MHS/WES Newsletter
Friday, January 24, 2020
NOTE FROM THE NURSES
Dear Westminster/ Meetinghouse Elementary Families,
We have begun to see influenza (flu), strep throat and other student illness in our school district. We have put measures in place to prevent the spread of these illnesses, and appreciate when you communicate with us when your child is absent.
Please notify your school nurse if your child is diagnosed with influenza by your physician (by swab).
Here are a few friendly reminders on when to send to school and when to keep home:
INFLUENZA: Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, headache,feeling tired and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Some may not have fever.
FEVER: Keep your child home with a temperature over 100 degrees. They must be fever free without Tylenol or Ibuprofen for 24 hours before returning to school. We strongly discourage giving a fever reducer before school if temperature is over 100 and sending them to school.
DIARRHEA: Keep your child home if they are experiencing frequent diarrhea; they should have no diarrhea and be able to tolerate foods for 24 hours.
VOMITING: Keep your child home if they are vomiting. We recommend 24 hours no vomiting and tolerating foods and liquids. Sometimes after having a stomach bug children may need one day to recover as it can be quite exhausting on their bodies.
STREP THROAT: Keep your child home until 24 hours after antibiotic has been started and without a fever.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE): Keep your child home until 24 hours after treatment has been started. Specifically 3 doses of the antibiotic given.
HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE: You may send to school as long as the child is well enough to attend school with no open/draining sores. However, if sores are too uncomfortable for child you may need to keep them home.
RASHES: Unexplainable rashes can be tricky. Any unexplained rash, fever or pain causing discomfort or concern should be evaluated by your physician to determine the cause.
Any questions or concerns feel free to contact the school nurses,
Ally Law RN Meetinghouse School 978-874-0163
Jessica Heffernan RN Westminster Elementary 978-874-2043
IMPORTANT DATES
- Jan 27th ~ Half Day- Professional Development for Teachers
- Jan 30th ~ School Improvement Council Mtg. @ 4:15pm
- January 31st ~ Math-A-thon Concludes
- Feb 6th & 13th ~ HALF DAY Parent Conferences
- Feb 12th ~ PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM in the WES Library
- Feb 17-21st ~ No School, February Vacation
First Grade News
We are almost half way through the school year! We are now expecting kids to use the routines and strategies we have taught them independently. There are a few things we need your help practicing at home!
Putting on and off snow gear can be difficult for many children. Also, storing the snow clothes can be tough. Please have your child practice putting on and taking off their snow clothes independently at home. Please pack the snow clothes in a separate bag. The snow clothes get wet outside so putting them in a backpack with school papers isn’t a good idea. It’s also tough to squeeze everything into a backpack. Please put your child’s name on everything! Things get easily mixed up in the mad dash of putting on and taking off snow clothes. We don’t want anyone going home without the things they need to enjoy the snow at home!
Getting on and off boots also means getting on and off shoes. Many kids are still struggling with tying their own shoes and sadly, we just don’t have time to tie 23 pairs of shoes after recess. At this point your child should be able to independently tie and double knot his/her shoes. If your child can not tie/double knot please practice this at home too. If your child is watching TV, have your child hold their shoe in their lap and practice tying.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at conferences.
Third Grade News
Dear Westminster Elementary School families!
I am looking for a few dedicated volunteers who would like to copy books for the Title One Home-School Reading Connection. I would ask that this volunteer visit once or twice a month. I would simply leave the materials in a box, and you would copy the books for about one hour. (Roughly 4-5 books per week.) This would help me out tremendously!! If you are interested in this life-saving volunteer position, please email me at: mdavis@awrsd.org.
Thank you and Happy reading!
-Mrs. Davis
Music News – January 2020 Mr. Lucander
Greetings to all musicians at WES and MHS! As we enter our new year all kinds of exciting things will happen. This article will briefly tell you what is going in in the general music classroom and all the ensembles at WES. I am so happy to be able to teach all these great students. Music makes you smarter, so stay involved. I’m looking forward to a great 2nd half of the year!
At MHS, both grades will continue with great singing. The 1st graders will be learning how to play xylophones! In WES, grade 2 has entered a unit using pitched tubes called Boomwhackers, while the 3rd graders are now learning how to start playing piano. Grade 4 and 5 will be not only playing piano, but learning through the use of notation.
Chorus - Sign ups are past for all students in grades 4 and 5 as we have our 1st rehearsal on Friday January 24. Music is being passed out this Friday, and will include popular hits as well as more challenging 2 part pieces.
Select Chorus- An announcement will be made during chorus rehearsals that the grade 5 Select Chorus will soon be forming, look for a permission slip within the first few rehearsals. Rehearsals are mainly Wednesdays during recess. These students will participate in all concerts and the grade 5 Promotion Night in June.
B Band- Practices have resumed on Thursdays from 3-4pm as we transition the students into A Band. Be sure to keep your child practicing and aware of what they need to do from their lesson instructor to advance to A Band.
Bell Choir Rehearsals will be starting soon. Invitations to join bell choir were sent earlier so be sure to return your permission slip.
A Band- Rehearsals are running on Thursdays already. They should have all of their music by now in plastic sleeves placed inside a 3 ring folder for organization purposes. Percussion assignments have been passed out to tell your child what parts they need to prepare with their lesson instructor.
Wind Ensemble- Students wishing to audition for Wind Ensemble need to pick up the piece of music “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and have it ready to perform for their lesson instructor by their last lesson before February vacation comes. The roster will be set and then rehearsals will start Thursdays after A Band on February 27 from 4-4:30pm.
Jazz Band- Auditions have been held and the roster is set. Other students may be added later in the spring upon the director’s approval based on need. These kids have to practice at home much more as not only do they need to learn jazz music but their A Band music as well, and in some cases they are also in Wind Ensemble, making it a challenge to learn all material.
IMPORTANT DATES
3/19 A Band -District Band Night at ORHS 6:30pm (also rehearsal in the afternoon)
3/26 Chorus -District Chorus Night at ORHS 6:30pm (also rehearsal in the afternoon)
4/11 Jazz Band -District Jazz Night at ORHS 6:30pm (short rehearsal before concert)
5/7 WES Celebration Creation Night -Jazz Band performs at 6pm-6:30pm
4/22 MHS Grade K/1 -MHS Memorial Day Program (Grades K/1 sing at 9am)
4/22 A Band -WES Memorial Day Program (grade 3/4 of the A Band perform 10am)
4/25 A Band -Memorial Day Parade (March/perform at program at Academy Hill)
6/3 Spring Concert -A Band/Wind Ensemble/Chorus/Select Chorus/Bell Choir/Jazz Band
-Concert 1 at WES 9am
-Concert 2 at Location either ORHS or Monty Tech (TBD) at 6:30pm
*NOTE – Spring Concert Date may change to a later date if the school year extends enough due to snow days.