South Row's Home Link
Week of: March 13th, 2023
Message from Mrs. Gilbert & Mr. Ramalho
We are so looking forward to the Book Fair this coming week and hope to see you at the family shopping night. In addition, to this event we are in the midst of planning our 2023 Multicultural Festival. We hope your student will consider presenting information about their culture or even a performance. Information for this event can be found below including this registration form.
Our grade level meeting wrapped up our focus on wellness and nutrition with the sampling of peapods....there were mixed reviews, but we were please to see how adventursome so many of our students were in trying a new food. Check out some of the photos in the video above!
Placement season for the 2023-24 school year is right around the corner and we will be sharing a form in the next couple of weeks that you can fill out if you have information you think would be helpful for the placement process. Often times your child's teacher is aware of special situations and needs, but we encourage you to fill out the form if there is something new to share or important for us to take into consideration when placing your child for next year.
Respectfully,
Terri and Jayson
Week at a Glance: March 13th, 2023
Monday, March 13th
- Book Fair Week begins through Friday, March 17th (student shopping during library)
- Community Read in Week begins
Tuesday, March 14th
- FoodPlay Enrichment Program (whole school)
- Book Fair continues (student shopping during library)
Wednesday, March 15th
- Book Fair continues (student shopping during library)
- Family Book Fair Shopping & Book-O Game Night, 6:00-8:00pm
Thursday, March 16th
- Book Fair continues (student shopping during library)
Friday, March 17th
- Last Day of Book Fair
- Book Fair continues (student shopping during library)
- Green, White, and Orange School Spirit Day
Looking ahead...
Wednesday, March 22nd
- Grades Available on X2 - Grades 1-4
Friday, March 24th
- Workout School Spirit Day
Friday, March 31st
- Multicultural School Spirit Day
Saturday, April 1st
- Multicultural Festival (formally named International Festival), 1-3:30PM @ South Row
MCAS DATES:
ELA MCAS -
- April 10th and 11th - grade 3
- April 12th and 13th - grade 4
Math MCAS –
- May 15th and 16th - grade 4
- May 17th and 18th - grade 3
Math Make-ups - 5/19 and week of 5/22
Reminders/ Updates
A Note from Mrs. Cooper in the Music Room:
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. Please be on the lookout on Twitter and Instagram for more MIOSM updates! @SouthRowMusic ~Mrs. Cooper
K-12 Youth Art Month Exhibit at Chelmsford Public Library: We encourage you to visit the Library through the month of March to view the amazing artwork on display and join us in celebrating Youth Art Month. You can see our program for the exhibit HERE. A special thank you to our Fine Arts Department for executing this event!
Virtual Art Show: MAEA YAM 2023 Gallery: Click on this link to view our South Row students who are featured in the MAE YAM 2023 virtual show. Congratulations to these artists.
iReady Challenge: We kicked off our in school iReady Challenge this week. It will run through March 24th. The grade level with the most minutes in Reading and the grade level with the most minutes in Math at the end of the 3 weeks will get a reward.
Arriving by Car: If you are driving your student to school and arrive after the cones have been placed across the entrance, please proceed to the front of the school to drop off your child. Please DO NOT drive through the cones or drop your student at the end of the driveway.
Try it Tuesday: We are hoping to pilot "Try it Tuesday" in the coming weeks. This will compliment our recent work around nutrition and wellness. "Try it Tuesday" will entail students being offered sample size fruits and vegetables. Sampling will be entirely optional and allergy precautions reported to the school will be followed closely. Please watch for more information on this fun and healthy pilot.
Looking ahead (Early Release Day Change): Due to town elections, the school committee voted on a calendar change for the April early release day originally scheduled for Thursday, April 13th. This early release day has now been moved to Tuesday, April 4th. Please update your calendars accordingly. Click here for the updated district calendar.
Scholastic Book Fair/Family Game Night Coming Soon!!
Our Scholastic Book Fair will be running from March 13-17th. Students will have an opportunity to shop for books during their regularly scheduled library time and families are invited to shop and play BOOKO (book fair bingo) during Family Shopping and Game Night on March 15th from 6-8pm!
The Book Fair Committee is looking for volunteers to assist student shoppers during the Book Fair, as well as help out during Family Shopping and Game Night. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4dafaa29aaffcf8-2023/30215525#/. All volunteers must have a valid CORI.
Our annual Scholastic Book Fair is a much-loved South Row event and we look forward to another successful year of being able to support literacy in our community! More information about the Book Fair and Family Shopping and Game Night can be found in the flyer below and will also be sent home with students next week.
The teachers are filling their wish boxes so feel free to send your kids with instructions to gift their teacher a book if you would like them to. We'll have the boxes available on Family Shopping Night too.
We are gathering all the coin donations today and we will announce the winning classes on Monday! Thank you so much for your generosity!
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the Book Fair Committee at southrowbookfair@gmail.com.
Nurses Corner
Dear South Row Families,
Happy March and good luck with Daylight Savings this weekend!
Here at South Row we are experiencing an increase in strep throat among our students. The CDC has great information on strep, you can find the link to the full article here. I have summarized the key points below.
What causes strep throat?
Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep).
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms may include:
Fever
Pain when swallowing
Sore throat that can start very quickly and may look red
Red and swollen tonsils
White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils
Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae (pronounced pi-TEE-kee-eye)
Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Small Children may experience:
Headache
Stomach pain
Nausea or vomiting
Rash (scarlet fever)
How does it spread?
Group A strep bacteria often live in the nose and throat. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.
People can get sick if they:
Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose
Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep bacteria
How can I prevent my child from getting strep?
The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep is to wash your hands often. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating.
To prevent group A strep infections, you should:
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Put your used tissue in the wastebasket.
Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.
How is strep throat treated?
Doctors treat strep throat with antibiotics. Benefits of antibiotics include:
Decreasing how long someone is sick
Decreasing symptoms (feeling better)
Preventing the bacteria from spreading to others
Preventing serious complications like rheumatic fever
Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Warmly,
Nurse V.
The South Row Multicultural Festival is coming up! - REGISTRATION OPEN!
- The Multicultural Festival was formally called the International Festival, and we look forward to this year's event, which will take place on April 1st from 1-3:30pm!
- Take a peak at the save-the-date information for this year's event, Event Flyer, and Registration Form!
PTO Corner
We're starting to think about the PTO leaders for next year. If you think you would consider joining the team to help lead this amazing organization please reach out to any current members of the board or email us.
March 7th, 2023 School Committee
Food Services Corner
- Tentative Breakfast & Lunch Menu
- Breakfast Sign Up Information
- Early Release Day Lunch Sign Up Information
- Direct Link to Food Services webpage
March Breakfast Menu - subject to change
March Lunch Menu - subject to change
NEW Online Breakfast Ordering Process
Dear Parents and Families --
Reminder CPS Nutrition has initiated online breakfast ordering for elementary students beginning after the holiday break. This initiative is to help manage food waste and due to labor shortages.
Orders must be placed the Wednesday prior to the week you are selecting.
If you are having difficulty setting up an account, please reach out to contacts below and we will gladly assist you.
Nancy Antolini, Director of Nutrition Services
Holley Ready, School Nutrition Office Manager
- Email: readyh@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
- (978) 251-5111 ext: 5641
Thank you- School Nutrition
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, 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
Online Ordering Form for Early Release Days & Information
Food Services Website
Slip and Fall Prevention
SOUTH ROW'S PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Grade One Featured on WBZ TV!
Student Grade Level Meeting
Pride Shout Outs
Sharing stories on Animals!
Art Show at the Chelmsford Library
Walk to School Day
Matching Socks!!
Spirit Day
All for Books Coin Drive!
February Fun at South Row!
Care Solace - Are you in need of support?
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