Byam Newsletter

October 27, 2023

Message from Principal and Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates:

10/31 Staff Dress Up Day

10/31 Kindergarten Parade (School only)

11/7- No School, Full Day Professional Development

11/8- School Picture Re-Takes

11/10- No School- Veteran's Day

Halloween Fun

We've been celebrating the season with all kind of fun pumpkin activities. Thank you to the BSA for providing the the pumpkins to Byam. On Tuesday, our kindergarteners will have their traditional Halloween parade to show off their costumes for the entire school. Our staff will also have a costume contest where students will vote on their favorite group's theme.

ALICE Drill Next Week

Next week we will be conducting our first ALICE drill of the school year. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. This is a research based, options-based protocol that is non-sequential to respond to a dangerous individual at school.

To prepare for this drill we will be presenting each grade level with a social story to explain the drill on Wednesday and then follow up with an ALICE video created by the district in collaboration with the Chelmsford Police Department. We've used this process to introduce ALICE to our students since our initial implementation and have been pleased how our students and staff respond when conducting the drill. We have collaborated with the Chelmsford Police and Fire Departments on this drill to ensure that it is a developmentally appropriate experience.

After we conduct the drill, we will send a communication to inform you when it has occurred. Should you have any questions about ALICE or about this drill, either leading up to the drill or after you have been able to debrief with your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

4th Grade Pumpkin 🎃 Store

4th grade students practiced multidisciplinary skills today with staff and family volunteers at the annual 4th grade pumpkin store event.

Next Week 3R Focus - Responsibility in your Classroom and Specials Class

Coming up students will be continuing our Byam 3R weekly focus with ways to show the 3R Responsibility in student's classrooms and in specialist locations.

PBIS Monthly Character Traits

Every month we will be focusing on a monthly character trait for students to exhibit in our school. The month of October we are focusing on the character trait of "Respect".

Free Webinar sponsored by Cartwheel

Cartwheel: Mental Health Resources and Assistance

Join Cartwheel and guest speaker Lori Getz to learn strategies and specific language you can use that will help break down walls and get everyone in your family having meaningful conversations about the role technology plays in emotional, mental, physical and relational health and wellness.

In this interactive session, you will learn how to get your whole family on the same page and even STOP the screen time conflicts.

We'll discuss:

Online privacy and personal safety
Dealing with digital drama
Gaming and physical fitness
Social media dilemmas
The role technology plays in relationships

To Register: https://cartwheelcare.zoom.us/webinar/register/7316972297593/WN_9uPBduxwSE2fqcJr6wBUUQ#/registration

This virtual workshop is part of Cartwheel's free webinar series for parents, caregivers, and school staff in our community. Please feel free to share this email broadly and access English, Spanish, and Portuguese flyers here.

About Cartwheel: We partner with school districts to provide students and families with rapid access to mental health assessments, evidence-based therapy, medication management and consultation, and parent/guardian guidance. All of our services are via telehealth with licensed clinicians. We are committed to providing affordable care for everyone - including uninsured families and those covered by Medicaid. To learn more about Cartwheel's services, please contact a member of your school’s counseling or guidance team.

In Addition to these outside resources and your own reinforcement with your child(ren) at home of being responsible and respectful in a digital world, our elementary students also learn digital citizenship during their computer specials classes.

Holiday Help

Reminder families in need of assistance for the holidays should reach out to Lyndsey O'Neil, School Counselor, via email at oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us. A few local Chelmsford community programs generously provide help for the holidays and Lyndsey O'Neil can help coordinate this with any family in need.

Forms for Beacon Santa (due 10/30) Secret Santa (due 11/8) are attached at the bottom of this newsletter and paper copies are available in the main office at Byam. Mr. Fredette or Mrs. Dolan can sign any forms that require a staff member signature. Please note the individual deadlines for form submissions as they are approaching soon.

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Beacon Santa Application.pdf

23-24 Santa Fund Form.pdf

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Byam Weekly Announcements

Reminder School Nutrition Website Online Breakfasts and Half Day Lunch Ordering

Reminder our Chelmsford Public Schools website has information and the link for families to order online ELEMENTARY BREAKFAST and ALL STUDENTS HALF DAY LUNCH ordering. This information is on the main page of the district school nutrition website. The next elementary half day is Wednesday, November 15th.

Link here: https://cpsnutrition.com/

If any family is having difficulty with online ordering, please email Holley Ready, contact information below.

Holley Ready, RD

School Nutrition Operations Supervisor/Registered Dietitian

Chelmsford Public Schools

Email: readyh@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Phone: 978-251-5111 ext. 5641

Come be part of our Byam Subsitute staff team!

If you are able to substitute either on call or a consistent schedule, please email or call Anne Dosin at dossina@chelmsford.k12.ma.us or phone 978-251-5144, and she can direct you to our human resource department.

BSA Updates

SAVE THE DATES:

11/15: Square 1 Art Order Deadline

11/15: BSA Meeting VIRTUAL ONLY

11/18: Riverhawks Game (6:05pm)

11/20-11/22: Scholastic Book Fair

3/23/24: Hootenanny (Signup Deadline is 12/17/23)

No-cost Registration for Byam Events:

*Financial concerns should never stand in the way of families participating in school events. If you are interested in any Byam activities please contact Lyndsey O’Neil, our school counselor, to register at no cost: oneill@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Square 1 Art Deadline is November 15th!

https://shop.square1art.com/Shop/customer/myart

Your child created some AMAZING winter art during Art class, and a custom printed catalog was sent home last week for the Square 1 Art fundraiser! You can order special keepsakes featuring your child's artwork just in time for the winter holidays! Proceeds go to the Byam BSA to fund school enrichment opportunities like field trips, assemblies and other exciting events.

Can't find your printed catalog? Use Art Search to find your child's art. If you cannot find your child's code using the search, please email me. You can even upload additional artwork from other members of your family using Art Upload!

Order deadline: 11/15/2023

Thank you for supporting our school!

BYAM NIGHT OUT at the UML Riverhawks SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th, 6:05pm: $7

Looking for a last minute gift? How about tickets to a Riverhawks Game! Please join us for the Byam Night Out at the UML Riverhawks hockey game! We take over a whole section of the stands and the kids have a blast!

Purchase your $7 Riverhawks tickets here: https://fevogm.com/Byamschool

20th Annual Talent Show

2024 Byam’s Hootenanny Is All About Friendship and Togetherness!

Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 @ CHS PAC

Sign up as a group, or go solo! Skits, dancing, singing, instrumental, poetry, comedy, magic! All ideas welcome!

All Acts & 4th Grade EMCEES sign up here: https://bit.ly/2024ByamsHootenanny

Signups will close 12/17/23. Questions? ByamHootenanny@gmail.com

Scholastic Book Fair: SAVE THE DATE! 11/20-11/22

Byam’s fall Scholastic book fair is coming soon, right before Thanksgiving recess!

Monday 11/20-Wednesday 11/22 after school, shopping available in person AND online.

Details and volunteer sign up link coming soon! We’ve got lots of Scholastic book prizes to raffle off and some new bookmarks to give away! Please reach out to the fair chairperson with any questions (Ellen Marcsisin: ejswain@gmail.com).