Luce Notes
Important information, dates, and school updates.
What's the scoop at the Luce?
Hello Luce Families,
We are a week closer to the first day of school for students in grades 1-12. I hope that you received the welcome letter that was sent to all families on August 14th. If you did not revive it, I attached the letter below. As I mentioned in the letter, we must continue to create a safe, welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and positive school environment that enables all our staff, students, and families to succeed.
In my welcome letter to families, I outlined the core values of our wonderful District. They are to achieve the following habits of mind across all schools in Canton:
Academic Excellence and Rigor
Inclusive and Engaged Community
Respectful and Responsible Relationships
Continuous Reflection and Improvement.
In this Smore, I have outlined how we will actively model these core values this year.
Academic Excellence and Rigor
This year, we will have more opportunities to learn, analyze, and plan from data. We want to be more intentional about ensuring all students achieve at the highest level possible and are presented with rigorous, high-quality instruction. Specifically, we will work with the district Data Analyst to help us embrace data differently; to use it more intentionally.
In terms of curriculum, we will launch our new math curriculum, Reveal Math, in grades K-5; a new word study program, Patterns of Power, for students in grades 3-5. Additionally, there will be opportunities for families to learn more about the math curriculum this year.
Inclusive and Engaged Community
We want to be intentional about who and how we celebrate at the Luce. Through the Luce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team's work, we want to ensure we celebrate ALL cultures this year. Our monthly newsletter and calendar will share the cultures we are celebrating. Ultimately, we believe that ALL cultures need to be celebrated as we create a more inclusive and culturally proficient environment where everyone has a sense of belonging and connection.
Respectful and Responsible Relationships
We believe that relationships matter! This year, we will be proactive in how we support our students’ social and emotional well-being through intentional Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) structures. Some of those structures include:
Launching our Luce SEL mini-series in the Fall for grades K-5 and providing a fall and winter session for all students;
Providing explicit SEL lessons with our School Adjustment Counselor;
Leveraging our Take Time To SHINE student and staff recognition program with a focus of creating strong classroom communities;
Leveraging Restorative Practices;
Explicitly teaching and modeling our five core values: Safety, Helping Others, Including One Another, Never Giving Up, and Encouraging Others (SHINE).
At Luce, we believe that every student is the responsibility of all staff. We also believe that we are partners with our families. We will need to leverage our relationships with you, and our families to ensure our children are successful. We want to have open and honest communication that allows us to help each child be successful. We can’t do this work without you!
Continuous Reflection and Improvement
Throughout the year, you will receive surveys that help us to adjust our practice. We will need to hear from you because your voice matters. We want to ensure that you have an active role in your child’s academic success and trajectory. The surveys will be a critical part of how we grow as a school.
See you soon, Crew!
Please see the important events coming up.
What's Coming Up at the Luce...
8/23 K Orientation Webinar 6-7 pm (Updated Time)
8/30 K & 1 Open House 5-6:30 pm
8/31 1st Day of School for students in grades 1-12
9/2 No School
9/5 Labor Day:
9/6 1st Day of School for K Students
9/14 New Parent Orientation 5-6 pm
9/15 2-5 Open House 5-6:30 pm
9/23 Early Release School Hours (8:40-11:50)
9/26 Rosh Hashana: No School
10/5 Yom Kippur: No School
10/10 Columbus Day/Indigenous Day: No School
10/21 Early Release School Hours (8:40-11:50)
We got this, Crew,
Yeshi Lamour
Proud Principal
New School Hours For SY 22-23 (REPOST)
NEW Start Time: 8:40 am
NEW End Time: 2:55 pm
Please make a note of these changes to best prepare for your family. If you have any questions, please email me at: lamoury@cantonma.org.
School Supplies
Creating a culture of Excellence, Inspiration, and Joy!
Luce Updates
New Luce Playground!!!
All are welcome!
District Update(s)
New Bus Vendor and Bus Information
Dear Parent/Guardian:
We would like to welcome First Student as the new transportation provider for Canton Public Schools and St. John School. First Student joins us with more than a century of experience in providing safe and reliable transportation to students across the U.S. and Canada. You may have seen their buses around town this summer providing summer session transportation and familiarizing their drivers with the town.
First Student has done their best to keep the routes similar, if not the same as the existing routes from last year. There will be a few changes that First Student believes necessary to optimize timing and safety. For instance, all of our buses will be numbered this year (Ex. C1, C2, C3 etc.). Some stops may change, but are still within the safety guidelines set forth by Canton Public Schools.
All buses will be equipped with video and audio surveillance cameras. Video and audio recording will not be monitored, and only reviewed for the purposes of investigating a specific incident. Only Canton Public Schools Administration will have access to review recordings.
First Student and Canton Public Schools are working to implement a Parent App which will provide real time bus location information as well as to provide important notifications. The App is expected to be rolled out to families later this school year.
We would like to remind you of some long standing policies that we often receive questions about. More information regarding transportation can be found in the District Appendix of your school’s Student Handbook.
- Every kindergarten student must be accompanied by a parent or designated guardian at their bus stop in the morning and afternoon. Any kindergarten student who is not met by an adult will be returned to their school (or the Rodman Administration Building).
- Buses will not travel on private roads, cul de sacs, dead end roads or dirt roads. This has been a long standing policy for First Student and Canton Public Schools.
- A student’s stop may be up to a half mile (0.5 mi) from their home. This includes kindergarten students. We do not provide door to door transportation unless it is deemed necessary due to safety.
- Students must be at their designated stop 5 minutes prior to their designated stop time. These times will be listed on the temporary passes issued by email and the routes that will be posted online.
- If your stop is listed as your home address, the student MUST BE OUTSIDE, WAITING AND VISIBLE to the driver. The new drivers will not know to stop for any students they do not see waiting outside.
First Student is doing a great job preparing their drivers for the start of school, however, we are asking you for patience as we begin the school year. There is a great deal of anxiety surrounding the first days of school. Some students have difficulty getting on the bus and the traffic can be heavier than usual. Timing will be off until the drivers and students are familiar with the routes! Please plan accordingly! The team at First Student and our transportation coordinator will be ready to help with any questions you may have.
First Student Dispatch
781-961-3824
CPS Transportation
781-821-5060 ext 1156
Please be patient in waiting for your response. The first couple of days of school are extremely busy for First Student and Canton Public School Transportation Coordinator. Any questions or comments that are not an emergency should be emailed to transportation@cantonma.org.
The bus drivers and staff are looking forward to a safe and successful year!
Respectfully,
Brett McCloud
Enrollment & Transportation Coordinator
Free Meals Notification
Community Connections
Around Town Resource: Local Resources and Events in Canton
To learn more about what is happening in the community, from local resources to events, please check out the "Around Town" link (also found on the CPS website) below.
This site can be reached at this link: About/Around Town.
Did you miss last week's Smore?.. Look here for a recap
Last Week's News
Dean S. Luce Elementary School
Email: lamoury@cantonma.org
Website: https://www.cantonma.org/luce/index
Location: 45 Independence Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: 1(781)821-5075
Twitter: @LuceSchool