Dear Sprague,
Hello. Thanksgiving Day came and went in a flash. How does that happen? Even though most look forward to a house full of family and friends with the bustle of young ones running through the home filling the house with laughter and love, recognizing and celebrating quiet and calm is equally as special. This year being perhaps the most unique holiday season we have ever experienced, I hope your homes were full of quiet and calm, while packed with love, which is a blessing in and of itself. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!
Monday, November 30th
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No School
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Professional Development Day
Wednesday, December 2nd
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Full-day Wednesday schedule for all
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Cohort A students in-person day
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Due to the November 30th No-School Day
School Picture Retakes
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December 3rd for Cohort A
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December 4th for Cohort B
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Retakes are for any student/family that would like a retake
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If interested, please bring in the original purchase and give this to the photographer
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The retakes will automatically have a new package ordered to replace the returned package, and there is no charge for the exchange
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If decided to have the original package returned or decide to purchase both images (packages), please contact customer care to arrange this
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Customer Care information:
508-907-6633 ext 0
Grade Two Returns
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As of Tuesday, November 24th’s School Committee meeting, all of WPS grade two students will be returning for a four day full return similar to our kindergarten and grade one students
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This full four day return will begin on Monday, December 7th
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Remote Wednesdays will continue
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In order to make this happen for our grade two students, two of the three grade two classrooms will be relocated to either the art room or music room or library
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We are most excited for this decision!
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Welcome home, grade two!
Attendance
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As we are currently in the holiday season, please see the important WPS attendance requirements for all students
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We recognize and appreciate the desire to see family, travel safely, and to follow necessary precautions for the health and safety of all
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Having said this, the presence of our students is equally important now as it was last year and years past especially in the hybrid model
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Please see the WPS attendance policy that applies to the full school year but specifically during the holiday season
Required Attendance in the Hybrid Learning Model:
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In-person learning is an essential part of the WPS hybrid model. Students should be in school on their designated hybrid day unless there is a documented, approved reason for them to remain at home. Parents need to follow their school’s procedure for reporting an absence.
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In some instances, a student may be sick (e.g. cold, sore throat) and still healthy enough to access their learning from home. These situations must be coordinated/approved in advance and through consultation with the teacher, school nurse, assistant principal, and/or the school principal. Your school nurse is an excellent resource if you need any guidance or direction when making this decision.
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Students/families should not opt to be remote for reasons of convenience (e.g. vacation/travel plans, family visits, student preference).
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If a student/family opts to be remote on one of their designated in-person learning days without an approved reason, the student may be marked absent (unexcused absence) — even if/when they Zoom into their class. These absences will appear on their report card and in their cumulative record.
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The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all districts to track and report student attendance. They state, “being chronically absent can have a significant impact on a student’s ability to read at grade level, perform academically, and graduate on time.”
Tent Removal
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Thank you to Wellesley Public Schools for the gift of the large tents!
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As of November 30th, the two tents at Sprague will be removed (all tents at all schools will be removed)
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The tents are not winter safe (i.e. accumulating snow)
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We will continue to be a well-oiled machine without the tents and outdoor practices will continue
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However, please remember that on inclement weather days, our morning routines remain outside – umbrellas and rain gear are always encouraged on these days!
Lunch Routines
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The labyrinth tent has provided helpful for our outdoor lunch routines
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However, the tents did not/would not keep us warm while enjoying our sandwiches at lunch
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As a result, we make daily decisions about lunches – indoors in the gym or outdoors on the labyrinth space
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As we enter the winter months, most likely we will be eating lunches in the gym, with distancing, assigned seats, and doors cracked for fresh air
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With the fall being relatively mild thus far, we will continue to access the labyrinth space for lunches even without the tent, if temperatures cooperate
Sprague School Council
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I am most grateful to the many parents that volunteered their time and expressed interest in the 2020-2021 Sprague School Council!
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The following is the Sprague School Council for 2020-2021
WPS 2020-2021 Academic Calendar
https://wellesleyps.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WPS-Academic-Calendar-2020-21.pdf
Dates:
November 30th Professional Development Day- No School
December 2nd Cohort A In-School (full day Wednesday schedule)
December 24th-January 1st Year-End Vacation
January 4th School Reopens
January 18th Martin Luther King Day – No School
January 20th Cohort A In-School (full Day Wednesday schedule)
January 29th SBRC Report Cards – Available in Parent Portal
February 15th – 19th February Vacation Week
Keep up the great work, Sprague!
Respectfully,
Leigh