Long Hill School Newsletter

Our students had a busy October with so many great activities that have occurred inside and outside of the classrooms. Once again, our PTO-sponsored Book Fair was a success and the students were excited to make their purchases and eager to read and share their new books. LHS donated $350 to the Valley Goes Pink Initiative as LHS went pink on October 9. In October, our students also participated in Fire Prevention, Unity Day, and Orange & Black day.

I enjoy my frequent visits to the classrooms and enjoy watching the students engage in lessons and have meaningful discussions with one another. With the Thanksgiving break right around the corner, time seem to fly by and before we know it there will be snow on the ground. We have much to be grateful for at LHS. I am thankful for our wonderful families and for the ongoing opportunities to work with each one of you. Enjoy your time with family and friends during our Thanksgiving break.

• Tuesday, November 5: No School - Election Day
• Wednesday, November 6: PTO Sponsored Dance-A-Thon - held during the school day
• Friday, November 22: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session hours: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session hours: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Monday, November 25: First Trimester Ends
• Tuesday, November 26: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session hours: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session hours: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Wednesday, November 27: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session hours: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session hours: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Thursday, November 28-Friday, November 29: No School - Thanksgiving Recess

Please help to keep our children safe. I ask you to be mindful of your speed in the parking lot at both arrival and dismissal times - you never know when someone will unexpectedly cross. Pedestrians and buses always have the right of way - especially in the crosswalk. Also, please DO NOT drop your child off in the lot and have them cross alone. If there is no staff outside in the parking lot for drop off, you must park and walk your child to the front door and buzz the main office. In addition, DO NOT pull into the bus loop during arrival time. This is to keep our students safe. I appreciate all your help and cooperation.

In addition, as I previously communicated via email:

It has been brought to my attention that multiple students are riding bikes and scooters in the back parking lot after they get picked while we are still dismissing students in the afternoon. This is creating a safety concern for students and adults. Please refrain from having your child ride around the back parking lot until our school day is officially over at 4:00pm and the back parking lot has cleared out. I appreciate your anticipated cooperation with ensuring the safety of our students, adults, and staff.

Our annual food drive will take place from Friday, November 1- Friday, November 15. A collection box will be located in our main lobby. All donations will go to the Audrey Dreyer Food Bank. The list of items that are needed is below.

Please join us as we honor the people in our lives and community who are actively serving, or have served, as members of the armed forces (Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard).

If you would like to participate in this optional project, please have your child complete the star (which was previously sent home) and hand it in to his/her teacher by Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Another copy of the star is below.

With the winter weather approaching, please make sure your information in Infinite Campus is updated so we have the proper contact information. It is imperative that you keep us updated if any of this information changes. You can do this by calling the main office.

In addition, if you move you MUST notify the main office immediately.

As the weather is getting cooler, please make sure your child comes to school properly dressed and has a coat as students will continue to go outdoors for recess.

We are excited to welcome back our Culture in the Classroom at LHS!

If you are interested in participating in Culture in the Classroom please email Mrs. Krauss at skrauss@sheltonpublicschools.org.

The bus company will not let students off the bus if there is no adult waiting at the stop. Be sure you have a plan in place for your child if you are unable to meet the bus. Traffic and weather can unexpectedly impact your ability to arrive for your child on time. If there is no adult waiting, the bus company will return your child to school and someone must pick them up in a timely manner.

Our kindergarten classrooms are participating in the Adopt A Cow Program and we have adopted an actual live calf growing up on a dairy farm. Her name is Ellie and she is from from Oakridge Dairy, a dairy farm, located in Ellington, CT.

We will receive monthly updates about her that include information, pictures, and videos. These updates include lessons and activities related to her growth, how she is cared for on the farm, and how milk is produced on the farm.

Our first activity is to learn about campaigning and voting. We will be lobbying for Ellie and asking our fellow LHS students and families to vote for Ellie between Nov. 4 and 6.

Vote at discoverydairy.com/vote

NOVEMBER

We completed our first IXL and Freckle contest last month. Each grade level has a winning class that will earn a game day. Playing games allows students to develop strategy and problem solving skills. All students have had the opportunity to use Freckle or IXL during the school day. Our Kindergarten classes were able to use Freckle for the first time during the month of October. Once Kindergarten becomes more familiar with the program families will be able to use the program at home.

In November our focus for the goal will be answering the most grade level or just right questions. Freckle uses a placement test to assign students appropriate questions. If students answer a question incorrectly, there are hints and videos available to help them. Students working on IXL have recommended skills, these skills are assigned based on the students NWEA and IXL diagnostic scores. The recommended skills are available when the student first logs into IXL. You can also access them from the assessment tab where you will see recommended skills under each math domain.

Students are expected to attend school each day school is in session for the entire day. Students arriving after 9:00am will be marked as tardy, unless they have arrived on a bus. Being late to school is disruptive for all in the classroom.

Our instructional blocks will be starting promptly at 9:10am daily. To ensure a smooth morning transition, please have your child to school on time.

Students have 9 excused absences allotted to them-after that all absences are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor's note.

• Parents will not be allowed to the rear of the building until 1:35pm on early dismissal days and 3:35pm on full school days.
• There will be NO access for parents or vehicles until 3:35pm when the chain is removed by a staff member. Please DO NOT park in the front and walk to the back of the school if the chain is up.
• Please be cognizant of this because we can not block access to the school and back up traffic on Long Hill Avenue.

Please understand there are classes outside until that time, therefore there is no access until 3:35pm to ensure the safety of our students.

As a reminder, breakfast and lunch are available each day for kindergarten - fourth grade students at a charge. In addition to the hot lunch choice-chicken nuggets, bagel, grilled cheese, and salad are available each day.

• Elementary Breakfast $2.00/ Reduced $.30
• Elementary Lunch $3.45/ Reduced $0.40

A menu will be sent home electronically at the beginning of each month with food choices (subject to availability). Menus are also available on the district's website. Students may also bring lunch from home.

We do not have a microwave for students to heat lunches and staff will not cut up food for students. Please be sure your child knows how to open their lunches, drinks, and lunch boxes.

Households may submit a free-and-reduced-priced-meal-application as soon as possible

to determine a student's eligibility for this school year and to avoid unpaid meal charges. If your children were approved for Free/Reduced meal benefits last school year that eligibility will expire on October 20, 2024. Only one application is required per household.

If you need a paper copy of this application, please contact the main office.

Please find the complete FRAM packet below attached or you may find the application located on the district's website. Please return all completed application forms to the school.

Visitors are NOT permitted to use the playground during school hours; as it is limited to our students during these hours.

1. PTO Membership drive ended on Oct 31st. Results for 2 classes that came closest to 100% PTO membership will be announced soon.
2. Teachers treat scheduled for Nov 6th, please sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DA5A82EA3F9C25-52455285-november
3. Booster Dance a Thon fundraiser – Dance fit event where every grade will perform 35 minutes of instructed dance exercise while we raise funds for our school. Fundraising goal is 10k. Program kicked off already and donation pouring in. Final event day – Dance Fit event on Nov 6th (during school hours). Attractive prizes when fundraising goals are achieved. Event T-shirt distribution has begun. Thanks a lot to our sponsors – CX Pharmacy, White Squirrel Service LLC, Center Auto Machine Shop, Bright Giggles Learning Center LLC, Top Martial Arts & Fitness for Life LLC, Steller’s Garage, Amy Varza - Comparion Insurance Agency Middlebury, CT and East Coast Academy of Tae Kwon Do.
4. Thank you for the overwhelming response at Book Fair.
5. Annual Trunk or Treat was a huge success. Huge shout to all the trunks that made the event a big success. Niyati Rao will be in touch to send the participation reward to all our trunk decorators.
6. Spiritwear distribution completed.
7. Spiritwear Socks distribution will be after Nov 15th.
8. Discount Card fundraiser to be launched on November 15th. More details to follow.
9. Mark your calendar for Holiday Fair from Dec 11th to 13th during school hours. Many volunteer opportunities. Flyers and volunteer sign up to be shared soon. Looking for a full time volunteer with laptop for each day of the fair to train on billing register. If interested, please contact Niyati Rao at ptolonghill@gmail.com
10. PTO meeting on December 3rd 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
11. Join us on Facebook by searching LHS PTO SHELTON or https://www.facebook.com/groups/969539826920560

Address: 565 Long Hill Avenue, Shelton

Phone number: (203)-929-4077

Fax number: (203)-929-8250

Website: http://longhill.sheltonpublicschools.org/home_page

Twitter: @DAiutoAndrea

Instagram: mrsdaiutolhs

LHS Policies & Procedures: https://secure.smore.com/n/mhfz9