Colonial Park Weekly News
September 21-25
Principal's Note
Dear Colonial Park Families -
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend! I think I say this about every month, but September is busy!
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who attended our Back to School Night last week. Our PTO Board and SEPAC Co-President introduced themselves, and Mrs. McCarthy, our Assistant Principal shared some important information regarding attendance. I shared our commitment to safety, reading and inclusivity, and of course everyone had time to visit classrooms to hear about the important work being done everyday. I deeply appreciate everyone who was able to make the time to attend.
Our staff had a busy week of professional development on Thursday and Friday afternoons. After school on Thursday, we continued our work on strengthening Tier I, which is the instruction provided by classroom teachers to all students, with a focus on setting up consistent routines and structures in the classroom. As a district we are reading the Power of Our Words this year, and we began our ongoing conversation about how the words we use with each other, our students, and our families matter deeply. Friday's professional development focused on de-escalation strategies and safety. Even with the busy week, staff was so engaged, and both days were really successful!
We launched ST Math on Thursday, with a visit from Jiji, the ST Math mascot, during morning arrival. If anyone is interested in Jiji merchandise, here is the link to the ST Math storefront:
https://store.mindresearch.org/collections/jiji-store
Just a reminder to please monitor your child closely if they play in the playground after dismissal. We ask that parents and caregivers are either in the playground with students or at the fence surrounding the perimeter. If you have a grandparent or other grown-up picking up your child, please relay this message to them as well.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and I hope to see you on Friday at our Back to School Picnic!
Best,
Rosa Flynn
First Goldie Gathering AND "9 to 5 Day" on Friday, September 25!
We are really excited for Friday, when our entire school community will gather in the gym for our first monthly Goldie Gathering of the school year! For those new to Colonial Park, during our Goldie Gatherings we celebrate students and staff with Confetti Moments and recognize ST Math and/or Lexia successes. Each month, with the help of our staff and students, we focus on an important topic that relates to our core values of CARES and/or an important person who embodies these values. Please click the link below to see our core values of CARES.
Since Friday is 9/25, we will celebrate the great Dolly Parton with "9 to 5 Day!" Kindness and joy were spread by Dolly everywhere she went, and we invite staff and students to wear Colonial Park or Spartan spiritwear, sparkles and pink, or anything that brings them joy!
Reading Photos Wanted - A Message from Mrs. McCarthy
CP is falling in love with Reading! At our back to school night, Mrs. Flynn shared about our commitment to fostering a love of reading through initiatives like our birthday books and Half-a-Million Minute Reading Challenge. We invite families to share photos of your kids reading outside of school! Maybe it's at home, curled up with a blanket, maybe it's waiting at a doctor's office, maybe it's sitting in traffic in the car -- wherever your student is reading, snap a picture and email it to Mrs. McCarthy (memccarthy@stonehamschools.org). We will display it on the bulletin board in our cafe!
A Note from Nurse Lapery
If your child has the need for an inhaler, epipen or any other medication at school, please make sure you send in an updated action plan from the doctor and a new supply of medication to be kept at the nurse’s office. These both are required to be renewed at the start of each new school year.
All grade 4 and Kindergarten students require a 2026 physical with updated immunizations. Please submit as soon as possible.
Please note the following guidelines as to when to keep your child home due to illness.
When to call your child out sick:
A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or greater needs to stay home from school until they are fever free without medication for 24 hours.
A child with vomiting or diarrhea needs to stay home from school until they are symptom free and able to keep down food and fluids for at least 24 hours.
If your child develops a rash, please have your child seen by a pediatrician before sending them to school. Your child may return to school with a note stating that the rash is not contagious.
If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as: covid, flu, strep throat, conjunctivitis, impetigo, chicken pox, or pertussis, please notify me.
If your child is seen in the ER, is diagnosed with a concussion, or has a hospital admission, please get a note from the doctor to let me know if there are any activity limitations or restrictions.
If you have any questions, please email me at klapery@stonehamschools.org or call me at 781-279-3865.
Katie Lapery RN
PTO News
*The Spiritwear Store is now OPEN! Purchase Colonial Park and/or Spartan gear now through October 1st! Additional options have been added from past years and most items are available in blue, white or grey. Orders will be received in November. Check it out: Colonial Park Spirtwear Store
Next Week
*First PTO Meeting - Tuesday, September 22nd, 7 p.m. - We hope to see many of you at our first meeting! Location: the school library or virtually here: https://meet.google.com/chq-fcuy-mwd
Check out the agenda below.
PTO Agenda - September 22, 7:00 to 8:00
*Back to School Picnic - Friday, September 25th, 5-7 p.m. - Join us for our first event of the year! We will have music, pizza for purchase AND an ice cream truck! The PTO will provide an ice cream treat for each Colonial Park student attending (families are welcome to purchase additional items). We will also have Goldie stuffed animals for sale, $20/each. Bring your picnic blanket and come hang out with your CP friends, new and old!
Halloween is just around the corner...
*Pumpkin Patch Sponsors - We are looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of the pumpkin patch (10/22 during school hours). If you have a business that is interested in sponsoring this fantastic event, please email colonialparkpto@gmail.com for more details!
*Halloween Trunk or Treat event - Saturday, October 31st, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (rain date 11/1)
If you dare to join the Halloween Committee and help bring this spooktacular event to life, please email colonialparkpto@gmail.com.
Trunks Wanted! You can sign up to decorate your car here: Trunk or Treat Signup
Preschool News - Stoneham Early Learning Center at Colonial Park
Below please find the weekly newsletter from Danielle Tucker, Preschool Director.