Welcome to the '23-'24 School Year! We couldn't be happier to have you and your child as part of the South Elementary School Family! Each month, you can expect a newsletter filled with important information, pictures of the students, curriculum updates, and dates/events.

At the start of each school year, the focus is always on building the classroom and school community. That is done through a lot of modeling, explaining, practicing, observing....and then repeating. It is important that we take the time to to go slow now in order to go faster later. It is our sincere hope that every child feels like they are significant, that they belong here, and that they have some fun during there time in school!

Throughout the year, we will focus on character traits that are connected to the Vision of the Graduate at the high school. At the elementary level, we use the acronym PRIDE to help us remember the traits: Perseverance; Respect; Independence; Diversity/Equity/Inclusion; and Empathy. These are reviewed during our morning announcements and in classrooms on a consistent basis. For August/September, the character traits we will be working on are: Greeting others; Accepting Others and Showing Tolerance; Being punctual and prepared for class; Following instructions; and, Active Listening.

In order to build strong partnerships between the home and school, please consider a few points:

• Positive and respectful communication between home-school is welcome and necessary.
• Contact the school directly if you have concerns and to get clarification. Start with your child's teacher and then include the administration and other staff as needed. Working together, we can accomplish a lot.
• Please avoid using social media to talk negatively about school related issues. Let's set good examples for our children on how to work through problems and differences. We can have difficult conversations, even disagree, and still be respectful.

• Please share important information about your child with their teacher/staff/principals, so that we can have a better understanding of how to best support them and you.
• Please presume good intentions when you hear about an incident at school from your child. It is one perspective. Ask questions to try to find out more about what happened. A normal part of social development is learning to problem solve and ask for help if necessary. Trust that we want what is best for all of our students. With that being said, if there is ever an instance where a student feel unsafe, or actions are repeated, please let us know immediately.

We are looking forward to a fantastic school year filled with smiling Crickets! Wishing you a wonderful September filled with less humidity and cooler temperatures!

With Aloha,

Steph Brown & Rebecca Hurley

508-324-3180

stephanie.brown@somersetschools.org

rebecca.hurley@somersetschools.org

• Back to School/Open House is Wednesday, 9/13/23, from 5:30-7:30PM. Letter to Families was sent out via email and can be found HERE.

• Please do not park in the staff parking lot to drop off your student at school in the morning. We do not want students and families coming in the front door at that time. That is a bus drop-off point. In addition, staff parking is limited. You may either drop off in the car line or park on a side street and come across the crosswalk to a staff member on the blacktop.

• We need you! Please email me at stephanie.brown@somersetschools.org if you would like to be a member of our School Council. We meet every trimester, or more if needed. We would love to have you participate!

To send emails to any staff, it is first name DOT last name @somersetpublicschools.org

Carol Flores-Administrative Assistant

Janice Rego-Administrative Assistant Volunteer-AM only

Michelle Dibiasio-Administrative Assistant-PM only

Marc Greene-Head Custodian

Andrew Januse-ACustodian

Karin Faria-Grade K Teacher

Tanya Silva-Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Bev Costa-K, Small Group Paraprofessional

Jennifer Baldwin- Grade K Teacher

Raquel DeGeorge- Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Crystal Borges- Special Education Teacher- Grades K & 1G

Kelly DeSouza Barreto-K, 1-1 Paraprofessional

Mary Silva- Special Education Teacher- Grades 2 ELA & 1B

Shaye Brisson-Grade 1 Teacher

Jennifer Pimental-Grade 1 Paraprofessional

Rebecca Griffin-Grade 1 Teacher

Daniela Moura- 1G Paraprofessional

Megan Quinlan-Grade 2 Teacher

Bethany Teasdale-Grade 2 Teachers

Emily Youngquist-Grade 2 Paraprofessional

Dawn Oliveira- Grade 3 Teacher

Jen Lopes- Grade 3 Teacher

Kristin Oliveira-Grade 3 Paraprofessional

Kyle Rosa- Special Education Teacher- Grades 3 and 2 Math

Heather Kela- Grades 4 Homeroom and 4 & 5 ELA/Social Studies

Maria Pimentel- Grades 4 Homeroom and 4 & 5 ELA/Social Studies

Kristina Hanney- Grades 5 Homeroom and 4 & 5 Math/Science

Jackie Potvin- Grades 5 Homeroom and 4 & 5 Math/Science

TBD-Special Education Teacher- Grades 4 & 5 ELA

Amanda Proulx- Special Education Teacher- Grades 4 & 5 Math

Ann Brimmer-4/5 Math Paraprofessional

Dawn Raposa-4/5 ELA Paraprofessional

Judi White-1-1 Paraprofessional

Kristen Camara- Interventionist

Michelle DiMaria-Interventionist

Melissa Mancuso- TLC2 Teacher

Stuart Cabral-TLC1 Teacher

Kerri Papetti-Registered Behavior Technician

Nikki Hill- TLC Paraprofessional

Skyla Pimentel- TLC Paraprofessional

Mason Coombes- TLC Paraprofessional

Julie Wells-PE and Health Teacher

June Mitchell-Technology Teacher-shared with Chace

Veronica Moniz-Art Teacher-shared with Chace

Audra Gifford-Music Teacher-shared with Chace

Tina Rausch- Band Teacher-shared with all elementary schools

Niki Miragliotta-Chorus Teacher-shared with all elementary schools

Susan Bertrand-School Nurse

Emily LaCasse-Speech Language Pathologist

Alyssa Boardway-Occupational Therapist

Cecilia Huard-School Adjustment Counselor

Karina Sousa- School Psychologist-shared with Chace

Lisa Gibson- BCBA-shared with Chace

Jennifer McCarthy-Special Education Facilitator

Chelsea Brum-ELL Teacher-shared with all elementary schools

Brittany Andre-Recess/Lunch Supervisor

Michelle Faris-Recess/Lunch Supervisor

Terri Keyes-Recess/Lunch Supervisor

Linda Santos-Recess/Lunch Supervisor

Friday, September 8, Early Release at 12:30PM

Wednesday, September 13, Back To School Night/Open House, 5:30-7:30PM

Tuesday, September 19, PTO Meeting at 6PM in the cafegymatorium

Wednesday, September 20, Early Release Day @ 12:30PM

Thursday, September 21 , School Picture Day

Tuesday, September 26, Fun Run!

PTO’s September Newsletter

Upcoming Events: Mark your Calendars!

September 19th: First PTO Meeting of the Year

• South School Cafeteria at 6:00PM

• Review the upcoming school year and events!

• All are welcome! Please join us!

September 15th-26th: Fun Run

• Kickoff begins on September 15th.

• Be sure to register your child.

• This year’s theme is World Changer Workshop..

• Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 for our school.

• The run will be on September 26th. (volunteers are not required for this event)

• Parents can stay on the perimeter of the field and cheer on their children.

• The Fun Run is the biggest fundraiser we have and it covered the cost of all admissions and transportation for all field trips for K-5 last year!

• This year the funds will be used to improve playground equipment.

Why Join the PTO?

• The PTO is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff.

• The purpose of PTO is to enhance and support the educational and recreational experience at South School.

• Meetings are a great way to meet other parents and work together on upcoming

events.

PTO Contributions for August and September

Popsicles with the Principal

• The PTO purchased popsicles for the event.

Kindergarten Orientation

• Incoming kindergarteners were given a South School t-shirt.

Welcome Back Staff Luncheon

• Staff received a welcome back luncheon prepared by Auclair’s Market.

Popsicle Treats

• PTO purchased popsicles for all students during the hot day the second week of school.

Contact PTO

• Follow South Elementary PTO on Facebook for updates and information!

• somersetsouthelementarypto@gmail.com

MEDICATION IN SCHOOL

URGENT: I am still waiting for quite a few medications that are needed for school, especially life saving medication such as EPI PENS. Please bring in as soon as possible.

Please do NOT send any medication in with a child. *This includes: prescription, over-the -counter, lotions, drops, etc. Medication must be delivered by the parent/guardian directly to the School Nurse.

1. All medication orders and parental consent forms must be completed and signed prior to the School Nurse accepting any medication.*

2. Please make sure all medications that must be given in school, especially life-saving medications (Epi-Pens, Diastat, etc), are all set for the first day of school.

3. All medical forms can be downloaded and printed from our district website: http://www.somersetschools.org/Families/Medical-Forms/index.html

Covid Guidelines: we are continuing the same guidelines as last year. Please click on link below:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-exposure-guidance-for-children-and-staff-in-child-care-k-12-out-of-school-time-ost-and-recreational-campprogram-settings

Annual Physical Exams

Please submit a copy of your child’s annual physical exam as soon as it is completed. Please make sure all screenings (vision, hearing, postural) are completed and documented on the form.

The Most Important Meal Of The Day: Jump Start Your Day With Breakfast!

Please make sure your child is receiving a nutritious breakfast each day to get their day going!

September Lunch Menu: please click HERE.

Click HERE for September Read Aloud Books for Elementary Students

Click HERE for a 100s Chart to help count to 100, add, subtract, and notice number patterns.

Click HERE for an Alphabet Linking Chart to help your child match sounds and letters when writing/reading.

Click HERE for Multiplication Charts to practice math facts or use for a reference.

Somerset Public Schools, SY' 23-24 Calendar: please click HERE

We are so excited for the new school year! In September we will be focusing on learning about our school routines, procedures, and expectations. This is important to ensure students know what appropriate behaviors are expected of them before we begin teaching academics. We will be creating a classroom community where we learn about and celebrate diversity and learn how to be a kind friend. At home, families can practice writing first names, identifying letters/sounds of the alphabet, identifying numbers 1-10, and orally counting to 20. Please be sure to go over the papers every night in your child’s green folder for important school information and to see what your child learned in school that day. We look forward to a fun and engaging year in kindergarten!

First grade has enjoyed the first few days of school! We are working hard at getting to know one another and learning rules and routines. We’ve read books on kindness and have begun doing some math and phonics work as well. In math, we are learning about money in our Number Corner, and counted by 2’s making paper popsicles! In phonics, we’re reviewing kindergarten skills, beginning with letter sounds and handwriting. We are also busy getting ready for Back-To-School-Night by decorating our bulletin boards! We hope to see you there next Wednesday night, September 13th!

September:

Welcome Back to School! We are looking forward to a fantastic year! September in 2nd grade is filled with building community and relationships. We will spend time creating and establishing routines and classroom rules that will help us learn and grow together throughout the school year. One daily routine we have introduced is Number Corner… activities will include Calendar Grid, Calendar Collector, Daily Rectangle, Computational Fluency, and Number Line. We will enjoy a friendship themed book study, start our study of numbers and place value, and set the foundation for our reading and writing blocks. The month of September will also be a time to gather data regarding student skills and ability so that we can meet the academic needs of all students. Back to School night is on September 13th at 5:30 p.m. and it is IN PERSON!! We look forward to meeting everyone and sharing the curriculum materials we will be using this year.

Welcome Crickets and Families to the 2023-2024 school year! We hope this newsletter finds you well and full of excitement for the new school year. We are thrilled to be your child's third-grade teachers and look forward to an amazing year together. Here's an update on what we've been up to and what's in store for the coming weeks.

Academic Adventures: In Reading, we are fostering a strong sense of community among our young readers. We are teaching them the importance of routines and exploring various types of print. Please continue to encourage reading at home and engage in discussions about the books your child is reading.

Mathematics is an exciting journey as we dive into multi digit addition and subtraction, along with strengthening our understanding of place value. Regular practice at home, such as engaging in real-life math scenarios, will greatly support your child's progress in this area.

In Writing, we are focusing on organizing thoughts and making meaningful connections through writing. Encourage your child to express their ideas through journaling or writing short stories at home. Feel free to ask them about their writing projects and provide them with constructive feedback.

Science is an exploration of the world around us. We will be introducing basic science concepts and lab safety to nurture your child's curiosity and encourage them to think like scientists. Get ready for some exciting experiments and discoveries!

Social Studies is all about building a strong community in our classroom. We will begin by briefly introducing our Constitution and discussing the importance of working together as a community. Feel free to engage your child in conversations about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Tips for Success:

1. Establish a Daily Study Routine: Encourage your child to set aside a specific time each day for homework and review. Consistency and structure can make a significant difference in their academic success.
   
   

2. Communicate with Your Child's Teacher: We believe that open lines of communication between home and school are crucial. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or updates about your child's progress.
   
   

3. Encourage Reading for Pleasure: Reading for pleasure helps foster a love of learning and boosts overall academic growth. Set aside time each day for your child to read a book of their choice. It could be a shared reading experience for the whole family!

Classroom Wish List: Thank you to all families who have donated items to our classrooms. They are greatly appreciated!

Lost Items Reminder: In addition, we kindly request your assistance in labeling your child's belongings to help us in returning any lost items. As we all know, children can sometimes misplace their belongings, and having items labeled with their names greatly increases the chances of them being returned to their rightful owners. By taking a moment to label backpacks, lunchboxes, water bottles, and any other personal items, we can work together to ensure that lost items find their way back to our students.

We are excited to partner with you in your child's educational journey this year. Together, we can create a positive and engaging learning experience for all our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Let's make this an incredible school year!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Lopes, Mrs. Oliveira and Mr. Rosa

What a great start to the school year! Students are settling into our routines and are ready to learn.

In ELA, students are learning the routines that will help them be successful for the rest of the year. We are focusing on building reading and writing stamina. We started phonics lessons and are using what we learn to decode unknown words. Reading and writing benchmarks will begin next week. Once benchmarks are complete, we will begin taking small groups. In Social Studies, students are learning about important landmarks found in the United States.

In STEM, the kids are starting to learn about the Scientific Method, and what steps need to be taken when conducting an investigation. We will be doing a lot of hands-on investigations in Science, and they are excited to get into things. We are introducing their Chromebooks and programs they will be using in Math throughout the year to be sure everyone can get on and be ready to start on academics next week.

We have had a great first couple of weeks! The kids are getting into the schedule, routines, and expectations.

In ELA, students are learning the routines that will help them be successful for the rest of the year. We are focusing on building reading and writing stamina. We started phonics lessons and are using what we learn to decode unknown words. Reading and writing benchmarks will begin next week. Once benchmarks are complete, we will begin taking small groups. In Social Studies, students will be learning about United States history. We are focusing on why the 13 colonies were founded and who founded them.

In STEM, the kids have been getting acclimated to our new Number Corner routine for Math that we will be doing every morning. This will give them a bit of background knowledge (ask them what the word for that is!) for future lessons. They are also working on STEM challenges to kick off Science with a bit of engineering. I can’t wait to see the ideas they come up with! Looking forward to a great year!

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