December 1, 2024

Dear IRS Families,

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday break and are ready for the winter months to begin.

Our November Student of the month assembly was postponed and will be held with the December assembly. That will be celebrated on Friday, December 20th - right before the December break. We have also decided to hold a school wide celebration on Friday, December 20th with various activities throughout the building.

Our annual holiday concerts this year will be grades 5 and 6 chorus and band on Monday, December 9th with grades 7 and 8 chorus and band to follow the next day Tuesday, December 10th. Both concerts begin at 7:00 p.m.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy as we begin the winter trudge.

Warmest Regards,

Kevin Towle

Principal

Flu and cold season are among us . . . . Please remember to keep your student home from school for a fever of 100 or greater and not return to school for 24 hours after the fever has subsided with no fever reducing medication. Students who have been vomiting or have diarrhea also need to stay home for 24 hours after the vomiting and/or diarrhea has subsided.

Thank you for helping to keep our school community healthy.

Please see the CDC website for more information about common respiratory viral illnesses. We have seen an uptick in "walking" pneumonia throughout the upper valley. Watch for symptoms, and be seen if you have a prolonged fever, headache and a slowly worsening cough.

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/about/index.html

We have seen an increase in cell phone use throughout the school day including in the middle of class. We would like to reiterate the cell phone policy for Indian River School, if a student MUST use their cell phone they should ask to go to the office where they are able to use it. It should not be out in class, lunch, activity period/recess or the hallway.

Electronic Devices During School: Though students may have their cell phone and other electronic devices on their person or in their locker throughout the school day, these items may not be out without explicit permission from a staff member between 7:40 am and 3:00 pm. If these items become visible, even if they are not in use, the student in possession of the electronic device will be given a verbal warning. If the electronic device is not removed from view immediately, or if the electronic device becomes visible again in the same school day, the student will be referred to the administration. Electronic devices that reach the administration will be confiscated for the duration of the school day and returned to the student upon dismissal. If a student is referred to the administration for the possession of an electronic device for a second time in the same school year, that device will be confiscated and will be returned, not to the student, but to the parent or guardian of that student. Each subsequent violation of the school’s electronic policy will result in the same consequence for the duration of the school year.

Winter weather is here, likely to stay. With that being said let’s talk about your child’s winter gear. Recess will be held outside unless the temperature is under 10* and/or it is raining, or the grounds are deemed unsafe. This also goes for activity period if the teacher chooses to bring the students outside.

What should your student wear?!

• Pants
• Snow Pants (if they plan to play in the snow)
• Jacket
• Boots
• Gloves/Mittens
• Hats

Also, as a reminder, students wait outside in the morning until we open the doors at 7:40am. They should plan and dress accordingly.

Stay tuned! Tutoring information will be available soon, we look forward to sharing these opportunities for the students to grow and learn.

Roots is a program based our of Corinth, VT. The program offers wilderness skills and traditional handcraft classes. While they offer classes in Corinth we are lucky enough to have some of their mentors come to us and spend two days with our sixth grade students.

Typically the mentors demonstrate how to start a camp fire with tools from the woods, this year due to the open fire ban we had to adjust the activities a bit. This year they were shown some handcrafted tools, how to use a bow and arrow, and how to build a shelter using what nature provides. Below you will see some pictures from their two days.

For more information about Roots visit their website - https://rootsvt.com/

Dartmouth Outdoor Leadership Experience is now accepting forms for the winter session. Spots are limited and will be filled as forms are returned. The form is attached.

Indian River School has over $2,000 of unpaid lunch fees already this year. If you have received a letter for an unpaid lunch balance we would appreciate a prompt payment. Please reach out if you would like a free and reduced lunch form.

There are a couple of different ways to pay for student breakfast/lunch balances.

• You can send money in with your student who can bring it to the kitchen staff to put on their account.
• You can set up an online account through MyMealtime and put money on their account. Check out the food services section of the school website for more information.

You will receive a paper copy of any outstanding balances. If you need help, please reach out to the office.

https://www.mascomaschools.org/career