Cheetah Pride Press

On this Memorial Day take some time to remember those who have fallen for our freedom. After this Memorial Day do something good every day so that we can use this freedom for noble causes. They died for it and now it’s our responsibility to make it worth it. –Richelle E. Goodrich

Congratulations to the 2021-22 East Hampton Teacher of the Year, Grade 1 Teacher at Memorial School, Heather Vigue. Heather will represent all of the East Hampton teachers in the State of Connecticut Teacher of the Year selection process. Heather will be honored by the school district at the annual Back-to-School Convocation on August 24 and at the annual State of Connecticut Teacher of the Year celebration and awards ceremony at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford.

From Heather’s nomination:

Heather Vigue encourages each child to reach for the stars and challenge themselves. In their daily work the class is encouraged to try new things, including public speaking and acting by taking part in reading plays or practicing leadership skills in their weekly helper roles. The love for students and connections Heather makes with her students create an incredible and unique bond with each one. They feel like they are an extension of her family. It is this bond and encouragement to try new things that challenge the students to keep striving to achieve more.

Her love of teaching is evident in her enthusiasm in the classroom and in communications with parents. Her constant communication with families via newsletters and photos and messages, reassures us that our children are not only safe, but happy, learning and loved by her.

Going above and beyond is what she does. Her love for students is reciprocated by each one of them and by their families. Especially during this past year, Heather has ensured that all of her students are thriving, feel confident, and are secure in this time of great uncertainty. She not only embodies “My Favorite Teacher,” but also “Teacher of the Year.”

Dear Memorial Families,

We are excited to announce that our 2021 Writing Celebration is just around the corner! We invite you to come to marvel over the hard work, perseverance, and creativity of our young writers which will be on display in Memorial’s Main Lobby according to the class schedule/dates pictured below. To accommodate families’ schedules, this gallery of work will be open from 3:45-5:45pm for a self-guided tour. Please come and go at your leisure and understand that it is possible that some teachers may be unable to attend.

As safety continues to be our priority, families are asked to enter through the main entrance and exit via the side exit. Masks are required and hand sanitizer stations will be available upon entry and at exit. We appreciate your support with limiting hands-on contact with students’ work.

With pride,

Andy & Brandy

Dear Grade 3 Families,

It is with pride that we look forward to celebrating our 3rd Graders’ accomplishments and with confidence that we support their transition to 4th Grade at Center School. We are excited to offer a more traditional Movin’ On Up event this year and invite families to attend a celebration occurring during the school day in our cafetorium according to the following schedule:

June 8: Mr. Frost 9:00am Mr. Evans 9:50am Ms. Conklin 1:30pm

June 9: Mrs. Hennessey 9:00am Mrs. Haydu 9:50am Mrs. Snyder 1:30pm

Mr. Rossi 2:15pm

Each grade 3 classroom will host its own individual ceremony in order to allow comfortable and safe spacing for all attendees. We appreciate families limiting guests to 2 adults per student and will live stream the event so additional families can view remotely. Masks are required and we ask that there be no congregating after the event. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and consideration with ensuring that all families wishing to attend can be safely accommodated.

The ceremony will include Andy and Brandy’s welcoming messages and reflections, remarks or memories from your classroom teacher or students, a formal presentation of certificates of promotion, a slide show that highlights this year’s grade 3 experience, and a commemorative program brochure.

We have enjoyed getting to know the class of 2030 and look forward to following their

accomplishments at Center School and beyond.

Congratulations!

With Cheetah Pride,

Andy & Brandy

May 31--Memorial Day--No School

June 1-4--School Spirit Week

June 1--Say Something Nice Day

June 7--PK & K Fun Day

June 8--Grade 1 Fun Day

June 8--Grade 3 Movin' On Up Celebrations

June 9--Grade 2 Fun Day

June 9--Grade 3 Movin' On Up Celebrations

June 10--Grade 3 Fun Day

June 15-17--Medication Pick Up

June 16--Last Day of School--1:10 Dismissal

As the school year comes to an end, we understand that there are a lot of things happening at once, so the health office team would like to send this friendly reminder to all families that have had a medication in our office this school year. Please, plan to come to school June 15-17, 2021 to pick up your child’s medications, as they cannot be sent home in backpacks. No medications can be held at school over the summer. All medications that are not picked up must be discarded.

All photo inquiries (including QR Codes) should be directed to photographer Ted Morton at tedmorton1@yahoo.com.

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." --Colin Powell

• Implement Second Step Social Emotional curriculum with fidelity across all grade levels and classrooms.
• Achieve individual growth targets as measured by the i-Ready reading and math diagnostic assessment for all students.

The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:

1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.

2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show compassion.

3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.

Ways to Calm Down: Belly breathing, using positive self-talk, counting

4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way

i-Ready Personalized Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so your student can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn. We recommend usage should be limited to 45 minutes per week per subject area! See below for how to access the progress and time on task for your student.

• Implement Fundations with fidelity across k-3 grade levels and classrooms.
• Utilize the workshop model of instruction in mathematics in all classrooms.

• Ensure that all teachers engage in Individual Data Meetings with Reading/Math Specialists and Administration to review student performance data, set individual growth targets for every learner, and create instructional plans to help realize these goals.
• Create teacher driven goals at the classroom level to enhance communication, connection and support in response to the 19-20 Parent Feedback survey.

Kindergarten has begun the countdown to day 180 with Backwards ZYX Bootcamp!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them." --John F. Kennedy

Thank you Paul's and Sandy's Too for donating plants and mulch to spruce up our lot planters!

Thank you East Hampton Ambulance Association for visiting our preschoolers as community helpers!

Dear Community Partners,

We have partnered with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions to offer free, pre-recorded parenting classes to all HUSKY Health members. These classes are brief (20 minutes or less), informative, and fun! We would appreciate it if you shared this information with HUSKY Health members. The link to Peace at Home, as well as the HUSKY Health "Important Phone Numbers" wallet card are linked below for your reference.

We will continue to provide support to HUSKY Health members by telephone and email. For more information on our programs and services, please visit our website at www.portal.ct.gov/husky and click "Information for Members."

Thank you,

Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.®

The State of Connecticut's medical Administrative Services Organization (ASO) for the HUSKY Health Program

Check out how are tomatoes have grown! They aren’t much taller than last week, but they have sprouted more leaves and some of the leaves are now multi-lobed. The stems have also thickened a bit and they don’t look quite as fragile. Note in the 2nd picture, all the plants are stretching towards the window and reaching for as much sunlight as they can get.

We appreciate how proactive families have been in taking students to get tested for COVID. Please know that if you choose to do this, you are required, per Chatham Health guidance, to keep your learner home until the negative results are shared with the school. Please also remember that rapid molecular and PCR tests are the only tests accepted by our schools.

Close contact: within 6 feet of an infected person (confirmed COVID19) for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, or a direct exposure to possibly infected droplets of saliva or nasal mucus (e.g., being sneezed or coughed on in the face).

A Message from the Department of Children and Families

We are asking for your help spreading the word about the state’s new “Talk It Out Line”, which is a Department of Children and Families’ initiative created to provide support and services to help parents and caretakers with the stress and increased needs resulting from caring for their children during the COVID-19 crisis. Parents and caregivers are invited to call 833-258-5011 and/or visit www.talkitoutct.com to speak with trained professionals (in both English and Spanish) who will listen and discuss their concerns and, if additional help is needed, refer them to responsive services. The "Talk It Out Line" is available Monday-Friday from 8am to 8pm; and on weekends from 1 pm to 8 pm.

The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The school community of East Hampton is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Home of 570 PK-3 Proud Young Cheetahs and Future Bellringers!

Email: memorialoffice@easthamptonct.org
Website: http://www.easthamptonps.org/o/memorial-school
Location: 20 Smith Street, East Hampton, CT 06424
Phone: 860-365-4020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehmemorialschool/