CHIPS Weekly Update

With our biggest fundraiser just around the corner, we’re beginning to collect donations for our raffle baskets!

The Basket Raffle Fundraiser is simple: each classroom (AM & PM) collects small monetary donations and donated items to create a themed basket, and the PTO will display the finished baskets at Open House on November 13th! The baskets will be on display for raffle in the school lobby.

Suggested places to shop for donation items are: Dollar Tree, Five Below, Michaels, Target, or Walmart. The maximum price for a donation item should be $5.

Flyers with basket themes for each class have been sent home with students. Please send in all basket donations by Friday, October 24th.

Thank you for your support!

Important Upcoming PTO Dates:

• October 6- CHIPS PTO meeting, 6:30pm Rm 10

• October 15- Fire Safety Demonstration

• November 10- CHIPS PTO meeting, 6:30pm Rm 10

• November 13- Open House w/ Bake Sale & Basket Raffle, 5:30-7pm

• November 18- Visit from Animal Adventures

The CHIPS PTO is on the CPS Website. Please visit our page!

https://pto.chelmsfordschools.org/chips-pto/

Below you will find a link to the CHIPS PTO directory. This is a great place to find information for playdates, birthday parties, etc. If your information is not in the directory and you would like it to be, please complete the sign up form that was in your child's welcome folder or contact the CHIPS office.

It's hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner! If your family could use a helping hand during the holiday season, please reach out!

Additionally, the CPS social worker can provide support to families in a wide variety of ways. If you feel that your family is in need of social work support, please see the information below on how to make a referral.

The state of Massachusetts offers free breakfast and lunch to ALL students. At the preschool level, AM students can receive free breakfast; PM students can receive free lunch. If you are interested in receiving free breakfast or lunch for your child and have not already signed up, please complete the Google Form below. Please note that it usually takes a day or two after signing up for your child to start receiving meals.

• October 13- NO SCHOOL. Columbus Day
• October 23- NO SCHOOL. Professional Development
• November 4- NO SCHOOL. Professional Development
• November 11- NO SCHOOL- Veterans Day
• November 13- CHIPS Open House- More details to come

As we move into the fall months, please inform the nurse if your child has or will be starting new seasonal allergy medications or routines. This may help determine when your child simply has the sniffles from the environment, has a pesky cough and needs an inhaler or if it could be the start of a new virus. Speaking of viruses, back-to-school is a common time of year for exposure. Please review these common Pre-K viruses: Hand Foot and Mouth and Strep. As always, if you feel your child is not well, stay home to rest. If a fever or illness persists, discuss with your family doctor. If you are a family in need of a pediatrician for your child, please reach out to Nurse Kristen Lynch personally at lynchk@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

Below is a brief story to share with your child about 'why' they may need to stay home when not feeling well.

Please use our absence line (978-251-5188 Option 0) or our attendance email (chipsattendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) to report your child's absence from school and be sure to state the reason for the absence (illness, appointment, travel, etc). If your child is out due to illness, please let us know the nature of the illness (fever, vomiting, cough, etc.).

Nurse Kristen can be reached by calling the CHIPS main number (978-251-5188) and selecting option 3.

Our CHIPS Little Free Library- such a fun way to help foster a love of reading in our preschoolers! Feel free to stop by with your child and borrow a book! Please remember to return the book when you are finished:) If you have books at home that you would like to donate, please put them in the Little Library or send them into CHIPS with your child. Thank you!!

Email: mcguirkm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://chelmsfordschools.org
Location: 170 Dalton Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: (978)251-5188