Long Hill School Newsletter

Our food drive was a huge success and we have helped restock the shelves at the Audrey Dreyer Food Bank. Our Annual Toy Drive, which is sponsored by our fourth grade leadership group, is underway. Donations will be made to the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. During this busy holiday time, I am so grateful for all the ways the LHS community gives back and helps those in need.

December is an exciting month and our students will be "traveling" around the world as we learn more about different holidays that are celebrated throughout the winter. Ask you child about the different holidays we are learning about!

As we near the end of 2024, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Long Hill School families a happy and healthy new year. I am grateful to be a part of this wonderful school and I look forward to an amazing 2025.

• Monday, December 2-Wednesday, December 18: Toy Drive
• Wednesday, December 11-Friday, December 13: PTO Sponsored Holiday Fair
• Friday, December 13: PJ Day for the Kids - $1.00 donation
• Monday, December 16: Report cards issued
• Monday, December 16-Friday, December 20: Winter Spirit Week - see flyer below
• Monday, December 23-Wednesday, January 1: No school - Holiday Recess
• Thursday, January 2: School resumes

Please help to keep our children safe. I ask you to be mindful of your speed in the parking lot at both arrival and dismissal times - you never know when someone will unexpectedly cross. Pedestrians and buses always have the right of way - especially in the crosswalk. Also, please DO NOT drop your child off in the lot and have them cross alone. If there is no staff outside in the parking lot for drop off, you must park and walk your child to the front door and buzz the main office. In addition, DO NOT pull into the bus loop during arrival time. This is to keep our students safe. I appreciate all your help and cooperation.

In addition, as I previously communicated via email:

It has been brought to my attention that multiple students are riding bikes and scooters in the back parking lot after they get picked while we are still dismissing students in the afternoon. This is creating a safety concern for students and adults. Please refrain from having your child ride around the back parking lot until our school day is officially over at 4:00pm and the back parking lot has cleared out. I appreciate your anticipated cooperation with ensuring the safety of our students, adults, and staff.

Winter Celebrations will be held in PreK- through 4th grade classes on Friday, December 20th. Your Room Coordinator will be providing additional information. Please note that specific numbers of snacks will be requested and due to various allergies, only snacks that are listed on classroom’s Sign-Up Genius will be passed out. Any snacks that are not listed on Sign-Up Genius will NOT passed out and will be sent back home.

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.

***This information is also located in the LHS Policies & Procedures***

With the winter weather approaching, please make sure your information in Infinite Campus is updated so we have the proper contact information. It is imperative that you keep us updated if any of this information changes. You can do this by calling the main office.

In addition, if you move you MUST notify the main office immediately.

As the weather is getting cooler, please make sure your child comes to school properly dressed and has a coat as students will continue to go outdoors for recess.

We are excited to welcome back our Culture in the Classroom at LHS!

If you are interested in participating in Culture in the Classroom please email Mrs. Krauss at skrauss@sheltonpublicschools.org.

The bus company will not let students off the bus if there is no adult waiting at the stop. Be sure you have a plan in place for your child if you are unable to meet the bus. Traffic and weather can unexpectedly impact your ability to arrive for your child on time. If there is no adult waiting, the bus company will return your child to school and someone must pick them up in a timely manner.

Students are expected to attend school each day school is in session for the entire day. Students arriving after 9:00am will be marked as tardy, unless they have arrived on a bus. Being late to school is disruptive for all in the classroom.

Our instructional blocks will be starting promptly at 9:10am daily. To ensure a smooth morning transition, please have your child to school on time.

Students have 9 excused absences allotted to them-after that all absences are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor's note.

• Parents will not be allowed to the rear of the building until 1:35pm on early dismissal days and 3:35pm on full school days.
• There will be NO access for parents or vehicles until 3:35pm when the chain is removed by a staff member. Please DO NOT park in the front and walk to the back of the school if the chain is up.
• Please be cognizant of this because we can not block access to the school and back up traffic on Long Hill Avenue.

Please understand there are classes outside until that time, therefore there is no access until 3:35pm to ensure the safety of our students.

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.

Visitors are NOT permitted to use the playground during school hours; as it is limited to our students during these hours.

• Dance-a-thon was a super success. Thanks a lot for the overwhelming support to our biggest fundraiser of the year. Overall, we raised around 13k.
• The winners for PTO membership drive are-
• Ms. Chaco’s 1st grade
• Mrs. Allen's 2nd Grade

• Discount Card fundraiser is live. Cards can be ordered using the form that went home or via Cheddar up - ordered using cheddar up link https://lhs-discount-card.cheddarup.com They make cute holiday gift as well
• Holiday Fair scheduled for Dec 11th & 12th. Make up day Dec 13th. Flyers to come home shortly. Sign up for volunteers to be shared soon.
• LHS PTO joyfully brings Holiday Party 2024 - Holly Jolly hour at LHS on Dec 13th 5:30 – 7:00. Flyers will be coming home with details but registration can be done here https://holly-jolly-hour-at-lhs.cheddarup.com Please read carefully as it contains lot of information about the event.
• We are also looking for small business vendors to set up their table at the party. Please reach out at ptolonghill@gmail.com if interested or know of anyone who will be.
• Teachers treat sign up will be shared soon.
• Spiritwear Socks distribution is completed now.
• PTO meeting on December 3rd 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
• Heads up - Quinnipiac Basketball Friday with Family and Friends. Ticket registration will be opened in Dec.
• 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