Week of February 5th, 2024
Important Dates:
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
Valentines & Food Allergies
Please do not send school Valentine’s cards that contain any candy. Thank you for your co-operation with this in keeping our students with food allergies safe.
SEPAC Events
G-D Special Education Parent Advisory Council
DIBELS Announcement
We administer the DIBELS 8th Edition (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment to all of our K-4 students. This Tier I assessment is administered 3 times a year for all students in grades K-4 (beginning, middle and end of year). A series of subtests at each grade level generates a composite score. We use the performance and progress data from DIBELS assessments to support instructional planning and to track student literacy growth over time.
Your student’s DIBELS composite score is now being shared through your parent/guardian portal in Schoolbrains. The information will be available to view via SchoolBrains on February 16, 2024.
Here is a Family Tip Sheet that will provide you with an overview of DIBELS and help you understand your student’s composite score. If you have questions or would like to review your child’s DIBELS score in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact the educators working with your child.
Highlights
On Wednesday, Swallow Union students participated in Global School Play Day, where they were engaged in a variety of play-based learning activities! Our goal, aligned with their mission, is to provide ample time for free play without the use of screens, structured games, or adult direction to let them explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment. Here are some highlights!
Extra Sunshine!
Board Game Strategizing
Tent Maker Spaces
Our kindergartners were able to learn about various animals, how they survive in the winter, and the characteristics of their paw prints. Thank you to the Nashua River Watershed for bringing engaging and interactive learning experiences to our youngest learners.
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.
Avery Baker (4O) showed Growth and a deep understanding of tricky spelling skills by applying her knowledge to a new task. Excellent job, Avery!
Natalie Bulger (4O) showed Respect by including others at recess and lunch this week. Keep it up, Natalie!
Maddie Jediny (4O) showed Respect by including others at recess and lunch this week. Way to go, Maddie!
Hudson Fritz (1C) worked hard to help a classmate with his moon while still working hard on his own book. Way to show Respect and Responsibility!
Callum Mozeika (1C) comes to school ready to learn each day and consistently does his best work, following classroom routines and expectations! #Responsible
Nick Mersereau (4O) showed Growth and maturity by knowing when he needed to step up and lead his reading group in ELA. Way to go, Nick!
Brielle Neiley (3M) always comes to school ready to learn. She tries really hard in all subjects and will help out her classmates when they need it. #Responsible
Rodger Wilson (3M) comes to school every day ready to learn. He works really hard in all subject areas and perseveres even when things are challenging. #Resilient #Responsible
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 a 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 paid to all host families. (Each family can host up to two international students, they can share a bedroom)
An orientation program for the 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.
SEPAC Events
G-D Special Education Parent Advisory Council
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.
