MHS/WES Newsletter

February 17-21: No School, February Break

March 6: MHS/WES School Improvement Council at 4:15 PM, WES Office

March 6: PTO Meeting, MHS Library @ 6:30 PM

March 12: 1/2 Day of School ~ Parent Teacher Conferences (as requested by parent or teacher - more information to come)

Students have been hard at work these past few weeks! In math, we are wrapping up our study of addition and subtraction strategies and measurement, and beginning to explore the world of fractions! In ELA, we are using sensory details in our writing and learning about different mountainous settings, exploring 'Extreme Settings'. We're also beginning to learn about the regions of the United States of America.

We've been spending a lot of time discussing what it means to be a responsible 4th grade student. This is the time of year we're asking students to show responsibility and independence, as they prepare for 5th grade and middle school. This can include things like packing your own snack, remembering to charge your Chromebook, etc. We appreciate any support you can provide at home as we continue to work on this here at school.

We had a wonderful virtual tour of Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright house. This is a part of our ELA curriculum as we learn about how setting impacts characters. Our tour guide gave us some history of the house and then discussed the architecture behind it and we saw all of the rooms inside. There were some wonderfully unique features in the house! She was available at the end to answer some great thought-provoking questions from our students.

We hope that everyone has a wonderful February break, and you take the time you need to be with your family. We are reminded more than ever how precious time is.

It is hard to believe that we have surpassed day 100 already! This is the time of year when the days really come and go quickly.

Fifth graders are wrapping up unit 4 in math which introduced students to the long awaited standard algorithm of multiplication. We look forward to unit 5 when we return from vacation which will be diving back into fractions.

Classes are well into reading the novel Phantom Tollbooth and exploring the aspects of narrative writing and wordplay. It is a time that the students can let their creativity shine through and we are all enjoying it.

We have also enjoyed learning about our solar system and exploring the possibility of life on other planets in other solar systems. The next science unit will be looking at our different ecosystems.

In social studies, we are learning about what it took for our country to gain its independence. Students continue to think like historians and uncover the value in studying our past.

Please help us by continuing to remind your child about the importance of coming to school with a charged Chromebook, homework materials and proper winter outerwear. We have been trying to get kids outside as often as possible but it has been very windy.

Greetings from The Purple Palette & Paintbrush,

Grades K and 1 have finally been able to use the Collage Center! Lots of fun using pompoms, feathers, buttons etc…A few 1st grade classes have also learned about paper square mosaic art!

Grade 2 recently reviewed the paint center rules and that will be open for them after vacation! They also finished painting their clay pots.

Grade 3 also finished painting their clay pieces. They also have learned about using hot glue guns. (They are low temp glue guns and I have gloves for them to wear)

Grades 4 and 5 finished painting their clay pieces too! They are also learning attachment strategies so we can open up the Inventor’s Workshop (sculpture center)

DONATIONS!

I’m still accepting donations of:

Paper lunch bags

Toilet paper/paper towel tubes

Tissue boxes

AND…

SAVE THE DATE:

This year’s art show is coming up!

CREATION CELEBRATION

Wednesday, May 14! 6:00-7:30pm

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ON THAT EVENING!!!!

Interested? Available? Email me abanning@awrsd.org

Stay Creative!

Ms. Banning

(she/her/hers)

Upcoming PTO events:

• 3/13 Jim Basketball Jones in school assembly- funded by a grant from the Westminster Cultural Council, a local agency, supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
• 3/21 Fun With Your Son Event- Choose Your Challenger
• 5/5-5/9 Staff Appreciation Week- Wicked (the movie) theme
• 5/16 3rd grade Colonial Day
• 6/6 RESCHEDULED date for Daughter’s Choice Dance- Light up the night theme
• 5th Grade end of the year activities- ice cream social & Promotion Night (dates TBD)

It seems that after the holidays many of our friends have returned to school with smart watches and cell phones. Please take a moment to review the policy below with your child.

Student Handbook:

We recognize that parents provide their children with cell phones and smart watches for safety reasons. Therefore, we understand that students may occasionally bring these devices to school.

• Cell phones must remain turned off and stowed away in your child’s bag during the school day, this includes the bus.
• Smart watches must have text and call settings turned off during school hours.

Students are not to call, text, or message their family members or peers during the school day. If students need to reach a family member, they can use one of the phones in the main office. Students may also not photograph or take videos of any staff members or other students in and outside of the building or on the bus. You can help us enforce this policy by not texting your children and calling/answering their calls during the school day.

If a student should bring any electronic device, cell phone, or multi-media device etc. to school, MHS/WES is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Cell phones and smartwatches that are being used to make calls, text (family or peers) or play games during the day will be confiscated. Parents will be asked to pick up the device from school.

Please remember when you are calling your child out absent, to call the school that they attend.

MHS~ Pre-K , K and 1: 978-874-0163

WES~2, 3, 4, and 5 grade: 978-874-2043

If your child forgets to bring their water bottle or Chromebook, you DO NOT have to bring it to the school. They can use the bubbler and borrow a Chromebook. This helps not to interrupt the classroom teaching that is taking place. Thank you for your time.

Did you know that MHS/WES is on Instagram? Check it out!! principalkt24

All students have a bus number assigned to them as well as stops. Please click on the button at the end of this newsletter to see your child's bus number and stop. HOWEVER, if your child is going to be a parent pick up, walker, walker to MHS, or going to extended day, it is VERY IMPORTANT to send in a note with your child's first and last name to the school. One note is sufficient for the year with their schedule, but if it changes at all, we need to know. The safety of your child is our priority. Thank you

Emergency Early Dismissal Policy

In the event of an unforeseen emergency that necessitates the dismissal of students prior to the end of the school day, parent notification will be provided through the automated phone and email system. Typical emergency situations that may precipitate an early dismissal include, but are not necessarily limited to, severe weather conditions, fire and absence of heat or water.

Since it is impractical for school officials to personally contact every parent in the event of an early dismissal, parents and particularly the parents of elementary age children, are encouraged to develop a clear and well-defined plan with their children in case of an early dismissal. Since children will be dismissed to their home, it is imperative that children know how to gain entry into their home and how and whom to call once they are there.

ABSENCES: Please call WES (978-874-2043) or MHS (978-874-0163) when your child will be absent or late for school. Please state your name, your child’s name, teacher, and the reason for absence. If you must speak to someone, please call after 7:45 AM. This system is to ensure the safety of your child. If we do not hear from you, we will contact you at home or work, and if we can’t reach someone we may send a school resource officer to the house to do a well child check. Absent notes are required when children return to school.

AM Arrivals: Bus drivers do not let children off the bus until 8:20 a.m. There is NO Supervision before 8:20 a.m. Walkers/students being dropped off should not arrive before 8:20 a.m. School starts at 8:30 a.m.

PM Dismissals: The school day ends at 2:55 p.m. The office needs to know your dismissal plan. If your child is a car-rider, you will be given a sign to display on your car dashboard to be used each day. Car riders will be dismissed to the cafeteria and called outside in the order cars line up. Please remain in your car. Signs will be posted. If you would like your older sibling to walk from WES to MHS pick-ups for dismissal in the afternoon, please send a note to the office and your child’s teacher.

If your child needs to be dismissed early, please send a note to his/her teacher stating the time and reason for dismissal. Early dismissals will be handled through the main office.

NOTES: Please use student’s (and parent’s) last names in all notes to the teacher/office. Please also date all notes so that we can be sure we are dealing with current messages. Notes are required for any change in dismissal. You may also email a note to mhsoffice@awrsd.org (MHS) or wesoffice@awrsd.org(WES).

MEDICATIONS: ALL Medications must be brought to the nurse by an adult at the beginning of the day. Medication is NOT TO BE TAKEN by any child on his/her own. The school nurse under the following circumstances will administer medication:

• A signed and dated note from a doctor and a parent is sent with the child’s name, dosage, reason for medication and time to be given.

• The prescription bottle is sent with only the amount which will be needed for the administration at school. (Pharmacies will dispense in two bottles if you ask.)

School Announcements:

Please make sure all phone numbers and email addresses are updated throughout the school year to ensure you receive all messages sent from the school or district.

RESTRICTIONS: Please provide the office with any LEGAL DOCUMENT which indicates any legal restrictions on the release of your child as per district policy. These restrictions CANNOT be honored unless we have a copy of the legal documents in your child’s file. Please remember that it is MOST IMPORTANT that your child knows who he/she is allowed to leave school with and restrictions of the same.

TARDINESS: It is important that your child be at school on time. Tardy students need to stop at the office for a tardy slip when they arrive later than 8:30 a.m. If excessive tardiness continues, it will be necessary for the parent and child to meet with the Principal so that we may remedy the situation.

ARRIVAL

8:20 - 8:30 AM

DISMISSAL

2:55 PM

HALF DAYS - DISMISSAL

12:00 PM

AM Session 8:45-11:10 AM

PM Session 12:00-2:30 PM

Full Day Session 8:45-2:30 PM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday)

Please reach out with any questions you may have. We are happy to help!

• MHS - Kathi McCarthy 978-874-0163 ext. 0
• WES - Liz Maillet 978-874-2043 ext 0

General Ashburnham-Westminster Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) membership is open to all AWRSD parents/guardians of children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans and other interested parties. We need volunteers to help plan workshops, staff tables at local school and community events, become future leaders, assist other parents, and plan new activities and projects. Learn more about us and our work on our website https://sites.google.com/view/ashburnham-westminster-sepac. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashwestsepac.

Bus passes will be issued for students riding their ASSIGNED bus but getting off at a different stop. A note or phone call from the parent/guardian is required to your child’s school office. The office will then issue the bus pass. Bus passes to ride a DIFFERENT bus will ONLY be issued in the event of an emergency. The school office must be notified by a parent/guardian that there is a circumstance beyond their control/emergency causing a student to ride a different bus. Bus passes are not issued for going to a friend’s house, dances, etc.

If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your child’s bussing, please reach out to bussing@awrsd.org.