MHS/WES NEWSLETTER

Dear Families,

Welcome to another school year! We have been gearing up for some fun events this school year and can't wait to see your children back in our buildings. We are happy to announce that Mr. Mike Leander has stepped in as our New Assistant Principal. He comes to us with lots of elementary experience and loads of fun. Together, we want your children to wake up with joy and excitement to return to school each and every day.

We are looking forward to collaborating with you to make this school year the most memorable and successful one to date. Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. Let's make this school year one filled with growth, joy, and fun as we soar to new achievements.

Here's to an amazing school year ahead!

Warm regards,

Kathy Taylor, Principal

Mike Leander, Assistant Principal

MHS/WES Sneak Peek & Popsicles with the Principals

Thursday, August 22nd

4:00-5:30 p.m.

• We are hosting a "Sneak Peek" for all students K-5. Representatives from the PTO will be available to help with guided tours for new families. Teachers will not be present, however, administration and secretaries will be available to assist with any questions about the upcoming school year.
• Popsicles with the Principals! Come have a popsicle with us! Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Leander will be on the MHS playground giving out popsicles! Please stop by to say hello!

Kindergarten Orientation

Tuesday, August 27th

9:00~9:45 AM

Students will visit their classrooms and meet their new teachers. They will also have the opportunity to ride a big yellow bus. Meanwhile parents and caregivers will listen to a brief presentation and talk with Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Leander.

WES Curriculum/Parents' Night (Grades 2 - 5)

Thursday, Sept 12th

Cafeteria mix and mingle 6:00 - 7:00

Session 1: 6:00 - 6:30 (Grades 2, 3)

Session 2: 6:45 - 7:15 (Grades 4, 5)

• Grade level teachers give a presentation on their curriculum and an overview of their year to parents/guardians. During our cafeteria mix and mingle, stop by to talk with special subject teachers, school adjustment counselors, the PTO, Scouts, The Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Excellence, SEPAC and more...

MHS Open House (PreK - 1)

Thursday, October 3rd

5:30-6:30 p.m.

The entire family joins in on the fun. Students give their families a tour of their classroom and building.

ARRIVAL

8:20 - 8:30 AM

DISMISSAL

2:55 PM

HALF DAYS - DISMISSAL

12:00 PM

AM Session 8:45-11:10 AM

PM Session 12:00-2:30 PM

Full Day Session 8:45-2:30 PM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday)

All students have a bus number assigned to them as well as stops. Please click on the button at the end of this newsletter to see your child's bus number and stop. HOWEVER, if your child is going to be a parent pick up, walker, walker to MHS, or going to extended day, it is VERY IMPORTANT to send in a note on the very first day of school. One note is sufficient for the year with their schedule, but if it changes at all, we need to know. The safety of your child is our priority. Thank you

August 22: Thursday ~ Sneak Peak for all MHS/WES Students 4:00-5:30 PM

August 26: Monday ~ First Day of School, Grades 1-12

August 27: Tuesday ~ Kindergarten Orientation, 9:00-9:45 AM

August 28: Wednesday ~ First Day of School for Kindergarten!

August 29: Thursday ~ Preschool Open House 9:30-11:00 AM (details from teachers)

August 30 & September 2: Friday and Monday ~ No School Labor Day Weekend

September 3: Tuesday ~ First Day of School for Preschool

September 5: Thursday ~ PTO meeting 6:30 PM at MHS Library

September 12: Thursday ~ WES Curriculum/Parents' Night 6:00 - 7:15 PM (See more info. below)

September 17: Tuesday ~ School Pictures for MHS and WES

September 18: Wednesday ~ Noon Dismissal, Professional Development

October 3: Thursday ~ MHS Open House 5:30 - 6:30 PM (See more info. below)

Emergency Early Dismissal Policy

In the event of an unforeseen emergency that necessitates the dismissal of students prior to the end of the school day, parent notification will be provided through the automated phone and email system. Typical emergency situations that may precipitate an early dismissal include, but are not necessarily limited to, severe weather conditions, fire and absence of heat or water.

Since it is impractical for school officials to personally contact every parent in the event of an early dismissal, parents and particularly the parents of elementary age children, are encouraged to develop a clear and well-defined plan with their children in case of an early dismissal. Since children will be dismissed to their home, it is imperative that children know how to gain entry into their home and how and whom to call once they are there.

ABSENCES: Please call WES (978-874-2043) or MHS (978-874-0163) when your child will be absent or late for school. Please state your name, your child’s name, teacher, and the reason for absence. If you must speak to someone, please call after 7:45 AM. This system is to ensure the safety of your child. If we do not hear from you, we will contact you at home or work, and if we can’t reach someone we may send a school resource officer to the house to do a well child check. Absent notes are required when children return to school.

AM Arrivals: Bus drivers do not let children off the bus until 8:20 a.m. There is NO Supervision before 8:20 a.m. Walkers/students being dropped off should not arrive before 8:20 a.m. School starts at 8:30 a.m.

PM Dismissals: The school day ends at 2:55 p.m. The office needs to know your dismissal plan. If your child is a car-rider, you will be given a sign to display on your car dashboard to be used each day. Car riders will be dismissed to the cafeteria and called outside in the order cars line up. Please remain in your car. Signs will be posted. If you would like your older sibling to walk from WES to MHS pick-ups for dismissal in the afternoon, please send a note to the office and your child’s teacher.

If your child needs to be dismissed early, please send a note to his/her teacher stating the time and reason for dismissal. Early dismissals will be handled through the main office.

NOTES: Please use student’s (and parent’s) last names in all notes to the teacher/office. Please also date all notes so that we can be sure we are dealing with current messages. Notes are required for any change in dismissal. You may also email a note to mhsoffice@awrsd.org (MHS) or wesoffice@awrsd.org(WES).

MEDICATIONS: ALL Medications must be brought to the nurse by an adult at the beginning of the day. Medication is NOT TO BE TAKEN by any child on his/her own. The school nurse under the following circumstances will administer medication:

• A signed and dated note from a doctor and a parent is sent with the child’s name, dosage, reason for medication and time to be given.

• The prescription bottle is sent with only the amount which will be needed for the administration at school. (Pharmacies will dispense in two bottles if you ask.)

School Announcements:

Please make sure all phone numbers and email addresses are updated throughout the school year to ensure you receive all messages sent from the school or district.

RESTRICTIONS: Please provide the office with any LEGAL DOCUMENT which indicates any legal restrictions on the release of your child as per district policy. These restrictions CANNOT be honored unless we have a copy of the legal documents in your child’s file. Please remember that it is MOST IMPORTANT that your child knows who he/she is allowed to leave school with and restrictions of the same.

TARDINESS: It is important that your child be at school on time. Tardy students need to stop at the office for a tardy slip when they arrive later than 8:30 a.m. If excessive tardiness continues, it will be necessary for the parent and child to meet with the Principal so that we may remedy the situation.

Please reach out with any questions you may have. We are happy to help!

• MHS - Kathi McCarthy 978-874-0163 ext. 0
• WES - Liz Maillet 978-874-2043 ext 0

Grade 5 Nature's Classroom at Camp Cody 2024

Monday, May 19th - Friday, May 23rd

Each year our 5th grade students travel to Camp Cody in Freedom, NH for an outdoor classroom experience. The trip is 5 days/4 nights. Next year we are going the week of May 20-24th. We want to prepare families that the cost of this trip has increased and is estimated to be about $450-475 per student. Please note this trip in your calendars, more information will go home with students in a few weeks.

Hey fourth graders! See America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free.

https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

Bus routes for the 24-25 school year have been posted and can be found at https://www.awrsd.org/apps/pages/transportation

For questions about transportation, please email bussing@awrsd.org and provide your child's full name, school, address, and the question/issue.

IMPORTANT BUS NOTES:

• All students are expected to be present at their stop and visible to the driver 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. This includes all door-to-door stops as well as group stops.
• The buses will pick up all students at stops in the morning, but if a student is planning to take a different bus home in the afternoon, a bus pass is needed from the school office, regardless of what grade they’re in. Parent notes will not be accepted for both safety and liability reasons.
• All K and 1st Grade students must have an adult at the stop to receive them in the afternoon, unless authorization to get off the bus alone or with an older sibling has been given to the school office or busing coordinator.
• All 2nd & 3rd Grade students must have an adult/older sibling/designated person visible to the driver when dropping off. They don’t have to be at the stop location, they can be on a porch, in a doorway, etc., as long as the driver can see them.
• Students who miss the bus in the morning can board at any other stop along the route, but the buses will not stop if it isn’t a designated stop location, for legal and safety reasons. However, in the PM, unless there is a pass indicating otherwise, the student will only be dropped off at their stop of record for legal and safety reasons.

General Ashburnham-Westminster Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) membership is open to all AWRSD parents/guardians of children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans and other interested parties. We need volunteers to help plan workshops, staff tables at local school and community events, become future leaders, assist other parents, and plan new activities and projects. Learn more about us and our work on our website https://sites.google.com/view/ashburnham-westminster-sepac. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashwestsepac.