10/21 Boo Bash 1:00-4:00

10/22 and 10/23 Grade 3 Garrison House Field Trips

10/24 Early Release Day

10/25 Grade 4 Pumpkin Store

10/31 Kindergarten Parade

On Friday we held a long evacuation drill. In this drill, we practiced relocating to our off campus rally point. Thank you to the Chelmsford Police Department for assisting us. Our students and staff did a great job performing our long evactuation.

Next week we will be conducting our first ALICE drill of the school year. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. This is a research based, options-based protocol that is non-sequential to respond to a dangerous individual at school.

To prepare for this drill we will be presenting each grade level with a social story to explain the drill tomorrow, and then follow up with an ALICE video created by the district in collaboration with the Chelmsford Police Department. We've used this process to introduce ALICE to our students since our initial implementation and have been pleased how our students and staff respond when conducting the drill. We have collaborated with the Chelmsford Police and Fire Departments on this drill to ensure that it is a developmentally appropriate experience.

After we conduct the drill, we will send a communication to inform you when it has occurred. Should you have any questions about ALICE or about this drill, either leading up to the drill or after you have been able to debrief with your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Looking ahead, we will be having a Fall Byam Spirit theme week!

The colder weather is coming and the start of the respiratory virus season will begin soon, including Flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). COVID-19 continues to circulate as well. Please see the information below regarding the district's illness policy.

If your child typically requires an inhaler at school during the cold and flu season now is the time to send in necessary paperwork and medications. Please see the district's health services website for the necessary health forms:

https://chelmsfordschools.org/departments/health-services/health-forms/

We are also continuing to see cases of strep throat in our school. See below for more information:

STREP THROAT

What causes strep throat?

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep).

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms may include:

• Fever

• Pain when swallowing

• Sore throat that can start very quickly and may look red

• Red and swollen tonsils

• White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils

• Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae (pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye)

• Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Small Children (usually kindergarten, 1st grade) may experience:

• Headache

• Stomach pain

• Nausea or vomiting

• Rash (scarlet fever)

How does it spread?

Group A strep bacteria often live in the nose and throat. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.

People can get sick if they:

• Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria

• Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose

• Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep bacteria

How can I prevent my child from getting strep?

The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.

To prevent group A strep infections, you should:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Put your used tissue in the wastebasket.

• Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.

You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.

How is strep throat treated?

Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:

• Decreasing how long someone is sick

• Decreasing symptoms (feeling better)

• Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others

• Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever

Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/about/strep-throat.html

About Strep Throat

Illness Policy:

We recommend children do not come to school if they appear to be ill. We advise to keep your child home if he/she has a sore throat, severe cold, rash, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Your child needs to stay home if he/she has any of the following:

• Strep Throat: If strep throat is suspected and the child either has had a negative throat culture or has been on antibiotics and fever free for a full 24 hours.
• A fever over 100: May return to school when he/she is fever free for 24 hours without medication (e.g. Tylenol or Advil).
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea: May return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.
• Red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and or green/yellow drainage: May return to school the day after treatment for 24 hours or has no further eye discharge.
• Head Lice or nits (eggs): The nurse will assess the student for the presence of head lice or nits. If head lice or nits are detected, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian and provide education on lice treatment. Based on the discretion of the school nurse, some situations may warrant a dismissal from school
• A rash of unknown cause: May require to MD clearance at the discretion of the school nurse.

If a child is too ill to remain in school the nurse will call parent/guardian and/or emergency contact numbers for dismissal. The student should not place the call from a school phone or mobile phone.

Parents/guardians are required to notify the school if your child contracts any contagious diseases (e.g. Chicken Pox, Strep Throat, Whooping Cough, Fifth’s Disease, Conjunctivitis, Scabies, Impetigo, Ringworm or Head Lice, etc.). If a child has been absent due to a communicable disease, a physician’s release may be required before returning to school.

Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Pappo with any questions! Thank you.

Kindergarten enjoyed a movie short during their Friday lunch for earning their dining room reward. All grades are working towards their Dynamite Diners lunch time reward by following their 3R's - showing being Respectful, Responsible, and Ready.

The holidays are right around the corner! Resources for holiday support are now available. Any families who can benefit from additional support should reach out to Lyndsey O’Neil, School Counselor, via email at oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us. A few local Chelmsford community programs generously provide help for the holidays and Lyndsey O’Neil can help coordinate this with any family in need.

Forms for Beacon Santa (Due 10/31), Secret Santa (Due 11/8) are attached at the bottom of this newsletter and paper copies are available in the main office at Byam. Mr. Fredette or Mrs. Dolan can sign any forms that require a staff member signature. Please note the individual deadlines for form submissions as they are approaching soon.

Dear Chelmsford Community Members,

We’re excited to announce the Pumpkin Palooza, a fun-filled fall festival replacing the Trick-or-Treat Drive-Thru! Join us on Sunday, November 3rd, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Chelmsford High School plateau for an afternoon of community involvement and festive activities. This event is free of charge, and we encourage everyone to come in costumes! The Pumpkin Palooza will feature various clubs from the high school, each hosting their own exciting fall-themed activities for all to enjoy. In the spirit of giving back, we’re collecting donations of canned and non-perishable goods to support the Chelmsford Food Pantry, as well as monetary donations to the Paul Center.

Let’s come together as a community to celebrate fall and support our local organizations. We can't wait to see you there!

Regards,

Chelmsford High School LIME

Dear Parents and Families --

THE NEXT EARLY RELEASE DAY IS NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY 10/24...if you need to order a lunch to go home with your child on next week's half day, you need to order by end of day today.

If you would like your child to have lunch on future half days, the online ordering is open for you to go ahead and select those dates. Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order: 1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com

2. Sign up now: Email, create password.

3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools

4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number

5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student's name should appear on the page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)

2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)

3. Find date, select meal option

4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order

5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page

6. Click Check out

7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.

8. Place order

Do you have a gently used coat to donate? Byam School has volunteered as a donation box location for non-profit "Debbie's Treasure Chest". The donation box is in our lobby and will be collecting New or Gently Used winter coats, jackets, hats, mittens, gloves of Any Size 0-Adult to benefit those in need in the Merrimack Valley area. The mission of Debbie's Treasure Chest is "to create opportunities for children in the Merrimack Valley to reach their potential and to help low income families access resources for success."

http://www.debbiestreasurechest.org

A huge shout out to our parents Jennifer Stonehouse, Anne Shahab, and Carolyn Quinn who help as Byam building substitutes. We would love to add another substitute to our Byam substitute pool. Substituting is based on your own schedule. For those interested and able to help substitute, even if sporadically or one day a week, please contact Mrs. Dossin at dossina@chelmsford.k12.ma.us and she can help you with information how to get started!

10/20/24 : Boo Bash, 1 - 4pm

10/24/24 : Quick Clicks with Farmhouse Photography

10/29/24 : Picture Day Retakes

12/06/24: Riverhawks Night

2/1/25 : Riverhawks Hockey Night

3/29/25 : Hootenanny Talent Variety Show

5/3/25 : Walk a Thon 10-2pm

5/6/25 : Byam Art Night, 5 - 7pm

Mark your calendars for some spooky fun! Join us for one of Byam’s most beloved events, THE BOO BASH! This will be on Sunday October 20th from 1-4PM. A day of fun with bounce houses, trunk or treat, crafts, cake walk, and more! Buy your ticket early and save! Admission is $20 at the door.

HOWEVER, to host this event, we need your help! Please consider volunteering at the event or decorating your car for the trunk or treat!

Link for tickets: https://bsa.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4992&form=1

Link to volunteer: https://bsa.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=e00cc8e3-42cc-4cf2-8cf6-46ed67cfa8b9~s.9223370309044408582

Link to sign up for Trunk or Treat: https://bsa.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=e00cc8e3-42cc-4cf2-8cf6-46ed67cfa8b9~s.9223370309044290689

***Financial concerns should never stand in the way of families participating in school events. If you are interested in this or any Byam activities please contact Lyndsey O’Neil, our school counselor, to register at no cost: oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us***

Looking for an updated family photo for your holiday cards or to hang in your house? Book a 2-3 minute session with Kat Rotika of Farmhouse Photography, proceeds support the BSA! Sessions are $25, you will receive a link of edited images and only buy the ones you love! Images start at $25 each. Sign up today to secure your spot!

https://farmhouse.as.me/BYAM

Join us on Friday December 8th at 7:15pm for the UML Riverhawks game as they take on the BC Eagles! Tickets are $12 each and we kindly ask to have your ticket orders in by December 2nd.

Can you believe our little ones are on their LAST YEAR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!? Believe it or not, it is time to start planning the 4th Grade End of Year Celebration! This includes day-of planning, yearbook, vendor coordination, etc.

If you are interested in joining the committee please sign up below and you will be added to all correspondence. The first meeting is Monday November 4th at 6PM, meeting will be held in upstairs of Brickhouse Center. If you want to be on the committee, but cannot make the meeting, please sign up and make a comment in the notes and we will be sure to include you on updates.

https://bsa.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=e00cc8e3-42cc-4cf2-8cf6-46ed67cfa8b9~s.9223370308269958845

No-cost Registration for Byam Events:

*Financial concerns should never stand in the way of families participating in school events. If you are interested in any Byam activities please contact Lyndsey O’Neil, our school counselor, to register at no cost: oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Want to get involved? BSA Help Needed

Here are some openings the BSA is currently seeking help on, reach out the bsa.chelmsford@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these positions!

Stay Connected to the Byam School Association, Click on the live links below for more...

Please keep in mind the district School Wide Lunch calendar options are subject to change based on availability. For the most up to date lunch schedule, please keep the below link handy:

https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/webmenus2/#/view?id=66bb76d0e96f1e6a6d4947e1&siteCode=3369

https://chelmsfordschools.org/

2024-2025 School Wide Academic Calendar

Office: Secretary Dossin dossina@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Clerk/Attendance: murphys@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal Dolan dolane@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Website: https://byam.chelmsfordschools.org/about/
Location: 25 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5144