Cheetah Pride Press

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. --William Arthur Ward

1: It is the simplest form of expressing gratitude.

2: People feel appreciated and loved.

3: Making others feel good brings good back to you in unpredictable ways.

4: Saying thank you makes you happier and healthier.

5: You bring abundance in your life.

by Prakash Joshi Pax in the Ascent

Complete article shared in Superintendent Smith's 4/19/21 Weekly Update

"Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” —Randy Pausch

Saying Thank You is the simplest form of expressing gratitude and it is the least we can do to show our appreciation for the collaborative efforts of our entire school community. We thank you for:

• Cooperating with mitigation strategies for a safe reopening
• Juggling multiple instructional model schedules
• Navigating our new arrival, dismissal, breakfast and lunch procedures
• Engaging in positive two-way communication
• Supporting learning at home
• Celebrating student growth and achievement
• Providing feedback for our continued growth and improvement
• Inspiring dreams, discovery and achievement

With gratitude,

Andy & Brandy

Coming in May/June--Stay tuned for an invitation for an in-person viewing of student work.

Coming in June--Stay tuned for an invitation proudly celebrating our 3rd graders as they get ready to Move On Up to Center School!

• Implement Second Step Social Emotional curriculum with fidelity across all grade levels and classrooms.
• Achieve individual growth targets as measured by the i-Ready reading and math diagnostic assessment for all students.

The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:

1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.

2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show compassion.

3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.

Ways to Calm Down: Belly breathing, using positive self-talk, counting

4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way

i-Ready Personalized Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so your student can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn. We recommend usage should be limited to 45 minutes per week per subject area! See below for how to access the progress and time on task for your student.

• Implement Fundations with fidelity across k-3 grade levels and classrooms.
• Utilize the workshop model of instruction in mathematics in all classrooms.

• Ensure that all teachers engage in Individual Data Meetings with Reading/Math Specialists and Administration to review student performance data, set individual growth targets for every learner, and create instructional plans to help realize these goals.
• Create teacher driven goals at the classroom level to enhance communication, connection and support in response to the 19-20 Parent Feedback survey.

Our 2020-2021 Parent Feedback Survey link will be sent to all families in a ParentSquare post. We appreciate your partnership and thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to complete this important survey.

April 26--Parent Feedback Survey Opens

May 5--Wear sneakers for ACES

May 6--Kindergarten Informational Sessions

May 10 & 14--Picture Retakes/Makeups

May 14--Preschool's St. Jude's Trike-A-Thon

On May 5th, Memorial will be participating in the ACES Program (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) with thousands of children throughout the country.

To maintain safe social distancing, each class will lead their own program.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Ruel and Coach Boscarino with any questions.

All photo inquiries (including QR Codes) should be directed to photographer Ted Morton at tedmorton1@yahoo.com.

Picture Retakes/Makeups are scheduled for May 10 and 14.

Parents/Guardians are invited to an in-person presentation in Memorial's Cafetorium with Andy Gonzalez, Principal, and Brandy Gadoury, Assistant Principal, to learn more about our Kindergarten programming and screening process. We are respectfully asking that families keep attendance to this event to a max of 3 adults per family. We are presenting 2 sessions to allow for appropriate social distancing and time between sessions to sanitize surfaces. We understand that work schedules and life events require a bit of flexibility and appreciate your attempt to attend in your assigned time to assist us in maximizing safety for all. Attendance will be split based on alphabetical order of last names. Last names beginning with A-M are invited to attend from 5:45-6:15pm. Last names beginning with N-Z are invited to attend from 6:45-7:15pm. The presentation will also be available on-line after the event.

2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration packets are available at the Memorial School foyer and online.

A Parent information night will be held Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 5:45 and 6:45pm.

Kindergarten Screenings by appointment only will be held 9am -2pm the week of Monday, May 24th – Friday, May 28th.

EHE PTO and Andy Gonzalez surprised Memorial School Staff with a visit from the

Ice Cream Emergency truck!

We appreciate how proactive families have been in taking students to get tested for COVID. Please know that if you choose to do this, you are required, per Chatham Health guidance, to keep your learner home until the negative results are shared with the school. Please also remember that rapid molecular and PCR tests are the only tests accepted by our schools.

Close contact: within 6 feet of an infected person (confirmed COVID19) for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, or a direct exposure to possibly infected droplets of saliva or nasal mucus (e.g., being sneezed or coughed on in the face).

A Message from the Department of Children and Families

We are asking for your help spreading the word about the state’s new “Talk It Out Line”, which is a Department of Children and Families’ initiative created to provide support and services to help parents and caretakers with the stress and increased needs resulting from caring for their children during the COVID-19 crisis. Parents and caregivers are invited to call 833-258-5011 and/or visit www.talkitoutct.com to speak with trained professionals (in both English and Spanish) who will listen and discuss their concerns and, if additional help is needed, refer them to responsive services. The "Talk It Out Line" is available Monday-Friday from 8am to 8pm; and on weekends from 1 pm to 8 pm.

The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

Home of 570 PK-3 Proud Young Cheetahs and Future Bellringers!

Email: memorialoffice@easthamptonct.org
Website: http://www.easthamptonps.org/o/memorial-school
Location: 20 Smith Street, East Hampton, CT 06424
Phone: 860-365-4020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehmemorialschool/