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Hello PRS Families!

On behalf of the entire Plymouth River Staff, we would like to welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year! It’s hard to believe that we are two weeks into August and summer is slowly coming to an end. We hope that you have been able to rest and rejuvenate over the summer. We also want to make sure that you enjoy these last precious weeks of warm and sunny weather. This month always brings a plethora of emotions for all who are involved in the school community as well as the excitement and anticipation of change and a new school year. We share and understand these emotions! However, we are energized by the prospect of seeing and meeting all of you as the school year begins! Happy New School Year!

We would like to extend a special welcome to the new families who will be joining us this year as well as families who are returning. You will find the PRS Community (including all staff and families) to be amazing as there are no strangers, just friends you have not met yet! For those families that are new please click here for an invitation from the PTO for a new student meetup at The Barrel.

We have an amazing PTO and many volunteers who make so many special events happen. If you would like to reach out to the PTO co-presidents please email the PTO at PRSPTOEmail@gmail.com.

Looking ahead, we are eager to welcome students back in September, and we are excited for their happy, youthful energy to fill our hallways and classrooms once again with learning, laughter and enthusiasm. Kindergarten parents you have a link below to a separate newsletter outlining information on upcoming Kindergarten events to prepare you and your child(ren) for the new school year. I have been amazed at how well our community continues to work together to provide the best educational (academic and social) experience possible for our children. You are all such important citizens of PRS, and we can’t wait to get started on the new school year! Over the two years, you proved this and more! You were heroes in the face of adversity as you reached out to support us, each other, and most importantly our most precious resource, our PRS children! You certainly helped us do what many thought was impossible over the last two years, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve this new school year!

Kindergarten Families: Attached here is a welcome letter containing all the information that we could think of right now to help make your transition into PRS and Kindergarten as smooth as possible. Any questions please feel free to reach out to us and we can help guide you so that you and your family begin the school year off on the right foot.

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Class Assignments: These will be emailed to families on Friday, August 19. We know you are very aware of how much consideration/work goes into class placements each and every year. We understand that a successful school year starts with a positive home-school partnership. Thank you for understanding that changes and requests cannot be made in placement of your child. Due to privacy reasons, we do not send the entire class list out anymore.

Grading Term Dates: Please click on the link to see this years grading timeline and conference dates along with the half days.

Opt-Out Form: In September, your child will come home with an Opt-Out form. This form will opt you out of certain areas of communication from affiliates with the school and town. If you would like to get ahead on filling out the form now so you wont have to fill out the paper form when it comes home on day 1 of school, please feel free to click the link and do so now.

Lunch: This year, due to State Government Assistance, lunch and breakfast will be served free of charge again. This year, there will also be continuing breakfast program (also peanut/tree nut free) for students who wish to partake in that. It is also free of charge. There will be one “grab and go breakfast” offering daily (please see monthly menu). Please be aware that there will be NO bonus lunches again this year but students can buy things like milk ($0.75), water($1.00), Greek yogurt($2.00) when purchased without a lunch. You will also need to set up an online meals account at schoolcafe.com.

Schedule: This past year the district worked with a consultant across all four elementary schools which included looking at the teaching and learning minutes that are required by DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in all areas of the curriculum. The schedule will provide the time on learning prescribed for academics as well as time for social/emotional learning which includes a recess. Recesses will precede lunch in every grade level, and there will also be snack time in every grade level with a recess/snack time in grades K-2.

Financial Assistance: Please also know that if any of our families need financial assistance at any time or for any reason during the year they should contact the school Adjustment Counselor, A.C.Decker (acdecker@hinghamschools.org) who will keep all such requests confidential.

Special Note: On the first day of school for grades 1-5, Tuesday, September 6, your child will come home with many forms that need to be filled out (emergency contact information etc…). A swift turnaround of these forms will be greatly appreciated as they are very important for the administration of the school. We apologize in advance for the strain this puts on all of you as we understand how busy the first few days can be.

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SCHOOL SUPPLIES - You can order online through Yubbler or purchase on your own. Choose your incoming grade level supply list here

https://www.yubbler.com/school/plymouth-river/kindergarten

HPS 2022-2023 CALENDAR

1000 BOOK CLUB - This is a great program for preschool and kindergarten students to check out book bags and read with families!

LOOKING FOR AFTERSCHOOL CARE?

Kids in Action (KIA) Before and After-School Programs are for Hingham students in grades K-5. Our curriculum focuses on social and emotional development with support in academic skills through play and guidance.

VOLUNTEERS - We are happy to have parent volunteers in our school again! As we enter a new school year, all volunteers in the schools (classroom volunteers, field trip chaperones, etc.) will require a new CORI check. Forms can be found in the main office or here

BUS ROUTES - New bus routes will be posted in the link provided below soon. Transportation is just putting the final touches on the routes. https://hinghamschools.org/about/transportation/

PRS FAST FACTS

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August 19th - Class lists emailed to families

August 31st - Emails from teachers to students

September 1st - See you classroom open house - 2 - 2:30 PM

September 6th - First Day of School for Grades 1-5

September 7th - Kindergarten Meet the Teacher & Bus Orientation

September 8th - First Day of School for Grade K

Curriculum Nights

Grade K - October 19th - 5:30 - 6PM

Grade 1 - September 28th - 5:30 - 6PM

Grade 2 - September 14th - 5:30 - 6PM

Grade 3 - September 28th - 5 - 5:30PM

Grade 4 - September 28th - 6 - 6:30PM

Grade 5 - TBA

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Office

Administrative Assistants- Suzanne Price, Alisa Zimmerman

School Resource Officer - Officer McGillicuddy /Officer Carr

Nurse - Deb Whiting

Classroom Teachers

K - Amy Maescher, Kim O'Brien, Julianne Riley

1st - Nancy Bucey, Katie Burritt, Janette Harrington

2nd - Cyndi Bonani, Krystal Bilodeau, Michelle Shapiro

3rd - Laura Falvey, Meagan Ottatti, Shawna Reames

4th - Kara Kremer, Maura Talbot, Susan Willison

5th - Julie Harrington, Joan Kilban, Meryl Vella, Shannon Wragg

Specialists

Art - Alice Caldwell

Computer Science - Rebekah Stahl

Library - Mary Dunphy

Music - Dorothy Turner

Phys.Ed.- Mikayla Pagnini

Spanish - Kendelle Ingram

Special Education

Teachers - Colin Butler, Meaghan Gaven, Elizabeth Rubertone, Cassie Pacella, Lauren Smith

School Psychologist- Dr. Brett Bolger

Administrative Assistant - Susan Carey

Support Personnel

Adjustment Counselor - A.C. Decker

School Guidance Counselor - Carolyn St. Laurence

Literacy Specialists - Kati Osterman (K-2nd) and Jennifer Madden (3rd-5th)

Literacy Interventionists - Wendy Kirk and Nicole O'Brien

Math Specialist - Jessica Kitchen

Math Interventionists- Christine Lotano, Letita Reil

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