KNIGHT NEWS
September 20, 2023
To view archived Newsletters by date, visit www.Shermanschool.com/COMMUNICATIONS
✏️ Important Reminders & Info
🗳✔️ Student Council Elections will be held on September 28th
💃🕺 The first Middle School Dance of the year will be on October 27th 🎃
⏰ Please Note: In order to participate in after school activities, students must be present in school for a minimum of three hours. Students who exceed 9 absences must provide a doctor's note if a student is absent for illness, regardless of the length of the absence. All absences must be called in at 860-355-3793, ext 9.
🍽 Remember to pay lunch balances/add money to your lunch accounts💰
📌There will be a Sherman Town referendum to renovate and repair The Sherman School on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Charter Hall between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Please be aware if you are unavailable to vote on October 7th, absentee ballots will be available October 3rd-6th at the Town Clerk’s office. Thank you in advance for voting in this important town referendum!
✏️ In case you missed it...
If you couldn't make it to this year's Open House, do not worry! The presentation given by our administrative team is below:
🏀 Intramural Co-Ed Basketball
Please return forms to the office by Friday, September 22nd.
There will be a maximum of 25 spots and a lottery will be held if needed.
🏀 We're looking for a boys basketball coach for middle school!
If you, or someone you know is interested in hearing more information, please contact Jen Rianhard at rianhardj@shermanschool.com!
📚 Scholastic Book Fair
The SPTO needs your help to run our fall Book Fair at the end of the month! Please click HERE to sign up for a slot!
🎃 🎶 SPTO Band & Chorus Fundraiser
Our incredible SPTO is sponsoring an Outdoor Movie Night to benefit our Band and Chorus! Click HERE to register for this event.
☎︎ School-Wide Directory
If you would like to be in the 2023-2024 Sherman School Directory, please complete the form below and only include information which you would like to be published. Directories will need to be preordered and prepaid. If you would like to purchase a Student Directory, please send cash or check in the amount of $10.00. Forms and payment must be returned no later than October 16th. If you do not wish to be in the directory but still wish to purchase, please specify which student and their grade directory should be delivered to and include with payment.
SPTO Membership for 2023-2024
If you are interested in becoming a PTO member, please complete the form below and return it to the school before October 16th!
📢 Calling Local Business Owners!
Have you missed your chance to be a part of our school directory in the past? Don’t miss out this year! Please fill out and return to the SPTO no later than October 16th. Please enclose artwork/ ad/ business card with form. Artwork can also be sent via email to ShermanSPTO@gmail.com.
✏️ Sherman Social Services
Sherman Social Services will continue holding office hours at The Sherman School on the 3rd Friday of each month throughout 2023. Lynne Gomez, LMSW, Director of Sherman Social Services, will be available to explore a variety of resources and helping programs with school families during this time.
Help paying your fuel oil bill this winter is available through the CT Energy Assistance program. The application process can be done 2 different ways: Through the state Department of Social Services on-line or through a visit at Sherman Social Services.
The heating program is income eligible. For example, a family of 4 can make up to $76,465 and still be eligible. Call Sherman Social Services at 860-354-2414, ext. 2 with questions.
Free & Reduced Lunch Program
If you are interested, please download the forms below and submit them to the main office. If assistance is required, please contact the school Social Worker, Deanna Melillo at melillod@shermanschool.com.
Parenting Corner by our Sherman School Clinicians/Mental Health Team
Dear Sherman School Parents,
We hope that the transition into the new school year has been calm and smooth for both you and your children! Going back to school can not only be stressful for students, but stressful for you as well. We wanted to dedicate this week’s parenting corner to what we like to call “Care for the Caregivers”. This newsletter will further explain self-care, the importance of it, and strategies to help reduce the stress we know many parents carry.
Parents focus so much on their children, between taking children to school, preparing school lunches, after school commitments, play dates, and managing other to-do’s, it may often feel like you don’t get a minute to yourself. When you take time to care for yourself every day, you are looking out for your children just as much as you are caring for yourself. When you hear the term self-care you may dismiss it as unimportant, time-wasting, or selfish.
Viewing self-care through a different lens can show you that it is crucial to take care of yourself. Self-care can not only improve your physical and mental well-being, but enrich you and your family’s lives. Any type of illness—physical or psychological—inhibits not only our well-being, but also the ability to take care of our responsibilities. That’s why practicing self-care techniques is as important to a family's needs as it is to your own. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be better able to care of others and fulfill other personal duties.
We understand that self-care is part of wellness and will look both different and unique for each parent. Please see below some helpful examples of self-care strategies:
Getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is a crucial component of both emotional and physical health for you and your child. Aim to get a good amount of sleep each night. At least seven hours of sleep is recommended for an adult.
Carve out YOUR time. Scheduling time for self-care is one of the best ways to make it happen! It could be as small as putting aside 10-20 minutes before bed to read or relax, setting an alarm for a daily work break, or setting an alarm to go for a short walk. The key is to set aside some time for yourself ideally each and every day. Do something for you. This is also a great way to role model for your children, that it is essential to have down time to reset, no matter how mentally or physically strong you are. Stamina to keep going and respond to demands is expected but recognizing to take a break is appreciated by your body and mind, as we are all human and need to recharge.
Try to do ONE thing every day that improves your mental or physical health in some way. As mentioned above, you can go on a short walk, read a chapter/a couple of pages of a book, look at information that calms or inspires you, and reach out to a loved one you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Download a meditation app. Awareness of breathing is essential for mindfulness as it relates to our awareness of our own coping needs. It is startling sometimes, when we recognize that we need to let a breath in or out, during the day. In our fast paced lives and world where connectability is instant and expected, pausing is healthy. There are many free apps available to take a moment to do deep breathing, meditation, yoga, etc. Some of these apps are: Calm, Insight Timer, Take A Break!, and MindShift. Headspace and Ten Percent Happier are two other options that offer free trials before having to pay for them.
Partner with close or loved ones who you feel help you and support your feelings of balance, through a shared activity, that is both beneficial and nourishing. This activity can include artwork, a book club, gardening, getting a meal/snack together or making a recipe, exercising, walking pets, games, talking, and/or doing a shared interest.
Thank you for reading our Parenting Corner and we send you good wishes of balance, deep breaths, and building in your own well deserved self care opportunities.
Your Sherman School Clinical Team,
Ms. Acacia Bizier, Ms. Deanna Melillo, and Dr. Badger
✏️ Happening In Our Classrooms...
the weather has been beautiful outside this week... Jake says "let's play!" ☀️
... and kindergartener Adeline respectfully requested that some staff wear black and pink, to reflect Barbie being kind and smart. Thank you Addie! 🎀
🍽 October Lunch Menu
✏️ From The Community
🚌 All-Star Transportation is Hiring
All-Star Transportation is looking for drivers. If you're interested, click the link below to apply.
📌 Quick Links
The Sherman School Vision
The Sherman School empowers students to thrive in a challenging, personalized, supportive environment that is joyful, inspiring, and future-focused.