Dear Center Community,

What a successful first week of school. From the moment we entered the building, we were greeted with a warm welcome from our families. The chalk messages were so fun. We enjoyed nourishing food for the soul, starting with a delicious breakfast provided by the union, followed by a wonderful lunch from our CSPTO.

A special thank you to the many volunteers who guided our tours for new kindergarten students. These experiences highlight why our center is such a great community for learning and growth. We truly appreciate your partnership!

The highlight of this week was definitely having students back in the building. They excelled in their first week by showing their PRIDE, being kind to one another, and learning routines.

Staff Update

Julie Heron, who has been a recess aide at Center for the last several years will now be supporting students in a paraeducator role.

Update regarding breakfast:

Breakfast is again free and available to all students. Caretakers no longer have to sign up online. All students will have a blue card (distributed from food service) and they will be attached to their backpack. Upon entering the building, the students will walk (with their backpack) to the cart and select their breakfast. There will be 2 carts, one in wing A & one in wing B. A cafeteria worker will scan their card after the selection has been made. Signs will be posted at the locations of the two carts.

Enjoy the long weekend. We look forward to seeing all students back on Tuesday.

Warm Regards,

Dianna and Donna

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.

Hello,

My name is Sarah West and I am excited to share that I will be the Interim Counselor at Center Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Mrs. Lallas in order for her to share pertinent information about Center School and to transition students that she had been working with. Mrs. Lallas had nothing but wonderful things to share about Center School and I am so excited to get to know the students and community here!

I am joining Center Elementary School with a Masters in School Counseling from Cambridge College and several years of experience working with children and families. Over the past few years, I have worked in both public and private elementary schools in Massachusetts. I first started as a Special Ed Paraprofessional working closely with students who were diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. While I was working towards my masters in School Counseling, I continued this work and learned many tools and strategies to support students who struggle with emotional regulation. After earning my degree, I worked as a School Counselor at a K-6 school where I supported students by leading social groups, individual check ins, and teaching whole group social emotional lessons.

I am excited to become a part of the Center Elementary School community this year and to support our students and families.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns as we welcome your children back to school.

Sincerely,

Sarah West

School Counselor

Center Elementary School

(978) 251-5155 Ext. 6027

wests@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

I hope that everyone has a safe and healthy school year. In the event that your student has an illness or injury, please send one email to their teacher, the nurse and the main office.

For your convenience, here are the CPS guidelines for returning to school after illness:

We recommend that children do not come to school if they appear to be ill. We advise caregivers to keep students home if they have a sore throat, severe cold, rash, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Students need to stay home if they have any of the following:

• Strep Throat: If strep throat is suspected and the child either has had a negative throat culture or has been on antibiotics and fever-free for a full 24 hours.

• A fever over 100: May return to school when he/she is fever-free for 24 hours without medication (e.g. Tylenol or Advil).

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea: May return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.

• Red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and or green/yellow drainage: May return to school the day after treatment for 24 hours and has no further eye discharge.

• Head Lice or nits (eggs): The nurse will assess the student for the presence of head lice or nits. If head lice or nits are detected, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian and provide education on lice treatment. Based on the discretion of the school nurse, some situations may warrant a dismissal from school

• A rash of unknown cause: May require MD clearance at the discretion of the school nurse.

• After a major illness, injury or hospitalization, a doctor's note may be required to return to school. (ie: new cast/crutches/assistive device, and after stitches/surgery/hospital visit).

Parents/guardians are required to notify the school if your child contracts any contagious diseases (e.g. Chicken Pox, Strep Throat, Whooping Cough, Fifth’s Disease, Conjunctivitis, Scabies, Impetigo, Ringworm or Head Lice, etc.). If a child has been absent due to a communicable disease, a physician’s release may be required before returning to school.

Rose Remmetter Felzani, MSN, RN

Center School Nurse

Phone: 978-251-5155 (option 2)

Secure Fax: 978-926-0721

felzanir@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

she/her/hers

Music Class Volunteers Needed - Violin Tuning
Fourth-grade students learn violin as part of their curriculum in Music Class.
If you are able and would like to help tune violins before school, please contact Mr. McGillicuddy.
mcgillicuddyc@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Thank you,

Christopher B. McGillicuddy
Music Teacher
Center Elementary School
mcgillicuddyc@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Pronouns: he/him/his

Center School Music Instagram
Center School Music Website

Please send in a note on the first day of school indicating what your child's dismissal plan is (pick-up, extended day, or the bus). If your child arrives on the bus we will assume they are returning home on the bus unless we hear otherwise.

Parents/adults are not allowed to escort their child(ren) to their classroom. Staff members will be in the main lobby to assist all students and guide them to their classrooms. We appreciate your assistance with this. If you are using the parent drop off and your student has difficulty, there will be a reserved space in the upper parent drop off area. Please drive out of the campus, come back in, and park there. Counseling staff will be available to assist.

IF you are picking up your child (ren) please remember to bring your "golden ticket" /pick up pass from last year. We will be handing out more the first week of school. If you do not have one, please arrive at 2:30 and we can check your identification and provide you with one then. Kindergarten families will receive their pick up passes during orientation.

Buses- please exercise patience with the bus arrival and drop off times the first few weeks of school as drivers learn their routes. These times may fluctuate by as much as 20 minutes or so initially. We will send an email to families if a bus has not left the Center campus by 3:40 PM.

Please press the link above for complete arrival and dismissal practices.

Once again, the Chelmsford Public Schools has purchasing school supplies for students. These supplies include the traditional items families would buy in the past (crayons, pencil boxes, glue sticks, binders, etc.). Students will still require a backpack but our hope is that providing these supplies will assist families as we begin the school year. If you would like assistance obtaining a backpack, please email fulreaderd@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

• August

  • Friday, August 30- No School

  September

  • Monday, September 2: No school (Labor day)

  • Monday, September 9, Kindness Spirit Day

  • Wednesday, September 11: Team Leader 8:00 Conference Room

  • Wednesday, September 11:PTO meeting; 6:30-7:30 Library

  • Tuesday, September 17: National Constitution Day

  • Wednesday, September 18: Half day/Professional day

  • Thursday, September 19: Curriculum Night, 5-6:15 PM grades 3&4, 7-8:15 PM grades K-2

  • Friday, September 20: Chelmsford Spirit Day

5 – 5:25 PM: Principal/Assistant Principal Presentation in the cafeteria for 3rd & 4th grade families

5:30 – 6:15 PM: Grades 3&4 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 K-2 grade families (The 5 PM presentation is repeated.)

7:30 – 8:15 PM: Grades K-2 Teacher Presentations

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

This year, and moving forward, 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.

The first Monday of the month will be a "Let Your Kind Shine" spirit day. You are invited to wear tops that promote kindness.

The third Friday of the month is Chelmsford/Center Pride spirit day. Sport our district colors, maroon, white, and black.

* Dates may be adjusted due to holidays or breaks. Please look at the calendar of events for specific dates.