Sheffield Spotlight
March 11, 2024
Author and Illustrator Astrid Sheckels visit Sheffield thanks to GMEF!
Local children's author and illustrator, Astrid Sheckels, visited the Grade 2 students to speak with them about her books. Astrid is the author/illustrator of the award-winning Hector Fox & Friends picture book series. The four-book series includes Hector Fox and the Giant Quest, Hector Fox and the Raven’s Revenge, Hector Fox and the Daring Flight and Hector Fox and the Map of Mystery. Thank you to GMEF for your support in making this happen! Thank you Astrid for signing our books and for creating a beautiful illustration of Hector Fox for us to display at Sheffield!
3rd Grade Art at the Carnegie Library
Third grade art students have spent the last few weeks learning about what architects and interior designers do and then have drawn several different floor plans in preparation for this project. They are currently working on their library designs and I hope to have them all completed for display within the next week.
Angela Rovatti-Leonard the children's librarian and Ms. Castro-Santos, Sheffield's art teacher, will be hanging work in the Discovery Center in downtown Turners Falls. Attached is a flyer for the event. Please note that there is a reception and refreshments on Saturday, March 23 for everyone to attend!
District and School Report Cards
Dear GMRSD Families:
Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our district and school report cards are below and can also be found on the district and school websites under “For Parents”:
The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.
Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.
You will notice on our report card that overall we are providing a wide variety of educational opportunities to our students. To improve student performance in our school, we are continuing to refine teaching practices and implement evidence-based curricula. We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents and caregivers as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.
Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds (Hillcrest and Sheffield), you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:
Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,
Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,
The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and
Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact your child’s Principal. For quick facts about the School Report Card, see the School and District Report Card Quick Facts and Glossary flyer.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Powers
Jeanne Powers
Director of Teaching and Learning
Estimadas GMRS Familias:
Todos los años, cada una de las escuelas públicas y distritos escolares de Massachusetts recibe una boleta de calificaciones. Al igual que la boleta de calificaciones de su hijo/a muestra su rendimiento en distintas materias, la boleta de calificaciones de la escuela está formulada para mostrarles a las familias qué tal va el rendimiento de nuestra escuela en distintas áreas. A continuación se encuentra un enlace a las boletas de calificaciones de nuestra escuela y distrito y también se puede encontrar en los sitios web del distrito y la escuela en "Para padres":
District (Distrito)
Turners Falls High School (Escuela Secundaria)
Great Falls Middle School (Medio Escuela)
Sheffield Elementary School (Escuela primaria de Sheffield)
Hillcrest Elementary School (Escuela primaria de Hillcrest)
Gill Elementary School (Escuela primaria de Gill)
La boleta incluye múltiples indicadores del rendimiento de una escuela – no simplemente calificaciones de MCAS. Representa una nueva forma de evaluar el rendimiento escolar, proporcionando información en torno al logro estudiantil, calificaciones de maestros, oportunidades de aprendizaje del alumnado y más.
Las boletas de calificaciones fueron diseñadas como herramientas útiles para todas las personas vinculadas a nuestra escuela. Las familias pueden emplear la información para tener conversaciones constructivas con nosotros sobre lo que la escuela está haciendo bien y en qué puede mejorar. Los líderes comunitarios y educativos pueden emplear la información para entender mejor cómo pueden ayudar a los estudiantes en nuestra escuela.
Notará en nuestra boleta de calificaciones que, en general, estamos brindando una amplia variedad de oportunidades educativas a nuestros estudiantes. Para mejorar el desempeño de los estudiantes en nuestra escuela, continuamos refinando las prácticas de enseñanza e implementando planes de estudio basados en evidencia. Le animamos a que se involucre en ayudarnos a mejorar nuestra escuela. Vemos a los padres como socios críticos en el éxito de nuestros estudiantes y la escuela, y estamos agradecidos por su continuo apoyo.
Finalmente, si su hijo/a asiste a una escuela que reciba fondos federales del Título I (Hillcrest o Sheffield), también tiene el derecho de solicitar la siguiente información sobre las calificaciones de los maestros de su hijo/a:
Si el/la maestro/a de su hijo/a tiene una licencia para los niveles de grado y materias que enseñan,
Si el/la maestro/a de su hijo/a está enseñando con una licencia de emergencia o exención,
La licenciatura y especialización del/la maestro/a de su hijo/a y
Si su hijo/a recibe servicios de personal auxiliar y en caso de que así sea, su capacitación.
Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la boleta de calificaciones de nuestra escuela, le gustaría participar en actividades de mejoramiento escolar o desea solicitar información sobre las cualificaciones del/la maestro/a de su hijo/a, por favor póngase en contacto con El director de su hijo. Para obtener información breve sobre la boleta de calificaciones de la escuela, consulte Boletín de calificaciones de la escuela y el distrito Datos breves y glosario.
Atentamente,
Jeanne Powers
Jeanne Powers
Director de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje
Friends of Sheffield (FOS)
Teacher Appreciation during Conferences
We need your help to show teachers and staff a little love during conference time. We are planning a breakfast that will include donuts. We are asking for monetary donations in lieu of signing up for an item to be dropped off. Cash and check donations can be dropped off at the main office or you can donate via Venmo. We would like to thank everyone who donated so far! We still need to raise $105 more. Please see the flier below for all of the details. You can also view our grocery list here.
FOS Movie Fundraiser
We hope you'll join us at Greenfield Garden Cinemas for a special showing of Kung Fu Panda 4 on Saturday, March 23rd at 10 AM. Pre-sale tickets are only $5 each and FOS receives 100% of ticket proceeds! This is a great opportunity to do something fun while supporting our school. We had a pretty packed theater last year, and it was a lot of fun. Be sure to invite your friends and family as this event is open to the public! Fliers and order forms should have already gone home, but if you haven't received yours, the order form can be found here.
Scholastic Book Fair
We're excited to bring you the Scholastic Book Fair! We plan to have a family shopping event during Math Night on Thursday, March 21st from 5:30-7 and potentially another one after school on Friday, March 29th due to the All School Meeting happening on this day. Students will also be allowed to shop during their library time starting Monday, March 25th-March 29th. This event is new to us, and we are still working all the details out. Please be on the lookout for more information soon!
Seeking Business Sponsors for Bingo for Books
Bingo for Books is a free family event we are hoping to hold in April. Sheffield students and their siblings get to play bingo for free brand-new books and other family friendly prizes. We are seeking Business Sponsors for this event and are looking to raise $625 ($500 for books and $125 for items like bookmarks, pencils, fidgets etc). If you own a business or know one that would be willing to contribute, please reach out to us so we can send you a letter with all the details along with our flier. No contribution is too small, and every little bit helps. We currently have one sponsor.
If you have questions or comments about any of the above, we can be reached via email: friendsofsheffield@gmail.com
Friends of Sheffield
GMEF is excited to welcome on Saturday, April 27, 2024@ 7:00pm to the TFHS Theater, the Piano Men: Double Bill --"Billy & Elton!
“All students can learn and succeed, but not on the same day in the same way” – George Evans
“The GMEF is excited to welcome on Saturday, April 27, 2024@ 7:00pm to the TFHS Theater, the Piano Men: Double Bill --"Billy & Elton!” Anton Doran and The Tampa Bay All Stars will re-create the music of Billy Joel &Elton John with material from all eras of each artist's career, presenting their biggest hits along with new generations of fan favorites, including: Benny & the Jets, Tiny Dancer, Movin' Out, You May Be Right, I'm Still Standing, Piano Man and many more.
Advance tickets are$30 – At the Door $35
Advance Tickets are available at these locations
· Bernardston - Hillside Pizza
· Erving – Weatherheads Convenience Store
· Greenfield - World Eye Bookshop
· Northfield –Bobby’s Hair & Nail Salon
· Turners Falls – Freedom Credit Union, Greenfield Savings Bank & Scotty’s Convenience Store
· At the GMEF website – www.thegmef.org.
Our Annual Gala has made it possible for the GMEF to award over $126,840 of grants throughout the District in science, music, art, athletics, language, math, technology, and reading.
“The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
The GMEF Board of Directors
Copyright (C) 2022 The Gill-Montague Education Fund. All rights reserved.
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The Gill-Montague Education Fund
PO Box 383
Turners Falls, MA 01376-0383
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Food Services Employment opportunity
GMRSD Food Service is looking for a few good food service professionals.
Do you have a food service passion? Do you want to help feed our district’s students healthy meals? Do you want to help make a difference? Call me, Molly Brooks, Food Service Director at 413-863-7506 or email me at molly.brooks@gmrsd.org.
We have several openings, including Food Service Supervisor, Food Service Assistant and Food Service substitutes.
Upcoming Programs at Montague Public Libraries
Save the Date!
Thursday, March 14 - Early dismissal at noon - Caregiver Conferences
Friday, March 15 - Early dismissal at noon - Caregiver Conferences
Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15 - Caregiver Conferences
Wednesday, March 20 - Early dismissal at noon
Wednesday, March 20 - All School Sing
Thursday, March 21 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm - GMRSD Math Night at Sheffield (see attached flyer
Saturday, March 23 at 10 am - Movie Fundraiser at the Garden: Kung Fu Panda 4
Friday, March 29 at 2:15 pm - All School Meeting
MCAS Testing Dates
Tuesday, April 9 - ELA for grades 3-5
Wednesday, April 10 - ELA for grades 3-5
Tuesday, May 7 - Math for grades 3-5
Wednesday, May 8 - Math for grades 3-5
Tuesday, May 14 - STE for grade 5
Wednesday, May 15 - STE for grade 5