August 18th, 2023

Dear South Row families,

We want to welcome you and your child(ren) back to South Row for the 2023-24 school year. The start of a new school year is always exciting with fresh supplies, interesting new curriculum and endless possibilities. We hope you are eager to continue your involvement in your child’s education. The elementary school years are truly special, and we invite you to join in the wonder and awe of the learning process alongside your child.

We will continue to communicate with you regularly. Weekly communication from the office comes through Connect Ed and/or X2 on Friday afternoons. The front page of the website will change monthly. We strongly encourage you to read the weekly home link, it is chock full of information and will be helpful in order to stay on top of updates, events, school resources, and information. Checking the website regularly will also keep you in the loop and provide additional information. Additionally, we encourage you to follow us on Twitter @CPSSouthRow and on Facebook @SouthRowElementary.

The first day of school for students in grades 1-4 is Tuesday, August 29th. Kindergarten visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 29th. Please see more information below pertaining to visitation. Kindergarten students join us for their first day of school on Wednesday, August 30th.

Additionally, we encourage you to mark your calendars for curriculum night scheduled for Wednesday, September 20th. Individual teachers will review their forms of communication and information pertaining to the grade-level curriculum. The schedule for that evening is as follows:

• 5 – 5:25 pm: Principal/Assistant Principal Presentation- Cafeteria (K, 1, and 2 families)
• 5:30 – 6:15pm: Grades K, 1, and 2 Teacher Presentations
• 6:15 – 7:00 pm: Specialists/ Reading/ support providers available in classrooms/offices
• 7 – 7:25pm: Principal/ Assistant Principal Presentation- Cafeteria (same as the admin first presentation)
• 7:30 – 8:15pm: Grades 3 and 4 Teacher Presentations

South Row is very fortunate to have an active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The PTO provides a great deal of support for our students and teachers through enrichment activities, supplies and materials for the school, community-building events, and volunteer support throughout the school year. The first PTO meeting for South Row will be held on the evening of September 11th at 7 pm in the cafeteria. If you are not currently active in our PTO, please consider becoming a part of this amazing team.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns. We are honored to serve as your Principal and Assistant Principal. We look forward to working with you.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal

• Please be sure to read through first-day questions and the parent/caregiver resource guide below. These resources are action-packed with important beginning-of-the-year information.

*** First Day of School Grades 1-4: Tuesday, August 29th

*** First Day of School for Kindergarten: Wednesday, August 30th

Please read carefully the important dates section below.

Are you interested in Joining the South Row Team?: We currently have open positions in our building! Click on the links below to learn more about the positions and fill out an application if you are interested. Additionally, please share to anyone who may be interested. If you want to learn more about the positions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho.

• ABA Paraprofessionals (full-time within our Social Emotional Program)

Please click on the link below to view our 2023-24 Parent/Caregiver Resource Guide. This guide is action-packed on all things South Row! We encourage families to take the time to review it, especially those new to South Row!

Please click on the link to view the frequently asked questions document we prepare for opening day. All families are encouraged to review this document carefully.

Please be sure to fill out this transportation form for your child(ren). If you have multiple children please fill it out for each child. This information is VERY important for our office team as it is CRITICAL to know how students are being dismissed daily. Should you have any questions on transportation, please contact Debbie O'Neill (oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) or Kim Sepe (sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us).

Should a change have to occur in your child's dismissal on a particular day please email their classroom teacher and both Mrs. O'Neill and Mrs. Sepe by 2:30 if at all possible. EMAIL IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO OUR STAFF.

Tuesday, August 15th

• Main office secretarial staff return to South Row. Main office hours are 8:00AM-4:00PM

Friday, August 18th

• Student Class Assignments: Students who attended South Row last year received class placements prior to leaving for summer vacation. Rising kindergarten placement information was also sent to families via the mail and should have been received by the beginning of July. Students who registered after we completed our internal process in the Spring will receive placement information on or before August 18th, 2023.
  

Week of Monday, August 21st

• Starting Tuesday, August 22nd - Car Numbers/Display Cards: We will use the same car pick-up/drop-off system as last year.
• Students will be assigned the SAME NUMBER for all years as elementary students at South Row, please keep these cards for the duration of your student elementary careers.
• If you misplaced or need a new one, and plan to use our drop-off system daily, please contact the main office to pick up a new display card for your car the week of August 21st from 8 am-4 pm Tuesday-Friday.
• If you are a new family to South Row (grades 1-4), and you plan to pick up your child by car, you are encouraged to pick up the display number for your car the week of August 21st between 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday. Please contact the office prior to coming.
• If your child is entering kindergarten, car display number cards will be passed out at kindergarten visitation. If you do not plan to attend the visitation, and your child plans to be picked up daily, please plan to pick up the car display number the week of August 21st between 8 am-4 pm Tuesday-Friday.
• If you are a new family and DO NOT plan to use the car drop-off/pick-up, do not feel obligated to come to pick up a number. They will go home with your child on the first day of school should you need to use the car drop-off system at another point during the school year.

• Correct Emails: Please be sure we have your up-to-date email to ensure you get all communication from the school this year. If your email address has changed, please contact Mrs. O'Neill (Secretary) at oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us AND Mrs. Sepe (Clerk) at sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

• Transportation Form: Please be sure you complete this transportation form (also linked below) and sent in separate cover.

Tuesday, August 22nd

• Kindergarten Playdate: Our kindergarten playdate will occur on August 22nd on the South Row Elementary School playground (cafeteria if weather is inclement). This is a great opportunity for students to connect and begin to build friendships with classmates. In addition, our PTO plans to be present at the event, and spirit wear will be available on a first come first serve basis. The times for each class are as follows:

  • Mrs. Rigby's class - 10:00-10:30am
  • Ms. Sbordy's class - 10:30-11:00am
  • Mrs. Patriquin's class - 11:00-11:30am
  • Mrs. Richman's class - 11:30am-12:00pm

Friday, August 25th

• We will host a tour for new students and families on Friday, August 25th at 10:00 am. Mrs. Gilbert and Mr. Ramalho will facilitate this tour. We kindly ask families to complete this google form if you plan to attend. Please park at either the Tennis Court lot (front of the building) or the side parking lot, and meet the school admin in the front of the building. We look forward to welcoming our new families to our community.
  
• Medication Drop Off: Nurse Shannon Vandevoordt will hold medication drop-offs on Friday, August 25 from 8:30-3:00pm. Please visit the health page for additional information and medication forms at https://chelmsfordschools.org/departments/health-services/health-forms/
  

Monday, August 28th

• All Staff Reports to School ~ Staff Professional Development & Set Up
• Medication Drop Off: Nurse Shannon Vandevoordt will hold medication drop-offs on Monday, August 28th from 1:30-4:00pm. Please visit the health page for additional information and medication forms at https://chelmsfordschools.org/departments/health-services/health-forms/
  

Tuesday, August 29th

• First Day of School for Students (Grades 1 -4)
• Kindergarten Visitation - Students will have an opportunity to meet their teacher, see the classroom, and receive reminders from teachers and administration for the first day of school. This visitation is no longer than an hour.

Details for Kindergarten Visitation:

• Last names A - K report at 10:00AM
• Last names L-Z report at 1:30PM
• Meet in the front of the building (by main office door - sign in at tables)
• Park in aldersgate church back parking lot
• Students must come with an adult to visitation (transportation NOT provided by CPS)
• The visitation will be approx. 1 hour

Wednesday, August 30th

First Day for Kindergarten Students

• It is recommended that parents have students travel to school how they will be traveling throughout the year
• All kindergarten students will report to the gym on the first day
• Staff will be on site to get students to this location regardless on how they are arriving
• Parents that wish to say good bye or get pictures at the school may do so in the gymnasium

Friday, September 1st and Monday, September 4th

• No School - Labor Day Weekend

Tuesday, September 5th

• School Resumes K-4

Save the Date!

• FIRST PTO Meeting ~ September 11th ~ more information will be shared soon!

• Curriculum Night: Curriculum Night will take place on Wednesday, September 20th

5 – 5:25 pm: Principal/Assistant Principal Presentation- Cafeteria (3 and 4 families)

5:30 – 6:15pm: Grades K, 1, 2 Teacher Presentations

6:15 – 7:00 pm: Specialists/ Reading/ support providers available in classrooms/offices

7 – 7:25pm: Principal/ Assistant Principal Presentation- Cafeteria (K,1,2 families - same as first presentation)

7:30 – 8:15pm: Grades 3 and 4 Teacher Presentations

Extended Day Information: Extended Day Registration opened July 27th at 10 a.m. for students entering K-Grade 6. Register here: https://chelmsfordma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30249

Student Supplies: As a reminder, Dr. Lang has purchased student supplies for SY23-24 for all students. At this point, parents do not need to plan to purchase supplies. If you are interested in donating supplies to the classroom please reach out to your teacher(s).

Car Drop Off/Pick Up: This process will be the same as last year. Please view your arrival and pick-up times below. For those new to South Row, please review the visuals to help you understand the process below.

ARRIVAL:

• A-K - 8:45- 8:50 and L-Z- 8:50-8:55.

DISMISSAL:

• A-K - 3:05-3:10 and L-Z- 3:10-3:18.

Please note: These times could change slightly as we navigate the first few days of school.

Food Services: This year Massachusetts is offering all school lunch and breakfast at no charge to students. This does not automatically make families eligible for any other benefits. We strongly encourage families that feel they are eligible for transportation or extended day reduced tuition to fill out the online free and reduced meal application. The links can be found below.

https://cpsnutrition.com/index.php?sid=1478035692058&page=lunchapps

If you do qualify for benefits you most likely will be eligible for SNAP benefits.

https://www.mass.gov/snap-benefits-formerly-food-stamps

Some examples of SNAP benefits are discounts on gas, electric utilities and internet services.

Bus Registration Information (From Transportation Department)

School bus registration for the 2023-24 school year is underway. Routes are now being created with the data we've collected and our registration numbers are below previous levels. Late registrations can lead to overcrowding and inconsistent arrival times.

Register Now

Students who are not registered for the school bus will not be allowed to ride.

Alternate site notification must also be completed every year, if you have not emailed the transportation department about any alternate site arrangements please do so today. Bus registrationfees will increase after July 31, 2023.

Information pertaining to school bus transportation may be found on the Chelmsford Public Schools Transportation web page.

Please click here for the flyer and registration directions for more details. It is very important that every student is registered to ride the bus regardless of fees.

REMINDERS:

• ALL STUDENTS who desire to ride the school bus to or from school MUST REGISTER EVERY YEAR, even if they are not required to pay a fee.
• ALL REGISTRATIONS AND PAYMENTS are processed online using MySchoolBucks.
• When registering, each student must be entered separately in MySchoolBucks. For families with more than one child riding the bus, a registration must be completed for each child.
• MySchoolBucks will provide assistance for using their on-line registration system if needed during the registration process. MySchoolBucks may be reached directly at (855) 832-5226.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

You will need to look up each student in MySchoolBucks and add each student to your account, which will require name and LASID or birthdate. Each student must be registered separately. New student registrations will appear on MySchoolBucks within 24 hours after completing the registration process.

For more information, contact the Transportation Office at Chelmsford Public Schools at (978) 251-5100, ext. 6942; or brekalisp@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.

Bus Passes: Please expect to receive bus passes in the mail the week of Monday, August 21st. Any questions on bus registration, please click on this link: https://chelmsfordschools.org/departments/transportation/

Visiting the Building:

• Late Arrivals and Dismissals: If your child is arriving late or being dismissed, we kindly ask you to buzz into the main office. A staff member will either come out to get your child or bring them to you. If you know you will be late or picking up early, we kindly ask you to inform the main office staff (Debbie and Kim) by email as well as the classroom teacher.
• If you have an appointment in the school, are volunteering, or are dropping off something your child, our secretarial staff will buzz you into the building. Please make sure you label any items you are dropping off with student first/last name and teacher, if possible.
• Please report changes in dismissal to the main office by 2:30

Student Expectations:

• During the first few weeks of school, our students will be learning about school-wide expectations based on our school-wide passport.
• Expectations will be taught for each location in the building
• During the first (2) weeks of school, students will travel with their assigned recess aide to various outdoor locations at recess time. This opportunity is designed for our aides to develop relationships with their students, teach expectations for all locations, and allow students to develop positive relationships with their classroom peers.

Volunteering: If you are interested in volunteering in our school (should an opportunity present itself) please be sure to contact Mrs. O'Neill or Mrs. Sepe to make an appointment to fill out a CORI form. All volunteers must have a CORI on file to volunteer.

Please click on the link below to view our TENTATIVE kind acts and spirit days for the 2023-24 school year. As always, kind acts and spirit days are subject to change. Additionally, additions may be added as the year progresses.

Hi families! We are excited to start a new school year and hope you can find a way to join us as a volunteer or make a donation at some point this year. Any amount of help is always appreciated.

Please bookmark our website SouthRowPTO.com to make sure you are ready to find our Mabel's Labels and Box Tops Fundraiser information as well as meeting dates and events throughout the year. And you can email us with questions anytime at southrowpto@gmail.com. Watch your child's backpack, weekly homelink emails, and Facebook as well for our updates and events through the year. Hope to see you in person at our first meeting on Monday September 11th. Best wishes for a smooth start to the year!

Mrs. Terri Gilbert

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow

• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
• Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
• Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
• Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
• Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1