Dear Families and Staff,

Have you thanked your school counselor this year? If not this week is the perfect time to do it in observance of National School Counseling Week. We are fortunate to have a caring and dedicated counseling staff at Center. Many thanks to Kate Lallas, Dr. Julia Sollenberger, Katie Sapp, Megan Mayers and Amanda Ritson for the support they have provided to our students, families, and staff during these challenging times. An example of their dedication, is the webinar, Supporting Families with Remote Learning, they are hosting on February 10th, at 9:30. If you are unable to join us, the session will be recorded and shared following the event.

We are so thrilled we have a community event to look forward to this week and hope to see many of your faces remotely for Bingo Night on Friday. Please visit the PTO website and check out the link below for more information.

Don't forget to let "your kind shine" tomorrow, as it is the first Monday of the month.

Valentine's Day

Due to safety concerns and logistics, we ask that you not send in cards to classmates this year. This is yet another event that we will have to find creative ways to reimagine and celebrate. Our student council is working to celebrate Valentine's Day with an act of kindness; stay tuned...

Have a great week. Be well.

Dianna & Donna

We read a book called ​Why Your Skin is Beautiful. This book is about two sisters who go to the dermatologist. The dermatologist explains to the children what skin is and how it gets it’s color. She reminds them that all skin is beautiful! The book explains race and racism in kid friendly language. The kids were able to understand and have a discussion about these important topics. You are able to download a FREE copy on the authors’ website.

https://www.millieandsuzie.com/

The timing couldn't have been better to surprise staff with chapstick this week! Wow, have we needed it!

As we head into the second half of the school year, this is a good time to reflect on what is working well, where we can strengthen our partnership and reinforce student expectations that will foster academic and social growth for all students.

How can you partner with us to support our students?

Physical Presence on hybrid days

• Students should be in person on their hybrid days unless they are ill. It is a disruption to the class if students are home when they are scheduled to be in school and do not have the materials they need for learning.

Attendance in the afternoon

• Students should be back in their learning environment from 2:00-3:18.

• Students need to either log on to their live specialist or complete asynchronous work.

• Please try to schedule appointments after school, whenever possible.

Meet expectations

• Cameras should be turned on throughout the day unless a teacher states otherwise.

• Students should have a quiet working space, free of distractions.

• Students should be actively participating in class discussions.

Please see our PRIDE Passport for online learning below. Consider making a copy of this and posting it in your students' work place for them to refer to.

The Center staff has begun the important work of self-reflection in respect to this topic and will be engaging in professional development to explore how to to be an anti-racist and address our unconscious biases. I had an opportunity to watch this week and it was relevant, meaningful, and helpful. It is well worth the time!

Third Graders

Third Grade students enrolled in Chelmsford Public Schools are required to submit a signed current physical exam for school health records. A physical exam includes a general statement of health and any physical restrictions. This communicates your child is safe to participate school activities.

Massachusetts General Law 105 CMR 200.00 Section 100 requires that a child be examined every three to four years after entering school. Chelmsford Public Schools requires a physical exam on file for all kindergarten, third, sixth, and ninth graders. A physical completed between January 2020 to June 2021(last 18 months) is acceptable.

If you have not done so already, you may send in a copy or have your child’s doctor’s office fax it to Center School Nurse at 978-256-4282 (Fax). The nurse will make a copy and return the original to upon request.

Thank you,

Kathy Rossman BSN RN NCSN

This week...

• Monday, February 1: Let your kindness shine Spirit wear day!

• Wednesday, February 3: PTO co-Pres Meeting 9:15 am

• Friday, February 5: Kindergarten Teacher Deadline for posting grades

• Friday, February 5: BINGO NIGHT 6:30 - 8:00pm

And next...

• Tuesday, February 9: Kindergarten Term 1 Grades online for Parents

• Tuesday, February 9: Think A-Head enrichment: 4S, 4C, 4O
  

• Wednesday, February 10: Supporting Families with Remote Learning -Webinar, 9:30-10:15

• Wednesday, February 10: Half Day (Professional day)

• Wednesday, February 10: Think A-Head enrichment 4G, 4M
  

• Wednesday, February 10: PTO Virtual Meeting 7-8 pm

• Thursday, February 11: National Make a Friend Day

• February 15 - 19 February recess

• Monday, February 22 school reopens

• Week of 2/22-2/26- Alice Drills

We kindly ask you to follow this progression which will help us best support and assist our students and families.

1. If your student is having difficulty logging into Clever or their Google Classroom, be sure they signing in with their Chelmsford email address that ends in @cpslions.com
2. Watch & Read instructional videos and directions contained in the Tech Tips document (a link to this is below)
3. Submit a request for assistance through IIQ(formerly the helpdesk) https://chelmsford.incidentiq.com/guest/TKHNDKXH/parent-support#top
4. Your child's teacher will try to assist you but be mindful that they are also trying to provide instruction to about 20 other students, so please try the steps above to limit interruptions to learning.

Email: fulreaderd@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/9
Location: 84 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA, United States
Phone: 978-251-5155
Twitter: @Center_CCS