Week of May 6^th

Hello Center Families,

This is a busy time of the school year. Thank-you for your attention to the information below.

• PeaceBuilders help others and this practice aligns with the CASEL social competency of social awareness. Your child received a choice board of activities Choice Board they can do to help others at school, at home, and in the community. Help us challenge our PeaceBuilders to complete as many of these activities as they can by the end of the school year. CASEL
• Center School Peacebuilders will be collecting gently used and clean shoes. Donations will go to the Springfield Rescue Mission. Please bring in your donated shoes during the week of May 28th – June 7th Peace Feet
• Tuesday and Wednesday: Math MCAS 3^rd and 5^th Graders
• Tuesday morning 7:50: Helping Hands in the cafeteria Grades 1 and 3.
• Thursday and Friday: Math MCAS Grade 4
• Thursday: PTO Meeting on the playground after school.
• Please make sure you know your PowerSchool Student Portal Access Number and ID. As a reminder, parents of students who will rise to grades 1^st through 5th will need this information to access classroom assignments for the 2019-2020 school year. If you do not know your access number and ID, please contact the Center School office (via phone) no later than June 7th, 2019. If you do not have your access number and ID and do not check to ensure you have access to the portal, we will not be able to help you with this information until school resumes. Classroom assignments are posted in August.
• Field Day is Friday, May 31^st with a rain date of June 3^rd. On Friday, teachers took a tentative lunch count for the day. For our new families, lunch is a picnic on the green and we strongly encourage families and students to pack a lunch from home so they can enjoy a full 30- minute break with family and friends without traveling to the cafeteria. The cafeteria will have two sandwich options: sun butter and jelly or a cold cut (turkey) sandwich should your child choose to buy. Thank-you for helping your child with the decision. A final count will be taken on Friday.
• This week is Teacher Appreciation Week across the United States. While we can thank our teachers each day for their incredible work with students, Center will formally celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week next week-May 13^th through 17^th. The appreciation luncheon sponsored by our PTO is Thursday May 16^th. Don’t forget to thank a teacher!! “One Book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” Malala Yousafzai

Kind regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Snow and Recess

Posted Jan. 30, 2019

Good morning!

I hope you're enjoying the extra time this morning with the delay. Students will enter the building at 10:30 am this morning. If you have a kinder, 1st, or 5th grade student please remind him/her that they should stand in line on the esplanade until the doors open. Students should not go to the playground or run around the front of the school at arrival.

Recess: We will go outside for some winter fun today. ALL students will need boots to go outside. If students want to climb and play in the snow, they will also need ski/snow pants. Hats and gloves are also needed on this cold winter day. We will provide indoor recess in the cafeteria for students not dressed appropriately. While we have some extra warm clothing, we cannot continue to supply items to students when they are not dressed warmly. Please contact me with any needs your family might have in this area.

Good news...the carline has been much quicker and we are moving so much closer to our 8:35 start time!! Please continue to move forward without leaving spaces and have your child hop out- if able- if there's no one there to open the door. Thank-you to parents who sent me additional suggestions to improve drop off and pick up. I'm working to respond to each suggestion, so thanks for your patience. Love the family signs on the dash at pick up-very helpful too!

Finally, please drive safely and cautiously this morning. There's several high snow banks around the school creating blind spots for drivers and walkers. Drop offs on Longfellow are strongly discouraged and create safety issues for our children and community. We appreciate your support with our procedures.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Friday is Super Bowl Spirit Day!

The next Helping Hands is for our 1st graders- oops...I mistakenly said 2nd grade in my weekly message.

Green Team Club Opportunity for Students!

Posted Jan. 15, 2019

Good morning Center School Families,

Please see the attached letter for an opportunity for your child to be a part of Center's very first Green Team Club. The team will generate ideas for our school to be more earth-friendly and put the ideas into action-ideas like our recent decision to discontinue using plastic straws in the cafeteria! Exciting opportunity to encourage our students to be engaged citizens in their community!

Green Club letter.docx

Best,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Quick Calendar Reminders

Posted Jan. 2, 2019

Hello Center School Families,

Welcome back and Happy New Year to you! Here’s a few January happenings to mark on your calendars:

January 3^rd: Storrs Library is closed for the day.

January 8^th Helping Hands 2^nd grade 7:50 AM in the Cafeteria

January 10^th PTO Community Room 8:45 AM Community Room

January 16^th School Council Meeting 6:00 PM

January 21^st No School - Martin Luther King Day

January 24^th Center School Winter Concert at Glenbrook 7:00 PM

January 25^th Report Cards will be sent home: Please visit the SBRC website for more information. Report Card Website

January 28^th PD Day ½ day for students.

I’ll be sending more curriculum news your way at the start of next week.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton., Principal

Week of December 17th

Posted Dec. 17, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

Once again, we have many happenings during this last week before the holiday break. Our band students will have their annual caroling tour on Tuesday when they will travel to different classrooms and share some of the music of the season with their friends. The Artistic Dance Conservatory will perform the ballet “The Magical Divide” on Thursday for students in 1^stthrough 5^th grade. Thank-you to our PTO for coordinating the ballet performance.

We’ll end our week with our annual all-school holiday sing-along. Center students explore the history and traditions of holidays around the world. In music class and in the library through literature, children learn about others and share their own stories and family traditions. Ms. Drysdale and our teachers create musical experiences to share with the whole school, which include singing in different languages, storytelling, playing instruments, and dancing. Ms. Drysdale and the 5^th grade chorus will take the lead for us!

Teachers will also mark the season in unique ways in each classroom…it’s a time of continued community building through learning and celebration. We welcome families to visit the Center School Sightings Newscast 2018-2019 to watch and enjoy our community happenings because we are unfortunately unable to accommodate family guests at school wide events.

It was heartwarming to see the holiday gift baskets wrapped and ready for delivery last week. This event is one of many outreaches that defines who we are as a community. Thank-you again for your generosity with very special appreciation to Amie Tracy and Amy Nedwed and their many volunteers.

With vacation ahead, here’s two great sights that offer reading suggestions for children. Who doesn’t love to get the gift of reading!

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books 2018

ALA Notable Books 2018

Lastly, I send you warmest wishes for extended time with family and friends next week. And I wish you a world of peace and happiness now and throughout all the seasons of the new year. My gratitude for your ongoing support and for all the ways you make Center School a special community for our students

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Calendar Reminders:

• Food drive tomorrow morning on the carline. Thank-you for your help to support Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke
• Lost and found items will be donated at the end of the week. Please have your child do a quick check for lost items.
• MCAS 2019 Schedule is posted on school and teachers’ websites. Please be mindful of dates when planning family happenings.
• It is extremely important for our students’ safety that families never park anywhere near our crosswalks for drop off or pick up.
• December 24 -January 1 School Closed for December Break
• January 2- School reopens
• January 8th - Helping Hands 7:45 AM: 2^nd grade.
• January 10th - PTO meeting in the Community Room

Week of December 10th

Posted Dec. 11, 2018

Good morning Center School Families,

It is a busy season and a busy week! Here are some reminders:

Holiday Gift Collection

Donations for the annual gift collection are due this Thursday, December 13th. Volunteers are needed help us wrap the gifts. Join us on December 13th (snow day 12/14) at 9:00 am in the community room. We hope you can help! We need MANY volunteers to make this wonderful tradition come together! Volunteers need to bring scissors, tape, and holiday gift wrap. Thank you for your support of one of our favorite Center School traditions! If you have any questions please email amietracy@me.com

Spirit Day this Friday! December 14th Spirit Day: Comfy Cozy Day!

SEAL meeting Tonight! The Special Education Alliance of Longmeadow (SEAL) is a Parent Advisory Council that offers information, support, and networking opportunities to parents. Please join SEAL members in Room A-31 Pupil Services, 535 Bliss Road, Longmeadow. The Federation for Children with Special Needs will be giving a presentation entitled Building Effective Communication Between Families and Educators. For the full meeting agenda, and to learn more about future meeting dates and events, visit www.sealma.org.

Tuesday, December 18^th: We will be collecting food items during the morning car line. All food items collected will be donated to Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke, they are in desperate need of donations this holiday season. We appreciate your help with this very worthy cause! Any questions, please contact: Brittany Moreland 413-285-5444 or Karen Desrosiers: karendesrosiers@comcast.net

Winter weather is here! Please make sure your child has warm weather clothing for outdoor recess: hats, gloves, coats, long pants. Please contact me directly if you are in need of any clothing for your child. With the cold weather, it is especially important that students do not arrive inordinately early. Supervision begins at 8:25 when students are let into the building.

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Week of December 3^rd

^{Posted Dec. 2, 2018}

Calendar Reminders

• Tuesday, December 4^th: Helping Hands 3^rd Graders
• Holiday Gift Basket season is here! The PTO and Helping Hands sponsor the endeavor each year. The children receiving baskets this year are served by the YWCA of Springfield. Thank-you in advance for your generosity to provide for children in need. Please see details included in the letters that were sent home with your child.
• December Library events: Mrs. Mulcahy will introduce your child to potential Caldecott Medal winners for the year. The students will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite choices! http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
• Beginning the week of Tuesday, December 11th, Mrs. Mulcahy and the library volunteers are welcoming parents and other close family members in the library to share a special winter or traditional story. Perhaps your child will share a new story with you that can go on a wish list for the holiday season! So many books to discover!
• Thank-you to our Book Fair coordinators Amy Nedwed, Andrea Watson, Robin Lewis and the many volunteers who made the book fair a tremendous success. Thank-you to everyone for your support!!
• Center’s School Improvement Plan for 2018-2019 is approved by the School Committee. The plan aligns with the Longmeadow Public School District’s 3 -year Improvement Plan. Our vision statement for Center School: SIP 2018-2019

Center School’s vision for education is foremost focused on fostering a safe child-centered environment where our students grow as 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 our guiding belief that all students will be empowered to learn at high levels; and will reach their full potential through the collaborative efforts of their teachers, families, and school leaders.

• December 14^th: Spirit Day: Comfy cozy day
• PeaceBuilders: Students are focused on the practice of “giving up put downs”. Activities have been focused on the ways our words can help and encourage others or conversely hurt the people in our lives. Beginning mid -December we will focus on Helping Children Seek Wise People. The Family letter with ways you can support this important practice will be sent home 12/14/18.
• Murphy, our dog-assisted interventionist, begins his schedule in December. He has met the entire school community and I extend deep gratitiude to Mrs. Laura Giuggio for her ongoing hard work with Murphy’s training to ensure the success of the program.
• The RTI teams meet this week to specifically focus on the WIN block. Note that our School Improvement Plan includes a goal to enhance the WIN block to meet the needs of each child. https://sites.google.com/longmeadow.k12.ma.us/centerstage/home
• Thank-you for helping your child dress appropriately for cold weather days. We love outdoor recess!

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Friday 2 Hour Delay

Posted Nov. 16, 2018

Good morning Center School Families,

Just a couple details to follow up on Superintendent O'Shea's message:

• Students will be able to buy school lunch today, but we strongly encourage families to pack a lunch from home as the choice will be limited.
• Arrival time is 10:25 AM this morning with the two-hour delay. Dismissal is 2:45 PM.
• We'll build solutions to reschedule today's conferences and communicate the plan to families in the coming days.

Safe travels to all this morning.

Warm regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

2018 Vocal School Climate Survey Results

Posted Nov. 13, 2018

Good Afternoon Longmeadow Community,

I am pleased to provide the Longmeadow community with the results of a survey of students’ perceptions of school climate conducted in grades 5, 8, and 10 as part of the 2018 MCAS administration. Titled the Views of Climate and Learning (VOCAL), this new survey instrument is designed to provide schools with information on student perceptions of three dimensions of school climate: engagement, safety, and environment.

These are important indicators that relate directly to our strategic priorities and student learning. Research consistently demonstrates that healthy school climates positively and powerfully influence learning. Working with parents and students, the staff, administration and School Committee will use this information, along with other indicators of student success, to identify targets for growth and improvement.

Overall, the results are a positive reflection this community’s shared commitment to providing students with safe, supportive and challenging learning environments. As a district, Longmeadow was reported to have "relatively strong school climates," placing us in the top 15% of all Massachusetts School Districts. In districts with the strongest climates (the top 15% percent), students report

• having inclusive relationships
• that their teachers have higher expectations for student effort, perseverance, and academics.
• having fewer bullying experiences
• feeling that their school is safe and fair
• that adults are caring and active in helping and supporting them
• that they feel adults value their ideas and voices

This link will take you to folder with detailed reports that include:

• Overall, average school climate index scores (with comparative district and state data), and
• A summary of student responses to each individual survey item
• Average index scores at each school for the three dimensions of climate: engagement, safety, and environment (with comparative district and state data).

Thank you for your support and interest. As always, I welcome your feedback and questions. Hope to see you at Rick Wormeli, Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Glenbrook Auditorium.

Sincerely,

Marty O'Shea

Superintendent of Schools

Week of November 11, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

The teachers look forward to parent teacher conferences this week. The goal of the conference is to communicate the following about your child:

• behaviors that demonstrate school success and citizenship;
• transition to the grade;
• present areas of strength;
• growth areas;
• garner your insights, answer questions, and continue to grow partnership with families.

As you know, the report card is now “standards –based” and will be distributed in January and June. At the conference, your child’s teacher will discuss progress referencing the standards. Families receive (or will begin to receive, depending on grade level) assessment results with cover sheets that indicate your child’s progress towards meeting particular standards or “learning targets”.

One critical strength of standards-based reporting is communication!! Here are additional benefits:

• Report cards have more meaning
• Students are offered multiple opportunities and ways through which to demonstrate proficiency
• Parents are aware of exactly what their child knows, is able to do, and next steps for progress
• Parents know in what areas their child needs more support
• Parents are empowered to increase their child's confidence and help their student set goals

We hope you will visit the Elementary Standards –Based Report Card Site in the coming weeks to help build your knowledge before cards are distributed in January.

Elementary Standards-Based Report Cards

Here’s some helpful ideas to prepare for your conference:

• Talk with your child about school. What does he/she feel are strengths and growth areas? Is there any special topic your child wishes you to talk about with the teacher?
• Time is precious: prepare notes with topics you want to discuss and questions you may have about your child’s learning and progress.
• Please be on time. The schedules are tight and teachers want every minute possible with you.
• Respectfully discussing any differences and celebrating successes will help teachers partner with you to find the most effective ways to work with your child. Teachers value and appreciate your insights.
• Do you want to know ways to support learning at home? Teachers will offer suggestions.
• Please thank our teachers for their work. I know they will thank you for your ongoing support and advocacy for your child.
• Provide feedback to your child after the conference. Always emphasize the positives and discuss the action plan for growth areas.

I hope you enjoy lots of extra family time on this extended weekend. As the proud daughter of a career Marine, I also hope you take time to talk with your child about Veteran’s Day and find a meaningful way to honor the individuals who have bravely served our country- past and present- including members of our own Center community.

Calendar Reminders:

• From Superintendent Marty O’Shea: Parents will be our partners in learning on this day as Rick Wormeli, a nationally known education consultant, will meet with teachers during the day and with parents in the evening. Mr. Wormeli's Special Programs Presentation is Tuesday, November 13th at 7:00 pm in Glenbrook Auditorium. He will talk to parents about how to authentically nurture their child's learning and academic engagement. Let's pack the auditorium for this compelling conversation!
• Apologies for the continued reminder but please check lost and found when you are at school for conferences. Also, please write your child’s name on items.
• The Center School Directory : The 2018-2019 Center School Directory is ready for use. Please check out the digital version on the PTO website, please note that it is password protected -the password is Cardinal: https://www.centerschoolpto.com/2018-2019-directory.html For all those who donated to the annual giving fund prior to 10/15, the printed version we offered as an incentive will be delivered to your child’s backpack in the coming weeks. Congratulations to 5th graders Sophia Crepeau and Siena-Claire Strain whose artwork is featured on the directory. Please see Sophia’s beautiful message!
• Book Fair will be held Tuesday, November 27 - Friday, November 30th. The Book Fair is a great opportunity to get your holiday shopping completed and support our school. If you even have one hour to spare, please consider volunteering. Signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094ea5aa23a0f58-fall

Yours in partnership,

Donna Hutton, Principal

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise,

trouble, or hard work...It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”

October 29, 2018

Posted October 29, 2018

Hello Center School Families,

• Even a nor’easter couldn’t dampen the spirit of our Halloween Hustle committee or the participants. Kudos to organizers Katie Wartman, Bianca Damiano, Amanda Erricolo, Megan Downey and the countless volunteers and families who helped make the 15^th annual race a success! Visit the PTO website and Facebook page for more details of the fun family event. PTO Facebook Page
• Wednesday, October 31^st: Check with individual teachers for activities. Halloween Costume Parade at 2:00 on the Green-weather permitting. Gentle reminder that costumes should be fun and creative. Safety Officer Carl Mazzeferro will speak with students about Halloween safety during lunch.
• Operation Gratitude: organized by 5^th grader Steve Watson and his family with help from 5^th grader Anna Lipkin: please consider donating extra Halloween candy to our troops. The collection is on November 6^th. Students may bring extra bags of candy to school for the collection.
• Please mark all your child’s personal items including lunch bags and outer wear with child’s name. Students will need to dress warmly for outdoor recess as the cold weather approaches.
• LEEF Gala Saturday, November 3rd
• 11/6: Helping Hands Grade 4
• 11/12 Veterans Day Observed - No School
• 11/13 Professional Development Day- No School for students
• 11/13 Rick Wormelli - District Special Programs Speaker 7-8:30
• 11/15 Parent teacher conferences afternoon and evening - ½ day for students
• 11/16 Parent Teacher conferences afternoon only. ½ day for students.
• 11/21 Half day staff and students
• 11/22-11/23 Thanksgiving Break
• 11/26-11/30 BOOK FAIR

Congratulations Red Sox!

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Paving of Williams Street

Posted Oct. 22, 2018

Good evening Center School Families,

I was informed today that Williams Street from Route 5 to Town Hall as well as Williams Street from Merriweather to Grassy Gutter is being paved tomorrow- October 23rd. One lane on Williams Street will remain open to alternating traffic. We can expect delays... I know if was difficult for families to navigate the carline at arrival and again at dismissal today; and the back up on the corner of Williams will likely cause longer wait time for everyone tomorrow. Thank-you for your patience while the town project progresses. Hoping some families are able to carpool, walk children to school , or travel an alternate route. We will not mark students tardy in the morning if you are held up in the carline past 8:35.

Regards,

Donna Hutton, Principal

Praise for Teaching and Learning

Posted Oct. 22, 2018

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

Hello Center School Families,

Last Tuesday at the town meeting, Longmeadow adopted a new bylaw that bans single- use plastic bags. Our school community extends our appreciation and tremendous pride to Reading Specialist Valerie Fritz and her 5th grade students from last year who were integral to the effort!!

We praise now 6^th graders Anna Antonopoulos, Luca Barresi, Sofia Gordon, and Francesca Trotta. Their journey started with questions and the need for further research after reading a text with Ms. Fritz about the harmful impact of plastics on the environment. With Ms. Fritz leading their learning and outreach, they advocated for and achieved plastic bag recycling at Center and then across the district. They learned about the processes of town meeting with the help of town moderator, Rebecca Townsend. And now, through their involvement and advocacy, a new bylaw in Longmeadow. Extraordinary students!.jpg

Ms. Fritz is a gift to our community. She personifies exemplary educators who foster students’ curiosity about their world. Her students learned that, yes, they can make a difference in their school and beyond. And the life -long learning for her students began with reading-Ms. Fritz's passion!!

Please join me in congratulating the team for an extraordinary accomplishment! vfritz@longmeadow.k12.ma.us

Sincerely,

Donna Hutton, Principal

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.

1. Why Schools Are Going to the Dogs
2. Making Comfort Dogs an Everyday Part of School
3. Research for R.E.A.D.

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.

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).

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

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^nd grader 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Monday, September 10^th: No School Rosh Hashanah
4. Wednesday, September 19^th: No School Yom Kippur
5. Fall Carnival: September 20^th; Rain date: September 21st
6. Open House: September 27^th: 6:00-7:45 More info soon.
7. 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.
8. Please take a few minutes to update your family information in the Parent Portal on PowerSchool.
9. 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

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

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