Keller Connections
Family Update - March 3
Principal's Note
Dear Keller Families,
It was a good week back from winter break as we all settled back into our routines!
We look forward to connecting with families this week during parent conferences. As a reminder, March 5 & 6 are 11:45 AM early dismissals.
As we approach the end of Term II, I want to take an opportunity to provide families with an update around Keller's School Improvement Plan and share a few examples of work connected to these strategic objectives.
The interconnectedness of the work and learning aligned with the Elementary School Improvement Plan Objectives is essential. Having identified action plan steps to intentionally moving forward our practice in these goal areas is a priority. At both the district and school level, staff members have engaged in professional learning opportunities that have allowed them to know the why behind the learning, self-assess their understanding, engage in new learning, implement and apply new practices, analyze the impact of these practices on student learning, and make adjustments and modifications to practice as needed.
I am very proud of our school's work to date! If you would like to learn more, please take a read through the Keller SIP Update included in the newsletter.
I look forward to the continued work in the identified goal areas as we enter Term III.
As always, please reach out at any time with questions or if you would like to speak further about the work related to Keller's School Improvement Plan.
Warm Regards,
Keri Busavage, Principal
Keller Connection - Translations
凯勒连接翻译
Keller Connection Traduções
Tradiksyon Koneksyon Keller
Keller Connection Traducciones
Keller ترجمه های Connection
Click “Translate” on the top of this update and select your preferred language.
单击此更新顶部的“翻译”,然后选择您的首选语言。
Clique em "Traduzir" na parte superior desta atualização e selecione seu idioma preferido.
Klike sou "Tradui" sou tèt aktyalizasyon sa a epi chwazi lang ou pi pito ou.
Haga clic en "Traducir" en la parte superior de esta actualización y seleccione su idioma preferido.
Telling Our Story
Thank you Officer Smith!
School Resource Officer Day - February 15
It is great seeing you at arrival in the morning!
Spring Photos - March 13!
March 5 & 6
Reminder - Early Release at 11:45 AM
Trimester II Dates!
Trimester II ends on March 14. Report Cards will be distributed in Aspen at the end of the day on March 25.
School Savings with DEAN Bank!
We’d like to welcome you and your child to another year of School Savings, the national internet-based bank-at-school program that helps students open and maintain savings accounts at school. School Savings is a non-profit U.S. Department of Education approved organization whose sole purpose is to help teach children the value of saving money.
Dean Bank has partnered with School Savings to sponsor Keller School and underwrite the program. The program is designated to let kids watch their earnings grow with accumulating interest and encouraging financial literacy.
Scheduled banking sessions will be held at Keller on the following dates:
Grades K-2: 3/12, 3/28, 4/23, 5/6, 5/31
Grades 3-5: 3/14, 3/27, 4/12, 4/29, 5/13
After arriving in the morning and unpacking in their classrooms, students with deposits will be asked to go to the cafeteria to meet with a volunteer “bank teller.” Deposits are given to the volunteer “bank tellers,” who will verify the deposits and issue receipts. You will receive a regular quarterly bank statement from Dean Bank, showing the deposits made and interest earned.
Watch for an enrollment permission slip coming home soon! If your child is interested in participating, you will complete the form and return it to Keller (attn. Keller Banking). Once received, an application will be sent home with your child. No enrollment is needed if your child previously participated in the School Savings program.
More to come!
2023-2024 FACE Events
As a school community, we are extremely appreciative of the dedicated efforts of our Parent Communication Council and FACE Committee to enrich students' educational experiences by fully funding field trips for all students and providing cultural enrichment assemblies. These experiences are made possible through fundraisers, events, and activities all supported by our Keller families - thank you!
In-school enrichment programs will be starting in the next few weeks. Each grade will have a visit from the Discovery Museum or High Touch High Tech Hands-On Science. Below is a list of grade level programs for the 23-24 school year!
As field trips approach, grade level teachers will reach out to share more information!
Be sure to complete your CORI form if you have interest in chaperoning one of the following field trips. CORI's are now active for 3 years and will be linked to ASPEN accounts.
Keller Parent Communication Council
BAG BINGO!
Bag Bingo is Friday, March 15. Even if you are unable to attend you can still participate by purchasing raffle tickets for one of the 20+ raffle baskets. Purchase your tickets by Wednesday, March 13 using the link included below. Winners will be drawn during the event.
The next PCC Meeting will be March 21 at 7:30.(LINK)
Reminders:
- Yearbooks need to be ordered on or before Wednesday, May 1. Yearbooks are $25 each using the following link. Yearbook Order Form.
- Fifth Grade families have been asked to send in Then and Now photos using this Google Form. Final date for submission is Friday, March 8.
As always, if you have any questions please reach out to us at: helenkellerpcc@gmail.com
~ Hayley Doucette, President
~ Lianne Chelman, Vice President
~Thea Charles, Treasurer
~ Ali McDonald, Corresponding Secretary
~ Jennifer Micalone, Recording Secretary
~ Ally Bowser, FACE Coordinator
Scholastic Book Fair - March 4-7
Lifelong Learning - Summer Programs!
Lifelong Learning Summer Programs are now open for registration! There are over 60 classes for students K-12. Go to bit.ly/3OhFVUS for details.
Kindergarten Registration is Open for 2024-2025!
Health Office - Postural Screenings
Franklin Public School nurses will be conducting postural screening on all students in Grades 5-9 this spring per Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c.71, s.57) . The purpose is to detect early signs of possible spinal problems in children. It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify those who should have further medical evaluation. If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take your child to a physician. The majority of students exhibit no findings. If nothing unusual is found, we will not be contacting you again until the screening next year.
School Nurses are required to perform these screenings annually regardless of whether or not a child has been screened by their provider. Parents may choose to opt-out of their child's school screening by providing a written statement (M.G.L. c71, s57). If choosing to opt your child out of the school screening, please forward a copy of your child's most recent postural (scoliosis) screening to your child's school nurse.
If you would prefer your student not be screened for scoliosis at school this year, please complete this Google Form.
Keller 2023 -2024 Yearbook Orders!
The Keller Yearbook is available for purchase! Thank you to our dedicated team of parent volunteers working on this project!
Yearbooks ordered on or before Wednesday, May 1 are $25 each. Please use the QR code in the attached form, or this link to order online directly from Pixami, https://tinyurl.com/Kelleryearbook. Alternatively, orders can be made using this form.
All yearbooks will be delivered to students in June.
A limited number of yearbooks will be available after May 1.
Yearbooks ordered after May 1 are $35 each while supplies last.
Volunteers - Night of the Arts
Mrs. Caezza is busy preparing display boards to showcase art pieces for Night of the Arts. This community celebration is an evening when Keller comes together to spotlight our Unified Arts classes. A date for this event will be announced soon.
As we prepare artwork for display, Mrs. Caezza is looking for volunteers who would be interested in coming to school to assist with mounting and creating board displays. If you would like to be added to our list of volunteers, please fill out this Google Form. Thank you!
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System MCAS 2024
Below are dates for Franklin Spring 2024 MCAS testing.
ELEMENTARY
April 2 and 3, 2024- Grade 4 ELA
April 8 and 9, 2024- Grade 3 ELA
April 10 and 11, 2024- Grade 5 ELA
April 30 and May 1, 2024- Grade 3 Math
May 7 and 8, 2024- Grade 4 Math
May 9 and 10, 2024- Grade 5 STE
May 15 and 16, 2024- Grade 5 Math
KELLER KIDS ARE UNIQUE!
Thank you Keller Kids for sharing the ways you are unique!
Our interests and hobbies remind us that we can connect with others around the things we have in common and bring us joy!
Thank you Lucas for sharing how you are UNIQUE!
As a school community, we continue to grow opportunities for students to experience Keller’s Core Values of caring, inclusive, intelligent, respectful, and unique. We look forward to welcoming more Keller Kids to participate and share their interests.
If your Keller Student would like to participate, please sign up using this link. We invite Keller Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students to sign up!
How it works . . .
Every Friday at 2 o’clock, students signed up for that week, will meet with principals to set up their display in the main hallway. Students will also pick up their collection from the previous week.
Each student will have half a shelf to display their items
Bring a name tag to be displayed (folded index card, piece of paper, etc.)
Bring 5-7 items to display that tell your story!
Unified Arts - 6 Day Schedule
In addition, here is the full SY 23-24 Franklin Public Schools, 6-Day Elementary Calendar linked here. In the event of a school closing, the cycle days remain as identified on the calendar.
Lunch Volunteers!
Thank you to our lunch volunteers for giving your time and assisting in the cafeteria!
If you are interested and would like to volunteer in the lunch room please click the March Link which will bring you to the Sign-Up Genius.
Lunch volunteers help students with opening food packaging/drinks, wiping tables between grade-level lunches, and sweeping floors if needed.
Please remember that a CORI Form must be completed before volunteering.
Thank you to Mrs. Doenges for assisting with the creation of sign-ups!
CORI Forms
Many have stopped by the office to complete their CORI form paperwork - thank you!
CORI forms are now active for three years and will be connected to your ASPEN account. Prior to volunteering in the building or chaperoning a field trip, please be sure your CORI form is complete and up to date. If you are chaperoning an upcoming field trip, please be sure to stop by the Keller Office to complete a form.
Completing a CORI form can be done at any time. Just bring this completed form to the Keller Office, or fill one out when you arrive. Also, please have with you one form of photo identification.
Lunch Menu
The elementary lunch menus are linked here. Students do not need to pre-order lunches but should be aware if they are getting breakfast and/or lunch at school, or if they are bringing lunch from home.
Students should come to school with a snack and water bottle.
Weekend Backpack Program
Franklin Public Schools has partnered with the Franklin Food Pantry to provide food to students who might benefit from this support. Together, we will gather, package, and provide bags of food for students during the school year to take home over the weekend. Students who participate in this program are kept confidential to appropriate school personnel. Names are not shared with food pantry personnel. Packaged food is sent home on Fridays throughout the year. This is a free program for all participating families. The backpacks will contain a variety of child-friendly foods. Some examples are snacks, canned fruits, and macaroni and cheese. Backpacks will be distributed to students in a discreet and caring manner.
If you are interested in receiving the Backpack or have questions about the program, please call the Keller Health Office, at (508) 553 -0322, Ext. 3609 or 3421. You may also print and sign this letter and return it to the School Nurse.
Upcoming Dates! MORE to Come!
March
5 - Early Release Day - Conferences - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
6 - Early Release Day - Conferences - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
21 - PCC Meeting (LINK)
28 - Early Release Day - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
29 - No School - Good Friday
April
12 - Early Release Day - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
15 - 19 - No School - April Break
Go Hawk News!
You will find archived Keller Connections and related school information.
Contact Information
Ellen Trott, Assistant Principal - trotte@franklinps.net
Kathy Dacey, Secretary - daceyk@franklinps.net
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/helenkeller
Location: 500 Lincoln Street, Franklin, MA, USA
Phone: 508-553-0322