Parent Update

Thank you to all of our PK and K families who were able to come last Monday night for Open House! Our littlest learners were so excited to show off their classrooms. And thank you to the families for supporting our Scholastic Book Fair, whether you were able to come in and volunteer or whether you were able to send in money for your child to shop the Book Fair. We are grateful that the money raised from the Book Fair will go right back to purchasing books for your children to enjoy in the library or in their classrooms.

• Literacy BINGO Boards - Don't forget to send in your child's literacy BINGO Board for the month of October. Mrs. Zalusky is collecting them and has some literacy-themed prizes for those who choose to participate.
• Last Thursday was National Youth Confidence Day. Thank you to the parents who surprised our students with positive chalk messages outside. We also surprised the students in the school...they arrived to find a positive sticky note for each of them on their lockers or cubbies. And then the positive messages kept going as students and staff were inspired to write their own messages and share them or post them.
• See the flyer below for our Cook's Night Out at Willow Brook this Wednesday!
• See flyer below about our Halloween Parade happening on Oct. 31 @ 2:40.
• Literacy O'Lanterns! See pictures and info below for this fun home/school connection activity!
• During the week of Nov. 7 we have three half days in a row. Tuesday is a PD Day for teachers in the afternoon, Wednesday and Thursday are parent conferences. Friday, Nov. 11 is a no school day for Veteran's Day.
• PTO Meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 15 - Officer Sinko and Principal Garden will be discussing school safety and explaining ALICE
• Mendon Turkey Trot! See flyer below

We love seeing all the awesome Literacy O'Lanterns coming in to school! Hope families have enjoyed working on these together.

We want to be respectful to the families who do not celebrate Halloween. If you do not want your child to wear a costume or participate in the Halloween parade, we will be having a fun afternoon of games in Mrs. McGovern's classroom at 2:30 during the parade. Please let us know if you would prefer to have your child participate in an afternoon of games.

Sincerely,

Liz Garden

Clough Principal

This is a fun activity that you can do at home. It's completely optional. I plan on painting a few at my house and bringing them in. All you need to do is get a small or medium sized pumpkin. Talk with your child about a book or book character they love. Use the book to help them draw the character on the pumpkin. Get some sharpie markers and paint and have fun creating! Your child can bring in their literacy o'lantern over the next few weeks and we will display them in the library or the lobby or outside during the parade! Check out the pictures below to see some of the awesome creations that families have been sending in.

MURSD can provide a rapid antigen test to students who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the school day. If you would like to sign your child up for this program, please click on this link. Please fill out one form for each child you have at Henry P. Clough Elementary. If you have any questions about this testing program, please contact Tara Bellefontaine, RN at 508-634-9179 or tbellefontaine@mursd.org.

Mendon Turkey Trot is back for our 6th year! Join us Thanksgiving morning for a 5K to benefit the Clough PTO!

Please join us on Monday October 24th, 6:30pm @ Nipmuc PDC or over ZOOM https://mursd.zoom.us/j/85605877946?pwd=bWtocngzNWgySUxIYW1EM2FrQmxvZz09 for our next SEPAC Meeting!

And an UPDATE! Cheryl Kirkpatrick, Assistant Superintendent and District 504 Coordinator, will join us at tonight's meeting to share an overview of the purpose of and process for assessing and providing 504 accommodations for students.

In addition, as previously posted, at tonight's meeting we will discuss Procedural Safeguards. What are Procedural Safeguards? They are designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability and, at the same time, give families and school systems several mechanisms by which to resolve their disputes. Every parent or guardian involved in the special education process should be aware of these procedures, but there's a lot to them, so let's break it down together!

October:

Oct. 24 - SEPAC Meeting @ 6:30

Oct. 26 - Cook's Night Out @ Willow Brook 4:00-8:00pm

Oct. 28 - DESE Better Together Summit in Sturbridge

Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade - 2:40 - outside around the school

Nov. 8,9, and 10 - Half days of school

Nov. 9 and 10 - Parent Conferences

Nov. 11 - No School, Veteran's Day

Nov. 29 - School Picture Make-Up Day

Henry P. Clough Elementary School now has a Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram page! Instagram: cloughelem

Email: lgarden@mursd.org
Website: https://www.mursd.org/o/henry-p-clough-elementary
Location: 10 North Avenue, Mendon, MA, USA
Phone: 508-634-1580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HPClough-Elementary-School-102887309160164
Twitter: @HPClough