Friday News - January 28, 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022


 

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

January 28, 2022

Dear Hillcrest Families,

 

Our winter weather brings some challenges to the morning routine! The extra time that’s needed to bundle up, navigate snowy sidewalks or scrape ice off the car can lead to some late arrivals at school. Please keep in mind that we begin welcoming students into the building at 8:25 and we’ll be outside managing rolling drop-off until approximately 8:35.  In general, all cars in the rolling drop-off line have been unloaded at that point and our students are getting started with the day’s learning.  If your student is a late arrival, please walk them into the building and sign them in on the sign-in sheet in the front lobby.  This step is very important as it helps us to track tardy students and make updates to the attendance system.  

 

A few important news items

  • I am excited to let you know that we have four student interns from the University of Massachusetts joining us here at Hillcrest this semester! They are:

    • Noah Oltman -  working with Lea Wulfkuhle/ESL in K & 1

    • Emily Duffy – working with Sara Johnson/First Grade

    • Olivia Brindisi - working with Krista Matrishon/First Grade

    • Jessica Marks - working with Kristy Smith/First Grade

 

  • Later this semester, we will have some student interns from the Nursing Program at Greenfield Community College joining us in the Health Office.  As soon as those placements are confirmed, I will introduce those interns via Friday News as well. 

 

  • All GMRSD families should have recently  received an email from the Superintendent regarding a new at-home COVID testing program that is launching on February 7th.  Please be sure to check your email for this important message.

 

  • The next Friends of Hillcrest Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd at 5:00 p.m.  This will be a virtual meeting and I will send a link to all Hillcrest families via email on Wednesday afternoon. The link will also be posted on the school Facebook page. All Hillcrest family members are welcome to attend this meeting.  

 

  • Attached to this week’s Friday News email, you will find our school lunch menu for February.  We hope to avoid any last minute changes, but if these occur, they will be posted on our school Facebook page. 

 

  • With February arriving next week, you may be thinking about Valentine’s Day!  In many of our classrooms, there will be an opportunity for students to exchange valentine cards.  Please keep in mind that our school policy prohibits food, candy and other edible treats being sent from home for classroom celebrations. This policy extends to valentine cards.  Please do not send any valentine card that contains an edible treat such as a lollipop, chocolate candy, fruit snacks, goldfish, etc. 

 

  • The super-popular Pop-It toys have been finding their way into some students’ backpacks.  Please remember that children should not bring toys to school. 

 

REPEAT ITEM

  • In an effort to add a little fun to our Fridays, Ms. Chanda Waryas Welles, one of our preschool teachers, has been inspired to create Fun Fridays.  Fun Fridays are completely optional, but all students are invited to join Ms. Chanda’s preschoolers in the spirit of the day.  Here are the upcoming themes:

    • Friday, February 4th – Wear something with a zipper

    • Friday, February 11th – Wear a shirt that features your favorite sports team or your favorite activity

    • Friday, February 18th – Wear mismatched socks

 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend —

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal

 

Important dates

Wednesday, February 2nd – Early Release Day

Wednesday, February 16th -Early Release Day

Monday, February 21st - Friday, February 25th – School Vacation Week