Week 2: Student informational packets were sent home last week. This information is different than the registration information, as it is kept in our office in case of emergancies. Please complete the yellow and green forms and return them next week, if you have not already done so.

Now that students have acclimated and are comfortable with class and school routines and expectations, teachers will begin pre-assessing students in reading, writing and math. Key words that your child mght share include: iReady diagnositic test, Easy CBM, and narrative on-demand. These assessments will help us identify our child's strengths and plan for goal setting to help your child succeed. Please check out your child's backpack as they may bring home math strategy homework helpers to assist you when working with your child at home.

We were so disappointed with the need to cancel Open House. We have rescheduled our Open House for 9/27 @ 6:00-7:00. We hope that you can make it.

• Early Release- September 27th
• 9/27 Family Picnic 5:00-6:00pm. Bring a blanket and dinner and enjoy our Whitney family night.
• 9/27 Open House 6:00-7:00

October :

• 10/4 PTO meeting, library @ 5:30pm
• 10/6 Spanish Heritage Performance-Mexican Dancers, APR @ 1:30- 3-5 grades
• 10/9 No school Columbus Day observed
• 10/10 No School-professional learning day
• 10/18 Fall Picture Day
• 10/25 Early release @ 1:30pm PL Day
• 10/26 Trunk or Treat @ Whitney 4-6pm- 3-5 grades
• 10/31 National Theater Assembly, AM, APR- 3-5 grades

November:

• 11/7 No School, Election Day
• 11/8 The Ned Show, 10:00am, APR- 3-5 grades
• 11/10 No School Veterans Day
• 11/20 Conferences afternoon and evening
• 11/23-24 Thanksgiving break- No School
• 11/29 Conferences Afternoon and evening

• Winter celebrations and sing-a-long, TBD
• 12/6 Early Release @ 1:30pm PL Day
• 12/25-1/4 Winter Break-No School

January:

• 1/1 No School, New Years Day
• 1/12 Berkshire Theaeter, The Magic Tree House 1:30pm, APR
• 1/15 No School, MLK Day
• 1/24 Early Release@ 1:30pm, PL Day

• 2/23 Berkshire Music, 9:45am, APR grades 3-5
• 2/26 No School, PL Day
• 2/19 No School President's Day
• 2/20 No School PL Day

• Smarter Balance Assessment PEP Rally, TBD
• 3/13 Early Release @ 1:30pm PL Day
• 3/29 No School Good Friday

April:

• TBD One Book Three Schools- Kick-off 6-7, APR
• 4/08-4/12 Spring Vacation
• 4/24 Early Release @ 1:30pm, PL Day
• SBAC

May:

• One Book Three Schools
• SBAC
• 5/22 Early Release @ 1:30pm, PL Day
• 5/27 No School, Memorial Day
• 5/29 Field Day, Rain Date 5/31

• 6/3 EW Awards Assembly
• 6/10- Scheduled last day of school
• 6/19 Juneteenth Celebration

Welcome STEAM Students and Families,

We have some amazing topics we will be coving in STEAM this school year. STEAM education is an approach to teaching and learning that combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math. In our class we want to guide student inquiry, discussion, and problem-solving through group work. Below is an excerpt of some of the topics we will be coving this fall, with our students in STEAM. We look forward to a great year problem solving in the STEAM room.

Sincerely,

Mr. Barrett & Mrs. Nuccio

Grade 3

Over the course of this module students learn about the forces involved in flight. They design, build, and test an experimental model glider to find out how air and other forces affect its flight. Students apply the design process to the problem of delivering aid to an area where supplies must be airlifted in and dropped from the air. This is a fun and engaging module to get the student to problem solve and work as a team.

Grade 4

Students engage in exploration of energy-related phenomena. They make observation, pose questions, and make connections as they investigate energy transfers. Throughout the module, students will explore connections to careers and to the necessity of energy in real-life. At the end of this module students will select a problem and use the design process to apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.

Grade 5

The 5th grade student will be using the LEGO Education Mindstorm robots this year. The students will code and program the robots to make sounds, move forward, move backward, turn and move objects. Students use a variety of types of code to create programs to solve real-world problems. It is important for students to grow their programming abilities over time to prepare them for tech-focused futures. This module is a great way for students to work as a team and problem solve together.

Please note the change in our PTO website name.

PTO Executive Board:

• Cindy Kinney- President

All families are encouraged to join the Eli Whitney PTO. Meetings will be held on a Wednesday of each month. Times will be announced

We look forward to collaborating with our Whitney community.

First meeting: 10/4 at 5:30- In person in the library!

Come Sing With Us!

We are off to another exciting year of music making at Eli Whitney School! Your child has the opportunity to participate in the 4th or 5th Grade Chorus. During the first week of school, each class has been informed about the ensemble and the expectations that go along with it. This paper serves as an information sheet you can keep.

General information regarding chorus:

• Grade 5 will rehearse on Mondays from 12:00-12:45 during Enrichment block

• Grade 4 will rehearse on Mondays from 1:00-1:45 during Enrichment block

• Rehearsals will be during Enrichment, so students will not miss classes

• All students are expected to have appropriate and tidy concert attire the night of the performance. Students should wear white shirts/sweaters, black bottoms, and black/dark closed-toe shoes.

Expectations for each child participating in chorus are as follows:

1. Students must fully participate during rehearsals.

1. Students must follow all behavior expectations and Whitney core values (Lead the PACK!)

1. If students don’t follow expected behaviors, I will follow-up with parents, teachers, and our Assistant Principal. Students who repeatedly engage in unexpected behaviors may be removed from chorus. I will notify parents/guardians in advance.

1. Students MUST attend rehearsals during school and ALL PERFORMANCES after school. Our Winter Concert will be Thursday, February 8, 2024 (snow date Friday, February 9, 2024) at 6:30 p.m. and our Spring Concert will be Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars!

Students who participate in extra-curricular activities such as music lessons, dance, gymnastics, and/or sports are asked to please let their instructors know about the concert dates, once available, so that ALL may participate and make a beautiful sound together. If your child cannot make the concert, please contact me. Each team member is vital to the total performance.

If you have any questions about the choral program please contact me at egagnon@enfieldschools.org

Musically yours,

Miss Gagnon

Caregivers,

While our students are excited to have use of cellphones and smart watches, it is important to remember that the district policy states (see below) that these items are not permitted to be used during class time.

We understand that students may need these items during an emergency or for after school events. However, during class, these items may be kept in the student's backpack or on the teacher's desk. It is important for us to encourage the fidelity of this handbook policy in order to ensure your child's privacy, confidentiality of your child as well as others, and to lessen instructional distractions. On a seperate note, EPS is not responsible for lost, stolen or broken electronic brought in from home.

Thank you for your support as we continue to strive to make a positive impact in the lives of your children.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Flanaghan, Principal