Dear MMES Families,

It is that time of year again...the time for the "tardy to school" reminder! Please note that students who are not in the building BEFORE 8:25 are marked tardy. Each year, after the new year we seem to see an uptick in tardies. When a student is tardy to school, it has a big impact on not just their day, but it is very disruptive to the classroom and their classmates. When a student arrives tardy, the other students who are already engaged in meaningful classroom activities are disrupted and distracted. Not to mention...the extra time it takes poor Mrs. Schmidt to check them in at the front office.

So I need your help at home! Please aim to arrive to the school property between 8:05 and 8:15 each morning. This will give you a little wiggle room as we know...something always can go awry in the mornings! We will be tightening up our tardy records going forward, and the teachers really appreciate your help in adjusting your morning routine slightly so that they can give their students the best possible experience! For the 90% of students who arrive to school on time routinely...THANK YOU!

The teachers asked me to alert all of you to the free school breakfast (and lunch) program that the state put in place a few years ago. This program allows all students in public schools free access to lunch and breakfast daily at school. Classroom teachers are seeing a very high percentage of students getting a breakfast from the cafeteria and saving it for snack time because they already ate breakfast at home. This is totally acceptable, but they are seeing students throw away nice, healthy snacks that are sent in from home in favor of the breakfast that is offered.

Here is the information for the breakfast and lunch nutrition:

https://mersd.nutrislice.com/menu/mersd-elementary-lunch/breakfast/2025-01-31

If you prefer your child NOT to be able to get the breakfasts and/or lunches, you can email Paula Graham at grahamp@mersd.org and she will put a note on your child(ren)'s account.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

John

Date: Tuesday, February 4th

Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Essex Elementary School

On the Agenda

High School Graduation Requirements

• Proposed Graduation Requirement Changes

FY26 Budget Hearing

• Information on the FY26 Budget

This meeting is a valuable opportunity to engage in decisions that shape the future of our schools. We encourage you to attend and be part of these important discussions.

Please remember:

· If your child is going to be absent, tardy, or there is a change to dismissal plans- utilize PickUp Patrol for those changes. You no longer need to email or call Mrs. Schmidt, the teacher, or the school nurse to report those changes.

· If your child has a temperature of 100.4F or over, they need to be fever free for 24 hours (without the aid of Tylenol or Motrin) before re-entering the school.

· If your child is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, they need to be symptom free for 24 hours and can tolerate solid food before re-entering the building.

· ALL CLASSROOMS ARE PEANUT/NUT FREE

Please refer to the link below for guidelines on staying home with respiratory illnesses in Massachusetts.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/staying-home-to-prevent-the-spread-of-respiratory-viruses

Change of clothes: Each student should have a complete change of clothes in case of spills, wetness from snow or rain, and any accidents.
This winter has been particularly cold, and although we've spent much of the month indoors, we try to take students outside for fresh air whenever the temperature "feels" above 20°F. Please make sure your child comes to school prepared with a winter hat, gloves, boots, jacket, and snowpants.

Stay healthy and have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you all for your cooperation, any questions or concerns please call or email,

Jaclyn Morrissey, R.N.

978-526-1909

morrisseyj@mersd.org

2024-2025 Calendar

February

5 - Early Release, 11:45

6 - Elementary Poetry Cafe at MMES 5:30-7:00 p.

17 - Presidents Day

Vacation February 17-21

March

5 - Early Release, 11:45

17 - Teacher PD Day, No School

20 - Grade K to Mass Audubon

21 - Grade 1 to NSMT 9:00 – 11:45 am

April

4 - K-8 Conferences, Early Release 11:45

9 - MCAS ELA Testing G3-5

10 - MCAS ELA Testing G3-5

21 - Patriots Day

Vacation April 21-25

May

14 - MCAS Math Testing G3-5

15 - MCAS Math Testing G3-5

19 - MCAS STE Testing G5

21 - MCAS STE Testing G5

27 - G5 to Essex Ship Building

28 – G5 to Essex Ship Building 9-1p

June

6 – G5 to Boston

11 – G5 to Project Adventure

13 – G5 to Maritime Gloucester

Menus with full nutritional information: https://mersd.nutrislice.com/menu/mersd-elementary-lunch/breakfast/2025-01-31

During the week of March 3, 2025, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Manchester-Essex Regional School District. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines with. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3561 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

For more information contact: Allison Collins, Ed.D., Director of Student Services, Manchester-Essex Regional School District

MERSD elementary students now have access to the iReady "My Path" program at home. This aspect of iReady is an online tool that provides students with learning activities and practice geared towards their individual skills and needs. Below you will find information regarding accessing this tool at home for extra skill practice in reading and mathematics.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qhiOnoPCkyzwb8HLql0PdEgwNC_tiKcN/view

Next MMPTO Meeting: January 29, 8:30 am

From Manchester Essex Youth Soccer:

It’s that time of year again—spring soccer registration is officially open!

Yes, you read that right! Registration will close on February 8, so don’t miss out. This deadline allows us to submit team rosters to the league in mid-February, ensuring league deadlines are met and we have a smooth start to the season.

Manchester Essex Youth Soccer – Town Soccer Grades K – 8

link for little league registration:

https://www.mebaseball.org/

• Mobile Markets will then run from 2:30-3:30pm through January on the first Wednesday of each month.
• Mobile Market will run on an early release schedule of 11am-12:15pm on the first Wednesday of each month in February, March, May, and June.