___________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello PRS Families!

On behalf of the entire Plymouth River Staff, we would like to welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year! It’s hard to believe that we are two weeks into August and summer is slowly coming to an end. We hope that you have been able to rest and rejuvenate over the summer. We also want to make sure that you enjoy these last precious weeks of warm and sunny weather. This month always brings a plethora of emotions for all who are involved in the school community as well as the excitement and anticipation of change and a new school year. We share and understand these emotions! However, we are energized by the prospect of seeing and meeting all of you as the school year begins! Happy New School Year!

We have an amazing PTO and many volunteers who make so many special events happen. If you would like to reach out to the PTO co-presidents please email the PTO at PRSPTOEmail@gmail.com.

Looking ahead, we are eager to welcome students back in September, and we are excited for their happy, youthful energy to fill our hallways and classrooms once again with learning, laughter and enthusiasm. Speaking of hallways, if you have been at PRS for some time now you will notice the school is set up a little bit differently. When you enter the building and go to the left that is now considered our lower elementary wing which consists of Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. If you enter the building and take a right towards the office you will be entering the upper elementary wing which consists of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Kindergarten parents you have a link below to a separate newsletter outlining information on upcoming Kindergarten events to prepare you and your child(ren) for the new school year. I have been amazed at how well our community continues to work together to provide the best educational (academic and social) experience possible for our children. You are all such important citizens of PRS, and we can’t wait to get started on the new school year!

Kindergarten Families: Attached here is a welcome letter containing all the information that we could think of right now to help make your transition into PRS and Kindergarten as smooth as possible. Any questions please feel free to reach out to us and we can help guide you so that you and your family begin the school year off on the right foot.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class Assignments: These will be emailed to families on Friday, August 18. We know you are very aware of how much consideration/work goes into class placements each and every year. We understand that a successful school year starts with a positive home-school partnership. Thank you for understanding that changes and requests will not be made for where your child has been placed. Due to privacy reasons, we do not send the entire class list out anymore.

Grading Term Dates: Please click on the link to see this year's grading timeline and conference dates along with the half days.

Lunch: This year, with the new states budget, lunch and breakfast will be served free of charge again. This year, there will also be continuing breakfast program (also peanut/tree nut free) for students who wish to partake in that. It is also free of charge. There will be one “grab and go breakfast” offering daily (please see monthly menu). Please be aware that there will be NO bonus lunches again this year but students can buy things like milk ($0.75) & Greek yogurt($2.00) when purchased without a lunch. You will also need to set up an online meals account at schoolcafe.com.

PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES: At the spring 2023 Town Meeting, the Town of Hingham approved a ban on selling and distributing non-flavored, non-carbonated water in plastic single-use bottles. Beginning for the 2023-2024 school year, the school’s Food Services will no longer sell single-use plastic water bottles. As we start the school year, students are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles to school that can be filled out at a water bubbler or a water-filling station.

Financial Assistance: Please also know that if any of our families need financial assistance at any time or for any reason during the year they should contact the school Adjustment Counselor, A.C.Decker (acdecker@hinghamschools.org) who will keep all such requests confidential.

Arrivals, Dismissals and calling out sick:

Thank you to our wonderful PTO who have picked up the cost to pay for PickUp Patrol which helps with alerting the office when a child will be coming in late, being dismissed early or calling them out sick. This will be a learning curve for all of us but as a community we will learn together. If you have any friends at East elementary school you should ask them about it since they have a years experience already under their belt. The feedback given was so positive that PRS and Foster are adopting PickUp Patrol this year. More information to come.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sessions will run for 15 weeks in the Fall and in the Spring. The Fall session will run September through January and the Spring Session will be February through June. The last class for each session will serve as a performance to show parents the children’s progress. Tuition is $325.00 per child and does not include instrument rental fees. No prior experience with strings is expected for participation. All students will meet for introductory, beginner lessons. Families are responsible for arranging their own rental or purchase of instruments.See link to register.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES - You can order online through Yubbler or purchase on your own. Choose your incoming grade-level supply list here

HPS 2023-2024 CALENDAR

1000 BOOK CLUB - This is a great program for preschool and kindergarten students to check out book bags and read with families!

LOOKING FOR AFTERSCHOOL CARE?

Kids in Action (KIA) Before and After-School Programs are for Hingham students in grades K-5. Our curriculum focuses on social and emotional development with support in academic skills through play and guidance.

VOLUNTEERS - We are happy to have parent volunteers in our school again! As we enter a new school year, all volunteers in the schools (classroom volunteers, field trip chaperones, etc.) will require a new CORI check. Forms can be found in the main office or here

BUS ROUTES - New bus routes will be posted in the link provided below soon. Transportation is just putting the final touches on the routes. https://hinghamschools.org/about/transportation/

PRS FAST FACTS

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 18 - 22 - Class assignments will be emailed districtwide

August 30th - a personal welcome letter from your teacher will arrive via email

August 31st - 1:15-2:00 - Kindergarten Meet the Principal Upper Playgorund

August 31st - 2:00 - 2:30 - Open House for ALL Families

September 5th - First Day of School (Grade 1-5 only)

September 6th - Kindergarten Meet and Greet and Bus Orientation

The teachers will email you an assigned block of time to come in to visit the classroom! You will meet your teacher, meet new classmates, and take a quick ride on the big yellow bus!

September 7 - First Day of School for Kindergarten

September 11th - 1st Fire Drill

September 15th - Bus Safety and Evacuation Drill

September 25th (make-ups Nov 7) - Picture Day 🙂

Curriculum Nights -

• K - October 18th - 5:30 - 6 PM

• 1 - September 27th 5:00 - 5:30 PM

• 2 - September 20th, 5:00 - 5:30 PM - tentative

• 3 - September 27th, 5:35 - 6:05 PM

• 4 - September 20th, 5:35 - 6:05 PM - tentative

• 5 - September 27th, 6:10 - 6:40 PM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Office

Administrative Assistants- Suzanne Price, Anne Bernazanni

School Resource Officer - Officer McGillicuddy /Officer Carr

Nurse - Kristin Godfrey

Classroom Teachers

K - Amy Maescher, Kim O'Brien, Julianne Riley

1st - Nancy Bucey, Katie Burritt, Janette Harrington, TBD

2nd - Cyndi Bonani, Krystal Bilodeau, Michelle Shapiro

3rd - Laura Falvey, Meagan Ottatti, Shawna Reames

4th - Kara Kremer, Maura Talbot, Susan Willison

5th - Julie Harrington, Joan Kilban, Meryl Vella

Specialists

Art - Alice Caldwell

Computer Science - Rebekah Stahl-Bryant

Library - Mary Dunphy

Music - Dorothy Turner

Phys.Ed.- Mikayla Pagnini

Spanish - TBD

Special Education

Teachers - Colin Butler, Meaghan Gaven, Elizabeth Rubertone, Cassie Pacella, Lauren Smith

School Psychologist- Dr. Brett Bolger

Administrative Assistant - Susan Carey

Support Personnel

Adjustment Counselor - A.C. Decker

School Guidance Counselor - Carolyn St. Laurence

Literacy Specialists - Kati Osterman (K-2nd) and Jennifer Madden (3rd-5th)

Literacy Interventionists - Colleen Connolly and Nicole O'Brien

Math Specialist - Jessica Kitchen

Math Interventionists- Christine Lotano and Sam Anderson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------