Parent Update

Here are a few quick updates for everyone that I discuss in my video:

• Kindergarten Information Night is Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 6:00-7:00 in the cafeteria at Clough. Spanish Immersion Info Night is Feb 2 at 6:00 pm, virtual event, more info here
• Jan. 25 the district is hosting a Safety Info Night @ Nipmuc from 7:00-8:00pm for all parents and guardians. (If there is snow in the evening, this event will be canceled and rescheduled.)
• Jan. 26 - We have the 4th Grade Chorus Concert @ Nipmuc from 7:00-8:00pm
• Next week we will be doing our mid-year iReady Diagnostic assessments in K-4. We are excited for kids to show what they have been learning this year!
• The Monday night School Committee was canceled and is being rescheduled. Some of our 4th graders will be presenting about our writer-in-residence. I will be presenting the elementary budget with the Memorial principal.
• Our next PTO Meeting will be on Feb. 7 and it will be virtual.
• We will be having an Inspired Learning Day on Feb. 9. All students across the district will be participating in a design challenge where they will work together to utilize their Portrait of a Learner superpowers and design a zip line! We are looking for some donations. Please check out this sign up form if you are able to donate some materials.
• We are planning to host a fun family event on Valentine's Day. We will be inviting parents/guardians to a Book Lovers Breakfast! Before school on Tuesday, Feb.14, the PTO will host a breakfast and families will be able to read together and enjoy breakfast. Please sign up here if you think will be attending so we can get a head count for breakfast.
• Feb. 17 is a half day of school, 12:05 dismissal and no lunch served. Staff will have professional development that afternoon and then the following week is no school due to winter break.
• Student Council will be sharing more info about Friday Spirit Days in February! We will have a Role Reversal Day (students dress like teachers and teachers dress like students), a Disney Day, and All Around the World Day. More info to come.
• Our core value this month is KINDNESS. Students will be discussing kindness during KCR time. Feb. 17 is Random Acts of KIndness Day so students will be working to complete acts of kindness at home and fill out a heart. We are working together to grow our "kindness garden!"

Thank you for continuing to partner with us to give your children the best possible educational experience. I continue to be amazed at their growth and am so proud of all of them!

Sincerely,

Liz Garden

Clough Principal

It's time to start thinking about that 4th grade slideshow! Please submit pictures no later than February 28, 2023 so your student can be included. Thank you!

iHealth Test Expiration Date Extension

The FDA recently extended the expiration date of iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests by an additional 3 months. iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests may be used for up to 15 months from the date of manufacture. Find the new expiration date at https://ihealthlabs.com/pages/news. Please do what you can to share this news with anyone who may have received tests from your organization.

The Department of Mental Health has launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text at 833-773-2445. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The help line can help individuals and families navigate the behavioral health system and access treatment, including mobile crisis services. District and school leaders are asked to please share this resource with staff, families, and students, where helpful. For more information, please see the FAQ. Anyone with questions or concerns about the help line can email the help line director at Mio.Tamanaha@mass.gov.

I wanted to share with everyone that I was asked to share the flyer below to advertise the Upton Men's Club February event. I reached out to the contact for the organization because I shared how I felt this was an event that excluded several Clough families, and I didn't feel comfortable sharing it. I did ask if the organization would consider changing the title of the event since we have many different family dynamics, we have students who do not have a father-figure, and we have families who have lost parents. The rep explained to me that he would bring these concerns to the organization, but it was too late to change the event title. He did reassure me that any loved one could bring their child to the event. I just wanted to share with the community information about how I support inclusion in our school and am trying to share that message with the larger community. I agreed to share the flyer, along with information about how I shared my concerns.

Please be sure to fill out the necessary form linked to the Course descriptions below for Session 3, with the necessary information to help facilitate your child's enrichment registration. Most importantly, please make sure you send in your payment (cash or check) the very next day. Your child's registration is not considered to be complete until payment is received, and you risk losing that spot in a class. If possible, please write a separate check for each class. Should a class not run due to low enrollment separate checks make it easier to refund your money. Please know it is a first come first serve basis for all classes. Classes fill up very quickly and some classes have a maximum amount of students allowed. If you sign up after the limited amount you may be placed on a waitlist. If a class is no longer listed on this form it is because it is full.

Session 3: 2/6/23-3/31/23 ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 1/30/23
Classes run: 745-845 AM 330-430PM

Click the link to view course descriptions and cost: Course descriptions for session 3

If you have further questions or have trouble with the online registration, please feel free to contact Tara Bellefontaine, Clough Enrichment Coordinator at tbellefontaine@mursd.org

December:

Jan 24 - Kindergarten Info Night, Clough cafeteria, 6;00-7:00

Jan 25 - District-wide Safety Info Night w/the SROs at Nipmuc 7:00-8:00 (chance this will be postponed)

Jan 26 - 4th Grade Chorus Concert @ 7:00 @ Nipmuc

Feb 2 - Spanish Immersion Info Night - virtual event @ 6:00pm, more info here

Feb 3 - Author/Illustrator visiting Clough for the day

Feb 7 - Virtual PTO Meeting

Feb 9 - Inspired Learning Day! Zip-line Design Challenge

Feb. 14 - Breakfast with Books! 7:45-8:45 drop in and read in the Clough cafeteria

Feb 17 - Half day of school, 12:05 dismissal, no lunch served, PD in the afternoon for teachers

Feb 18-26 - Winter Break, no school

Henry P. Clough Elementary School now has a Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram page! Instagram: cloughelem

Email: lgarden@mursd.org
Website: https://www.mursd.org/o/henry-p-clough-elementary
Location: 10 North Avenue, Mendon, MA, USA
Phone: 508-634-1580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HPClough-Elementary-School-102887309160164
Twitter: @HPClough