Week of January 29th, 2024
Important Dates:
February 7th - Global Play Day
February 9th - Half-Day Dismissal at 12:15 pm
February 16th - Half-Day Dismissal at 12:05 pm
February 19th - 23rd - No School - February Vacation
SU Seeking Volunteers/Substitutes @ Lunch
Swallow Union needs some extra helping hands during student lunches from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm. If you can commit to 2-3 days/week or the entire week ~ we need you! If interested in learning more please contact Jill Jarvis at jjarvis@gdrsd.org.
PTO Update @ Tiger Twist
We hope all those who attended last Friday's Tiger Twist at Swallow Union had a wonderful time! Make sure to check out the professional photos through the link below!
Special thanks to the dance coordinators, Nicole Tully, Nichole Johnson, Heather Gerteisen, and Jennifer Mertes for their efforts!
https://jc3photography.morephotos.net/Collections/757911?fbclid=IwAR3R2o7PH5WIM9zPhx1693oC-FWutub0366orZjGQmZ8lm128-2_P93YeIw
Student Council - Return of the Friendship Pencil-Grams!
Swallow Union Student Council will be selling pencil-grams (a pencil with a note of friendship), to help raise funds for the 4th grade class gift. Next week, the Student Council will be visiting all classrooms to explain what this is, to invite them to order pencil grams, and to hand out the order forms. Orders will be accepted throughout the week and are due no later than Friday, February 9th. Pencils will be delivered by a student council rep to the recipient’s classroom on February 14th. No pencil-grams will be going home the day of purchase.
Cost: $1 per pencil-gram CASH ONLY
Delivery Date: February 14th
Highlights
Eyes on Owls Program presented to our 2nd graders this week. Marcia and Mark Wilson are residents of Dunstable and have been educating students by bringing their owls into schools for over 30 years. Thank you to the Dunstable Cultural Council and the Mass Cultural Council for your generous grant that made this happen!
100th Day Celebrations
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.
Nolan Donovan (KM) is kind and Respectful to all of his classmates and thinks of others. He is helpful and respectful during work time and plays well with everyone. Well done!
Anita Lo (4J) has a great work ethic and always does her best. Mrs. Jankowski is impressed by her Growth especially when explaining her thinking in math! Keep it up and you will continue to grow!
Brian Souza (1A) showed Growth and Respect when he showed care and kindness towards a friend who was sad about not having a turn yet as line leader. He gave up his job as line leader to cheer up his friend. Amazing!
Cosette Carter (2B) consistently shows all of SU’s core values - she is a Responsible and enthusiastic learner! Her grit and being a role model to her peers is something she comes to school with every day!
Delilah Chenille (2B) is a student who is always Respectful, Responsible, Resilient and working hard to learn. She is an eager student who loves to lead and share her thoughts and ideas. Keep it up!
Jackson Stone (2B) has shown that he is a very hard worker and is excited to learn new and challenging things! This mindset has allowed him to show Growth as a learner. #growthmindset
Lola Han (2B) is a Responsible student who comes to school every day with an amazing, positive attitude towards school! She always has a smile on her face, which we love to see!
Tyler Lech (1C) is a Responsible and Respect student. A teacher at recess approached him about putting ice down the slide and suggested snow instead. Tyler responded with respect and understanding and said next time he would because he wanted everyone to be safe!
Global Play Day ~ February 7th, 2024
Swallow Union will join their Mission:
During Global School Play Day, participants are encouraged to allow students ample time for free play without the use of screens, structured games, or adult direction. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment. Reach out to your child's teachers for more information about what they have planned.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day Basketball Clinic
Date: February 17, 2024
Time: 9-10 AM (Kindergarten-4th grades)
10-11 AM (5-8th grades)
Please join us later that day (Feb. 17) to cheer on the LA Girls’ JV team at noon and the Varsity team at 1:30 PM, in your jersey!
To register for the clinic, click on the QR code
LA
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
SPARTANS
2024
Host Families Needed:
Dear Members of the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District:
Each year the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District invites international students to attend GDRHS. This exciting initiative is part of the school district's efforts to expand its global education program. For the past nine years, these dynamic international students have engaged our community and formed relationships that go well beyond our school building.
To make this program a success, we need local host families for these students during the 2024-2025 school year. Welcoming an international student into your home is like gaining a son or daughter! The relationship you build with your student can last a lifetime as you become their “home away from home.” It’s hard to teach children important life lessons such as acceptance, tolerance, and the power of diversity. Hosting an international student is a great way to fill your home with joy and laughter while realizing that what makes us different can also bring us together.
To attract host families, we are working with Educatius Group, our corporate partner on this program. Educatius encourages all families to apply to become host family – families with young children, no children, and/or high school-age children. To ensure that this initiative is a success, Educatius provides the following resources:
A generous monthly stipend is paid to all host families. (Each family can host up to two international students, they can share a bedroom)
An orientation program for international students and host families
Host family and student support, available twenty-four hours a day
We are very proud that each year students select GDRHS and we appreciate the community embracing these children too!
Our International Students:
Are fully insured
Are between ages 14 – 18
Have their own spending money
Speak English
Maintain strong GPA
To meet our goals, we now need your help. If you are interested in providing a culturally enriching experience for your family, our international guests, and the students at GDRHS, please contact mcain@gdrsd.org or call her at 508-243-7094.
G-D Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Groton Dunstable Youth Softball Registration and Open House
Registration for the 2024 Spring Softball season is now open for grades PreK-10.
Registration can be found on our website at http://www.gdysl.com
If you are new to softball or would like to learn more about the game, GDYSL is also hosting an Open House at the Peter Twomey Youth Center on Sunday, Feb 4:
Grades PreK-2: 1:30 pm-2:30 pm
Grades 3-6: 3 pm-4 pm
Come join us for softball skills and learn about our league!
Any questions about the Open House or Spring Softball, please contact don@gdysl.com
Message from GDEF ~ Please consider a donation.
The Groton Dunstable Education Foundation (GDEF) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovative and inspiring grants to enhance the quality of our students’ education. In the last academic year, GDEF awarded 12 grants across district schools totaling over $16,000 (information about all funded projects can be found here). If you or any loved ones are looking to make a year-end donation that will have an impact on your children's education, please consider donating to GDEF here. Your donations are directly returned to the hands and minds of students in the form of science, arts, technology, math, literacy, social-emotional learning, and civics programming.
Thank you for your support, The GDEF Board of Directors
The GDEF recently and graciously granted us funding to buy 16 wordless picture books for each of our Kindergarten classrooms. These books are an example of all the ways GDEF supports our students! Thank you for enriching our learning community!
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.
