September 2019

Thoreau Monthly:  September 2019

 Happy New Year:

I hope your children had a wonderful first day of school! We are enjoying reconnecting with our students as we settle back into the routine of school after such a long break.

 We are thrilled to welcome the following new staff members and congratulate those returning in new roles:

  •  Sue Howard, Assistant Principal*
  • Ashley Toomey, Special Education Teacher
  • Rachel Hulsman, Grade 5 Teacher*
  • Jessuly Karner, Grade 1 Teacher
  • Hayley Grove, Grade 4 Teacher
  • Ledda Krauss, Kindergarten Spanish Teacher
  • Melanie Ahern, Speech and Language Pathologist
  • Motoko Mitarai, Library Assistant
  • Kristin Drew, Kindergarten Assistant
  • Rebecca Newman, Special Education Assistant
  • Kellcie Teel, Special Education Assistant
  • Sarah Shippen-How, Special Education Assistant
  • Yalivi Castro, Special Education Assistant
  • Lindsay Egan, Special Education Assistant
  • *Denotes staff returning in new role

 

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: http://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 to 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 on-line 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 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 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!

 

Upcoming Events:

  • 8/30  No School
  • 9/2    Labor Day, No School
  • 9/6    PTG Welcome Back Coffee, 9:00 AM
  • 9/8    Ice Cream Social, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
  • 9/11  Back to School Night