Hello Families,

The bitter cold has kept students inside for recess much of the time since returning from break. We are hopeful that the temperature will increase so our students can get outside in the coming weeks.

We are looking forward to Family Engagement Night on January 29th from 6:15 to 7:30. Please see the agenda (also below) for more information on the relevant and requested topics that will be presented.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Respectfully,

Terri and Jayson =)

Monday, January 20th

• No School - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21st

• Winter Activities Week in Specials (all week)

Wednesday, January 22nd

• Mike Bent Magician Kindergarten Enrichment Program

Thursday, January 23rd

• Multicultural Festival Committee Meeting, 3:45pm, New Members welcome!

Friday, January 24th

• Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day

Saturday, January 25th

• PTO Family Craft Event, 1:00-3:00pm, Cafe/Gym

Monday, January 27th

• The Great Kindness Challenge Week begins
• Winter Activity week ends (began last week)

Tuesday, January 28th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am- 6:00pm

Wednesday, January 29th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am-6:00pm
• Family Engagement Night - 6:15 - 7:30pm

Friday, January 31st

• PTO Movie Night, Cafe

Sunday, February 2nd

• South Row Skate Night at Roller Kingdom, 6-8pm

Monday, February 3rd

• Kindness Matters Day - students and staff encouraged to wear kindness shirts and/or complete a kind act
• Student Grade Level Meetings w/ Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho
• Student Council, 3:30pm
• School Council, 5:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Board Meeting, 6:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Meeting, 7:00pm, Lab

Tuesday, February 4th

• Learnin' the Ropes Enrichment Program (Gr. 2-4), 9:15am

Thursday, February 6th

• Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 11:45am

Friday, February 7th

• Grade 3 Plimoth Pawtuxet Enrichment Program

Saturday, February 8th

• Gr. 4-12 Choralfest

Tuesday, February 11th

• Try it Tuesday

Wednesday, February 12th

• Grade 4 Enrichment Program - Lights and Lasers (Kellerman, Duncan, Semenza)
• Grade 1 Meteorologist Visit

Thursday, February 13th

• Grade 4 Enrichment Program - Lights and Lasers (Lewis and Tice)

Friday, February 14th

• Grade 4 Assembly to Watch Grade 5 Ensembles
• Red, White, and Pink Day

February 17th-February 21st

• School Vacation Week - No School

Wednesday, February 26th

• Science Fair, 6:30pm

Thursday, February 27th

• Science Fair (Snow Date), 6:30pm

Friday, February 28th

• Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day

Save the Date: Family Engagement Night - January 29th from 6:15 to 7:30

This year we will be sharing topics based on feedback from families. Our Chelmsford SRO will share information about digital and internet safety. Additionally, we will have families share information about their journey with children who have ADHD and/or Anxiety. We will send out a google form soon for you to indicate if you will be able to attend and need childcare. We are only able to offer childcare for students that currently attend South Row.

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.

Snow and Recess: We have had our first snow fall of the year. Below are some reminders for recess and playing in the snow.

• Students should wear coats, hats, mittens, to school in the winter months.
• Students/families should consider having students bring or wear boots to school depending on conditions.
• We will not be having students put on snow pants to go outside in the snow. However, if students wear boots, they will be able to go in the snow. Activities they will be able to do include (but not limited to):
• Walk around in the snow
• Run in the snow
• Build a snowman
• Make tracks through the snow
• Play follow the leader
• Students will NOT be allowed to:
• Throw snow / Kick snow
• Throw snowballs
• Get pants wet
• If a student forgets their snow boots, they will be able to go outside but will only be able to play on the blacktop area and not in the field or snow-covered areas.

Colder Temperatures: As the winter months approach us, please be sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor recess (ie. jackets/sweatshirts, etc).

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.

Community Read-in: The Chelmsford Community Read-In is making its return the week of March 3-7! The idea of the Community Read-In is to have readers who are members of the greater community visit classes for about 20 minutes to read a book or two to a class in grades Pre-K through 6. This is a special visit for these classes because the message it sends the kids is that members of the community, not just their teachers and parents, care about their education and love of reading. This is a really special gift you can give to the children of Chelmsford! If you are interested or know someone who would like to do this please sign up using the link below. Typically parents are not placed in classrooms of their own children.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX_oyyDzbmk4l1XCgv21BQknN3x_DBxfycvYe4inlwdGJyiQ/viewform?usp=sharing

In Library we will be cozying up with a good book! Students are welcome to wear their pajamas on their Library day, and we will decorate the Library, work on winter themed crafts, and cozy up by a (video screen) fireplace to do some reading. We will also be voting for our favorite picture books from the year 2024, as the Caldecott Medal and Honor winners should be announced during Winter week!

In Technology, students will be using the chromebook shortcuts that we have learned this year to create and build their own virtual snowman on google slides. 1st and 2nd have a more simplified version where they copy and paste all the items, where 3rd and 4th will be using their toolbar and shapes to create and build each piece of the snowman themselves. Kindergarten will have the opportunity to use PBS Kids Winter Games to expand their coding knowledge and spatial awareness skills. They will start with Riding with Rosie where they have to direct Rosie where to go using a simple algorithm and arrows then move onto a second game where they use tools to use programming patterns to control a snowboarder snowboarding down a snowy mountain!

In Music class, we will be using our imaginations, pretending we are outside in the snow! We will be paper plate skating to different styles of music, from Chopin Waltz' to Techno! We will also sing winter themed songs, do some winter body percussion and dance breaks!

In Art, some classes will be completing winter art projects. Other students are finishing cray pas snow people and Kindergarten is creating a collage with cardinals and birch trees.

In PE, classes will NOT be sledding during Winter Activity week due to a lack of snow. If we get more snow and sledding is possible, Mrs. Brown will let families know to send in snow gear.

Dear South Row Families,

It appears that the Flu has arrived at South Row. Symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache

• Muscle or body aches

• Weakness or fatigue

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny nose

• Vomiting and diarrhea

There are at-home flu tests available for purchase from CVS if you are interested. Your pediatrician can also provide testing and guidance. https://www.cvs.com/shop/ihealth-covid-19-flu-a-b-3-in-1-home-rapid-test-kit-2-ct-prodid-564379

Knowing if your family member has the flu is helpful for infection control in your home. If your student tests positive and you are interested in prescription treatment for the flu to reduce the length and severity of symptoms, contact your pediatrician. Testing and prescription treatment are not required. Your student may return to school when they have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication (Tylenol or Ibuprofen) for 24 hours.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Nurse V.

Do you love to craft? Looking to put your gluing and painting skills to good use? Join us for our Winter Craft-ernoon, Saturday, January 25 from 1-3pm. Volunteer by signing up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A5AF2CA6F4C25-54301198-winter

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.

Join us at 6:30pm in the PAC on Thursday, January 23rd, for a FREE presentation by Digital Health & Safety Expert, Katie Greer, compliments of the Council of Chelmsford Schools.

https://www.klgreer.com/keynote-speaker

Parenting through this digital world can be overwhelming. Katie explores tools and strategies to help our students navigate technology in a safe and productive way.

Katie suggests walking kids through a decision-making process that considers the immediate and long-term impact of everything they do online — the AWESOME and the not-so-awesome.

Some topics covered include:

• Privacy: what does it mean?
• Technology tattoos: the good & the bad
• Gaming online: tips & tricks
• Social media rules & guidelines
• Balance online: how is our mental health impacted?
• Tech permanency: how this can help/hurt
• Sexting
• Cyberbullying
• Being a responsible online consumer

Please plan to arrive early to select a seat, and sign up so we know how many people to expect:

https://signup.com/go/uhzMFpr

We welcome you to check out ou Connections Calendar and provide feedback using this link.

Please click on the "button" below to access resources and supports available. Do not hesitate to reach out to any support team member with any questions you may have.

**Please note: We continuously update the button below with new resources as they arise.

This section is comprised of the following items pertaining to food services

• Website
• Breakfast Information
• Tentative Breakfast/Lunch Menus

Dear Parents and Families --

To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.

For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 9/18/24

● 10/24/24

● 11/20/24 (Elem & MS Only)

● 11/27/24

● 12/12/24

● 1/14/25

● 2/6/25

● 3/12/25

● 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- Child’s 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

Mrs. Terri Gilbert

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

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

• 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