Cottage Connection

Cell Phones & Smart Watches at School

We want to remind families that cell phones and smart watches are not permitted for use during the school day and must be turned off before students enter the building.

District Policy:
Since cell phones and smart watches are very common, they must be turned off before entering the building. Use of cell phones/smart watches—including but not limited to making or receiving calls, text messaging, emailing, social media, taking photographs, or recording video—is not allowed in school. No form of photography or video recording is permitted on school property, including on school-provided transportation. Owners of cell phones/smart watches should be aware of the legal issues that improper use can create.

We understand that having access to a device can give families peace of mind, especially when thinking about emergencies. However, research and guidance from emergency response professionals show that student use of phones during emergencies can actually interfere with safety efforts. When many people are calling or texting at once, it can overwhelm communication systems and make it harder for emergency responders and school staff to do their jobs quickly and effectively.

Please know that in any emergency situation, school administrators will communicate directly with families as quickly and accurately as possible. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school environment safe, focused, and supportive for all students.

Sharon Public Schools strives to ensure that each student feels supported and confident in their learning journey. We start each year with beginning-of-the-year assessments to highlight each student’s strengths and areas for growth. Teachers use this data to tailor daily instruction, use targeted evidence-based materials, and continuously monitor progress.

WIN ("What I Need") Time - Every day, classrooms have a dedicated WIN block where students can receive support, interventions, and extended learning opportunities that match their current academic needs, without missing core content. Depending on their needs, students use this time for a variety of learning activities or skill practice, including, but not limited to:

• Targeted Support & Intervention: Small-group instruction to practice and master specific foundational skills. These sessions may take place inside the classroom with a classroom teacher or as a pull-out group with a math or literacy specialist.

• Practice and Reinforcement: Additional opportunities to apply or strengthen skills introduced during whole-class instruction.

• Enrichment: Extended learning activities and deeper challenges for students ready to stretch their learning.

What Families Should Know

• Flexible & Short-Term: WIN is part of the school’s general education program and is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of each student.

Most WIN supports are brief, normal parts of the general education experience. Some students may spend their WIN time in their classroom with their teachers and others may see another teacher or specialist outside of the classroom. Groups are fluid, meaning students move in and out as they master skills and build confidence. As a result, families will not receive advance notice every time a student participates in a different short-term group or activity.

• Direct Communication: Teachers continuously monitor progress and will use their progress monitoring information to determine whether support should be continued, adjusted, intensified or whether a student should exit their group. If teachers or specialists determine that a student would benefit from a longer-term intervention to reach their goals, we will contact you directly. WIN does not replace core classroom instruction, or any services required by a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan, or English Learner (EL) education plan.

We are excited for a wonderful year of growth, learning, and success together! Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher anytime if you have questions about their learning journey.

We truly appreciate everyone's help in keeping our students and families safe, especially with the moving cars in the car loop. With the exception of kindergarten pickup, we ask that families continue to avoid standing in the front of the building so we can keep that space clear for students being picked up by car. Thank you again for your flexibility, patience, and continued support!

📍 Please coordinate with your student(s) to meet at either:

• ⛪ The side of the school closest to the church, if you are traveling in that direction after dismissal.

• 🇺🇸 The flagpole on the opposite side, if you are traveling in that direction.

🍽️ Second Lunches

We are excited to share that second lunches are now available!

• Second lunches will be served immediately after the last student has received their first lunch.

• Second lunches must be paid for and cost $2.50.

• Once the lunch staff has finished lunch service and returned to the kitchen area, students will no longer be able to request a second lunch.

Thank you for helping us make sure students are able to access second meals in a timely and organized way! 💙

🥗 Kosher & Halal Meals

A quick but important reminder: Kosher and Halal meals are not the same.

✡️ Kosher Meals

• Kosher meals are not prepared by our school department.

• They are pre-ordered by parents through Shaloh House in Brighton, MA.

• SPS does not have a Kosher kitchen.

☪️ Halal Meals

• Halal meals may only be purchased by students who practice Halal.

• Our first PTO Meeting of the year is Thursday, October 1st at 7 pm in the Cottage Library. Save the date, all are welcome! Childcare is provided.

• Scholastic Book Fair: September 23–24

We need your help to make the book fair run smoothly!

• Volunteer to help set up or run the fair here.

• Contribute to Share the Fair. When you set up an eWallet for your child, you’ll be prompted to donate to Share the Fair. The money will be used to try to make sure that every child who wants a book can get one.

If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Kassab (elizabethkassab@yahoo.com) or Colleen Mirabello (colleen.mirabello@gmail.com).

• Box Tops: Earn cash for Cottage PTO while you grocery shop

Together, we can make a big difference.

For over 30 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn for schools with products they already buy - from Cheerios to Old El Paso and even Papermate school supplies to Blue Buffalo dog treats!

Simply download the app with this referral code and scan your receipt! That’s it! Oh, and you can even link a Walmart account for automatic earnings! (Be sure to share this link with family & friends far and near! Grandparents in another state can even help contribute with their everyday shopping trips!)

Here is the link and QR code to download the app:

https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=CDL403CM&school_id=98973

• Yearbook Early Bird Special

Order your Cottage yearbook at Treering.com! Get 10% off with our early bird special through October 31. The Yearbook Committee is looking for candid photos of students in the classroom, at school events, and on field trips.

Help make the yearbook even more special and make sure students from your classroom are represented by sending photos to cottageyearbook2027@gmail.com. Please include the classroom teacher's name and grade in the subject line.

• POPCORN FRIDAYS

The next Cottage PTO popcorn Friday is 9/25.

A bag of popcorn costs $0.25 for each student. If you would like to buy popcorn for the class, it is $5. You can send in money with your child the day of or use Venmo (@Alison-Renfrew or @Elizabeth-Kassab-2). If using Venmo, we ask that you include the teacher's name in the subject line.

The success of popcorn Fridays relies on the help that we receive from parents. If you would like to volunteer, please see the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C45A4AD2EA0F58-51231367-popcorn

• Shop Cougar Gear! The new school year is here. Show your school spirit. Cottage Street Shop (cottagepto.com)