Rowe Elementary Newsletter

Community Dinner - Monday, October 20 - 5:30 - 6:30

Rowe Walk-A-Thon - Friday, October 24th - School Hours

Flu Clinic - Monday, October 27

School Picture Day - October 28 (picture make-up 12/2)

Rowe Conferences - November 3rd and 4th (4:00 - 7:30)

Here is the link to the DISTRICT CALENDAR for the 2025/2026 school year.

Please sign up here if you can help volunteer at this year's Flu Clinic on October 27 between 9-11 am. We are seeking a few adults to assist with walking kids to and from class and providing some TLC during MaineHealth's vaccination administration.

As we approach Halloween, we want to remind everyone that our school does not participate in Halloween celebrations during school hours.

We are sharing this reminder, especially for our newer families, to ensure everyone knows that school will continue to be a safe, inclusive, and focused learning environment on October 31. We encourage all students to attend school as usual.

Here are the reasons behind this decision:

1. Cultural Sensitivity: Halloween is not celebrated worldwide, and many of our students and families come from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds that may not align with this holiday. We want all students and families to feel respected and included in our community.

2. Emotional Considerations: For some students, Halloween imagery—such as certain decorations or costumes—can be emotionally triggering, particularly for those who may have experienced trauma. We prioritize ensuring that our school is a safe and supportive environment for all.

3. Focus on Instruction: We aim to maximize our academic instructional time and ensure that our school days remain dedicated to learning and growth.
   
   

Additionally, please note that for some families, Halloween is a religious holiday. If your family celebrates it as part of your religious observances, this is considered an excused absence.

While we will not be celebrating Halloween during the school day, partner organizations that support our after-school clubs and recreational activities have the flexibility to celebrate holidays as they see fit. Participation in these events is entirely optional.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Sleep is the power source that recharges students during the night so they can thrive during the day. Did you know the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children ages 6-12 should sleep 9-12 hours per night? Sleeping the recommended number of hours on a regular basis is associated with better health outcomes like improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health.

Here are 10 ways you can help your child get a good night’s sleep:

1. Set a bedtime that is early enough for your child to get at least 9 hours of sleep.
2. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine (like reading together!)
3. Make the bedroom as quiet and relaxing as possible and keep at comfortable, cool temperature
4. Limit exposure to bright light in the evening- (including screens!)
5. TURN OFF ELECTRONICS 30 minutes before bedtime. Consider removing TVs, phones, and other devices from the bedroom.
6. Don’t eat a large meal before bed.
7. Help your child engage in physical activity every day.
8. Limit afterschool naps to 30 minutes or less and avoid naps after 4:00pm.
9. Get some bright light in the morning when your child wakes up.
10. Stick to your established sleep schedule on weekends.

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Our before/after-school enrichment clubs are up and running! A big thank-you to Jill King, our amazing PTO, and the Rowe teachers who make these opportunities possible for our students.

Families, please remind your child that eating is not allowed on the bus. Our bus policy prohibits food for safety reasons, and some students have allergies that could be affected by food exposure. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe!

Exciting news! Our Rowe Odyssey of the Mind program is now a part of the Portland Odyssey Club family. If your student is interested in joining Rowe OM, this will not look much different than previous years; we will have the administrative and board support of this great nonprofit organization.

It is the last week to register for Odyssey of the Mind, registration closes Friday, October, 17!

OM is a creative problem-solving competition that requires students to work together to build, write, design, perform, and above all else, work as a TEAM to solve a problem within set parameters. Students are required to accomplish this goal entirely independent from adult help.

Rowe has celebrated several winning teams during our three years as a school club, and is looking forward to growing our program even more with the support of Portland Odyssey Club. This program cannot run without parent coaches. Please consider coaching a team. We have great resources to help you get started and guide you through the season.

Please visit the Portland Odyssey Club website to register and for more information. If you have any questions, please email portlandmaineodyssey@gmail.com. Or Stephanie Walsh, Rowe Parent, OM Coach and Portland Odyssey Club board President at stephlwalsh@gmail.com.

Thank you to Mr. C for organizing visits to the Ripple Effect outdoor learning and climbing course! Our students had a fantastic time exploring, challenging themselves, and learning together in such a fun and supportive environment.

Please remember that students should not be dropped off at school before 8:35 a.m. as there is no supervision prior to this time. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!