Willett Whaler
Week of April 11, 2021
Principal's Corner - Mr. Jeffrey Cateon
The return to in person learning was a success. It is nice to see children, teachers and families happy about being in person every day. As a reminder, Spring vacation begins after this week.
April 19: Patriots' Day - no school
April 20-23: April Break - no school
Kindergarten pooled testing begins this week.
Willett Wednesdays (wear Willett gear or blue/white) will makes its official return for students and staff on Wednesday, April 14th. Please get in the spirit and join us.
Our PTO is partnering again with Boosterthon this year so that we are able to have a Fun Run on Friday, May 21st. We are all excited to bring out school community together that day. More information is coming in the next few weeks.
As a reminder to our incoming Kindergarten Families. In order to ensure your child is placed at Willett in the Fall, you must complete the registration process in full by May 1, 2021.
April 28: PTO Meeting 6:00 - virtual meeting, find link below
ELA MCAS
May 11th - Grade 4
May 13th - Grade 3
Math MCAS
May 18th - Grade 4
May 20th - Grade 3
May 31: Memorial Day
If you haven't already, please join us on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter , Instagram) and on our Website.
2021 Cambridge Science Festival Curiosity Challenge Winners
Ari Chhea
Parker Schofield
Makayla Taylor
Maeve O'Driscoll
Brady Cronin
Teagan Silver
Wesley Thompson
Return to In Person Expectations
Please read the information below regarding our full return to school.
- School hours will remain the same
- Arrival 8:30
- School day begins at 8:45
- Dismissal is at 3:20
- Masks need to be worn on the school grounds at all times
- Remote learning will no longer be provided
- All APS chromebooks and tablets need to be returned to school on April 5th for use in classrooms and technology class.
- To create safe spaces for eating some children will be eating in the room and some in the cafeteria based on location of desks in the classroom.
- Check information from teacher for PE/ Health days to wear sneakers
Safety Guidance
Per the guidance from the Department of Education, student desks will be placed three feet apart.
Students and staff will need to wash or sanitize hands regularly during our day.
All students must wear a mask at all points during the day unless on a mask break or while eating. When worn properly, the mask needs to cover both the mouth and nose. Please practice with your children. A reminder that gaiters and vented masks are not permitted.
Please check your child’s current mask(s) for proper sizing. If it slides down over their nose or does not stay flush against their face (gaps), it is too big. If it does not fully cover both their nose and mouth, it is too small.
While on a mask break or eating, students may take the mask off, but must maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance from one another.
Arrival to School (Car line)
Drive your car as far up as possible to drop off and pick up. This allows for more cars to be next to the sidewalk at once so we can load/unload the students more fluidly.
Before your child gets out of the car, please make sure they have a mask on.
Do not exit your car to help your child out. We will help, if needed.
Dismissal from School (Car line)
When we load your children into your vehicle, please do not get out of the car. If you have a unique circumstance, move up to the large tree and we will have your child report there so that the car line flow is not disrupted.
Please remember that your child needs to enter your vehicle from the sidewalk. They may not go to the other side of the car (road side) to get into the vehicle. This is to ensure your child’s safety.
Snack/Water Breaks
Please provide your child with an easy to access snack they can open and eat in just a few minutes.
Please provide your child with a straw daily so they can easily drink through the bottom of the mask.
Due to spacing issues, distancing requirements, number of students and weather restrictions, it is possible that your child may be limited with snacks on certain days. We will do our best to maintain normal snack routines though.
COVID Pool Testing
All students whose parents have consented to them pool testing, will continue to be tested on either Monday or Tuesday. However, the day they are being tested may change due to being full in person. A new schedule is being created.
Kindergarteners with consent will begin being pool tested the week of April 12.
Transportation Information
Bus Routes have now been updated.
Students will be sitting next to each other while on the bus. Air exchanges on a bus with open windows is 40 times an hour as opposed to buildings which are between 3-6, which is why the guidelines were relaxed. If you want to have your student picked up by the bus and you declined in August, you must contact our office immediately. The process to register for a bus is exactly the same as it is in August:
- If you are Fee For Service, you need to apply for FFS transportation with our transportation office. Once you have done so, the process begins and we will inform you as to when your child has been assigned to a bus.
- If you are bus eligible and NOT FFS, we will notify you when your child has been assigned to a bus.
Family Support Sessions
Family Support Sessions for Pooled Surveillance testing are here for families! These sessions are meant to guide families through the consent process and answer any questions related to the APS Pooled Testing Program. No registration is required. Interpretation is available upon request. Please email sangelovski@attleboroschools.com with questions.
COVID Pooled Testing Information
A few helpful pieces of information:
- All parents or guardians should complete the documents with a yes or no for consent
- The school cannot complete the form on your behalf
- Parents and guardians can change the consent forms at any time
Please find a short video here on what your student will be doing to collect the sample along with written directions. Staff will be present to support, supervise and guide. Some families have practiced at home using a cotton swab to reduce any anxieties that students may have.
When students arrive at the school, they will settle in and begin their normal routines. Students will be called to exit the room in small groups. Just outside the classroom door, they will self-collect their samples and place them in the vial. Students will sanitize before and after the sample is taken. They will then resume their typical day.
For frequently asked questions and additional information please go here:
We encourage you to read through the latest message from Superintendent Sawyer (http://www.attleboroschools.com/c_o_v_i_d-19) and we will keep you updated as we move forward.
Assistant Principal's Corner- Mrs. Christine Brierly
Willett Kindness Challenge
Willett has always been a special place, full of wonderful, smart and kind students and staff. This year has been different from those before, but we have all persevered and worked together to make it fabulous. One of the attributes that makes us special is that we are kind to one another. For the next few weeks, I would like to challenge all of us to continue that care by focusing on performing random acts of kindness for those around us. Whether you are five or fifty, you can make a difference in the lives of others by sharing kind words and actions.
Here are just a couple of ideas of ways that you can participate in our kindness challenge:
- Make a card for someone
- Offer to help clean your brother or sister’s room with them
- Pay someone a compliment
- Take time to play a game with someone
- Rake the leaves for a neighbor
- Help your parent or grandparent with a chore
- Make a special dessert to surprise someone
- Practice and perform a song or dance to make someone smile
- Draw and color a bunch of paper hearts and then have a “Love” scavenger hunt around your house
- Pick a flower (with permission) and then give it to someone ❤️
Remember that kindness doesn’t cost anything! Whatever you do that makes someone smile or feel cared for, is a way of showing kindness.
Can you help make the world a a kinder place with me?
Here are a few links that you may also enjoy-
Kindness is My Superpower- Read-aloud video- https://youtu.be/6P-Y_M9q7RM
30 Easy Acts of Kindness- https://ripplekindness.org/30-easy-acts-of-kindness-for-teaching-your-kids-to-make-the-world-better/
A Message from the Health Office
Please note that Massachusetts has changed its travel order to an advisory. APS will be following this change effective March 29th. For more details, please click here.
April PTO Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77733770014?pwd=RktTdTNIeVJWMnZjVysxQ1F5Y1RXdz09
Meeting ID: 777 3377 0014
Passcode: WESPTO
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2021, 06:00 PM
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Willett Yearbook
Families of K-3 students may now order the 2020-2021 Willett Yearbook online.
Please visit the Willett PTO Online Store to order.
Willett Garden - We need your help!
Spring has sprung and the Willett Garden needs you to help us keep it going and growing strong for our children and families in our school and city community. For the past 9 years, we have been creating an outdoor living and learning space for all of our students and families. If you would like to be a part of our volunteer team, simply send an email to: willettgarden@gmail.com. Please type “volunteer” in the subject line and we will be sure to contact you.
Breakfast Update- Potential Allergy Alert
Specialist Make-Up Work
P-EBT Information
REMIND Information
Cohort A - https://www.remind.com/join/ab44878
Cohort B - https://www.remind.com/join/cohortbf
AVA - https://www.remind.com/join/avafam
We are unable to make changes in existing REMIND accounts. Please refer to the document below that provides directions to make any changes to your account.