This week, we hosted our annual "Start with Hello Week" that focuses on kindness and building socially inclusive environments for all students. It has been wonderful to see students interacting with their peers and engaging in our daily challenges.

On Tuesday, September 28th the PTO will be hosting an Ice Cream Truck event. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend. More information on this event can be found below.

Additionally, we just completed our first full week of open recess. Students were happy to have the opportunity to interact with peers from other classrooms. It has been a very successful start!

Enjoy your week!

Respectfully,

Terri

SATURDAY 9/25:

• Spring Garden Clean Up @9am at South Row

• No events

Tuesday 9/28

• PTO Ice Cream Truck Event, 4:30-7:00PM, Back Parking Lot

Wednesday 9/29:

• PTO Ice Cream Truck Event (RAIN DATE), 4:30-7:00PM, Back Parking Lot

Thursday 9/30:

• No events

• High Five Friday!

School Council Meeting: October 4th at 5:30pm. Meeting format: TBD

October PTO Meeting: October 4th, 2021 at 7:00pm. Meeting format: TBD

Fresh Start Potato Harvest - Parent Volunteer Opportunity - October 8th - All classes will have an opportunity to harvest potatoes with our partners at Fresh Start. We are looking for a few parents volunteers to help out for the day. If you are interested please reach out to gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

High Five Friday: On Friday October 1st we will have our first High Five Friday, partnering with the Chelmsford Police Department. Officers will join school staff in greeting students at arrival. We truly appreciate our police department working with us and getting involved with our school community!

In Need of a Parent Leader for Walk to School Day: We are looking for a parent/guardian to take the lead on organizing our Walk to School Days this year. Walk to School Day has been a long standing South Row tradition, where students are encouraged to walk to school once a month. The parent who has previously been the leader of these events child has moved on to McCarthy. However, he provided us materials, documents, and information to keep it going. Are you interested in taking on this responsibility to help keep Walk to Schools going this year? Contact Mr. Ramalho at ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us to learn more. Thanks for your consideration!

Change in Dismissal Plans: As a reminder, if there is a CHANGE to your child's dismissal on a given day, please EMAIL the classroom teacher, Mrs. O'Neill, and Mrs. Sepe. We do ask that families try to be as consistent as possible with dismissal.

****Please contact the school as early as possible for dismissal changes (before 2:00) so we can make sure your student gets where they need to go at the end of the day!!

Interested in Substituting in CPS?: The Chelmsford Public Schools is looking for substitutes in our school. If you are interested, consider applying through school spring by clicking on this link. If you have any questions and/or would like to substitute at South Row, reach out to Mrs. Gilbert and Mr. Ramalho for more information.

Lunch Menu: There is now a second choice to the lunch menu for students. Please look at the school menu with your student so they understand the choices ahead of time. As a reminder, there is a vegetarian option each day as well.

Lunch Tables: Our new lunch tables have arrived and we have worked this week to complete a new seating arrangement in the cafeteria!! Our new configuration allows classrooms to maintain a greater distance from one another. Students are excited about their new seating as we are using a variety of table shapes and sizes. As previously communicated, in our former set up, we did our best to support an additional seat between students where possible. With the new configuration we are no longer able to support additional seats between students. However, we will continue to have alternate seating options available in the hallway and lunchroom that provide additional space. If you would like your child sitting in either the hallway or at separate table within the cafeteria, please email Mrs. GIlbert (gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) and Mr. Ramalho (ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us). Please keep in mind these locations could involve your child sitting away from their peers. We will continue to advise students to put their masks back on after they eat their lunch.

Pool Testing/Test and Stay: If you are interested in opting into either of these testing protocols please click on this link to complete the consent form: LINK

Photos on Social Media/Website: We try to take lots of pictures throughout the year and include them on our home link, website, facebook, and twitter account. If you would like to OPT your child out of being in pictures, please email Terri Gilbert (gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) and Jayson Ramalho (ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) by October 1st, 2021.

Student and Business Directories

The PTO will once again be having two online school directories. You can sign up for either or both directories in one form, which can be found at tinyurl.com/srdirectory21-22. Please fill out the form by Monday, September 27.

The student directory will be available for families only on a password-protected page of our website. The password will be shared with all families when the directory goes live in a few weeks. In order for your child to be included in the directory, you must opt in by filling out the directory form.

We will also offer a service to the entrepreneurs in our school community. If any parent has a business that they would like to list, you can also enter that information on the directory form. The business directory will be available on our website without password protection. We encourage everyone to look here when in need of a service so that you can help out other South Row families.

Ice Cream Social

Mark your calendars - the Ice Cream Social is back!!! We will be doing it a bit differently this year, and holding it outside. We will have an ice cream truck in the back parking lot by the playground on Tuesday, September 28 from 4:30-7. Drop by any time in that timeframe to buy an ice cream from the truck and play on the playground with your friends. Rain date September 29.

South Row Gear/Spirit Wear is Coming

Watch for details next week about the next round of South Row/Chelmsford gear sales!

No-Brainer Fundraiser

We know that baking. peddling fruit, and other typical fundraising activities aren't everyone's cup of tea. Here is a simple, no-frills way to support the PTO! You will still receive notice of other fundraisers, as we can't remove individuals from our distribution, but you can feel free to ignore/recycle them to your heart's content! This is a tax-deductible donation, and you may request a receipt from the main office.

To participate in the No-Brainer Fundraiser, please visit tinyurl.com/srptonobrainer.

Please send photos to Mr. Ramalho (ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) to be featured in our Home Link newsletter!

Principal

gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.

Assistant Principal

ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow

• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
• Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
• Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
• Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
• Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1