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 each Monday to review our newsletter.

March 20, 2023

Dear parents/guardians of current kindergarten through fourth-grade students:

At the end of each academic year, all schools meticulously engage in the process of class placement for each of our students. This process is a sensitive and complex endeavor for teachers, parents and building administration. Each year, grade-level teams, special education teachers, special area teachers and the school psychologists work closely together to create class groupings that meet the following criteria:

• a balanced range of achievement and ability levels in each class

• a balanced number of students in each class receiving special services and additional supports

• a balanced number of students and genders

• balanced inter-relationships of various combinations of students, including behavioral, social and emotional considerations

Each of the above factors are given careful consideration and discussed by each team. As always, parents are welcome to communicate any unique information or perspectives in terms of notable peer groupings, strengths, or areas of focus for their child to me via email at jkatkocin@ridgefieldps.net by Friday, April 7, 2023. This is completely optional and in no way required, but is the best avenue for parents to connect with me directly about any special situations. Please note that requests must be made on a yearly basis. Previously written letters are not considered during current class placement as many factors can change over the course of a year or more. Letters written in the spring of 2022 will not be considered during the 2023 placement process.

It is important to note that as a placement team, we will consider each request received, but it is not always possible to accommodate every single request. Additionally, we ask that you please do not make specific teacher requests. While we are greatly receptive to parental input regarding your child’s needs, it is not possible or appropriate to accommodate parental requests for specific teachers. The assignment of a teacher is the final part of the class placement process, and is not made with the current classroom teachers present. It is important to also understand grade level staffing can change throughout the summer and a teacher may need to move grade levels. Placement changes will not be made despite this occasional occurrence.

Our goal is to balance classes to support academic, social and emotional equity. This multifaceted process takes a number of meetings at each grade level throughout the spring and we will not make changes after the deadline. Your input will be taken very seriously as each team goes through the placement process and we appreciate you entrusting us to make the best placement decision for your child next year. Please ensure that your requests are shared in writing with me, no later than Friday, April 7, 2023.

Thank you for your support and continued partnership.

Monday, March 27th:

• D Day

Tuesday, March 28th:

• E Day

Wednesday, March 29th:

• F Day

Thursday, March 30th:

• A Day

Friday, March 31st:

• B Day
• Parent portal opens for report cards
• Scotty Spirit Day - Wear your Scotty Spiritwear or red and black!

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Coming Soon:

Friday, March 31st:

• Parent portal opens for report cards
• D.A.R.E. will begin for our 5th grade students

Tuesday, April 4th:

• Early release for students (11:40am)
• Conferences for teachers
• Evening conferences available

Thursday, April 6th:

• Early release for students (11:40am)
• Conferences for teachers

Friday, April 7th - Friday, April 14th:

• No school, spring recess

Wednesday, May 10th - Thursday, May 11th:

• PTA Sponsored Spring Book Fair - student in-school shopping days

Thursday, May 11th:

• Scotland Art Show 5:30-6:45pm
• PTA Sponsored Book Fair Evening with parents 5:30-6:45pm

Thursday, May 25th:

• Scotland Spring Musical Performance 5:30pm

Thursday, June 1st:

• Scotland Field Day!
• Grades K-5
• (Rain Date Thursday, June 8th)

Friday, June 2nd:

• Mini-K for Incoming Kindergarten students and parents
• 5th Grade Field Trip to ACT - Secret Garden
• Poetry Cafe - Grade 5 and families - 5:30pm

Wednesday, June 7th:

• Scotland Fifth-Grade Spring Musical, Disney Jr. Beauty and the Beast- 5:30pm

In an effort to ensure that all students are safe and know how they are getting home, all dismissal changes must be put into School Dismissal Manager no later than 12pm daily. Our office is experiencing a great deal of calls changing the dismissal plans for students at the end of the day. It is challenging to navigate these changes, ensuring that staff are aware and students know how they are getting home so close to dismissal. If you need to make a change to your child's dismissal after the daily cutoff time of 12pm, you will need to send an email to canderson@ridgefieldps.net and llupinacci@ridgefieldps.net in order for us to make that change. We really appreciate your help with this!

Within the Scotland community, affording supplies, field trips, yearbooks, enrichment, and activities is never something a student should miss because of financials!

The PTA sets funds aside to help families in our community. We all experience financial challenges, from layoffs to life's moments and everything in between.

If you are experiencing any type of financial challenge, please email the principal about your needs. Your request is FULLY ANONYMOUS to everyone except our principal.

Do not be bashful; our community is always here to help! Please reach out to Jill with any needs you may have!

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) advised that federal funds have been allocated for the Free School Meals for Children grant.

• Funding will support free lunches for all students in grades K-8 until funds are depleted.
• 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. Please read the letter here.

The school lunch menu is available online on the RPS website; click District Offices and click on Food Service, as well as below.

There will be no change in the payment system; all school lunch balances will roll over.

Questions in regard to Lunch Time POS can be directed to Eric Nickelson, RPS Food Service Director at 203-894-5550 x1127 or enickelson@ridgefieldps.net

Please find the lunch menu below.

Hello and welcome to a New Year in the SES Library! We are excited to once again have volunteers during Library Classes. The SES library is looking for volunteers to help with library book check out, reshelving returned books and hands-on activities. If you have time in your busy day to volunteer, the SES library would appreciate your help!

No long-term commitment necessary and it is not hard to do. If you have some time during the day and would like to be a part of the fun, here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click the link below to see our Sign-Ups by grade on SignUp.com

Kindergarten:https://signup.com/go/RXgASEF

First Grade:https://signup.com/go/sdfnzCz

Second Grade:https://signup.com/go/oAwbgON

Third Grade:https://signup.com/go/DJogDsp

Fourth Grade: https://signup.com/go/mcPzzKd

Fifth Grade: https://signup.com/go/XzBEjrg

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you would like. Please be considerate of other families and choose a few spots to begin with. Once everyone has had a chance to sign up, you can go back and volunteer for any open spots. If you do not see your class listed, it means it already has a volunteer.

3.) Fill out the Visitor Form to let us know the time and day you are coming to Volunteer.

The link is: https://bit.ly/3qbV1is

Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp. Use the links here or find them on the SES PTA WEBSITE

Please contact Amy Tomasco at sesnotes1@gmail.com with any questions.

It's not scary to help out in the LIBRARY!

• Each class will have one 45 minute essential per day (art, library, music, or PE)
• We will continue to follow the six day A-F day schedule
• Please find the essentials rotation below

We will follow a similar drop off / pick up procedure that we did last year.

Arrival

• Drop off begins at 8:30am. Please do not drop off your child prior to 8:30am as there will be no supervision at this time.

Dismissal

• Pick up will begin at 3:25pm.
• Each day, please have your child(ren)’s first and last name displayed on your passenger visor, and have it remain visible until your child is in the car. This needs to be bold and large enough to be visible at a distance. This is a very important step to ensure we have your child ready when you arrive.

• For the safety of both students and staff, proceed carefully and slowly through the lot.
• Please have your child exit/enter the vehicle when your gear is in the park position and is one of the cars at the front of the line designated for drop off.
• Students must exit the vehicle on the passenger side (building side) of the vehicle. Multiple children must exit on the passenger side. It is dangerous to exit/enter on the driver's side of the vehicle!

• Students need to have all of their items ready in hand and will then exit the car immediately.
• Parents, please stay in your vehicle at all times so that the process will prevent backups on Barlow Mountain Road.
• If you miss the drop off time (after 8:45 a.m.), please park in the front lot and walk your child across the designated crosswalk to the main entrance of the building. If you arrive after the drop off window and must park in the parking lot, we ask that you kindly use the crosswalk.

• For information on this year's Chromebook distribution and policies click here to watch a short video
• If you have further questions or concerns email: helpdesk@ridgefieldps.net

We will continue to use School Dismissal Manager this year at Scotland. Please click below for information regarding this system. This system will be available to families in late August. A welcome letter will be emailed to families when the system is available. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!