Byam Newsletter
October 17, 2025
Principal and Assistant Principal Message
Important Dates
- October 19 - Byam Boo Bash
- October 21 Bionic Project Enrichment
- October 23- Early Release Day
Early Release Day
On Thursday October 23, we will be having an early release day for professional development. Our dismissal time is at 11:45 and we will open the side gate at approximately 11:35 to stage pick up vehicles. If your child be going home in a different way than is typical on Thursdays, please inform the school.
Bionic Project Enrichment
On Tuesday Byam will be hosting the Bionic Project enrichment for all K-4 students. The Bionic Project, Inc. was founded by Will Borden in 2018. An avid runner and below-the-knee amputee, he saw an unmet need for athletic events that welcomed people of all abilities. Will created the Bionic5k in Harvard Square in 2018 and launched a second race in San Francisco in 2022. Both events broke down barriers and built community in powerful ways. As a career educator, Will knew that programming specifically designed to engage young people was the next step to building a more inclusive future. Bionic’s education program launched in the fall of 2023. In their first year, they have worked in 34 schools in Massachusetts and California, engaging over 10,000 students.
Thank you to our BSA for sponsoring this enrichment!
Kindergarten Parlee Farms
4th Grade Math Night
4th Grade PRIDE Ambassadors
In the upcoming weeks, we will be sending home to 4th grade families information on our 4th Grade PRIDE Ambassadors application process. We look forward to another great year of our 4th graders coming together as leaders!
Reminder Holiday Assistance
The holidays are right around the corner! Resources for holiday support are now available. Any families who can benefit from additional support should reach out to Lyndsey O’Neil, School Counselor, via email at oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us. A few local Chelmsford community programs generously provide help for the holidays and Lyndsey O’Neil can help coordinate this with any family in need.
Forms for Beacon Santa (Due 10/31) and the Santa Fund (11/8) are attached below and paper copies are available in the main office at Byam. Mr. Fredette or Mrs. Dolan can sign any forms that require a staff member signature. Please note the individual deadlines for form submissions as they are approaching soon. The Salvation Army form will open starting October 1st. Please note the QR code will not work before October 1st and they will only be taking the first 600 families.
Upcoming Community Forum
Reminders from the Nurse's Office
The weather is changing which means respiratory illness season will also soon be upon us. Please review CPS illness policy and reach out to Nurse Pappo with any questions.
Illness Policy:
We recommend children do not come to school if they appear to be ill. We advise to keep your child home if he/she has a sore throat, severe cold, rash, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Your child needs to stay home if he/she has any of the following:
- Strep Throat: If strep throat is suspected and the child either has had a negative throat culture or has been on antibiotics and fever free for a full 24 hours.
- A fever over 100: May return to school when he/she is fever free for 24 hours without medication (e.g. Tylenol or Advil).
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea: May return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.
- Red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and or green/yellow drainage: May return to school the day after treatment for 24 hours or has no further eye discharge.
- Head Lice or nits (eggs): The nurse will assess the student for the presence of head lice or nits. If head lice or nits are detected, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian and provide education on lice treatment. Based on the discretion of the school nurse, some situations may warrant a dismissal from school
- A rash of unknown cause: May require to MD clearance at the discretion of the school nurse.
If a child is too ill to remain in school the nurse will call parent/guardian and/or emergency contact numbers for dismissal. The student should not place the call from a school phone or mobile phone.
Parents/guardians are required to notify the school if your child contracts any contagious diseases (e.g. Chicken Pox, Strep Throat, Whooping Cough, Fifth’s Disease, Conjunctivitis, Scabies, Impetigo, Ringworm or Head Lice, etc.). If a child has been absent due to a communicable disease, a physician’s release may be required before returning to school.
Injury Policy:
It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school nurse of all surgeries, injuries (i.e., concussions, fractures, sprains, stitches, etc.) When a student has sustained a concussion outside of school activities, parents shall notify the school nurse. Guidelines regarding injuries and non-participation in physical education (P.E.) classes and recess are as followed:
- Students with casts, stitches, or splints may not participate in Physical Education class or outdoor recess without written consent from both the parent/guardian and the attending physician.
*All injury notes from the doctor should include the type of injury, any limitations or allowance to participate in such activities and the date the child may return to full physical activities. Parent/guardian wishes may not supersede this medical prescription.
- Students need a subsequent doctor’s note when it is safe to resume normal activity in P.E. and/or recess.
- Some specified P.E. activities may also require non-participation for the safety of the student and others.
If a student comes to school with a cane, crutches, wheelchair or an assistive device a doctor’s note is required. If applicable, the doctor’s note needs to indicate if the student can or cannot use stairs. An example of this would be a student with the need to wear a brace that would immobilize a knee
Head Lice:
The following information is helpful to keep in mind about head lice:
Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor hygiene habits or of being dirty. Even though they do not jump or fly, lice can spread from one student to another by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, and hats.
Please do your part to prevent the spread of this communicable condition by checking your child(ren) on a regular basis. Lice infestation is much easier to treat if caught early. If you should discover a case of head lice, please notify the health office, as well as the parents of your child’s close contacts. This is the best way to protect your family and community.
Reminder for Third Grade Students:
Massachusetts state law and Chelmsford Public School District policy requires all 3rd grade students have a current physical on file. A current physical is one dated 8/26/24 or later. If you currently have a third grade student, please send a copy to me either by e-mail, fax or hard copy dropped off/mailed/sent to school with your student.
Thank you!
Nurse Pappo
Would you like to volunteer in the Byam School Library?
I enthusiastically welcome volunteers in the Library to help check books in and out, assist with shelving, and other easy-to-learn tasks. You may come during your child’s library class or during a different class - whichever works best for your schedule. Some volunteers come weekly, some monthly, and some come once or twice a year. Please email me at driscollb@chelmsford.k12.ma.us and I will share our volunteer calendar with you, so you can select dates. Please note that some classes will have more opportunities to come in than others, depending on how many volunteers sign up. I look forward to hearing from you!
Betsey Driscoll, Byam School Librarian
Weekly Announcements
BSA Information
BSA Information
SAVE THE DATES:
- 10/19 Boo Bash 1-4pm
- 10/23 Farmhouse Photography Fundraiser
- 10/24 Dining for Dollars - Panera Westford
- 11/07 UML Hockey Byam Night
BOO BASH
Get ready for a frightfully fun day at our annual BooBash at Byam! This family-friendly event is packed with festive activities and open to friends and family outside of Byam — all are welcome!
🎟️ Tickets – On Sale Now!
Your child’s ticket includes access to all activities:
Bounce House
Cake Walk
Trunk or Treat
Crafts
Scavenger Hunt
Face Painting
🍕 Pizza, bottled water, and ice cream truck treats will be available for additional purchase.
🎫 Tickets are $15 per child ($20 at the door) – parents do not need a ticket.
Only one child’s name is needed for check-in, even if purchasing multiple tickets.
👉 Click here to purchase tickets
💵 Tickets will also be available at the door (cash preferred, QR code for electronic purchase available).
🚗 Parking is available across the street at Lockheed Martin only.
🙋♀️ We Need Volunteers!
Help make this event magical by signing up to volunteer! There are two great ways to get involved:
🔹 Day-of Event Volunteers – Help with check-in, games, crafts, and more!
👉 Sign up here
🎃 Trunk or Treat Volunteers – Decorate your trunk and hand out candy!
👉 Sign up here
Let’s make this year’s Boo Bash the best one yet! Thanks for supporting this fun tradition — we can’t wait to see everyone in costume!
Register for a quick 2-3 minute outdoor portrait sitting with Farmhouse Photography during our QuickClick Fundraising Event on Thursday October 23rd after the half day of school.
A limited quantity of abbreviated Portrait Sittings are available EXCLUSIVELY for Byam Families at a highly discounted rate. Your entire sitting fee will be donated directly back to The Byam School Association.
The goal of a Farmhouse QuickClick is to capture ONE amazing portrait. Your professionally edited images will be available for Proof + Purchase for $25 each via an online gallery after the event. Purchase only the images you love. Absolutely no commitment; no pressure.
BUY ONLY THE PORTRAITS YOU LOVE. NO COMMITMENT. NO PRESSURE.
Sign up here: https://farmhouse.as.me/schedule/e407f4e6/appointment/17860339/calendar/4640602?appointmentTypeIds[]=17860339
📆 Thursday October 23rd, 2025
⏰1-4pm
📍The front lawn at Byam
DINING FOR DOLLARS
Don't feel like cooking? Head over to Panera in Westford on Friday October 24th from 4-8pm for our Dining for Dollars event! Bring in your flyer, mention this fundraiser or enter the code FUND4U on the app/ Kiosk and 20% of your order will come back to the BSA. Thanks for your support & enjoy! 🍽️
📆 Friday October 24th, 2025
⏰4-8pm
📍2 Cornerstone Square, Westford, MA
UML HOCKEY BYAM NIGHT
All Byam Elementary School students, family, & friends! We invite you to join us for this special offer brought to you by the BSA as the River Hawks do battle with their Hockey East rivals, the New Hampshire Wildcats!
Come show support as a portion of each ticket sold will be donated back to the BYAM School to fund future events and end of year festivities!
Listed ticket price includes all additional fees, and all tickets will be delivered via email.
🗓️Friday, November 7th @ 7:15 PM
📍Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
🏒UNH Wildcats @ UML River Hawks
LINK for tickets: https://www.gofevo.com/event/BYAM1107
JOIN THE BSA "VIP" LIST
The BSA struggles with trying to keep you informed without flooding your inbox. We understand some don't have the bandwidth to know more, while others are looking to get more involved...but don't know where to start. If you are one of those people looking to know more please take a moment to fill out this form. This does not lock you into anything but helps us filter our "extra" communication more directly to people looking to be more involved with the BSA!
Follow the BSA on Instagram
No-cost Registration for Byam Events:
*Financial concerns should never stand in the way of families participating in school events. If you are interested in any Byam activities please contact Lyndsey O’Neil, our school counselor, to register at no cost: oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Want to get involved?
Here are some openings the BSA is currently seeking help on, reach out the bsa.chelmsford@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these positions!
We welcome more building substitutes!
Chelmsford Community Education Fall Listings and Registration
Below you will find the Chelmsford Community Education fall course book where there are activities for young children and teens of many ages.
Follow Principal Fredette and AP Dolan On Byam Instagram! Account names are @byamprincipal and @byam_ap
Byam School
Office: Secretary Quinn quinncm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Clerk/Attendance: murphys@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Principal Fredette fredettej@chelmsford.k12.ma.usAssistant Principal Dolan dolane@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://byam.chelmsfordschools.org/about/
Location: 25 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5144