MHS/WES Newsletter

January 20: No School ~ Martin Luther King Day

January 21: No School ~ Professional Development

February 5: 1/2 day of School ~ Dismissal starts at NOON

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

February 17-21: No School, February Break

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

News from the Nurse’s Office

ILLNESS/ABSENCES: As with every Winter, we have seen an increase in illness in our schools. Please be sure to review the district’s illness guidance, and reach out to your school nurse with any questions. Please contact the main office in the morning if your child is to be absent and inform them why your child will not be attending.

As a reminder, if your child has a fever they must be fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication before returning to school. The same 24 hour rule applies to those who have vomited or have diarrhea, they must be free of those symptoms for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school.

Physical Exams: Please continue to send in your student’s physical exam documentation from their medical provider. AWRSD requires that all kindergarten and third grade students have a current physical exam on file in the nursing office.

Health Screenings: The state of Massachusetts requires health screenings to be completed by the end of the school year. Vision screenings are done on all students in grades K-5; stereopsis is an additional vision screening done with students in grades K-3. Hearing screenings are done on students in grades K-3. Notices of any failures are sent to the parent by the school nurse for follow-up. Results of the follow up will be returned to the school nurse.

Height and weight screenings are completed in 1st grade and 4th grade.

All 5th grade students are checked for scoliosis, unless notification from the parent/guardian has been received by the school nurse to opt out. If you prefer for your student to not participate in this screening, and have not already notified the school nurse, please do so by sending an email, or written note with your request to opt out. Parents/guardians are notified if additional evaluation is needed by the student’s primary care physician.

CLOTHING DONATIONS: WES is in need of clothing donations, specifically new underwear and new socks as well as pants for both boys and girls. Leggings & sweatpants are great for us to offer students who may need a change of clothing. We are currently accepting kids´ sizes 5-18. If you are cleaning out, please consider donating any gently used items to the Nurse’s office!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at ashea@awrsd.org or 978-874-2043 x 3.

Happy New Year!

We have been very busy in kindergarten. In our CKLA program we have covered the consonant sounds /m/,/t/,/d/,/c/,/g/,/f/,/s/,/v/,/n/,/h/, /p/,/b/,/z/,/l/,/w/,/r/,/j/,/y/,/x/ and vowel sounds /a/,/e/,/i/,/o/,/u/. Students are putting the sounds together to read and write words. We are writing words and phrases. Our tricky words are one, two, three, the, a, blue, yellow, and look. Unit 5 learning packets are coming home this week.

In our Wit and Wisdom reading program, we have explored On The Farm through a variety of texts, activities, and learning experiences. Students have practiced looking closely at illustrations and text to find evidence and deeper meaning in the books. Our Essential (big) question in this module is “What makes a good story”. Students have been learning about setting, (the where and when in a story) and we will learn about characters soon!

In Math, we are introducing the concepts of addition and subtraction.

We have talked about adding one more and have stressed the importance of knowing doubles (1+1, 2+2, 3+3,etc). The terms “greater than” and “less than” have also been taught in reference to numbers up to 10. Kindergarteners have received fluency flashcards (addition and subtraction up to 5). Please practice at home!

When there is snow on the ground, students are allowed to play in the snow during afternoon recess. They need hats, boots, mittens/gloves, jackets, and snow pants. Please make sure to label your child’s gear!

If you have not donated to your child’s classroom we are looking for tissues and cleaning wipes! We appreciate your help!

It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the school year. TIme flies when you are having fun! Now that kids are acclimated to our routine, we expect them to use the routines and strategies we have taught them independently. There are a few things we need your help practicing at home!

Getting on and off boots also means getting on and off shoes. Many kids are still struggling with tying their own shoes and sadly, we just don’t have time to tie everyone’s shoes after recess. At this point, your child should be able to tie and double-knot his/her shoes independently. If your child can not tie/double knot please practice this at home. If your child is watching TV, have your child hold their shoe in their lap and practice tying. There are many great videos online to help teach tying. Here is the link to a video that we find very helpful:How to Tie Shoes Video

It is finally time to bring in snow clothes! Putting on and off snow gear can be difficult for many children. Also, storing the snow clothes can be tough. Please have your child practice independently putting on and removing their snow clothes at home. Please pack the snow clothes in a separate bag. The snow clothes get wet outside so putting them in a backpack with school papers isn’t a good idea. It’s also tough to squeeze everything into a backpack. Please put your child’s name on everything! Things get easily mixed up in the mad dash of putting on and taking off snow clothes. We don’t want anyone going home without the things they need to enjoy the snow at home!

Thanks for all of your help!

In Physical Education, we started a basketball unit after coming back from vacation. James Naismith invented basketball in Springfield and it has grown to be a very popular sport with over 450 million people playing it across the globe. In class, students will learn basic skills in lead up games of basketball, such as dribbling, passing, shooting and positioning/defense. Grades K-1 will focus more on skill development while the older grades will get more into game play/small sided games.

The game of basketball has many great physical benefits as it improves balance and coordination, endurance, concentration, improves cardio, and builds muscles. As well as a great way to stay fit, basketball offers many more benefits. Basketball is a game that can be enjoyed by all ages, it can be played year round with minimal equipment, and it is a great way to socialize and instill teamwork. Students will work cooperatively to achieve a common goal because in basketball you can’t do it all by yourself, you need your teammates!

Looking forward, we will be learning Volleyball, Pickleball, Fitness, Bowling and working on some Team Building challenges for our next few units.

As always, I encourage you to be active at home. Go sledding, build a snowman once we get some snow or go for a walk!

Counselors Newsletter January 2025

New Year greetings from your School Counselors! Did

you know that January is National Mental Wellness

month? We often look at January as a time to start new

habits. Here are some ways you can incorporate some

Mental Wellness into your family routines recommended

by BC Mental Health. These will benefit both you AND

your student!

Make in-person social connection a priority

Phone calls and social networks have their place, but few things can beat the

stress-busting, mood-boosting power of quality face-to-face time with other people,

especially those you love and people who energize you.

Stay active

Staying active is as good for the brain as it is for the body. Regular exercise or activity

can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health, relieve stress, improve

memory, and help you sleep better.

Talk to someone

Talk to a friendly face. If you have concerns, stresses or worries, sharing these with

someone who cares is one of the most effective ways to calm your nervous system and

relieve stress. And vice versa: Sometimes listening to others in a safe and supportive

way can help you develop wider perspectives. If the worries are beyond this, consider

speaking to a professional (see programs and resources at the end).

Appeal to your senses

Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Does squeezing a stress ball

help you feel centered? What about taking a walk in nature and enjoying the sights and

sounds of the trees? Everyone responds to sensory input a little differently, so

experiment with healthy sensory inputs to find what works best for you.

Take up a relaxation practice

Yoga, mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing can help reduce overall levels of

stress.

Make leisure and reflection a priority

We can all be guilty of being "too busy" to make room for downtime. It is important to

remember, however, leisure time is a necessity for emotional and mental health. Take

some time to relax and pay attention to the positive things as you go about your day.

Don’t let even those small things go unnoticed! Write them down if you can, because

they can be easy to forget. Then reflect on them later if your mood is in need of a boost.

Eat foods that keep your brain and mental health strong

Foods that may support your mood include beans, legumes (e.g., lentils), fatty fish rich

in omega-3s, nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews and peanuts), avocados, dark leafy

greens (e.g., spinach, kale and Brussels sprouts), and fruit (e.g., blueberries). Dark

chocolate has also been found to be potentially beneficial for mental health. For the best

dietary and nutritional advice, talk to a registered dietician.

Don't skimp on sleep

It matters more than many people think. Sleep is our body and mind's best way to

recharge and rejuvenate. One way to get sleep better is to take a break from the

stimulation of screens — TV, phones, tablets or computers — in the hours before

bedtime. Consider reading or listening to relaxing music instead.

Find purpose and meaning

This is different for everyone, but finding purpose in your day is a big factor to good

mental health. You might try one of the following:

● Engage in work and play that makes you feel useful

● Invest in relationships and spend quality time with people who matter to you

● Volunteer, which can help enrich your life and make you happier

● Find ways to care for others which can be both challenging and rewarding

● Think of one good deed or gesture to do each day

● Explore your faith and spirituality

Get help if you need it

If you or a loved one needs support, there are many programs and resources available

to you: https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/awrsdfamilymentalhealth/home

• PTO events coming up:
  • Our next meeting is on 2/6 from 6:30-7:30 in the Meetinghouse School Library. We hope you can come.
  • 3/13 Jim Basketball Jones Assembly in school
  • 3/21 Fun With Your Son Event
  • 4/11 Daughter’s Choice Dance
  • 5/5-5/9 Staff Appreciation Week
  • 5/16 3rd grade Colonial Day- we are looking for co-chairs to make the event possible (reach out if interested)
  • 5th Grade end of the year activities- ice cream social & Promotion Night

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.