Weekly Update
Friday, September 20
From Mr. Tortora
Dear Orchard Hill Families,
September seems to be flying by and we are certainly settling in here Orchard Hill, as we continue to build our classroom communities. A great example of this occurred this morning when a younger student was a little sad and reluctant to enter his classroom (he was having one of those mornings we all have sometimes đ). Immediately, his classmates came over to him and gave him a big group hug. It also happened to be stuffed animal day and, with no prompting, students offered him their stuffed animal to play with. His frown turned into a smile and his day was so much better. We were so proud of those students for being Helpful, Attentive, Wise, Kind, and Safe (HAWKS) and taking care of their fellow classmate.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the first day of Autumn on Sunday!!
- Mr. Tortora
South Windsor Public Schools promotes an engaging and dynamic culture of learning that prepares students to achieve their own individual excellence. To accomplish this, engaging our students in learning everyday is critical. At Orchard Hill, we look forward to partnering with you to make sure your child has the opportunity to learn and thrive everyday.
We wanted to let you know attendance will continue to be a top priority this school year. Attending school regularly and engaging with the school community will nurture a sense of belonging and lead to lifelong success. When children miss school days, they miss out the opportunity to learn from their teachers. The more children miss, the harder it is for them to keep up with those who attend school regularly.
Missing just two days a month or 18 days in a school year can harm your childâs progress. We call missing 18 days in a school year âchronic absenteeismâ. These absences may seem small as they happen, but your child is less likely to succeed if they are chronically absent. Research shows that:
Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade tend not to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
By middle and high school, chronic absenteeism is a proven early sign that a child is likely to fail academic courses and is at risk of eventually dropping out.
We recognize that some absences are unavoidable for health reasons or other important family matters. We also know that even when children have missed school for good reasons, too many absences can cause them to fall behind. Please know there are many people in our building prepared to help you if you or your child face challenges getting to school regularly or on time.
Going to school regularly matters for your childâs success and achievement!
Letâs work together to make sure that your child does not fall behind in school this school year. Please ensure that your children attend school every day and also arrive on time, by 8:45 a.m., so they benefit as much as possible from what is taught in the classroom. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime,
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Establish a morning routine.
Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick.
Avoid scheduling vacations or doctorâs appointments when school is in session.
Talk to teachers and Amelia Steele, our school social worker, for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Please let us know how we can work with you and your family to ensure your children show up for school on time every day. Like you, we want your child to be successful! If you have any questions or need more information please reach out.
Throughout the school year, there are many volunteer opportunities for parents/guardians ( for example - chaperoning a field trip, helping at a PTO event). If you would like to volunteer, you must complete a Volunteer Registration form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-YY-42ZxOAK16oe0_MME6uberDFv5P_ubEefFX2knqcUmQQ/viewform