Dear Sprague Community,
We had a great week last week! On Friday, we had our first school gathering. Fifth grade leaders helped run the program with a focus on our HEART values. For those of you who are new to Sprague, our school values form the acronym H.E.A.R.T. and stand for: Helping, Effort for Excellence, Acceptance and Appreciation, Respect and Responsibility, and Teamwork. We also talked about the “Choose to be Nice” pledge. Students learned about making this promise and were given Choose to be Nice cards with the pledge on it as well as bracelets that say, “I made the Choose to be Nice” promise. This is the pledge:
“I promise to help spread kindness wherever and whenever possible. And to the very best of my ability I’ll be nice to those with whom I come into contact on a daily basis.”
As part of the Wellesley Public Schools, we at Sprague are committed to our student’s academic and social learning. We believe in helping students develop strong social emotional competencies in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Our Art Teacher, Jen Stabnick would like everyone to know that this Friday, Sept. 15th is International Dot Day. Students are invited to wear dots to school that day. Students are making magnetic dots in Art class all week to go on our large magnetic board next the Art room. You might recall that a few years back, this large magnet board and sets of dots were part of a project that Jen facilitated. The work is inspired by the children’s book, “The Dot,” by Peter Reynolds. Sept. 15 marks the anniversary of the book’s publication and celebrates the story’s powerful themes of bravery, creativity, and self-expression.
Reminders:
- Please do not park in the Auction winner’s parking space. The space is marked with a heart shaped sign.
- Students line up outdoors each morning unless the weather is bad. If the weather is bad, you will see a flag with red, white, and blue stars hanging from the front walkway. This indicates students should wait indoors. Grades K-1 go to the cafeteria and Grades 3-5 go to the gym.
- Students should go to their lockers and be able to unpack independently once their class comes inside in the morning. Please try to arrive on time.
Back to School Night
When: Thursday, Sept. 14th from 6:30-8:00 PM
Who: Parents and Guardians (Students should NOT attend.)
What: Meet the Teacher for Presentations to learn about grade level curriculum and standards
6:30-6:55 Presentations in classrooms in Grades K-2
7:00-7:20 Principal Presentation in the gym for all grade parents
7:25-7:55 Presentations in classrooms in Grades 3-5
Dates to remember:
Sept. 14: PTO meeting at 9:00 a.m.
Sept. 14: Back to School Night from 6:30-8:00 PM
Sept. 15: Walk to School Day
Sept. 15: Grade 5 Leadership Retreat from 12-3
Sept. 21: No school—Rosh Hashanah
Registration Night flyer 2017.pdf
From our School Psychologist, Scott Marder:
Dear Sprague Families,
Starting this month, students throughout the grade levels will be invited to join weekly “lunch bunch” groups with their peers. These groups provide an opportunity for students across classes to get together in a small group for lunch to meet new friends and discuss a variety of topics related to establishing positive friendships. From year to year, the topics vary depending on student participation and presenting issues. Lunch groups are designed to reinforce social thinking and social problem solving.
While everyone is welcome to participate on a rotating basis, students are also invited to lunch groups based on a teacher or parent’s recommendation and sometimes by random draw. However, this program is entirely optional and students are not required to attend.
If you have any questions about lunch bunch or do not wish for your child to participate, please contact your classroom teacher by Friday September 15, 2017.
Sincerely,
Scott Marder
School Psychologist/Counselor
marders
From the Nurse: Dismissal for illness
Often I get an apology when I call to tell a parent that their child is ill and requires dismissal. I feel there’s no need to apologize, since we aren’t able to predict that our children may become sick. When your child has a good night’s sleep, eats breakfast and tolerates it well, and doesn’t have a fever or other objective signs of illness, then the child should attend school. Some mornings he or she may complain of nonspecific discomfort, but we all know these complaints usually resolve as the student participates in the daily routine. On the other hand, if your child was clearly ill the previous day or evening, required fever-reducing medicine in the preceding 24 hours, had interrupted sleep, vomiting or diarrhea, or is unable to eat breakfast, it is advisable to keep him/her home from school.
At school when a child visits the nurse I make an assessment according to the specific complaint; for example, if a student complains of a sore throat I visualize the throat using a flashlight and palpate for enlarged tender neck glands. I listen to the quality of the voice, ask if he or she ate breakfast (or snack), and check for a fever. I provide a drink of water and watch for signs of pain with swallowing. Often I am told if family members are home sick with a similar complaint.
If the child does not have a fever or any objective signs of illness, I recommend a return to class. I suggest comfort measures, such as increasing fluids, telling the student, “Keep your throat wet today. Be sure to drink lots of water.” I ask what his/her after school plans are and if the child says he feels fine to go to soccer practice, I send him back to class, since he clearly is okay. Please be mindful that if I do make a call to you, your child has already been through this assessment process.
This is where I can use your help. If your child has a complaint in the morning before school, it’s quite useful for me to know. I appreciate a heads-up call with a message saying your child complained of a stomachache or headache (or whatever) in the morning, but seemed fine to come to school. Then I know to call you if your child comes to see me complaining of not feeling well at school. Otherwise, I would likely send your child back to class.
Sometimes a child is not feeling well but doesn’t have a fever or other easily measurable sign of illness. Obviously if I see a child four times in a morning or if the student is clearly unfit for the classroom, I will call a parent or designated caretaker. As a parent myself, I know I would want to be informed if my child was having such a bad day.
This is another way you can help. It is essential that we have the correct phone numbers to reach a parent or designated caretaker. If you change your work, cell, or home number, or have a new babysitter, please be sure to let us know here at Sprague so we can keep your information current and reach you or your designee quickly.
Please call me if you have any questions.
Sharon