From the Principal's Pen
October 28, 2018
OUR UNITED NATIONS WEEK WAS FULL OF CELEBRATIONS AT JULIAN CURTISS!
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU
Our United Nations Day speakers included a very special parent who has been a member of the Julian Curtiss community for the past eight years. Ines Ribeiro shared her family’s inspiring story of coming to Greenwich, CT. and their hopes for the future of our community and the future of our world! Our two fifth grade student speakers, Paola Jaramillo from Colombia, and Daniel Xu from China, shared with you their experiences from their 10 year old perspectives. These were just highlights and sound bites that represent our school of 319 students marching under the flags of 67 countries. We are so proud of these speakers and our entire student body!
This event requires the time and hands of many volunteers, and I would like to give a very special thank you to Martine Beijerman Bueller, mom of Zoe (2G) and Wolf (1CS), as well as Jen Fry, mom of Max Leavens (5O) and Tessa Leavens (2S) for orchestrating this event. The PTA Co-Presidents, Jessie Bennett and Bob Chaney, along with the entire UN Committee worked tirelessly to organize this event. Thank you to our PTA for their hard work and support! The support of these hard-working, dedicated volunteers make our school a better place for ALL of our students! Our students are truly the future of our world, and we are preparing them well to be global citizens!
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate they can be taught to love for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Nelson Mandela
THE UN DAY PARADE IN THE NEWS
Greenwich Time Coverage
BRINGING THE WORLD TO JULIAN CURTISS
A DELICIOUS END TO THE WEEK!
HALLOWEEN REMINDERS
Halloween Day Parade on October 31st at 2:15 pm
It is our intent to keep the day as routine as possible, but still allow a little celebration with a “snack” not a full on catering event! Not an easy feat at all! Children may bring their costumes to school but cannot wear them all day long. We ask that costumes be appropriate for elementary school since K-2 students can scare easily. Please follow these guidelines:
- No full face masks
- No blood
- No weapons
- No color hairspray or make-up because we are asking that students do not come to school with their costume on and we do not want them applying these items during the school day.
- Parents of students in K-2 can come in at 1:45 to help with costumes if they wish.
Please help us stay on track for instruction for most of the school day.
Important Note: Halloween is on Wednesday this week. Sugar and lack of sleep are not a combination that makes for good students the next day. Please keep the sugar to a minimum and make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep.
Reminders From our District Wellness and Food Allergy Procedures
Halloween is a fun time of the year, but for children with food allergies and their parents it can be a very scary time for a very serious reason.
During this Halloween season it is a good time to remind everyone that we are an allergy aware school and are committed to keeping all children safe. As candy and treats abound before and after Halloween, please be mindful of the foods you bring into the school for snack and lunch. Parents should read labels carefully for the most common food allergies frequently found in candy : peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, soy, and sesame and be aware of foods made in a facility that processes them. Students, please do not share food and remember to wash your hands before and after eating.
Let’s remember to have fun and keep all students safe and feeling included this Halloween.
VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY
On Monday, November 12th, JC students and staff will be honoring veterans with a special recognition ceremony and reception starting at 9:00. Please consider whether you know any veterans who might like to attend. If so, would you please contact them and, if they'd like to participate, ask them for the following information so that we can personalize the experience for all participants:
1) Name
2) Which branch of service
3) Number of years served
4) Primary responsibilities
5) Something you're most proud of related to your military experience
6) A contact email
Please email this information to our Library Media Specialist, Heather McGuinness, by November 2, 2018. Her email address is: heather_mcguinness@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Thank you!
SECOND GRADE PARENTS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CogAT RESULTS
On behalf of the Chief Academic Officer for Greenwich Public Schools, Irene Parisi, Cognitive Abilities Test reports will be sent home with grade 2 students on Friday, October 26th. Bonnie O’Regan, Advanced Learning Program Facilitator, will hold informational meetings about interpreting your child’s test Cognitive Abilities Test reports and the ALP placement process on Tuesday, October 30th at 9:30 am at the Byram Library, and at 7:00 pm at the Board of Education Building. The presentation will also be repeated on Thursday, November 1st at 9:30 am at the Cos Cob Library. If you are unable to attend the information sessions, the PowerPoint presentation is also available on the ALP website by clicking the link below and clicking on the "Informational Meetings" tab:
Advanced Learning Program Website
The Advanced Learning Program has begun the placement process for second graders. The ALP program seeks to identify students who excel two grade levels above their current grade, demonstrate a strong motivation and love for learning, as well as perseverance when faced with challenging assignments. Letters to parents of children who have been recommended for the evaluation phase will be emailed on Friday October 26th. Children may also be nominated for additional testing by their parents. The form must be returned to your school office no later than Friday, November 9th. Click the link below to access the nomination form:
FIFTH GRADE PARENTS - MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVANCED STUDIES INFORMATION
REMINDER - INTERNET SAFETY WORKSHOP
It has come to my attention that many of our young students are on social media and playing multiplayer online games. It is so very important that you know how this impacts your child and his/her safety.
Central Middle School will be hosting an Internet/Technology Safety Parent Workshop with Guest Speaker Katie Greer on Tuesday, October 30th from 7:00 - 8:30 pm in the CMS Auditorium.
Katie LeClerc Greer is the former Internet Safety Program Coordinator for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and former Intelligence Analyst for the Massachusetts State Police, where she was assigned to the Missing Children Clearinghouse. Her nationally recognized Internet/technology safety programs have been delivered to thousands of students, parents, school staff and law enforcement agencies around the country and have been featured in USA Today, Vanity Fair Magazine and on CNN.
If your child is on social media or plays games like Fortnite please attend this event.
KINDERGARTEN SPOTLIGHT
If you or someone you know has a child that will be of age in the fall, the GPS Kindergarten Spotlight is an opportunity to learn more about the Greenwich Public Schools Kindergarten program for families considering their education options for the next school year.
November 13, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting Room
101 Field Point Road, Greenwich
Please click the links below for more information:
GREENWICH ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION TURKEY TROT
Come Run Off That Turkey!
Please consider registering your family for the Greenwich Alliance Turkey Trot!
The Greenwich Alliance for Education supports a number of programs that benefit our students including the revamping of our Innovation Space, Odyssey of the Mind, and many others.
Run For Your School Competition - The Greenwich school with the greatest participation wins a $500 gift card for PE equipment. Get involved and be sure to indicate your school when you register.
SOCKTOBER
Each night in the United States, an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets. This October, we want to show that even a small act of love, such as donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless.
During the month of October, the Julian Curtiss Service Club will be collecting new socks of all sizes (infant, child, and adult) to be given to local homeless shelters.
There will be a collection box at the end of the front hallway outside the gym until the end of the week. THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO CONTRIBUTE.
Tell your friends and family - every pair helps!
Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal