Bates Family Newsletter

We're gearing up for the eclipse on Monday!

All students will receive eclipse-viewing glasses!

The viewing of the eclipse will start at 2:16pm, the peak will be at 3:29pm and the eclipse will end at 4:39pm. This will be a partial eclipse in our area, the moon will block 92% of the sun, since the sun is so very bright this will not create a dark dusk feeling like we might imagine. Fingers crossed that it is not cloudy and the students will be able to see the moon partially blocking the sun. In order to inform and educate students about the eclipse and safety during the event, teachers will present some information to students on Monday along with their glasses. It's going to be so cool!

We're sending a special shout to our AP, Mr. Mac, who completed his third week at Bates, and it was Assistant Principal Appreciation Week to boot! Thanks to Mr. Mac for getting to know the staff and students. He also throws a great spiral🏈😆. We know that the kids appreciate his interactions with them at recess! It feels like Mr. Mas has been part of the team for much longer than three weeks as he simply fits right in at Bates.

Special shout out to the paraprofessionals at Bates who work so hard to make sure that our students get exactly what they need. They are an integral part of the team, and we couldn't do this work without them. 💙

Come dine at Longboards with us on Sunday, April 7, from 5-9pm! A part of every sale during the event will be donated to Bates PTO to help provide any educational or recreational needs for our students. We will also have Bates merchandise for sale and a 50/50 raffle at the door.

Longboards
76 Wharf Street
Salem, MA

See you there!

In an effort to join us as together as school community, our team decided that one way to do that was to "introduce" all of you to as many families as possible. Meet the Colon family! Thanks to the three of you for introducing us to your family. We appreciate you!

Our hope is that these videos will create new friendships, bring us closer as a community, and help us celebrate the beautiful diversity that we have here at Bates. It ties in with our new motto: "Believe, Be you, Belong, at Bates!"If you'd like to be a spotlight family, please reach out to Rosalyn Guevara, Family Engagement Specialist, at rguevara@salemk12.org.

Grade 5 will soon be embarking on the MCAS journey. We know they will do their best! Please make sure your student arrives to school on time as we'll begin testing around 8:45.

What can parents/caregivers do to support their learners?

Help your child prepare for the test

Worrying too much about doing well can prevent students from doing their best. Just encourage them to work hard, try hard!

Most importantly, let your child know that you believe in them😃

It's time to start thinking about MCAS, so we're sharing our testing dates with you!

RSVP in FB event - https://bit.ly/BatesBeautification

SIGN-UP for task - https://bit.ly/BatesBeautificationVolunteers

Feeling Anxious - Written by Ms. Amanda

This week we focused on “feeling anxious”. While we try to support this challenge throughout the year, we paid particular attention to those taking MCAS this week. High stakes tests are an inevitable part of life: driver’s permit and license tests, SATs, college exams, professional licensing tests etc. So while we don’t consider MCAS a “high stakes” test we do value the opportunity to “practice” managing anxiety and simply doing our best to “show what we know”.

On Monday, we provided all students in grades 3-5 a sensory strip to utilize for grounding and calming during test taking and/or generally throughout their day to promote anxiety management and optimum focus.

Additionally, staff also all taught all students the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique during morning meetings. This is an evidenced-based strategy that allows students to regulate their nervous system when anxiety “shows up”. Review the video to engage more with your young person around how this tool can help ALL of us manage stressful situations or heightened emotions.

The school menus are posted on the SPS website. Find them here.

22.3% -- Chronic absenteeism

Our goal is 18.2% or under in the "Chronic Absence" category. Spring has sprung and with it comes, hopefully, less illnesses! Our chronic absentee number is up a bit from last week. Many thanks to all families for doing your best to support your students. HUGE SHOUT OUT to grade 1 for having the lowest chronically absent students at Bates. If you need any assistance with getting your student to school, please reach out to Rosalyn Guevara, Family Engagement Facilitator at rguevara@salemk12.org.

Last week, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Health agreed to adopt the most recent guidance from the CDC regarding COVID-19 infections. These recommendations stress the importance of staying home when you are sick with symptoms of a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, the flu, or RSV. You may return to work or school once you are feeling better and have not had a fever for 24 hours, without having to use fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). If you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate at home until you are feeling better; there is no longer a 5-day isolation requirement. For more detailed information, please visit the Department of Public Health website.

Who doesn't love a little fun?

Starting this Friday, we're going to kick off what we're calling "Feel Good Fridays!" We're excited to have a "comfy cozy spirit day" this coming Friday, 4/12. Wear your comfiest clothes to school...sweatpants, hoodies, fleece, fuzzy socks, pajamas. Do what makes you feel cozy.

This was presented as part of Essex Tech's Kindness Week, and we thank the students who came to facilitate this cool project!

Did you know you can earn money for our school just by scanning your grocery receipts? All you need to do is download the Boxtops app, and scan those receipts! Don't want to scan? No worries, you can always send receipts into school with your student in an envelope marked, "PTO Boxtops".

Again, we're stressing that if you MUST leave your car during drop off, pull up past the school entrance and drive as far down the sidewalk as possible. Adults are exiting vehicles close to "the rock" causing cars to back up into the street. This is unsafe. Please follow the drop off rules.

Our Bates spirit rock is available for weekly rentals. Celebrate your student's birthday or other accomplishments by painting a message on our rock. Please click here to rent the rock!

Bates Elementary School, in partnership with our families and community, will provide all students with a culturally responsive, student – centered, and equitable learning experience that celebrates our students’ diverse backgrounds, creative pursuits, and their academic, social, emotional success.