Thoreau Monthly – December 2022
On behalf of the faculty and staff I would like to express our gratitude to the PTG, and our parent community at large, for your partnership so far this year! It has been so wonderful to see the return of volunteers, mystery readers, and to simply see parents stopping into the main office and getting the chance to reconnect. Wishing you all a relaxing winter break and a happy and healthy new year!
Reminder: Elementary Safety Drills Webinar Tomorrow
Please join Detectives Cara Paladino and Derek Rodriguez, Concord Police Department School Resource Officers (SRO), and the Concord Schools’ district leaders for a zoom forum on December 12 (this Monday) at 11:00 AM for parents and caregivers to learn more about the schools’ safety protocols. The zoom information is below. The webinar will be recorded for those who can’t synchronously participate. If you have questions, you are also welcome to contact the SROs directly at: cpaladino@concordma.gov and drodriguez@concordma.gov.
Topic: CPD/CPS Emergency Preparedness Webinar
Time: Dec 12, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://concordps.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 989 3227 5792
Passcode: 316587
Recess in Winter:
We go outside each and every day, unless we have a frigid wind chill or it is raining. Please send your child dressed to play outside. If we have snow on the ground, your child will need to wear snow pants and boots to play in the snow.
Teacher Gifts and the Conflict of Interest Law:
As public school educators, the staff at Thoreau is subject to the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A. This means that we may not accept any gift worth $50 or more that is given because of the positions we hold at Thoreau. The Ethics Commission recently created an exemption to permit class gifts to teachers. A teacher may accept a gift, or several gifts during the school year, from public school students and/or their parents and guardians, with an aggregated value of up to $150, if the gift is identified only as being from the class, and the identity of the givers and the individual amounts given are not identified to the recipient. Please call the main office if you have questions about the Conflict of Interest Law as it pertains to teacher gifts.
Mini Spirit Week: Winter Edition
Monday 12/19: Comfy Clothes Day, always a hit!
Tuesday 12/20: Wacky Tuesday, don your favorite hat or go crazy styling your hair or wear a mismatched outfit.
Wednesday 12/21: Sparkle and Shine Day, celebrate the first day of winter in your brightest and shiniest apparel.
Thursday 12/22: Thoreau Spirit Day, show your school spirit in your Thoreau gear or by wearing our school colors: blue and white.
Friday 12/23: Pajama Day, ease into winter break in your pjs!
CMS Coats for Kids:
The Concord Middle School Coats for Kids Club needs your help! Our goal this year is to collect 300 coats!! Please consider donating any gently-used coats in good condition by sending them to school with your child. The drop off box is by the office. We accept any size coat, from infant snowsuits to oversized adult, but please do not donate clothing other than winter coats – no sweatshirts, raincoats, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens or snow pants. The drive runs until January 9th, 2023. If you get a new coat for the winter, consider donating your old coat to Coats for Kids. Thank you very much for your generosity!
Pets at Arrival and Dismissal:
We respectfully request that parents who bring their pets to school during arrival or dismissal time keep them a safe distance from other students and clear of our entrances. Thank you!