Principal's Pen
September 8, 2023
Dear Parents,
What a wonderful four day week we had at JC despite the hot weather. We feel so grateful to have received our new HVAC over the summer. We have been nice and cool in all locations in the school including the gym!! This was the year to upgrade the AC!
We are off to a great start at JC. We had our first Eagle Assembly this week and who showed up?
The JC EAGLE! It was a hit for most! We still need to convince some little ones that our Eagle is our friend. The Eagle does have a fierce looking beak!
If you believe your family is eligible please submit an application for free and reduced lunch right away. WE NEED TO SUBMIT THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH BY OCTOBER 1ST! Schools receive grant money that goes right to supporting classes based on these October 1st numbers. YOU CAN SUBMIT your application at https://www.greenwichschools.org/departments/food-services/free-and-reduced-priced-meals if you believe your family will qualify. The cost for elementary school lunch is $4.15. Please use the link in the Back to School Documents section to locate the School Lunch Account Form on the Back to School Page of our website. You can use a form and submit a check to the cafeteria or set up and manage your child's lunch account on My School Bucks. The link to My School Bucks is also located on the School Lunch page.
We wish you a wonderful weekend!
Your Leadership Team,
Trish McGuire and Matt Hartigan
Meet Ms. Martha Smith, Julian Curtiss fourth grade teacher.
I began my teaching career at Miami-Dade County Public Schools twenty-nine years
ago and have experience working with first through fifth grades in various classroom
settings. I relocated to Connecticut over the summer from my hometown of Miami,
Florida. While I miss Miami’s warm, tropical weather, I look forward to experiencing the
four seasons, especially Fall, my favorite! I’m a mom to three beautiful daughters, Lily,
Lauren, and Isabella, who currently attend my alma mater, Florida International
University. When I’m not in the classroom, you can find me in my backyard tending to
my garden, hiking a trail at a state park, or at a Jets, Yankees, or Knicks game. I’m
beyond excited to join the JC Family and to be teaching Fourth Grade to an amazing
group of children.
Lunch Bunch Groups
Dear Parents,
As Julian Curtiss School’s mental health team and speech therapist, we work with a number of children to strengthen their social communication skills. We usually lead several groups during lunch time or snack time. In the past, students have been invited to meet with the school psychologist/social worker/speech therapist during these times to help classmates who need extra practice with social skills and peer interactions. The focus of these small groups, or Lunch Bunch, as we often call them, will be to assist children in relating to their peers in casual settings, starting and maintaining conversations, following directions, listening, problem-solving, expressing feelings and building relationships with peers. Most students enjoy the small group setting as we do a number of fun and engaging activities.
The groups do not interfere with academics or specials and are usually scheduled at lunch or snack time. If you DO NOT wish to have your child participate in this group experience, please let us know via email.
We look forward to starting new Lunch Bunch groups this year and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Best regards,
Abigail DiSalvo
Abigail DiSalvo, SYC., NCSP
School Psychologist
abigail_side@greenwich.k12.ct.us yaneli_avila@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Meredith Odinak
Meredith Odinak, LMSW
Social Worker
meredith_odinak@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Danielle Polizzi
Danielle Polizzi, MSW
Social Worker
danielle_polizzi@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Yaneli Avila
Yaneli Avila, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Therapist
RAISING LIFELONG LEARNERS
FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN PRE-K -2ND GRADE
Good Afternoon Julian Curtiss Families,
Please RSVP to join us for a two-part program on raising lifelong learners. This is primarily for parents and caregivers of pre-k through 2nd grade students.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Best,
Guidelines for Childhood Illness
The following guidelines are to help us provide a safe and healthy environment for your child Please keep your child home when he/she exhibits any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4 or greater
- Significant respiratory symptoms: heavy cough, green nasal discharge, chest congestion
- Greenwich Public Schools recommends families heed the advice of their medical providers when experiencing symptoms of respiratory disease
- Sore throat (not yet seen by MD) Diarrhea &/or vomiting
- Rash (undiagnosed-not yet seen by MD) Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Discolored eye drainage (profuse &/or thick)
- When your child feels too sick to participate in the school day
- With apositive strep culture until 24 hours after antibiotic has been started
Your child may return to school when:
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen)
- Diarrhea &/or vomiting has stopped for at least 24 hours
- Rash has been assessed by a medical provider (note must be provided to the school nurse that includes clearance for when the child may return)
- 24 hours after an antibiotic has been started
Greenwich school district and the public health school nurses reserve the right to send home any student who displays signs of il health or injury that, in the nurse's judgment, may jeopardize the general welfare of the student &/or the class
Updated August, 2023
290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich Connecticut 06830-6521
Tel. (203) 625-7494 JessicaWieneke@greenwich.k12.ct.us www.greenwichschools.org An Equal Opportunity Employer
DO YOU STILL OWE BACK TO SCHOOL DOCUMENTS?
Please be sure to read and review all of the back to school documents on the Back To School page of our website LINK ABOVE.
There are some required forms that must be returned to the office along with a great deal of information and optional forms that will apply to some families, including setting up lunch accounts and Device Loan Forms for all new students.
The Required Forms for ALL Families Are-
The School Handbook Acknowledgement Form
The Publicity Release Form
We do offer breakfast at Julian Curtiss. This is permitted between the hours of 7:30 and 8:00 for children in K-5. Children being dropped off for breakfast should be dropped off at 7:30 in order to leave enough time to eat their breakfast prior to going to their classroom. Families are required to sign up in advance for this program. Please click on the title "Breakfast at Julian Curtiss" above to sign your child up for the program. Breakfast is FREE for everyone!
JOIN THE JULIAN CURTISS PTA
Register for the JC PTA with Membership Toolkit
We invite everyone to join in the JC PTA mission to ensure that every student has access to quality education and meaningful experiences. Getting involved with the Julian Curtiss PTA means that together we can create a learning environment that is enriching and empowering for all of our students.
Signing-up for the JC PTA with Membership Toolkit means you will never miss a message about important happenings in our community. Even if you registered previously, your family information and PTA membership will need to be updated yearly.
Please push button below.
VETERAN'S DAY ASSEMBLY
Dear Julian Curtiss Community Members:
On Friday , November 10th @ 9 am , JC students and staff will be honoring veterans with a special recognition ceremony. The school will gather to honor our guests. Please consider whether you know any veterans who might like to attend.
If so, would you please contact them and, if they'd like to participate, ask them for the following information so that we can personalize the experience for all participants:
1) Name
2) Which branch of service
3) Number of years served
4) Primary responsibilities
5) Something you're most proud of related to your military experience
6) A contact email
We will introduce each of our veterans and give their bio based on the information we receive. If any of our Veterans would like to take a few minutes to speak to our students at the assembly in an age appropriate manner please let us know that information also. Please email this information to our School Secretary by October 31, 2023.
Contact address: lisa_maniscalco@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Mark Your Calendar
Save the Date!
September
September 13: Ringing In Ceremony 9 am
September 19: Open House 6:00-8:00
September 21: Family Fun Night 5:30-7:30 pm
September 22: School Photo Day
September 25: No School Yom Kippur
September 26: Raising Lifelong Learners workshop part 1
October
October 10: Raising Lifelong Learners workshop part 2
October 14: Krispy Kreme Fundraiser 9 am -2 pm
October 19: United Nations Day Parade 1 pm
October 20: International Food Tasting 5:30 pm
October 25: Early Release Day 12:45 pm dismissal
October 31: Halloween Parade 2:15 pm
November
November 7: Election Day No School -Election Day Bake Sale at Julian Curtiss
November 8: PTA General Meeting 6:30 pm
November 10: Veterans Day - School is in session
November 22: Early Release
November 23-24 Thanksgiving Recess
November 22: Early Release Day 12:45 pm dismissal