Byam Newsletter

September 3, 2021

Message from Principal Fredette and AP Dolan

Notes from Nurse Regan

I hope everyone had a good first "week" of school! It was so great to see our students in person. They did such a great job wearing their masks, sanitizing their hands and sitting in designated lunch seating.

I want to thank parents for returning the Emergency contact/Health information forms and Care Plans to me this week. I truly appreciate having the forms back so quickly.

If you have not had a chance to fill yours in yet, please send on return to school Tuesday 9/7.

Students who require medication at school (epipen, inhaler, daily meds, Diastat, glucose/insulin, etc) must have a medication order, care plan and the medication in its prescription labelled box. Please contact me to arrange drop off or if you need a copy of the form.

CDC TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Since Labor Day weekend is a popular travel weekend, I do want to remind you that the Chelmsford Public Schools asks parents to follow the travel guidelines as recommended by the CDC. Because our elementary students are not vaccinated against Covid-19, and because of the rise in new cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, these recommendations are even more important to follow.

For unvaccinated individuals travelling out of state or out of country:

On the day of return to Massachusetts, self quarantine at home for 7 days.

Get tested on day 3-5 after return to Massachusetts. If the test is negative and you have no symptoms, you may release from quarantine and return to activities on day 8.

If the test is positive, you must isolate for 10 days. If symptoms improve, and you have no fever or need for fever reducing medication, you may release from isolation on day 11.

**OR if you opt not to test, then quarantine for 10 days. If no symptoms, may release from quarantine and return to activities on day 11. If you develop symptoms, you must get tested and follow isolation guidelines.

In either scenario, you would still need to monitor for symptoms a full 14days on return.

Please let me know when you are back in Massachusetts and what your plans are for testing during quarantine.

I will work with you to determine your child's return to school date.

For all students:

Please refer to the DAILY SYMPTOM CHECKLIST (color handout) which I sent home to families on the first day of school. Keep this posted on your refrigerator so you can check your child each morning.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students and staff safe at school!

Enjoy the long weekend!!

Nurse Regan

If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Regan 978-251-5144 x2 or regana@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

PBIS at Byam

What is PBIS?

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is an approach schools use to promote school safety and good behavior.
With PBIS, schools teach kids about behavior expectations and strategies.
The focus of PBIS is prevention, not punishment.

This week at Byam we began our expectation tours, where we explicitly teach students what the 3 R's (being Respectful, Responsible and Ready) look like in each of our identified locations. Our tours included the classroom, specialists and recess. We utilize graphics, videos and each child will also receive a passport that is stamped throughout the year for practicing our expectations. We recognize students exhibiting these expectations by giving out "Roars" which are stickers we pass out and are announced during our weekly announcement video.

Open House Curriculum Night

September 14th

Grades K,1,2: 5pm – 6:15pm
Specialists, special educators & support staff will be available in classrooms for all parents from 6:15 – 7pm
Grades 3 and 4: 7pm – 8:15pm

More detailed information to follow next week.

BSA Update

Back to School Social- September 12, 4:00-6:00pm

We are looking forward to the Back to School Social on Sunday Sept. 12 from 4-6pm! In an effort to allow families to spread out their chairs/blankets, there will be NO parking at Byam so we can use ALL of the front and back lawn space. Lockheed Martin (diagonally across the street) has graciously allowed Byam Families to use their parking lot. Families can park there and then use the crosswalk near the Rail Trail to walk onto the school grounds.

*Pizza pre-order forms will go out on Tuesday.

*Heaven’ly Dogs will be available, they serve Hot Dogs, Sausages, Burgers and Walking Tacos!

*Pre-orders of Whoopie pies are encouraged to allow for better distancing (https://www.bestfoodtrucks.com/truck/the-whoo-pie-wagon)

*Aunties Sweet Shop cotton candy will be available for Purchase.

Back Pack attack photos

Thank you to all those that attended the School Supply drive in August. Materials went to the Lowell Wish Project and the Chelmsford Housing Authority! If you had photos take With Louie the Lion, you can search for your photos and download your copies here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tBfxa6jtJzTGM7rG6.

A big Thank You to parent volunteer, Sayda Betsold, for being our photographer for this event!

BSA Meeting, Wednesday September 8, 7:00pm

Our first BSA meeting is next Wednesday. We will be hosting a more informal meeting from 7-7:45PM for anyone interested in getting involved with the School Association, (like a PTO). This will offer a chance to learn what we do and to meet other parents! We will also have ways to help volunteer. Come and be a part of our great community! An executive session will follow the social from 8:00-8:30PM, anyone is welcome to stay and see the business portion of the evening.

Mark Your Calendar

More information will be coming out about the following dates as the events approach.

September 8- BSA Meeting
September 12- Back to School Social
September 14- Open House Curriculum Night

SEL in the Chelmsford Public Schools

Social Emotional Learning

Welcome back to all of our students and families. We hope that you enjoyed a restful and safe summer vacation. My name is Shannon Bischoff and I am new to the district as the Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Counseling Services. I have had the opportunity to partner with all of the schools throughout the summer weeks to learn about the resources and supports in place in our schools and in our surrounding community to respond to student’s social emotional well-being. What I have learned is that there is an amazing framework of dedicated families, students, teachers, counselors, psychologists and administrators that prioritize your student’s social-emotional needs and well-being.

This year all elementary and middle schools in the district will implement a new digital curriculum called Second Step which you will hear about from your students and their teachers. This wonderful new curriculum has a community and family component which will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations at home around the topic of social-emotional learning. If you would like to learn more about this curriculum I welcome you to visit their website where they have several free and user friendly resources for you to access.

Throughout the year I plan to partner with our school psychologists and counselors to provide you with resources and information to support your student’s growth and learning in the area of SEL and respond to their social-emotional needs.

I welcome you to email or call me to introduce yourself and your child, to share ideas and insights, and help me better get to know the Chelmsford community.

As our students, families and staff return from the summer vacation, I look forward to getting to know each of you. We can’t wait to see your child grow this year and look forward to joining you in celebrating their successes.

With warm regards,

Shannon Bischoff

Coordinator of SEL and Counseling Services PreK-12

bischoffs@chelmsford.k12.ma.edu

(978) 251-5199 ext. 5601

September Elementary Lunch Menu

Click on the above button for this month's lunch menu