Dear Sprague Community,
We had a great first week of school. We appreciate family support of our school routines and procedures. Our first priorities are that students are safe and happy at school. With those basic needs covered, we can do the important work of teaching and learning in school. Many thanks for following our drop off and pick up routines and paying attention to the crosswalks marked for crossing from the parking lot. Please do not plan to have your child meet you in the parking lot. Students should not cross over the parking lot without an adult. Please use our car line or park your car in a marked space and go to meet your child by the school building.
Each week, parents will receive a note from me via School Messenger, usually on Tuesdays. Parents will also receive weekly communication from our PTO via the Sprague Pulse each Sunday. Teachers send notices and information via email as well. We view our partnership with parents as a key to each student’s success in school.
Our annual Back to School Night is September 14th. Parents are invited to come to meet the teacher and to learn about grade level curriculum and expectations. Students do not attend this evening event. Here is the schedule for the evening:
Back to School Night Hours: 6:30-8:00 PM
6:30-6:55—Presentations in rooms grades K-2
7:00-7:20—Principal Presentation in the Gym
7:25-7:55—Presentations in rooms grades 3-5
The Ice Cream Social is this Thursday, September 7th from 6:00-7:30 PM outdoors by the playground. It is a fun evening with free ice cream for all courtesy of the PTO. Come on out and enjoy a cool treat and see other families and friends!
School Picture Day is September 12th. Our photographer from Coffee Pond comes to Sprague and will take each student’s photo. Order forms will be sent home this week. Parents should fill out the form and send it back with payment on the 12th.
You will see information below about special notices and dates to remember.
Dates to remember:
Sept. 7: Ice Cream Social from 6:00-7:30 PM
Sept. 11: First Full Day of Kindergarten
Sept. 12: School Picture Day
Sept. 14: Back to School Night from 6:30-8:00 PM
Sept. 15: Grade 5 Leadership Retreat from 12:00-3:00 PM (Field trip forms to follow)
Sept. 21: No school—Rosh Hashanah
Learn to play an Instrument or Sing through
WPS Instrumental and Vocal Extension Program (IVEP)
Registration & Rental Night
Tuesday, September 19
Registration sessions beginning at
6, 6:30, and 7pm
Come schedule your lesson time, pay for lessons, and take home a rental instrument!
Lessons for new students will begin the following week.
For more information, or if you are unable to attend, please see the websitewellesleyps.org/performingarts
From the Nurse: Welcome!
As Sprague School’s nurse, I’m happy to welcome you and your children to a new school year. It seems like we’ve had a great beginning to what I am anticipating will be a wonderful year!
At Sprague, nursing coverage is provided during all school hours. I am here four days each week, with Nancy Falb in the nurse’s office on Fridays. Our goal is to help your child(ren) take full advantage of the many educational opportunities here at Sprague, so please contact us if we can be of any assistance. If your child has any specific health concerns or serious allergies, if his or her health status changes, or if there is any way in which we can help, please be sure to let us know. Then we can all work together to provide the best environment for your child.
Miscellaneous Health information
As you may know, several members of our Sprague community are allergic to latex. This is a serious condition and we need to follow recommended precautions to maintain safety.
Briefly, latex is a major ingredient in many rubber products; only certain rubber products have been found to be a danger to the approximate one percent of our population that is allergic, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Someone allergic to latex doesn’t even have to touch the item; the rubber particles in the air can trigger a reaction. The only effective strategy in the treatment of latex allergy is avoidance. Therefore, we request that people do not bring latex balloons to Sprague, to prevent exposure to latex. Mylar balloons (the shiny metal ones) are fine since they do not contain latex. We appreciate your cooperation in this serious matter.
Similarly, some members of our community have environmental allergies and are sensitive to chemicals and perfumes. Therefore, we ask that you be aware of these products and avoid their use or use them sparingly while at Sprague.
Frequently students come to me to borrow clothing after spills or mishaps. I ask that you launder and return these garments so we can maintain a supply of available clothing. When you are cleaning out drawers please keep in mind that we can always use socks, undies, and bottoms of all sizes.
Guidelines for School Attendance
When making a decision about your child(ren)’s school attendance, please be mindful that several members of our Sprague Community are at an increased risk when exposed to communicable illnesses. This is what I recommend:
(1) Fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine (acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), etc). This means a morning temperature no higher that 99.4 when taken orally. (Please note that children and teenagers should never be given aspirin for a fever and that ibuprofen should always be administered with food.)
(2) On antibiotic therapy for 24 hours when being treated for a contagious bacterial infection (such as strep throat). Ear infections are not contagious, so school attendance is dependent on the child’s level of discomfort.
(3) An ailment such as a cold needs to be evaluated carefully. If your child has copious nasal discharge, frequent cough, or a fever, he or she is best treated by a day of rest and drinking fluids at home. However, if the cold does not affect activity tolerance and the nasal discharge, sneezing and coughing are only occasional, the child is fine to attend school.
(4) Stomachache is a very nonspecific term and is often difficult to assess. A child with vomiting and/or diarrhea should be kept home until symptoms have resolved for at least 12 hours and he or she is able to keep down food and liquid. Be sure to call your physician if fever and stomach pains persist or if your child has poor oral intake and appears dehydrated (dry mouth, no tears, urinates less than 4 times in 24 hours).
(5) A good night’s sleep the night before – if your child is awake much of the night (vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, etc) then he or she will most likely not have a productive school day. Generally, any complaint that causes your child to lose a significant amount of sleep is a strong indicator that a day home from school is warranted.
The education of your children is our top priority here at Sprague. However, if your child is not able to concentrate because he or she is too tired, or is frequently coughing or sneezing, or is in and out of the classroom going to the nurse’s office, then chances are high that not much learning is taking place. In addition, the illness is most certainly spreading to others in the classroom.
As always, please feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sharon