Hello Families,

We wanted to provide some updates regarding recess during the winter months. We follow a National Safe Child Weather chart to determine if the conditions are safe to send the students outside. In addition, we have to factor in the conditions of our playground area when there is snow and ice.

We try to send the students out as much as possible. We hope you will partner with us by sending your child(ren) prepared for outdoor recess. During the winter months it is appropriate for students to have a winter jacket, hat and gloves daily. Students wanting to play in the snow will need BOOTS. You may consider sending in sneakers for use during the school day in the building.

Additionally, please take the time to review the flyer for our upcoming Family Engagement Night scheduled for January 31st, 2024 from 6:30-7:30pm.

Lastly, we hope you enjoy our "Snow Much Fun video" linked below featuring many South Row students after our first snowfall of the year.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Respectfully,

Terri and Jayson

Monday, January 15th

• No School in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 16th

• No events

Wednesday, January 17th

• No events

Thursday, January 18th

• No events

Friday, January 19th

• Tie Dye School Spirit Day

January 22nd

• Beginning of the Kindness Challenge Week
• Kindergarten Magic Mike Bent Enrichment

January 24th

• Kindergarten Term 1 Grades Available via X2

January 26th

• Tentative High Five Friday with the Chelmsford Fire Department
• PTO Movie Night (Sold Out), 6:30pm, Cafeteria

January 29th

• Start of Winter Week in Specialists in conjunction with the PTO

January 30th

• Kindergarten Registration (rising Kindergarten families), 9:00AM-6:00pm, Central Office

January 31st

• Kindergarten Registration (rising Kindergarten families), 9:00AM-6:00PM, Central Office

The cold is upon us! Many students continue to come to school without a coat. We send students outside for recess on most days and are asking parents to make sure their child has a coat. Please talk to your child about making sure they have a coat on or in their backpack.

Save the Date (Family Engagement Night): Our School Council is hosting a Family Engagement Night on January 31st from 6:30-7:30pm. Please click here for more information on the event. The evening is designed to educate parents on academic and social emotional programming at South Row along with providing families tips and tricks to support the success of their child. This event is for families/caregivers in the South Row community and we will have childcare for the event. We hope you will consider attending.

Save the Date (Science Fair): Mark your calendars! The science fair is scheduled for February 28th, 2024 from 6:30-8:30pm. This is a special and exciting South Row event organized by our School Council. Please look for more information next week. Start talking with your child(ren) about this event!

2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

• BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
• (Approximately 15 minute appointments)
• TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 & 31, 2024
• 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION CENTRAL OFFICE
• 230 NORTH ROAD, CHELMSFORD, MA
• Visit the Chelmsford Public Schools website.
• Click on the “RESERVE YOUR APPOINTMENT” link to enter parent/guardian contact information and preferred appointment time within a three-hour window.
• You will then be contacted to confirm a date and time for your registration appointment. Registration packets may also be dropped off at the School Administration Office, 230 North Road, Chelmsford, MA: Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., if you are not able to attend these two dates.
• In addition to the completed student registration packet, the required documentation to submit is listed on the CPS Student Registration page.
• For additional information or questions on kindergarten registration, please contact Jane McDonald at mcdonaldj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us; or 978-251-5100, ext. 6901.

PD Day Calendar Adjustment (Early Release Day Change): The March professional development day has been moved to Tuesday, March 5th which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th. Therefore, Please see more details on the rationale to this move, please click on Dr. Lang's 12/1/23 update.

Dear South Row Families,

If your student is sick, please check the school’s sick policy on the CPS website linked here.

Below is an excerpt from our current Covid protocol. It is not the full protocol - but I have linked it here CPS COVID Health Protocols

Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols

● Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. A high quality mask should be worn for 10 days, and test 5 days after the exposure on Day 6. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.

● Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:

○ If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.

■ If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask (please provide documentation for the negative test to the school nurse).

■ If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming on day 6 with a negative test on Day 5 or later.

■ Please notify your school nurse of a positive COVID-19 test result.

● Symptomatic individuals should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 2 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, MDPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.

● Upon return to school, students who test positive for COVID-19 must complete the “Return to School Form Post COVID-19 Diagnosis” to the Health Office. The form will be emailed to you by the school nurse. Guidelines for return to physical activity and/or sports after testing positive are included in the form and are as follows:

Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves.

COVID-19 Symptoms List:

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)

• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms 3

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Warmly,

Nurse V.

We welcome you to check out our December and January Connections Calendar and provide feedback using this link.

Please click on the "button" below to access resources and supports available. Do not hesitate to reach out to any support team member with any questions you may have.

**Please note: We continuously update the button below with new resources as they arise.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Winter Week is back for another year! The PTO has partnered with the specialists to bring a week of winter themed activities to South Row. We need some parent volunteers to make sure the activities go smoothly. Remember, all volunteers must have a current CORI form on file. Note: Volunteers are not needed for all specialists/grades. These are what was requested by the teachers. Thank you in advance for your help! Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A5AF2CA6F4C25-47200561-2024

A request from Donna, our School Committee Representative: We are nearing the February 9th deadline for individuals to declare their candidacy for Town Meeting Representative in the 2024 elections. These reps can help influence town decisions including some that affect the schools, and are a great way for parents to get more involved. The time commitment for being a Town Meeting Rep is low, attending 3-6 meetings total in the months of April and October and with each meeting running for a few hours in the evening. If you would like to know more, feel free to reach out to the PTO board or check the town website.

Don't forget, our RaiseRight gift card fundraiser goes all year! You can order, purchase, and use your gift cards at any time. Links and information for this is on our website. www.SouthRowPTO.com

This section is comprised of the following items pertaining to food services

• Website
• Breakfast Information
• Tentative Breakfast/Lunch Menus

Dear Parents and Families --

Chelmsford Public Schools is utilizing on-line breakfast ordering again this year for ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ONLY.

Instructions on how to set up an account are below. If you need any help, please reach out to the school nutrition department at: (978) 251-5111

Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s Student ID Number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student’s name should appear on page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-breakfast online ordering
2. Scroll to day/week you are selecting breakfast (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom
8. Place order

Mrs. Terri Gilbert

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