Family and Community Newsletter
Attleboro Public Schools Welcome Center
October 25, 2021
- Important Dates in November
- Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences
- AHS Winter Sports Information
- COVID-19 Testing Program
Community Corner
- Attleboro Public Library early literacy calendar and events
- YMCA Youth Basketball League
- Resources include: Christmas is for Kids and other holiday resources, Emergency Broadband Benefit, SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)
Events
- Halloween events
- Elementary and Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Meeting
APS Did you know...?
- Free breakfast and lunch for all students
- Caregiver and guardian self-care
- Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds
November Important Dates
November 2
NO SCHOOL
Professional Development Day
November 9-Elementary Only
EARLY RELEASE
Afternoon & evening Parent Teacher Conferences
November 10-Elementary Only
Evening Parent Teacher Conferences
November 11
NO SCHOOL
Veterans' Day
November 24 – 26NO SCHOOL
Thanksgiving Break
November 29
AHS winter sports begin
Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences
Please contact your child's school directly for information on how to register for conferences. As a reminder, please be mindful of the timeframes provided in order to accommodate the needs of all families.
Tuesday, November 9th
Afternoon and Evening Conferences
Wednesday, November 10th
Evening Conferences
To learn about the importance of parents teacher conferences and access tools to help prepare, visit the links below:
Questions to ask at parent-teacher conferences
Parent-teacher conference preparation worksheet Use this parent-teacher conference worksheet to help you figure out what you want to talk about and which questions you want to ask. There’s also room to take notes during the conference.
Tips for parent teacher conferences (English)
AHS Winter Sports
Winter Sports Registration opens on October 25 and closes November 1. All of the information can be found linked here. Subscribe to the Athletics Remind by texting @AHSathle to 81010. Please contact Mr. Houle ext. 1249 or Mrs. Kuffrey ext. 1349 if you have any questions.
COVID-19 Safety Checks
Attleboro Public Schools (APS) is offering an extra layer of protection to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this school year. As part of the COVID-19 Testing Program, APS will offer the three components listed below to all students and staff who provide consent and choose to participate in the program. To read Superintendent Sawyer's full introduction letter, click here.
Symptomatic Testing is used when a student is showing symptoms of COVID-19 while they are at school. Some symptoms of the virus look identical to other illnesses like the cold or flu, and this test tells us whether a symptomatic student has COVID-19 or not. This is a rapid test, and we receive the results of this test within 15 minutes. If a student has minimal symptoms and tests negative, they can remain in school.
Routine COVID Safety Checks minimize disruption to learning by helping us catch potential spread of the virus before it starts. Each student administers the safety check on a weekly basis. Samples are collected in school groups of 5-10 individuals and are sent to the lab where they are tested in groups. If a safety check test is positive, the lab will automatically process each individual test to determine which student(s) in the group produced the positive test.
Test and Stay allows asymptomatic students who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 while at school to stay in school. Instead of needing to quarantine and miss school, these asymptomatic students will take a daily rapid test while they remain in school as long as they are not symptomatic. Students participate in Test and Stay for at least five days after they may have been exposed.
Provide Consent:
All students and staff should complete the COVID-19 Testing Program Consent form. This allows you to choose to decline or participate in the program. You can complete the consent form by clicking the link below:
https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=Attleboro
To learn more about what each situation means for your student, you can view this flowchart from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.
Community Events and Opportunities
Youth Basketball League at the Attleboro Norton YMCA
A YMCA classic returns this fall and winter! Join our Youth Basketball program and learn the fundamentals along with important skills like team work, sportsmanship, leadership and more!
To learn more, contact Program Director
Lizzy Gulino at egulino@attleboroymca.org.
Register today at attleboroymca.org/youth-basketball-league.
Attleboro Public Library
We are excited to share that Attleboro Public Library has reopened!
Along with the many other events happening at Attleboro Public Library in November, be sure the check out the Finale Dinner, hosted in collaboration with the APS Culinary Department in celebration of another successful year of the Big Read. To learn more about this and the many other events happening at Attleboro Public Library in November, see the flyers below or visit the APL Events Page.
STEAM Ideas
Early Literacy Calendar
Programs for Kids & Teens
SMARTS Investigation Design
STEAM After School Club
STEAM After School Club
STEAM After School Club
Resources
Christmas is For Kids
The Council for Children has been busy since March, working closely with several other area nonprofits to help families with some extreme cases of need, and now are back to planning the Christmas is for Kids season. Christmas is for Kids is an all-volunteer run program that provides gifts for children in Attleboro and surrounding areas. To learn more and see if you qualify, visit the Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children’s website.
Application deadline:
Returning Parents: November 7, 2021
New Parents: November 27, 2021
Parents or guardians can apply for the CIFK program here. Please note the requirements outlined on the application.
Applications should be completed and returned to the Council for Children office. If you need a printed application you may get one at select Attleboro Locations, or request one by emailing: sangelovski@attleboroschools.com
Thanksgiving Meals
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is monthly money for food like P‑EBT - but you need to apply. If you apply and are eligible, you get a SNAP EBT card, which can be used like a debit card for food shopping. To apply and learn if you qualify, click the link below:
SNAP can connect you to other kinds of help, like utility discounts and extra food dollars through the Healthy Incentives Program. If you get SNAP and/or P-EBT, you can up to $50 off your monthly internet bill and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer through the Emergency Broadband Benefit (see below for details).
Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org/, or by calling 833-511-0311.
Attleboro Recreation Department Halloween Event!
To learn more, please see the flyers below or visit Attleboro Recreation Department.
Coelho Middle School
Sunday, October 31, 5:30pm
99 Brown Street
Attleboro, MA
Bartek Recreation Center
Sunday, October 31, 5:30pm
81 Pine Street
Attleboro, Ma
The Monster Mash Bash
Friday, October 29, 5 PM – 7:30 PM
Family Resource Center - Taunton/Attleboro
37 Main St, Taunton, MA
Neighbors in Dialogue: Community Conversations
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Trained facilitators will lead conversations in small groups to ensure that everyone has their voice heard.
To register and access the event flyer, please click here
For more information, visit attleborolibrary.org or call 508-222-0157
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Meetings
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Hill-Roberts Elementary School
Hyman Fine Elementary School
November 4, 2021 at 6pm
Studley Elementary School
November 17, 2021 at 6:30pm
Thacher Elementary School
November 10, 2021 at 6:30pm
Willett Elementary School
November 18, 2021 at 6pm
*virtual
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Brennan Middle School
November 9, 2021 at 7pm
*Virtual
Wamsutta Middle School
November 9, 2021 at 6:30pm
Coelho Middle School
November 17, 2021 at 6:30pm
*virtual
All APS students will receive FREE lunch for the 2021-2022 school year.
Though all APS students will receive free meals (breakfast and lunch) this school year, a Free and Reduced Price Lunch application must be submitted each school year to qualify for other benefits, including:
Eligibility for other financial assistance programs
Reduced athletic, transportation, and select program fees
Increased federal funding for APS
CLICK HERE to complete the online application or HERE to access the downloadable for. To request paper application in other languages, please contact your student's school.
Need help completing the lunch application? Email: sangelovski@attleboroschools.com
Growing healthy children starts with healthy caregivers.
To help begin these daily routines, we'd like to share this "Taking Care of Me" checklist, which you can download by clicking the link below. This resource can be used for both adults and children, but more effectively as a common practice that caregivers and students can complete together.