Long Hill School Newsletter

The week of May 5th is Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. I want to thank all the teachers and staff members for their dedication and the impact they make on a daily basis. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful staff at LHS!

• Thursday, May 8-Friday, May 9: PTO sponsored Plant Sale - Schedule below
• Monday, May 12: 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, May 14: Second Grade Field Trip
• Friday, May 16: Wear Purple for Mental Health Awareness - $1.oo donation
• Friday, May 23: K-4 Field Day - more information to follow
• Monday, May 26: No School - Memorial Day
• Tuesday, May 27: Pre-K Field Day - more information to follow
• Thursday, May 28: Fourth Grade Field Trip to PHS - more information to follow
• Thursday, May 28: Third Grade Field Trip - Beardsley Zoo
• Friday, May 30: K-4 Field Day rain date
• Wednesday, June 4: Kindergarten Step-Up 10:00am - more information to follow
• Wednesday, June 4: Pre-K Step-Up for our 4 year olds moving on to Kindergarten 2:00pm - more information to follow
• Thursday, June 5: 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, June 6: 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, June 9: 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, June 9: Fourth Grade Step-Up 10:00am - more information to follow
• Tuesday, June 10: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL; Early dismissal K-4:1:50pm; Pre-k am session hours: 8:45am-11:05am; Pre-k pm session hours: 11:45am-1:50pm

Our third and fourth grade students have started taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment this week. This assessment will continue during the weeks of May 5th, and May 12th. Please make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and breakfast the morning of and is on time for school. If you know your child will be absent during any of these weeks, please contact the main office immediately as this will impact their testing schedule.

Our spring assessments, including the NWEA Assessment (K-2) and the DIBELS Assessment (K-4), will begin the week of May 12th. Here are some ways to help your child prepare for these assessments:

• Play educational games at home to encourage your child.
• Encourage your child to read as much as possible - and to increase vocabulary. Reading magazines, newspapers, and comics will also improve reading skills.
• Have your child teach you what he/she is learning in school.
• Practice math facts and have your child solve real world math problems.
• Please be sure your child has a good night's sleep and is on time for school.
• Encourage you child to relax and do his/her best.

As the weather gets warmer, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately. According to the district’s student dress policy, students are not allowed to wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts. Students should be wearing appropriate footwear as they have outdoor recess and gym. If your child is not dressed appropriately, then a parent will be called to bring in appropriate clothing.

Field Day for all kindergarten-fourth grade students is scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2025. Field Day for our Pre-K students is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

Look for more information about these fun events from Mr. Beloin, including volunteering opportunities.

Please note, parents/guardians are NOT permitted to walk around with their children on field day. All parents/guardians who attend field day must be a volunteer and assigned to an event.

Here are some field day tips from Mr. Beloin, our PE teacher:

• Have your child wear shorts or comfortable clothing and sneakers.
  
• Apply sunscreen at home. Sunscreen CAN NOT be reapplied at school.
  
• Students should have labelled water bottles.
  
• Students may wear hats while participating in events.
  
• Promote good sportsmanship and encourage your child to have fun and cheer on his/her classmates.

With several field trips occurring now through the end of the school year, it is imperative that students are at school on time. We can not wait for a tardy student. Buses will leave as scheduled and if your child arrives after the bus has left, your child will be placed in an alternate classroom until the class returns from the trip. Field trips are prepaid and money can not be refunded if your child misses the trip.

The ]last day of school is now Tuesday, June 10, 2025 due to the one snow day. The last four days (currently Thursday, June 5; Friday, June 6; Monday, June 9; and Tuesday, June 10) are early dismissal days.

Below is the 2025-2026 school year district calendar. The first day of school for Kindergarten-Fourth Grade students is Tuesday, August 26, 2025. This calendar is also located on the district's website under "District Information".

If you have plans to move before the start of the new school year, please email me at adaiuto@sheltonpublicschools.org This helps us in making class lists. The staff and I devote much time and thought when placing your child in a class.

Parental requests for specific teacher placements will not be considered; however, if there are any special circumstances or consideration regarding class placement, please notify me via email.

As the weather is getting warmer and more families are using the playground after school hours, please keep the following in mind:

• Students are expected to follow the same rules that they follow at recess and should play and act appropriately.
• Please actively monitor your child while he/she is playing on the playground equipment.
• The Pre-K playground is LOCKED and there is no access to this playground after school hours.
• Students should not be riding bikes, scooters, etc. during school hours or during dismissal time as this poses a safety risk.

For planned absences, such as vacation during the school year, teachers are NOT required to provide students or parents/guardians with advance work or assignments. It is the student’s and/or parent’s responsibility to get the work upon their return. Taking time from school to go on a vacation poses a risk to your child’s educational progress. Both students and parents must understand that when school is missed due to vacations, it is not the responsibility of the teachers to provide remedial instruction for the assignments/content that has been missed.

We are seeing an increase of students being absent for an extended period of time. When a child misses school for an extended period of time, he/she is missing important and imperative instruction and content and can pose a risk to his/her progress.

We will continue to accept kindergarten registrations for the 2025-2026 school year. Children must be aged five on or before September 1, 2025 to enter kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.

Unsure which school you are assigned to? The School-by-Street listing can be found here:

http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/transportation

According to Public Act 23-208, Section 1(a), students must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2025 to enter Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.

However, children who turn 5 between September 2 and December 31, 2025 may be admitted:

(1) upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child and

(2) following an assessment of such child, conducted by the building principal and an appropriate certified staff member of the school, to ensure that admitting such child is developmentally appropriate.

Please send your written request to Kristen Santilli at the Office of Teaching & Learning at ksantilli@sheltonpublicschools.org

Once you contact Kristen Santilli, she will send you the assessment.

Once the Office of Teaching & Learning has received your written request and you have completed the assessment, someone from the school where your child will be attending will contact you with further information on how to proceed.

If you have further questions, please call the Office of Teaching and Learning at 203-924-1023, extension 317.

*Exceptions are not accepted after the first day of school.

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. PTO Meeting May 13th. Only current PTO members Vote in person for the Executive Board. Details about open chairs on the flyer shared on FB page.

2. TAW - The week of May 5th – May 9th is celebrated as Teachers’ Appreciation Week. We will celebrate our teachers with PTO sponsored Lunch on May 6th and May 7th-9th will be various treat days. Sign up genius to donate treats shared via email and on FB page.

3. May 8th and 9th will be Plant Sale. Sign up for volunteers and schedule is shared via email and on FB page. Flyer sent home as well.

4. May 9th is also Quassy Family Night. The flyers were already sent home. Last day to purchase tickets is May 2nd.

5. End of the year event – May 30th – lots of fun activities followed by a Movie. Please read the flyer and cheddar up registration carefully.

6. LHS 2024-25 Yearbook will be distributed in June. Information on extras copies will be shared then.

7. 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