Carver Elementary Coyote Newsletter

Thank you to those of you who have opted to participate in the CES COVID testing program. Test kits will be distributed on Friday and an email will be sent to your inbox reminding parents/guardians to check their child's backpack for the test kits. As part of the testing program, parents will be asked to test their children on Sunday evenings and report ONLY if their child tests positive to our school nurses at berkobeinv@carver.org, goldsteins@carver.org, or shirkusm@carver.org. The testing program starts this coming week and runs through April 22. Any families who would like to opt-in can do so by sending either the school nurses or me an email at maestasr@carver.org.

Important for you to know is that our ABC's of ALICE lessons were held last week. The students were receptive to the lessons and showed their engagement by listening and asking thoughtful questions. Several Police Officers from the Carver Police Department were on hand to partner with us in teaching the lessons to everyone at our school.

We have included the MCAS testing dates in this newsletter for our grades 3, 4 and 5. Please mark your calendars to save these important dates. As always, please reach out to either me or any of the Associate Principals if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Ruby C. Maestas

Kindergarten Registration is Open for the 22/23 School Year (see more information below)

Tuesday, 2/8/22 - Early Release Day - 11:45 am dismissal

Tuesday, 2/15/22 - 100th Day of School (Grades 1-5)

Friday, 2/18/22 - Bus Driver Appreciation Day (see below for more information)

2/21/22-2/25/22 - Winter Recess

Monday, 2/28/22 - School Reopens

MCAS Testing Dates

Grade 3:

ELA: Tuesday 4/12/22 and Wednesday, 4/13/22

Math: Thursday, 5/12/22 and Friday, 5/13/22

Grade 4:

ELA: Thursday, 4/7/22 and Friday, 4/8/22

Math: Tuesday, 5/3/22 and Wednesday, 5/4/22

Grade 5:

ELA: Tuesday, 4/5/22 and Thursday, 4/7/22

Math: Thursday, 4/28/22 and Friday, 4/29/22

Science: Tuesday, 5/10/22 and Wednesday, 5/11/22

Top Photo from left to right: Mr. Campbell, Mrs. Pelkey, Mrs. Silva, Mrs. Turner

Bottom Photo from left to right: Mrs. Carey and Mrs. Howes

The Carver Elementary PTO will be celebrating Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Friday, February 18, 2022. Please show your appreciation to a bus driver and complete below or make your own Thank You Card. Please return paper to the office February 15, 2022.

One of the resources that our school uses to provide Social Emotional Learning lessons is the 2nd Step Curriculum. To learn more about this program, please feel free to browse through the family section of the website. Click on the 2nd Step Information button above.

It is officially winter and we need your help to ensure that children get outdoors for fresh air, exercise and play as long as it is safe to do so. Please help us by ensuring that children have the proper outdoor gear. If they do not have the proper gear to play outside, students may need to remain inside to enjoy a book or engage in a brain break. Also, please be aware that we have plenty of outdoor equipment, playground balls and other games that the students can access for recess. There is no need for students to bring in any of their own play equipment.

The theme at CES this school year is "Above All Be Kind." Students are being challenged to be the "I" in Kind. Teachers will nominate students who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate kindness to others. From recent nominations, the following 5 students have been selected to showcase in this newsletter.

• All Student breakfast and lunches are free again this year until 6/30/2022.

• Milk by itself is an a la carte item and is not free. It is $.60. If a student brings a lunch from home and forgot a drink, they may purchase milk for .60 or filtered water is available in all cafeterias for them to fill up their water bottles.

• If students bring their lunch from home they can supplement their lunch with free, healthy options. To qualify, students must select three of the five offered components, and one of those must be a fruit or vegetable. Please note, milk is not free by itself.

• Pick 3 Free! Add a fruit, veggie and milk for FREE!

• All students need their ID# and must enter their number into the POS system this year.

• Grab n go meals will be available on early release days. More information to come.

Below you will find the Breakfast and Lunch Menus for the month of December at Carver Elementary School. They are also posted on our website, www.carver.org and they are on the CES App.

To make changes to your child's dismissal plan, please use the PickUp Patrol system. If you are new to PickUp Patrol check your email inbox for a Registration email to create your account.

Then, whenever there is a change in your child's schedule, simply enter that information into PickUp Patrol and the school will be notified - no need to send in notes or call the office! Start by downloading the PickUp Patrol app using your Smart Phone.

New to PickUp Patrol follow this link: https://app.pickuppatrol.net/parents

Already used the PickUp Patrol app before:

• Open this link: https://app.pickuppatrol.net/parents
• Log in and then add the page to your home screen. (Instructions for how to do this vary by phone and platform, but are easily located on the internet.)
• Delete the old app. Any plan changes already submitted will be saved.