November 2018

Turkey Trot:  Wednesday, November 21 st:
One of our most beloved school traditions is only a few weeks away!
We are thrilled to be hosting our 29th Annual Turkey Trot on
Wednesday, November 21st from 11:10 AM-12:00 PM.

The Turkey Trot is a non-competitive fun run, which begins with a pep
rally in the gym at 11:10 (for safety reason, the rally is for students and
staff only) and ends with the students chasing “Tom the Turkey”
through the Thoreau school neighborhood, which will begin at 11:30.
Please contact Nurse Mosher if your student requires accommodations
for this event.

Parents are invited to show their support for the students by cheering
them on along the route.  Because this event ends so close to our
dismissal time, 12:30 on the 21st, some parents have opted to pick up
their students at end of the event at 12:00.   In an effort to ensure a safe
and less chaotic dismissal for those parents who choose to pick up
their students before 12:30, dismissal will be from their
classrooms and not from the field, starting at 12:00.  If you do
choose to pick up your students before 12:30, please let the teachers
know in advance.  At 12:00 the main door will be unlocked so
parents may go directly to the classroom to sign the students out.

For those parents picking up students at regular dismissal time (12:30)
pick up will be as usual, in the back of the building.

Coats for Kids:
Concord Middle School’s Coats for Kids Club needs the elementary
schools’ help in collecting coats for Anton’s
Cleaners annual Coats for Kids drive. We are accepting all winter coats –
kids, adults and babies – that are in good wearable condition.  We
cannot accept vests, hats, gloves or snow pants.   Please
donate coats that you would give a friend to wear. Coats are being
collected now through January 6th, 2019.
Thank you for your generosity. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

Absence Reporting:
Please report all absences/illnesses to the school office before the start
of the school day via our new attendance form posted on our school
website: https://thoreau.concordps.org/report-attendance-form/

Aspen Parent Portal:
Parent portal accounts have been created for each Thoreau
parent/guardian. Credential letters were sent out last spring to parents
of current Thoreau students and late August to parents of students
new Willard and the district. If a parent already had a portal account for
an older child, the younger child was added to their account. If you do
not remember your account credentials, please
email  parentportal@concordps.org  for assistance. Once you have logged
in, follow the instructions on the home page for completing the online
student health information form. Aspen URL:  https://ma-concord.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do

Visitor Sign In:
After being buzzed in, all visitors are reminded to sign in at the Main
Office and receive a visitor’s pass.

Forgotten Lunches, Instruments, Homework, Books, Sneakers, Etc.:
In an effort to keep interruptions to learning to a minimum, we seek
your support in reducing the number of students who need to leave
class to call home to request that items be brought to school. Please
help students learn to be responsible (especially in our upper grades)
by reminding them to check to be sure they leave home with any
necessary items. If it is absolutely necessary to drop something off,
please leave it in the main office.

Changes to Dismissal Plans:
Please send in a note to your child’s teacher if you need to change
his/her dismissal plans for that day. If possible, all play dates should be
arranged prior to your child’s arrival at school. If you need to change
your child’s dismissal plan unexpectedly, please notify the office by
2:30 PM. Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Reminder Regarding Play dates and All Dismissal Changes:
To avoid confusion at dismissal, please make play dates the night before
and have your child come in with a note for the teacher.  Please have the teacher’s name and date on the note, the name of the adult picking up,
as well as the friend’s full name.  If you child is getting off at a different
stop (same bus only), make sure you also indicate the friend’s full name
on the note.  Sending the teacher an email is not recommended for
teachers are not always able to check emails until after dismissal, or the
teacher may be absent.  We appreciate your cooperation in our making
sure your child continues to be safe after dismissal.

Dismissal/Arrival Parking:
During arrival, please reserve the van accessible spaces for vehicles
with handicapped placards. During dismissal, please be sure not to
block the crosswalk or fire lanes. Because the back parking lot is
reserved for faculty, parents are encouraged to park along both sides of
West Street and on the right side of Pleasant Street or Chase Road. 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 entrance. If it’s not raining or snowing, parents picking
up their students should meet them behind the building near the
basketball court. In the case of inclement weather, pick up is in the
cafeteria. Thank you!

Free/Reduced Lunch:
If you are eligible for this free or reduced lunch, please obtain the
form from the District Website and submit it as soon as possible.
Please note that parents have to re-apply for this support each year.

From the Health Office:
Please be sure to report any injuries (especially if requiring a brace,
splint, cast or crutches) or any concussions need to be reported to the
Health Office by either calling 978-202-1258 or sending Nurse Mosher
an email at mmosher@concordps.org. Nurse Mosher will work with
your child’s teacher and PE teacher to ensure their safety while at
school.  Please submit a doctor’s note for any activity change or other
accommodations required.    Thank you!

Delayed Openings:
In the event that we have a delayed opening all before school activities,
including the recreation department’s Before School Program, are
cancelled.

Upcoming Events:
11/21 Early Release at 12:30 PM/Turkey Trot
11/22-11/23 Thanksgiving Recess: NO SCHOOL
11/28 Picture Retake Day
12/14 PTG Meeting, 9:00 AM, Cafeteria
12/24-1/1 Winter Recess: NO SCHOOL