Florence Sawyer School Happenings

Dear Families,

We are excited to share that we will be moving to Digital Document Delivery for report cards in grades K-8 this year. Families will receive their child’s Trimester 1 report card via secure email delivery on December 18th.

Please refer to the sample email provided, which includes instructions for accessing the report card using your child’s date of birth. This shift offers several benefits, including increased convenience for families, faster delivery, and a reduced environmental footprint.

For students receiving special education services, families will receive a separate email with Trimester 1 progress reports attached.

Additionally, for families requiring translation services, translated report cards and progress reports will be sent home in your child’s backpack on December 18th.

Families who prefer a physical copy of their child’s report card can request one through the school office.

Joel Bates,

Principal

Sample Email:

Hello,

The Florence Sawyer School has prepared a secure document for (Child’s Name).

Attached you will find your child's report card for Trimester 1 of 2024-2025 school year.

The attached document is password protected. The password is your child's date of birth in this format: mm/dd/yyyy

Please remember to use the slash when entering the date of birth. example: 01/01/2006

If you have any questions about your child's report card, please contact your child's teacher.

Digital Document Link To Your Child's Report Card

In other FSS News....

• On behalf of the Florence Sawyer Student Council, I want to thank you for contributing to the Student Council Thanksgiving Drive. I was able to deliver a full vanload of food and supplies to WHEAT on Tuesday!
• I'm excited to announce a new after school writing program for grades 4-8. More information can be found in this edition.
• This is a reminder that Wednesday is School Picture Retake Day. Details can be found below. PTO is looking for an additional volunteer in the Emerson Wing. Sign up by using the link in the PTO section.
• Due to the forecast, there will not be a school store on Friday.

We are very excited about our new lunch options and I hope that your children are enjoying them. To access the menus for each wing of the Florence Sawyer School Emerson Wing (PK-1) and the Sawyer Wing (2-8) there are different menus. We have included them below.

We are excited to share a new process for lunches in the Emerson Wing K-1 (only). To expedite the morning routine for our classroom teachers we are asking for all families to partner with us and please complete the Google Form by 8am each Monday. This will be the new way that K-1 students in the Emerson-Wing order their lunch choice. We will send a new form home on Friday so you can make selections over the weekend for the upcoming week.

We have created the Virtual Backpack as a convenience for our families to capture forms, flyers, calendars, and other information that might have traditionally come home in a backpack.

Included on the Virtual Backpack page is a Community Events and Activities page where you can find non-school sponsored activities such community events, youth sports, community information for families, and other activities for children. We do our best to keep the CAEP updated.

Families,

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced a rise in cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, particularly among school-age children and adolescents. Pertussis is a very contagious bacterial respiratory illness that can be severe in infants, and also children with underlying conditions such as asthma. Symptoms can begin like the common cold, but the cough can last for weeks or even months.

Children are fully vaccinated for pertussis before beginning kindergarten ("DTaP"), however, they require a booster vaccination ("TDaP") at the age of 11 or 12 years, before entry into 7th grade.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health is asking school healthcare providers to ensure that all students are up to date on their DTaP/ TDaP immunizations. Please contact your child's pediatrician as soon as possible if you are unsure of your child’s immunization status in regards to pertussis.

Please note that students without documentation of immunization, or documented religious/ medical exemptions from immunization, may need to be excluded from attending school if cases of pertussis were to arise within the district.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Karin Frostholm, RN, Sawyer Wing

Audra Maria, RN, Emerson Wing

Students’ ability to express their ideas through written communication is essential. In elementary and middle school, teachers work closely with students to build foundational writing skills, setting the stage for more advanced techniques in the future. For some students, writing can be challenging, and they require multiple opportunities to engage in the writing process in order to build both their knowledge and confidence. Therefore, we are offering an after school writing program designed to provide students with extra writing help. Students in grades 4-5 will meet on Fridays after school until 4:15 pm, and students in grades 6-8 will meet after school on Tuesdays until 4:15 pm with our assistant principal, Marybeth Donlan. Sessions will begin the week of January 6th and will continue until the end of March. There is a 20 student limit per group. To register, you may fill out this Google Form. If you have any questions please reach out to Dr. Donlan: mdonlan@nrsd.net.

Dear Florence Sawyer School Families,

We are excited to announce an opportunity for you to become an integral part of our school community! We are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to apply for the position of Paid Lunchroom Monitor at Florence Sawyer School.

Position Highlights:

• Student-Facing Role: Engage with our students daily and play a vital role in their lunchtime experience.

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a supportive team of school staff and fellow monitors.

• Support Our School Community: Contribute to creating a positive and organized lunchroom atmosphere.

The role involves working approximately 3 hours a day, helping to ensure that lunch periods run smoothly. This is a fantastic way to get involved with our school, support our children, and be an active part of our community.

If you are interested in this rewarding opportunity, please apply here.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. We look forward to hearing from you!

Looking to support the Florence Sawyer School?

We are actively seeking volunteers to assist our on duty staff for both lunch and recess duties.

We are seeking individuals who would be willing to sign up for specific time intervals on a monthly calendar.

Lunch Duties in the Sawyer building run for 30 min intervals starting at 10:55 until 1:30pm.

Lunch Duties in the Emerson building run from 12:30-2:00pm.

You will be required to have a current CORI on file with the district.

If you are interested in helping us out please send an email to kgallagher@nrsd.net .

Additional information will be provided to those who reach out.

Any questions, please call 978-779-2821 X5106

Two students at Nashoba Regional High School created a brochure detailing all of the clubs and activities offered at Nashoba. For more information click on the QR code below.

12/06/2024 SEPAC Social - Bolton Bean 9:00a - 10:30a Grab a coffee and chat with other SEPAC parents - if your child is currently receiving special education services or they may be in the future - this social is open to all as a means to provide support and start fostering a greater sense of community. We hope to see you at the Bean!

12/10/2024 SEPAC Business Meeting 6:30p - 8:00p Google Meet - Open to all who are interested

https://calendar.app.google/NWfXpa1So164NZuV6

https://meet.google.com/kgm-dgid-vpa

12/12/2024 Basic Rights Presentation: Evaluation and Eligibility

Registration Link: https://fcsn.org/event/nashoba-reg-evaluation-and-eligibility/

This presentation is a comprehensive introduction into special education laws and procedures. We will delve into the purpose of the law, referrals, evaluations, and the team meeting process including determining eligibility. Further discussion will focus on services, placement, and what to do when you receive a proposed IEP. You will also learn what to do if the student is not eligible and parent’s procedural due process rights for resolving disputes.

12/17/2024 Gentle Yoga - The Fellowship Building, 7 Elm Street, Harvard 5:30p - 6:30p

Join Theresa Hoberman and other parents from our district in a session of Gentle Yoga. Feel free to arrive at 5:00p for a social gathering prior to the session. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email THoberman@yahoo.com with any questions.

School Pictures Update

Picture re-take day will be December 4th. We still need a volunteer for Emerson School. Please Sign Up HERE.

Bolton PTO 2025 Auction

Save the date - Saturday, March 29, 2025

This is our biggest fundraiser and takes place every other year. If you would like to be part of the committee for this fun event, please contact Event Fundraising Chair, Sara Brazer at sarabrazer@gmail.com.

School Store

The next School Store originally scheduled for December 6 will be postponed due to the cold temperatures expected.

Join the FREE Online Family Directory OR Renew Your Membership TODAY!

The Bolton PTO is thrilled to announce that our Online Family Directory is now FREE for all families! This is your chance to connect with other parents and families and build a stronger school network. To be included in the directory, all you need to do is visit our website, set up your profile, and add your child(ren) and their classroom(s).

If you have previously had an account, please log in and update your child(ren)'s grade and teacher so that it is up to date. Information does not automatically update, unfortunately!

Remember, the directory is only as powerful as the number of families who join, so don’t miss out—get connected today! Get started here!

Registration for BOLTON Ski Club starts now!

Bolton Ski Club Registration is open to grades 3-8 from now through December 6th. We ski and board at Wachusett. Please see below for details:

Eligibility: Grades 3-8 (Wachusett rules). 3rd and 4th graders must have previous ski experience or be chaperoned by a parent or guardian. This is extremely important. If your child has not skied before someone needs to be on the mountain with them.

Dates: Six Fridays starting January 3 - February 7 (there are two half days, January 17 and February 7, where kids will get extra time at the mountain). Last year Wachusett implemented a new policy where it is $15 extra per child for the extended days. We will send out more information on this and how to pay for those days once final registrations are in.

Timeframe: 4:00pm - 7:00pm (bring equipment to school and ski clothes to school and home every week). Bus leaves FSS at 3:30 each Friday (except for half days when bus will leave at 12:30 and kids will ski from 1-7)

Transportation: We will be hiring a bus to transport kids to and from Wachusett. The cost will be between $135 and $165 per person (subject to change based on number of buses hired and amount of student per bus) and will be handled separately from the Wachusett sign ups along with an Agreement of Behavior for Transportation Participation. The cost for the bus is for a round trip whether you take it one way or round trip. Seats will be on a first come first serve basis. Once we have one full bus, we will start a wait list until we have enough students to make a second bus feasible. Please sign up early! Riding on the bus is a privilege. We have had inquiries about one-off rider ships in the past, we are not able to accommodate those requests. Bus transportation requires that skiing/snowboarding equipment be dropped off before the start of the school day each Friday. Dropping off during the day is not allowed- per school rules.

Click here for the Bus Registration: Ski Bus Sign up . This is separate from registering for the ski program through Wachusset. You are also welcome to drive your child or groups of children to and from the mountain if preferred.

Volunteering: Due to the growth of the program caregiver participation is mandatory for the program to run efficiently. Ski club is a parent-run program and it takes a village to make it run smoothly. We ask each parent to volunteer in some capacity so we can keep this treasured program going strong. We will have a meeting in early December to discuss these opportunities. You don’t have to be a skier to help out, here are some ways you can lend a hand:

• School Chaperone- Manage ski club meeting area in the Gymnasium and organize kids onto the bus

• Organize and maintain ski club records

• Traffic controller - keep communication going between chaperones, main lodge and parents (ETA for bus arrivals after ski club, etc.)

• Bus Loader: Help the kids and their equipment get loaded and unloaded onto the bus

• Lodge parent - hang out in the lodge to answer any questions, provide support to kids coming and going

• Ski Chaperone - partner up with another skiing parent and ski with a designated group of kids

• Lesson Chaperone: Walk skiers and boarders over to lessons and pick them up afterwards

Ski Club Registration:

Registration Deadline: December 6th

* Click on the link below for details on cost for ski club and lessons (if applicable) Ski Club Registration

Access code-BSASC

*Please click on this link to review and sign the Behavior Criteria Form with your student (fill out a form for each student)

Behavior Criteria Form

Lessons: These are 1 hour sessions and are meant for beginner skiers. Wachusett is no longer providing advanced lessons for these programs.

Terrain Park: There is an option to select a terrain park pass for $5. This pass is good all season

Rentals: Anyone in need of rentals should secure season long rentals rather than rent at the mountain. The logistics of splitting up the group, assigning chaperones, and the very long lines is a big hassle for coordinating and for the kids. Picking up weekly rentals at Wachusett eats up nearly the entire first evening and a chunk of time each week of our already short time on the mountain. Below is a list of local places you can look into:

• R.J. Bradleys-Littleton

• Summit Ski and Snowboard

• Zimmermans-Nashua

• Sport Loft- locations in Acton, Leominster and Boylston

• Ski Barn- Westborough

Registration Deadline: December 6th

Informational Meetings: There will be a mandatory in person meeting in the FSS Aduitorium on December 5th at 6:30 to share detailed information about the program. The reason this meeting is mandatory is to ensure all parents and guardians understand the safety protocols and rules of the program and of Wachusett Mountain. As always, please remember that Bolton Ski Club is a volunteer run organization and takes zero responsibility for the participants and properties

We are excited to be taking on the coordination of the Bolton Ski Program and look forward to seeing your kids on the slopes!

Bolton Ski Club,

Brenda Cullen, Lauren LaRosa and Mary Miskin

Nashoba Junior Chess Club

Chess Club is open to any child in grades K-12 who has a love for playing chess and to those who want to learn.

Time: 5:30-7:00pm

Where: Bolton Public Library, Program Room

When: Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Note: Additional Tuesday dates will be scheduled throughout the winter, so please keep an eye out for more details.

Instruction with Chess Master, Dr. Toth, starts at 5:30pm and peer matches begin by 6 pm.

We kindly request the presence of a parent or caregiver at all times if your child is under 11 years old.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Darrell Ferris (darrellferris@gmail.com) and Erin Mangan (erinmangan@gmail.com).

December 2024

4 - Picture Makeup Day

5 - Ski Club Parent meeting 6:30

10 - Winter Chorus Concert 7:00pm

11 - FSS School Council 6:30pm

13 - Early Release - Professional Development

17 - Band Concert - Grades 5-8 - 7:00pm

23 - Jan 1 - No School - School Vacation

Be your best self.

Pave your path.

Impact the world.

Website: https://sawyer.nrsd.net/
Location: 100 Mechanic Street, Bolton, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 779-2821

You can download the App by going to NRSD.net, scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click on the App Store or Google Play links.