Week of November 27th, 2023
Important Dates:
December 8th - Half-Day 12:15 pm Dismissal
December 15th - Half-Day 12:15 pm Dismissal
December 25th through January 1st - Winter Break - No School
January 12th - Half-Day 12:15 pm
January 15th - MLK Jr. Day - No School
January 19th - Half-Day Dismissal
Highlights
Loaves & Fishes Acknowledgement
Last year, the Swallow Union Student Council led a food drive that exceeded our expectations. The overwhelming generosity of our families who donated to this worthy cause was truly remarkable. All items collected were donated to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
This week our school received a notecard from Patricia Stern, Executive Director, along with their Annual Report noting our school was highlighted for our donations that resulted in “an astounding 1360.8 lbs. of food”.
This year, Will Lippman, GD Freshman & the 2023 Project 351 Ambassador for Dunstable, is coordinating the food drive with our Student Council. Our food collection will run through December 8th and donated once again to Loaves and Fishes. Thank you to all the families for teaching your children the gift of kindness and action to help those in need.
Cold Weather Gear Season is here!
Now that we are approaching colder temperatures, please keep in mind that we always aim to go outside for recess when the winter weather permits. Please be sure that your child(ren) has appropriate outdoor clothing (hat, gloves, jacket, boots when there is snow) to keep them warm while enjoying the fresh air this winter! It is also helpful to label their articles of clothing (gloves, hats, jackets) so we can more easily return any lost items to them rather than ending up in the Lost and Found.
Our Health Office Bulletin Board highlights the expectations of taking care of ourselves during the winter weather.
Ti-GRRR Awards
G ~ We believe that one can develop a GROWTH mindset and learn new things.
R ~ A RESPECTFUL school community member is considerate of others.
R ~ A RESPONSIBLE school community member takes care of themselves, others, and their environment.
R ~ A RESILIENT school community member takes on challenges, learns from mistakes, and experiences growth through this process.
Omar Hamami (4F) has demonstrated Growth as a writer in Mrs. Fournier’s class this year. Keep up the hard work! Thank you for being a role model that hard work pays off!
Adam Shamberger (3D) consistently shows Responsibility as a group member in Math. He was recognized by Mrs. Desmond for his patience and support to his peers by helping them understand by clarifying directions and being kind. Way to be helpful Adam!
Sophie Albert (KL) demonstrates being Responsible everyday in her classroom by consistently following classroom rules and always being kind and caring to her friends and teachers. Keep up the good work!
Cooper Sunyar (1A) was recognized by Mrs. Pelletier for showing kindness and Growth to a friend who was upset in PE class when they didn’t have a partner. Cooper traded his partner with that friend, then paired himself with Mrs. Pelletier so his friend would feel better. This shows caring, empathy, and a growth mindset!
Caroline Snitzer (4O) showed respect by being kind and inclusive to another student. When a classmate was looking for a group to join to complete an assignment, Caroline immediately asked the student to join her group. Way to go, Caroline!
Michael O’Connor (2B) was recognized for being respectful by consistently showing his teachers that he is actively listening to directions - he is a shining star and is a wonderful role model for his classmates!
PTO Updates
Winter Store, Thursday, 12/7: We really need your help! This year's schedule is more compact than in previous years, so please consider signing up for a session or two to help the event run smoothly. Thank you to everyone who has signed up so far! Winter Store Sign Up
PTO General Meeting, Thursday, 12/7, 7pm at the SU library: All are welcome! This meeting is our favorite because it's our annual cookie swap - bring 2 dozen of your favorite treats and an empty container and walk away with a variety of goodies! Also joining us is select board member Kieran Meehan to answer any questions related to the budget. Finally, all who join are eligible to win a $20 gift card to our local bookstore, Wickham & Willoughby!
GDRSD CORI Requirements
This past week it came to my attention that there was much confusion regarding whether or not volunteers coming into the school during the school day require a CORI Check. This confusion seems to come from past practice before me. So to be clear, ANY adult volunteering (in school events or out of school field trips) is required to be CORI’d regardless if they will be alone with a child or not. Once you have a CORI on file, it lasts for three (3) years. If you are not sure you have an up to date CORI, please email Mrs. Dzwonek (dzwonek@gdrsd.org) and inquire. CORI forms require you to be in person with a legal Driver’s License and you can complete this form in the school office. Any questions or concerns, please reach out. The GDRSD CORI Form can also be found on our school website.
Loaves and Fishes
This is not just a place where you get a few cans of soup and a box of pasta. Here's a few key points that our GDRSD Nursing Coordinator, Lorinda Dishington Ortiz, M.Ed., BSN, RN, learned when she recently spoke with them.
They serve both Groton and Dunstable - last year only 3 Dunstable families came, but there are surely more in need. So we want to get the word out.
There is no income requirement - this is great for families that do not qualify for food stamps, but are still struggling to make rent/mortgage, car payment, or other bills. By coming to the food pantry the families get an average of $400-$500 worth of food a month. That frees up a big chunk of change to put towards other expenses.
They want to reach people before they are in crisis - if a family is struggling to get bills paid they want them to come in before they have a late payment or are facing eviction/foreclosure.
It's OK to come even if you have a nice house and fancy car. Things can happen to anyone that can tip the scale in the wrong direction - reduced work hours, unexpected emergencies like a furnace needing replacing, an unexpected medical bill that insurance didn't cover.
It's really good food. They often include meat, cheese, eggs, produce, bread, toilet paper, paper towels, pads/tampons, diapers, formula, Ensure. They even have toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sometimes pet food. There are gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options as well. They really work with people to get them the food they like and the things they need.
What they have asked of us is how can they help reach our school community? What barriers do you see or suggestions that you have that I can pass along to them? Would a presentation to staff be helpful? Please let me know if you have some suggestions!
Their website is here https://loavesfishespantry.org/
Holiday Help - Community Agencies
Once again, the Groton Commissioners of Trust and the Masons are offering to help families in need this holiday season. They want to provide assistance to any of our families by giving them holiday meals and gifts. If you know any families that might be able to use some help this year please feel free to let us know or fill out this form and return to the Swallow Union Health Office or it can be emailed to the nurses directly (email links are on the form attached HERE). The deadline for Holiday Meals is December 8th.
School Start Time
The school day begins right at 8:55 am and both bus and parent drop off areas are completed at this time as well. If you bring your child to school after this time, please park in the parking lot and walk your child into the office to be signed in. Please do not drop your child off at the front door alone and please refrain from parking in the fire lane for safety reasons.
Absences
If your child(ren) will be absent for any reason, parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school by calling in the absence. All student absences must be reported by 8:55 am by calling (978) 649-7281, choose option #1 and provide your child(rens) name, teacher, and reason for absence. Anyone who calls after this timeframe may receive an automated call regarding your child’s absence from school without notification. This is in place to ensure all students are accounted for either at home or in school.
Wellness Policy
Below please find the District’s Wellness Policy that we follow in order to ensure we are reinforcing healthy habits as well as student allergies. Teachers will be working with their Room Parents, School Administration, School Nurses and our PTO to ensure food that comes into school for school sponsored events (not including PTO sponsored events) such as special classroom events and school-wide gatherings, adhere to this policy. Thank you in advance for helping us with this throughout the school year.
SEPAC Events
G-D Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Community Education Fall Offerings
Groton Dunstable Community Education is proud to offer a variety of Fall Programs for all ages and interests:
-Click here to view our catalog.
-Visit our website for details, account creation and registration.
-Have any program ideas? We would love to hear from you. Please contact the GDCE office