Long Hill School Newsletter

Long Hill School had a lot of exciting things going on in December. Our young shoppers had a great time picking out gifts for loved ones at our PTO Holiday Fair. The annual LHS Toy Drive was a huge success and all the donations were given to the Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley. Our PJ Day for the Kids raised over $500 which was donated to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center Foundation. I wanted to extend a big thank you to all of our room coordinators who helped organize our Winter Celebration drop off snacks. Seeing and hearing the happiness and excitement in our students surely put the school in a festive mood.

As we begin 2025, we are looking forward to see what the new year will bring us. I can not wait to see what this new year has in store for LHS!

• Thursday, January 2: School resumes
• Friday, January 17: 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, January 20: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Thursday, February 13: Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session hours: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session hours: 11:45am-1:50pm
• Friday, February 14-Monday, February 17: No School

Information regarding early dismissals, delays, or cancellations as they relate to winter weather

• Kindergarten-Fourth Grade: 2 hour delayed opening - doors open at 10:45am; school begins at 11:00am; morning bus stop time is 2 hours past normal bus stop time.
• AM Pre-K: NO SESSION ON DELAYED OPENINGS
• Kindergarten-Fourth Grade: Early dismissal (unless otherwise noted) - 1:50pm
• PM Pre-K: NO SESSION ON WEATHER RELATED EARLY DISMISSALS
• Make sure the main office has current emergency contact information. Advise your emergency contacts that they must show photo ID. Your child will not be released to anyone who is not listed as an emergency contact on Infinite Campus.
• Delays, early dismissals, and cancellations will be posted on the district's website at www.sheltonpublicschools.org. There is no district phone call that goes out.
• Local radio and TV stations will also broadcast the message.
• You can also sign up for text message alerts from various news news stations.
• Please do NOT call the school as it is important to keep the phone lines open for emergencies.

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 January we will administer various district assessments, including DIBELS & NWEA.

As previously stated, we will NOT accept any change of dismissals after 3:00pm on a full day or 1:00pm on an early dismissal day.

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 continue 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.

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 start 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.

1. Happy New Year to our LHS Family. We look forward to an awesome 2025 we well!

2. PTO General meeting on Tuesday, January 14th.

3. Heads up for Supply drive and Teacher's treat. Sign up and supply list will be shared soon.

4. Upcoming Fundraisers -

• Winter Spirit wear drive will commence in second/ third week.
• Restaurant night coming soon.
• Basketball Family Night on January 10th. Ticket sale in progress - https://quinnipiac-basketball-fundraiser-copy.cheddarup.com

5. Sale of the Yearbook to open in February first week. Please continue photo submission.

6. Ice Hockey Fundraiser Feb 8th. Ticket sale to open soon. Volunteers sign up will be shared as well.

7. School Dance planning in progress. Tentative date - second half of February.

8. 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