Willett Whaler
January 20, 2023
MCAS Survey
DESE is inviting students, parents, education professionals, and community members to participate in a survey that will provide feedback on the whole MCAS program to help inform improvements. We are seeking stakeholders’ input in several areas, including communications and support, data and reporting, and release of test questions. The survey will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27.
Please contact mcas@doe.mass.edu with any questions.Upcoming Event Dates
January
23 - Virtual PTO Meeting - 6 PM
February
10 - Someone Special Dance
17 - Early Release Day (12:25 PM)
20-24 - Winter Break
PTO News and Update
Hello Willett Families,
Supply Drive
As students return to the classroom after holiday break, the Willett PTO wants to help our teachers replenish some classroom supplies- and we are looking for your support to donate new or gently used items!
We reached out to the teachers and staff to compile a 'wish-list' of items they need. All of their requested items along with the quantity needed can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E48A5A829A0FA7-january
If you are interested in donating, please follow the Sign-Up Genius Link above to submit which items you will be donating. There are three easy ways to deliver the supplies to the school:
1. Have the items shipped directly to Willett!
Willett PTO Attn. PTO
32 Watson Ave.
Attleboro, MA 02703
2. Drop the supplies off at the school starting on January 13th, at the box inside the main entrance. *Please label the supplies “Willett PTO Supplies”
3. Send the supplies in with your student starting on January 13th. *Please label the supplies “Willett PTO Supplies”
We greatly appreciate your consideration in helping to replenish the supplies of our teacher and staff! Any amount, small or large, will help our amazing teachers and staff in the classroom.
Virtual PTO Meeting
Save the date: Monday, January 23rd
Time: 6pm
We will be meeting virtually this month. We hope you can join us! Agenda to follow.
Join Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86475466795?pwd=Z1hjRFRjeTV3cDNHam9lNlJyTEs3UT09
Meeting ID: 864 7546 6795
Passcode: 97DHmJ
Fondly,
The Willett PTO 🐳
Assistant Principal's Corner
Indoor Recess Fun
Project Connect
APS Welcome Center
The APS Welcome Center is happy to share the Family and Community Resource Guide. This guide is for the APS Community, including families, students, and staff, to access local resources and support. You can access the guide by visiting the Welcome Center webpage, or using this direct link:
APS Welcome Center
Did you know that the APS Welcome Center is open and continues to serve all APS families, students, and staff?
The Welcome Center is here to:
- Offer support for families to complete district tasks, included but not limited to New Student Registration, Transportation, Food Services, “how-to” tutorials, translations and interpreting
- Strengthen relationships between APS and the Attleboro community by:
- Connecting families and staff to local resources and supporting this access
- Providing referrals to local support agencies
- Sharing information on behalf of and about community organizations through community fliers and the Welcome Center webpage
- Within the Welcome Center you can find:
- Staff ready to assist with district tasks, clarification of APS information, connections to local resources
- Computers with internet access for APS families and students, hotspots available for loan to APS families
- Information detailing local resources, programs, and events
- Access to translations and interpreters
- Contact the Welcome Center:
- If you need assistance completing district tasks
- You would like to learn more about available resources
- You have questions or suggestions you would like to share
- You would like to connect with a local community organization
Community Flier Summary
All APS Community Fliers can be found within the Welcome Center website. To view this week’s fliers, including information from throughout Attleboro please visit the Welcome Center webpage or click here for current fliers.
Student Attendance Policy
"Research supports that student attendance has a direct correlation to student achievement and graduation rates. Therefore, communication between schools and families regarding student attendance is critical in supporting academic success. All schools will follow the notification schedule outlined below. Students and parents should consult the Student Handbook for details about the procedures and consequences associated with excessive absenteeism at each school."
From the Health Office....Mrs. O'Malley
In order to prevent the spread of illness in our school, I would like to take some time to review the health policies regarding communicable diseases/illnesses.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends the following guidelines to keep children home from school:
- Fever: Your child must stay home for 24 hours after the fever has dropped and no fever reducing medication has been given in a 24 hour span of time.
- Diarrhea: Your child must stay home until there is no more diarrhea for 24 hours.
- Vomiting: Your child must stay home until vomiting has stopped for at least 24 hours.
- Cold symptoms: Frequent cough, runny nose, sneezing (not necessarily associated with a fever)-Please test for COVID 19. If negative, please use your best judgment when sending your child to school. If positive, please call the health office.
- Remind your child to cough or sneeze into elbow and not into hands. Encourage frequent hand washing.
- Contagious illnesses: (Strep throat, conjunctivitis), Your child needs to have taken at least 24 hours of prescribed medication before coming back to school.
- Rashes: Rashes need to be evaluated by a doctor to determine cause and treatment
- Head Lice: A child found to have live lice at school will be sent home. The child should be properly treated and may return to school on the day after treatment. Before being allowed back in the classroom, a parent or other adult, must accompany the student to school so the school nurse can check the student.
Please provide documentation when your child has been evaluated for an illness and for any treatments that may be needed at school with a proper doctors order form and parent permission slip.
2022-2023 MCAS Dates
Families with students in grades 3 and 4 - please note the dates below. We ask that all efforts are made to have students present during testing days. Please do your best to avoid these dates when scheduling appointments and vacations.
Grade 4 - April 3,4
Grade 3 - April 5,6
Math:
Grade 4 - May 8, 9
Grade 3 - May 10, 11
Rooms Communication Tool
You may notice that an additional button, called Rooms, will be visible at the bottom right of our Attleboro Public Schools mobile app. This button is part of our integrated system of communication and will allow for your child’s teachers/coaches/and other staff to share detailed information (assignments, special events, practice schedules, etc.). More information is forthcoming, and we will have a table set up at Welcome Back Night.
Lunch Applications
Lunch applications can be found on the Food Services website, including the online application, a downloadable version in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and a link to access all other languages. Please note that even the online application can be completed in many languages. Direct link can be found here: https://www.attleboroschools.com/page/food-services
Our new website and App:
Please go to the App store and search Attleboro Public Schools. There is a new app which will be an excellent means of finding information in one location. You will see updates both from the district and our school. As we use this new tool, administration will be using less of the ASPEN email function.