CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

837 LONGMEADOW STREET | LONGMEADOW | MASSACHUSETTS | 01106 | P 413-565-4290

Center Elementary School’s vision for education is foremost focused on fostering a child-centered environment where our students are responsible and respectful members of their learning community. Students develop a strong sense of self and a desire to contribute to their community in a positive manner. Our vision for academic learning is to nurture highly motivated and independent students who approach learning with enthusiasm, critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance. Inherent in our vision is the guiding principle that all students can learn at high levels; and will reach their full potential through the collaborative efforts of their teachers, families, and school leaders.

"All students, regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or homelessness, have equal access to the general education program and the full range of any occupational or vocational programs offered by the district."

SCHOOL HOURS

8:30 AM - 2:45 PM

TO REPORT AN ABSENCE

PLEASE CALL 413-565-4290

SUMMER HOURS

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEEF Gala Ticket Sales

Posted Oct. 19, 2018

Good Afternoon,

The Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation's (LEEF) annual fundraising gala is in 15 days on Saturday, November 3, at 6:30 pm at Twin Hills Country Club!

Please visit the 2018 LEEF iGala page to purchase your tickets and support this wonderful foundation whose mission is to enrich and enhance the quality of education in Longmeadow Public Schools. Since its inception LEEF has provided LPS teachers with over $1.3 million in grants that have spurred innovation and fostered creativity at the classroom level. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Marty O'Shea

Superintendent of Schools

2018 Japan Culture Night

Posted Oct. 19, 2018

Center Families,

Please Save the Date!

Friday, November 2nd, 2018

Japan Culture Night at LHS

Fun activities for the whole family while you learn about Japanese culture!

Click on the link for details!!

Japan Culture Night.pdf

Hope to see many of you at the high school for a great community evening!

Week of October 15th: Reminders

Posted Oct. 14, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

So many happenings in October …here’s a few reminders for the days ahead.

Coming soon: Reading Ambassadors before school club for 3^rd-5^th graders. More information coming your way from Ms. Fritz and Mrs. Vigna. Thank-you to our PTO for generously funding the endeavor!

Homework: Yes, your child-in ALL grades- has homework each evening! We thank you for your partnership facilitating this important time at home. Reminder that we have the Homework Guiding Principles website, filled with helpful resources. What is your child reading at home this week? How many ways can you find to bring real life math lessons into family life? Find ideas here: Homework Website

Superintendent Coffee Hour Conversations: Addressing Childhood Stress and Anxiety. On Thursday, October 25th join Superintendent Marty O’Shea and LPS educators for a dialogue that considers how families and schools can partner to address childhood stress and anxiety while maintaining a commitment to academic excellence. Reservations are encouraged. Morning session 9:00 a.m. in Room A 15 at 535 Bliss Road Eventbrite Register: https://bit.ly/2x6ztaP Evening session 6:30 p.m. in BTC at 535 Bliss Road Eventbrite Register: https://bit.ly/2Mn6c16

Spirit Day, October 26^th: Wear your crazy socks to school!

PeaceBuilders: Teachers send home monthly Family Letters that will enhance your understanding of the peacebuilders way of life at Center. October, we are focused on teaching children ways to give and receive meaningful praise. The letter will offer ways families can help us reinforce this meaningful practice.

Halloween Reminders

Teachers will send families information about grade level activities. Please remember that Halloween is a day for imagination and creativity. Please refrain from frightening costumes and masks. Parade October 31^st at 2:00 weather permitting on the Green.

Safety Officer Carl Mazzaferro will speak to students on October 31^st during lunch about Halloween safety tips.

From Nurse Autumn Rodrigues: Reminders from LPS Wellness Policy:

No candy is allowed to be consumed at school.
Nothing home-baked OR home-made in any classroom
Anything brought into the classroom for consumption must have a clear label, be in original packaging, and list all ingredients.
Be mindful of your classroom allergens. If your classroom is nut free, nothing can contain nuts OR be processed in a facility that also processes nuts. That applies for all allergens. Please review your teacher’s website if you are unsure about the allergens in your classroom.
All food items brought into classrooms to be shared must be cleared by the nurse.
Please consider non-food items as treats for all celebrations. Many classrooms have already eliminated food items for celebrations. Some ideas include pencils, stickers, glow sticks, party games, small crafts, etc.

Thank you and please email Nurse Rodrigues with any questions.

LHS Spooktacular: For the third year, the LHS Key Club will host a safe and fun Halloween experience for children 12 and under in Longmeadow. This event will take place at LHS on October 27th. Note that this year they are charging $5 per trick-or-treater (all proceeds to be donated to Camp Sunshine). The Flyer : Halloween flyer 2018 copy.pdf

Halloween Hustle: Saturday, October 27^th: Not too late to register! Hustle Registration

Please take a minute to complete the K-8 Handbook Form if you have not already done so: LPS k-8 Handbook Acknowledgement Form

Arrival time at school is 8:25. Instructional time begins at 8:35. Bikers and walkers should not be on school grounds prior to 8:25 when supervision begins to assist student' safe entrance into the school buildings. We appreciate families working to time arrival as close to 8:25 as possible.

Enjoy the beautiful fall day ahead. Please contact me with any questions.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Open House Saturday

Posted Oct. 12, 2018

Longmeadow Fire Chief John Dearborn invites all residents to join us at Longmeadow Public Safety Day at the fire and police stations on Williams Street, from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2018. This years fire safety theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.” This event will provide an opportunity to get to know the firefighters and police officers protecting you and your community. Join Longmeadow firefighters for an auto extrication demonstration, information on fire safety, tours of the fire trucks, spraying a real fire hose.

Join Longmeadow police officers for a K9 unit demonstration, tours of police cars and much more.

This event is perfect for the whole family! Hope to see you on Saturday October 13^th.

See attached flyer!

2018 Flyer.docx

Invitation to Public Safety Appreciation Day October 13

Posted on Oct. 20, 2018

Dog Assisted Intervention 2018-2019

Posted Oct. 10, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

I am excited to share information regarding the second year of Center's unique endeavor to benefit our students. The practice of using therapy animals in various settings such as schools and health care facilities is becoming more commonplace. Schools are using trained animals to enhance reading interventions and language goals and also for counseling assistance.

Our vision for our dog assisted intervention program is to enhance a student’s social and academic development through engaging lessons with dog assisted intervention developed for specific needs. Yes! We will expand our dog assisted intervention program at Center School.

Here’s some Q & A’ s about Dog Assisted Intervention:

How will students be selected?

Students will be recommended for the program through the RTI process, the structure we have in place to identify student needs.

RTI Center Stage

Who is Center’s intervention dog?

Murphy is a chocolate lab therapy dog, certified by an AKC registered organization. He has a calm and social temperament and has developed a solid foundation of training. There’s nothing Murphy enjoys more than working with children and the elderly to spread joy as only a dog can for those in need of his assistance. Murphy lives with his people, Mrs. Laura Giuggio and her husband. He feels very fortunate to be working with Center School!

Will Murphy interact with students other than students chosen for intervention?

Murphy will only interact with a small number of intervention students recommended for his services during a specific intervention period. When at Center on Wednesdays and Fridays, Murphy will take breaks in his crate.

How will families know if their child will work with Murphy?

If a child is recommended for intervention, families will receive a letter and a permission slip before November 1st. Families may opt out of the support. Permission forms will need to be signed and returned before work begins.

Is there a protocol in place for dogs in school settings?

The Longmeadow Board of Health has developed a protocol for the Instructional Use of Dogs in LPS classrooms. We are appreciative to Health Director Beverly Hirschhorn, as well as to Superintendent O’Shea and School Committee members Kerrin Morin and Stephanie Jasmin for their supportive guidance and advocacy throughout the process of realizing the pilot, which led us to where we are with the program this year. Please see the attached protocol for your review. Public Health Protocol.doc

There is a wealth of research that supports the powerful advantages of the human-animal bond to improve the literacy and language skills of children. The social emotional advantages such as confidence building, anxiety reduction, and motivation are well documented as well. We look forward to sharing the results of our second year with you.

Please reach out to me with any questions or feedback. Included are just a few links to articles about animal assisted intervention that you might find interesting.

Finally, and most importantly, I extend my gratitude to Mrs. Laura Giuggio. The dedication and commitment required to owning and training a therapy dog is extraordinary. I appreciate that she will share Murphy’s work with our community again this year.

With enthusiasm,

Donna Hutton, Principal

K-8 Student Handbook

Posted Oct. 10, 2018

There was a glitch preventing families from acknowledging review of the handbook. It should be accessible now. Thank-you for taking the time to complete and apologies for the inconvenience.

Dear Center School Parents/Guardians,

Longmeadow Public Schools is pleased to provide the students and families of Longmeadow with a K-8 Student Handbook that articulates parent and student rights and responsibilities and serves as a disciplinary code of conduct. We believe that this handbook is a reflection of our deep commitment to establishing safe, supportive, and orderly learning environments where the expectations for staff and students are clear and widely understood. Additionally, we view this handbook as a reflection of the District’s firm and enduring commitment to creating schools that are welcoming, inclusive and free from discrimination, harassment and bullying. We hope that this document serves our families as a valuable reference and guide to the statutes, regulations, policies and practices that govern the operation of our schools.

The 2018-2019 Handbook is available on the LPS District Website under the Parents tab, at this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zWfDDuI2kp7PjW7RE0K_rP88KFZjzJ1K/view

or under the Parent Tab at our Center School site:

https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/new-ctr/parents

To ensure that this handbook is fully disseminated, we are requiring all families to complete this form to acknowledge that the handbook is accessible and has been reviewed.

Please click on the link below to acknowledge your review of the handbook.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rFX3_PvdhgB1l33J1H7VOL_MQKy4aOu-8Sg0xilqxRc/edit

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Walking School Bus

Posted Oct. 5, 2018

Walk/Bike to School Friday: See you at Hopkins corner at 8:10!

FYI from the town: The one-way road in front of the Community House will be closed for construction beginning Monday, October 8th. Please plan accordingly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

No School Monday. Enjoy the long weekend.

Many items already are in the Lost and Found. Please mark your child's clothing and lunch bags with his/her name. Please remind your child to check the lost and found for missing items. We donate items at the end of every other month.

Thank-you!!

Snapshots

Posted Sept. 30, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

Here’s some helpful snapshots of happenings, procedure reminders, and resources to keep you informed.

First PTO Meeting of the School Year: Our first PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, October 4^th at 7:00 pm in the Community Room. Hope to see many of you!

Student Demographics: After October 1^st, any changes (except address) to student demographics will need to made by the parent/guardian using their PowerSchool Student Portal info. If you are unsure as to your Student Portal Password/Access (log-in) information, please contact the school office.

October Walking School Bus: We look forward to our second Walking School Bus this Friday October 5th , 2018. We will meet at the corner of Hopkins at 8:10 to walk to school shortly after. If you typically drop your child off in carline, feel free to either park your car and join us, or drop your child off on Hopkins, and they can walk with their classmates, school staff and the Longmeadow Police Department. Note that the construction has begun at the corner of Williams and the path is safely marked with fencing.

Center School Halloween Parade on the Green: 2:00 pm October 31^st; Halloween Hustle October 27^th.

November 13th: An evening with Rick Wormeli, Glenbrook Auditorium 7pm. Author of Meet Me in the Middle, Fair Isn't Always Equal, and Differentiation addresses parents on how to motivate young learners and to encourage curiosity and learning for learning's sake. Reserve tickets at rick-wormeli-at-glenbrook.eventbrite.com

Parking, Car Line, and Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders: We appreciate your attention to these reminders and notices. Please be mindful of blocking driveways and the roadway along Longfellow during both arrival and dismissal. Also, please make sure your child travels along Longfellow to the front of the school at arrival where students are supervised. Arrival time: as close to 8:25 as possible. Students enter building at 8:25; Instructional time begins at 8:35. Please remind your child to adhere to family pick up plans and inform your child's teacher of any changes. Dismissal is at 2:45 pm and we appreciate your patience in the carline as we work to dismiss our students in a safe manner.

Playground Use After School: We have a lovely school yard and playground, and we welcome our students to use our field and play scape after school. Students must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian after school hours. The playground is not to be used before school hours.

Helpful resources:

Become more familiar with our Standards Based Report Card: Standards Based Report Card Site
Information and resources for Homework Guiding Principles: Homework Guiding Principles Website
Teacher websites: Teacher Websites

Looking ahead: November Calendar Reminders:

November 12- No School- Veteran’s Day Observed
November 13- No School- Professional Development for Teachers
November 15- Half Day of School- Dismissal 11:30 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 15 - 6:00-8:00 pm Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 16- Half Day of School- Dismissal 11:30 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 21- Half Day of School- Dismissal 11:30 - Thanksgiving Recess
November 22- No School- Thanksgiving
November 23- No School- Thanksgiving Recess

Thank-you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

CLOSE Community Annual Report

Posted Sept. 28, 2018

Please click link for the CLOSE Community Annual Report

Homework Website

Posted Sept. 27, 2018

Greetings Center School Community!

Last year was the first year that Longmeadow Public Schools implemented our new Homework Guiding Principles for elementary students. The link to the document is attached for our new families and for our returning families’ review. HWGuidingPrinciples.docx The principles represent a child-centered, research-based approach to homework. The principles are the result of the work of a team of educators who researched and discussed the efficacy of homework at the elementary level.

In our first year rolling out this initiative, we placed an emphasis on self-selected, independent reading at home. Through the “Year of the Reader”, students participated in a wealth of activities at Center aimed at promoting reading at home and ultimately growing a love of reading. Activities included: in-class book talks/recommendations, classroom reading challenges, bedtime read alouds, community readers, book tastings and more!

As we move into our second year implementing the guiding principles, we want to make you aware of a new resource available to our community. The Homework Guiding Principles Website contains materials for both parents and teachers. The site includes study tips, ideas for reading at home, book lists, math fluency activities and much more!

The site is arranged by grade level and subject areas correlating with the Guiding Principles. Please take a moment to visit and gain ideas for ways that you can discuss books with your child, practice math facts, and even study together!

If you have any suggestions for resources that might be valuable on this site, please forward them to me to share with the Homework Study Group for consideration.

Your support with the Homework Guiding Principles is invaluable. Thank-you for your partnership as we grow lifelong learners! Teachers will reference the grade level expectations for homework at the Open House tomorrow evening.

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

& Homework Guiding Principles Study Group

https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/homework/home

Special recognition and appreciation to Paige Anderson and Erin Craft who created the site on behalf of the study group!

Calendar Reminders

Posted Sept. 25, 2018

Open House Thursday 6:00-8:00
10/2 Helping Hands Grade 5: 7:45 am; Café

Please see attached order form for helping Hands tee shirt. Helping Hands-shirt order form (1).docx

10/5 Walk to School Day: Meet at Hopkins at 8:10 am
10/4 School Council Meeting 5:30-6:30 pm Community Room
10/4 PTO meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
10/8 No School Columbus Day
10/25 District Conversation addressing Childhood Stress and Anxiety 6:30 BTC
10/27 Halloween Hustle
November 3^rd : 17^th Annual LEEF Gala https://one.bidpal.net/igala/ticketing
November 13th: An Evening with Rick Wormeli, Glenbrook Auditorium 7pm. Author of Meet Me In the Middle, Fair Isn't Always Equal and Differentiation addresses parents on how to motivate young learners and encourage curiosity and learning for learning's sake. Reserve tickets at rick-wormeli-at-glenbrook.eventbrite.com

Open House 2018

Posted Sept. 23, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our Open House on Thursday, September 27^th. The Open House format provides an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teachers, understand the learning goals and expectations for your child’s year, learn more about your child’s schedule and classroom environment, see your child’s school and walk the hallways your child walks each day, and meet other families in your school community!

Open House Schedule: Note that there are two presentations at different times in each classroom to accommodate families with more than one child at Center.

6:00-6:25 Welcome and social on esplanade hosted by PTO with cider and doughnuts. If there is a chance of showers, we’ll set up refreshments in the café, so please stop in for a treat!

6:30-7:00 1st Classroom Presentation

7:00-7:10 Travel time and opportunity to say hello to different teachers across the school.

7:15-7:45 2nd Classroom Presentation

8:00: Open House concludes!

Important details:

Open House is for parents and guardians only. We’ll have other opportunities for family events that include our students throughout the year.
Parent /Teacher Conferences are November 15^th and 16^th. Gentle reminder to kindly refrain from asking teachers about your child’s individual progress at Open House.
Please visit other important teachers in your child’s school world: PE teachers Ms. Gauthier and Mrs. Capotosto in the gymnasium; Music teacher Ms. Drysdale in the music room adjacent to the café; Library/media specialist Mrs. Mulcahy in the library; Art teacher Mrs. Goldman in the art room located in the 5^th grade hallway; Technology integration specialist Mrs. Giuggio around the corner from the main office. Our resource team, including our special education teachers and interventionists, will be in their classrooms to say hello too!

Please reach out to your child’s teacher or to me with any questions. We'll see you Thursday evening... Happy Fall and enjoy a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Special Programs for LHS Parents

Posted Sept. 20, 2018

Good Afternoon,

Mark your calendars! The Longmeadow Public Schools' Special Programs Committee is pleased to

announce the schedule for this year's speaker series! Annually, the Special Programs Committee

invites distinguished speakers or panelists to Longmeadow to discuss how we can support the healthy

growth and development of young people! We hope you can attend!

Sincerely,

Marty O'Shea

Superintendent

LPS Special Program Committee Save The Date_With Edits 9.11.18 (1) 2.pdf

LHS Spooktacular

Posted Sept. 18, 2018

Halloween flyer 2018 copy.docx

Fall Carnival 2018

Posted Sept. 17, 2018

Please join us!!

Annual Center School Fall Carnival

Thursday, September 20th

On the Town Green

4:30-6:30

Food! Popcorn! Cotton Candy! Bounce Houses!

Games! Prizes! Face Painting!

Bring the whole family to play games created and run by our Fifth Graders!

Support your school, have fun with friends and neighbors and experience Center School Spirit !!

Tickets for games, food and prizes can be purchased on the Carnival page of our PTO website:

https://www.centerschoolpto.com/carnival.html

The prepay option ends Wednesday Sept. 19th!!!!

Pre-pay attendees use the express check-in lanes -we highly encourage you to buy in advance to avoid long lines!

Only cash and checks will be accepted at the Carnival.

Children 4 and under play and bounce for free.

*Our fifth graders do not need to purchase game passes.

WE NEED SOME GRILL HELP!

You can sign up for a quick shift on the bbq, as well as other areas (we need it!) here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b44adab2aabff2-fall

Walking School Bus

Posted Sept. 12, 2018

We look forward to our first Walking School Bus of the year tomorrow morning! We will meet at 8:15 am at Hopkins Street, and begin our walk to Center shortly after. If you typically drop your child off in carline, feel free to either park your car and join us, or drop your child off on Hopkins and they can walk or ride their bikes with their classmates, school staff and members of the Longmeadow Police Department. We encourage everyone to walk or bike together!

We look forward to walking with you tomorrow morning!

Have a pleasant evening!

Helping Hands 2018-2019

Posted Sept. 11, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

In the spirit of teaching our students about the importance of community service, we will begin our sixth yearlong effort to feed those in need of assistance.

Center School Helping Hands is a school-wide effort that provides our students an opportunity to work as grade level teams to make a difference by making sandwiches to help feed the hungry. Helping Hands is a collective endeavor that depends on the generosity of our Peace Builders community; and we anticipate another successful year!

Here’s how it works:

SCHEDULE:

Each grade level will be assigned a month to meet one morning in the cafeteria at 7:45 AM to make sandwiches with their grade level team.The students will go directly to their classrooms at 8:25.

Mark your calendars on the following Tuesdays:

October 2nd-5th grade

November 6th-4th grade

December 4th-3rd grade

January 8th-2nd grade

February 5th-1st grade

March 5th-K & 5^th

April 2nd- 4th & 2^nd

May 7th- 3rd & 1^st

June 4th- all grades

WHAT TO BRING:

Each family may voluntarily send in with your child sandwich meat, cheese, and bread to make sandwiches on their designated day. We suggest 1lb. meat; ½ lb. cheese; two loaves of bread, although any donated amount is appreciated. The number of sandwiches delivered each month will depend on donations.

WHO MAY COME:

Siblings are more than welcome to make sandwiches too. For example, our first date (October 2^nd ⁾ will be with 5^th graders. If you have a 5^th grader and a 2^nd grader, feel free to send the 2^ndgrader to help. The more helping hands the better!!

SANDWICH DONATIONS:

Center School parent Amy Nedwed (amynedwed@gmail.com) coordinates this effort. She and I will be present with the students while they make the sandwiches; and Amy Nedwed and Amie Tracy will deliver the sandwiches to the Springfield Rescue Mission, Loaves and Fishes Kitchen in Springfield and the Easthampton Community Center. Kudos to Amy for spearheading the effort once again this year!!

Thank-you for your generous spirit of giving! A reminder notice will be sent each month.

With appreciation,

Donna Hutton, Principal

See the links below to order your tee shirt and also a summary of last year's endeavor.

Tee Shirt order Form

Summary 2017-2018

Center Stage: Cafeteria to Café

September, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

Perhaps you have heard the news from your child about the transformation of our cafeteria. Music plays in the background, which we use as a measure of volume for student talk-if you can’t hear the music, it’s likely the noise level is too high. The walls have been painted tranquil blues with a pop of red for Cardinal school spirit. Curtains are hanging and the walls have art work by Eric Carle. Soon we will have students’ art on our ceiling tiles! And lastly, we have changed from long tables to round tables with bright primary colored seats that seat eight children-lunch buddies who will change consistently throughout the year. We placed all the condiments the students need at the center of the tables.

Transformation of the physical environment of the cafeteria-from blah to warm and welcoming.

Lunchtime should be an enjoyable part of the school day for our students. The lunch period provides a time for kids to relax, socialize with their peers, rest their active bodies and minds, and importantly, become nourished. Most of us agree that “traditional” cafeterias can have an institutional and industrial feel.

After many years of supervising the lunchroom with various attempts at fostering more positive social interactions for all children, I arrived at the realization that the environment needed to be modified to truly make our efforts successful. The broad goal was to design the cafeteria to look more like a café and make it more inviting for our students-a place where our students want to be! Most importantly, research unquestionably affirms that healthy eating and healthy interaction goes hand in hand with a positive cafeteria environment-emotional and physical- where children enjoy the time together and feel safe. While all the changes will hopefully prove impactful, the round tables provide the most consequential change to the space. The tables decrease the number of children in a space and provide a more social place to eat. The round tables ease the movement across the cafeteria and promote important conversation. Like so many experiences in your child’s elementary school years, lunchtime can provide one of the best contexts where appropriate social interaction and behavior is taught and modeled. The goal is to make the café as welcoming as possible so our students will have a more positive and successful day overall.

The transformation of the cafeteria was possible with lots of guidance and support from many community members. Our School Council worked with me to study many improvement possibilities. Thank-you to Rachel Axtmann, Gina Pantuosco, Michael Barresi, and Summer Williams. Superintendent O’Shea provided his support with Tom Mazza who helped secure our district funding.

I also want to take this opportunity to send “kudos” to our PTO for their support. The PTO is funding the purchase for the remainder of the tables, which should arrive by the end of the month. The café tables are only one of many purchases that the PTO has made in the past years, including $20,000 in iPads and chrome books. This is the kind of funding that enriches your child’s experiences at Center School; and I hope you will provide needed support to our PTO with all their endeavors, including the yearly donations’ drive. PTO Donation Page

As you know, we have lunch monitors who help supervise our students during lunch time. We are fortunate this year to also have high school students join us during our kinder lunch to lend a hand to our little ones. The 5^th graders will rotate “buddy” responsibilities too and help the kinder children!

We have lots of helping hands, but can always use and will welcome more volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a parent/grandparent lunch buddy, please contact me. If I have interest, we will hold a meeting at a day and time TBA and brainstorm schedules and more possibilities to enhance the lunch and recess experience for everyone.

FYI

11:30-12:15: 1^st and 3^rd grades

12:00-12:45: 2^nd and 4^th grades

12:30-1:15: Kinder and 5^th grades

We do not begin to dismiss children for recess until 15 minutes into the lunch time period.

Another way you can help? Read this short but important article about etiquette rules to model at home:

3 School Cafeteria Etiquette Rules

Many thanks for your partnership and ongoing support!

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Walking School Bus

Posted Sept. 10, 2018

Meeting at Hopkins at 8:10 am, Thursday September 13th

Crosswalk Project

Posted Sept. 6, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

The town will soon begin a safety project on the corner of Longmeadow Street and Williams Street. The project will enhance safety at the busy crosswalk that so many members in our school community use to travel to and from school each day.

There will be a raised sidewalk with pedestrian beacons at the completion of the project. In the next two weeks, you may notice the set up for the work. Chain link fencing will clearly mark the detour path for our students and families. I’ve attached a map which shows the pedestrian access path during the construction.

I met with Mario Mazza, DPW Director, and Carl Mazzaferro, LPD Safety Officer. They shared details of the construction with me and welcome any questions from the community regarding the project as we move ahead to a tentative start date of September 17^th. There will be more details regarding the project posted on the LPD Facebook page as well as the DPW website in the days ahead.

For now, my message is to make you aware of the project. We will meet with students who use the crosswalk as we move closer to the construction and discuss safety protocol. Officer Mazzaferro will be a presence on the first few days to help ensure a smooth walking commute with the detour in place. I feel confident that the plan in place carefully considers safety issues and that we will navigate the construction in the best possible manner.

Reminders

Love the energy at the beginning of the school year, but many of our friends arrive too early. Please time arrival as close to 8:25 as possible, including our energetic bike riders who seem to be extra early. Instructional time begins at 8:35.
Please remind your child to travel in front of the school at dismissal. Students should not cross the playground to the driveway, which is an unsafe route. All students leave at dismissal and my not play on the playground unless directly supervised by an adult.
Monday, September 10^th: No School Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 19^th: No School Yom Kippur
Fall Carnival: September 20^th; Rain date: September 21st
Open House: September 27^th: 6:00-7:45 More info soon.
We will not use Dismissal Manager this school year. That said, please help us with dismissal by developing a firm plan with your child. Teachers will need to know your usual family plan. If there will be changes, please email your child’s teacher before 2:00. Any last-minute changes after 2:00, please call the office.
Please take a few minutes to update your family information in the Parent Portal on PowerSchool.
Our PTO is looking for new members! Visit their website for contact information!

Thank-you for a great beginning to the new year!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Access path

School Council Needs New Members

Posted Sept. 4, 2018

Please contact the PTO if you are interested in serving on the Center School School Council. We need new members!

Presidents
Karen Desrosiers
karendesrosiers@comcast.net
Vice President
Erin Lau
gibsone@gmail.com
Secretary
Beth Benzaquin
centerschoolptoweb@gmail.com
Treasurer
Keri Fazio
keriapril@comcast.net

Media Release Form 2018

Posted Aug. 31, 2018

PK-8 Media Release Form

Occasionally, Longmeadow educators and administrators photograph or video students to enhance the classroom learning experience and celebrate children's achievements. You are receiving this parental consent form to request your permission to release photos and videos that include your child. Pursuant to law, we will not release photographs or video without prior consent from you as parent or guardian.

Please click on the link and complete the form. One form per child.

With appreciation,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Media Release Form

PTO NEEDS YOU!

Posted Aug. 31, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

A PTO is an essential organization in a vibrant and engaged school community. Through my years at Center School , I have greatly appreciated the generous work the members of the Center School PTO executive boards have contributed to our school to enrich our students’ school lives. We rely on the PTO to organize the annual happenings that so many of you enjoy with your family-Fall Carnival, Halloween Hustle, Square One Art, Scholastic Book Fair, etc.

That said, our current executive board is operating with four members-dedicated and creative members -but parents in great need of the community’s help and support. The success of the PTO depends on family support through attendance at family events, families contributing through annual donations, and now, more important than ever before, organizational help for all the events coordinated by the board.

PLEASE consider joining the executive board of our PTO. The more members that work on the board, the more creative endeavors that will happen for your child. Perhaps you can recruit a group of friends to step up with you and shadow the board this year to see what is involved and offer innovative ideas to enhance the work being accomplished now. The PTO also needs a chairperson for the Book Fair!

We understand how very busy family life can be for everyone. That’s why we’re asking cohorts to join and share the responsibilities! It can be an opportunity for new parents to network and meet other Center School parents as well!

I'm including the names and emails of our current PTO board for you to contact with your interest. I hope we’ll have many new members at our first PTO meeting. We need YOU!!

Many thanks for considering.

Donna Hutton, Principal

President

Karen Desrosiers

karendesrosiers@comcast.net

Vice President

Erin Lau

gibsone@gmail.com

Secretary

Beth Benzaquin

centerschoolptoweb@gmail.com

Treasurer

Keri Fazio

keriapril@comcast.net

First Day 2018

Posted Aug. 29, 2018

Good evening Center School Families,

I hope your child had a peaceful evening and is excited to begin the new year. We are ready for the first day! The school looks wonderful with bright classrooms that are inviting to children and unique to each teacher. Our teachers’ plans are in place, ready to launch the workshop model across reading, writing, and math. Science investigations are set and social studies units are ready to go. Teachers will begin the year with an abundance of enthusiasm and patience- modeling expectations, and most importantly, realizing their commitment to develop understanding and positive relationships with each child.

We’ve done a lot of important work together this week revisiting our belief of learning as both a cognitive and social emotional process. We will continue to grow the PeaceBuilders’ way of life at Center. Teachers will practice mindfulness strategies with students and create environments that promote students’ focus, engagement, and love for learning. Our workshop models will provide opportunities for differentiation and rigor for all our learners.

You will have an opportunity to formally meet your child’s teacher and learn much more about your child’s year ahead at the Open House on September 27^th. Until then, you will have lots of opportunities to learn about the start of the year through teachers’ websites, newsletters, and certainly through your child’s perspective-there will be lots to share!!

I extend a warm and gracious welcome back from your Center School Family. I want to convey our commitment to partner with you to help your child grow as a learner and as a caring member of the community. We hope that our words and our actions show you how much we delight in what we do. It is an extraordinary gift to work with young people and we anticipate a joyous ride this year. We hope you share our anticipation!

We will see you on the playground at 8:25 tomorrow morning.

Have a wonderful evening. I know there might be as many sleepless teachers as children tonight...

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Arrival:dismissal .docx

Fresh Picks Lunch Information

Posted Aug. 29, 2018

Longmeadow School District

Longmeadow-Nutrislice-App-Card (1).pdf

Longmeadow-Nutrislice-banner-email (1).pdf

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The 2018-2019 school year is upon us and Fresh Picks Café is pleased to have been invited to manage your school’s Food Service Program. Fresh Picks Café (a division of Café Services) is a locally owned and operated company dedicated to serving delicious, wholesome, quality meals that meet the latest nutritional guidelines. Some of the features your children will enjoy through your district’s partnership with Fresh Picks Cafe include:

1.) Menus:

Our interactive online menus are available through Nutrislice. You have the option to download the Nutrislice app to your mobile device and check your student’s menu choices daily. Ingredients, allergen and nutritional data for all items served can be viewed from this app. Interactive menus are also available online and can be viewed and printed using the link on your school web page.

Longmeadow High School, Glenbrook and Williams Middle Schools have the following stations offering a variety of daily lunch choices. Signature Caféfeaturing “Home Made” Entrees, “Build it Bars” and “Tossed to Order” Entrée Salads; Market Fresh which features a daily selection of Entrée Salads as well as Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits; Pizza featuring quality Fresh Baked Pizza made with whole grain dough and low fat cheeses; Café Express offers Hot “Grab and Go” Sandwiches and the Deli serves “Made to Order” Deli Sandwiches.

Wolf Swamp, Blueberry Hill and Center Elementary Schools offer a wide selection of choices each day that include items such as Market Fresh Salads & Yogurt Parfaits, the Signature Café Entrée of the day and a Downtown Deli Sandwich option.

To help students understand what constitutes a full meal, our innovative Strive for Five program features signage and color coded items in the cafeteria to help students make choices that are nutritious, balanced and stay within USDA standards for a full meal.

Fresh Picks Café is proud to present our Smart Snacks line of healthier packaged snack, beverage, and homemade snack options. We have expanded our grill and sauté Action Station concepts to include your school. Visit the Fresh Picks Café website and watch for details and news flashes on these exciting programs.

2.) Meal Assistance Program: The meal assistance program is a federally funded program that provides reduced and free meals to families that meet USDA income guidelines. Please contact your school administrative office or the food service director to obtain an application. Complete the application (only one application per household is required) and return it to your child’s school. You will then be notified of the benefit level for which you qualify. You can apply or reapply at any time during the school year should your financial situation change. The program is operated in strict confidence and all students go through the same checkout process in the cafeteria eliminating any distinction between students that are participating in the meal assistance program and those who are not.

Students on Meal Assistance Programs are entitled to a full meal from any of our stations at breakfast and at lunch. Snack items such as snack milk or snacks are available to all students for an additional charge.

3.) Automated Point of Sale System: The Longmeadow School District has an automated point of sale system from Nutrikids. This is the same system that the school district used last year. Your student’s account information – including online payment information – has not changed. Parents will have 2 methods to fund their student’s account.

Option 1. Online Payments - You may set-up an online account using a Credit/Debit card to make deposits into your child’s account. In addition to providing you with a secure online payment option, the system will allow you instant access to details on what your child is purchasing in the cafeteria, as well as other convenience features such as automatic low balance alerts. This automated system will help increase the speed of service and allow students additional time for a more relaxing dining experience. Instructions for setting up your online account are available in print from your Food Service Director and posted on the Fresh Picks Cafe website.

Option 2. You may send a check with your child made payable to the Longmeadow School’s Lunch Program. Please make sure to include the child’s name in the memo line. We encourage parents to either utilize the online payment method or to send in a check – cash can also be accepted, but is discouraged at the elementary school level.

Prepaid monies deposited by either method can be used for any purchases in the cafeteria, but at any time parents may contact the school food service supervisor and request that prepaid monies be used only for full meal purchases.

4.) Credit Procedure: Verbal notification of negative balances may be provided to parents or guardians. E-mail notification for students who are charging meals may be sent to the student’s household. Weekly or bi-weekly letters will be sent home and a referral to administration will be made for students who continue to charge for multiple days. Charging of snack items will not be allowed. Please refer to the school district’s charge procedures for further information.

5.) Student Allergy / Special Needs Identification: If your student has a medically documented food allergy or special need when it comes to food, your food service director will work closely with the school nurse and other personnel to ensure that your child’s specific needs are met. Please contact your Food Service Director with details.

6.) Local Purchasing & Green Initiatives: Fresh Picks Café has a robust local purchasing policy, and buys from local farms and food producers as much as possible. We are a strong supporter of the Farm to School initiative. We are also active in recycling and composting efforts. We are always looking to build new relationships with local farmers and environmentally conscious groups – please feel free to contact your food service director.

More can be learned about Fresh Picks Café by visiting our website http://www.freshpickscafe.com , on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FreshPicksCafe or by following us on Twitter @FreshPicksCafe.

Longmeadow School District Food Service Director:

Mary McKenna 413-565-4730 Longmeadow@freshpickscafe.com

Pricing Lunch

Full Price Reduced Adult

Elementary $2.75 .40 $3.50

Middle School $3.00 .40 $3.50

High School $3.25 .40 $3.50

Information for Start of New Year: Arrival/Dismissal

Posted August 25, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

This message is the first of August/September communications to help you navigate the start of the school year.

Please read the arrival and dismissal details carefully to help ensure the safety of our students.

First, we encourage you to review bicycle and walking safety with your child. Please remind your child to be considerate of walkers when riding their bikes to and from school.

We know students thrive with predictable routines. It is helpful if you develop and discuss the family “pick up” plan with your child i.e., where to meet at the end of the day, pick up on the carline, etc. It’s also extremely important for you to remind your child to stick with the family plan; the plan should never be changed by the student without family knowledge or permission! Each teacher will have her individual communication system in place with families so she knows where each student is going at dismissal.

We suggest you place emergency contact information in a visible place on your child’s backpack. There’s some great tags available that attach to backpacks.

First Day for 1^st -5^th grades Thursday, August 30th: We’ll see everyone on the playground at 8:25 AM. The bell will toll to signal the start of our new year!! Teachers will be on the playground; look for cones labeled with grade levels and for teachers holding their name signs; and you’ll know where your child should line up. There will be lots of staff to help you!

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures after Day One:

Arrival: 8:25 AM We do not have supervision before 8:25 AM, so while we love our enthusiastic early birds, please time arrival as close to 8:25 as possible.

Grades 2, 3, 4: Enter through the main doors

Grades K,1,5: Enter through esplanade doors –gymnasium side.

5^th grade safeties will walk kinder and first grade students to their classrooms.

All bikers park bikes on the bike racks on the playground. Please do not park bikes near the entrance gate. For our new families, know that locks are not needed.

Bikers walk the Longfellow sidewalk to the front of the school and enter through appropriate entrances. Students should never travel to the back stairwell to enter the building in the morning. We do not have supervision in this area and we're appreciative of families who do not drop off/pick-up in an area that is not our designated drop off/pick-up.

Students should not travel along the driveway on the side of the gymnasium. This area poses a serious safety issue as cars enter here for the parking lot behind the school; there’s blind spots and the sidewalk does not wrap around the driveway.

Dismissal: 2:45

Grades 2, 4: Exit main entrance

Grade 3: exit Longfellow Street door

Grade K, 1, 5: esplanade doors gymnasium side.

Teachers will escort their classes to the carline and to the playground.

Kinder and grade 1 families: If you meet your child on the esplanade, please stand near the railings away from doorways. We appreciate when you do not block the exit doors and/or the walkway to the esplanade as teachers have many students to walk in lines to appropriate spots.

Carline families: Please note that cars traveling Longfellow Drive to Longmeadow Street will see a “One Way” sign-right turn only between 8 AM-4 PM. Vehicles exiting out of Green Meadow Drive, Morningside Drive, and Crestview Circle are permitted to travel in both directions.

Students who attend after school programs will know their meetings spots . Teachers will know who is going to which program by the first day.

As always, I welcome your feedback and any questions. Enjoy a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Announcements

Posted August 9. 2018

New arrival time to the school day: 8:25

Instructional time begins! 8:35

Dismissal: 2:45

August Greetings

Posted August 2, 2018

August greetings Center School Families!

Here’s some importing information as we inch closer to the start of the 2018-2019 school year:

Class supply lists are posted. Yes, each grade level has the same supplies for students. Please contact me directly if your family needs financial assistance with supplies.

2018-19 Supply Lists

Student’s teacher assignment is available in the Parent Portal of Power School on August 23^rd. New families to Center who will not yet have access to the portal will be contacted directly by the school via email and/or phone call. (see attached letter from June)
New Family visit to Center School: Friday August 24^th at 9:00 am. Meet in the office for a welcome and a tour of the school.
First day of school for 1^st through 5^th grade: August 30^th. Kindergarteners and their families are invited to visit classrooms from 10:00 to 11:15 on the 30^th. First full day for kindergarten is August 31^st.
Is your child looking for some fun reading for August?? Here’s the link to our online book clubs-it’s not too late to join!

Center School Online Book Clubs

Looking for some listening fun on your rides to August vacation destinations? Revisit some of your favorite bedtime stories from 2017-2018!

Center School Bedtime Stories

We’ll welcome many new families to our community as well as new staff members in August. I'll send a separate message before school begins with an introduction to our new staff.

We’re busy preparing for a wonderful year ahead for your child. I welcome any questions as we move closer to our first day and certainly beyond.

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

POWERSCHOOL STUDENT & PARENT PORTAL.docx

Class Assignments

Posted August 1, 2018

Your child's class assignment will be available in the parent portal on Powerschool on August 23rd.

Girls on the Run - Fall 2018

Posted August 1, 2018

GOTR.pdf

June 22, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

Happy last day! I hope your summer is filled with extra family time, fun adventures and certainly many unscheduled days that slow life down just a bit…

As I told the children at our school –wide assembly this morning, success is greatly measured by relationships and the ways we show kindness and caring towards others.

With that message in mind, I extend a few end-of-year “thank-you’s” to members of our community.

To our PTO executive board for their planning and time- intensive work on many endeavors: Karen Desrosiers, Lisa Foster, Erin Lau, Lyndsey Nuzzo, Keri Fazio, and Beth Benzaquin. I invite you to visit their Facebook and website pages to see just a sampling of the many enrichment opportunities they provide for our students.

To you, our families, for supporting our work with your children this year. We cannot say “well done” at the end of a school year without your partnership. Please remember to keep your child reading and doing some fun math during the summer months. You’ll find lots of resources on our teachers’ websites! Visit Storr’s Library too to join the summer reading fun.

Please remember that the office staff is not available throughout most of the summer. The best way to reach me is via email. Visit our Center School website in August for important dates and happenings for the 2018-2019 school year.

There’s been a few changes to our classroom teacher assignments for next year:

Kinder: Mrs. Brydges Mrs. Palazzi Mrs. Hinkamper

1^st : Mrs. Silva Mrs. Kadis Mrs. Salvatore

2^nd: Ms. Anderson Mrs. Serafino Ms. Geoffrion Mrs. Gildersleeve

3^rd: Mrs. Craft Ms. Iancu Mrs. Bombardier

4^th: Mrs. McColgan Mrs. McLean Mrs. Glading

5^th: Mrs. Quinn (3 teachers to be announced)

August 24^th: 9:00 AM Principal’s Tour with New Families

August 30^th - First Day of School for Grades 1-12: Kinder Visit 10:00 AM

August 31^st - First Day of School for Kindergarten

Our bell will toll at 11:30, signaling the end of the school year. We look forward to welcoming you back on August 30^th. Safe journeys this summer.

With appreciation,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Last Day 2018

Posted June 20, 2018

Hello Families,

Just a reminder that Thursday and Friday are half days for Center School. Students are dismissed at 11:30. Report cards will be sent home with your child on Friday. If your child is not in school on Friday, his/her report card can be picked up in the main office.

Thank-you! Countdown to summer....

Donna Hutton, Principal

Summer Reading

Posted June 19, 2018

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” Maya Angelou

Hello Center School Families,

We want to share some great resources that will help you continue to encourage and support your child’s reading this summer. First here’s some important facts:

When children select reading materials themselves and read for enjoyment, they attain the most gains in reading achievement, including better reading comprehension, writing proficiency and vocabulary.
Children tend to read more when adults in their lives encourage them to read, and also when they see those adults reading often themselves.
Children that feel that reading is fun tend to read more often, so let’s make reading enjoyable and social to promote success!
Reading just 4 to 6 books over the summer has the potential to prevent a decline in reading achievement!

Summer Resources:

Booklists compiled by Mrs. Vanessa Vigna, our talented and awesome literacy coach: Booklists.docx
Wow! Online Book Clubs!! This year for summer reading, some Center teachers are volunteering to host online book clubs! Click here for details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lrk3CSOVA7fQddaFHGSLbkba_bX6k2GTz8DhUcwoNVo/edit
Summer Reading Goal Form (Thanks Ms. Vigna!) for your child to complete: summer reading - goals.docx
Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books: ALA Notable Books
Thank-you for your generous support and encouragement of reading throughout the year, and especially during the Read to Feed endeavor. Here’s a fun CSS with our Read to Feed Reward. Students earned the opportunity to dunk their teachers! Enjoy!

Happy summer reading ! We look forward to sharing our summer reading favorites with our students and to hearing about all their summer adventures through literature!

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Your Center School Reading Friends

End of the Year Medication Pick-Up

Posted June 19, 201

Dear Families:

Please pick up any medication in the nurse's office by 2:00 on Friday. By law we have to dispose of any medication left behind. Please call me with any questions.

Thank-you.

Nurse Autumn Rodriques

Girls on the Run Information

Posted June 12, 2018

Girls on the Run.pdf

Weekly Calendar Reminders

Posted June 3, 2018

Tuesday: Helping Hands: Students from all grades welcomed for the last endeavor of the year! 7:50 am in the cafeteria.

Wednesday: PTO Meeting in the Community Room at 7:00: The last PTO meeting of the school year! The school committee candidates will be joining us so you can learn more about them before the vote.

The PTO is also looking for parent leaders who are interested in serving in various roles (big or small!) within the PTO next year -you, yes, YOU are the perfect person to join this dynamic group! There's also an open seat on the School Council for the 2018-19 school year.

Thursday: Please return all Read to Feed donations. Thank-you to the PTO for funding the dunk tank-lots of fun ahead for our students for their phenomenal reading efforts!!

Friday: Field Day!! Hope to see families throughout the day and during the picnic lunch on the green at 11:30.

End of year collections:

Center Cares 3rd Annual School Supplies Drive : You can donate lightly used markers, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, glue sticks and much more! There will be cardboard boxes in all grades starting June 15th.

Helping Hands: Gently used Book Drive. You may bring slightly used books to Helping Hands on Tuesday morning or volunteers will be in front of the school on Field Day morning collecting the books. Books are donated to local schools in need.

Enjoy this lovely day!

Donna Hutton, Principal

Field Day Menu!

Posted May 31, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

Attached is the school lunch menu for Field Day on June 8th. Your child will place his/her order in the morning on the 8th, same as daily procedures. Please remember that families often enjoy packing lunches and meeting their child on the green for a family picnic. Lunch is from 11:30 to 12:00 for the entire school.

FieldDayCenter2018.pdf

Let's hope for a beautiful sunny day next Friday!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Read to Feed

Posted May 28, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

The reading logs for the Read to Feed are due on June 1^st. Center students have read 254,378 minutes in the first four weeks!! We are working to reach our goal of 309,000 minutes. Final donations will need to be submitted by June 6^th.

As an incentive to *read* read *read* to feed, our PTO will fund a dunk tank for some fun school spirit if we meet our goal. Hmmm…who on the staff will be brave enough to get into the tank?? Every 500 hundred minutes a student logged for the month of May, he/she will have 1 ball to throw. So, if a student read 1,000 minutes - 2 balls, etc. For kindergarten, it will be for every 250 minutes.

Thank-you for your generous support of the Read to Feed program and for encouraging your child to appreciate and love the gift of literacy.

I hope you found time on this Memorial Day to honor and remember the men and women who bravely served our country and gave their lives for our freedoms.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

Posted May 7, 2018

The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is quickly approaching on May 14th from 11:30-1:00.

Please consider making your favorite dish or contributing with a monetary donations to this beloved Center School tradition. To help us plan, sign up for your contribution here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e44afa722a1fe3-center

Monetary donations may be dropped off in the office or sent to your child's teacher. Please label: Teacher Luncheon (checks can be made out to Center School PTO) Please contact coordinators with any questions:

Kara Conway- k.conway@comcast.net Kate Haber- katemurphy1@gmail.com

Thank you!

Placement 2018-2019

May 7, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

May is the month when we begin to look ahead to the upcoming year at Center School. The school calendar, staffing, space usage, and even schedules for the 208-2019 school year are planned. Detailed and thoughtful planning in many areas help provide the structure for strong beginnings.

One significant and carefully planned task is the formation of classes. We recognize that students and parents look forward to class placement with anticipation. My goal with this communication is to help you understand or revisit the process used at Center School to place students.

How many classes are planned at this time for each grade level in 2018-2019?

Kinder: 3 classes

1^st: 3 classes 4^th: 3 classes

2^nd: 4 classes 5^th: 4 classes

3^rd: 3 classes

What is considered when forming classes?

Consideration of the following:

Ratio of girls to boys;
A balance of achievement levels;
Behavior factors regarding students;
Compatibility of students with each other;
Recommendations of past and present teachers, support staff, principal;
Social and emotional needs of students;
Learning styles of students;
Data from RTI team meetings. (Response to Intervention)

Who will form the class lists for next year?

The person who knows your child best as a learner is usually the classroom teacher. Teachers consult with resource team members. Special subject area teachers provide feedback too. I review class rosters with the teachers with ongoing review throughout the summer; changes are sometimes made based on recommendations and placement of new students.

When will I know my child’s classroom assignment for next year?

The assignment is not named on the report card in June. Assignments will be shared with families in August. You will receive information via School Messenger regarding the specific date that lists will be available in the parent portal of PowerSchool.

What if I prefer that my child have a specific teacher?

We respectfully ask that you trust the school team to determine the best placement for your child. We will not honor requests for specific teachers. We also request that you not place your child’s current teacher in an awkward or unprofessional position by asking her to comment on teachers in the next grade. We also suggest that you not form opinions regarding a teacher based on what you have heard. Each classroom is as unique as each child; and an experience that parents may have had with their child in a class may be totally different from what your child may experience in the very same classroom.

Very Important question: Do parents have input in the process?

YES. Your input began at the start of the year with your relationship with your child’s teacher. You provide insights and expertise about your child at conferences and through ongoing communications with your child’s teacher. You are invited to provide additional input by completing the Family Input Form attached. We also sent a hard copy of the form home with your child. (Please note that parent input forms are optional.) Family Input Form for Class Placement Process.docx

The classroom placement meetings are a time-intensive endeavor. Center School teachers and support staff strive to create learning environments that will support the diverse needs of our students. A “balanced” group of learners helps us achieve our goal of optimal growth and development for each child- both socially and academically.

I welcome any questions regarding the placement process. Thank -you for your support and for the trust you place in us to meet your child's needs.

Kind regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

FYI MCAS Schedule :

Tuesday, May 8 ~ Math Testing for Grades 3 & 5

Wednesday, May 9 ~ Math Testing for Grades 3 & 5

Thursday, May 10 ~ Math Testing for Grade 4

Friday, May 11 ~ Math Testing for Grade 4

Tuesday, May 15 ~ Science Testing for Grade 5

Wednesday, May 16 ~ Science Testing for Grade 5

Good evening Center School Friends,

Here’s a lovely bedtime story about being true to your inner self and about accepting others for who they are. Happy reading and sweet dreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8RWXNf1ciQ&feature=youtu.be

RED by Ms. Drysdale

May Reminders

5/8-5/11: MCAS Math 3rd, 4th, 5^th Grades

5/14 Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

5/15 MCAS Grade 5 Science

5/16 MCAS Grade 5 Science

5/18 Spirit Day: Comfy Cozy Day

5/18 Kindergarten Orientation for incoming kinder students: No School for our current Kindergarten children

5/28 Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Enjoy a wonderful spring week ahead!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Peacebuilders Night

Posted May 3, 2018

Good afternoon Center Families,

We will have the esplanade doors open this evening for our parents and guardians. Please do not come to the main entrance. Should showers move through the area between 6:00 and 6:20, please enter through the doors on the gymnasium side of the school. We'll hold our welcome in the gym should it rain.

Please remember to follow the rotations with your child's field day team color.

Many thanks and see you later this afternoon.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

PeaceBuilders Open House

Posted May 2, 2018

PeaceBuilders Open House for Parents and Guardians

Thursday, May 3^rd

6:00-7:30

Center School is a PeaceBuilders’ community. We’re in our third year of our commitment to use the principles of the program to create a school community that improves relationships by teaching and encouraging peaceful ways of solving conflicts. PeaceBuilders is not just a program –it’s a way of life.

We cordially invite parents and guardians to Center School’s PeaceBuilders Open House, developed to enhance our families understanding of our social emotional teachings through PeaceBuilders.

PeaceBuilders establishes a foundation for children to learn responsibility and respect. There are six essential peace-building behaviors that are practiced:

Praise People

Give Up Put-Downs

Seek Wise People

Notice Hurts

Right Wrongs

Help Others

These core PeaceBuilding behaviors and actions are modeled daily through the Peace Pledge and have proven wisdom and science behind them. Children are visual, verbal, hands-on learners. The PeaceBuilders Program is full of strategies and activities where children interact with each other and their environment in fun, creative ways as they actively learn the key principles above.

Come join us Thursday to learn more about the important life-long strategies that we integrate into your child’s day, as well as gather resources for home peace-building!

Agenda

6:00-6:15

Social on Esplanade; Light Refreshments courtesy of our PTO; PeaceBuilders Committee Welcome

You will travel by your families’ Field Day Team Color to each presentation.

6:20-6:40

Community Room BLUE

Media Room (next door to Library) GREEN

Library ORANGE

Cafeteria PURPLE

Gym RED

Music Room YELLOW

6:45-7:05

Community Room RED

Media Room (next door to Library) YELLOW

Library BLUE

Cafeteria GREEN

Gym ORANGE

Music Room PURPLE

7:10-7:30

Community Room ORANGE

Media Room (next door to Library) PURPLE

Library RED

Cafeteria YELLOW

Gym BLUE

Music Room GREEN

The PeaceBuilders Open House is possible through a grant awarded to Longmeadow's drug free community coalition, CLOSE Community, with a focus on our social emotional learning curriculum. Many thanks to Superintendent O’Shea, Shelly Warren, and Paul McNeil for their guidance and support.

Please contact me with any questions. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Walk, roll, bike to school!

Posted May 1, 2018

REMINDER: Walk, roll, or bike to Center tomorrow morning!

Join members of the LPD and your Center School Staff-there's a perfect weather day ahead for a community walk!

See everyone on the corner of Hopkins at 8:15!

Bedtime Read Aloud

Posted April 29, 2018

Good evening Center School Reading Friends,

Here’s your bedtime read aloud introduced by our very own Murphy, the newest member of our intervention team. Enjoy learning about Murphy’s work at Center! Happy reading and sweet dreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFBLIJ4mKEc&feature=youtu.be

Calendar Reminders

Tuesday, May 1^st:

Helping Hands Grade 1 and 3 Cafeteria at 7:50 am

Wednesday, May 2^nd:

Walk to School Day 8:15 meet at corner of Hopkins Place

Thursday, May 3^rd:

PeaceBuilders Open House 6:00-7:30 Details with agenda found in message sent earlier today

Week of May 7^th:

MCAS Mathematics Grades 3-5

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

PeaceBuilders Open House

Posted April 29, 2018

PeaceBuilders Open House for Parents

Thursday, May 3^rd

6:00-7:30

We cordially invite parents and guardians to Center School’s PeaceBuilders Open House, developed to enhance our families understanding of our social emotional teachings through PeaceBuilders.

PeaceBuilders establishes a foundation for children to learn responsibility and respect. There are six essential peace-building behaviors that are practiced:

Praise People

Give Up Put-Downs

Seek Wise People

Notice Hurts

Right Wrongs

Help Others

Come join us Thursday to learn more about the important life-long strategies that we integrate into your child’s day, as well as gather resources for home peace-building!

Agenda

6:00-6:15

Social on Esplanade; Light Refreshments courtesy of our PTO; PeaceBuilders Committee Welcome

You will travel by your families’ Field Day Team Color to each presentation.

6:20-6:40

Community Room BLUE

Media Room (next door to Library) GREEN

Library ORANGE

Cafeteria PURPLE

Gym RED

Music Room YELLOW

6:45-7:05

Community Room RED

Media Room (next door to Library) YELLOW

Library BLUE

Cafeteria GREEN

Gym ORANGE

Music Room PURPLE

7:10-7:30

Community Room ORANGE

Media Room (next door to Library) PURPLE

Library RED

Cafeteria YELLOW

Gym BLUE

Music Room GREEN

Please contact me with any questions. We look forward to seeing you Thursday!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Any challenges with the format of the above message? Click on this attachment: PeaceBuilders Open House.docx

Read to Feed 2018

Posted April 26, 2018

May is Read to Feed Month!!

The Center School Cardinals will be working together as a community to help alleviate world hunger by supporting Heifer International!

Heifer International is an organization that helps families around the world and in the United States by giving gifts of livestock and training. The animals help families provide nutrition and income from selling products like eggs, yarn, or cheese. The training helps families learn to care for their animals so that they will continue to benefit from the gifts well into the future. https://www.heifer.org/

Step 1: Classes set goals for number of minutes to be read.

Step 2: Students seek out sponsors. Sponsors can offer an amount per minute or hour (which may motivate them to read more) or a flat rate. Sponsors may make their contributions online (a link will be posted on class webpages for easy access in the coming week ahead) or use the envelope provided in the Read to Feed Student Guide.

Step 3: READ, READ, READ for the whole month of May!

Step 4: Students turn in all materials at the end of the month.

Step 5: Classes will tally the number of minutes read and the amount of money raised. Together they will decide which animal(s) and/or supplies they would like to purchase.

Step 6: An all-school assembly will take place to celebrate our accomplishments!

We encourage you to talk with your child about what he/she learned from Miss Liz Woolsey from Heifer International about Heifer’s work at the assembly today. Students received a powerful message about how the organization is working to alleviate world hunger.

Check your child’s folder or backpack tomorrow for the Read to Feed packet.

Let's go PeaceBuilders!!

The more we read, the more we help!

With appreciation,

Your Center School Staff , Partners in making the world a better place!

Reminder!

Posted April 24, 2018

May 2nd: Massachusetts Walk to School Day

School Lunch Information

Posted April 24, 2018

ElementarySchoolInfoAboutSchoolLunch.pdf

Spring Break Bedtime Read Aloud

Posted April 15, 2018

Hello Center School Reading Friends,

You’ve played the game. Now read the legend of how it all began: rock, paper, scissors…brought to you by Mrs. Mulcahy! Happy reading and sweet dreams. Enjoy a fun and restful spring break. Hopefully spring weather is on its way to us soon!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdbtLk-_5qM

Calendar Reminders

Monday, April 23^rd: Showing of Screenagers at Glenbrook Middle School 6:30 pm

Thursday, April 26^th Read to Feed Kick off: More information to families after the break!

Arbor Day celebration: 4^th Grade

May 1^st: Helping Hands Grades 1 and 3

May 3^rd: Open House for Parents 6:15 -7:30 . Looking forward to sharing our PeaceBuilders work with families!!

May 8^th-May 11^th: Math MCAS Grades 3, 4, 5

Take care,

Donna Hutton and Your Center School Family

Bedtime Read Aloud and Calendar Reminders

Posted April 8, 2018

Good evening Center School Families,

Nurse Autumn reads our bedtime story tonight, a story of friendship and kindness. Happy reading and sweet dreams reading friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKbr7dYUXjM&feature=youtu.be

Calendar Reminders

April is Poetry Month: Share a favorite poem with your child! “Poetry surprises and deepens our sense of the ordinary. Poetry tells us that the world is full of wonder, revelation, consolation, and meaning.” Tracy K. Smith, U.S. Poet Laureate

Tuesday April 10^th: 7:50 Helping Hands Grades 2 and 4

8:50-12:25 Grade 2 In House Field Trip Hitchcock Center

Wednesday April 11^th: 9:00-11:00 Grade 3 Walking Field Trip Mrs. Craft and Ms. Nichols

Friday April 13^th: Spirit Day Hat Day

9:00-11:00 Grade 3 Walking Field Trip Ms. Iancu

April 16th-20th: Happy Spring break!!

April 23^rd: Sreenagers 6:30 pm LHS

May 3^rd: PeaceBuilders Open House for Parents: Please save the date!!

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Paws4Cardinals

Posted April 5, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

I am excited to share information regarding a pilot endeavor to benefit our students. The practice of using therapy animals in various settings such as schools and health care facilities is becoming more commonplace. Schools are using trained animals to enhance reading interventions and language goals and also for counseling assistance.

Our vision for our pilot is to enhance a student’s social and academic development through engaging lessons with dog assisted intervention developed for specific needs. Yes! We have developed a pilot for a dog assisted intervention program at Center School.

Here’s some Q & A’ s about Dog Assisted Intervention:

How will students be selected?

Students will be recommended for the program through the RTI process, the structure we have in place to identify student needs.

RTI Center Stage

Who is Center’s intervention dog?

Murphy is a chocolate lab therapy dog, certified by an AKC registered organization. He has a calm and social temperament and has developed a solid foundation of training. There’s nothing Murphy enjoys more than working with children and the elderly to spread joy as only a dog can for those in need of his assistance. Murphy lives with his people, Mrs. Laura Giuggio and her husband. He feels very fortunate to be working with Center School!

Will Murphy interact with students other than students chosen for intervention?

Murphy will only interact with a small number of intervention students recommended for his services during the pilot period. When at Center on Fridays, Murphy will take breaks in his crate.

How will families know if their child will work with Murphy?

If a child is recommended for intervention, families will receive a letter and a permission slip within the next two weeks. Families may opt out of the support. Permission forms will need to be signed and returned before work begins.

Is there a protocol in place for dogs in school settings?

The Longmeadow Board of Health has developed a protocol for the Instructional Use of Dogs in LPS classrooms. We are appreciative to Health DirectorBeverly Hirschhorn, as well as to Superintendent O’Shea, Kerrin Morrin, and Stephanie Jasmin, members of the SC policy subcommittee for their supportive guidance and advocacy throughout the process of realizing the pilot. Please see the attached protocol for your review. Public Health Protocol.doc

Will the program be expanded after the pilot period?

The intervention team will review the results of the pilot program including whether the goals and objectives for students were met, and make recommendations regarding the continuation and/or expansion of the program.

Please reach out to me with any questions or feedback. Included are just a few links to articles about animal assisted intervention that you might find interesting.

With enthusiasm,

Donna Hutton, Principal

New Offering on the Menu

Posted April 4, 2018

New offering (1).pdf

PeaceBuilders Open House

Posted April 3, 2018

I am a peacebuilder…

Each day your child strives to live a Peacebuilders’ “way of being” in their school community.

What does this truly look like in action?

Please plan to join your Center Community

for a

PeaceBuilders Open House

Thursday, May 3^rd, 2018

6:15-7:30

The evening will build upon the home school connection to the PeaceBuilders program; and help families gain a fuller understanding of how we integrate the PeaceBuilders practices into our students' school world.

More detailed information will come your way before the event.

Please save the date!

Special Monday Bedtime Story

Posted April 2, 2018

Hello and Happy Monday Center Friends,

Here's your bedtime story for this evening. Mrs. Cummings' family favorite is an adventure with Olivia. Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiVw0XJV7o8&feature=youtu.be

Sincerely,

Your Center Family

MCAS 2018

Posted March 29, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

Tuesday begins the first round of MCAS testing in ELA (English Language Arts) for our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. The MCAS assessments provide parents and teachers with information about students’ proficiency with specific learning standards in English language arts, math, and science. MCAS is administered each spring and the results are distributed to schools and parents in the fall.

While teachers have practiced specific MCAS questions with their students to familiarize them with the format of the assessment, the most important learning has been accomplished daily through core curriculum instruction! The MCAS is an opportunity for our students to apply their learning and demonstrate their proficiency as growing readers, writers, mathematicians and scientists.

This is the second year for administration of tests known as the "Next Generation MCAS “, which are designed to be computer based and designed to more deeply assess students’ knowledge and ability levels. Students in Grade 4 and 5 will participate in online testing, using Chromebooks, in ELA and Math this year.

Students in grade 3 will continue with paper- based testing in ELA and math. The Department of Education’s goal is for computer based testing for all students by 2019. All tests are untimed and writing is embedded in tests at all grade levels.

Here are ways you can help:

See that your child arrives to school on time.
Make sure your child is well rested and eats a substantial breakfast. Don’t forget to pack a healthy snack!
Encourage your child to persevere, do the best work possible, and to have a positive attitude!
Talk about the test in a positive way!

The testing schedule is below; start time is as close to 9:00 as possible.

ELA

3rd and 5th Grades- April 3rd, 4th
4th Grade- April 5th, 6th

Math

3rd and 5th Grades- May 8th, 9th
4th Grade- May 10th, 11th

Science

5^th Grade ONLY- May 15th, 16th

Note that in compliance with MCAS test security requirements, parents /visitors are prohibited from the testing areas on testing dates.

We ask for your help in striking a balance between encouraging students to do their best and minimizing test anxiety. We consider MCAS to be one piece of evidence used to measure student growth and progress, and we recognize your child’s individual strengths, passions, and talents may not be reflected in a test score. By working together, we can make your child’s testing experience positive and successful.

If you would like more information, visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/parents/.

I extend my appreciation for your support and cooperation. Please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Whitsons Menu Icon Announcement

Posted March 27, 2018

Whitsons Menu Icon Announcement Flyer.pdf

Enrichment Course

Posted March 26, 2018

Dear Center School Parents/Guardians,

Lisa Katz and Mary Daboul are returning to offer yoga once again at Center this spring beginning Wednesday, April 4th.

Convenient online registration is available here:

https://apm.activecommunities.com/longmeadow/Activity_Search/8865

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Stacy Smith at ssmith@longmeadow.k12.ma.us

Lisa and Mary’s Kids Yoga—After School Yoga Fun!: Grades K-5

Please join us for an afternoon yoga class full of playful and imaginative exploration through yoga poses, games and activities, music, and a craft! Each class includes pranayama (breath), movement, relaxation, and meditation. Yoga is a great way to help kids reduce stress, increase listening skills, and enhance focus and body awareness.

In addition, students will gain assistance with balance and coordination and improve breathing and body alignment. Please note that instructors will occasionally use their hands to help students achieve positions. Please bring your own yoga mat. A $10 materials fee is required, payable to the instructor on the first day of the course. Instructors: Mary Daboul and Lisa Katz

Activity: 7705.301

Location: Center School

Dates: Wednesdays 4/4-5/9 (No Class 4/18)

Time: 2:45-4:15pm Fee: $50 per person

Bedtime Read Aloud

Posted March 25, 2018

Happy Sunday Center School Reading Friends!

Here’s your fun read aloud from Mrs. Benson. Wonder if you knew that dragons LOVE tacos? Happy reading and sweet dreams!

Dragons Love Tacos Read Aloud

You may also subscribe to the Center School Bedtime Read Alouds on YouTube and you'll receive an email when we post the new story:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD3NIkSDC1uTG3vznfvlfvg

Have a good week.

Donna Hutton, Principal

Reminders

Monday, March 26^th; 7:00 pm LHS: Parent/Community Presentation: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Training and Discussion

Please take a moment to respond to the survey regarding options for Center’s make up day:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_uHykcPali_xX7VQmaNva2DWvg4IP2b1U0b7PpIHH3SfW7w/viewform

Friday, March 30^th: No School Good Friday

Tuesday, April 3rd-Wednesday, April 4^th: MCAS ELA 3^rd and 5^th Graders

Thursday , April 5^th-Friday April 6^th : MCAS ELA 4^th Graders

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Week of March 19th

Posted March 18, 2018

Hello Center School Friends,

Ms. Manna shares our bedtime story tonight from a wonderful storyteller, Leo Lionni. Enjoy the classic fable about the search for identity. Happy Reading and sweet dreams friends!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTkI3I7WfYY&feature=youtu.be

Calendar Reminders

March 20^th: PTO Meeting 6:30 pm

March 23^rd: Spirit Day: Wear your Cardinal Red

March 26^th : Jetta Bernier, Executive Director of MassKids, will be coming to Longmeadow High School on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7 pm. Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MassKids) is the oldest state-based child advocacy organization in the country. We hope that this forum will give parents the basic knowledge, skills and words they need to teach their children about personal sexual safety.

March 30^th : No School- Good Friday

April 3rd and 4th: ELA MCAS (3rd and 5th Grade)

April 5^th and 6^th : ELA MCAS (4th Grade)

April 16^th -20^th : Spring Vacation Week

April 23^rd: Re-screening of Screenagers at Glenbrook Middle School 6:30 p.m.

Congratulations to Mrs. Erin Capotosto and her family! The Capotosto’s welcomed their baby boy, Dylan James into the world on March 16^th.

Happy Spring to all!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Wear Purple on Thursday!

Dear Center School Families,

Ushna Khan, a third grade student at Blueberry Hill School, was diagnosed her second day of kindergarten with a Grade III cancerous brain tumor. She is so very courageous in her fight with this horrible disease. At this time, Ushna and her mother, brother and grandparents are at the University of Colorado Children's Hospital, for Ushna to undergo brain surgery as a pilot study.

We as a community, have talked about how we can help support the Khan family. The three Longmeadow elementary schools, Blueberry, Center , and Wolf Swamp, are working together to "wear purple for Ushna" to raise funds for the family. We would like to collect donations (suggested donation $1.00) on Thursday, March 15th to wear purple, Ushna's favorite color!

The three elementary schools would also like to have students participate in making cards for Ushna that same morning in their respected cafeterias from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. Supplies will be provided by the PTO. Each elementary school will hold their own card making event that morning at their individual schools. If you are able to come in and assist with the card making on Thursday morning, please join us in the cafeteria. Center will have 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students make cards during the endeavor.

Please have your child bring in their donation to their classroom teacher on Thursday. If you wish to contribute online to Ushna's Go Fund Me page, please feel free to do so at https://www.gofundme.com/love-for-ushna-part-2.

Please keep Ushna and her entire family in your thoughts.

Thank you for your support.

Purple Day for Ushna (1).pdf

Week of March 12th

Posted March 11, 2018

Good evening Center School Friends,

Mrs. Bombardier reads tonight’s fun bedtime story-a favorite for her family! Hope you enjoy this imaginative story before you’re tucked into bed tonight. Happy reading and sweet dreams…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rONvbDjhKw0

Reminders

Scholastic Book Fair Week: What a great opportunity to come choose some great books and support the PTO at the same time!

Tuesday, March 13^th 6:30: PTO Meeting

Wednesday, March 14^th 7:00: Chorus Festival Symphony Hall

Thursday and Friday: Parent Teacher Conferences: 11:30 Dismissal for Students Please contact special teachers i.e., Art, Music, PE, Technology integration; Library/Media by Monday afternoon if you would like to meet with them during conference times.

Carline and Longfellow Street: Please remember that when you drive down Longfellow Street during drop off or pick up and then turn into the carline, you are cutting in front of families who have been waiting their turn and following the carline procedures. This is very frustrating to families and we respectfully request that all families enter the carline from Longmeadow Street. Thank-you for your help with this request.

We wish you a lovely evening and good week ahead.

Regards,

Your Center Family

Thursday

Posted March 8, 2018

Good morning Families,

So happy we'll be in session today!! Please make sure your child is prepared for a fun and snowy outdoor recess. Boots and coats will be wonderful to keep your child warm and dry. If your child wants to play in the snow, snow pants are needed. Thank-you and enjoy the day.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Thursday Notice

Posted March 7, 2018

Good afternoon Center School Families,

As a follow up to Superintendent O'Shea's email, I want to provide some additional information specific to Center School. To help families plan for the potential schedules we may follow tomorrow, there are three likely scenarios that may occur.

Scenario 1: In the event we can begin school at our regularly scheduled time of 8:30 am, school will be dismissed at 11:30 am.

Scenario 2: In the event Superintendent O'Shea calls for a 2 Hour Delay on Thursday, March 8th, Center School will open at 10:30 am and dismiss at 2:45 pm. If we open on a delayed start, please know we will have a limited menu offering for lunch. Lunch will be served, but there will only be one meal choice.

Scenario 3: The district may be forced to close for the entire day.

Finally, in an effort to ensure our students' safety, we will postpone the Walking School Bus to a later date when we can ensure sidewalks are safe for our community.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we "weather" this storm.

Keep warm and safe,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Good evening Center School Families,

Students will be dismissed at 11:30 am tomorrow due to the impending snow storm. Please make appropriate arrangements for your child.

Thank-you,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Read aloud and Weekly Messages

Posted March 4, 2018

Hello Center School Friends,

If you loved Hey, That’s My Monster! you will surely enjoy tonight’s read aloud I Need My Monster! Happy reading and sweet dreams!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtAqrvSWHUk&t=1s

On Friday, we held a PeaceBuilders all -school assembly. The goal was to highlight the many achievements of African Americans in our country’s history, weaving in our PeaceBuilders’ practices. Kudos to our 5^th grade teachers and students for their development and organization of the assembly. Each grade level shared important and inspirational messages; and we were especially moved by Ms. Drysdale’s chorus. Please take a moment to watch the CSS coverage of the assembly!

http://centertechnology.blogspot.com/

We have a very full week ahead for our community. Here’s some calendar reminders:

Tuesday, March 6^th: Helping Hands Kinder and 5^th grade; 7:50 am
Tuesday, March 6^th: Dr. Hallowell, author of Crazy Busy and Driven to Distraction will speak about factors that contribute to our overscheduled lives and strategies for achieving balance. LHS 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 7^th: PTO Meeting 6:30 pm Community Room
Thursday, March 8^th: Walking School Bus (weather dependent) 8:15 am: Meet at the corner of Hopkins Place
Thursday and Friday: Students dismissed at 11:30 am. Staff Professional Development

Enjoy a wonderful week!

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Enrichment Classes

Posted Feb. 26, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

We are excited to announce a new opportunity for our K-2 Center students. Our indoor game club beginning Thursday, 3/15 is a great way to relax and have fun after school! Please see a complete course description below and a link to online registration. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email Stacy Smith at ssmith@longmeadow.k12.ma.us. Thank you.

New! Indoor Game Club: Grades K-2

Come and play your favorite childhood games, and learn new ones! Games will include Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Twister, Head Bands, Guess Who, Don’t Break the Ice, Dance off, Musical Chairs, Monopoly, Checkers and more! We will even create our own games that can be shared with family and friends. We will practice the art of turn taking, being gracious winners and losers, and how to talk to our friends. We will have snack, share about our day, and have fun! A $10 materials fee is required, payable to the instructor on the first day of the course. Instructor: Christy Golen

Activity: 7705.072

Dates: Thursdays, 3/15 - 3/29

Fee: $50

Time: 3:00-4:30

https://apm.activecommunities.com/longmeadow/Activity_Search/8760

Magical Muggle Masterminds: Grades 3-5

Are you obsessed with Harry Potter? Do you love everything related to his wizarding world? Is your Potter Passion strong enough to read and write about hogwarts inspired people, places, and things? Come meet your fellow Longmeadow Potterheads to explore and create reading and writing magic. As Professor Dumbledore says, "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible magic." Let's make Dumbledore proud with our magical musings! Interested students should have read at least one book in the Harry Potter series prior to the start of class. Instructor: Vanessa Vigna

Activity: 7705.076

Dates: Thursdays, 3/15 - 3/29

Fee: $50

Time: 3:00-4:30

https://apm.activecommunities.com/longmeadow/Activity_Search/8763

Hello Center School Friends,

We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow morning! A clever and fun book for you tonight read by Mrs. Higham and Mrs. Tyler! What do you think-Duck? Rabbit? This simple and silly book will help you see that things are not always what they seem; and it's important to consider each person's perspective. Happy reading and sweet dreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSNc5rFn6bg&t=1s

Fondly,

Your Center School Family

Calendar Reminders

February 28^th: 2^nd Grade Family Math Night; 5:30-6:30

March 6^th: 7:00 LHS Please join us for a community conversation focusing on the factors that contribute to our overscheduled lives, how we measure true success and happiness, and strategies for achieving family balance. The event features a talk by Dr. Ned Hallowell, a highly recognized international speaker and author of Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! He will help us understand how to "unsnarl our frenzied lives."

March 8^th: Walking School Bus 8:15 am

March 8^th and 9^th: Professional Development: Students Dismissed at 11:30 am

Scholastic Book Fair: Week of March 12: Thank-you PTO!!

March 15^th and 16^th: Parent Teacher Conferences; Students Dismissed at 11:30 am

March 15^th: Evening Conferences

Thoughts on Parkland, FL

Posted Feb. 23, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

The heartbreaking tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School is likely resonating with families and perhaps even with some of our students at the elementary level. As educators of young students, we grapple with how best to address concerns children may express at school regarding what they see/hear through media or discuss with friends who might have more information than families have chosen to share with their children.

This tragedy, like all school shootings, begs the question of what we can do for our children in this moment as a concerned and thoughtful community.

Firstly, it is paramount to us that children, staff, and families feel that Center School is a safe, caring, and nurturing environment. It is also critically important that each of our students and staff member feel valued and connected. Our social emotional curriculum shares this message through our actions, daily activities and messages integrated into all we do as a community of learners…we need to look out for one another in respectful and caring ways.

Communication and open dialogue is key. If you see something, please say something and reach out to others for support and guidance. Let’s share any “noticings” of vulnerable members in our community. These are messages we give to children through our PeaceBuilders program: seek a wise person; notice hurts; help others.

Secondly, it is important for you to know that educators will not prompt a discussion about Stoneman Douglas at any grade level. If a student raises the issue, the teachers will address questions/concerns in a sensitive and developmentally appropriate manner. Teachers will also communicate with families if it appears their child needs more support regarding any conversation that may arise.

As a community, we can work together to make sure we are continuing to follow all safety protocols. All visitors must enter and exit the front office; and we greatly appreciate your cooperation at all times with this directive. Please do not position staff or students in an awkward situation by asking to be let into other entrances. Always let us know of any concerns you may have regarding any unusual happenings.

Our children are vulnerable but resilient and smart. Let’s reassure them that the important adults in their lives keep them safe. Community members such as educators and the police and fire departments are a team that keep a close eye on our schools and our community. This reassurance will go a long way to alleviate anxiety children might experience. The main message is that the adults in their world are here to help.

We welcome any insights from our families as well as any questions or concerns you may have as we return to school on Monday and beyond.

I hope your family will enjoy the final weekend of the winter break. Certainly, these times in our world make us hug our children a little stronger and appreciate each moment together.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Bedtime Read Aloud: Happy Winter Break!

Posted Feb. 18, 2018

Good evening Center School Reading Friends!

Here's your bedtime story to start your winter break. Two links below-one for tonight's story read by Ms. Nichols and the other to take you to all 16 bedtime stories to listen to again and again. We hope you enjoyed the snow today and enjoy a most wonderful fun-filled week!

Fondly,

Your Center School Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDKrHklZHdU&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD3NIkSDC1uTG3vznfvlfvg/videos

Crazy Busy?

Posted Feb. 17, 2018

You are invited to an evening with Dr. Ned Hallowell, author of Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap! Please join us for a community conversation focusing on the factors that contribute to our overscheduled lives, how we measure true success and happiness, and strategies for achieving family balance.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 7:00pm, LHS Auditorium, Free and Open to the Public. Dr. Hallowell is a child and adult psychiatrist, a NY Times bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker and a leading authority in the field of ADHD. He was a Harvard Medical School faculty member for 21 years. He has authored 20 books on various psychological topics, including ADHD, the power of human connection, the childhood roots of adult happiness, managing worry and excessive busyness.

Flyer: Crazy Busy

For more information: drhallowell.com

Reserve guaranteed seating: Eventbrite

February Reminders

Posted Feb. 16, 2018

Good afternoon Center School Families,

Lots of vacation energy and excitement from the students and staff today! I hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing week, filled with extra family time when you can slow things down a bit…

Here’s some reminders for the end of February and beyond:

Winter Break February 19-23, 2018- Schools will be closed for winter break from Monday, 2/19/18 through Friday 2/23/18.

March 9, 2018 will be one of our make- up days. This was previously a scheduled full day of Professional Development for staff. Students will have a half day of school on March 9, and be dismissed at 11:30 am. The make- up of the additional day lost will be determined very soon.

Parent /Teacher Conferences: teachers will be scheduling March conferences after the winter break.

Winter Walking School Bus has been rescheduled to March 8, 2018. Please join the community at 8:15 am on the corner of Greenacre.

Screenagers the documentary was recently viewed by the Longmeadow Community at Longmeadow High School in late January. The response was very positive and we are working to bring the documentary back for one more additional showing. Stay tuned for information on this.

Jetta Bernier, Executive Director of MassKids, will be coming to Longmeadow High School Monday, March 26^th at 7PM. Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MassKids) is the oldest state-based child advocacy organization in the country. We hope that this forum will give parents the basic knowledge, skills and words they need to teach their children about personal sexual safety.

MCAS begins in April. Specific dates can be found on our school calendar: https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/new-ctr/calendar

Bedtime read aloud will be sent on Sunday! What a great week to listen to and read some wonderful stories!

I always feel privileged to serve the Center School community. I appreciate your ongoing supportive actions and words to me and to our committed educators.

Best regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Important dates:

February 19-23 School is closed for Winter Break
February 26th - Welcome back!
March 8th- Half Day of School- Professional Development for staff: Dismissal 11:30 am
March 9th- Half Day of School- Professional Development for staff: Dismissal 11:30 am
March 15th- Half Day of School- Parent Teacher Conferences
March 15^th: Evening conferences
March 16th- Half Day of School- Parent Teacher Conferences
March 26th- Jetta Bermier- Enough Abuse Speaker
March 30th- No School- Good Friday
April: MCAS begins

Valentine's Day Bedtime Story

Posted Feb. 11, 2018

Hello Center School Reading Friends!

What a busy and fun week ahead! Valentine’s Day, the 100^th Day of School, Spirit /Stripe Day on Friday and lots of learning, of course, before you begin your winter break February 20th.

Mrs. Rafferty returns this week to read our bedtime story. Somebody Loves you, Mr. Hatch is a wonderful Valentine’s story and a gentle reminder to remember to take care of one another…how perfect is that simple but essential peace building message that will go a long way to make the world a better place.

Happy Reading and sweet dreams…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KX9vywc9X8

Warmly,

Your Center School Family

Library Message

Posted Feb. 7, 2018

Dear Families,

Please be aware that Storrs Library is CLOSED on Friday for professional development. If your child walks to the library after school, we hope you will make alternate plans for the afternoon.

Thank-you!

Wednesday Weather

Posted Feb. 7, 2018

Good evening Center School Families,

In the event that we have an early dismissal tomorrow, students will be dismissed at 11:30. Please develop your child-care contingency plan in the event of an early dismissal. As Superintendent O'Shea conveyed in his message this evening, decisions will be made in the morning. Thank-you and have a good evening.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Bedtime Read Aloud and Literacy Learning

Posted Feb. 6, 2018

Hello Center School Community,

On this Monday evening, we bring to you another bedtime read loud; a lovely story read by Mrs. Vanessa Vigna that touches on the “creative purpose of boredom”. What fun…enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fClrQQWr1hU&feature=youtu.be

There are many engaging literacy activities our teachers are undertaking throughout Center’s Year of the Reader, including the bedtime read aloud.

Did you know that Center has a book fairy? Yes, the book fairy is out and about leaving books around the school for lucky readers to borrow and then share with a friend. Maybe you’ll hear about your child’s lucky find soon!

What books are the educators and staff at Center reading? Look inside and outside classrooms for lists of books and recommendations. We love to hear what our families are reading too, so please make recommendations to us! Remember that the more we model our love for reading, the more our children will want to read.

Thursday was World Read Aloud Day. Check out the special CSS to see all the special guests who visited classrooms to read. A great big cheer for our community readers and to Mrs. Fritz and Mrs. Vigna for organizing the event.

http://centertechnology.blogspot.com/2018/02/center-school-sightings-episode-11.html

So many literacy activities are integrated into your child’s day… Reading workshop, book swaps and book shares, reading minute challenges, “mock” Caldecott book lists, daily read alouds, purposeful time for independent reading, book clubs…your child is surrounded by powerful literacy learning and incredibly passionate and dedicated teachers.

Our vision this year is to enhance our culture of reading. Our practices and happenings are each closely aligned with the Homework Guiding Principles that emphasize your child’s responsibility-and gift-to read. Our practices and endeavors are grounded in the hope and dream to create a love of reading in each child. There is no greater benefit to your child’s growth as a learner.

Is your child presenting as a reluctant reader? We strongly encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher, Mrs. Fritz, Mrs. Mulcahy, or Mrs. Vigna for ideas and recommendations. We’re here to partner with you so we welcome your questions.

We thank you for your ongoing support of our efforts. As a reminder, here’s the Homework Guiding Principles: Student and Parent Responsibilities as they relate to Reading.

Student Responsibilities are:

To read at home daily.
To choose a variety of reading texts that you enjoy throughout the school year.
To share your reading with classroom community and family as guided by the teacher.
To read the number of minutes recommended by your teacher, but reading beyond is encouraged and applauded.

Family Responsibilities are:

To become familiar with the guiding principles.
To ensure your children have time each day to devote to reading in a comfortable, quiet space.
To encourage your children to share their reading daily with family members through discussion, book choice, shared reading, or read alouds.
To model and share your own love of reading with your children.

We hope you LOVE tonight’s story. Looking for a lovely book to gift to your child? Here’s some suggestions:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/12/17/best-childrens-books-2017/

Yours in partnership,

Donna Hutton, Principal &

Your Center School Family

Bedtime Read Aloud

Posted Jan. 28, 2018

Hello Center School Reading Friends!

Here's tonight's bedtime read aloud that holds important PeaceBuilders' messages about embracing who you are, accepting others, and not letting the negativity of others steal your joy. Happy reading and sweet dreams...

Next Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, so we'll send the read aloud your way on Monday evening! And, don't forget you can click on the Center School Bedtime Read Alouds link below the weekly story to revisit all your favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sctRQX3yqLQ&feature=youtu.be

With pride and appreciation for all the times you "stand tall",

Your Center School Family

Girls on the Run!

Posted Jan. 25, 2018

Center School.pdf

Whitson's Lunch

Posted Jan. 22, 2018

Parent Letter Longmeadow 31st.docx

Bedtime Read Aloud and Weekly Announcements

Posted Jan. 21, 2018

Good evening Center School Reading Friends,

Here’s your bedtime read aloud. Mrs. Quinn reads tonight's story which will likely be very meaningful to anyone who has rescued an animal or anyone who has a soft spot in their hearts for rescues. Happy reading my friends and sweet dreams.

Warmly,

Your Center Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoJEB1VNw88&feature=youtu.be

Calendar Reminders

Please place your family sign on the passenger side window of your car for carline pick up. Let the office know if you need an extra sign.
Tuesday, January 23^rd: Screenagers : 7:00 at the LHS
Thursday, January 25^th: School Council Meeting 3:15 at Center School
Friday, January 26^th: Students Dismissed 11:30 am : PD Day for Teachers
Friday, January 26^th: Center School Night at the Thunderbirds: Still time to get your tickets!
Monday, January 29^th: Winter Concert Glenbrook Middle School 7:00 pm
Tuesday January 30^th: Walking School Bus 8:15 am

Carline Signs

Posted Jan. 19, 2018

Dear Center Families,

In an effort to improve the carline procedure, we have a request. Your child is bringing home a bright orange sign with the family name and the name and grade of each child in your family. When you pick up your child in the afternoon on the carline, please place the sign on the passenger window. The staff on duty will be able to easily see who needs to be escorted to cars and things will move with greater speed.

Thank-you for your help! Thank-you to the incredibly awesome Betty Higham and Amy Tyler for their work on the signs too!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Donna Hutton, Principal

SAMPLE OF SIGN:

All Parents are Invited...

Posted Jan. 18, 2018

All parents are invited to CLOSE Community's next event:

The New Face of Substance Use in Longmeadow, a panel and community discussion

Where: Storrs Public Library Longmeadow, MA

When: Wednesday, January 31st at 7pm

Presenters:

Dr. Al McKee, MD - Pain Management Specialist

Shelly Warren, LICSW - LPS’ Substance Abuse Response Coord.

Michael Simmons - Recovery Comm. & former LHS Student

What: Substance use and the human condition Its potential impact on the transitioning young- adult community in Longmeadow. Group discussion and Q&A to follow.

Refreshments provided.

@closecommunity01106 or (413) 565-4200 ext 4043 for more information.

CLOSE Storrs Event Flyer 1.31.18_Millenials:Sen...

CLOSE Storrs Event Flyer 1.31.18_Millenials:Senior Edit.pdf

Bedtime Read Aloud and Weekly Announcements

Posted Jan. 15, 2018

Hello Center School Reading Friends,

We're back tonight with a fun bedtime story from Mrs. Serafino! We hope you're enjoying the bedtime stories each week ; and don't forget to go back and listen to your favorites or check them out in our library.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLGDH7SObJc

Happy reading and sweet dreams!

Warmly,

Your Center Family

Calendar Reminders

Tuesday, January 16^th: Center School Winter Concert at Glenbrook MS POSTPONED

Tuesday, January 23^rd: District Special Program Presentation: “Screenagers” 7:00 pm LHS

January 25^th: School Council Meeting: 3:15 pm

January 26th: Half Day for students dismissal at 11:30 am: Teacher Professional Development Day

January 30^th: Walking School Bus: 8:15 am

DESE Report Card

Posted Jan. 12, 2018

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We are pleased to attach an overview of our school’s “report card”. Report cards answer important questions about a school's overall performance and contain specific information about student enrollment and teacher qualifications, student achievement, accountability, how a school is performing relative to other schools in the district and the state, and the progress made toward narrowing proficiency gaps for different groups of students.

The first page of the report card contains important accountability information:

Accountability and Assistance Levels: Schools and districts are placed into one of five accountability and assistance levels (1-5), with the highest performing in Level 1 and lowest performing in Level 5. Our school has been given an accountability designation of “no level” because students in our school participated in the 2017 Next-Generation MCAS tests.

The first page of the report card also shows how students in our school are performing on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests. Achievement and progress information is reported for our school and is also compared to the performance of our district and the state.

The second page of the report card provides information about the students and teachers in our school as compared to the district and the state. Also included are other important measures of school performance, such as attendance, suspension rates, and high school performance.

School Improvement Plans geared to improve student achievement at Center School can be found at https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/new-ctr/parents

We appreciate your ongoing support of Center School and invite your continued involvement and participation in our learning community.

For more information about what we are doing to improve student achievement, please feel free to contact us at 565-4290.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton

Principal, Center School

To view the schools complete report card, please follow this link:

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/reportcard/rc.aspx?linkid=37&orgcode=01590010&fycode=2017&orgtypecode=6&

2017 Center Overview.pdf

New Year, New Books

Posted Jan. 11, 2018

Dear Center School Families,

As you know, we’ve declared this year to be “The Year of the Reader.” Every month, we’re suggesting ways in which teachers, students, and families can celebrate reading. Our suggestion for the new year is New Year, New Books. With your generosity, we’d love to stock Center’s library with high-interest, current, popular books.

If you are interested in donating a book, there are two easy ways to purchase books. Our librarian, Mrs. Mulcahy, has selected books at Kiddlywinks, and our reading specialist, Ms. Fritz, and literacy coach, Ms. Vigna, have made an Amazon wishlist.

Kiddlywinks - 20% discount!
- At Kiddlywinks, ask for Center School Library’s wishlist.
- They will gift wrap the book! Your student may unwrap it during library.
Amazon
- Click on this link to go directly to our wishlist.

Type this case-sensitive URL into your web browser: http://a.co/cK7DYXY
Tip: Filter by “purchased/ unpurchased” like a registry.

Once you’ve received the book, have your student bring it to Center School (wrapped or unwrapped) on your student’s library day. Mrs. Mulcahy will ceremoniously share the donated books during students’ library times. Afterwards, the student will fill out a custom Center School bookplate with the student’s name, date, and who/what you purchased the book in honor of -- in gratitude for a special family member, a teacher, friend, anything! New Year, New Books will stay for the rest of the year--consider donating a book to celebrate your Center student’s birthday or other milestones!

As always, we thank you for your support in making “The Year of the Reader” a success. Happy reading!

In gratitude,

Your fellow Center School Readers

LPS Special Programs Committee

Posted Jan. 8, 2018

Screenagers Flyer 2.pdf

Bedtime Read Aloud and Weekly Announcements

Posted Jan. 7, 2018

Good evening Center School Friends,

Bedtime read alouds are back!! We’re starting the new year with a Caldecott Honor and Reading Rainbow book. The story is a beautiful retelling of Cinderella and is perfect for introducing children to the history, culture, and geography of the African nation of Zimbabwe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8lvi52TufU&t=2s

Snuggle up on this frigid evening and enjoy the timeless tale.

January Happenings

Tuesday: Helping Hands 2^nd grade; Cafeteria at 7:50 am.

Wednesday: 7:00 pm PTO Meeting

Monday, January 15^th: No school Martin Luther King Day Holiday

Tuesday, January 16^th: Center School Winter Concert at Glenbrook MS 7:00 pm

Tuesday, January 23^rd: District Special Program Presentation: “Screenagers” 7:00 pm LHS

January 25^th: School Council Meeting: 3:15 pm

January 30^th: Walking School Bus: 8:15 am

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Facility Updates

Posted Jan. 5, 2018

Good afternoon Center School Families,

It was wonderful to be back today; and I trust you share our happiness to have your children return to their routine. I want to provide a couple facility updates:

I am pleased to report that we were warm and comfortable throughout the day due, in part, to the supplemental heating system that was described in previous emails. It is possible that your child observed the system’s temporary ductwork in the hallway near the music classroom. The system was approved by the Longmeadow Fire Department and was carefully cordoned off from the students. The music area was the least obtrusive and yet effective location for the equipment. The supplemental heating set up will continue to be used until the boiler is online
First thing this morning, a leak was discovered in a sprinkler head in a third grade classroom. The class was relocated immediately and a repair team was quickly on scene. The system had to be shut down and the water drained to assess the issue. Once the problem was assessed, the system was turned back on. The water pressure from the system triggered the fire alarm several times, but I had made an announcement to our community that it was not a usual fire drill and we would remain inside. The alarm was shut off as quickly as possible when it sounded. I understand from the repair crew that we averted a major catastrophe in the area-certainly good news!

I’m anticipating starting the week anew on Monday. I hope you enjoy a safe and warm weekend. Please do not hesitate to send any questions my way.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Welcome Back!

Posted Jan. 5, 2018

Good morning Center School Community,

We are relieved to welcome our students back this morning. Please help us with arrival by reading the following information:

1. The stairwells in the back of the school leading to the esplanade are cordoned off. They are icy and snowy and presently unsafe for use. PLEASE do not drop your child off at the back of the school.

2. All students must enter through the main front entrance. Kinder and 1st grade students will be escorted to class.

3. No 5th grade safeties on duty this morning. All 5th graders should arrive at the delayed start time.

4. Delayed start arrival time: 10:30 am

5. Thank-you for your patience in the carline today. We anticipate a long line and extra staff will be outside to assist with arrival.

6. Accurate information regarding make up days for this week will come directly from administration. We promise this information in a timely manner.

As always, I welcome any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Center School Heat

Posted Jan. 1, 2018

Good evening Center School Community,

First, I hope you enjoyed a wonderful winter break and holiday season with family and friends.

This message is to inform you that maintenance is closely monitoring uneven temperatures throughout today and into this evening at Center. Maintenance will continue to monitor the temperatures and provide Superintendent O'Shea an update early tomorrow -Tuesday- morning. Our priority is the students; and in the unlikely event that the problem worsens and Center needs to close tomorrow, you will receive a message no later than 6:00 am.

If you do not receive a call in the morning, Center School will be open. Please be sure you dress your child warmly in layers-sweaters, sweatshirts, fleece, etc. so he/she will be comfortable in the classroom. If any rooms remain cold, we will relocate as needed.

Thank-you for your understanding as we deal with this issue.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Special Edition: Bedtime Read Aloud

Posted Dec. 24, 2017

Greetings Center Reading Friends,

Here's a special edition of our bedtime read alouds. Ms. Anderson reads a classic for you! Enjoy the snowfall, happy reading, and sweet dreams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mY4W4wea-A&t=8s

https://youtu.be/-mY4W4wea-A

Warmly,

Your Center Family

Winter Break

Posted Dec. 20, 2017

Dear Center School Families,

As the winter break approaches, I want to take this opportunity to wish you a delightful holiday season. I hope all your child’s wishes come true during this magical time. Below I’ve included each link to our 2017 Bedtime Read Alouds - always great to hear a favorite story many times! We’ll be back in 2018 with more stories to enjoy!

We are part of a very special community who care deeply for children; and it is a joy and a gift to be involved in such important work. I’m especially grateful for the countless ways that families are involved at Center. Thank-you for your support and for your partnership!

Your Center School family extends our best wishes for a wonderful new year ahead –a new year filled with joyfulness and blessings....and so much growth and learning!!

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Red and Lulu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0Cszk7qK8&t=5s

Mrs. Hutton

Snowman Popup Book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIDae8gIA1o&t=25s

Mrs. Bocchino

The Chanukkuh Guest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIDae8gIA1o&t=25s

Mrs. Bocchino

One https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYUcg4wscQc

Ms. Iancu

We’re All Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NjrIAHl8cQ

Mrs. McLean

A Turkey for Thanksgiving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzE2afHmNlc

Mrs. Brydges

If You Give a Mouse an iPhone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHhw2USGEzQ

Mrs. Giuggio

Hey, That’s My Monster! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq8U_9MbzSs

Mrs. Fritz

Bedtime Read Aloud and Weekly Announcements

Posted Dec. 17, 2017

Hello Center School Friends,

During this busy season, I hope you have some quiet time tonight to listen to our bedtime story . I'm excited to be the reader this week, and thrilled that I had the chance to listen to and meet the author, Matt Tavares, talk about writing his story. He graciously allowed me to record some of his presentation and also sends a message to the Center School Cardinals! One of the messages of the story is the importance of being surrounded by love during the holiday season. I think you'll like the lovely story of our two cardinals-Red and Lulu. Happy reading and sweet dreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0Cszk7qK8&feature=youtu.be

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hutton and your Center School Family

Week of December 18th

1. Walking School Bus tomorrow: please note if we have inclement weather, the walk is postponed. Otherwise, we'll see you at Greenacre at 8:15. Bundle up for a brisk walk to Center!!

2. Half day on Friday. Dismissal at 11:30.

3. Our deepest gratitude to Amie Tracy and the entire Center School community for your generous outpouring of care and love to children in need. The baskets were extraordinary and we will bring joy to many little ones!

4. Thank-you for helping your child prepare for outdoor recess! Hats and gloves are much needed when we venture outside, so please make sure your child has both.

SCREENAGERS - 1/23/2018

Posted Dec. 16, 2017

The entire community is invited to the Longmeadow High School Auditorium on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 at 7:00 pm for an airing of SCREENAGERS, a documentary film depicting how technology and social media impact children's development and family life.

Thank you to the Special Programs Committee for arranging this important event.

Bedtime Read Aloud 5

Posted Dec. 10, 2017

Good evening,

Here's your Sunday bedtime read alouds...two perfect choices this week for a snowy weekend and the coming of Hanukkah. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHDcf2KyGfA

Weekly reminders:

We love the snowy weather! Students will need to dress warmly and appropriately. PLEASE help the lunch monitors and me by making sure your child has a coat, hat, gloves, and boots. Boots are needed because the playground and blacktop will likely be snowy and wet. Snow pants are needed only if he/she wants to play in the snow. Keeping children inside for recess does not make any one of us happy!
Remember to send your child's gift for the annual gift baskets for children in need- a beautiful tradition that teaches so much about giving. Thank-you for your generosity.
Signed report card envelopes to teachers tomorrow. Thanks for completing the survey if your child received the pilot standards- based report card.
Spirit day Friday: Slipper Day.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Bedtime Read Aloud 4

Posted Dec. 3, 2017

Hello Center School Friends,

Our fourth bedtime read aloud story reminds us that it sometimes just takes ONE voice to make everyone count-a perfect message for our PeaceBuilders' community! Happy reading and sweet dreams...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYUcg4wscQc

Warmly,

Your Center School Family

A few reminders for this week and beyond:

Please check the lost and found for coats, hats, sweaters, lunchboxes-so many items that need to be claimed!
Tuesday morning is Helping Hands for our third graders. 7:50 AM in the cafeteria.
Report cards will go home with students Friday, December 8th.
First Grade Family Literacy Night: Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 PM.
December 15th Spirit Day: Slipper Day!!

ColorCycle Program - Update!

Posted Nov. 28, 2017

All around Center School students and teachers have been collecting used markers that are ready to be discarded. The markers are sent to a facility where they will be converted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more!

To date, students have collected over 1056 markers!

Please continue to help support our efforts by sending your kids in with any used markers you may have around the house – even non-Crayola brands. Drop-off boxes are located around the school for your child to deposit the markers.

With the help of parents like you across the country, the Crayola ColorCycle program can keep tons of plastic out of landfills each year.

Remember, don’t throw out that used marker—ColorCycle it!

Bedtime Read Aloud 4

Posted Nov. 26, 2017

Hello Center School Friends!

We look forward to four full weeks of learning ahead! Enjoy tonight’s bedtime read aloud with a special guest joining our reading friend!

Happy reading and sweet dreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHhw2USGEzQ

Warmly,

Your Center School Family

Center Bedtime Stories Special Edition

Posted Nov. 22, 2017

Greetings Center Friends,

Surprise! A special edition of Center Bedtime Stories on the eve of Thanksgiving. We wish you the joys and blessings of family and friends on Thanksgiving, and of course, the joys of reading!

Sweet dreams...

With gratitude for you,

Your Center School Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzE2afHmNlc

Bedtime Read Aloud 2

Posted Nov. 19, 2017

Good evening Center School Friends...

It's Sunday and that means bedtime story time from your Center family! Story clue ...I'm guessing a lot of our friends were at the movies this weekend for the opening of this touching story brought to life!

Happy reading and sweet dreams...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NjrIAHl8cQ

Warm regards,

Your Center School Reading Friends

“If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary-the world really would be a better place…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NjrIAHl8cQ

Cold Weather Dress Reminder

Posted Nov. 14, 2017

Good morning Center Families,

It seems like winter weather is here with colder days and unpredictable weather. Please support us by helping your child adhere to our winter dress as stated in the Family Handbook:

The students are expected to dress appropriately for cold weather days. We will have outdoor recess unless the temperatures and/or the wind chill factor are such that it is determined to be unsafe or unwise to do so. Generally, 20 degrees or colder is

considered to be the threshold. Students must have coats, hats, gloves, boots [during snowy conditions], and long pants to play outside in cold weather. If it is determined that a student is not dressed appropriately and/or safely for the weather, we will provide indoor recess for the student.

If your child prefers to wear shorts, please have him/her wear long pants over shorts that can be easily slid on for recess. We also suggest that students keep gloves and a hat either in their backpack or their lockers/cubbies to be prepared for changeable conditions. Names on all items will help us return personal items from lost and found to students!!

Please contact me if your family needs assistance for winter weather clothing; and I will help meet your child’s needs with care and discretion.

With appreciation for your ongoing support,

Donna Hutton, Principal

The walking school bus is on this morning-see you at Hopkins or along the path to Center!

Center Bedtime Story: #1

Posted Nov. 12, 2017

Hello Center School Friends,

Here is your first bedtime story. Please remember to expand to full screen AND you can also subscribe to the channel!! We praise Ms. Valerie Fritz, our reading specialist and fellow lover of books for setting up the channel for us !

Happy Reading and sweet dreams my friends…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq8U_9MbzSs

Warmly,

Your Center School Family

After School Enrichment: Battle of the Books!

Posted Nov. 10, 2017

Dear Center School Parents,

I am writing to let you know of an amazing opportunity for Center School students. Center School's own Joy Bocchino and Jamie Quinn are offering Book Wars! This enrichment course is designed to get kids excited about reading. We have a number of students signed up, and ALL students grades 3-5 are welcome. This class starts Thursday, 11/16, so please register now. Below you will find more details, along with a link to online registration. Please don't hesitate to contact me at ssmith@longmeadow.k12.ma.us if you have any questions.

https://apm.activecommunities.com/longmeadow/Activity_Search/8585

New! Book Wars (Battle of the Books): Grades 3-5

Students in the exciting new class will form teams, read books, design uniforms, and compete to see who are the BOOK WAR JEDIS! Each week teams will focus on different aspects of the books and team strategy. The final battle will be held after Winter Vacation, date TBD. The battle will be either or both Family Feud and Relay style (depending on the number of student teams). Students are not required to read all the books. However, the more they read, the more they can help their team! MAY THE READING FORCE BE WITH YOU! A $10 material fee is required, payable to the instructor on the first day of the course. Instructor: Joy Bocchino

Book List:

Applegate, Katherine The One and Only Ivan

Barretta, Gene Lincoln and Kennedy a Pair to Compare

Blume, Judy Freckle Juice

Byars, Betsy Tornado

Fleming, Candace Boxers for Katje

Manes, Stephen Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days

Vernick, Audrey Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All Brother Baseball Team

Warner, Gertrude Boxcar Children

Winter, Jonah You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

Activity: 7705.257

Location: Center School

Dates: Thursdays 11/16-12/21 (No Class 11/23)

Time: 2:45-4:15pm Fee: $50 per person

Center Stage Act 2: RTI

Posted Nov. 10, 2017

Center Stage

An informational curriculum corner to help families understand

their child(ren)'s educational experiences at Center.

Center Stage link: https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/centerstage/home

Hello Center School Families,

We present Center Stage Act 2, which focuses on our intervention model including the “WIN” block. The Response to Intervention (RTI) model achieves the following:

A systematic way of identifying student strengths and challenges.
Reduction in the time students wait to receive necessary instruction and intervention.
Close monitoring and documentation of student responses to quality instruction in general education classrooms-Tier 1-so we are less likely to “label” students too quickly.
Teachers, interventionists, and special education staff share responsibilities to ensure that all students can receive additional support using a seamless instructional system.
The use of best practices in Tier 1 and Tier 2 classroom instruction and supplemental intervention services.
Team problem solving.
Differentiation of instruction for all students.

Please click on the Center Stage link for additional information from our teachers and our 5^th grade students regarding our intervention model.

Our goal is to meet the academic and social/emotional needs of your child; and we welcome questions and feedback at any time.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Bedtime Stories from Center School Staff

Posted Nov. 10, 2017

Greetings Families,

Your Center School family is excited to bring to you a new YouTube channel called Bedtime Read Alouds ! Each Sunday evening at 7:00 pm, you will receive an email with a link to our channel. A different teacher will read aloud to your child/ren every week. The read aloud book will then be available in a special section of the library for everyone to enjoy! The video will be stored on the channel and the students can go back and listen to the stories as many times as they wish. We hope our students will look forward to this special way to start school each week! The book and the teacher will be a surprise each week! Don't forget to check your email this upcoming Sunday evening!

This is one of many ways we are growing a love of reading with our students as we celebrate the "year of the reader"; and prioritize the importance of reading at home. Happy reading to all!!

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton and Your Center School Family

PTO NEWS: Directory is Ready!!

Posted Nov. 2, 2017

Good morning Center School Families,

The Center School Directory is complete! Thank-you to Beth Benzaquin for her work to organize the first electronic version of the directory. Congratulations to 5^th graders Eleanor Choiniere, Nona Sheridan, and Vivian Welch. You’ll find their creative directory designs on the link : http://www.centerschoolpto.com/student-directory.html ; Password is Cardinal.

Lots of “shout outs” today…Our PTO and their committees have enjoyed a successful fall! Many thanks to Melissa Cybulski , Suzanne Kleeman and their volunteers for their work on the Fall Book Fair. It’s a joy to see staff, children and families select books that are sure to become family favorites!

The Halloween Hustle was also an overwhelming success. Ann-Marie Tonsing, Katie Sullivan, Katie Wartman, and many volunteers spent many hours organizing all the details needed for a fun and safe 5k run for our community. I think we may have set a new record for participation!

Looking ahead, please mark your calendar for the next PTO meeting on November 15^th at 7:00 pm in the Community Room. As you are aware, many teachers at the elementary level are piloting the new standards based report this year. At the PTO meeting, I will hold a round table discussion about our new report card, which will be fully implemented at the elementary level in 2017-2018. Juliet Keenan, our special education teacher, will join me for the presentation and discussion. Mrs. Keenan has been an integral member of the district report card committee.

Please visit the PTO website and Facebook page often to keep up on happenings at Center School. There’s still time to support our PTO with a family donation. Financial support from families has enabled the PTO to pay for enrichment programs, author visits, technology upgrades, library equipment, playground gear, classroom supplies, teacher requests and training, school beautification, family and community events, and so much more!

http://www.centerschoolpto.com/donate.htm

As always, thank-you for your ongoing dedication and support for our students.

Your partner in education,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Fall Parent Teacher Conferences

Posted Oct. 23, 2017

“One of the most important factors in a child’s success in school is the degree to which his or her parents are actively involved in the child’s education.”

Dear Center School Families,

Teachers are looking forward to positive and informative parent teacher conferences this week. Your child's teacher will share relevant work samples and assessments, as well as discuss beginning insights about your child as a learner.

We consider the October conference to be a goal setting conference. You will learn about academic and social goals for your child, with ways you can assist your child with learning at home. Importantly, teachers will continue to share ways you can assist your child with his/her reading at home as we implement the first year of our Homework Guiding Principles.

Here is an informative link from the Harvard Family Research Project. The tip sheet provides suggestions for a positive conference experience.

http://www.westmichiganaviation.org/system/assets/189/original/Parent-Teacher-ConferenceTipSheet-Parents.pdf

If you have a 4^th or 5^th grade child, you may have questions regarding the 2017 MCAS results. The Department of Education plans to send districts the family reports on or around October 25^th. The district will mail the reports to families on October 31^st, assuming we receive the reports on the 25^th. Please note that schools received the results this week; and teachers are only beginning to delve into and analyze the scores. We will be able to discuss your child’s (and Center’s) performance in the weeks ahead. Here’s an interactive guide about the next-generation MCAS for families that I believe you will find helpful: http://www.doe.mass.edu/odl/e-learning/mcas-parentguide/content/index.html - /?_k=e82zj7

Please remember that students are dismissed at 11:30AM on Thursday and Friday. Kindly be prompt at pick up so teachers may begin conferences in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Other happenings/updates:

The DPW fenced in our field last week for fall maintenance: reseeding, aerating, dethatching. Fencing should be removed this week.
Students need to leave school grounds promptly at dismissal. If a student remains on the playground at 2:45, parent supervision is expected.
Book Fair is this week! Come support our PTO while choosing some great reads for your child! Also, here’s the link to the PTO website if you haven’t joined and/or made a family donation for 2017-2018: http://www.centerschoolpto.com/donate.html
October 24th : 7:00 pm at Longmeadow High School : John O'Sullivan: Creating a Player First Environment in Youth Sports
Don’t miss out on the family fun: Halloween Hustle October 28^th!
LEEF Gala is November 4^th: please support LEEF who generously fund many enrichment opportunities for our students! https://www.goleef.org/
November 7th: Helping Hands 4th Grade 7:50 am in cafeteria

Spirit Day!

Posted Oct 19, 2017

Friday, October 20th is our first spirit day and the theme is FALL FLANNEL!

Panoramic picture Monday, October 23rd

Posted Oct 18, 2017

Please make sure your child(ren) wears RED for our annual panoramic picture of the whole school. Thank you!

Halloween 2017

Posted Oct. 15, 2017

Hello Center School Families,

Weather permitting, we will hold our annual Halloween Parade on Tuesday, October 31^st at 2:00 pm. The students and staff will parade around the town green. Our parade is open to be viewed by all family members, so please come join the fun!

Here’s a few guidelines for the day:

Please use discretion when helping your child choose age and school appropriate costumes.
It is best if a simple version of the costume is worn, i.e., not a lot of make up or pieces that would be difficult for your child to put on independently.
Costume props that are replicas of weapons (swords, knives, guns, etc.) are not permissible.
Costumes must not be too scary. Scary masks and/or gruesome costumes are not permissible.
If a mask is worn, please make sure your child can walk independently and safely.
You must check with your child’s teacher before any treats are sent with your child to school. Individual teachers will provide additional details of activities for the day.

Halloween is a day when we celebrate "imagination" with our students. Thank - you for helping us ensure a day filled with creativity and fun!

If religious, cultural, or personal beliefs do not allow your child's participation, they are not required to join the costume parade. We will provide a place for non-participants to stay during that time.

Have you signed up for the Halloween Hustle yet? There’s still time to get your walking or running shoes ready and support our PTO at our annual fall event!

http://www.centerschoolpto.com/

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Longmeadow Elementary Schools iWalk to School Day is tomorrow!

Posted Oct. 4 , 2017

Join Center students, families, school leaders, and partners around our community to celebrate the benefits of walking/biking to school on International Walk to School Day.

Students and families, Superintendent O'Shea, Police Chief John Stankiewicz, Town Manager Stephen Crane, and members of your Center School family will meet on the corner of Hopkins and Longmeadow Street at 8:15 am. Let's create the longest "walking school bus" in Ma! And let's have the shortest carline ever!! If you walk a different route to Center , we'll meet you in front of the school with a special acknowledgement for each participant!

Visit http://www.w alkbiketoschool.org/ for additional information about the event and for safety ideas for walkers and bikers!

See you in the morning!!

Helping Hands 2017

Posted Sept 29, 2017

Dear Center Families,

In the spirit of teaching our students about the importance of community service, we will begin our fifth yearlong effort to feed those in need of assistance.

Center School Helping Hands is a school –wide effort that provides our students an opportunity to work as grade level teams to make a difference by making sandwiches to help feed the hungry. Helping Hands is a collective endeavor that depends on the generosity of our Peace Builders community; and we anticipate another successful year!

Here’s how it works:

SCHEDULE:

Each grade level will be assigned a month to meet one morning in the cafeteria at 7:50 AM to make sandwiches with their grade level team.The students will go directly to their classrooms at 8:30.

Mark your calendars on the following Tuesdays:

October 3rd-5th grade

November 7th-4th grade

December 5th-3rd grade

January 9th-2nd grade

February 6th-1st grade

March 6th-K & 5^th

April 10th- 4th & 2^nd

May 1st- 3rd & 1^st

June 5th- all grades

WHAT TO BRING:

WHO MAY COME:

Siblings are more than welcome to make sandwiches too. For example, our first date (October 3^rd ⁾ will be with 5^th graders. If you have a 5^th grader and a 2^nd grader, feel free to send the 2^ndgrader to help. The more helping hands the better!!

SANDWICH DONATIONS:

Thank-you for your generous spirit of giving! A reminder notice will be sent each month.

With appreciation,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Please click on link to see the summary from last year. Also, provided is a link for a Helping Hands shirt!

NEW shirt order form-helping hands (1).docx

helping hands summary-2016-17 (1).docx

Longmeadow Public Safety Day

This event will provide an opportunity to get to know the firefighters and police officers protecting you and your community. Join Longmeadow firefighters for an auto extrication demonstration, information on fire safety, tours of the fire trucks, spraying a real fire hose. Join Longmeadow police officers for a K9 unit demonstration, tours of police cars and much more.

This event is perfect for the whole family! We hope to see you on Saturday October 14^th.

First Special Programs Speaker of the Year!

Posted Sept 29, 2017

John O'Sullivan Flyer

Longmeadow Elementary Schools

iWalk to School Day

Posted Sept 28, 2017

Join Center students, families, school leaders, and partners around our community to celebrate the benefits of walking/biking to school on International Walk to School Day.

When: Wednesday, October 4^th

Where to meet: Children who walk or bike to school, Superintendent O’Shea, Police Chief John Stankiewicz, Town Manager Stephen Crane, and members of your Center School family will meet on the corner of Hopkins and Longmeadow Street at 8:15 am. Let’s create the longest “walking school bus” in Ma!

If you walk a different route to Center , we’ll meet you in front of the school with a special acknowledgement for each participant!

Visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/ for additional information about the event and for safety ideas for walkers and bikers!

Get your sneakers ready and we'll see you next Wednesday!! Rain date is October 6^th.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Center School is Automating Dismissals!!!

Posted Sept 25, 2017

We are consistently seeking ways to enhance our safety procedures at Center School. To make our dismissals both safer and easier for our students and families, Center School will be adopting an automated dismissal process starting on Monday, October 2^nd 2017. Your cooperation is needed for the success of the program; and will be greatly appreciated!

The program, School Dismissal Manager (SDM), will allow parents and guardians to make changes to their child’s end of day dismissal plan securely online. It will no longer be necessary to write a note, call the school or email your child’s teacher when plans change before the end of the day. Each parent will have access to make changes on a two-week rolling calendar (or a future date). Please note – you will have up until 2:00 pm each day to make changes.

Details of the roll out:

Friday September 29^th - After school is dismissed, you will receive an email with a user name (your email address) and temporary password. It will also have step -by -step instructions and detailed information so please read carefully! Once you change your password, you will be instructed on how to set up your child’s dismissal calendar.

NOTE – If you do not receive an email, please call the school on Monday or send an email to me.

October 2^nd through 13^th – We will use these 2 weeks as a transitional period. While we will still accept notes, emails and phone calls to the school for dismissal changes, we strongly encourage everyone to become familiar with the program. This period will primarily be used to make sure all parents are set up and have proper access to their calendars.

Monday, October 16^th – We will no longer accept any handwritten notes, phone calls or emails to teachers or the school regarding dismissal changes. If you miss the cut off time or don’t have access to the system, you may call the office and we will enter your changes electronically. We will also assist you with enrollment in the system if you were not able to enroll during the above transitional period. Our goal is 100% participation in the system!

Please anticipate the email on Friday, September 29th, with additional information necessary to enroll in the automated system.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Open House

Posted Sept. 25, 2017

Center School

Open House

We look forward to welcoming our parents back to school!

Come meet your child’s teachers and get an “inside look” at your child’s schedule and grade level curriculum. You’ll also learn about academic and social learning goals for our students.

When: Thursday, September 28th

5:45-6:25 Social on the Esplanade hosted by our PTO

6:30-7:00 Classroom Presentations

7:15-7:45 Classroom Presentations

Please stop in to visit with our special teachers and resource teachers sometime during the evening too!

Betty Higham will be in the school office from 6:00 -7:30

if you'd like to stop in to complete a CORI

Visit the PTO, LEEF, and Scout tables at the Social!

Gentle and important reminder.... the evening is for adults only.

Thank-you from your Center School Family! See you Thursday!

Center School Directory

Posted Sept. 19, 2017

This year our student directory is going Digital!

The 2017-2018 directory will be a great resource for initiating playdates, gathering classmates or getting after school homework help. Please enter your information here:

http://www.centerschoolpto.com/centerschooldirectory.html.

After we have all students information, you will be able to reference it on our password protected directory.

Please input your information by October 1.

When you visit the PTO site, please sign up to receive the weekly email blasts-it's a great way to keep up on happenings!

Safety Reminders

Posted Sept. 17, 2017

Dear Center School Families,

I’m looking forward to a perfect weather day on Friday for our Fall Carnival. I hope many of you are planning on joining us for a fun family afternoon on the first day of fall. I also hope you’re enjoying this little stretch of summer weather!

The safety and well- being of each student in our community is our priority. Procedures are established mindful of the expansiveness of the Center School campus; and Center School educators work to be both responsive to and proactive about safety concerns. I extend my appreciation for your help with following our procedures. Here are some important reminders.

Students enter the building at 8:30 am. While I love the enthusiasm of our early Cardinals, we do not have supervision before 8:30. 5^th grade safety students’ arrival time is 8:25.
Talk with your child about ALWAYS using crosswalks when traveling to and from school.
I have a report that a few students have been turning down the driveway on their bikes near the gymnasium that leads to the parking lot. The driveway is very busy and this presents a serious risk to our students. All students should travel along Longmeadow Street directly in front of the school at both arrival and dismissal times.
PLEASE PLEASE do not drop students off in the back of the school. The back stairs from the playground to the esplanade are not a designated arrival (or dismissal) spot. We are concerned with student traveling up the stairs unsupervised in the morning.
We love our bikers! Let’s remind our bikers about courteous bike riding when they approach our walkers-slowing down and signaling that they're coming from behind.
Coming event: International Walk /Bike to school : October 4^th: more information soon!
Lost and Found: we'll have an easier time returning lost items if you mark all your child's items with name and grade.

Have a wonderful evening!

With appreciation,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Fall Carnival Rescheduled

Posted Sept. 14, 2017

Hello Center School Community,

We've checked and rechecked numerous forecasts for tomorrow to help make a decision about whether to postpone the Fall Carnival...the forecast seems to indicate unsettled weather in the afternoon. Our 5th graders work so hard on their games and the PTO planning is time intensive. The concern is scattered showers spoiling the event for everyone.

We will postpone the Fall Carnival to September 22nd from 4:30 to 6:30. We hope to see everyone next Friday and fingers crossed for a beautiful fall afternoon.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Homework Guiding Principles

Posted Sept. 6, 2017

September 4, 2017

Greetings Center School Families,

In June, we shared with you the HWGuidingPrinciples.docx for our elementary students. The document is attached for our new families and for our returning families’ review.

The principles reflect an engaging, relevant, child-centered and research- based approach to homework. They reflect the comprehensive work of a teacher study group who read, discussed, and summarized current research and scholarly literature regarding the efficacy of homework for elementary students. The study group also examined the School Councils’ parent survey; and shared with colleagues all their discoveries along the path to creating the final document.

We ask you to notice that the principles mirror our strong belief that a student’s academic and social success is centered in the strong partnership of educators, students, and families, therefore we explicitly state responsibilities each holds. As we begin this new year and as your child eases into the school routine, please review the Family Responsibilities. We also request you discuss the Student Responsibilities with your child.

Note that the Guiding Principles do not articulate nor adhere to a “no homework” philosophy. Contrary, we are presenting an approach to homework that emphasizes the positive correlation of reading to a child’s overall school achievement and development as a life-long learner. The guidelines also emphasize the effectiveness of fluency practice with math facts and sight words.

We consider the 2017-2018 school year to be the Year of the Reader! You can anticipate school-wide happenings that focus on growing and enhancing a culture of reading.

We always welcome your feedback and insights regarding our work with your child. Please feel free to reach out to me or to your child’s teacher with questions. At our Open House on September 28^th, we will have additional resources and helpful ideas related to reading at home as well as fluency practice. Together we will empower our students with the skills and dispositions to reach their full potential as learners.

Thank-you for your support.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Welcome Back 2017-2018

Posted Aug 30, 2017

Good evening Center School Families,

Tomorrow we’ll welcome your child with all the promise of a new school year. The enthusiastic spirit of the staff this week is energizing and everyone is excited to start anew…a new beginning each fall is one of the unique gifts in our teaching lives.

We will welcome twenty-one new families to our community this year. I’ll look forward to greeting them again and connecting with returning families. I encourage you to reach out to each other so that we can build relationships and offer support as the need arises.

You will have a fun opportunity to meet new people at the annual Fall Carnival on September 15^th. Another upcoming school event is Open House on September 28^th. This is an evening when parents and guardians will meet in the classrooms with teachers and learn about grade level curriculum and expectations. And please consider joining our PTO…another great way to be involved in your community!

It’s been a productive week for staff. Yesterday, our professional development focus was on the PeaceBuilders curriculum. We had the time and space for “solution building” and to create new activities to enhance the program as we move into our third year as a PeaceBuilders’ community. The practices of PeaceBuilders empower us to embrace a shared vision of who we strive to be as a community. The day was also a strong affirmation of our commitment to teach the whole child. Together, with you as our partners, we form an extraordinary Center School family. We deeply value your support as we work to grow your child into creative, empathetic, intelligent, and engaged learners and citizens.

It is an implausible myth that teachers take the summer off… our staff is comprised of teachers who never leave their teaching world at school. They consistently stretch themselves to find ways to enrich their work. Summer work and planning was ongoing and the thoughtfulness of their work will be evident in your child’s learning. The classrooms also look incredibly warm and welcoming! I am proud to lead such a hard-working, committed, and caring group of educators, always focused on meeting the needs of each child in their care. Know your child is in the very best hands.

On the eve of the new year, I imagine your dreams for your child are boundless and hopeful. We likely share many of your dreams. When our bell tolls in the morning-one of my favorite moments- think of it as a symbol of our promise to provide your child with a wonderful experience this year, a promise to realize our dreams for our students together. There are many extraordinary moments ahead and it will be delightful to share your child’s learning and growth with you.

Rest well this evening and I hope your child has already settled into sleep with joyful anticipation for the year ahead.

See you on the playground at 8:30!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Arrival/Dismissal 2017-2018

Published August 26, 2017

Dear Center School Families,

This message is the first of August/September communications to help you navigate the start of the school year.

Please read the arrival and dismissal details carefully to help ensure the safety of our students.

First, we encourage you to review bicycle and walking safety with your child. Please remind your child to be considerate of walkers when riding their bikes to and from school.

We suggest you place emergency contact information in a visible place on your child’s backpack. There’s some great tags available that attach to backpacks.

First Day: We’ll see everyone on the playground at 8:30 AM. The bell will toll to signal the start of our new year!! Teachers will be on the playground; look for signs with your child’s teacher’s name and you’ll know where your child should line up.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures after Day One:

Arrival: 8:30 AM We do not have supervision before 8:30 AM, so while we love our enthusiastic early birds, please time arrival as close to 8:30 as possible.

Grades 2, 3, 4: Enter through the main doors

Grades K,1,5: Enter through esplanade doors –gymnasium side.

5^th grade safeties will walk kinder and first grade students to their classrooms.

All bikers park bikes on the bike racks on the playground. Please do not park bikes near the entrance gate. For our new families, locks are not needed.

Students should not travel the driveway on the side of the gymnasium. This area poses a serious safety issue as cars enter here for the parking lot behind the school; there’s blind spots and the sidewalk does not wrap around the driveway.

Dismissal: 2:45

Grades 2, 4: Exit main entrance

Grade 3: exit Longfellow Street door

Grade K, 1, 5: esplanade doors gymnasium side.

Teachers will escort their classes to the carline and to the playground.

I met with our LPD safety officer Sergeant Carl Mazzaferro. He’ll be with us the first week of school monitoring our procedures.

Our carline procedure can be found in the Family Handbook

https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/new-ctr/parents

You’ll find lots of helpful information in your handbook.

Carline families: Please note that cars traveling Longfellow Drive to Longmeadow Street will see a One Way sign-right turn only between 8 AM-4 PM. Vehicles exiting out of Green Meadow Drive, Morningside Drive, and Crestview Circle are permitted to turn left or right and travel in both directions.

As always, I welcome your feedback and any questions.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Class Lists 2017-2018

Posted Aug 14, 2017

Greetings Center School Families,

Happy August to you! My message is a reminder that on Friday, August 18th at 3:00 p.m. you will be able to log into the PowerSchool Student and Parent Portal to see what homeroom your child has been placed in for the upcoming school year. Your login and password were sent home with your child on Monday, June 19, 2017. Logging into the Portal will be the only way you will be able to see who your child's teacher is for the 2017-2018 school year. All veteran or returning parents can access the portal by visiting the Power School button in the parents tab of this website Parents. Please be sure to bookmark this tab! I’ve included a screenshot at the bottom of this email that will provide a visual of what you are looking at to find your child’s homeroom teacher.

For families new to the district, information explaining how to access the parent portal will be sent home during the first week of school along with many other school related items. New families, who registered prior to August 10, 2017, will receive a letter in the mail or an email message notifying you of your child’s classroom assignment. Kindergarten families can anticipate a welcome letter from their child's teacher to arrive in the mail by Friday.

Please note that the district does not have the capacity over the summer months to address questions or issues regarding the portal website, so kindly refrain from calling the school for assistance with the portal.

Please anticipate more news about our upcoming year in the next few weeks as we countdown to the first day of school!

ParentPortal screenshot.pdf

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Supply Lists

Posted July 31, 2017

Here are the Supply Lists for Grades 1 - 5

Important Upcoming Dates!

Posted July 6, 2017

Important upcoming dates:

August 18th: Visit Power School Parent Portal for teacher assignment

August 23rd: Incoming Kindergarteners visit with Principal Hutton 9:00 AND New Families and Students Visit with Principal Hutton 1:00

August 31st: First Day of School 1-12

September 4th : Labor Day, No School

September 5th : First Day Kindergarten

September 15th : Center School Fall Carnival on the Green

September 28th: Open House 6:00 pm

Guiding Principles for Homework

Posted June 20, 2017

Greetings Elementary Families, Attached is the Guiding Principles for Homework for the Longmeadow Elementary School community.

Our goal is to share the document with you now, with an understanding that we will provide ongoing communication to deepen understanding of the guiding principles as we move into the start of the 2017-2018 school year and beyond.

Finally, with summer here, it is appropriate to also notice that reading is at the forefront of the guiding principles. Our district summer reading initiative Many Books, One Community, supports the findings of the study group: No single activity has a greater benefit to a student’s academic achievement than choice reading! You will receive more information about the summer reading on the last day of school. The letter will be included with the report card.

We always welcome your feedback and insights regarding our work with your child. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have at this time. We additionally will survey teachers, families, and students in the spring of 2018 to assess how the community feels about the guidelines.

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

HWGuidingPrinciples.docx

Summer Reading Information

posted Jun 20, 2017

Many Books, One Community...Building a Better World

Greetings Elementary School Families,

We are excited to share with you the transformation of our traditional summer reading endeavor “One Book, One Community”! We know that the single summer activity that is most strongly and consistently related to summer learning is reading! Research also shows us that the amount of free reading done outside of school enhances vocabulary development, reading comprehension, language skills, and a student’s knowledge of his/her world.

This summer we present to our community: Many Books, One Community! We ask that you join us in supporting and encouraging your child to choose and read many many books this summer, exploring self-selected topics! We also encourage families to join in the endeavor by reading with and reading to their child throughout the summer months.

Our elementary school communities focus is not only on academics but on growing caring and empathetic students. We will share Storrs Library’s summer reading program theme- Building a Better World. The Storrs Library staff is excited to assist your child with reading choices.

We are expecting our students to come to school on the first day bursting with excitement about their summer reads. Students will be prepared to share the one-or perhaps two!- favorite summer books with their new teacher and with their peers. Attached is a list of possible ways your child may share his/her book as well as some possible titles. Students may choose an activity from the list or come up with their own idea!

As you explore with your child the boundless choices of books, we share with you an important point to consider. Being read to or reading in isolation does not by itself automatically lead to strong literacy development and broader learning. The real link seems to lie in the verbal interaction that occurs between adult and child, and child to child before, during and after story reading.

We applaud you in your efforts to support us as we grow our students into lifelong readers who love and cherish the opportunity to get lost in a good story!

Sincerely,

LPS Elementary School Communities

Summer Reading Choices:

Book talks- Give a book talk about your favorite read.

Book Review- Share a book review with your class.

Musical Book Share- Quickly share a book with a partner (2 minutes) and then rotate a few times

Book Commercial- Record a commercial about their favorite book

Make Bookmarks- Create bookmark to go with a book for the next reader who reads it

Make Book Cover- Make a cover that would make other students interested in the book

Book Swap- Bring a favorite book, borrow a favorite book

Genre List- Keep tally list of summer books read in different genres (bar graph, pie chart, line plot)

Read Cliffhangers- Share with class a “cliffhanger” from the book you read without giving it away

Guess My Book- Write 3 clues about book and have students guess what book you are talking about.

Buddy Book- Plan with a friend to read the same book and then discuss.

Pick An Emoji- Pick an emoji to go with the book and explain why in a few sentences

If I Could Be Any Character- Share which character you would be and why- dress up?

Me As a Reader- Make a collage of who you are as a reader

Poster: Create a poster of your favorite summer read.

Any way to share is acceptable!

Happy summer reading!!