Scotty Updates
A Newsletter from Scotland Elementary School
Week of December 5, 2022
Scotty Updates
Scotty Updates has been created to provide families and staff with information regarding upcoming events, happenings, and programs at Scotland Elementary School. Please take time each Monday to review our newsletter.
A Message from Jill & Tim
Dear Scotland Families and Staff,
I hope this message finds you well! Just before Thanksgiving recess, Mr. Tornatore organized a Thanksgiving sing-a-long, where students were able to participate in a long standing Scotland tradition. It was such a special way for us to connect as a community just before the holiday. Thank you, Mr. Tornatore for making this possible, and for leading our school through this festive event! Please find the video linked below.
It is hard to believe that we have just 14 school days left until winter recess. This Friday will be our Scotland Holiday Boutique! A huge thank you to our PTA members who have worked hard to shop, plan, and execute this Scotland tradition. Each class will have a 30 minute time slot on Friday to shop in our gym. We are so excited to continue this tradition!
This Friday we will also participate in PJ Day for the Kids, sponsored by Connecticut Children's Medical Center. For a $1 donation, students and staff can wear their pjs to school for the day!! Click here to donate.
Just a reminder that we will have an early dismissal for students on Thursday, December 8th (11:40am) for professional development.
Kind regards,
Jill & Tim
Giving Joy!
Here are some ideas for donations as suggested by Yale Children’s Hospital.
- Play-Doh (single cans and sets)
- Crayons & coloring/activity books
- LEGO and LEGO Kits (small and medium kits only)
- Playing cards and Uno
- Cars and trucks
- Character figurines and playsets (superheroes, princesses, etc.)
- Stress relief items (stress balls, fidget spinners, pop-toys, etc.)
Donate an item from our Wish Book. The Wish Book is a catalog of various items that could help make a real difference in the life of a sick child, worried parent, or a family struggling with illness. Visit our online Wish Book. (https://online.flippingbook.com/view/131100984/)
Shop our Amazon Wish Lists. Our Child Life team has selected the items that are most commonly needed for our patients. You can donate these safe, approved toys directly to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. View our current Amazon Wish Lists.(https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/KSBMQLXZTIKC?ref_=wl_share)
🎶 4th/5th Grade Winter Concert Information 🎶
Spotlight on Curriculum 🔦
Mathodology Family Game Night!
SDM Reminder
In an effort to ensure that all students are safe and know how they are getting home, all dismissal changes must be put into School Dismissal Manager no later than 12pm daily. Our office is experiencing a great deal of calls changing the dismissal plans for students at the end of the day. It is challenging to navigate these changes, ensuring that staff are aware and students know how they are getting home so close to dismissal. If you need to make a change to your child's dismissal after the daily cutoff time of 12pm, you will need to send an email to canderson@ridgefieldps.net in order for us to make that change. We really appreciate your help with this!
Snaps around Scotland 📸
Events & Happenings 📆
Monday, December 5th:
- C Day
Tuesday, December 6th:
- D Day
Wednesday, December 7th:
- E Day
Thursday, December 8th:
- F Day
Friday, December 9th:
- A Day
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Coming Soon:
December 8th:
- Early dismissal for students - 11:40am
- Professional learning for staff
December 15th:
- Winter Concert - 4th and 5th grade
- 5:30pm
December 22nd:
- Early dismissal - 11:40am
December 23rd-January 2nd:
- No School - winter recess
Attention 5th Grade Families!
A Note from Our PTA
Scotties Helping Scotties!
Within the Scotland community, affording supplies, field trips, yearbooks, enrichment, and activities is never something a student should miss because of financials!
The PTA sets funds aside to help families in our community. We all experience financial challenges, from layoffs to life's moments and everything in between.
If you are experiencing any type of financial challenge, please email the principal about your needs. Your request is FULLY ANONYMOUS to everyone except our principal.
Do not be bashful; our community is always here to help! Please reach out to Jill with any needs you may have!
Information to keep handy...
Library Volunteers!
Hello and welcome to a New Year in the SES Library! We are excited to once again have volunteers during Library Classes. The SES library is looking for volunteers to help with library book check out, reshelving returned books and hands-on activities. If you have time in your busy day to volunteer, the SES library would appreciate your help!
No long-term commitment necessary and it is not hard to do. If you have some time during the day and would like to be a part of the fun, here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click the link below to see our Sign-Ups by grade on SignUp.com
Kindergarten:https://signup.com/go/RXgASEF
First Grade:https://signup.com/go/sdfnzCz
Second Grade:https://signup.com/go/oAwbgON
Third Grade:https://signup.com/go/DJogDsp
Fourth Grade: https://signup.com/go/mcPzzKd
Fifth Grade: https://signup.com/go/XzBEjrg
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you would like. Please be considerate of other families and choose a few spots to begin with. Once everyone has had a chance to sign up, you can go back and volunteer for any open spots. If you do not see your class listed, it means it already has a volunteer.
3.) Fill out the Visitor Form to let us know the time and day you are coming to Volunteer.
The link is: https://bit.ly/3qbV1is
Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp. Use the links here or find them on the SES PTA WEBSITE
Please contact Amy Tomasco at sesnotes1@gmail.com with any questions.
It's not scary to help out in the LIBRARY!
⚽️ 🎼 Essentials 🎨 📚
- Each class will have one 45 minute essential per day (art, library, music, or PE)
- We will continue to follow the six day A-F day schedule
- Please find the essentials rotation below
Arrival & Dismissal 🚗
We will follow a similar drop off / pick up procedure that we did last year.
Arrival
- Drop off begins at 8:30am. Please do not drop off your child prior to 8:30am as there will be no supervision at this time.
Dismissal
- Pick up will begin at 3:25pm.
- Each day, please have your child(ren)’s first and last name displayed on your passenger visor, and have it remain visible until your child is in the car. This needs to be bold and large enough to be visible at a distance. This is a very important step to ensure we have your child ready when you arrive.
- For the safety of both students and staff, proceed carefully and slowly through the lot.
- Please have your child exit/enter the vehicle when your gear is in the park position and is one of the cars at the front of the line designated for drop off.
- Students must exit the vehicle on the passenger side (building side) of the vehicle. Multiple children must exit on the passenger side. It is dangerous to exit/enter on the driver's side of the vehicle!
- Students need to have all of their items ready in hand and will then exit the car immediately.
- Parents, please stay in your vehicle at all times so that the process will prevent backups on Barlow Mountain Road.
- If you miss the drop off time (after 8:45 a.m.), please park in the front lot and walk your child across the designated crosswalk to the main entrance of the building. If you arrive after the drop off window and must park in the parking lot, we ask that you kindly use the crosswalk.
Chromebooks 💻
- For information on this year's Chromebook distribution and policies click here to watch a short video
- If you have further questions or concerns email: helpdesk@ridgefieldps.net
School Lunch 🥪
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) advised that federal funds have been allocated for the Free School Meals for Children grant.
- Funding will support free lunches for all students in grades K-8 until funds are depleted.
- Snacks and additional items will be available through The Lunch Time POS system that allows students to purchase their lunch by entering a 5-digit code at the cash register. These items can be prepaid online at School Payment Portal Powered By LunchTime Software and at the school kitchen. Please read the letter here.
School Lunch will be available from the first day of school.
The school lunch menu is available online on the RPS website; click District Offices and click on Food Service, as well as below.
There will be no change in the payment system; all school lunch balances will roll over.
Questions in regard to Lunch Time POS can be directed to Eric Nickelson, RPS Food Service Director at 203-894-5550 x1127 or enickelson@ridgefieldps.net
Please find the lunch menu below.
School Dismissal Manager
We will continue to use School Dismissal Manager this year at Scotland. Please click below for information regarding this system. This system will be available to families in late August. A welcome letter will be emailed to families when the system is available. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Contact Us!
Email: jkatkocin@ridgefieldps.net
Website: https://ses.ridgefield.org/
Location: 111 Barlow Mountain Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203-894-5825
Twitter: @Scotland_Elem