May 2024
Beechwood Knoll School Newsletter
Principal Mrs. Marisa Rodriguez 617-984-8781 marisarodriguez@quincypublicschools.com
Secretary Mrs. Katie DeLancey 617-984-8781 kaitlindelancey@quincypublicschools.com
Guidance Mrs. Maura Hurst 617-984-8631 maurahurst@quincypublicschools.com
Nurse Mrs. Debbie Cerone 617-984-8632 deborahcerone@quincypublicschools.com
School Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:15 AM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday - Early Release 8:15 AM - 11:55 AM
BKS Info
225 Fenno Street, Quincy, MA 02170
Telephone: 617-984-8781
Fax: 617-984-8636
Website
Larry's Laps Fun Run 2024
Special thank you to our PTO for supporting all students, staff and initiatives for Beechwood Knoll! All PTO funding goes directly to our Beechwood Knoll students and community. Additionally, thanks to our PTO, all students will receive a slush from Kona Ice Truck AND a t-shirt on the day of the Fun Run!
This is also a reminder that every Wednesday, we have BKS Pride day! Students are invited to wear Blue, White or BKS gear on Wednesdays to show their school spirit!
Calendar
May Events
- Wednesday, May 1 PBIS Virtual Assembly
- Friday, May 3 BKS My Boost Annual Fun Run! Families invited to spectate (see flier)
- Saturday, May 4 Cleaner Greener Quincy - BKS Volunteers Needed 9 AM - 12 PM
- Wednesday, May 8 Pajama Day!
- Wednesday, May 8 QPS School Committee Meeting 6:30 PM
- Thursday, May 9 Gr 3 Field Trip to the Commonwealth Museum Room 5/DePaolo
- Friday, May 10 Gr 3 Field Trip to the Commonwealth Museum Room 6 & 8/Gerry & Wentworth
- Friday, May 10 Mass Healthy Smiles
- Saturday, May 11 Quincy Multicultural Festival
- Monday, May 13 Top Secret Science Grade 1 @ 9:00 AM & Grade 2 @ 1:00 PM
- Tuesday, May 14 Grade 2 Field Trip to the USS Constitution
- Tuesday, May 14 QPS Parent Academy: Understanding Anxiety Zoom Link
- Wednesday, May 15 Walker Therapeutics Parent Workshop 6 PM
- Thursday, May 16 Mayor Koch & Superintendent Mulvey visit BKS 9:00 AM
- Saturday, May 18 QPS Robotics Challenge
- Monday, May 20 Grade 4 WDR Delilah the Whale 9:30 AM
- Monday, May 20 Josh the Otter Kindergarten 1:45 PM
- Monday, May 20 PTO Meeting 6-7 PM on Zoom
- Monday, May 20 QPS Citywide PTO Meeting 7:00 PM Zoom
- May 20-24 Share Your Career Event Grade 4
- Tuesday, May 21 QPS Community Fitness Night 6-7:30 PM at Veteran's Memorial Stadium
- Wednesday, May 22 QPS Kindergarten Screening for incoming 2024 students
- Wednesday, May 22 Grade 5 All Class Photo 9:30 AM
- Wednesday, May 22 QPS School Committee 6:30 PM
- Thursday, May 23 Memorial Day Assembly - all families welcome! 9:00 AM
- May 24-31 Spring Scholastic Book Fair (homeroom teachers will share shopping day)
- Friday, May 24 Grade 2 Trip to Holly Hill Farm
- Monday, May 27 No School - Memorial Day
- May 28-31 BKS Spirit Week
- Tuesday, May 28 Book Fair Family Event - PJs & Storytime Shop 5:30-6:30 PM
- Tuesday, May 28 Central Middle School Fly Up Day Grade 5
- Thursday, May 30 Atlantic Middle School Fly Up Day Grade 5
- Thursday, May 30 Book Fair Family Event - Last Chance to Shop 2:30-4:00 PM
- Thursday, May 30 Session 3 Extended Day programs end
- Friday, May 31 BKS School Council Meeting 10-11 AM
May Days of Recognition
- May is Jewish Heritage Month
- May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month
- May is Mental Health Awareness Month
- Friday, May 3 School Lunch Hero's Day
- Sunday, May 5 Cinco de Mayo
- May 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week
- Wednesday, May 8 National School Nurse Day
- Sunday, May 12 Mother's Day
- Monday, May 27 Memorial Day
Save the date…
The following events will be happening at BKS this Spring.
Tuesday, June 4 Field Day
Wednesday, June 5 Teddy Bear Picnic Kindergarten (siblings invited)
Thursday, June 6 Musical Showcase Gr 2-5 (lieu of Spring concert) 9:00 AM
Grades 4-5 Band, Grade 3 (all) Recorder & Grades 2-5 QPS StringsWednesday, June 12 Gr 5 Promotion Ceremony (siblings invited)
Monday, June 17 5th Grade Yearbook Breakfast & Gr 4 State Fair
Spring 2024 MCAS Testing Dates
Families of students in Grades 3-5, please make note of these testing days. Planned student absences on these days is highly discouraged. Thank you!
- Grade 3 Math Monday, May 6 & Tuesday, May 7
- Grade 4 Math Tuesday, May 14 & Friday, May 17
- Grade 5 Math Thursday, May 9 & Friday, May 10
- Grade 5 STE Monday, May 20 & Tuesday, May 21
Event Fliers
QPS Summer Scene 2024 Programs - Register Now!
Quincy Public Schools Summer Scene 2024 Programs are now open for registration! All programs listed in this brochure are free to all Quincy Public School students thanks to the generous funding and support from Mayor Koch and the Quincy School Committee. Registration links are available within the brochure. Some programs are by invitation only.
Please click the link below to access the brochure or visit www.quincypublicschools.com
Quincy Recreation Summer Clinic - Registration Open
Nurse's Message
How is it possible that we have made it to May? With the 2023-2024 school year winding down and only 35 days left of school we are headed into the home stretch.
Housekeeping updates:
- Ensure your child is up to date with their physical exams. Many of us postponed or stopped receiving preventative care during the pandemic. Spring is a perfect time to get back on track.
- Schedule a vision exam if your child failed their in school exam. Visual difficulties will make accessing the curriculum difficult. The earlier children see the benefit of seeing with glasses the more likely they are to wear them. Some visual problems do not appear at a pediatrician eye exam. If you received a letter please see an eye specialist to rule out ALL abnormalities.
- Although our time remaining in the school year is short, daily attendance is a priority. Children learn when present. If I can be of assistance in determining if your child is well enough to attend school, please do not hesitate to reach out before school or even at school in the morning. Required days out are for symptoms of fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
- Make a plan to pick up your child’s medication on the last day of school - it will be here before you know it. The medication will include paperwork for you to have filled out during the summer for the upcoming school year. All medication given in school requires an original prescription and a doctor’s written order/parent permission to give the medication. Please call me if you have any questions on this.
Please know you can always call/email with any questions or concerns. You can never over communicate with this office.
Mrs. Cerone, MSN, RN
617-984-8632
Counselor Corner
The holidays may be called the “most wonderful time of the year,” but are we in possibly the “busiest time of the year?” Seems like for families especially, springtime is so busy. School, special events, sports schedules, family obligations… we just keep going (and let’s be honest, we are running out of steam.)
In busy, stressful times, kids (and adults) may need some support and coaching to stay calm. I wanted to share a resource- Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids- with you that may be helpful. This is a video series that teaches about important mental health strategies such as understanding feelings, relaxation, and understanding thoughts. Watch them together with your children. I think they could spark some good conversations and skills building. (They also have versions for younger or older children if you need those.)
https://childmind.org/healthyminds/elementary-school/
Happy Spring!
Maura Hurst, School Counselor
PBIS
May expected behavior: Respect for self on the playground
- Be safe
- Have a plan
- Do something you enjoy
BKS Website Highlight: Safety Routines
Arrival & Dismissal Protocols
Children should not arrive at school before 8:00 a.m. Families, please observe the parking regulations and designated pick-up and drop-off areas outlined below to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. It is very important to instruct students to always use crosswalks. Your cooperation is essential in following the established rules.
Walking
Many of our families walk to school! All members of the Beechwood Knoll Community must use crosswalks when arriving and leaving the school. Our Quincy Police Department crossing guard will assist you at our front intersection both before and after school.
Once entering the Beechwood Knoll driveway, families should remain in the driveway, the sidewalk is reserved for students only.
Driving
When driving to Beechwood Knoll, you have the option to drop-off or park.
Drop Off: Cars that are dropping off students for BKS arrival will pull into the main Beechwood Parking lot by the playground. Cars will remain on the right hand side, following the drop off sign to guide you. Families will stop their car completely and students will exit the vehicle on the sidewalk. Cars will then continue driving through the right side of the parking lot and loop around to exit on the left hand side. Cars cannot be parked in the drop off area. Cars cannot stop on Fenno Street for drop off. Please note, the drop off area is closed during dismissal time due to pick up of our after school programs. Thank you!
Park and Drop/Pick Up: Families that would like to park their car to drop off or pick up their child can do so along the neighboring streets of Beechwood Knoll. All City of Quincy parking sign regulations must be followed. Please refrain from parking in the parking lot around the playground as this is used for staff as well as the drop off area.
U-turns are not permitted at any time.
Rain
In the event of rain at drop off, we will open the main door at 8:10 am for students to wait inside. Please do not arrive prior to 8:10 am. We will allow for students to arrive a few minutes after 8:15 am as we know travel in the rain can also be slower
In the event of rain at pick up, we will dismiss as usual. Please plan accordingly.
Pick-up and drop-off routines at all QPS schools are being continuously monitored by the Quincy Police Department and Quincy Public Schools School Committee; any updates will be shared with families.
School Grounds
School Grounds and Playgrounds may not be used by the public when school is in session.
Parking Lot
Our parking lot is for staff parking and student drop off only.
Driveway
For student safety, our front drive way is closed at arrival & dismissal. When our driveway is open, please follow the one way signs.
Stay tuned:
- Our parking lot will be re-marked to include arrows indicating the drop off loop
- Additional parking signs will be added to Fenno Street to clearly mark the current City of Quincy regulations
All BKS protocols, including Arrival & Dismissal Protocols, can be found on our BKS website:
BKS PTO
Ways to Support our PTO
Larry's Laps Fun Run
Please see information on supporting our PTO through the Fun Run at the beginning of this newsletter. Please visit mybooster.com to register, donate & share!
PTO Meeting
Monday, May 20, 2024, 06:00 PM
Zoom
Spring Scholastic Book Fair
- E-wallet set up dates: Friday, May 3 - Friday, May 31
- Book Fair Dates: Friday, May 24 - Friday, May 31
classroom shopping dates & times will be shared with families later this month - Family Event: Tuesday, May 28 5:30-6:30 PM
- Family Event: Thursday, May 30 2:30-4:00 PM
School Lunch Menu
Quincy Public Schools is Hiring!
For more information, go to: https://www.quincypublicschools.com/our_district/human_resources_department/current_employment_opportunities or call the QPS Human Resources Department at 617-984-8767
Interested or have questions?
Reach out to Beechwood Knoll's Secretary, Mrs. Katie DeLancey at 617-984-8781 or kaitlindelancey@quincypublicschools.com
Quincy Public Schools 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
- the last day of school for students is now Thursday, June 20
- the last day for professional staff is now Friday, June 21
- the last day for high school seniors remains Friday, May 31