Colonial Park Weekly News

Dear Colonial Park Families -

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!

Picture Day last week was a huge success! This year, Colonial Park is supporting a local vendor, School Art Studio, owned and operated by a former Colonial Park parent Patrik Kisucky. The ordering process will be done online, and families will receive an email with a link to the photos of their child this week. For our students who were absent on Picture Day, or if you would like your child to retake their photo, Picture Retake Day will be on Monday, November 18. If you have any questions, please contact Patrik at patrik@schoolartstudio.com.

We are in agreement with the After School Program in requesting that all Pokemon Cards remain at home. Our students often trade cards, or cards get lost, and this leads to sad feelings and arguments. For this reason, please have your child keep their Pokemon Cards at home going forward.

As we welcome new families to Colonial Park, we will share a powerpoint with important information. I am attaching it to this newsletter, since it is helpful information for all our families.

Colonial Park Information for New Families

Farsi New Family Information

Portuguese New Family Information

Spanish New Family Information

Upcoming dates for the month of October:

1. Monday, October 14 - There will be no school in recognition of Columbus/Indigenous People's Day.
   
2. Friday, October 18 - The Stoneham Fire Department will provide Fire Safety information for our students in grades K-4.
3. Thursday, October 24 - We will have our next Goldie Gathering.
4. Thursday, October 24 - The PTO sponsored Pumpkin Patch is back and will be set up in our library for all students.
5. Friday, October 25 - All SPS students will have an Early Release Day. Preschool will be dismissed at 11:40, and students in Grades K-4 will be dismissed at 12:00.

It's definitely an exciting month for our students!

Attached please find the October Lunch Menu. Have a great week everyone!

Best,

Rosa Flynn

facebook.com/CPStoneham

*Coats for Kids - As the weather is cooling, and you’re pulling coats out of your closet, Colonial Park is once again participating in the Coats for Kids and Families collection. October 14-December 20. Winter coats, used and new, of any size can be placed in the bin in the school entrance way. Collections are cleaned by Anton’s cleaners and then distributed to those in need. Thank you for your consideration and generosity!

*Calareso’s Fundraiser – Colonial Park PTO has partnered with Calareso’s in Reading again this year! If you're looking for fresh produce, mums, fall decorations, pies, ice cream, or lots of other yummy groceries, purchase your certificates through the Colonial Park PTO and we will receive 25% of the total amount! Certificates do not expire, so stock up now for future use—holiday decorations, Christmas trees, or garden needs in the spring! Certificates can be purchased from now until October 18th by sending back the order form that went home with your child last week! Order forms will go out again this week. Gift certificates will be distributed October 25th-28th.

*Colonial Park Trunk or Treat – October 26th 10am - 12pm We hope you'll join us for our annual Trunk or Treat! We will have fun games and activities, snacks, and fabulous raffles. Everyone is welcome to come in costume and trick or treat through our Trunk or Treat!

Volunteers needed! We would love your help in making this event a success for our Colonial Park Students! Please click on the sign up genius below for volunteer opportunities. 2024 Trunk or Treat Volunteers

Interested in decorating your trunk? Please sign up here, 2024 Trunk or Treat Sign up .

Our Candy Monster is out and he is HUNGRY! Please send in donations of candy to feed our monster for Trunk or Treat! The kids love feeding the monster!

*Colonial Park Pumpkin Patch! - Volunteers are needed to help with our annual Pumpkin Patch! The Pumpkin Patch will be set up on Wednesday, October 23rd in the CP Library. Volunteers are needed to help turn the library into a pumpkin patch after school!

On Thursday, October 24th all classes will visit the Pumpkin Patch. Volunteers are needed for each time slot to help the students pick their pumpkins, hold them, and write their name on their pumpkin. All are able to attend this event during their child’s class time! We encourage anyone who is able to come in and help to come and enjoy the experience!

Volunteers must have a current CORI form on file with the office. Please check in with Mrs. Faughnan in the front office to confirm you have a current CORI. 2024 Pumpkin Patch Volunteers Sign-up

*PTO Meeting – Thank you to everyone who attended our October meeting, especially Ms.Ward, Mrs, Verity, and our Assistant Superintendent Kathryn Castonguay for taking the time to meet with us!

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12th, 7pm! Join us for in the CP library or virtually. Those who attended in person will be entered to win some CP merch!

Each year, students in grades K-4 participate in beginning of the year, middle of the year and end of the year testing to assess their understanding of grade level reading and math skills. Our district uses DIBELS 8 and Star Early Literacy/Reading and Math. Both DIBELS 8 and Star Early Literacy/Reading are valid, developmentally appropriate, DESE-approved early literacy screening instruments.

Our grade level teachers, reading specialists, special educators and principal meet to analyze the data collected and determine appropriate interventions for students, if they are needed. Students whose data suggests gaps in their understanding of grade level literacy skills are placed in intervention groups with a reading specialist or special educator. The instructional focus of each intervention group directly supports the needs of the students in that group.

This past week, all three elementary schools sent letters to the families of students in grades 1-3 (kindergarten is forthcoming because their assessment window just concluded) whose composite DIBELS score fell in intensive intervention. The purpose of the letter is to let families know that we have identified the areas of challenge and have developed a plan to address their child's needs. We will progress monitor each child during the 6-8 week intervention period and adjust instruction as needed.

As always, we are grateful for your support and collaboration.