Hello Families,

We look forward to the Great Kindness Challenge next week and have some new activities for students to track and encourage kind act throughout the week. Please see below for more detailed information.

Some families have been using an unmonitored email for support with accessing the Aspen Family Portal. Instead, please use the incident IQ request form located on the CPS website under the parent drop down menu.

Here is the direct link: https://chelmsford.incidentiq.com/guest/TKHNDKXH/parent-support#top .

Respectfully,

Terri and Jayson =)

Saturday, January 25th

• PTO Family Craft Event, 1:00-3:00pm, Cafe/Gym

Monday, January 27th

• The Great Kindness Challenge Week begins
• Winter Activity week ends (began last week)

Tuesday, January 28th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am- 6:00pm

Wednesday, January 29th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am-6:00pm
• Family Engagement Night - 6:15 - 7:30pm

Thursday, January 30th

• No events

Friday, January 31st

• PTO Movie Night, Cafe

Sunday, February 2nd

• South Row Skate Night at Roller Kingdom, 6-8pm

Monday, February 3rd

• Kindness Matters Day - students and staff encouraged to wear kindness shirts and/or complete a kind act
• Student Grade Level Meetings w/ Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho
• Student Council, 3:30pm
• School Council, 5:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Board Meeting, 6:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Meeting, 7:00pm, Lab

Tuesday, February 4th

• Learnin' the Ropes Enrichment Program (Gr. 2-4), 9:15am

Wednesday, February 5th

• Global Play Day

Thursday, February 6th

• Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 11:45am

Friday, February 7th

• Grade 3 Plimoth Pawtuxet Enrichment Program

Saturday, February 8th

• Gr. 4-12 Choralfest

Tuesday, February 11th

• Try it Tuesday

Wednesday, February 12th

• Grade 4 Enrichment Program - Lights and Lasers (Kellerman, Duncan, Semenza)
• Grade 1 Meteorologist Visit

Thursday, February 13th

• Grade 4 Enrichment Program - Lights and Lasers (Lewis and Tice)

Friday, February 14th

• Grade 4 Assembly to Watch Grade 5 Ensembles
• Red, White, and Pink Day

February 17th-February 21st

• School Vacation Week - No School

Wednesday, February 26th

• Science Fair, 6:30pm

Thursday, February 27th

• Science Fair (Snow Date), 6:30pm

Friday, February 28th

• Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day

This upcoming week, South Row Elementary will participate in The Great Kindness Challenge. The week is designed to spread and promote kindness in our school community and beyond.

There are many components to The Great Kindness Challenge. To kick off the week, Monday will be kindness shirt day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear kindness shirts.

Additionally, each day, as part of morning announcements, students will hear a quote of the day and kindness challenge for school and home. These are optional, yet, ideas to encourage and promote kindness. Below highlights each days quote and challenge for your reference.

Monday

• Today’s Quote: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

• Today’s Challenge for School: Sit with a different classmate at lunch

• Today’s Challenge for Home: Help clean up after dinner

Tuesday

• Today’s Quote: “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” - Morgan Freeman

• Today’s Challenge for School: Play with someone different at recess

• Today’s Challenge for Home: Facetime or call a family member who you may not live with

Wednesday

• Today’s Quote: “If we all do one random act of kindness daily we just might set the world in the right direction”- Martin Kornfeld

• Today’s Challenge for School: Give 5 compliments to 5 different people throughout the day

• Today’s Challenge for Home: Tell someone who you live with that you love them

Thursday

• Today’s Quote: “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind” by Taylor Swift

• Today’s Challenge for School: Make at least five people smile throughout the day

• Today’s Challenge for Home: Give someone at home a compliment

Friday

• Today’s Quote: “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness”- William Arthur Ward

• Today’s Challenge for School: If you notice someone who seems sad or upset, talk to them and try to cheer them up.

• Today’s Challenge for Home: Write or draw a thank you note to someone special at home

Additionally, sent home in backpacks, today, Friday, January 24th, students were given a "Kindness Checklist". Students are encouraged to check off as many items as they can throughout the week, and pass it in to the clear bin located in the main office at the end of the week, on or before Friday, January 31st. Each grade will be given a different color checklist, which will allow us to see all the kindness happening throughout all the grade levels. We encourage you to put the checklist on your fridge for the week and encourage kindness with your child(ren).

Throughout the week, many classrooms may also be doing additional activities to promote kindness. Each class will also be completing a "Kindness Tracker" to keep track of all of the kindness that is happening in our building.There will also be kindness precepts, or messages spread all throughout the building that our student council created.

At the end of the week, students will be given a prize for their participation. Thank you for your partnership in helping us spread kindness at South Row and beyond.

Save the Date: Family Engagement Night - January 29th from 6:15 to 7:30

This year we will be sharing topics based on feedback from families. Our Chelmsford SRO will share information about digital and internet safety. Additionally, we will have families share information about their journey with children who have ADHD and/or Anxiety. We will send out a google form soon for you to indicate if you will be able to attend and need childcare. We are only able to offer childcare for students that currently attend South Row.

Global Play Day - We will be celebrating Global Play Day again this year on Wednesday February 5th. Teachers will share information with families regarding timing and sending in items from home for students to use during their time to "play".

Smartphones and Smart Watches: We strongly discourage sending your child to school with smart phones or watches. If your child brings either of these devices to school the expectation is that they are turned off and in their backpack.

Snow and Recess: We have had our first snow fall of the year. Below are some reminders for recess and playing in the snow.

• Students should wear coats, hats, mittens, to school in the winter months.
• Students/families should consider having students bring or wear boots to school depending on conditions.
• We will not be having students put on snow pants to go outside in the snow. However, if students wear boots, they will be able to go in the snow. Activities they will be able to do include (but not limited to):
• Walk around in the snow
• Run in the snow
• Build a snowman
• Make tracks through the snow
• Play follow the leader
• Students will NOT be allowed to:
• Throw snow / Kick snow
• Throw snowballs
• Get pants wet
• If a student forgets their snow boots, they will be able to go outside but will only be able to play on the blacktop area and not in the field or snow-covered areas.

Colder Temperatures: As the winter months approach us, please be sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor recess (ie. jackets/sweatshirts, etc).

Snacks: Please remember to send your child in with a snack. The school has a very limited supply that gets depleted quickly and it is not to every students liking.

Community Read-in: The Chelmsford Community Read-In is making its return the week of March 3-7! The idea of the Community Read-In is to have readers who are members of the greater community visit classes for about 20 minutes to read a book or two to a class in grades Pre-K through 6. This is a special visit for these classes because the message it sends the kids is that members of the community, not just their teachers and parents, care about their education and love of reading. This is a really special gift you can give to the children of Chelmsford! If you are interested or know someone who would like to do this please sign up using the link below. Typically parents are not placed in classrooms of their own children.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX_oyyDzbmk4l1XCgv21BQknN3x_DBxfycvYe4inlwdGJyiQ/viewform?usp=sharing

In Library we will be cozying up with a good book! Students are welcome to wear their pajamas on their Library day, and we will decorate the Library, work on winter themed crafts, and cozy up by a (video screen) fireplace to do some reading. We will also be voting for our favorite picture books from the year 2024, as the Caldecott Medal and Honor winners should be announced during Winter week!

In Technology, students will be using the chromebook shortcuts that we have learned this year to create and build their own virtual snowman on google slides. 1st and 2nd have a more simplified version where they copy and paste all the items, where 3rd and 4th will be using their toolbar and shapes to create and build each piece of the snowman themselves. Kindergarten will have the opportunity to use PBS Kids Winter Games to expand their coding knowledge and spatial awareness skills. They will start with Riding with Rosie where they have to direct Rosie where to go using a simple algorithm and arrows then move onto a second game where they use tools to use programming patterns to control a snowboarder snowboarding down a snowy mountain!

In Music class, we will be using our imaginations, pretending we are outside in the snow! We will be paper plate skating to different styles of music, from Chopin Waltz' to Techno! We will also sing winter themed songs, do some winter body percussion and dance breaks!

In Art, some classes will be completing winter art projects. Other students are finishing cray pas snow people and Kindergarten is creating a collage with cardinals and birch trees.

In PE, classes will NOT be sledding during Winter Activity week due to a lack of snow. If we get more snow and sledding is possible, Mrs. Brown will let families know to send in snow gear.

Dear South Row Families,

We are seeing a few different illnesses here at South Row. Namely: Flu Type A, Strep Throat, and the Norovirus. For all three of these viruses, handwashing is KEY! Practice handwashing with young children. Many of them will put soap on their hands and then immediately rinse it off. Make sure they are moving those bubbles around for 20 seconds, then rinse. I will be working with kindergarten on good hand washing during the next couple weeks.

This is a friendly reminder to please monitor your child for head lice. The following information is helpful to keep in mind about head lice:

Head lice can happen to anyone and at any time of year. . 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 student to another by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, and hats.

Please do your part to prevent the spread of this communicable condition by checking your child(ren) on a regular basis. Lice infestation is much easier to treat if caught early. If you should discover a case of head lice, please 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. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me via email or phone call.

Dandruff and lice are easy to confuse. The two look similar, but close inspection reveals key differences. Nits stick to the hair while dandruff flakes, easily falling off of hair. While dandruff is visible on the scalp, lice lay eggs on hair, not the scalp.

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Warmly,

Nurse V.

Do you love to craft? Looking to put your gluing and painting skills to good use? WE NEED YOU!!

Join us for our Winter Craft-ernoon, Saturday, January 25 from 1-3pm. Volunteer by signing up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A5AF2CA6F4C25-54301198-winter

We still have lots of space for you to join us at our South Row Skate Night at Roller Kingdom. Your whole family can come, all current, former, and future South Row students. Remember you will save $2 per skater by reserving ahead of time! Please make sure you fill out the waiver in advance to save time when you arrive at the rink.

We will be offering a virtual option for those that would like to join the monthly PTO meeting but can't make it in person. Please use this link to join the meeting virtually.

We welcome you to check out ou Connections Calendar and provide feedback using this link.

Please click on the "button" below to access resources and supports available. Do not hesitate to reach out to any support team member with any questions you may have.

**Please note: We continuously update the button below with new resources as they arise.

This section is comprised of the following items pertaining to food services

• Website
• Breakfast Information
• Tentative Breakfast/Lunch Menus

Dear Parents and Families --

To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.

For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 9/18/24

● 10/24/24

● 11/20/24 (Elem & MS Only)

● 11/27/24

● 12/12/24

● 1/14/25

● 2/6/25

● 3/12/25

● 4/1/25

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

Mrs. Terri Gilbert

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow

• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
• Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
• Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
• Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
• Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1