November 2019

Turkey Trot:  Wednesday, November 27th:
One of our favorite school traditions is only a few weeks away!  We are thrilled to be hosting our 30th Annual Turkey Trot on Wednesday, November 27th from 11:40 AM-12:00 PM. The Turkey Trot is a non-competitive fun run/walk, which begins with a pep rally in the gym at 11:30 (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 around 11:40.  Please contact Nurse Mosher or your child’s teacher 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 27th, 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 9th, 2020.  Thank you for your generosity. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

Bundle Up:
We go outside each and every day, unless we have a frigid wind chill or it is raining.  On those cold winter days, the warmest part of the day is mid-day. 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.

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/

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.

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!

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

Upcoming Events:
11/22   PTG Meeting, 9:00 AM
11/26   Picture Retake Day
11/27   Early Release at 12:30 PM/Turkey Trot
11/28-11/29  Thanksgiving Recess:  NO SCHOOL