11/19 School Council

11/20 Early Release Day (conferences)

11/27 Early Release Day for Thanksgiving Break

11/28 11/29 No School

12/9 Grade 4 Author Visit- Rob Buyea

12/11 Grades 1-4 Report Cards Available in X2 Family Portal

12/12 Early Release Day (conferences)

12/18 Grade 4 State House Concert

Please join me in offering a huge "Wanishi!" (thank you) to Erin Jordan for coming to every class this week to share traditional Lenape stories in our library classes. Ms. Jordan, a Byam School parent has done a wonderful job teaching folktales from the Lenape (or, Delaware) people during this Indigenous Peoples Month. We are grateful!

Also, the Chelmsford Public Library is hosting a Read-a-Thon on Saturday, November 23 from 12 noon to 5 pm. There will be prizes and fun activities to celebrate reading, and hopefully a visit from one of their therapy dogs! They're hoping for a great turnout so they can reach their goal of 1,000 reading minutes! I know that Byam families are enthusiastic users of our public library, and I'm counting on your support!

This year Byam is looking to host our first cultural festival. Our Byam School Council has created a survey to gauge interest in our families' participation. Please take a moment to fill out the brief questionnaire below. Thank you to those who have shown interest in this program so far. We're looking for more Byam community members to join in.

One of our major functions as a school is to support our students' social and emotional development. One way that we achieve this is provide tier 2 opportunities in our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) system. These opportunities give students extra practice and support in developing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. We have finalized our opportunities and selected students will receive an "opt out" form. Please only sign the form if you do not want your child to participate.

We are at the beginning of family-teacher conference season. These conferences are an important piece in ongoing home-school communication and family involvement. The Harvard Family Research Project from the Harvard School of Education highlights three themes when approaching family-teacher conferences. Conferences should be a two-way conversation where both sides share information about the student. These conferences place an emphasis on learning. Finally conferences will most likely contain opportunities and challenges. They will include positive feedback and also areas for improvement. Home to school communication is a predictor for positive outcomes for students and schools and we at Byam look at our conference times with you as a way to strengthen our partnership.

4th Grade Pride Ambassadors had their first meeting this week and did a great job collaboratively describing qualities of our Byam P.R.I.D.E. acronym - Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy. Students will be working together to create initiatives and ways to add P.R.I.D.E. to our Byam school community.

Families:

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Unfortunately, we are seeing a fair number of cases of conjunctivitis here at Byam. Here is some information to help your student (and the rest of your family) to avoid conjunctivitis. You can find the full article: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/conjunctivitis.html

As a reminder, students can return to school 24 hours after starting prescribed antibiotics.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pinkeye?

Besides the telltale red or pink color that gives pinkeye its name, eye discomfort is a common symptom. Kids might say that it feels like there's sand in the eye. Often, there's some discharge from the eye, and pain and swelling of the conjunctiva. Some kids have swollen eyelids or sensitivity to bright light. Pinkeye can affect one or both eyes.

Is Pinkeye Contagious?

Pinkeye is contagious if it's caused by bacteria or a virus:

• Pinkeye that's caused by bacteria can spread to others as soon as symptoms appear and for as long as there's discharge from the eye — or until 24 hours after antibiotics are started.

• Pinkeye that's caused by a virus is generally contagious before symptoms appear and can remain so as long as the symptoms last.

A child can get pinkeye by touching an infected person or something an infected person has touched, such as a used tissue. In the summertime, pinkeye can spread when kids swim in contaminated water or share contaminated towels. It also can spread through coughing and sneezing.

Also, someone who has pinkeye in one eye can spread it to the other eye by rubbing or touching the infected eye, then touching the other eye.

GASTROENTERITIS- "STOMACH BUG"

We are also seeing a fair amount of gastroenteritis causing vomiting and diarrhea. Here is some information to help your student (and the rest of your family) to avoid gastroenteritis. You can find the full article here: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/gastroenteritis.html#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20specific%20treatment,oral%20(by%20mouth)%20rehydration.

As a reminder students may return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.

What Is Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis, often called the stomach flu, is a common illness that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and belly cramps. It usually lasts a few days and isn't serious. Most kids get better at home by resting and drinking plenty of liquids.

What Causes Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis happens when germs (viruses, bacteria, or parasites) infect the stomach or intestines, causing inflammation.

In kids, viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Many of the germs that cause gastroenteritis spread easily. Someone can get sick if they touch something contaminated and then touch food or their mouth or share food or drinks with someone who is sick.

• Germs that cause gastroenteritis are contagious. The best way to avoid the illness is to keep the germs from spreading with handwashing and cleaning tabletops, doorknobs, and other surfaces that get touched a lot with a cleaner that kills viruses.

  
  

• Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Emma R. Pappo, BSN, RN
Byam School Nurse

25 Maple Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone (978) 251-5144

Fax (978) 926-0445

pappoe@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

We will be donating Lost and Found soon as the rack is full. Please encourage your students to check the Lost and Found next week if they misplaced an item.

It's time to purchase your tickets for the upcoming CHS production of Beauty and the Beast at the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center, Thursday November 21-Saturday November 23! Shows are sure to sell out, so get your tickets now to enjoy this family-friendly musical!

Ticket link: https://our.show/chstheatreguild/bandb

The box in the lobby continues to be available until 11/21 for donations of new or gently used coats or winter accessories. Winter coats, jackets, hats, mittens, gloves of Any Size 0-Adult to benefit those in need in the Merrimack Valley area. The mission of Debbie's Treasure Chest is "to create opportunities for children in the Merrimack Valley to reach their potential and to help low income families access resources for success."

http://www.debbiestreasurechest.org

https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/webmenus2/#/view?id=670417a9e96f1e46ac2f7ff9&siteCode=3369

Link: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/webmenus2/#/view?id=670ebe53e96f1eb1ad5ce504&siteCode=3369

11/26/24: Square 1 Art Fundraiser (Deadline Approaching!)

12/6/24: Riverhawks Hockey Night

2/1/25 : Riverhawks Hockey Night

2/8/25: Sweetheart dance

3/29/25 : Hootenanny Talent Variety Show

5/3/25 : Walk a Thon 10-2pm

5/6/25 : Byam Art Night, 5 - 7pm

Square 1 Art Fundraiser!

Support the Byam BSA by ordering 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 and assemblies.

Order deadline: 11/26/2024
https://shop.square1art.com/

The Paper Store's Gift of Giving event from Nov 25th - Dec 1st in-store at the Drum Hill location.

Join us on Friday December 8th at 7:15pm for the UML Riverhawks game as they take on the BC Eagles! Tickets are $12 each and we kindly ask to have your ticket orders in by December 2nd.

Order your BYAM SPIRIT WEAR! Orders will arrive before Christmas!

STORE CLOSES MONDAY November 25 AT NOON so get your orders in before then!

LINK: https://bsa.ptboard.com/formvw/store?store=4992

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

Want to get involved? BSA Help Needed

Here are some openings the BSA is currently seeking help on, reach out the bsa.chelmsford@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these positions!

Stay Connected to the Byam School Association, Click on the live links below for more...

https://chelmsfordschools.org/

2024-2025 School Wide Academic Calendar

Office: Secretary Dossin dossina@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Clerk/Attendance: murphys@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal Dolan dolane@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Website: https://byam.chelmsfordschools.org/about/
Location: 25 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5144