November Newsletter

Teaticket Elementary School

November 2020 Newsletter

Principal’s Corner

Hello Teaticket Families,

It is hard to believe that it is the middle of November already! I hope your children are enjoying their new specials schedule and the mild weather we have been having. During the past month we have hired some additional staff. In order to support our third and fourth grade teachers we hired two staff assistants. We welcomed Jill Kelly to grade three and Jennifer Rossiter to grade four. In addition we hired Dawn Labossiere as a one on one assistant and two new building based substitute teachers, Joanne Scheid and Terri Lavery. We are fortunate to have these additional staff members!

In the front office we will also have some additional help as we continue to search for a new Assistant Principal/Special Education Building Administrator. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s IEP please contact Brooke McCarthy and she will direct you to our covering staff.

As a reminder, students will continue to go outside even as the weather gets colder. Therefore, students need to be dressed appropriately when coming to school. Students will go outside to physical education, music class and recess so please make sure they are dressed appropriately when they are sent to school. If your family is in need of assistance with regard to winter clothing, please reach out to the school adjustment counselors or to me.

As always, we thank you for all you do to enhance your child’s school experience. We feel fortunate to spend time with all of them each day!

Best regards,

Sandy Kapsambelis, Principal

skapsambelis@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Calendar of Events

November 16th- Nov. 29th	Virtual Scholastic Book Fair
November 18th	Early Dismissal No PM preschool Asynchronous Instruction for the afternoon	See staggered dismissal schedule on the school website
November 19th	Virtual School Council Meeting	8:00 am-8:50am
November 20th- Dec. 4th	Fit and Fun Challenge	Link to register and for more details
November 25 -27th	Thanksgiving Observance	No School
December 2nd	TT VIrtual PTO Meeting	6:00pm
December 8th	Early Dismissal No PM preschool	See staggered dismissal schedule on the school website
December 11th	Grades Close for Term 1 For students in grades 1-4	Not Applicable
December 16th	Early Dismissal No PM preschool Asynchronous Instruction for the afternoon	See staggered dismissal schedule on the school website
December 23rd	Early Dismissal No PM preschool	See staggered dismissal schedule on the school website
December 24th-Jan 1st	Winter Break	No School
January 4th	School Reopens	Not applicable
January 8th	Report Cards to go home	At dismissal

News from the Front Office

Due to COVID restrictions we were not able to schedule school pictures with LifeTouch this fall, therefore we will plan for school pictures in the Spring!

Many families use the My School Bucks program to pay for meals at school. We would like to encourage all parents to use the new app on their phone to track spending in the cafe. This app allows families to make payments anytime, check balances, and get low balance notifications. For more information, go to the www.myschoolbucks.com website.

In an effort to reduce the amount of papers that are sent home from the office things like the Lunch menus will be emailed home electronically each month.

Please email me if you have any questions: lconlon@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Nurse’s Corner

For families who are traveling, please follow the advice from Mass.gov; Effective August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders. The Commonwealth has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and gradually re-open the economy, and all visitors have a responsibility to help us keep transmission levels as low as possible. All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:

Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health.
Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
For more information, please go to this link: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

Students will be expected to have received a flu vaccine by December 31, 2020 for the 2020-2021 influenza season, unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided. This new flu immunization requirement to enter school in January is in addition to existing vaccine requirements for all those attending child care, preschool, K-12, and colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Elementary and secondary students in districts and schools that are using a remote education model are not exempt.

Please send a copy of the record to school when your child receives their flu vaccine.

If you have any questions/concerns, please email me at mpetrucci@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Counselor’s Corner

This has been a great, although different, fall here at Teaticket. We have enjoyed getting to know our students and are finding new ways of connecting and building relationships. Throughout last school year we focused on the different types of relationships that exist (friendships, classmates, teacher-student, bonds with pets, etc.) and the many ways that we can deepen these relationships. This year relationship building will continue to be a focus and it is important to note that having positive connections is another key piece of fostering resilience. Having consistent, trusted adults in children’s lives will assist in building resilience as children and adults can work collaboratively to solve problems and utilize healthy coping skills. When children know that they have safe, trusted adults whom they can turn to in times of stress or challenges, it allows them the opportunity to seek out and get the support that they need. One way you can help at home is by teaching your children appropriate ways of expressing their feelings to others. It is important that our students know that school is one of the safe places to do this. Additionally, we want them to learn the importance and benefits of connecting with others, both peers and adults, and the different ways we can do so, such as asking questions to get to know someone, or cheering someone up who has had a hard day.

Stay tuned for a notice coming home regarding holiday assistance and options for families to help others in our community.

Please free to contact us with any questions or concerns! Ms. Poole’s email address; cpoole@falmouth.k12.ma.us or Ms. Margolin’s email address; jmargolin@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Reading Corner with Mrs. Cleary and Mrs. Chicoine

Family involvement is an important part of children’s reading progress. Daily practice helps children become a better reader. Please access our landing pages to listen to read alouds. Our landing pages and book resources do change, so check back frequently! Mrs. Cleary’s Landing Page, and Mrs. Chicoine’s Landing Page also available on the Teaticket website under the landing pages icon.

Please contact us with any questions; Jenn Cleary at jcleary@falmouth.k12.ma.us and Ann Chicoine’s email is achicoine@falmouth.k12.ma.us .

Art with Ms. Crane

This month students in kindergarten & fourth grade will be focusing on “what is” mixed media, color, pop art, & printmaking with a focus on emotions, creativity and what art means to them. We are learning about our classmates and our selves through self reflection. By reflecting and critiquing we get a sense of how emotions can convey our feelings through our art work. We will continue these skill techniques for the month of November and throughout the school year. Our imaginations, memory and creativity will feed our artwork. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Let’s keep our minds open….

Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or concerns, rcrane@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Library and Technology with Mrs. Rodriguez

It was a pleasure working with grade three and a section of kindergarten during this last rotation. During this next rotation I will be working with grade one and Mrs. Boudrot’s class. I am looking forward to meeting all of the new kindergarten students! If you have any questions about the curriculum please contact me by email: krodriguez@falmouth.k12.ma.us

Music with Ms. O’Neil

This 6.5 week cycle, I will be working with 3rd Grade students with Bucket Drumming! Please make sure your student is checking the playlist for Music each day. We have been having a blast outside -- please make sure your student is dressing appropriately for the weather! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me (that is the BEST way to get a hold of me because I am in many different parts of the building - but, I usually keep my email open)!

Please contact me by email: eoneil@falmouth.k12.ma.us.

Physical Education with Mrs. Shanahan

I have just completed Physical Education with grade 1 and Mrs. Boudrot’s class. Students did track events, What Time is It Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, dance and fitness activities. When we were indoors we learned about nutrition, making healthy choices and the benefits of exercise. The students made posters and hung them over their cubbies.

I am currently working with grade 2 and Mrs. Greene’s class. We will also discuss healthy choices, participate in cardiovascular activities and fitness games.

The Falmouth Elementary School Track meet will be replaced with our virtual Fun Fitness Challenge. VIPS will sponsor the free event and students K-6 will have 2 weeks to participate in fun activities in November. Register on- line and receive your free supplies!

https://www.falmouthvips.org/fit-and-fun-challenge-2020.html

Many students have shown interest in running the track at recess so we will be coming up with a plan on tracking and rewarding those who choose to run. (similar to the mile club) I have also listed several fun family fitness activities on my school landing page if you would like to check it out.

If you have any questions regarding Physical Education classes, please contact me at cshanahan@falmouth.k12.ma.us.