Friendship Family Newsletter
Principal Andrea Simmons & Asst. Principal Luz Rivera
January 11, 2019
Happy New Year! We are so excited to have all of our friends back at The Friendship School after a long break. We sincerely hope you enjoyed time with your child during the holidays and time off from school.
As we head into the months of the year when we typically experience school closings or late openings due to inclement weather, we'd like to remind you of the various ways we'll alert you of a change in the school schedule. At approximately 6:00 am, a call is placed to your "first number to call" listed in PowerSchool. We also post the information to Facebook and our website. The following news stations are notified: NBC 30 Connecticut, WFSB, Fox CT, Channel 8, Q-105, The Wolf, WBMW, WCTY, WKNL, WNLC, and WICH. Some news stations have an app you can download for your phone that will alert you of specific school closings/delays.
Recently, your child received a letter outlining their current number of absences and tardies, as well as information regarding the importance of regular school attendance and being on time to school. If you have any questions about this, please contact the office. Ms. Molly Alexander is also a member of the attendance committee, although her name was mistakenly left off of the letter.
This is the beginning of the magnet school lottery season! If your child already attends TFS, you need not apply again. Be sure to visit our website and click "how to apply" to submit applications for siblings (must be at least 3 years old by August 31, 2019) and share this information widely with friends and family members with little ones. Our lottery results are drawn in April.
We also have some fun events coming up this spring and some other information to share with you. Please take a careful look at the information below and be in touch with any questions you may have. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter (information below)!
Thank you for your partnership and support as we work together to create the best learning environment for your children. We are so fortunate to be able to work with such a caring community of parents and caregivers. Thank you for sharing your children with us!
With appreciation,
Andrea Simmons & Luz Rivera
Important Information:
- Our new front desk secretary, Alicia Martin, is bilingual. Please don't hesitate to contact her in Spanish with any needs (x7125 or come visit in person).
- Our school and district wellness policy outlines that only healthy foods are allowed for classroom celebrations (for example, a celebration for your child's birthday). This means that sweet treats, such as cupcakes, are not allowed. From our Student/Family Handbook (available on our website): Any food coming from home for sharing among the children for celebrations must be either whole fruits/vegetables or commercially prepared, healthy, packaged foods in factory-sealed containers. This ensures consistent safe food handling practices and provides ingredient lists to check for potential allergens. Please read ingredient lists to make sure foods you bring are nut free. You may also order a classroom celebration for your child's class via our school lunch program. It is affordable and convenient! This is under Resources --> Classroom Celebration Menu. Orders must be placed one week in advance.
- Our Giving Tree is still positioned in the main lobby. Although the holidays are over, we are still hoping to get the last few requests fulfilled. Most of these requests are snowsuits and snow boots. If you are able to, please take a star and return your purchase to the main office. Our wonderful staff has also taken up a collection from our "Jeans Friday" to support some of these needs. Thank you to our School Social Worker, Megan Devaney, for organizing this.
- This is a friendly reminder that classes go outside everyday. In the event of extremely cold weather, we hold indoor recess. The determination is made by carefully watching the forecast and the "real feel" temperature. Please ensure that your child has the proper warm clothing (winter coat, hat, mittens/gloves, and socks under their shoes/boots). It is also important to make sure that your child has the proper footwear for PE. If they are wearing boots on the day they have PE with Mr. Ali, please send them with sneakers for the gym.
- The FFO is looking for volunteers for the coordination of the 2018-19 Yearbook, Square One Art fundraiser, and the spring Comedy for a Cause fundraiser. Please email ffo@thefriendshipschool.org if you are interested in helping with any of these. Thank you!
- This is a friendly reminder that as we come upon winter, storms and weather events sometimes force us to close school or have a delayed opening. The Friendship School's status is listed (usually in the "T" section of alphabetical listings) on all of the local television news stations and several local radio stations. We also post on our Facebook page and website. Magnet schools follow the decision of the district we reside in, so our cancellations or delays will always follow that of Waterford Public Schools.
- There are several exciting school and community events happening that we are happy to share with you in the important dates below.
The Friendship School: Where Curiosity Steers Exploration
Important Dates:
- Thursday, January 10: FFO meeting (5:00 dinner, 5:30 meeting) free dinner and childcare!
- Wednesday, January 16: Early dismissal 12:30, staff PD.
- Monday, January 21: No School, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Saturday, January 25: Hygienic Art Gallery Young Artists' Exhibit at the Garde Arts Center (some TFS student artwork will be on display! Mrs. Freeman and Mr. C will be in touch if your child's art will be included) Free event
- Friday, February 22: FFO hosts a magic show! 5:30 dinner, 6:00 show Free event
- Saturday, April 6: FFO and Franco in the Morning present an evening of comedy at the New London Elks (adults only). We will also facilitate a basket raffle this evening, and will be asking for families to contribute to their child's pod's basket. The comedy show is the first TFS fundraiser of its kind, we are very excited for the event itself and the potential financial opportunity! More information to come!
Creating paintings inspired by Picasso's "Bouquet of Peace" in Mrs. Freeman's art class
Excited to start a new unit on community helpers in Mrs. Toledo's room
Adding ingredients to bake in Ms. Jackson's classroom
Making ourselves REALLY BIG and really small in Ms. Hubbard's Creative Movement class
Friends with Mr. Anthony in the lobby
Exploring the "space station" in Ms. Zdanys's classroom
Exploring how blubber keeps animals warm in cold water in Mrs. Ramsay-Smith's class
The Friendship School
Email: asimmons@thefriendshipschool.org
Website: www.thefriendshipschool.org
Location: 24 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT, United States
Phone: 860-447-4049
Facebook: facebook.com/thefriendshipschoolct
Twitter: @asimmonsCT