Athol-Royalston Elementary News
Teaching Excellence & Bringing Our Schools Together in 2016
August 2015
Welcome Back! The New School Year Begins August 26th for Grades 1-6
It is with tremendous excitement we prepare to begin a new school year! We look forward to reconnecting with so many of our families and extending a warm welcome to the new members of our school communities. In this edition of the Athol-Royalston Elementary Newsletter you will find back to school information including bus routes, food service prices, breakfast and lunch menus, school supplies, community events including a local backpack drive, and more. As principals we sincerely look foward to a new school year and bearing witness to the significant developmental growth and academic gains your children will make throughout the coming year.
In partnership,
Jan Williams, Principal, Riverbend/ Sanders
Dianne Ellis, Principal, Pleasant Street School
Molly Superchi, Principal, Royalston Community School
Back to School Preparations
School Bus Information: The district contracts with Merrifield Bus Company for our student transportation. The bus routes will be published in the Athol Daily News and are also linked here. We request that families review safe bus riding expectations with their children prior to the start of the school year. Starting and ending the day well on the bus is an important part of your child's day.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Bus-Routes-2015-2016.pdf
Suggested School Supplies: We have included a school supply list here as a courtesy for families. If you are unable to purchase some of these items the school will provide them.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/suggested-school-supplies-2015-2106.pdf
Class Lists: Fingers crossed we are expecting to have class lists posted the week of August 17th within the Athol schools. We are continuing to see changes in our enrollment and we want to insure all children are placed in balanced classes.
School Calendar for the 2015-2016 academic year
Please note our school calendar for next year has been voted by school committee and approved. For planning purposes it is linked below if you would like to print it. The first student day is August 26, 2015.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CALENDARFOR2015-2016.pdf
Need a Backpack? Local backpack drive may be able to help!
Tomorrow-! Tuesday, August 18- Backpack Drive Distribution, ACU store front, 527 Main St., Athol
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
First come, first serve basis.
For more information please click on the flyer linked below.
Sponsored by the PATCH Parents' Council, the Salvation Army, and Athol Credit Union.
Food Services Program
For more information about school lunch programs please visit the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, School Nutrition Program website.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html
Food Service Prices:
Breakfast: Our district elementary schools provide universal free breakfast. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 8:25 am.
Lunch: $2.45 full price, reduced price lunches are .40 cents.
We encourage all families to complete a free and reduced lunch price form to see if you qualify. If families are directly certified you do not need to complete this form. If you have questions about our lunch program or if you may qualify for assistance please contact the school.
Menus
- Breakfast menus for August
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/August2015-District-BREAKFASTCalendar.pdf
- Breakfast menu for September
- Lunch menu for August
- Lunch menu for September
Open House Dates for District Elementary Schools
Save the date! More information, including open house program times, will follow from the specific schools.
- September 17- Royalston Community School
- September 21- Riverbend/Sanders Street School
- September 22- Pleasant Street School
Tell a Friend, ARRSD is Offering Family Fun Readiness Kits
Our district preschool teachers secured a grant through the Athol Royalston Education Fund to purchase readiness kits. These kits are available to loan for district families and include a number of fun learning activities and games to play with your preschool to kindergarten aged youngster. For more information about the kits and how to obtain one please click on the informational handout linked below.
Summer Calendar Math!
Dear Families,
We want to promote continued problem solving and mathematical thinking over the summer. Students have been participating in lessons on "summer slide" in relation to reading and their retention of skills. Well, summer slide also happens in math! We have attached some summer calendar math activity packets below to keep your children fresh with their skills over the summer. These calendar packets developed by the Cambridge Public Schools were sent home with all students at the end of the school year. They are rich with activities, resources, websites and fun ideas to bring math to life. If you need to have a copy provided to you please contact the central office at (978) 249-2400.
K Students entering grade 1
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Grade_1-Summer_Math_Calendar_2015.pdf
Grade 1 entering grade 2
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Grade_2-Summer_Math_Calendar_2015-3.pdf
Grade 2 entering grade 3
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Grade_3-Summer_Math_Calendar_2015.pdf
Grade 3 entering grade 4
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Grade_4-Summer_Math_Calendar_2015.pdf
Grade 4 entering grade 5
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Grade_5-Summer_Math_Calendar_2015.pdf
If you have middle school students and want to have them practice please feel free to use the calendars below for students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Community Events & Postings
Do you have news to share or want to inform members of our school community about family friendly events in our area? if so, please email or forward a flyer or link.
Thank you :)
Stories in the Park- starting June 5 at 9:30 am at the Millers Park at the Athol Public Library- Enjoy strolling through the park with your child as you read the pages of a different book each week posted along signs through the park. This free, fun family activity will be continuing through out the summer! Please click on the link below for more information.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Stories-in-the-Park.pdf
Welcome Baby Baskets- Did you or do you know someone who just had a new baby? Valuing Our Children would love to pay them a visit with a basket full of goodies. For more information please call (978) 249-8487.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Welcome-Baby-Basket-Flyer1.pdf
The Nurturing Program will be offering a new class for parents starting in September 2015. Space is limited so please click on the link below to find out more about how you can be involved in this opportunity.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Nurturing-program-2015.pdf
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters Program is enrolling children for the 2015-2016 school year program. They serve children in the Athol/Orange area with transportation provided from Riverbend and Butterfield Schools. Please click on the link below for more information about this program and how you can be involved.
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Big-Brothers-Big-Sister-Program.pdf
For other local events, happenings, and resources in this area... you can also check the North Quabbin Community Coalition website below:
These are not school sponsored events but are posted here as a public service for families in the greater North Quabbin community.
Upcoming Events...Mark your Calendars!
Upcoming Events and Dates!
- August 26- new school year begins
- August 27 & August 28, Kindergarten orientation
- August 27 & August 28, preschool orientation
- August 31- First day for kindergarten classes and preschool programs
- September 4- no school- Labor day break
- September 7- Labor day holiday no school
- September 17- Royalston Community School open house
- September 21- Riverbend/Sanders Street open house
- September 22- Pleasant Street School open house
- September 23- District half day, noon dismissal, lunch is served
Check back soon for more news!
News from the Athol-Royalston Elementary Schools
Bringing Our Schools Together in 2016
The Athol Elementary Schools: Pleasant, Riverbend, and Sanders Street will come together in our new, state of the art, Athol Elementary School opening Fall 2016.
Email: Elementary-news@arrsd.org
Website: arrsd.org
Location: 1062 Pleasant Street, Athol, MA 01331, United States
Phone: (978) 249-2400