"Paw Prints"
Farley Elementary School's Weekly Family Update
Dear Farley Families,
Happy Friday! Since Smore was down last Friday, this week's newsletter contains information from this week and last week. Enormous thanks goes to Sarah Tracy and all of the volunteers Erica Ankstitus, Alexia Berg, Jenna Bergeron, Felicia Comeras, Jess Corbosiero, Gilma Defranzo, Leah Ellis, Elizabeth Friend, Lindsey Lennon, Elizabeth Loura, Lisa McCarthy, Lynne Millson, Meghan Monsini, Mady Mullin, Mark Pietras, Mikayla Rice, Amy Rooney, Tara Sagor, RachelSantiano, Lauren Sullivan, and Karen Sutherland. If there were any other drop-in volunteers, please know that you are greatly appreciated. Without our dedicated volunteers these types of experiences couldn't happen. I wish everyone could see the joy on students faces as they peruse the shelves, write down their favorites on their clipboards, and pick out their favorites. It is no less than magical.
Other thanks for this week goes to K teacher Kristin Charbonneau and Home and School for creating incredible "motivational messages" for all of the grade 3 and 4 students taking MCAS. Home and School purchased inspirational magnets and Mrs. Charbonneau organized the lower grades to have their students draw and write encouraging messages that were then placed on students' lockers as a surprise on the first day of MCAS. They were beyond adorable and the third and fourth graders were so surprised. This is what a true community looks like and feels like. See some pictures below.
This weekend, my wife and I are headed to Redemption Rock Brewing in Worcester. Redemption Rock has created a special beverage in honor of my wife's play "Judith". The drink is called "She's the Man". We can't wait to try it and see the can!
Read Always,
Rachel Scanlon (She, Her, Hers)
Farley Principal
NEED TO KNOWS
NEED TO KNOWS:
April 2nd-3rd:
- Grade 3 ELA MCAS
April 8th:
- Grade 4 Session 2-ELA MCAS
April 10th:
- Half-day for students
April 11th:
- Night of the Arts-see flier below for detailed information
Mark Your Calendars Now for Math MCAS:
- Gr 3 May 7 and 9
- Gr4 May 14 and 15
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
MRS. CRAPULLI IS GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE
This past summer, I was contacted by an organization called DKMS, a nonprofit stem cell donation company, asking me if I was still interested in being a donor. Back in 2010, I swabbed to become a stem cell donor after walking past it at a college fair, and 14 years later, I was finally a match for an anonymous someone! Since July, she has gone back and forth to Dana Farber and made countless phone calls to get everything cleared for donation. In the forth coming weeks, she will spend a full day at Dana Farber donating her stem cells through a process called 'peripheral blood stem cell collection' to a woman who has cancer. After donating, she will have the opportunity to meet the recipient! This has been an incredibly rewarding, and humbling experience for her and she encourages anyone who has the opportunity to register as a potential match, to do so!
MUSIC MARCH MADNESS SPOTLIGHT
AND THE WINNER IS....
As some of the volunteers got to see last week, Music March Madness' "Jazz Week" was too cute for words! Last week's winner was "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)" by Ella Fitzgerald & the Duke Ellington Big Band. Today, was the final day of Music March Madness and students dressed in their favorite genre. The winner of this year's tournament is “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker!
SOLAR ECLIPSE SPOTLIGHT
A MESSAGE FROM DR. REAGAN AND MRS. ZINNER ABOUT THE ECLIPSE
Dear Hudson Families,
I hope this email finds you well. As likely know, a solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. Some parts of Massachusetts will experience 95% coverage during the eclipse, which is estimated to begin in this area at approximately 2:15pm and end shortly after 4:30pm. The maximum amount of coverage for Massachusetts will be experienced at 3:27pm. The timing of the early stages of the eclipse aligns with dismissal at the middle school and elementary schools. As such, I am encouraging you to speak with your children about eye safety during a solar eclipse. Eye injury can occur when viewing any part of the sun without special purpose solar filter glasses. During an eclipse, especially when a large percentage of the sun is obscured, it can be tempting to look up.
School principals are prepared to make announcements prior to dismissal to alert students to dangers associated with looking directly at the sun and staff members on dismissal duty will do their best to keep an extra eye on students as they exit buildings to load buses and cars or walk home. As you know, students are not supervised one-on-one during dismissal and when they are on school buses, so please speak to your children before they come to school on Monday to reinforce the importance of not looking at the sun, even during a solar eclipse. High School athletic practices and games will not begin until 4:30 on Monday.
Several agencies and organizations have published information about eye safety and speaking with children about solar eclipses, including NASA, Healthy Children, and the Massachusetts Department of Education. NASA has also published this one-page guide. Enjoy the weekend.
Regards,
Brian K. Reagan, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Zinner, one of our Reading Interventionists, wanted to share more info on how to experience the solar eclipse safely with all Farley Families:
On Monday, April 8th, New England will have the chance (weather permitting) to experience a partial solar eclipse! Beginning at about 2:15 pm in our area, peaking at 3:29 pm, and ending at 4:38 pm, the moon will be covering 70% of the sun, causing darkening skies and altered shadows. It is very important to remind children NOT to look directly at the sun (not even with sunglasses! Only use specialized glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 Standard for Solar Viewers), as it can cause serious damage to the eyes. As mentioned above in Dr. Reagan's message, the district will not be dismissing early and we will not be providing glasses. All teachers will be holding a Morning Meeting dedicated to the eclipse. Teachers will teach them all about it and how to be safe!
There are several ways to observe the changes safely at home. The easiest is to make a projector with two pieces of white paper or cardboard, and a pin. You can also make a pinhole projector out of a box, paper, tinfoil, pin and tape. Here is a short video for children that explains how a solar eclipse happens. It looks like it will be a clear day, so enjoy this rare phenomenon… safely!
HEALTH FAIR SPOTLIGHT
WOO SOX SPOTLIGHT
JOIN US FOR FARLEY DAY AT THE WOO SOX!
Again this year, the Worcester Red Sox, AKA the Woo Sox, have teamed up with Farley's Home and School and invited us to join them for a "Farley Day at the WooSox" to be held on Sunday, May 19th. Thank you to Laine Dougherty for organizing this fun event again the year. Tickets must be purchased online using the link below or by using the QR Code pictured below and on the fliers. Just click the flier image to enlarge. If you happen to go online and it says "sold out" or if you are have trouble please email Laine @ lainie2122@gmail.com. While I won't be throwing out the first pitch, the Woo Sox do have something special in store for us. Stay tuned for more information!
To purchase tickets use this: fevo-enterprise.com/event/farleyelementary24
YEARBOOK SPOTLIGHT
YEARBOOK PICTURES ARE STILL NEEDED
Grade 4 caregivers, Meghan Freitas and Lainie Dougherty, are heading up the 4th grade are still in need of pictures year! In order to have the most colorful yearbook possible, they needs lots of images! They have created an email where pictures can be sent. If you have any pictures, both past and present, that would be great for the yearbook, please email them to: farleyfox2024@gmail.com. Thank you Lainie and Meghan for donating your time to this!
FARLEY HOME and SCHOOL UPDATES
PLEASE JOIN OUR NEXT HOME & SCHOOL MEETING!
Below are the dates for the remainder of our Home and School Meetings this year. All are welcome to join! The meetings will start at 6:00pm. We will meet in the library. Free childcare will be provided! You can also attend virtually using this link: https://meet.google.com/kyj-jsgf-abr
April 3rd
May 1st
June 5th
OTHER UPDATES AND REMINDERS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS HOSTING A DANCE
Please click the images to read the fliers for more information.
BOYS AND GIRL CLUB SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
RF WOOD FOUNDATION INFORMATION
The RF Wood Foundation’s mission is to foster positive youth development by providing all kids equal opportunity of youth and high school sports and physical activity. Their goal is to provide funding to local youth organizations and schools, to be used for families with financial need as well as local youth organizations and schools who need funding to provide adequate opportunities of physical activity.
In addition to providing funding, the RF Wood Foundation offers programs to guide our youth in becoming positive role models and influential leaders within our community. For more information on this wonderful foundation click the link: https://rfwood.org/programs/
EXCITING SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Offer Chad wanted administrators to share information on the Middlesex Sheriff's Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) that is now enrolling children ages 8-12. Click on the fliers below for more information.
INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL OR CHEERLEADING?
WANT TO PLAY BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL?
Baseball registrations ages 4-16
(including T-ball for young softball players):
https://hybs.sportngin.com/register/form/957714472
Softball registrations ages 6-14*:
https://hybs.sportngin.com/register/form/790397597
*Softball includes players who turned 15 on or after September 1, 2023.
We KNOW you have questions! Click here "FOR PARENTS" for more information.
THE READING INTERVENTIONISTS ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!
Farley's Reading Team is looking for family and community members who would like to read with students during the school day. There are a variety of small group and individual support opportunities available at all grade levels and for differing lengths of time. Please contact Mrs. Zinner, one of our Reading Interventionists, at lzinner@hudson.k12.ma.us for more details if interested!
THE FARLEY FAMILY DIRECTORY HAS BEEN UPDATED!
Home and School has finished doing their mid-year update to our Farley Family School Directory. The most recent directory is linked below. Please note that this directory is published for the private use of Farley Elementary School Families only. This directory is for the personal use of the authorized reader and cannot be shared (including on social media), duplicated, or used for commercial purpose. Thank you to caregiver Sarah Tracy for creating the directory!
PAW PRINT REWARD STICKERS!
Students get Paw Print Stickers for going above and beyond. When a staff member "catches" them doing something spectacular, they get two stickers-one to wear and one to put on their homeroom Fox poster. When their classroom Fox poster fills up with stickers, they get to have a classroom celebration. If you see a paw print on your child's clothing or backpack, please ask them why they got it.
"ALL THINGS TECHNOLOGY"
At the beginning of the year, Ellen Schuck, the Head of Technology for the district, sent out one of her Technology Newsletters. This publication has essential information about all things related to HPS technology, including how caregivers can access the "ASPEN Parent Portal". Below is the link to her newsletter.
HUDSON IS HIRING!
Farley has filled all of their paraprofessional positions but is still in need of substitutes. We are looking for both day-to-day subs and permanent building subs. Day-to-Day subbing offers employees a flexible schedule. Our Permanent Building Substitute works every day but in a variety of classrooms. The permanent building substitute job is a salaried, benefit eligible position. If you are interested or would like more information, please feel free to email Mrs. Scanlon @ rscanlon@hudson.k12.ma.us or Mrs. Duke @ amduke@hudson.k12.ma.us directly to set up an interview. You can also apply online using the link below:
https://www.hudson.k12.ma.us/departments/human_resources/employment_opportunities
IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE?
For help with food throughout the year, head to the MetroWestFoodCollaborative.org. In addition, "The Find Food Menu" on the MWFC website offers information about other food resources, where to find SNAP & HIP retailers, local farmer's markets and CSAs. Lastly, click the link or pictures below to get specific information about food options/distribution for Hudson residents.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GgOhaseQU4WCfjeKki-oMRrG_xQ3e7D4/view?usp=sharing
DON'T FORGET TO #EXPLAINYOURBRAIN
Farley's Instructional Focus is getting all students to "explain their brains" across all content areas. Whenever possible, don't forget to ask your child to explain their thinking and reasoning.
Farley Elementary School
Email: rscanlon@hudson.k12.ma.us
Website: https://cafarley.hudson.k12.ma.us/
Location: 119 Cottage Street, Hudson, MA, USA
Phone: 978-567-6153