The Center Mile
September 26, 2022
School News & Happenings
Principal's Update
Our theme for the year, Come in! We're Open!, came to life this past week! We held our 2022-23 Back-to-School Night & Open House and literally opened all of our doors to the whole community.
All who attended were able to explore the entirety of the school and meet with educators in their working spaces. For the first time, our Related Arts Specialists greeted families in the gym, art room, library, computer lab and music room. Art Teacher Leah Cullinane even created a scavenger hunt for those who visited the art room.
Student engagement doesn't just happen when students come to school each day. In fact, it starts at home when students know that their entire family support system is welcome and truly part of The Center School Community. This knowledge plants the seed of belonging in each and every student. The seed of belonging grows into engagement.
Center School will continue to be an "open house" for our community and we look forward to many more visits from everyone this year! On that note, I am planning on scheduling several informal "Chats with the Principal" this year. I'd like to schedule these gatherings at convenient times (in-person and/or virtually) and address topics that may be on your minds. I'd love to get your input on these gatherings. If you have a moment, please use this link to complete a 1-minute survey to help me learn about your interests: 1-Minute Survey – Chats with the Principal
Warmest regards,
Shelley Dulsky
Principal
BE YOUR BEST SELF. PAVE YOUR PATH. IMPACT THE WORLD.
Kindergarten Open House
Thursday, September 29, 2022: Kindergarten Open House
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. in Kindergarten General Education Classrooms
Meet Nick Scirpoli - Center School's Facility Leader
Nick's team at Center includes Allen Gilmour and James Marial. The Center School is incredibly lucky to have Nick, Allen and James working daily to ensure that we always have a beautiful and safe facility for our community.
News from Center's Fabulous Fifth Grade Team
With a fabulous fifth grade start to the year, we have been working on creating positive class environments. Students have been learning about Bridges, the new math program. We have worked on number strings, arrays, multiples, factors, volume, and more. In language arts students wrote about heroes. In addition we have been focusing on genres and story elements. In writing students worked to write "All About Me," and are currently working to create and write about a unique animal. In social studies we are currently learning about the 13 Colonies. Our fifth grade students are truly amazing and we are so excited about the fantastic start to our year!
News from Related Arts - Art, Music, Library, Computer, Physical Education & Health
All K-5 students are practicing the expectations and routines of the art studio. K-2 students decorated their “name tag stick people” and 3-5 have explored the art room by participating in a “supply scavenger hunt”. Next Up: Square 1 Art fundraiser (self portraits)
MUSIC - Judy Dyer
In General Music classes K-5, we have a positive, safe environment. Ms. Dyer attributes this to the reinforcement of core values and social emotional learning activities during the first few classes and throughout the year. All students will have opportunities to sing, play instruments, learn about rhythm and melody, perform, and much more.
LIBRARY - Jenna Fitzgerald
All classes spent the first two weeks checking out books and finding them in the library! Kindergarten is enjoying animal stories, First and Second Grade are learning about tall tales and parts of a book. Third Grade is delving into Dewey! Fourth Grade is embarking on landmarks while Fifth Grade is starting some Digital Citizenship and research work.
COMPUTERS - Paula Backiel
Students are learning new apps on iPads, logging into the windows desktops, setting up bookmarks, and getting into google accounts (grades 3-5).
PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Don Gartner & Kim LaFortune
K-2 students are learning about different forms of movement, ie. moving through shared space, pathways, and levels. Grades 3 - 5 are participating in cooperative games. All students are learning assessment skills using our NASHOBA P.R.I.D.E. (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Empathy)
HEALTH - Kim LaFortune
Students in grades K-5 started the year with “getting-to-know-you” activities. They are also learning about growth mindset. Our lessons focus on staying positive, learning from mistakes, and always trying our best. Next class we will begin talking about ways to stay healthy.
CLEVER IS HERE!
The CLEVER Portal is a single sign-on place for students to access apps and resources used by the Nashoba Regional School District. Click here for directions to log in to this incredible resource: Clever
Note from Ms. Backiel :
K-2 - Watch for your QR Code Badges that will be coming home soon!
Center Health Office Updates
For more information on both of these Clinics please click on attachments at the end of this newsletter.
School Pictures Thursday, September 29, 2022
Picture day is Thursday, September 29th.
Online Ordering
There is no deadline for ordering online, however free shipping with the school order is only included for online orders placed by midnight on September 29th. Please refer to the attached document with instructions on placing online orders. Orders placed with the school order will be sent home with your student in 3 to 5 weeks.
Ordering with Cash/Check (must be done at time of picture)
Your children were sent home with order forms, if you want to place an order and pay with cash or check then you need to send your child in with the completed form (one per child) and cash/check on picture day Thursday, September 29th. There is no shipping cost for this option as orders are part of the school order and will be sent home with your student in 3 to 5 weeks.
Proof Option
Free shipping is only included for pre-orders made by Thursday, September 29th at midnight. If you prefer to see a proof before ordering, proofs will be sent home in 3 to 5 weeks along with a "It's Not Too Late to Order" form. You will have to pay for shipping and pictures will be sent to your home. There is no deadline for ordering online. Note: Proofs will only be sent home with your child, they are not available online.
Retakes / Missed Pictures
Retakes are being scheduled for approximately 6 weeks from picture day (likely sometime in November, date to be announced). Once you receive your picture package you can decide if you would like a retake. Packages will be returned upon retake and new packages will be sent home 3 to 5 weeks after retake date. If your child missed getting their picture taken, they can get it taken on retake day. Note: If you pre-ordered a digital image you can still get a retake, however if you are unhappy with the retake the digital image will not be refundable like the prints are. You will still have the option of keeping the first picture or the retake, but you will not have a full refund option for the digital image purchased. (Tip: You may want to order the digital image online after receiving any prints or proof to ensure you are happy with the picture prior to purchase, if only the digital image is purchased there will be no shipping fees.)
Scholarships Available
Scholarships are available for families who qualify, please reach out to Principal Dulsky directly if you have a need by no later than picture day Thursday, September 29th.
Ordering Questions
Parents with questions (about order forms, late orders, missing orders, and refunds, etc.) should contact Coffee Pond's dedicated Lifeguards:
By phone: 1-800-632-2323 ext '0'
By email: Lifeguards@coffeepond.com
By US Mail:
Lifeguards Coffee Pond Photography
3 Speen Street, Suite 200
Framingham, MA 01701
Important Upcoming Dates
September 29, 2022 // School Pictures
September 29, 2022 // Kindergarten Open House (6:30-7:00 p.m.)
October 10, 2022 // Holiday
October 13, 2022 // Flu Clinic at NRHS
October 21, 2022 // Early Release
October 21, 2022 // PTO Halloween Dance (5-7 p.m.)
For the entire Center School Calendar click here:
Connect with the SPTO!
Thank you to all who participated and shared so many great ideas during our September meeting! Our next meeting will be Wednesday October 19th, 7pm at The Center School and virtually. Please submit any agenda items you'd like to discuss by emailing board@centerhalepto.org by October 11th.
Save the Date! Halloween Dance Friday October 21st 5pm to 7pm in the fields behind The Center School (inside the gym if it rains). Volunteers are needed! Email Kate Forrestall (kforrestall@gmail.com) if you'd like to volunteer in any way. Next planning meetings will be virtual on 10/4 and 10/18 at 8:30pm. Tickets are $5 per student bought in advance or $10 per student at the door. Adults are free. This is not a drop off event, students must be with an adult and students must be Center School students. Tickets can be bought in advance using this link, please select Halloween Party from the drop down menu and put student(s) names in the comment field when purchasing tickets in advance.
We will be offering the Charleston Wrap fundraiser again this year for all who would like to participate. Please be on the lookout for those catalogs coming home with your student(s) soon and details on how to participate.
You must register on the website to access the PTO Student Directory (essentially a phone book for students). Registration is necessary to keep the directory secure and to be included in the directory. First time users need a password to register, password is pickapples. Important: You must log in annually to confirm your student information is accurate.
How to access the Center School student directory?
Once registered you can access and download the directory at any time. Go to the website, click on “My Account,” once you are logged in “Center Hale PTO Student Directory” will appear as a drop down item under “My Account,” select the directory menu item and you can save or print the directory from there. The Directory gets updated throughout the year as new families register.
How to stay connected with the SPTO?
Website: https://www.centerhalepto.org
Email: board@centerhalepto.org
Our 2022/2023 fundraising goal is $50,000. How to donate to the SPTO?