Keller Connections
Family Update - November 12
Principal's Note
Dear Keller Families,
We look forward to seeing you this week for conferences. We appreciate your time, communication, and collaboration on behalf of your children.
The week of November 6 - 10 was National School Psychologist's Week. Thank you, Dr. Preece for your commitment to supporting students' well-being and learning, we appreciate you!
November 15 is Education Support Professionals Day. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our amazing team of ESPs. I know I speak for our entire Keller Community when I say we appreciate you and thank you for your dedication, hard work, and care you show each day. Our students are truly lucky to have you be part of their educational journey. 💐
As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to our Keller Community. I am grateful for our staff, families, volunteers, and our students. I am honored to lead each day, supporting the learning, growth, and development of our Keller Kids. I truly value your partnership and support.
As always, please know you can reach out at any time with questions or concerns.
Warm Regards,
Keri Busavage, Principal
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Telling Our Story - Book Fair Fun!
Keller Pajama Day! - November 20
World Kindness Day and Keller Love Day!
First Grade students delivered invitations to classrooms inviting them to share in this celebration of caring.
As an extension of World Kindness Day, classrooms will partner together to create posters sharing positive messages of kindness. On November 21, the 2nd Annual Keller Parade will spotlight student partnerships sharing their posters displaying these messages of kindness. We encourage students to wear their class colors on November 21! (See below for more information)
Love Keller Day is intended to further develop a culture of caring and inclusivity.
It is a celebration of National Love People Day and builds off of the hashtag LOVEfranklin. Simply put, this is another call to love one another and treat everyone with dignity and respect. Classes will meet together and engage in a team-building activity and design posters displaying messages of kindness. Students and staff will show LOVE for Keller, and each other, by wearing their class colors on November 21 and sharing their posters!
Diwali
November 12 is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a Hindu celebration. Diwali is embraced in a similar manner to the Christmas Holiday. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists around the world. Each faith marks the 5-day celebration differently but the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
Something to Watch 💻: Here is a link to a National Geographic Video that shares more about this celebration.DEI Virtual Coffee with Heidi Harris
Director Heidi Harris, Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, will host a Virtual Coffee for elementary families on Thursday, November 16 from 9:00 - 9:30 AM.
The goal of the coffee is to share a brief introduction and overview of our collective equity work in Franklin and outline "Belonging" as a pathway to creating school communities that fully embrace individuals from varied backgrounds, voices, and identities.
Here is the link to the Google Meet.
ART NEWS FROM MRS. CAEZZA
Instructional Technology - Fall Newsletter
Thank you to Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Merten, and Mrs. Zogby for sharing this with us!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Tier 1 Instruction
News from Mrs. Ballinger & Mrs. Torilli - School Adjustment Counselors
Grades K-2:
During SEL time in K-2 classrooms, counselors have been talking with students about identifying the size of a problem. This helps students learn whether the problem is something that they can fix on their own, or if they need a teacher’s help to solve it.
For example,
Small/mouse size problems: problems that you can just ignore and move on or fix on your own (ex: losing a game, not being first, someone cutting in the line.)
Medium/monkey-size problems: problems that you need an adult to help solve (ex: missing the bus, feeling sick in class)
Big/elephant size problems: problems that are dangerous and it’s an emergency (ex: car accident, fire)
Students learn that if their reaction size matches the size of the problem, then it makes you and others feel comfortable around you. But, if your reaction size is larger than the problem size, it can make you and others around you uncomfortable. To help match the reaction size to the problem size, we can use mindfulness strategies (ex: deep breathing, picturing your happy place, using your inner coach, and saying “It’s not a big deal!”).
Ask your children about new mindfulness strategies like lazy 8 breathing, finger pulls, fire hands, or elephant ears. They can always create their own too!
Grades 3-5
In the upper grades, whole-class instruction is also about the size of the problem, however, since it is a review for fourth and fifth-grade students, the focus is on what qualifies as a small or medium problem, ensuring reactions match, and figuring out how to solve it. One focus is that it is okay to have big feelings over a small problem, but we still need to have a small reaction. For instance, if a friend canceled your plans and you were excited about your plans, it’s natural to feel sad, disappointed, annoyed, angry, or any other feeling, but it is a small problem. Yelling at your friend or having a temper tantrum would be a reaction based on feelings, not the size of the problem. We encourage students to utilize learned strategies to deal with their feelings, rather than to act on them.
A highlight is that a small problem can be solved! As much as students may want to share their problems with an adult, they do not need an adult to solve these problems. Recess monitors will reinforce that they are not going to solve small problems for students, but rather ask them how they think they can solve the problem. Since this is new for third graders, recess staff may offer suggestions and coach alongside students. Some suggestions/options shared with students may include: taking a break, using words to express how they feel, finding a new activity, etc.
A medium problem may require an adult to be present. Some examples of a medium problem are injuries, bullying (not teasing), or missing the bus. These are times when a student can’t solve the problem alone. A big problem is one that may need multiple adults, such as doctors, police, firemen, or EMTs to solve the problem.
The size of the problem is a topic that comes up frequently within topics such as friendship, teasing versus joking and Guard Dog and Wise Owl (more on this later!), so it is important to develop a strong foundational understanding before moving on.
Try naming a problem with your child and ask them what size they think it is and who should be solving it!
Keller Fall Food Drive!
Thank you to Mrs. Colahan and our fifth graders for assisting with receiving donations at morning arrival, counting items, and totaling the food weight.
Kindergarten & First Grade Math Mornings!
As we continue to grow our Keller ST Math community, we invite you to save the following ST Math Morning dates:
Kindergarten - December 6, 8:45 - 9:30 AM
Grade 1- December 7, 8:45 - 9:30 AM
During the ST Math Mornings, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this program from your Keller Kid and staff.
We look forward to seeing you in December!
If you plan to attend, please RSVP here.
ST Math at Home!
ST Math is a visual-spatial program that engages students in creative and rigorous problem-solving which complements our Tier I math program (Illustrative Math). Click this link for an introductory video.
Implementing ST Math is grounded in our work to provide all students with access to high-quality mathematics materials.
We invite K-5 students to access ST Math at home and for parents to join the ST Math at-home community.
Students access ST Math by logging into their FPS Google account and clicking the Clever bookmark.
Students should work independently, but parents/guardians/caregivers can support students by engaging in math conversations. The following questions are designed to guide these discussions.
Describe what you see on the screen.
What have you tried to do to solve the puzzle?
What do you think you need to do to solve the puzzle?
Describe the strategy that you are going to try.
What do you think will happen when you click the Go Button?
Describe what you see after you try your strategy. Was it what you expected?
How does this compare to what you thought would happen?
What did you learn from the animated feedback?
What do you know now to help you with future puzzles?
As you watch over your child's shoulder, remember that the puzzles start off simple with concrete representations and then get more challenging and abstract as they progress. If they encounter a difficult puzzle, they may ask you for your help. Utilizing the prompts listed above, you will help your student progress forward and persevere while problem-solving.
KELLER KIDS ARE UNIQUE!
Thank you Keller Kids for sharing the ways you are unique!
Our interests and hobbies remind us that we can connect with others around the things we have in common and bring us joy!
Thank you to Gia, Liliana, and Mia!
As a school community, we continue to grow opportunities for students to experience Keller’s Core Values of caring, inclusive, intelligent, respectful, and unique. We look forward to welcoming more Keller Kids to participate and share their interests.
If your Keller Student would like to participate, please sign up using this link. We invite Keller 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students to sign up! We will continue to add grade levels!
How it works . . .
Every Friday at 2 o’clock, students signed up for that week, will meet with principals to set up their display in the main hallway. Students will also pick up their collection from the previous week.
Each student will have half a shelf to display their items
Bring a name tag to be displayed (folded index card, piece of paper, etc.)
Bring 5-7 items to display that tell your story!
PARENT/GUARDIAN/CAREGIVER CONFERENCES
As a reminder, both dates are an 11:45 AM early release for students.
If you have any questions, please email your child's classroom teacher!
Thank you, Veterans
Thank you to Mr. Bowser, Mr. Donahue, and Mr.Trott for joining us to celebrate Veterans Day. We thank you and all of the veterans in our community for your service and sacrifice.
Here are photographs shared by families and staff as we Honor Our Veterans.
Unified Arts - 6 Day Schedule
In addition, here is the full SY 23-24 Franklin Public Schools, 6-Day Elementary Calendar linked here. In the event of a school closing, the cycle days remain as identified on the calendar.
Keller Parent Communication Council
Thank you for Dining Out with Keller at The Chateau on November 9.
Saturday, December 9 will be Kids Night Out at Downtown Sports from 6:00-9:00 PM. More information to come.
As always, if you have any questions please reach out to us at: helenkellerpcc@gmail.com
~ Hayley Doucette, President
~ Lianne Chelman, Vice President
~Thea Charles, Treasurer
~ Ali McDonald, Corresponding Secretary
~ Jennifer Micalone, Recording Secretary
~ Ally Bowser, FACE Coordinator
Lunch Volunteers!
Thank you to our lunch volunteers for giving your time and assisting in the cafeteria!
If you are interested and would like to volunteer in the lunch room please click the December Link which will bring you to the Sign-Up Genius.
Lunch volunteers help students with opening food packaging/drinks, wiping tables between grade-level lunches, and sweeping floors if needed.
Please remember that a CORI Form must be completed before volunteering.
Thank you to Mrs. Doenges for assisting with the creation of sign-ups!
CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES
As a school, we are committed to ensuring our students and families’ needs are met. In the coming months, we particularly want our students to be happy and well cared for. For a variety of reasons, families may experience difficulty, but we’re here to help.
If you could benefit from support with holiday gift giving, outdoor clothing, food, or other, please connect with us via email. Please know all communications and support will be done confidentially.
Mrs. Busavage, Principal busavagk@franklinps.net
Mrs. Trott, Assistant Principal trotte@franklinps.net
Mrs. Ballinger, School Adjustment Counselor ballingerr@franklinps.net
Mrs. Ladd, Speech and Language Pathologist laddl@franklinps.net
Health Office - Nurse's Update
Contagious Diseases: Please notify the school nurses if your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness so notification letters can be sent to classroom parents/guardians/caregivers if necessary, such as for strep throat, conjunctivitis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. School policy states that students may return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics, when they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, or 24 hours after vomiting/ diarrhea has resolved. With the upcoming cold weather months, please monitor your child for symptoms of illness as we approach cold and flu season and keep them home if they have a temperature of 100 or greater. Additionally, we are still seeing cases of Covid. Students should remain out of school through day 5 and may return on day 6 if fever-free and symptoms are improving, masking through day 10 unless they test negative after day 5. Here is a link to free at-home Covid tests: www.covid.gov/tests.
Screenings: Vision, hearing, height, and weight screenings have begun for elementary students according to MDPH guidelines. If your child does not pass the vision or hearing screening, you will receive a referral notification.
As always, please reach out to the school nurses with any questions or concerns.
CORI Forms
Many have stopped by the office to complete their CORI form paperwork - thank you!
CORI forms need to be completed annually and prior to volunteering in the building or chaperoning a field trip. If you are chaperoning an upcoming field trip, please be sure to stop by the Keller Office to complete a form.
Completing a CORI form can be done at any time. Just bring this completed form to the Keller Office, or fill one out when you arrive. Also, please have with you one form of photo identification.
Lunch Menu
The elementary lunch menus are linked here. Students do not need to pre-order lunches but should be aware if they are getting breakfast and/or lunch at school, or if they are bringing lunch from home.
Students should come to school with a snack and water bottle.
Weekend Backpack Program
Franklin Public Schools has partnered with the Franklin Food Pantry to provide food to students who might benefit from this support. Together, we will gather, package, and provide bags of food for students during the school year to take home over the weekend. Students who participate in this program are kept confidential to appropriate school personnel. Names are not shared with food pantry personnel. Packaged food is sent home on Fridays throughout the year. This is a free program for all participating families. The backpacks will contain a variety of child-friendly foods. Some examples are snacks, canned fruits, and macaroni and cheese. Backpacks will be distributed to students in a discreet and caring manner.
If you are interested in receiving the Backpack or have questions about the program, please call the Keller Health Office, at (508) 553 -0322, Ext. 3609 or 3421. You may also print and sign this letter and return it to the School Nurse.
Upcoming Dates! and MORE to Come!
November
- 15 - Early Release @ 11:45 AM - Conferences
- 16 - Early Release @ 11:45 AM - Conferences
- 16 - Keller PCC Meeting @ 7:30 PM, Zoom Link
- 17 - Grade 3 Field Trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museums
- 20 - Pajama Day!
- 21- Wear your class colors! Keller LOVE Day
- 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
- 5 - Trimester 1 Ends
- 9 - Kids Night Out - Downtown Sports
- 14 - Report Cards Distributed
- 22 - Early Release @ 11:45 AM - Professional Development Half Day
- December 25 - January 1 No School - Winter Break
Go Hawk News!
You will find archived Keller Connections and related school information.
Contact Information
Ellen Trott, Assistant Principal - trotte@franklinps.net
Kathy Dacey, Secretary - daceyk@franklinps.net
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/helenkeller
Location: 500 Lincoln Street, Franklin, MA, USA
Phone: 508-553-0322