South Row's Home Link
Week of: December 11th, 2023
Message from the Principals
We appreciate the time you have taken to conference with teachers. These check-in as so important!
We will be accepting donations for The Wish Project for one more week. Please see the list below if you are interested in donating. As a school we hope this partnership provides some help to those in our community that need it.
Enjoy your weekend!
Respectfully,
Terri and Jayson
Week at a Glance
December 11th
- No events
December 12th
- Try it Tuesday - blueberries
December 13th
- Grades Available in X2 Grades 1-4 - Click here for step by step directions on how to access report cards.
December 14th
- No events
December 15th
- Chelmsford/South Row Spirit Day
- Last Day for Donations for the Wish Project
Looking ahead...
December 22nd
- Silly Socks/Pajama School Spirit Day
- Grade 4 Snowflake Activity, 9:30-11:00am
December 23rd- January 1st
- School Vacation
January 2nd
- School Resumes
Reminders/ Updates
Vision and Hearing R-Screening/Make ups: Nurse V will be conducting vision and hearing re-screening for students that need to be re-assessed or were absent on the original dates. This will take place on Monday.
PD Day Calendar Adjustment (Early Release Day Change): The March professional development day has been moved to Tuesday, March 5th which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th. Therefore, Please see more details on the rationale to this move, please click on Dr. Lang's 12/1/23 update.
December Kind Act - Wish Project Donations: Starting on December 1st we will be collecting the following items for the Wish Project. Thank you for your generosity in advance.
- Toothpaste
- Body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Kids body wash
- Kids toothpaste
- Baby body wash/shampoo
- Deodorant
Nurses Corner
Dear South Row Families,
Please review the school’s sick policy below. You can also find this information on the CPS website linked here.
We recommend children not come to school if they appear to be ill. We advise you to keep your child home if he/she has a sore throat, severe cold, rash, fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Your child needs to stay home if he/she has any of the following:
Strep Throat: If strep throat is suspected and the child either has had a negative throat culture or has been on antibiotics and fever free for a full 24 hours.
A fever over 100: May return to school when he/she is fever free for 24 hours without medication (e.g. Tylenol or Advil).
Vomiting and/or diarrhea: May return to school 24 hours after his/her last vomiting and/or diarrhea episode.
Red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and or green/yellow drainage: May return to school the day after treatment for 24 hours or has no further eye discharge.
Head Lice or nits (eggs): The nurse will assess the student for the presence of head lice or nits. If head lice or nits are detected, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian and provide education on lice treatment. Based on the discretion of the school nurse, some situations may warrant a dismissal from school
A rash of unknown cause: May require to MD clearance at the discretion of the school nurse.
If a child is too ill to remain in school the nurse will call parent/guardian and/or emergency contact numbers for dismissal. The student should not place the call from a school phone or mobile phone.
Parents/guardians are required to notify the school if your child contracts any contagious diseases (e.g. Chicken Pox, Strep Throat, Whooping Cough, Fifth’s Disease, Conjunctivitis, Scabies, Impetigo, Ringworm or Head Lice, etc.). If a child has been absent due to a communicable disease, a physician’s release may be required before returning to school.
Below is an excerpt from our current Covid protocol. It is not the full protocol - but I have linked it here CPS COVID Health Protocols
Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols
● Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. A high quality mask should be worn for 10 days, and test 5 days after the exposure on Day 6. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
● Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
○ If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
■ If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask (please provide documentation for the negative test to the school nurse).
■ If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
■ Please notify your school nurse of a positive COVID-19 test result.
● Symptomatic individuals should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 2 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, MDPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
● Upon return to school, students who test positive for COVID-19 must complete the “Return to School Form Post COVID-19 Diagnosis” to the Health Office. The form will be emailed to you by the school nurse. Guidelines for return to physical activity and/or sports after testing positive are included in the form and are as follows:
○ For those individuals who test positive who are symptom free or experienced mild symptoms (<4 days of fever greater than 100.4 and < 1 week of mild symptoms) should inform their Health Care Provider (HCP) and the HCP will determine if a follow-up visit is recommended. It is important to monitor for signs and symptoms of myocarditis in regard to return to physical activity and return to sports. This includes monitoring for any chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual heartbeats, or feeling faint. These are indications for stopping physical activity and seeking immediate medical care.
○ For those with moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (≥4 days of fever >100.4°F, ≥1 week of symptoms, an evaluation by their HCP is recommended and individuals should not exercise until they are cleared by a physician.
○ For those individuals with severe COVID-19 symptoms, it is recommended they be restricted from exercise for a minimum of 3 to 6 months and obtain cardiology clearance prior to resuming training or competition. Please bring this form to the Nurse’s Office upon return to school (prior to attending class) and, if indicated, attach the clearance documentation from the healthcare provider to the form.
Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves.
COVID-19 Symptoms List:
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms 3
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Warmly,
Nurse V.
December Connections Calendar - Feedback
*NEW* - Parent Resources and Support Button
PTO Corner
The PTO is proud to be able to budget some of our funds for new recess equipment when it is needed. Thank you to Courtney for getting some amazing items ordered and dropped off at the school this past week. There were no less than 12 new soccer balls, 12 new basketballs, 6 new kickballs, tons of chalk, and 36 tennis balls! Thank you to all parents, teachers, and others who support our fundraising efforts so we can continue gifting things like this to the school.
You can still order a Fun Pass Coupon Book through Tuesday Dec 12th! You can see ALL the discounts and all participating attractions, museums, etc at the link below. Use the same link when you place your order. We are hoping to have the books to you before winter break but since they are being shipped we can't say for sure.
Tentative Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Food Services Corner
- Tentative Breakfast & Lunch Menu - PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE LINKED BELOW FOR CHANGES!
- Breakfast Sign Up Information
- Early Release Day Lunch Sign Up Information
- Direct Link to Food Services webpage
Dear Parents and Families --
Chelmsford Public Schools is utilizing on-line breakfast ordering again this year for ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ONLY.
Instructions on how to set up an account are below. If you need any help, please reach out to the school nutrition department at: (978) 251-5111
Directions to set up your account and order:
- URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
- Sign up now: Email, create password.
- School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
- Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s Student ID Number
- Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student’s name should appear on page.
How to order meals
- School Menu-breakfast online ordering
- Scroll to day/week you are selecting breakfast (top right of page)
- Find date, select meal option
- Add item to cart/Select Add to order
- Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
- Click Check out
- Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom
- Place order
Food Services Website
SOUTH ROW'S PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Grade level Meeting Hosts
Pride Shout Outs
Always learning!
Third Grade Scientists!
Dreidel Games
Fun photo with Mrs. Vasquez! =)
Importance of Attendance
Contact the South Row Administrative Team!
Principal
Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal
Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow
Contact the Main Office Staff
- Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
- Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
- Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
- Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
- Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
- Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1