Dear Center Community,

Thank you to our CSPTO for spreading joy to our staff now and in the future! The flower seeds were a cute idea. You always make us feel so appreciated.

Wednesday, April 9th, is Assistant Principal Appreciation Day!

We can all agree that Mrs. O gives 110% to our school community each and every day. Her care and dedication to both students and staff shine through in her warm smile and her ability to greet everyone by name. She works tirelessly to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors feels welcomed and supported, whether in their teaching practices or learning.

Let’s take a moment to show our appreciation—be sure to say thank you to Mrs. O when you see her this week!

Staff Update

Annan Walker has decided to resign her position as a second grade teacher at Center to stay home with her growing family. Abby O'Keefe will transition from teaching third grade to second grade next year.

Center Cares Program

The Center School community is known for its care and concern for community members and its generosity. I know people are often looking for ways to support local families in need, so in order to do this we have established a "Center Cares Program". This program will give interested Center families, community members and staff an avenue to donate gift cards that will be distributed to Center families throughout the year. This type of donation has traditionally been done around the holidays but we maintain the program throughout the year as hardships often arise. The principals, school counselor and nurse will work with families in need to determine recipients of the gift cards. Some suggested gift cards include Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Hannafords, Walmart, Target and Kohls. If you would like to make a donation please submit it to the guidance office. Our school counselor asks for gift cards in $25 denominations to make distribution easier. We do have some families who are experiencing hardships currently and we have exhausted the donations made previously.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Recycle Day!

On SATURDAY, May 3rd (8am – 12pm) McCarthy & Center School PTOs are holding their very popular Recycle Day fundraiser, and they need volunteers!! Come help us greet drivers, unload donated items, and load those items into the recycle company's truck . All Middle & HS students are welcome to volunteer and earn up to 5 hours of community service. We also need parents to volunteer as well.

Signup at: https://signup.com/go/zqQkuPF

** Students 14 years and younger must have a parent/guardian volunteer with them**

We appreciate your support!!

Enjoy the weekend.

Warm Regards,

Dianna and Donna

Our placement process for the upcoming 2025--2026 school year is beginning and will take place over several weeks. This process is truly a team effort that involves input from school personnel and student data gathered over time. We put great care into the decisions that are made. All information is reviewed by the present grade level teachers, reading teachers, special education teachers, counselors, principals and other appropriate personnel so that we can be confident that classroom make ups are conducive to learning.

When creating classrooms, it is important that we are mindful of the needs of our students across grade levels. Individual classes need to strike the delicate balance between overall range of abilities, learning styles, special needs, conduct and appropriate combinations of students. Final lists are reviewed very carefully to ensure we have used our collective professional judgment to place each child appropriately in a well-balanced class. Our goal at Center is to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of the whole child and placement is a key factor in realizing this goal. Your input in the process is gladly accepted. If you feel that there is additional information of which we should be aware in placing your child for next year, please complete the following form by Monday, May 5, 2025. Please submit this to the principal even if you have discussed your preferences or concerns with the teacher or shared the same preference in a previous year. Please keep in mind that we are unable to honor requests for individual teachers, or input received after May 5, 2025. Submissions containing such requests will not be considered. Please note, parent placement requests are not guaranteed as there are many variables that go into student placement.

Thank you for your involvement and continued partnership in your child's education at Center.

The Center School Book Fair is coming soon to the library! Students will visit the book fair during library classes May 1st through May 7th. The book fair will also be open during the Center School Palettes & Pages (art show and book fair!) on May 7th from 5pm-6:30pm. Click on the links below for more information.

• To learn more about the book fair, click here

• For the library schedule & volunteer information, click here

Happy Reading,

Meaghan Engdahl

engdahlm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Congratulation to Aubrey D, Avery Q, and Declan M, for representing Center School in the ’25 Massachusetts Music Educators All-State Treble Chorus!

These students spent countless hours practicing before school, during their lunch, and at home. They spent last Friday and Saturday making music with 180 other students from across Massachusetts.

This year’s chorus was conducted by internationally recognized composer, conductor, and educator, Jim Papoulis. In addition to working with young people, Mr. Papoulis has collaborated with notable musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyonce, Faith Hill, and Snoop Dogg!

Here is a song they performed during the concert.

Eneza Upendo (Spread Love) by Jim Papoulis

Lowell Humane Society Fundraiser:

The Student Council is helping collect items for animals at The Lowell Humane Society. The deadline for donations is April 11th, 2025.The Lowell Humane Society is looking for specific items such as:

-Six foot leashes

-Durable dog toys

-Kongs

-Unopened dry and canned dog/cat food

-Unopened cat litter

-Cat toys

-Rabbit, rat, hamster, and ferret food

Thank you for sticking to the suggested donated items!

As we welcome Spring and warmer weather, this is a friendly reminder to check your child regularly for ticks and be on the lookout for symptoms of head lice.

Prevention of tick-born illness begins with you!

1. The single most important thing you can do is check for ticks once a day. Favorite places ticks like to go on your body include areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, and neck, along the hairline, and behind the ears. Remove any attached tick as soon as possible and call your doctor if you have concerns about tick-born illness.

2. Use repellents that contain DEET on your exposed skin, and those that contain permethrin on your clothes.

3. Stick to main pathways and the center of trails when hiking to avoid ticks.

4. Wear long-sleeved, light colored shirts and long pants tucked into your socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot a tick on your clothing.

NOTE: There is currently no human vaccine available to protect against Lyme disease or any other tick-borne disease found in Massachusetts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vpi1L3nIY

Tick Check!

⭐ TAKE THE #TICKCHECKCHALLENGE: bit.ly/3gC4n3n ⭐ The #TickCheckChallenge is an interactive challenge created to help educate and protect kids (and adults!) from Lyme Disease and other debilitating tick-borne diseases. Only 1 in 10 kids performs a tick check after spending time outside. We want that to change. Made especially for kids, our ...

www.youtube.com

Head lice can happen to anyone.

• It is not a sign of poor hygiene habits or of being dirty. Even though they do not jump or fly, lice can spread from one person to another by sharing personal items and by being in close contact with a person who has live lice.

• Unfortunately, there is no proven head lice deterrent that will prevent your child from getting head lice. The best you can do is stay alert for suspicious head scratching. Itching is an allergic reaction to chemicals in a head louse’s saliva. Not all kids will experience itching right away but catching this behavior early and treating it will help you stop a head lice problem at its roots.

• If you should discover a case of head lice, please call your pediatrician for treatment recommendations, notify the health office, as well as the parents of your child’s close contacts. This is the best way to protect your family and community.

Rose Remmetter Felzani, MSN, RN

Center School Nurse

April

• Monday, April 7: Be Kind Spirit Wear day

• Monday, April 7: 3rd Gr MCAS

• Tuesday, April 8: 3rd GR MCAS

• Tuesday, April 8: 4th Gr Digital Health & Safety presentation at CHS, 9:30

• Wednesday, April 9:4th GR MCAS

• Wednesday, April 9: Assistant Principal Appreciation Day

• Thursday, April 10: 4th GR MCAS

• Wednesday, April 16: Restorative Practices Presentation Zoom at 6:30

• Wednesday, April 16: All orders due for Square One Art

• Friday, April 11: Chelmsford Spirit Day

• April 18 - 25: April Recess

• Monday, April 22: Earth Day

• Monday, April 22: School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day

• Wednesday, April 30: Ziti Supper

This year, students across the Commonwealth will be taking The Next- Generation MCAS for our annual standardized state testing. All students in Chelmsford will be taking the computer-based assessment using Chromebooks. Please mark your calendars for the important dates below. We strongly encourage all students to be present and on time these days. If your child is sick, we will have make-up sessions so that they are able to take the assessments when they are able to show their personal best work.

Chelmsford is fortunate to have access to iReady to support student learning. Students have access to this learning tool at home. Please reach out to your teacher if you have difficulty logging on. There is much research to support enhanced student achievement on MCAS when using this valuable tool. Please press here for more information.

ELA MCAS TESTING:

Grade 3

Monday, April 7th, 3rd Grade – Session 1

Tuesday, April 8th, 3rd Grade– Session 2

Grade 4:

Wednesday, April 9th, 4th Grade – Session 1

Thursday April 10th, 4th Grade– Session 2

Math MCAS TESTING:

Grade 4:

Monday May 12th, 4th Grade– Session 1

Tuesday May 13th, 4th Grade– Session 2

Grade 3:

Wednesday May 14th , 3rd Grade – Session 1

Thursday May 15th, 3rd Grade – Session 2

Links:

http://i-readycentral.com/familycenter/

https://www.curriculumassociates.com/research-and-efficacy