Husky Howler
November 19, 2021
Dear Hill-Roberts Families:
With next week being such a short week, there will be no COVID Safety Testing. As a reminder, we have no school Wednesday - Friday as part of our Thanksgiving Break.
I hope you all have an opportunity to take a breather from the whirlwind start of the school year. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
Sincerely,
Frank W. Rich, Principal
I was thrilled to see some of our Hill Roberts Huskies at the Covid vaccine clinic run by Manet Community Health Centers this past weekend at the High School. Daily, I am having Huskies come and proudly tell me they just got their shot. Most are reporting no side effects, some had a slightly sore arm from the injection.
You can find out more about the Covid Vaccine at https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine
or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html . You can get the vaccine at most pharmacies. Manet Community Health Center, located at 8 North Main street, Attleboro offers Free Walk-In vaccinations every Thursday 1-3pm. Call 508-205-4600 for more info.
Once your child has gotten their 2nd Covid vaccine, please send me a copy of their vaccination card. Per DESE protocol, “Once children ages 5-11have been fully vaccinated (2 weeks since 2nd Covid vaccine), if they are subsequently identified as a close contact and are asymptomatic, they will be exempt from quarantine protocols.”
Flu shots: The City of Attleboro is holding a flu clinic for all 6 months and older (see below). It is at City Hall on Tuesday Nov 23 and Tues Nov 30th. You can also get Flu shots at most pharmacies, and some will pay you to get it.
Sherri Knight-Cloud, School Nurse
Flu Vaccine Clinic
For immediate release:
Flu vaccination efforts are ongoing and continue through flu season. Other measures, such as good hand washing, proper cough etiquette and staying home when ill, are also crucial in preventing disease spread.
The Attleboro Health Department is offering flu clinics until our vaccine supply is gone. The next clinics are on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, 4:30 pm-5:30 pm and Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 4:30 pm -5:30 pm at, Attleboro City Hall, 77 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. Individuals, six months and older, are eligible for vaccination.
People can call ahead to register by calling 508-223-2222 ext. 3244 or walk-ins will also be accepted. Paperwork will be available the date of the clinic for completion.
We are able to schedule individuals 6 months and older. Flu “shots” are available. There is also a small amount of FluMist (nasal formulation) left in inventory (for healthy individuals 2 years- 18 years) The Attleboro Health Department does not have any high dose flu vaccine (for individuals 65 years and older).
Any one receiving the flu vaccine for the first time will be asked to stay for observation for 10-15 minutes. To help clinic staff, please wear loose clothing or short sleeves to provide easy access to your arm.
Flu vaccine is also available across the state at other locations and flu vaccine availability, based on zip code, can be found at https://vaccinefinder.org/.
Questions about the November 4th clinic can be directed to Jacquie O’Brien, RN, or Judy Mendes, RN at 508-223-2222 x3244 or healthnurse@cityofattleboro.us or healthnurse2@cityofattleboro.us.
COVID Update
Looking back over the past 20 months since the closure in March 2020, we have seen an increase in Attleboro's COVID numbers after most of our vacations or holiday breaks.
Thanksgiving 2020 - we went from hovering around a rate of 10 cases per 100k right before the break to skyrocketing to the mid-40s per 100k between then and the December Break.
December/New Years 2020/21 - We went from the mid-40s per 100k right before the break, all the way up to the low 60s per 100k right after the New Year.
April 2021 - After the record highs of the winter mentioned above, we saw a steady dip all the way back down to right around 20 cases per 100k before heading into April break. In the weeks around that break, we jumped back up to the low 30s per 100k.
I mention all this for multiple reasons. The most significant of which is that we expect our numbers to rise again around the upcoming breaks, and I strongly encourage you to sign your children up for our COVID Safety Testing program if you have not done so already.
Hill-Roberts is at the top of the district in terms of participation with 74% of our students taking part. With that level of participation, we believe we have a good sense of the prevalence of COVID at Hill-Roberts. We'd love to see that number jump up to at least 80% which would help us feel confident that we have an accurate picture of our COVID levels here.
We owe a big thank you to all of you and we appreciate that so many families have been vigilant in monitoring their children for symptoms and keeping them home when they are symptomatic or when they have been close contacts to outside exposures.
To sign up: COVID Testing Consent
For more information: COVID-19 Testing Information
Reading Incentive Program
We offer great reading incentives for all our students. Prizes, pins, hats, and patches are provided by our generous PTO.
Kindergarten and 1st graders are given monthly “book” calendars and encouraged to color a book for each day they read at home. When returned, they receive a CREST ticket and a small prize.
2nd graders have a Reading Pin folder where they work towards 5 different pins by reading books and taking the Accelerated Reader quiz upon completion. They are exposed to different book genres.
3rd and 4th graders take part in our Reading Patch program where they read books of their choosing and take the Accelerated Reader quizzes. After earning their hat, there are 16 different patches they can earn.
It is an honor to teach your children about using technology and share my love of reading with them.
Mrs. Cotsalas
Technology Teacher/LibrarianThis Week In Tech
Dear Families,
We have had an exciting and challenging beginning in Technology and Library. Our weekly block of time together is shared by both!
In Kindergarten, our main focus has been teaching students to log into our chrome books along with the parts of the devices we use and how to use them safely. This was quite a challenge as many students are just learning their letters! We color-coded their names and after a few tries, most were successful! We now have Clever QR code log-in credentials, which allow students to have more time for our computer activities. Yay!!! We have also begun to gather in our reading area for a story each week.
Our 1st graders also now have Clever QR codes and we have begun choosing library and leveled reading books. Along with internet safety and computer care, we have been focusing on the skill of click and drag.
2nd, 3rd and 4th grade all began the year using the Be Internet Awesome curriculum, learning good practices, rules and safety on the internet. We are working on the basics of coding in preparation for the Hour of Code in December.
In addition, 4th grade has begun in-class Battle of the Books. Ask your 4th grader how this works! They are being exposed to some great literature and having lots of fun!
If you work in tech, I’d love to have you join us during our week of “Hour of Code,” December 6th-10th. We’d love to have you briefly share how you use technology in your work and see our students begin learning about some basic coding. Just send me an email and I’ll let you know when your student visits technology. Hopefully, you could visit while they are scheduled! (jcotsalas@attleboroschools.com)
Sincerely,
Julie Cotsalas, Instructional Technology Teacher
CREST Winners
During the school day, Huskies who exhibit our core values of Caring, Respect, Excellence, Safety & Trust can earn a CREST ticket from any Hill-Roberts staff member (including the bus drivers!). Each student who earns a CREST Ticket has their name placed into a drawing to earn a weekly prize that is picked by Mrs. Cotsalas. Their name is called during the morning announcements and they get their photo taken with a CREST Certificate.
Congratulations to the following students for being our CREST winners for the week of 11/15:
Aurora Suarez
Alisa Chen
Gr. 1
Nora Noble
Irene Molinari
Gr. 2
Madeline DePalma
Jarrod Sousa
Gr. 3
Wenyu Chen
Kiley Kingsley
Gr. 4
Natalia Marques
Peighton Rizzi
The Holiday Spirit is alive and well at Hill-Roberts Elementary School. This Holiday Season, the Hill-Roberts PTO & Staff will continue the annual tradition of the Giving Tree. If your family needs support this holiday season - we would like to help. We will put anonymous slips on our giving tree for specific items from your student/s and siblings’ wishlists. If you would like more information or know your family will need some support this holiday season please contact:
School Nurse, Sherri Knight-Cloud sknightcloud@attleboroschools.com or
School Counselor, Jennifer Leach jleach@attleboroschools.com ASAP, but no later than Friday, December 4th.
Mrs. Knight-Cloud or Mrs. Leach will connect with you about the next steps after you reach out.
District News:
Tiered Focused Monitoring Review During the Week of December 13, 2021
During the week of December 13th, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be conducting a Tiered Focus Monitoring Review of the Attleboro Public Schools. For more information, please visit our website.
From the Attleboro Public Schools Nursing Department:
Looking for energetic & qualified RN's that are willing to work as substitute nurses or on a per diem basis in the Attleboro Public Schools. If you think you may be interested you can contact Deb Ebert, Nurse Coordinator for more information at 508-222-5150 x1386. Requirements: Registered Nurse (RN) Massachusetts license Three years nursing experience/preferably in pediatrics.
Happy Friday to all!
We hope you are as excited as we are for the Hunter Husky’s Howliday Shop coming up on Saturday, December 4th!
Hunter Husky’s Howliday Shop will feature a Kids’ Shop, Vendor Fair and Bake Sale! Free admission.
The kids’ shop will be well-stocked with a large assortment of gifts for kids to shop, and check out this great list of vendors already confirmed:
- Homebaked Cookies and Cakes
- White Rabbit Comics
- Tastefully Simple
- Fixed for Fun
- Paparazzi
- A Page in Time Crafts
- Rosie’s Chocolate Bomb Creations
- Scribbles – Children’s Enrichment Studio
- and MORE!
Yearbook
Send us your BTS, Bingo, Costume, Husky Gear, Race for Ed pics! Please send to: Hrybpics@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATES
Hunter Husky’s Howliday Shop: December 4th, 9am-1pm
Panera Spirit Night: December 12th, 4pm -8pm
Contact us!
Upcoming Important Information & Dates
Neighbors in Dialogue
The Neighbors in Dialogue discussion centered around Voting Access and Voting Challenges has been rescheduled to December 09, 2021 at 6pm. Trained facilitators will lead conversations in small groups to ensure that everyone has their voice heard. Successful conversations include multiple perspectives. To register please click the link below:
http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/xp_newpopevent.cfm?zeeOrg=ATTLEBRPL&EventID=6763505&sw=1366
November 24-26: No School (Thanksgiving Break)
November 29: School Council Meeting @ 5:30
December 4: Howliday Shop (see flyer above)
December 13: Term I Report Cards Published in Aspen
To view previous editions of the Howler, click HERE
Hill-Roberts Elementary School
Email: frich@attleboroschools.com
Website: http://hres.attleboroschools.com/
Location: 80 Roy Avenue, Attleboro, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 399-7560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hillrobertselementary