DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
August 16, 2019
Dear Davis Hill Community,
I am so excited that the first day of school is coming! It will be wonderful to see our students, families and staff return for the 2019-2020 School Year! It is a busy time in the building as our staff continues to work hard to ensure that we are ready for the beginning of school. I am hopeful to see many of you at the Open House coming up Thursday (See below for more information).
Shout out to Pat Johnson who has been working overtime to get in registrations, help out with transportation questions and update PowerSchool. She is awesome!
Shout out to our awesome custodial staff for their efforts and dedication to getting the building clean and ready for school. It looks amazing!
Shout out to our teachers who have been giving of their time to make sure that they are ready to get started on Day 1! No matter the hour... no matter the day... our staff is working to get ready for our students!
Kindly,
Jay C. Norton, Principal
*Don't forget to read through the entire update... there are always more dates in the Upcoming Events Section. If you have any questions/ concerns- please don't hesitate to contact me/ the office.
REGISTRATION
PRINCIPAL STORY TIME AT GALE FREE LIBRARY
5TH GRADE SUMMER READING
Link: Summer Reading Grade 5
KINDERGARTEN DROP IN DAY
The schedule for the drop-in day is as following:
AM SESSION (Students with last names beginning A-K)
LOCATION: Meet in Davis Hill Front Lobby
TIME: 10:00-11:00
PM SESSION (Students with last names beginning L-Z)
LOCATION: Meet in Davis Hill Front Lobby
TIME: 1:30-2:30
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL INFORMATION
The Parent Portal is open for Transportation information and to review the school handbook. If you have any questions regarding access to the parent portal and/ or the handbook/ transportation information please contact the office. Thank you!
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL/ CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL
Once again this school year all families will be accessing classroom assignments through PowerSchool. This practice is consistent with other elementary schools in the District. Teacher assignments will be available starting on *Wednesday, August 21st via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
*Dates are subject to change depending on technical issues/ concerns.
NOTE: This year, teacher specific welcome letters/ information will be emailed to parents/ students on the 21st for students in Grades 1-5. Kindergarten students will receive a letter, which will include a name tag for the first day of school. Letters will be available at Open House. Any letters not picked up at the Open House will be mailed on Friday, August 23rd.
CLASSROOM PLACEMENT
A reminder that our staff has worked very hard to develop class lists. Sending and receiving grade level teaching teams and special education staff (when applicable) work together, with administration, to create class lists that are in line with the goal of our WRSD School Committee Policy (“establish classes that will enhance the dynamics of the classroom by bringing students together who will work as a learning team, and challenge and complement one another”). Classroom placement is an important, complex and time-consuming process that our staff takes very seriously.
A volunteer parent questionnaire was sent home last spring in order to provide parents an opportunity to offer input related to their child’s learning style and provide any pertinent information that may support Davis Hill staff in the placement process. Per School Committee Policy, parental requests for specific teachers are not to be considered in the placement process.
STAFFING UPDATE
As we are set to begin the new school year, our staffing has generally remained consistent. However, we are pleased to welcome two new staff members to our Davis Hill Community.
Mrs. Stacey Duffy will be joining us as a third grade teacher. Mrs. Duffy is a veteran teacher in the Wachusett Regional School District and is transferring from Chocksett Middle School in Sterling where she has been teaching 5th Grade for the last 8 years.
Mrs. Liza Wheeler will be joining our school as a kindergarten and first grade special education teacher. Mrs. Wheeler has been working as a special education teacher at the Charlton Elementary School for the past four years.
We are excited about our new additions and can’t wait for them to get started!
Kindergarten:
Mrs. Benoit, Ms. McCarthy, Ms. Whitman, Mrs. Alcock
First Grade:
Mrs. Colton, Ms. Cortis, Mrs. Nunnemacher and Mrs. Shoro
Second Grade:
Mrs. Grensavitch, Mrs. Madden, Mrs. Riedle and Mrs. Sachse
Third Grade:
Mrs. Manjarrez, Ms. OBey, Mrs. Duffy and Mrs. Sherblom
Fourth Grade:
Mr. Miner, Ms. Poh and Mr. Vincent
Fifth Grade:
Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Pisano, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Walsh
*Additionally, Ms. Kaylen McClarey will be covering for Mrs. Pisano during her maternity leave to start the school year. Ms. McClarey is a licensed elementary teacher and we were fortunate to have her complete her Assumption College internship in Mr. Vincent's classroom last year. We are excited to welcome her back to Davis Hill!
ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION FORM
BUS CAPACITY/ PERMISSION REQUIRED
FIRST DAY TRANSPORTATION NOTE REQUEST
One of the challenges during the first few days of school is making sure that there is a clear understanding of how students will be transported to and from the building. Subsequently, we take care in attempting to ensure that we have accurate information related to the transportation of our students. We do ask all families to print and complete the form attached HERE and return it to their teacher on the first day of school. Printed copies of these forms will also be available at Open House.
If the dismissal plan for your child will change after the first day, please make sure to write a note outlining the changes to your child’s classroom teacher. For example, if your child will be in parent pick up on first day but normally will ride bus #33, please communicate that to your child's teacher.
The more specific information we receive, the better we are able to address any transportation concerns.
If you have any questions/ concerns related to transportation, please feel free to contact our office at any time.
OPEN HOUSE/ NEW FAMILY ORIENTATION
OPEN HOUSE
We will be holding our annual Open House on Thursday, August 22nd at 10:00am-11:00am and again at 5:00pm-6:00pm.
The Open House is designed to allow students and parents time to visit your child’s classroom and provide new students and families the time to walk through the school. During each Open House session (approximately 10:30 and 5:30), I will invite any new students and their families (as well as any kindergarten students and their families who may have missed our Kindergarten Orientation in June) to meet with me so that I may introduce myself, provide general information, and answer questions.
Due to all the work that is being done by teachers and custodians, the time frame for the Open House has to be kept to what is listed. Also, I ask that parents please let your children know that teachers are not present at the Open House and that the school is still being prepared for the first day. The meeting of their classroom teacher happens on the first day of school, not at the Open House. Additionally, not all rooms will look ready for the first day of school, as some rooms will be in the process of getting ready for the start of school.
I want to thank all of our staff for the work that they do in preparation for the Open House! We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of custodians and teachers!
NOTE: SCHOOL KIDZ School Supply Kits will be available for those who ordered during the Open House on Thursday.
VOLUNTEERING/ SUMMER READING
Volunteering:
If you are interested in volunteering in the library during the next school year, please e-mail us with your day/time preference and/ or your child(ren)'s name & grade for 2019-2020 school year. When the final school schedule is complete, we will provide additional information to those who have expressed interest.
Summer Reading:
Please see the following links for our Summer Reading for 2019.
Candice Prevosk - jaycan@charter.net
Laura Rosbach - lcrosbach@yahoo.com
Davis Hill Library Volunteers/Co-Coordinators
COMMUNITY GARDEN THANK YOU!
PARENT INFORMATION
Here are some key dates and links to keep handy.
SUPPLY LISTS (K-5) (Please note that individual teachers may have other items as well as the school year begins).
8/19: 5th Grade Fundraising Meeting (6:00-7:00PM)
8/19: Weather Dependent- I will be up at Meolas after our Fundraising Meeting until about 7:30 if anyone would like to come and say 'Hi'! Check Facebook for updates if interested!
8/21: PowerSchool Parent Portal will be open for TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS.
8/22: Davis Hill Open House* (10:00-11:00AM and 5:00-6:00PM).
8/22: New Student Orientation (During Open House at 10:30 and 5:30)
8/26: First Day of School for STAFF MEMBERS
8/27: First Day of School for STUDENTS IN GRADES 1-5.
8/27: Drop In Day for Kindergarten
8/28: First Day of School for KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
9/2: Labor Day- No School for Students
9/4: Food Pantry Donation Day (Theme/ More Info TBA)
9/6: Ice Cream Social (Specific Time TBA)
9/12: Principal's Coffee/ Tea (6:00PM)
9/12: PTA Meeting (6:30PM)
**9/27: Spaghetti Supper
10/6: Annual Dragon Dash
*Teachers are not present at the Open House. This is an opportunity for your child to walk the building and find their classroom before the first day of school.
**Tentative- Specifics TBA
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal