CHIPS Weekly Update

We are in the process of planning for the 2024-25 school year. If you haven't already done so, please complete the brief survey linked below to let us know your child's plans for next year.

If your child will be going to kindergarten in the fall, you do not need to make an appointment with our registrar to register for kindergarten, as CHIPS students are already registered for school. An updated physical and immunizations will be required. Please share updated physicals with Nurse Kristen.

Please note that, per Chelmsford Public School's policy, children must be 5 by August 31 to attend kindergarten.

It looks like we may get our first real snow of the season this weekend! While this weekend's snow should not impact any school days, I wanted to take a moment to share the CHIPS Snow Day Procedures. Please reach out to the CHIPS office if you have any questions.

• With colder temperatures settling in for the winter, please be sure to dress your child for the weather. We try to get the children outside as often as possible (even when it's cold), and we want them to be comfortable and having fun outside!

• During the winter months, our car drop off and pick up line tends to get longer. It is our goal to keep arrival and dismissal flowing as efficiently as possible. You can help by having your child ready to get out of the car at drop off and getting them buckled in right away at pick up. Thank you for your help!

• If you are new to the car drop off/pick up line, please remember that it is prohibited to pass busses when their lights are flashing. If busses are still loading/unloading when you are ready to exit the CHIPS parking lot, please wait for busses to be done loading/unloading and turn off their lights, indicating it is safe to pass.

• January 9- NO SCHOOL- Professional Development
• January 15- NO SCHOOL- Martin Luther King Day
• February 8- NO SCHOOL- Parent/Teacher Conferences (more information to come)
• February 19-23- NO SCHOOL- February Vacation

Thank you to all who attended our most recent PTO meeting! Our next meeting will be on Monday, January 8 at 6:30pm in the CHIPS cafeteria. As always, there will be a link for those who would like to attend virtually. The meeting link is below.

Welcome back and welcome to 2024! Wishing you all the best in health and happiness!

Here is some helpful family guidance about our winter viruses still among us.

Why keep your child home?

The main reasons to keep your child home are that an illness can:

• prevent the child from participating comfortably in activities

• make them need more care than staff members can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children

• pose a risk of spread of harmful disease to others

Please use our absence line (978-251-5188 Option 0) or use 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.

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