Hello Families,

Welcome back and happy 2025. We are ready for the new year with revived spirit and dedication and hope you are too.

Coming up on Wednesday January 29th is our annual Family Engagement Night planned in conjunction with our School Council. We have two important topics we will be sharing based on feedback from families. One topic will be on the subject of ADHD and Anxiety from a parents perspective and the other topic is the importance of digital and internet safety. We hope you will save the date and consider attending.

Respectfully,

Terri and Jayson =)

Monday, January 13th

• Student Grade Level Meetings w/ Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho
• Student Council, 3:30-4:15pm
• School Council, 5:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Board Meeting, 6:30pm, Conference Room
• PTO Meeting, 7:00pm, Lab

Tuesday, January 14th

• Early Release Day - Teacher Professional Development - Students dismissed at 11:45am
• Try it Tuesday - apples

• Reminders for Early Release Days:

  • Students are dismissed at 11:45am
  • Car dismissals should adhere to the following times
  1. Last names A-G- 11:40-11:45am
  2. Last names H-N- 11:45-11:50am
  3. Last names O-Z- 11:50-11:55am
• Please communicate any changes to your child's dismissal plans to their respective teacher, Mrs. O'Neill (oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) and Mrs. Sepe (sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us). Be sure to also discuss with your child.
• Lunch is available for take home ONLY through online ordering ( see Food Services section below in this newsletter)
• Students will either have specials or recess (rotates every half day).
• Snack time may be adjusted and/or not occur depending on your child(ren)'s schedule.
• Extended Day will be open until 6:00pm for students signed up on TUESDAY. Please provide your child a lunch.
• Please anticipate possible delays with buses as they navigate an early release schedule.

Wednesday, January 15th

• No events

Thursday, January 16th

• No events

Friday, January 17th

• Tie Dye School Spirit Day

Monday, January 20th

• No School - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21st

• Winter Activities Week in Specials (all week)

Wednesday, January 22nd

• Mike Bent Magician Kindergarten Enrichment Program

Thursday, January 23rd

• Multicultural Festival Committee Meeting, 3:45pm, New Members welcome!

Friday, January 24th

• Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day

Saturday, January 25th

• PTO Family Craft Event, 1:00-3:00pm, Cafe/Gym

Monday, January 27th

• The Great Kindness Challenge Week begins

Tuesday, January 28th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am- 6:00pm

Wednesday, January 29th

• Rising Kindergarten Registration at Central Office, 9:00am-6:00pm
• Family Engagement Night - 6:15 - 7:30pm

Friday, January 31st

• PTO Movie Night, Cafe

Save the Date: Family Engagement Night - January 29th from 6:15 to 7:30

This year we will be sharing topics based on feedback from families. Our Chelmsford SRO will share information about digital and internet safety. Additionally, we will have families share information about their journey with children who have ADHD and/or Anxiety. We will send out a google form soon for you to indicate if you will be able to attend and need childcare. We are only able to offer childcare for students that currently attend South Row.

Smartphones and Smart Watches: We strongly discourage sending your child to school with smart phones or watches. If your child brings either of these devices to school the expectation is that they are turned off and in their backpack.

Colder Temperatures: As the winter months approach us, please be sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor recess (ie. jackets/sweatshirts, etc).

Snacks: Please remember to send your child in with a snack. The school has a very limited supply that gets depleted quickly and it is not to every students liking.

Dear South Row Families,

Cold and Flu season is in full swing. So far (knock on wood) we are doing well overall.

As a reminder, here are the CPS guidelines for returning to school after illness:

We recommend that children do not come to school if they appear to be ill. We advise caregivers to keep students home if they have a sore throat, severe cold, rash, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Students need to stay home if they have 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 and 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 MD clearance at the discretion of the school nurse.

• After a major illness, injury or hospitalization, a doctor's note may be required to return to school. (ie: new cast/crutches/assistive device, and after stitches/surgery/hospital visit).

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.

Warmly,

Nurse V.

Do you love to craft? Looking to put your gluing and painting skills to good use? Join us for our Winter Craft-ernoon, Saturday January 25 from 1-3pm. Volunteer by signing up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A5AF2CA6F4C25-54301198-winter

We will be offering a virtual option for those that would like to join the monthly PTO meeting but can't make it in person. Please use this link to join the meeting virtually.

We welcome you to check out ou Connections Calendar and provide feedback using this link.

Please click on the "button" below to access resources and supports available. Do not hesitate to reach out to any support team member with any questions you may have.

**Please note: We continuously update the button below with new resources as they arise.

This section is comprised of the following items pertaining to food services

• Website
• Breakfast Information
• Tentative Breakfast/Lunch Menus

Dear Parents and Families --

To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.

For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 9/18/24

● 10/24/24

● 11/20/24 (Elem & MS Only)

● 11/27/24

● 12/12/24

● 1/14/25

● 2/6/25

● 3/12/25

● 4/1/25

If you would like your child to have lunch on future half days, the online ordering is open for you to go ahead and select those dates. Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order: 1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com

2. Sign up now: Email, create password.

3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools

4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number

5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student's name should appear on the page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)

2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)

3. Find date, select meal option

4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order

5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page

6. Click Check out

7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.

8. Place order

Mrs. Terri Gilbert

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow

• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
• Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
• Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
• Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
• Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1