We will hold Student Grade Level Meetings on Monday and continue on with our nutrition theme. We are encouraging students and families to explore and try new and healthy foods and share their experiences and pictures with us!

Our Student Council B group will meet on Monday as well as our PTO. Please consider attending our PTO meeting. Wednesday will be an early release day, please let us know if your dismissal plans change.

Punxsutawney Phil indicated that we will have 6 more weeks of winter....no surprise there! Bundle up this weekend and be safe in the frigid temperatures.

Respectfully,

Terri and Jayson

Monday, February 6th

• Kindness Matters Day - Wear Kindness Shirts
• Student Grade Level Meetings w/ Mrs. GIlbert, Mr. Ramalho
• Student Council Group B Meeting, 3:30pm, Semenza's Room
• School Council Meeting, 5:30pm
• PTO Board Meeting, 6:30pm
• PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

Tuesday, February 7th

• Grade 2 Len Cabral Enrichment Program

Wednesday, February 8th

• Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 11:45AM

• Reminders for Early Release Days:

  • Students are dismissed at 11:45am
  • Car dismissals should adhere to the following times
  1. Last names A-G- 11:40-11:45am
  2. Last names H-N- 11:45-11:50am
  3. Last names O-Z- 11:50-11:55am
• Please communicate any changes to your child's dismissal plans to their respective teacher, Mrs. O'Neill (oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) and Mrs. Sepe (sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us). Be sure to also discuss with your child.
• Lunch is available for take home ONLY through online ordering
• Students will either have specials or recess (rotates every half day).
• Snack time may be adjusted and/or not occur depending on your child(ren)'s schedule.
• Extended Day will be open until 6:00 pm for students signed up on WEDNESDAY. Please provide your child a lunch.
• Please anticipate possible delays with buses as they navigate an early release schedule

• Fourth Grade Activities Meeting, 7:00PM, Cafeteria

Thursday, February 9th

• Grade 1 WBZ-TV Meteorologist Visit, 9:15AM

Friday, February 10th

• South Row/Chelmsford Spirit Day

Saturday, February 11th

• Choralfest, 9:00AM-2:00pm, CHS Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, February 14th

• Red, White, and Pink School Spirit Day

Wednesday, February 15th

• Multicultural Festival Committee Meeting (formerly named International Festival), 3:45 pm, Conference Room - New faces are welcome!!!

Friday, February 17th

• Grade 4 Travels to Center School for Middle School Music Presentation, 9:30 AM

Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th

• No School - Winter Vacation (Recess)

Tuesday, February 28th

• South Row Science Fair, 6:30-8:30 PM ( see information below!)

ELA MCAS – week of April 10th (grade 3 and 4 specific days TBD) – Monday through Thursday

Math MCAS – week of May 15th (grade 3 and 4 specific days TBD) – Monday through Thursday

ELA Make-ups – 4/14 and week of 4/24

Math Make-ups - 5/19 and week of 5/22

Breakfast: Please see the Nutrition section in this newsletter about breakfast and food services. If you are having any issues with the process, please contact the individuals in the Food Services Department below.

• Nancy Antolini, Director of Nutrition Services - Email: antolinin@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

• Holley Ready, School Nutrition Office Manager, Email: readyh@chelmsford.k12.ma.us (978) 251-5111 ext: 5641

Smart Watches: Some students have been wearing them to school, which has been causing students and their peers to be distracted. Although watches are not directly mentioned in our student handbook they do have SMART capabilities (i.e., taking pictures, games, texting) and should NOT be used or worn in school. Please refer to pages 17 and 18 in the link below for more information. Thank you for your partnership.

SAVE THE DATES:

• Quick Click Photography - March 2nd
• Book Fair - March 13-17

Looking ahead (Early Release Day Change): Due to town elections, the school committee voted on a calendar change for the April early release day originally scheduled for Thursday, April 13th. This early release day has now been moved to Tuesday, April 4th. Please update your calendars accordingly. Click here for the updated district calendar.

Dear South Row Community,

We wanted to provide some updates regarding recess during the winter months. We follow a National Safe Child Weather chart to determine if the conditions are safe to send the students outside. In addition, we have to factor in the conditions of our playground area.

We do try to send the students out as much as possible. We hope you will partner with us by sending your child(ren) prepared for outdoor recess. Please review the information bulleted below pertaining to outdoor recess in the winter.

• Please send your child(ren) with coats, hats, mittens, and boots.

• You are welcome to send in sneakers for use during the school day in the building.

• Children are able to change back and forth from boots to shoes and vice versa throughout the day as needed.

• This year, at this time, we will not be having children put on snow pants to go outside. However, if students wear boots, they will be able to go in the snow. Children will be able to:

• Walk around in the snow

• Run in the snow

• Build a snowman

• Make tracks through the snow

• Play follow the leader

• Students who wear boots will NOT be allowed to:

• Throw snow / Kick snow

• Throw snowballs

• Get pants wet

• If students forget snow boots, they will be able to go outside but will only be able to play on the blacktop area and not in the field or snow-covered areas.

If your child is in need of any winter clothing (jacket, boots, gloves, etc.), or if we can support in any way, please reach out to us.

Thank you in advance for your support. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho

Our School Council is excited to share information about our upcoming IN-PERSON Science Fair. Please click on the button below for more information, click on the registration form below, and see what a past event looks like.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to southrowsciencefair@gmail.com. Registration deadline is February 17th.

A special thank you to Rick Cockley (South Row Parent/School Council member) for organizing this event.

We hope your child(ren) considers participating in this special event.

Regarding the iHealth test expiration date extension:
On January 11, 2023 the FDA extended the expiration date of iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests by an additional 3 months. iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests may be used for up to 15 months from the date of manufacture. Find the new expiration date at https://ihealthlabs.com/pages/news. Please note, as of today, unfortunately, their website is not yet updated to reflect the new dates.

Don't forget, we'll have our next meeting this Monday, Feb 6th at 7pm in the cafeteria (enter through the loading dock door)!! We always hear lots of new information from teachers and school admins, learn about all sorts of upcoming PTO activities, and it's a great time to chat with other parents. We hope you can join us!

The PTO is in need of 1 or more volunteers to shadow our current treasurers for the rest of the school-year with plans to take over for the next. Our current treasurer Kate needs to step down at the end of the year and the transition will go much smoother if the volunteer taking over can shadow them for a few months first. Kate and Maureen have put together some information that will help you think about your decision and you can find that here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1th3BamQ9P9j6rPLp8IJKjenNoBMZKMiW/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103639320847426983436&rtpof=true&sd=true And a HUGE "Thank you" to Kate for her years of service as the treasurer and for Maureen for all you have done to help her as well.

• Tentative Lunch Menu
• Direct Link to Food Services webpage

Dear Parents and Families --

Reminder CPS Nutrition has initiated online breakfast ordering for elementary students beginning after the holiday break. This initiative is to help manage food waste and due to labor shortages.

Orders must be placed the Wednesday prior to the week you are selecting.

If you are having difficulty setting up an account, please reach out to contacts below and we will gladly assist you.

Nancy Antolini, Director of Nutrition Services

• Email: antolinin@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Holley Ready, School Nutrition Office Manager

• Email: readyh@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
• (978) 251-5111 ext: 5641

Thank you- School Nutrition

Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, student’s name should appear on page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-breakfast online ordering
2. Scroll to day/week you are selecting breakfast (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom
8. Place order

Please send photos to Mr. Ramalho (ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) to be featured in our Home Link newsletter!

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow

• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
• Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
• Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
• Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
• Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1