This is our first electronic newsletter and we hope to use this format to send you short but regular updates in the coming weeks. In the past we sent long newsletters, packed with information on so many different topics. But lets be serious, who has the time in our busy lives to read a ten page newsletter! So moving forward we are going with more frequent but shorter newsletters which should only take you a minute or two to check out. So look for newsletters in your email, on twitter, or from the Powder Mill website. If you have any questions or need more information please reach out!

Thanks!

Erin & Cherie

Erin Fahey Carrier, Principal

Cherie Curran, Assistant Principal

The end of the day is very hectic as we get students ready to transition home. If you need to change your child’s dismissal plan we ask that you send in a note. However, if a sudden change occurs, PLEASE call the school before 2:15. That will give us time to contact the classroom teacher and relay any messages to your child. After that time students are packing up and going to lockers or transitioning from one class back to home room and messages are hard to communicate. So unless it is an emergency we can’t guarantee changes after 2:15.

To increase safety in the parking lot we ask that parents park in the middle section of the lot facing Powder Mill Road. This allows you to pull through the parking spots after walking your child to the door. By doing this we hope to reduce the need for people to back up from a parking spot and reduce the chances of a child darting behind a car. Additionally, it will allow staff to park along the perimeter of the lot so that during the day the bus company can use the center portion for a variety of training exercises. Thank you for your help.

School Pictures will be on Tuesday, September 24th. Look for flyers coming home in your child’s backpack with more details.

Please remember, if you are planning on volunteering at various activities throughout the school year, a CORI form must be completed. You may fill one out at Open House. Please make certain to have a photo ID.

PAWS PTO meeting dates are listed below. They will meet either in the Powder Mill or Woodland School Dining Room at 5:30 p.m.

September 11th (WS)

November 13th (PMS)

January 15th (WS)

May 13th (WS)

The school nurse may not administer medications in school without a signed medication order from a licensed prescriber and a signed consent from a parent. It is necessary to obtain new orders every school year. Forms are available from the nurse and on the district website.

• If he/she has a fever of 100 degrees or higher
• The first 24 hours after starting antibiotics for an infection, especially Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye, Impetigo, or Strep Throat
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea during the night or in the morning
• A cold with heavy nasal congestion or a persistent cough that would make school difficult for them
• Rash that could be contagious, rashes need to be checked by your child’s doctor
• Excessive fatigue after an illness
• When your child’s doctor recommends rest at home
• Your child should be free from fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school
• If your child has head lice, please notify the nurse at school. After treatment, he/she must be nit-free and checked by the school nurse before returning to school

If you are not sure about keeping your child home, you may always call the school nurse or your child’s doctor. Your best resource is your pediatrician or other health care provider, who can advise you, see your child if necessary, and write an out of school note, if appropriate.

Health screenings are a routine part of your child’s health assessment while they attend school. These screenings include Hearing and Vision Screening, Scoliosis Screening, and Height/Weight Screenings (with calculated BMI %). These screenings occur automatically and are on a schedule for specific grades (Review the schedule on our district website @ www.stgrsd.org, Departments/Health Services/Screenings and Physical Exam requirements).

You have the option to not have your child participate in one or all of these screenings. You must, however, make your decision to “OPT Out” of a screening by sending a note to your child’s school nurse. This must be done yearly. Otherwise, your child will be automatically screened as per Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) regulations.

****Opting Out only applies to screenings and DOES NOT apply to physical exams****

Only parents with children who fail a screening for Vision and Hearing and for Scoliosis will receive a letter with results and a referral to an MD/Specialist. Prompt follow up by parents with these referrals and sending in the results to your child’s school nurse is greatly appreciated.

Any questions or concerns, please call Nurse Ashley Chicoine, at 569-5951 x-2117.

Below are the guidelines for classroom celebrations within the wellness policy which can be reviewed on the District website www.stgrsd.org.

• The school district administration has developed and implemented a protocol in an effort to minimize the risk of exposure to allergens that pose a threat to students.
• The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District recognizes the increasing prevalence of student allergies and the life-threatening nature of allergies for many students. As a result, snacks made at home may not be shared with the students in classrooms.
• For any in school celebrations, only wrapped, store-bought foods with the ingredients listed on the label will be distributed.
• The school principal, in collaboration with the school nurse, may make an exception to this in order to approve curriculum based food activities. Alternate activities are strongly encouraged for celebrations.
• Our mission is to teach students that food shouldn’t always be the focus and there are other ways to celebrate. We can have fun without food

SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

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Program Dates: September 6, 2019 - March 14, 2020

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Powder Mill ID #05216