Sippican Weekly Overview!

Dear Sippican Families,

Another week has flown by, and our students continue to impress us with their hard work and dedication. We received positive feedback from our substitute teachers regarding the excellent behavior displayed by our students during their teacher's absence.

We are also incredibly proud of how diligently our students are assisting our custodial staff in keeping the cafeteria clean. This collaborative effort demonstrates a strong sense of community and responsibility.

As we continue to refine our classroom transitions, we kindly remind families that we expect students to move safely and quietly between classes. Maintaining a safe and orderly line and keeping voices to a minimum helps ensure a smooth and efficient learning environment for all.

Science Fair Reminder

This week, we will be sharing important information regarding our upcoming Science Fair. Please keep an eye out for further details and mark your calendars for this exciting event.

No School on Monday

Please remember that there is no school on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The forecast is calling for this week to be bitterly cold. Please make sure your children are dressed accordingly. ❄️

We wish you all a wonderful and restful weekend.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Principal Dessert &

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

The Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 is working to update their Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan. Each school district, charter school, non-public school, Department-approved private special education school, and collaborative school must create a Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan (Plan) that prohibits bullying, cyberbullying, and retaliation. The Plan is to include information on reporting, notice to parents and guardians, notice to law enforcement as necessary, and counseling strategies and procedures for creating safety plans for victims. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plans must be updated every other year (See M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, added by Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010.) When developing the Plan, school districts, charter schools, Department-approved private special education schools, and collaborative schools must give notice and provide for a public comment period.

The Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 is seeking the public's feedback on the draft, proposed Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention Plan. Please provide any feedback on this Google Form here by January 31, 2025.

As we welcome the winter season, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Outdoor recess are scheduled for temperatures down to 20 degrees. However, if the wind chill makes it feel colder, we'll be relocating indoors for recess.

Kindly dress your children in warm layers, suitable jackets, along with hats and mittens to ensure their comfort during outdoor play. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for assisting us in ensuring that our students are well-prepared to enjoy the winter weather with smiles on their faces. Stay warm and enjoy the season!

They traced their shadows in the morning and again in the afternoon to observe the movement of the earth.

We’ve been learning about the Caldecott medal, and they read “Officer Buckle and Gloria” with us. It was a perfect fit! Officer Tracy used it as a good opportunity to remind students how to approach Norman and how (not) to approach strange dogs, too. Thank you both for coming!

1/20 No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/21 Sippican School Council Meeting at 3:15 PM

1/24 Kindergarten report cards go home with kindergarteners

1/29 K-6 Early Release Day at 12:20 PM lunches served Project Grow Early Release at 11:30 AM

1/30 Marion School Committee Meeting at 6:00 PM

It's time to start our annual Winter Reading Challenge! The theme this year is "Winter Reading Workout" and it will run from Jan. 13-Feb. 13. All students (and staff!) are invited to join the challenge, which asks participants to make time every day for reading at home and to record the time spent reading. Did you know that reading fiction is known to have many health benefits, including decreasing stress and improving your memory? Let's support all students in this important daily habit! Turn in your final sheets to the school library at the end of the challenge to receive a small prize, and to be entered in a raffle for a prize to the spring Book Fair. Happy Reading! Questions? Reach out to Mrs. Barrett at jessicabarrett@oldrochester.org.

Our Winter Reading Challenge.mp4

Multi Purpose Room

4PM-6PM

Warm Feet Warm Hearts - Winter Teacher Appreciation

Let's show our appreciation for Sippican Staff at their "Warm Socks Warm Hearts" initiative this winter. Each teacher will receive a pair of socks and all will be entered to win a raffle prize. Check out our Amazon wishlist here:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Q1GHLOGH1L5G/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

29 - Rose & Vicki Restaurant Night

Stop in on January 29 from 10 am to 8 pm to help out our 6th grade! A portion of sales will be donated toward the Class of 2025 trip to Camp Burgess. Take out, delivery or dine-in.

February 7 - Family Movie Night - Inside Out 2

It's back! Join us on February 7 for Family Movie Night. Doors Open at 5:45 - 8. Food, popcorn and concessions for sale. $5/pp, $20 family max. No drop offs.

Boosterthon Corporate Sponsors - THANK YOU

A big thanks to our corporate sponsors that have donated so far this year:

Dr. James Hermenegildo
Children's Academy
Waterman Building & Remodeling
Coastal Orthodontics
Marion Social Club
Converse Company Realtors
Morse Insurance Co.
Burke Electrical Contractors
Southcoast Insurance Group
Heavenly Medical Aesthetics
RYCO
Rose & Vicki's
Bardens Boatyard
Bright Funds
Silverback Concrete Construction

The Elizabeth Taber Library is excited to announce their upcoming Library Improvement Project that will modernize the Library space! With this renovation, comes changes to the Library that may impact Sippican families - especially independent walkers who may regularly visit the library. Starting January 6, the children's room and public meeting room spaces will be under construction and unavailable for us. Seating will be limited in the rest of the library and regular afternoon children's programs on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon will be paused during the renovations. Some programming will still take place and families are encouraged to look at the Library website or follow the Elizabeth Taber Library on social media for the most up to date information. The Library will be operating out of the Marion Music Hall beginning on Monday, February 3. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the library at 508-748-1252, or email children's librarian Macy Davis at mdavis@sailsinc.org

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.

• Winning school receives a $5,000 grant!
• Winning student receives a $500 grant to donate to a non-profit of their choice, or to their school.
• Winning student also receives surprise gifts from The Feinstein Foundation!

Jr. Scholar Card Spotlight: Providence Children’s Museum

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