MRE Update

Dear MRE Community,

With the calendar turning to September and night time temperatures dipping into the 50’s and 60’s, fall is right around the corner. With the turn of the calendar, the welcomed return of students to the school is underway. The first three days of school saw happy, smiling faces enter back to the building. Teachers are working on building a solid learning community and helping students learn new routines and expectations. A slow beginning with time spent on building a learning community will allow for students to dig into the academic content to help push their learning forward.

For the first time in two years, students arrived without major limits, protocols or changes to the learning environment. As educators, we have learned a great deal over the past two years about instructing and fostering social emotional learning as well as how to target instruction more directly. We will continue these practices of helping students learn to make friends, be a positive contributor to the community while understanding how to be self aware and develop independence.

This year brings a refresh of the mathematics curriculum. Teachers have all received training and are implementing the Bridges math curriculum this year. This curriculum places emphasis on students building critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as focus on basic algorithms and fact fluency. Math is an area that was impacted by the pandemic. This program is rigorous while engaging. It will help students gain a deep understanding of concepts, key math skills while addressing complex problem solving. Our staff field tested this program in the spring of last year and found great success. Students truly enjoyed mathematics and their pre and post assessments showed great growth.

Every year brings changes in staffing and support in the school. I would like to welcome Kelly Zajdel, ELL Teacher, Angela Irwin, BCBA, Kristen Sauvageau, Friends 2 Special Education and Erica Carr, building based substitute. After a year away, Mr. Berthiaume has returned to the physical education role, as well.

This year has also brought a change for me. I am privileged to be serving as the principal not only of the Mary Rowlandson School but also of the Luther Burbank Middle School. It is wonderful to serve both schools and to see the learning progression and growth students make from preschool to eighth grade.

All families with students returning to MRE from the previous school year should have already received an email regarding Returning Student Registration. Please click the link in that letter (as it has a code specific to your child) and update their registration online. You will be asked to verify your address, emergency contacts and will be asked a few annual questions that require your prompt response. Unless you have moved within town and have a new address, you will not need to provide any documentation for residency, etc. Registration is DUE BY Sept.9th! Thank you!

Dee Bus Co. is the contracted provider for bus transportation for the district. Please click the link below to review the bus resolution protocol should you have concerns about your child's current bus stop or have a different but specific request.

School Bus Resolution Protocol 2022-2023.

Bus 20: A copy of the update AM pick-up times for Bus 20 is attached below. Please click the link to review your time/stop.

Lancaster Construction- As many district residents are aware, there is ongoing construction in the 70/117/Main Street area of Lancaster. While there may be lane closures during construction, this concern is expected to be mitigated by the stipulation that no lane closures are to occur before 8:30 am or after 2:30 pm on school days. Dee Bus has reworked routes to minimize the impact on bus routes. This includes the creation of two shared runs of LBMS and NRHS students. The purpose of this route sharing is to reduce the projected route times from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. Building administration at both LBMS and NRHS have been consulted regarding this shift. Dee Bus has confirmed that arrival times will not create tardy situations for students at LBMS and drivers are completing multiple practice runs to ensure we can support an on-time arrival at LBMS. We will continue to update families as we receive any construction updates that may impact routes in the future.

Dee Bus Co. Contact Information
Lancaster Office phone: (978) 733-1047
Nancy Kelly, Bus Coordinator: nkelly@deebus.com

To report a student absent or tardy, please send one email to both the teacher and MREattendance@nrsd.net. The teacher, the office and the school nurse will receive this same email and everyone will be on the same page.

If you prefer to call, please call the Nurse's line at: (978) 365-5870 or the Main Office at: (978) 368-8482.

It is important that we know if your child is expected tardy or will be absent. We will be calling you and possibly your emergency contacts, if we do not hear from you as we are concerned about the safety and welfare of your child.

If you have not done so already, please provide a note to your child's teacher and/or office with what your child's regular dismissal plans are. Providing this information is crucial to ensuring your child is dismissed in the manner you planned and it aids in a smooth dismissal for all. If we do not receive a note from a parent, it is assumed that the child will utilize the bus for transportation.

Change of plans? Everyone's schedule changes now and again. Please email your child's teacher along with MREattendance@nrsd.net to notify us of changes before 8:30am in the school day. Teacher's and staff do not always see emails during the day and it is important that we are aware of changes and can plan accordingly. We ask that you keep in mind that any time a change is made, a call must be placed to the classroom and can interrupt the learning. Emergency same day changes can be made by calling the office no later than 2:30.

Extended Day Dismissal - Again, it is crucial that we know your child's dismissal plan, including the days you plan on them attending Ext. Day. Often schedules changes and we ask that you keep both the teacher and the Ext. Learning Team in the loop. One email that includes the Ext. Learning team and MREattendance@nrsd.net is perfect.

Consistent routines are important for students and help support a smooth dismissal process.

School pictures, both individual and whole class, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 15th throughout the school day for all students PK-5th grade. Order envelopes were sent home with students the end of last week. You are also welcome to order pictures online at https://www.coffeepond.com/.

Families are not required to purchase photographs however all students will be photographed and their picture will be added to their school file only.

Any student in grades 1-3 that participated in the Summer Reading initiative and completed a Bingo Board should bring the board to school and hand it in to their teacher by Thursday, Sept. 8th. Parents, please sign the bingo board and ensure your child has written their name on it. We hope those that participated enjoyed themselves.

Lancaster Pack 9 Cub Scouts is starting soon! Come make apple cider with us on Saturday afternoon September 10th and learn about our terrific program. For sign-up and more information, find us at www.pack9lancaster.org.

To report a student absent, please send an email to: MREattendance@nrsd.net.

Email: jfrommer@nrsd.net
Website: rowlandson.nrsd.net
Location: 103 Hollywood Drive, Lancaster, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 368-8482