BSE BULLETIN
Dates to Note This Week:
- Fri. March 11th Nationwide Student-Led Walk Out (see below)
- Tues March 15th PTO meeting (see below)
- Wed. March 16th 1:50 Release
- Fri. March 18th Filming in Downtown (see below)
Letter From Nurse Long
March 10, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff;
As we move forward with changes to our masking procedures in our school buildings next week, it's important to review these few reminders from our health office:
Beginning Monday, March 14, mask wearing in our school buildings will be optional for all staff and students except in the health offices per guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Masks will remain available to anyone who wants or needs one while in our buildings or needs to enter the health office.
Vaccination remains a primary mitigation strategy. If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, please visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ for the nearest location. Additionally, it is important to stay home when sick, both for the potential of COVID-19 as well as other contagious illnesses. As a reminder, the following are symptoms that can be associated with COVID-19:
Fever over 100.0 degrees (must remain home until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
Body chills without fever that won’t go away
Cough (with unknown source; does not include those from diagnosed allergies or asthma)
Sore throat (does not include those from diagnosed post nasal drip due to allergies)
New muscle or body aches of unknown cause
New loss of taste or smell
Extreme fatigue with unknown cause
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (not associated with diagnosed asthma)
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not associated with diagnosed allergies)
Headache (with another symptom)
Nausea (not from diagnosed anxiety disorder)
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Students and staff should remain home if they have more than two (2) mild symptoms or have one or more significant symptoms. Symptomatic absences should be reported to the school nurse in order for the absence to be excused. If you are unsure if your student should go to school or stay home, please contact your school nurse or email the District Nurse Leader at dweber@mtrsd.org. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Thank you!
We are HIRING!
Optional Student-Led Walk Out Tomorrow 3/11
There will be an optional student walk out event that will take place tomorrow 3/11 at 12:50. Some of our students have decided in support the Nationwide youth-led walk out to protest the growing number of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the United States. A small group of students have made signs and organized a voluntary walk out to participate in the event.
Students who choose to participate will walk out around the building and on the sidewalks near the school from 12:50-1:10pm. There will be adult staff volunteers walking with the students to ensure safety. Afterwards, the students who participate in the walk will gather to discuss both national and local issues affecting LGBTQ youth and best practices for allyship on the front porch before re-entering the building. Students who do not wish to participate will remain in class with teachers and continue with classes.
Our participation in this walk out was driven by students. Third grade student, Verva Jalbert came to me and said "In some states they are passing unfair laws that are discriminating against transgender people and there’s a protest happening all over the country against this. And I want to walk in support of transgender people." Thank you for your support as we continue to look at ways to support our students in their social justice work.
It is hard to express how proud I am of our students for their commitment to continuing to make our school and our world a safe and inclusive place for all students and adults.
Book Fair 2022
Book Fair is coming! Students will be able to visit the fair during school hours throughout the week, and the fair will be open to families Thursday, 1-7pm, and Friday, 1-4pm March 21-25, 2022. We need volunteers to help students make shopping decisions, and straighten/replenish merchandise. All volunteers need to have a CORI (background check) on file which can be done through the main office. Click on the links below to learn more and sign up to volunteer.
PTO Meeting Tuesday March 15th 7:30 pm
Please join us!
PTO Meeting Tuesday March 15th 7:30 pmVirtual meeting
meet.google.com/jvb-uhdz-jop
Welcome
Breakout groups for sub committees 20-30 minutes
Talent Show
Grant Writing
Teacher Appreciation
Bridge of Flowers Fundraising
Large group report from subcommittees
Library Book Sale
Spring Fundraising
Movie Filming Next Week
It's time to GEAR-UP and get your MTRS gear!
Caregivers, sports-fans, and future MTRS families -- it's time to get your MTRS gear!
Want to show off your blue & gold pride at the next MTRS sporting event? Have a child who will go to MTRS next year and want to stock up on some gear? Now is your time! The MTRS pop-up gear shop is open March 14, so get your gear here: https://eastbaystore.com/OFTSD595
Questions? Please contact MTRS Athetic Director Greg Vouros at gvouros@mtrsd.org.
Baseball Season
Baseball Season is once again upon us! For those of you who don’t know us, we are an independent youth baseball league founded in the 1950’s, for all boys and girls, pre-k through 6th grade from Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School. Our league competes against other teams organized under our parent organization, Mohawk Youth Baseball, which is made up of teams throughout the Mohawk Trail Regional School System plus Chesterfield.
In this email you will find the registration link for the 2022 season. Registrations are due by 3/18/22. The registration process and the drafting and forming of teams takes a considerable amount of time, so please sign up as soon as possible. Within the google form there is an option to pay via Venmo @bucklandshelburneyouthbaseball (or you can mail a check to the PO Box).
https://forms.gle/NvY48BmoFNhYin4G8
Please feel free to call/email me with any questions or concerns.
Leah M. Phillips, President
Buckland Shelburne Youth Baseball
PO Box 102
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
413-522-1250
Student Makes the Newspaper!
A Musical Letter from Nick Lawrence At MTRS
Dear Student Musicians & Families,
Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to let you know about a new collaboration for our music/band students. Sanderson Academy’s instrumental and choral students will be doing a joint concert with the Shelburne Falls Military Band (SFMB) and the music students across our district (including BSE and MTRS) called Band Together! One big rehearsal will be on Wednesday, May 11 @ 7 PM and the concert will be on Wednesday, May 18 @ 7 PM, both events outside at Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. We are very excited to introduce the local school community to the band and look forward to the event.
If you are wondering …
The Shelburne Falls Military Band is the oldest continuously-running band in the country, performing since 1835. They play free concerts across western Franklin County every summer, so bring a lawn chair and come listen to some great music! If you’d like more information about the SFMB you can find them on Facebook.
What this means for your student …
Band students will be asked to learn two full-band arrangements to play with the SFMB. This is a wonderful opportunity for young instrumentalists to experience an ensemble setting with the support of seasoned musicians. Being part of an ensemble like this provides a collection of experiences and skills that are unique, rewarding, and altogether unforgettable. In band the student is asked to take the majority of the responsibility needed to participate. Students will work on their songs during in-school lessons but I strongly encourage your child to practice at home.
Please help your child find quality practice time during the week whenever possible. I recommend students practice 15 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week. Playing regularly makes the student a more consistent player. With consistent practice the student’s muscle memory increases and their retention of musical concepts increases exponentially. The goal is to learn the instrument and the songs so your child feels successful!
This is a very exciting opportunity for your child and the district’s music program! Now let’s Band Together! to make this happen for our students!
Cheers,
Nick Lawrence
MTRS/Sanderson Academy Music
they/them
Shelley Roberts
BSE Music Teacher
she/her/hers
PK and K Registration Coming 4/11
Hayley Gilmore, Principal
Email: hgilmore@mtrsd.org
Website: https://bse.mohawktrailschools.org/
Location: 75 Mechanic Street, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: 413-625-2521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BucklandShelburneElementary