Scotty Updates
A Newsletter from Scotland Elementary School
February 28, 2022
Scotty Updates
The Scotty Updates has been created to provide families and staff with information regarding upcoming events, happenings, and programs at Scotland Elementary School. Please take time at the beginning of each week to review our newsletter. Thank you!
A Message from Mrs. Katkocin ❤️
Dear Scotland Families,
Happy Monday and welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful, restful break! Today kicks off our annual Diversity Days Celebration at Scotland. This week, we have activities planned across content areas designed to support culture, tolerance, empathy, compassion, kindness, and mindfulness. We are thrilled to provide students with the opportunity to engage in these enriching experiences. Please see below for a description of the week and activities:
WHAT IS DIVERSITY WEEK?:
- Diversity Week aims to educate and create an atmosphere that provides the Scotland community, including students, faculty, and staff, the opportunity to explore different cultures, engage in discussions that bring new perspectives and celebrate the presence of, and contributions made by, people of all identities and experiences.
- The week-long programs are a collaboration between the Scotland administration and staff and the SES PTA and through a partnership with Ridgefield community businesses.
DATES:
- Monday, February 28th - Friday, March 4th
Programs and Activities:
Diversity Week Book Club
This year the entire school will be reading the book Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown. The PTA has purchased a book for every classroom has coordinated parent volunteers to read the book to the class, engage the students in a question and answer session and assist the teacher with an activity related to the book.
Book Lists
Members of the SES staff have composed a list of the many social-emotional-learning books we have in the SES in our library, Literacy room, classrooms, and staff offices. Thank you to the PTA for growing our SES SEL library over the years! The suggested literature, or other books/resources chosen by the classroom teacher or other staff members, will be used at different times during your child’s K - 5 school day. Here is the link to our booklist if you want to read together at home:
SES Parent Book List Diversity Week.
The Ridgefield Library is partnering with us again this year! Here is the link to the Scotland Booklist Libguide to borrow one of the books on our list: https://libguides.ridgefieldlibrary.org/elementaryeducators/SES.
SES Diversity Week Videos
The PTA has created a video where families will share their experiences as a diverse family. Whether it's differences in race, culture, styles of learning, persons with disabilities, etc describing what makes their family diverse. These videos will be played in the classroom at different points throughout the week.
An Interview with Prospects from the Prospector Theater
SES Student Council Members, who represent the "Communications Team," will engage in a podcast opportunity with Prospects; celebrating individuality and Prospects' sparkle. The recorded podcast will be shared with our SES community during the week.
Building-wide Art Project
Mrs. Kounnas will lead all of our students in celebrating their individuality and diversity through art. The building-wide project will be displayed as the week concludes. Keep an eye out for pictures of our students' creative work.
Morning Announcements and Children Learning to Understand Everyone (CLUE)
Differences and disabilities are celebrated during morning announcements and through the use of staff-created presentations.
In addition, March Book Madness begins this week! All students will be listening to two read alouds each week in the month of March, and voting on their favorites. This week, students in grades k-2 will be reading and voting on, Norman Didn't Do It! (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins vs. A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott. Students in grades 3-5 will be reading and voting on, Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant vs. Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima. We are excited to see which texts students like most!
Our COVID-19 screenings for families who have opted in will continue this week, Tuesday, March 1st, beginning at 8:50am. If you would like to opt your child in, kindly indicate so in PowerSchool, and notify Mrs. Martire (lmartire@ridgefieldps.net) and Mr. Crook (acrook@ridgefieldps.net). Once your child is fully vaccinated please email Aaron Crook acrook@ridgefieldps.net to remove your child from the testing roster.
Have a wonderful week!
Kind regards,
Jill
Kindergarten Registration is coming soon. If you have a child turning 5 before January 1, 2023 please contact the main office at (203) 894-5825. More information will be forthcoming!
Events and Happenings 🗓
WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Monday, February 28th:
- A Day
- Pattern Day - wear stripes, plaid or polka dots!
Tuesday, March 1st:
- B Day
- Olympics Day - wear red, white, and blue or your favorite team gear!
Wednesday, March 2nd:
- C Day
- Read Across America Day!
- Character Day - dress like your favorite book character!
Thursday, March 3rd:
- D Day
- Comfy Day - wear your sweats or pjs and curl up with a book!
Friday, March 4th:
- E Day
- Scotty Spirit Day - wear your spiritwear or red and black!
*****************************************************************************************
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, February 28th - Friday, March 4th:
- Scotland Diversity Days
Thursday, March 10th:
- Early Dismissal - 11:40am
- Professional Development for staff
Friday, April 8th:
- Early Dismissal - 11:40am
- Professional Development for staff
Essentials Schedule - Effective 1/25/2022
A Note from Our PTA
The PTA Needs You! Volunteers Wanted!
We're so excited to get parents involved again at SES! We're so LUCKY to be able to offer opportunities for you to help our kiddos and our school!!
Volunteering with the PTA allows you to contribute your skills and knowledge for the benefit of both your own children and the greater school community. You’ll also meet and make new friends!
Please fill out the form and you'll hear back from us soon!
CLICK HERE to find out all the ways YOU can make a difference this year - opportunities available for those with extra time and those with little time!)
Important Information to Keep Handy! 📝
Cafeteria Snack!
Welcome Back Library Volunteers!
Click on the links here or find them on the SES PTA WEBSITE:
School Lunch
- School Lunch will be available from the first day of school. Chartwells is the District-wide food service provider. The school lunch menu is available online on the RPS website; click District Offices and click on Food Service, as well as below.
- School lunch will continue to be free during the 21-22 school year. Snacks and additional items will be available through The Lunch Time POS system that allows students to purchase their lunch by entering a 5-digit code at the cash register. These items can be prepaid online at School Payment Portal Powered By LunchTime Software and at the school kitchen.
- Questions in regard to Lunch Time POS can be directed to John Morris, RPS Food Service Director at 203-894-5550 x1127 or john.morris2@compass-usa.com
Contact Us!
Email: jkatkocin@ridgefieldps.net
Website: https://ses.ridgefield.org/
Location: 111 Barlow Mountain Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203-894-5825
Twitter: @Scotland_Elem