me at 978-256-9475.
Warmly,
Nurse V.
Multicultural Festival - Registration is open!
REGISTER HERE FOR MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL:
Book Fair Week is here!
Itβs finally here! Next week is our Scholastic Book Fair!
Flyers with information about the fair went home in your childβs backpack last week. Students will have the opportunity to shop the fair during their regularly scheduled library specialist block. A Family Shopping and Game Night will be held on Wednesday, 3/19 from 5:30-7:30pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Book Fair Team is still in need of volunteers to help students at the fair, during Family Shopping and Game Night, and breaking down the fair. Please sign up HERE to volunteer or email us at southrowbookfair@gmail.com.
Our Clean Sweep Stakes wrapped up today. All donated items will be delivered to this yearβs local charity, Community Teamwork. The winners of the Scholastic drawing will be announced next weekβ¦stay tuned!
Thanks for your continued support!
PTO Corner
Basket Raffle
Our GINORMOUS Basket Raffle needs volunteers to help things run smoothly! Sign up to help collect, shop, and wrap for your child's class today! Many hands make light work! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A5AF2CA6F4C25-55017975-2025
South Row Community Outreach - Box Tops Sweepstakes
South Row PTO was awarded $20,000 to use within the school and we NEED your input! We are putting together a steering committee to help us determine how to use the funds. Interested in joining? We're looking for parents from all grade levels to help us with this committee. Join by clicking HERE.
Can't commit to the committee, but still want to provide ideas for how the money could be spent? Fill out our survey HERE!
Hannford Helps Schools
PTO Virtual Meeting Link
Virtual PTO Meeting Link
We will be offering a virtual option for those that would like to join the monthly PTO meeting but can't make it in person. Please use this link to join the meeting virtually.
Nurse's Corner
Dear South Row Families,
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather! Unfortunately, strep throat is still going around. I am seeing more cases in kindergarten in comparison to the other grades but even then I have not seen more than 3 cases in one classroom this month. Overall, we are doing well!
Spring is coming, yay! And so is allergy season (boooo). If your child has early Spring allergies, you may need to start their daily allergy medication soon.
Parents of 4th grade students: If you did not send a physical for your student last year, please send their most recent physical to the health office. You can send it with them in their backpack or email it to me as an attachment. Please note, that school email is not encrypted. If the pediatrician is going to fax a physical to the school, they can send it directly to me at 978-256-9475.
Parents of 3rd grade students: Please send your studentβs 2024 physical to the health office if you have not already done so. You can send it with them in their backpack or email it to me as an attachment. Please note, that school email is not encrypted. If the pediatrician is going to fax a physical to the school, they can send it directly to me at 978-256-9475.
Warmly,
Nurse V.
Connections Calendar
March Connections Calendar - Feedback
Parent Resources and Support
Parent Resources and Support Button
**Please note: We continuously update the button below with new resources as they arise.
The City of Lowell Recreation Department is working on an initiative to provide swimming opportunities for children ages 0-18 with special needs. As they work to build out this program, they need YOUR help. If you are the parent/guardian of a child/children with special needs, please take a few minutes to complete this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfX0VaSL0mIMGnXosEfncvEWX_0sRuGnrqF40-x907BPoAiQ/viewform
Food Services Corner
This section is comprised of the following items pertaining to food services
- Website
- Breakfast Information
- Tentative Breakfast/Lunch Menus
Lunch on Half Days Information
Dear Parents and Families --
To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.
2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates
β 3/12/25
β 4/1/25
If you would like your child to have lunch on future half days, the online ordering is open for you to go ahead and select those dates. 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- Childβs student ID number
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 the page.
How to order meals
1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (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. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order
Tentative Breakfast and Lunch Menus
SOUTH ROW'S PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Newhouse Wildlife Enrichment Program
Workout Day
Try it Tuesday
Working hard in Kindergarten!
Royal Reader!
The Wizard of Oz!
ποΈ Tickets On Sale Now! ποΈ
Join Parker Middle School for a magical journey down the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition! https://our.show/wooparker25
π
Show Dates & Times:
π 5th Grade Performances β Thursday, March 20 & Friday, March 21 at 6:00 PM
π 6th Grade Performances β Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM
π Location: McCarthy Auditorium, 250 North Rd, Chelmsford, MA
For the first time, each show will feature just one gradeβdonβt miss this exciting new tradition! Get your tickets today! β¨π πͺοΈ
Importance of Attendance
Contact the South Row Administrative Team!
Principal
Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal
Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow
Contact the Main Office Staff
- Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
- Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
- Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
- Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
- Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
- Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1