Esten Editorial Volume #9
May 4, 2021
A Note from the Principal
Dear Esten Families,
I am speaking on behalf of the staff at Esten when I say that we are thrilled to have the children all back together. Thank you for all your help with remote learning. I know it wasn't easy on you or the children but hopefully, with the diligence of the teachers and the perseverance of the students, the gaps in their education will be minimal.
I also wanted to thank you all for your patience as we master the pick-up and drop-off. I know that the process is slow and requires more of you to walk to the school but I appreciate all your efforts. More of you are driving rather than taking the bus so our numbers of pick up and drop off have increased. I do think that we have worked out a system that keeps the children safe and am please with how it has gone. If you'd like, in the morning you can drop off the children at the top of the driveway and they can follow the sidewalk to the front door. This way you won't have to wait to come in and around the circle. There are 5 staff members outside to watch the children come down the driveway.
We are slowly returning to our new normal. We had a socially distant picture day. We have dates for MCAS for our 3rd and 4th graders. We are having a Spirit Week (see below for days and events) and hope to have a promotion ceremony, more details later this month.
Spirit Week Monday, May 3rd to Friday May7th
Tuesday, May 4th Mismatched or Inside out Day
Wednesday, May 5th- Favorite Sports Team Day
Thursday, May 6th- Color Wars Day. Represent your grade by wearing your color: Kindergarten- Orange, Grade One-Red, Grade 2-Yellow, Grade Three- Green, Grade 4-Blue
Friday, Bulldog Day, Wear those DOGS shirts
Call For Art!
We want to display your child’s art!
This spring, Rockland Public Schools will be having a virtual art show to celebrate the accomplishments of its students. However, due to having art class virtually this year, it was difficult to collect artwork from each student. I am asking for parents and students to submit artwork to me via email so that it can be included on the arts festival website for all to enjoy. There are no requirements for the artwork, the artwork can be from any of the lessons that they completed from this school year or it can be a piece of art that they created outside of art class. Please make sure when taking a picture, the artwork is well-lighted, and please include your child's first and last name, grade, and school in the email. My email address is mguyette@rocklandschools.org and the deadline for submissions is May 14.
Thank You!
Attention 3rd and 4th grade parents!
The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) has decided that schools must administer MCAS in grades 3 and 4 for this school year. Grade 3 and 4 students are required to take the MCAS in both ELA (English Language Arts) and Math. The dates for MCAS administration in the Rockland Elementary Schools are listed below. The testing dates are as follows:
May 18, Grade 3 ELA
May 19, Grade 4 ELA
May 20, Grade 3 Math
May 21, Grade 4 Math
Please make every effort to ensure your child is present for school on these days unless they have COVID symptoms or are in quarantine due to close contact. Make-up sessions will be provided for students who are absent on the day of testing.
These students received HATS OFF awards this month!
Nurse's Notes
Happy Spring! Hopefully, the April showers we had will bring May flowers!
Unfortunately, with these May flowers comes lots of pollen and allergies! A few notes during allergy season:
- Please be sure to send your student to school with an extra mask.
- If your child has a large amount of nasal drainage or is coughing/sneezing a lot, it may be best to keep your child home. We can discuss these symptoms being allergies vs. Covid 19.
- Please reiterate to your student that he/she should not be pulling the mask down to sneeze or cough.
- If your child does have allergies, if you can help it, please don't give him/her Benadryl (diphenhydramine) before school. Benadryl, for the most part, makes people very sleepy. Better options for before-school allergy medications would be Claritin (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine). Some kids need allergy medications all season and some may need a dose here and there when the pollen is high. Please be sure to consult with your child's pediatrician before starting any medications.
Covid 19 Update:
If you've been watching the news, then you know that there has been lots of progress and many changes being made in Massachusetts as far as Covid 19 is concerned! Thankfully! We are definitely making progress. Hang in there...we are on the home stretch and have done so well thus far! If you have any questions regarding our guidelines, please refer to last month's newsletter or call me @ 781-871-8439.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
We all know this has been an extremely challenging year for children and adults alike. Covid 19 has wreaked havoc on our lives. The ramifications of the virus are still very much unknown. It is very clear to see that the virus not only hurts us physically, but it has also taken a toll on our social and emotional well-being--at every age. Disruption in routines and schedules, inability to see friends and other family members like grandparents, financial hardships, isolation, fear of getting Covid, etc., etc., etc., the list goes on and on. And let's not forget the not-so 'little' things like birthday parties, playdates, trick or treating, graduations, etc.--all important milestones in a child's life that had to be skipped or postponed. Like the physical impact, the pandemic's impact on the mental health of our children won't be really understood for years to come. In the meantime, as caregivers of these sweet children, we can take some steps to help provide support by doing the following:
- Maintain a normal routine when possible
- Talk, listen, and encourage expression
- Give honest, age-appropriate, accurate information when appropriate
- Teach simple steps to stay healthy
- Be alert for changes in behavior
- Reassure children about their safety and well being
If you find you need additional guidance, your pediatrician is a good resource, but you can also reach out to someone here at school and give you additional resources.
Bernadette Hannigan RN, BSN, CCM
School Nurse Esten Elementary School
781-871-8439
Phone: 781-871-8439
Fax: 781-871-8451
Below is the link to the kindergarten registration packet
Welcome to the class of 2034!
Kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year has started. Below is the link to the paperwork that must be completed and submitted. A child must be 5 years old by August 31st to register. Paperwork must be completed and parents can schedule an appointment with Mrs. MacNeil at 781-878-8336 to drop it off at school.
We are hoping to have an informational zoom meeting for incoming kindergarteners before the kindergarten screenings. Once a date is confirmed I will send out information and the google meet link.
Top Sellers
As a school, the students and their families raised almost $9,000. after giving out the prizes to the sellers. WTG Esten!
R. Stewart Esten Elementary School
Email: msmith@rocklandschools.org
Website: rocklandschools.org
Location: 733 Summer Street, Rockland, MA, USA
Phone: 781-878-8336
Facebook: facebook.com/EstenElementarySchool
Twitter: @MSmithMarilyn