2 Parsons Street

Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

413-587-1460 (phone) 413-587-1484 (fax)

Beth N. Choquette, Principal bchoquette@northamtpon-k12.us

Elizabeth Peterson, Administrative Assistant epeterson@northampton-k12.us

Nicole Soutra, Senior Clerk nsoutra@northampton-k12.us

Nora DeJasu, Head Teacher ndejasu@northampton-k12.us

Would you like this news letter translated? Here are the steps to have it translated:

At the top of the weekly email, there's a link that reads "View it in your browser," click that and it takes you to the post on a webpage.

Scroll to the bottom where there's a black menu bar and pick the option that says "Translate."

Select the language you would like it translated in and it will then translate it on the webpage.

Le gustaría traducir esta carta de noticias? Aquí están los pasos para traducirlo:

En la parte superior del correo electrónico semanal, hay un enlace que dice "Verlo en su navegador", haga clic en eso y lo llevará a la publicación en una página web.

Desplázate hacia la parte inferior donde hay una barra de menú negra y elige la opción que dice "Traducir".

Seleccione el idioma en el que desea traducirlo y luego lo traducirá en la página web.

Good afternoon and happy long weekend! There is no school on Monday in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day. I hope you all can enjoy the weekend and get a chance to take in the beautiful fall weather.

Wednesday the 16th is picture day. Please make sure students come in with their envelopes filled out. If students are absent on Wednesday, there will be a make up day. Please be advised that on this day we will ask the 1st graders to come in early so they can start breakfast, get pictures taken, and head out for their field trip.

On October 28th at Ryan Road School and on November 6th at Bridge Street School, The Department of Mental Health will be holding a "Community Conversation" for children and families in 3rd through 6th grade from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The event will be sponsored by River Valley Counselling Center, Community and Support Options and The Cutchins Programs Children’s Clinic. Mayor David Narkewicz, will be reading Isaac’s Story, https://www.mass.gov/isaacs-story, a graphic novel about, “different kinds of hurt”. All students grades 3-6 are welcome to attend and bring family members. Representatives from each of the sponsoring community service agencies will be available to answer questions from children or family members and provide information about what help is available to assist children and families in the local area. Light refreshments will be provided.

If you haven't signed-up for a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child's teacher to schedule that. Conferences will be held the week of October 21st. That week we will have half days every day in order to hold afternoon conferences on the 21st, 23rd, and 25th with evening conferences on the 22nd and 24th.

Finally, I am looking for any volunteers who might be interested in painting a sensory wall for the school. If you are interested and would like to discuss it, please contact me via email (bchoquette@northampton-k12.us) or by phone, (413) 587-1460.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

Many students have come to me since I have stopped gymnastics. We stopped it because we were getting students with neck and head injuries frequently. Gymnastics is a sport that can be dangerous if not properly taught. Also, because there are so many students on the playground running around, safety becomes a concern with students getting accidentally kicked.

I'm asking families to please help support us in our decision. Students are now trying to boycott the decision by taping their mouths shut, and they are interrupting teaching and learning by making posters during instructional time. It has mostly been fifth grade students, however, all families could have this conversation about safety and how sometimes things that may be okay at home are not okay in school.

Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Bridge Street School's PTO and Joe's Bike Garage in Haydenville teamed up to apply for and receive a QBP (Quality Bicycle Products) Community Bike Grant. We were one of only 11 projects funded nationwide. With the funding we received the PTO purchased a classroom set of bicycles and helmets so that Bridge Street School's 4th and 5th graders will have the chance to learn cycling skills and bike safety as a part of their physical education curriculum. Thanks to PE Teacher Kathy Flaherty for taking on this exciting program!

There will be a public forum for the ADA transition plan in Northampton. Please see attached documents below. It is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15th from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at JFK middle school.

Entender sus derechos básicos según la ley de educación especial, darle información para que pueda participar más eficazmente en el equipo, colaborar con su escuela y darle un mejor apoyo a su niño.

Provides a basic understanding of the complex special education laws and procedures.

October 22, 6:30 p.m. at JFK Middle School

Love coffee? Love BSS?

Then order your coffee through the BSS PTO Coffee Fundraising Program!

It's simple. Follow this link to the form (https://forms.gle/kdARZQNaUt2YoDyn8) to order your favorite caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage, hot chocolate, candies, or coffee swag. You can order weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or just one time. Coffee will be delivered to BSS each week for pick up.

Amazing, right!? So, let's do it! If just 25 families order one bag of coffee each week we will raise $4,000 for BSS!

Please contact Jonathan Brody if you have any questions: 413-320-9259 or jonathanbrody@gmail.com.

October 14: No School-Indigenous People's Day

October 16th: Picture Day

October 21-25: 1/2 days for parent/teacher conferences. School dismisses at 12:20

October 22 and 24: Evening parent/teacher conferences 6-8 p.m.

November 5: No School-Election Day/Teacher Work Day