Spring Street Link

April 8, 2019

Our school has been very busy incorporating many enriching activities into our students’ experience these past few weeks as well as in the coming weeks. We’ve been able to identify and invite various authors and presenters as well as take trips to local theatres, museums, farms, and even wildlife sanctuaries to observe ecosystems at work. Thank you to our PTO for working so tirelessly to support all of these enrichment experiences. We’re hoping to be able to continue this practice in coming years...we’re still in need of a new PTO Board for next year. In the event parents don’t volunteer for these very important positions, the majority of these events will not occur in the coming year….

Museum of Science presentations for all grades throughout the year directly connected to our science learning including states of matter, animal habitats and adaptations, life cycles, electricity and magnets, force and motion, engineering, lights and lasers, and exploring sound through vibrations
Shrewsbury author, April Jones Prince, visiting our Kindergarten and Grade 1 students to share her process for writing books including the recently released Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates, supporting biography research and writing in Grade 2, and supporting Grade 1 students on informative writing including how one should go about identifying a topic to write about
Shrewsbury historical figures, Aretmas and Sarah Ward, re-enactments by local community members sharing information about Artemas Ward and the Revolutionary War for Grades 1 and 3
A local beekeeper visiting Grade 1 students to share how bees make honey and their role in supporting agriculture, the equipment a beekeeper uses, as well as a real ‘beehive’ that students can observe bees working in the hive...and maybe even find the queen!
Local raptor rehabilitators visiting with live owls to share the owl’s habitat, habits, and prey with Grade 2
Transportation for all field trips including visits to the Mechanics Hall plays for Kindergarten and Grade 1, Grade 3 to Plimoth Plantation, Lowell Mills presentations on immigration and engineering for Grade 4, Grade 3 visits to Minuteman National Park and the Freedom Trail, Kindergarten visit to Davis Farmland, and more
Coordination of our Spirit of Spring Street Dinner and Dance, Winter Craft Night, Fun Fair, Scholastic Book Fair, Family Bingo Night, Community Reading Day, Field Day, and 4th Grade Celebration
Coordination of most after school activities including French Club, Chess Club, STEM, and Young Rembrandts

We’re hoping that these enriching and worthwhile experiences will be a part of our program in the coming year. Please reach out to Karen Zidonis, Liz Foxwell, or me if you’d like to discuss how you can help, even a little bit. Thank you for considering.

Wishing you and your family a restful and relaxing Spring Vacation. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll be able to spend some time outdoors enjoying spring and all that comes with it. Enjoy!

French Club at Spring Street School- Session 3

The third session of beginner French language lessons for Spring Street School students will begin on April 23. The instructor will lead children through vocabulary lessons, hands-on projects and immersive conversation. Previous sessions are not a prerequisite to attend the third session. All levels welcome. Classes are held on Tuesdays from 3:20pm-4:20pm in the Media Center. There will be a limit of 18 students per class, first come first served. For more information please see the flyer in your Monday folder. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Hallee at lfoxwell@hotmail.com.

From previous links:

Spring Street School Talent Show- New Chairperson NEEDED

Spring Street School Talent Show is currently scheduled for Friday May 10, but we need a new Chairperson in order for this event to take place. If you have any interest in running this event, please contact Liz Hallee lfoxwell@hotmail.com or Karen Zidonis kzidonis13@gmail.com. In the event a chairperson isn’t identified, this event will be canceled.

New SEPAC event - Reading Goals Workshop on Saturday, 4/13 from 1 - 3 pm

Presented by Nancy Duggan, M.A. Executive Director of Decoding Dyslexia Massachusetts at Northborough Free Library. See flyer for additional information. Note: This workshop was originally scheduled on 3/2 but cancelled due to weather.

Kids’ Magic Show Hosted by SHS Class of 2022 on April 26th

Looking for a fun activity in Shrewsbury? On April 26th, the freshman class of 2022 is hosting a kids magic show. Come to Shrewsbury high school for a fun and exciting show filled with activities like henna, face painting, and calligraphy. The magic show will be hosted by the

amazing, Mr. Magic Head. See the attached flyer for details.

Overdue Fees or Negative School Lunch Balance

Parents are reminded that the District will proactively block student registration for busing and all other fee or tuition-based programs if your student has a negative School Lunch account or funds due for any fee-based program [Extended School Care, Full-Day Kindergarten, Preschool, Athletics, Student Activity Fee, Music Lessons etc…) If you are experiencing a job loss or significant decrease in household income, you may apply for Free or Reduced Meals at the weblink below at anytime during the school year. Eligibility for Free or Reduced Meals is the financial means test that the District uses to either reduce or waive other school-based fees.

https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/foodsvc/free-reduced-price-lunch-breakfast

April Vacation Enrichment Program

Shrewsbury Public Schools is offering April vacation enrichment classes for students in grades K-8. Registration. All registration and payment will be done through the parent portal. You may preview the class selection in advance on our website, http://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/extendedlearning/Vacation-Programs.cfm Classes will run Tuesday April 16^th– Friday April 19^th, 8:30AM-3:00PM. There are dozens of classes to choose from with half day and full day options available. All classes will be held at Floral Street School. Half-day classes cost $75/week and full day classes cost $150/week. Early drop off (7:00-8:30AM) and extended hours (3:00-6:00PM) are available for an additional fee. Please note: Students must be enrolled in Shrewsbury Public Schools to participate, and all outstanding fees must be paid in order to register. If you have any questions about the program please contact Karen Isaacson, Director of Extended Learning. kisaacson@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

MCAS Assessment Dates

Our Grade 3 and 4 students will be participating in the MCAS assessments this spring. The testing dates are below. We are hoping families will consider avoiding these dates for appointments and/or travel.

ELA

Grade 3, April 10 and 11

Grade 4, April 23 and 24

Math

Grade 3, May 13 and 14

Grade 4, May 15 and 16

Spring Street School PTO Direct Donation Campaign

The PTO is excited to sponsor many wonderful programs and events for your children and our community this year. We hope that you will consider making a contribution to our Direct Donation Campaign. Your support allows the PTO, a non-profit organization, to continue to provide community events, enrichment activities and the purchase of supplies and materials that are not included in the annual school budget for Spring Street School. If you would like to make a donation today, you can donate online at: https://squareup.com/store/spring-street-parent-teachers-organization-inc

Volunteering Requirement-CORI Checks

Anyone volunteering at our school must participate in the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check before volunteering. Volunteering includes classroom volunteering, field trips, field day, etc. Once a CORI check has been completed, your ‘CORI’ is valid for 3 years. CORI checks are applicable to any volunteering in the Shrewsbury Public Schools. Unfortunately, CORIs completed elsewhere are not valid for Shrewsbury Public Schools. This link can be used to access the form. Please return the completed form in person to Mrs. Judith Adair, our secretary, with your license for the CORI to begin being processed. Please allow for at least 2 weeks for CORI checks to be completed before participating in any volunteer activities at our school. Volunteers without a completed and processed CORI will be unable to volunteer until the process is complete. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Shriners' Hospitals Can Pull Tab Collection

We all feel so much better when we help others! Shriners' Hospitals around the world help children and their families with life-threatening conditions. We are fortunate to have a Shriners' right next door in Springfield, MA. We can help by collecting/bagging can pull tabs and bringing them into school. Thanks to Mrs. Welch for spearheading this donation drive! Please see the attached document for more information.

tinyurl.com/PullTabs-Shriners

Important Dates

April 15-19, Patriots Day/Spring Vacation, No School

Wednesday, May 1, Gift of Knowledge Celebration, 8:30-9:00am

Tuesday, May 7, Early-Release Day, 12:15 Dismissal, Professional Development

Friday, May 10, SSS Talent Show at SSS, TBD

Tuesday, May 14, PTO Meeting, 6:30-7:30pm

Tuesday, May 21, Grade 4 Chorus Concert, 6:00pm

Monday, May 27, Memorial Day, No School

Friday, June 7, Field Day at SSS

Wednesday, June 12, 4th Grade Celebration, 9:45-11:00am

Wednesday, June 12, Last day of School for Kindergarten Only, 3:15 dismissal

Friday, June 14, Last day of School, Grades 1-4, Half Day, 12:15pm dismissal

Have a good week.
Bryan Mabie