Sippican Weekly Overview!

Dear Sippican Families,

Can you believe how quickly this school year is flying by? It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming everyone back in September, and now we're already in the home stretch! We've had such a busy and enriching few weeks, and the energy and enthusiasm of our students continue to inspire us all. Last week marked the final leg of MCAS testing, with our fantastic fifth graders tackling the science portion. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication throughout the testing period.

This week promises more exciting opportunities for our students. Our wonderful first graders are eagerly anticipating their trip to the Buttonwood Zoo! It's always a fantastic experience for them to see the animals up close and learn more about the natural world. We know they will have a wild time making memories and expanding their knowledge. Also on the calendar for this week is our much-anticipated Spring Concert on Tuesday evening. Our talented students have been working incredibly hard to prepare a beautiful musical performance for you all. We hope you'll join us to celebrate their dedication and enjoy an evening filled with wonderful music. It's always a joy to see their confidence and skills shine on stage.

Looking ahead to this weekend, we want to take a moment to acknowledge Memorial Day. This is an important time for our community and nation to remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in our armed forces. We encourage you to take some time this weekend to reflect on their service and the freedoms we enjoy because of their dedication.

As we move through these final weeks, we want to thank you, our Sippican School families, for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement is invaluable to our students' success. We look forward to a strong finish to the school year, filled with learning, growth, and joyful moments. Stay tuned for more updates as we head towards the end of June!

Warmly,

Principal Dessert and Assistant Principal Thomas

Our Mission Statement:

The mission of our school district is to inspire all students to think, learn, and care. Sippican School is committed to fostering a respectful, responsible, and kind learning environment. We've launched the "3 to Be" initiative to remind our community of these important values.

"Sippican 3 to Be"

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Kind

We believe outdoor recess is a wonderful part of the school day for all our students. We'll only have indoor recess if the weather is really bad. To ensure everyone's safety during playtime, could you please help us by making sure your child is dressed appropriately? Certain types of footwear, like decorative shoes and flip-flops, can sometimes pose a safety concern when kids are running and playing. For this reason, we kindly discourage flip-flops and other open-toed shoes for recess. We highly recommend sneakers as the best choice for active play.

The LAST Parade rehearsal is next Friday, May 23

The SPRING CONCERT is on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 PM

Dress is Black & Blues

The ORDER:

1) Concert Choir

2) A Minors

3) Monday Jazz

4) Festival Band

5) Tuesday Jazz

6) Grade 5 & 6 Band

Remember the Band Room saying:

“No Shows are Not OK”.

Parents should let Mrs. Moore/Richard know if you have a conflict.

To ensure the safety and smooth operation of our dismissal and absent procedures, please take note of the following:

Changes to Dismissal:

• For any changes to your child's dismissal routine, please contact Sippican Secretary, Shari Pacheco via email at sharipacheco@oldrochester.org or by phone at 508-748-0100 ext 6302.
• Please notify us of any dismissal changes no later than 2:30 PM. We understand that unexpected situations can arise, but this timeframe helps us manage the dismissal process efficiently.

• To report an absence, particularly due to illness, please contact Sippican School Nurse, Karen Bertram via email at karenbertram@oldrochester.org or by phone at 508-748-0100 ext 6306.

Important Note: Please do not send emails to Mrs. Rego as she no longer works at Sippican School.

Your cooperation and adherence to these procedures are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students safe and accounted for.

• May 19th & 22nd - Kindergarten Screening

• May 20th - Grade 1 Buttonwood Park Zoo

• May 20th - School Council

• May 20th - Spring Concert – 6:30 (Grade 5 & 6 Band, both Jazz Bands & Concert Choir) in the Multi Purpose Room

• May 21st Kindergarten Field Trip - Roger Williams Zoo

• May 26th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

• May 28th - All School Meeting

• May 30th - ORRHS Graduates visit Sippican

• June 3rd - Grade 6 - Silvershell Beach

• June 5th & 6th - PK-6 Field Day

• June 10th - Band Blast

• June 11th - Grade 6 Graduation and Breakfast starting at 9:30

• June 11th - Last day of school

The 2025-2026 School Calendar was approved by the Joint School Committee earlier this month. We are grateful for the feedback received from stakeholders and the school committees' collaboration to approve next year's calendar. View the calendar here.

A student may carry or keep a cell phone or Smartwatch in his/her backpack if authorized by the school office. The phone or Smartwatch must be shut off and kept in the child’s locker/backpack and may be used only for emergency or unusual circumstances as agreed by parents and administration. The phone or Smartwatch may not be used to receive or send messages anytime during school hours or on school buses. Student phones or Smartwatches used to make, or receive, unauthorized calls during school hours, or on a bus, will be confiscated by the school administration or the bus driver.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We want to ensure that our school community remains informed and connected. To help us maintain accurate attendance records and provide the best possible support to your child, we kindly ask that you notify the school office or the nurse 508-748-0100 x 6306 if your child is absent for the day due to illness.

Please leave a message with the following information:

• Student's Name:
• Teacher's Name:
• Reason for Absence: (e.g., illness, doctor's appointment)
• Expected Return Date:

Thank you for your cooperation!

All of our schools continue to use Raptor Technology for all visitors entering our buildings.

All visitors and volunteers are required to have a valid driver’s license or Massachusetts issued identification card to be scanned-in upon entering the building for any reason. CORI checks are required for any parent/guardian volunteers and are available in the main office of your student's school.

Although one lunch each day and one breakfast each day are free this year, we still need families to complete the free and reduced lunch application forms. These forms need to be completed every year. The online forms can be found by using this link: orrschoolmeals.com

• Breakfast is served each day starting at 8:30 AM

• One breakfast and one lunch are free for all students this year.

• Additional milk, drinks or snacks can be purchased for a fee.

• Snacks range from $1.00 to a $1.50

• Milk costs .65 cents (Please note that students will need to pay for milk if they bring their own lunch.)

• Assorted Drinks range from $1.00 to a $1.75

• 2nd Breakfast: $1.75

• 2nd Lunch: $3.50

Just a reminder that students do have a snack each day. The snacks need to be packed separately from their lunch and need to be free from peanuts/tree nuts. All school lunches are peanut free and we do have an allergy table in the cafeteria. If you have any questions regarding allergies, please reach out to our school nurse, Mrs. Bertram.

District Policy Manual

District Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan

Bullying Reporting Form