page background

October Weekly Update

Week of Monday, September 30th - Friday, October 4th, 2024

October WeeklyUpdateWeek of Monday, September 30th - Friday, October4th, 2024

📣

Dear Families,

Happy October! As we settle into the fall season, we’re excited to share some wonderful updates and upcoming events happening this month. This is a time for learning, growth, and community connection, and we have plenty planned to engage and inspire our students and families.

In this newsletter, you’ll find information about upcoming activities, important dates, and ways to get involved. We encourage you to explore the opportunities available and participate in our school community.

Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a fantastic October ahead!

Warm regards,

Magda Harrison

🍂 "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - LM Montgomery

LUNCH FOR THE WEEK

🍕 Weekly Lunch Menu

IN OUR CLASSROOMS!

Mrs. Dakers First Grade Class

Mrs. Dakers First Grade class has been exploring different number partners for 10 in our new Math program, i-Ready. They enjoyed practicing their skills with partners during a Center Game called "Number Partner Match Up".

Mrs. Fink's Third Grade class

Mrs. Fink's class had a watershed learning activity, where students learned about:

  1. Ecosystems: Discovering the relationships between watersheds and local plants, animals, and humans.

  2. Pollution and Conservation: Identifying sources of pollution and discussing ways to protect water quality.

  3. Mapping Skills: Creating maps to visualize local watersheds and water flow.

  4. Hands-On Learning: Participating in experiments to see how water moves and the impact of pollution.

  5. Community Impact: Understanding how personal actions affect local watersheds and promoting environmental stewardship.

This activity fosters environmental awareness and responsible water use.

Mrs. Zielenski's Second Grade Class

Last Friday, Mrs. Zielenski's Second grade class joined Scholastic Storyvoice for a live author read aloud of "Say Anything" by Peter Reynolds. Students were able to hear him read his book live, as well as submit questions for him to answer.

Storyvoice is Scholastic’s, online platform for live author events and read-aloud shows for kids. Each month, Storyvoice offers a variety of reading programming for classrooms to meet award-winning authors and illustrators. Each show features multiple opportunities for kids to connect with authors, including prediction polls on screen, question and answer segments, draw-alongs, and live callers.

Ms. Kilduff's First Grade Class

For Custodian Appreciation Day, students in Ms. Kilduff's class made cards for the custodians who keep our school running smoothly. We talked about all the tasks that happen behind the scenes to keep our classroom clean, and students wrote their own messages of gratitude inside their cards!

FIELD TRIPS IN REVIEW

Mrs. Carey’s Third Grade Class at the Quabbin

Mrs. Zielenski's Second Grade ClassTrip to Austin Farms

Mrs. Otto's Second Grade Class Trip to Austin Farms

FROM THE LIBRARY

As we recognize October for Diversity Awareness Month our library time with Ms. Marble was spent discussing the wonderful children's book titled, My Name Is a Story. The book emphasizes that every name is special, every name is valuable and every name tells a story. This book shares the joy that one child finds in her name. What better way to celebrate our individuality than by our names! Our students practiced saying our fabulous Nurse Avgoustakis's name, practice makes perfect!

Thank you Ms. Marble for a lesson well worth sharing with your students!

Nurse Avgoustakis

WE ARE PEACE BUILDERS

Peace Builders’ Praise Notes


Over the past month, staff and students have begun writing praise notes at random to help recognize and reinforce kind and helpful behavior throughout SRE. Praise notes are collected in the office over the course of the year and selected praise notes are read weekly over morning announcements and displayed on our Kindness bulletin boards.

NOTES FROM THE NURSE

It has already been a busy month with illness! Any child with a temperature of 100 or higher will be dismissed. Children diagnosed with strep throat will need to have antibiotics for 24 hours and be fever free for 24 hours before returning per our school policy. Proper hand washing is the number one defense against illness. Help remind your child to use warm water and soap and sing happy birthday twice while washing! Wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom, after playing with pets, and after sneezing or coughing is the best way to stay healthy!

Many parents have been asking what I need for donations: Sweatpants, leggings and all sizes of underwear are always welcome!

Due to the new state regulations on nutrition in school we have strict guidelines on what we can offer children during the school day. Please be sure to always send a morning snack and be sure your child has breakfast every day. Due to the same law we cannot allow outside food for holidays. Please remember this for Halloween at the end of the month!

Feel free to always call or email with any questions or concerns!

Nurse A



Amelie Avgoustakis RN

Swift River Elementary School Nurse

413-323-0474

🗓 UPCOMING EVENTS!

  • Wed., 10/9 (1:00 pm) - Districtwide Early Dismissal

  • Thurs., 10/10 - SRE Picture Day

  • Mon., 10/14 - No School

  • Wed., 10/30 (5:30 pm - 7:00 pm) - CSSRE Trunk or Treat

💡 REMINDERS

Halloween- As we approach Halloween we are anticipating so much fun for our students. Please be on the lookout for an email with guidelines and school rules with procedures for this fun day!

Trunk or Treat- We are excited to Share that our 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat will be taking place Wednesday, October 30th from 5:30-7. If you would like to participate please sign up on the link below. The PTO will happily provide candy for trunks to pass out, please indicate if interested. Set up begins at 5pm and will be located in the back lot of SRE. If you know of anyone interested please pass along our information, or share our google form. As always, thank you for your help in making this year's event the most successful one yet!

Trunk or Treat Sign Up

Garden help- Currently, the Belchertown Schools Garden is looking for families (ideally 3-4 families per grade level) willing to commit to help sustain the garden. If you are interested or would like more information, please email btowngarden@gmail.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • SWIFT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    Principal: Magda Harrison

    Assistant Principal: Ivy Peritz-Smith

    Main Office: 413-323-0471 or 413-323-0472

    Absentee/Tardy Line: 413-323-0455 (Available 24 Hours)

    Website: www.belchertownps.org
    Location: 57 State Street Belchertown, MA 01007

Smore
Use Smore to create beautiful newsletters