RUSSELL SCHOOL FAMILY NEWSLETTER

School Site Council:

Thank you to all the families who attended our SSC meeting last Thursday! Our goal is to be a better school for our students. We really appreciate your participation and input.

Parent Site Council

We still have vacant positions in the leadership, SPED PAC Rep (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) and 3 open positions for SSC Rep. Additional elections to fill those positions will be held at our next PSC meeting. Come and join us!

Coffee Hour:

Join us for our first Coffee Hour of the year on October 25 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Where, in a relaxed atmosphere, we will share with other families and talk about opportunities for involvement in our school.

Harvest Fest:

On October 31st the school will be hosting its famous Harvest Fest. More information below.

JUST A FEW REMINDERS:

• NO PICK UP AFTER 2:00PM: Early dismissal will not be accommodated during the last block of the day. No student will be dismissed after 2:00pm.

• DISMISSAL TIME IS 3:10PM
• NO OUTSIDE FOOD: The Russell policy states that families are not permitted to send in outside food to be shared with the class. This is due to a number of students having food allergies, sensitivities and dietary restrictions. Parents are welcome to celebrate student birthdays and holidays with non-edible goodies.

Oct 25. - Family Coffee Hour- 9-10:30AM @School Auditorium

Oct 31 - Harvest Fest- 9AM @School Backyard

Nov 2 - Parent Site Council- 7-8 PM Zoom

Nov 3 - Pep Rally- 9AM @School Auditorium

Nov 10 -No School - Veterans Day

Nov 16 - School Site Council- 7-8 PM Zoom

Nov 22 - Early Release @ 12:40pm

Nov 23-24 - No School - Thanksgiving

Russell Elementary and its partner St. Stephen's Youth Programs are happy to introduce you to the selected parents to join our Parent Mentor Program!

Mirna Najera

Jessica Astacio

John Smith-St Cyre

We welcome you! Thank you to all the parents who applied.

In our ongoing efforts to enhance your children’s safety, we have decided to begin using the PikMyKid Dismissal Application. Throughout the country, it has been proven to simplify dismissal, reduce traffic congestion, and most importantly, improve overall safety. The unique features of PikMyKid allow you, as parents, to easily change pick up modes, quickly delegate to an alternate individual for pickup, change to an ‘After School’ program, and even schedule for future pickup mode, pickup individual, and after school programs. This app allows you to be in full control of your child’s dismissal and it gives us, the school, complete information regarding dismissal and the ability to acknowledge every change and to instantly check your child’s dismissal status should you have a question. We are very excited about this addition and know you will be too. Check your emails over the next week for additional information and we will be on our way to a safer, quicker, and more efficient dismissal process. To Learn a little more on your own, please check out the following link that will show you a few of the PikMyKid features.

***Please download the app even if you child is a bus student.

PARENT APP REGISTRATION GUIDE AND RESOURCES

REGISTRACIÓN DE LA APLICACION PARA PADRES Y RECURSOS

Join us for our first Coffee Hour of the year on October 25 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Where, in a relaxed atmosphere, we will share with other families and talk about opportunities for involvement in our school.

AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

• PUMPKIN CONTEST
• CRAZY HAIR DAY
• FUN ACTIVITIES

*STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR COSTUMES

*DONATIONS OF APPLE JUICE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

*WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

We are looking for volunteers, please complete the form if you wish to join us!

Volunteers Form

If you wish to be part of our spirit team to help us organize events similar to this one, please complete the following form:

Spirit Team Form

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)

Waiting List Lottery Deadline October 27

MRVP provides housing vouchers for Massachusetts individuals and families with low incomes.

These mobile vouchers can be used statewide.

Application process

Apply at mass.gov/CHAMP. Over 100 housing agencies accept applications. You can get and

return paper applications at your local housing agency. Applications entered or postmarked by

October 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm will be selected via lottery. You may also use the QR code below to

apply.

Eligibility

Income limit: 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). More criteria and

homeless priorities apply. Visit mass.gov/MRVP for details.

Questions?

Find a recording of our recent info session at mass.gov/MRVP.

FAQs are also at mass.gov/MRVP. For reasonable accommodation,

language help, paper applications, or CHAMP questions, find your

local housing agency at mass.gov/CHAMP.

In addition to meeting academic requirements, students must meet state laws and BPS requirements for school attendance. Excellent attendance and school success go hand in hand. The more often a student is absent—even if the absence is unavoidable—the harder it is for the student to keep up with the class. Students with good attendance are more likely to show proficiency in MCAS than those with poor attendance. Parents play an essential role in ensuring that their child attends school consistently and on time every day.

In order to excuse your children, BPS requires a note from parents with date, name of the student, reason for absence and parent signature. If the student is out for more than 3 consecutive days, a doctor's note is required. The documents must be provided within seven days of the absence.

First Absence

• Teacher contacts parent via Talking Point: Instruct parents to fill out Google Form or send written note with date, reason, parent 's phone number and signature within 7 days of absence.

Second Absence

• Attendance team will send home letter before third absence

Third Unexcused Absence

• Attendance team will send home letter before fourth absence

• Teacher must refer student to MTSS

• Parent is invited to meeting with the MTSS team

• Attendance team starts Attendance Intervention Plan (AIP)

Fourth Unexcused Absence

• Parent will meet with School Leader

Students whose parents were involved in school during their elementary years experienced lower rates of high school dropout, were more likely to complete high school on time, and had higher grades.

WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO JOIN US AS A TEAM:

We still have vacant positions in the SY 2023-2024 PSC Leadership: SPED PAC Rep (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) and 3 open positions for SSC Rep. Additional elections to fill those positions will be held at our next PSC meeting. Come and join us!

*Application Form

As a school, we are actively trying to increase family engagement in our school. We need your help in building strong partnerships between home and school! We are looking to recruit family members who can help us communicate to other Russell families by being Classroom Family Champion / Ambassadors. The roles and responsibilities of the position will include the following:

• Calling families in your class for zoom meeting and in person meetings
• Reminding families in your class of important dates
• Informing families of upcoming events and programs

*Application Form

We are recruiting family members to join our School Spirit Team. Spirit Team members will help us create and organize different school activities such as October Fest, Field Day and Multicultural Night among others.

*Application Form

We are looking for one of our parent/caregiver to become a Catie's Closet Champion.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintain a clean and organized closet
• Assist in replenishing items and identifying closet needs
• Communicate with Catie’s Closet staff and school personnel
• Perform a mid-year and end-of-school-year assessment

Please contact Ms. Sharon for more information or if you wish to volunteer.

Boston Partners in Education matches BPS students with experienced mentors to help improve academics and confidence.

Any BPS student in grades 2-12 is eligible to be matched with a mentor through our Independent Learning Support program in any school subject.

Mentors meet with students online, for one hour a week, to help with classwork and homework.

To learn more about the Independent Learning Support program or to sign your student up for the 2022-23 school year, visit: bit.ly/IndependentLearningSupport

Does your child need a FREE tutor?

• Your child is tutored by a BC student
  , Tutoring session is 1 or 1.5 hour session, 1 day per week
• On BC campus or over Zoom
• You pick the day and time!
• Grades 1-12, all subjects
  Priority is given to families who live/work or attend school in Allston Brighton.

Visit the Boston College Neighborhood Center website to fill out an application form today!

www.bc.edu/neighborhood or call 617-552-0445

Need Help with you Homework?

Visit a neighborhood library and get homework help from a Boston teacher!

4:00-6:00 PM. *Except as noted.

FOOD RESOURCES:

INTERNET OPTIONS: