GWS Weekly Newsletter
September 6, 2019
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed. 9/4 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
K Orientation
Wed. 9/11 PICTURE DAY
PTO Meeting, 7 pm
Tues. 9/17 Instrumental Info night (4th grade), 7 pm @ MHS
Deadline for summer reading Bingo
Fri. 9/20 Band/string lessons begin - 5th grade
Mon. 9/23 START WITH HELLO WEEK!
Fri. 9/27 Morning band/strings start - 5th grade
Band/strings lessons start - 4th grade
Wed. 10/2 Elementary Curriculum Night
Student Information Update
The Marshfield Public Schools will now be using workflows in the Aspen Family portal to complete the "back to school" emergency contact forms that have traditionally been done on paper. Parents/guardians will need to use their Family accounts (not Student accounts) to complete the "Student Information Update" workflow for each student, and the "Parent Information Update" workflow for themselves.
Instructions for completing the information update workflows can be found here: https://bit.ly/2NGfedW
If you are unable to log in, please contact aspen@mpsd.org.
Start with Hello September 23 - September 27, 2019
“Start With Hello” is a program designed by Sandy Hook Promise to create a more inclusive and connected community to help prevent violence by decreasing social isolation. Join us in making all students and faculty feel part of our Marshfield Public Schools community by participating in the following:
Monday 23rd - “Just Say Hello” All students and faculty will wear name tags during the school day. Name tags will be given out during homeroom. Say “hello” by addressing others by name. Technology Infused “Community Building” Ideas will be shared.
Tuesday 24th - “Technology & Social Media Free” Faculty and students are challenged to give up social media for the day. Limit technology infused lessons where possible.
Wednesday 25th - “Favorite T-Shirt Day” Wear your favorite t-shirt and learn more about others by asking about their t-shirt choice. Determine common interests faculty might have with students.
Thursday 26th - “Gratitude Day” In classroom, all students and faculty will be encouraged to sign gratitude posters. All posters will be displayed in a main hallway.
Friday 27th - “MPSD Spirit Day” Students and faculty are encouraged to wear Marshfield colors (green and white). Wear your Marshfield gear!
LIFETOUCH PICTURE DAY is Wednesday, September 11.
Order forms will be sent home in advance.
A completed order form and payment are due on picture day.
My School Bucks
Did you know that you can pay for lunch online? Visit www.myschoolbucks.com to register your child using their birth date. You may also download the APP to your phone so you can easily make payments and check balances.
Bands & Strings
Fri. 9/20 Band/string lessons begin - 5th grade
Fri. 9/27 Morning band/strings start - 5th grade
Fri. 9/27 Band/strings lessons start - 4th grade
4TH GRADE INSTRUMENT REGISTRATION LINK
FROM THE LIBRARY
Hello Governor Winslow Families. My name is Kristen Hay, and I am so excited to be your new school librarian! I can't wait to meet all of the students and help them discover some of the fabulous books here in our library.
Congratulations to all who completed the summer reading challenge. I just finished filling out my Summer Reading Bingo sheet last night when I read a book by flashlight. I'm looking forward to hearing all about the ways our students met the Bingo challenges this summer, and what books they read. Forms can be brought to the library any time before September 17 to be entered into the prize drawing.
I would welcome the help of parent volunteers. If you would like to come in to volunteer in the library, please email me at Khay@mpsd.org. All volunteers must have an updated CORI form on file, please.Thank you!
The YMCA before school programs at Governor Winslow & Daniel Webster are looking to fill some vacant positions. If interested, please contact Bobby Burton. He can be reached at (508) 833-4796 or rburton@oldcolonyymca.org.
MARSHFIELD COUNCIL ON AGING
PLEASE HELP US. SIGN UP TODAY TO BE A MEALS ON WHEELS DRIVER (MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT) Contact Donna Weinberg Marshfield Council on Aging, 230 Webster Street Marshfield, MA (781) 834-5581 x 2120.
FROM THE PTO
Our first open PTO meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, September 11th at 7PM in the GWS library. All are welcome to attend. STAY CONNECTED WITH GWS FAMILIES The GWS PTO subscribes to an online service, DIRECTORY SPOT, to organize family contact information. Click here to enter your family contact information. Please note, the school does not share family contact information and all data is reset at the beginning of the year. So, if you signed up last year, it WILL NOT carry over. Please resubmit your information.
This is an opt-in database, where parents control what information is included. Once you have registered your family, you will have access to family contact information for all other database participants. Stay connected with the PTO and your children’s classmates and families. As an FYI to our new families at GWS, this is the only way that you will be able to obtain information for other students and their parents in your child's class. This goes for play dates, birthday invitations, etc.
Attention Grade 5 families: Be sure to maintain your contact information to stay informed about end-of-year activities. Planning for yearbook, T-shirts, etc. will begin soon!
GWS SCHOOL POLICY REMINDERS
Below is a summary of a few important school policies. Please remember that each student and his/her parents/guardians are responsible for understanding all school policies as outlined in the handbook.
ABSENCES: Please call in your child’s absence each day before 9:30 AM. If we do not receive a call, we will try to reach the parent or guardian with the Connect Ed System to account for the child.
PUNCTUALITY: The school day begins at 8:50 AM. All students reporting late to school are required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the office to sign in before going to his/her classroom.
SCHOOL DISMISSAL: Be sure to review any changes to your child’s dismissal plans with him/her before school and send a note to your child’s homeroom teacher. This will help avoid confusion and interruptions to the classroom during the school day.
BUS TRANSFERS: A complete copy of the Transportation Policy is accessible on the district website.
· Students may only ride their assigned buses.
· Requests to change a student’s permanent bus assignment may be approved by the Principal, or designee, if the request is received in writing a minimum of five days in advance.
· If there is a family emergency, or medical situation, parents should notify the school Principal and other transportation arrangements may be made.
· Parents may not ask the bus driver to adjust their child’s bus stop.
SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS/CHAPERONES Please be advised that all volunteers/chaperones must complete a CORI form in order to participate in school activities and field trips. BE sure to check your CORI status with the front office. CORI Request Forms are available online. Complete and sign a CORI Request Form and submit it, along with a copy of your license, to the GWS front office.
BIKE PERMISSION SLIPS: Children in grades 3, 4, and 5 may ride bicycles to school, except in bad weather. Parents or guardians giving their children permission to ride their bikes to school must fill out and sign a bike permission slip (available online or at the front office). Signed permission slips will be kept on file for the entire year.
HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS: In an effort to conserve resources, most communications will be sent electronically. A reminder email will be sent to parents as new data is posted. Be sure to check the website regularly to stay informed of everything that is happening at GWS. If you would like to change your e-mail address or add an e-mail address, please notify the front office at cmullen@mpsd.org, 781-834-5060, or send a note to your child’s homeroom teacher.
SCHOOL VISITORS: School exterior doors are locked at all times. Visitors must enter through the front door only. The office staff can see visitors on the security monitor and can speak to visitors via intercom. Please ring the doorbell, and we ask for your patience if you are requested to identify yourself before being permitted access to the building.
Upon entering the building, all visitors must report directly to the office to sign in and receive a visitor badge. The visitor badge should be returned when signing out. If it is necessary for a visitor to speak to a student or a teacher, office personnel will make such arrangements. Parents may not visit a classroom without prior approval.