Mathewson Elementary School
PAWprint October 22, 2021
Hello Bulldog Families!
We want to start by thanking you for your collaboration and communication at conferences this week. We had a wonderful week and it was nice to see our families online. This week we celebrated Grade 5 Music Night. It was so nice to be together on a beautiful night outside of our building to hear our musicians sing and play their instruments. It was our first in person get together in a long time! We look forward to welcoming families to our Halloween Parade next week for our next get together as a school! (Be sure to check out the information below).
Also a further but important look ahead is to November 4th which is our Mathewson School Picture Day!
Here is some other information to know:
AM and PM Parent Drop Off/Pick Up: Please know we only load or unload 6-8 cars at a time based on what fits in the “U-turn” in front of the school. We please ask that you wait until you are in that area to let children out of your car. If they are going on the side of the building unsupervised by staff this is unsafe. Thanks for your cooperation.
Goodie bags - At this time we are continuing to ask our families to not send in goodie bags or other items from one family to the rest of your class. While in-person visitors are not currently allowed, as an alternative option families can participate as a virtual “mystery reader” to read a book to their child’s class as a way of celebrating special occasions. This should be worked out in advance with the classroom teacher and the teacher can set up a google meet with the family.
Staff Dress Down Days- Staff donates money yearly in order to “dress down” on Fridays throughout the year. The money goes to help support families, staff and community causes where we want to express care. Sometimes we add an extra day or two if we want to earn a little more to donate. So if you see us in our jeans you know it is to support a great cause! GO BULLDOGS!
Library Media Center Update -We are excited that our school libraries are fully open to students and staff this year. Book circulation has been very successful and our students are learning how to self checkout! There is no limit on the number of books students may take out, though popular series or titles are based on availability and demand.
Melissa Currier
Melissa Currier, Principal
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Important Dates, WOOF!
Tuesday, November 2nd- No School for students (Staff Professional Learning Day)
Thursday, November 4th --Mathewson School Picture Day
Wednesday, November 24th- Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving Recess @ 1:25 p.m.
No School Thursday, Nov 25, 2021 and Friday, Nov 26, 2021 for Thanksgiving Recess
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MPS Elementary Costume Day
Friday, October 29, 2021
We are so excited for the return of the annual costume parade. Our goal is to create a school community-building event that is safe, limits contact, minimizes potential exposures, maintains social distancing and celebrates the time of year. Information is provided below to ensure a safe and fun event for all.
Here is the Mathewson Parade Schedule
Time | Grades |
9:00 am | Kindergarten and Grade 4 |
9:45 | Grade 1 and Grade 3 |
10:15 | Grade 2 and Grade 5 |
Families are able to come and view the brief parade portion of Costume Day.
Health screening - A reminder to families that students and spectators must complete a self health assessment checklist the day of the event and remain home if they are experiencing any symptoms. Click here for link.
Social distancing/masking - visitors from separate households must maintain 6 feet of social distance. All visitors must wear face coverings while on property.
Visitors must stay within the designated viewing area and maintain 12 foot distance from students. Cones and tape will be used to mark this distance. For Mathewson we will parade from the back of the school to the front. You can space yourselves along the parade route which will be the soccer field all the way to the Parent Pick Up Door. Lots of great viewing to be had!
We ask that you please do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Parking will be limited, plan for on the street parking
Visitors will not be permitted in the building and cannot give items to students during the parade.
In order to be ready for our next group we ask that all visitors leave as soon as your child’s parade concludes.
In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be classroom based without visitors.
Student Costumes
Students in grade K and 1 may want to wear their costumes to school. Other students should bring their costumes in a labeled bag.
Once the costume activities conclude, students will be able to remove their costumes to be more comfortable for the remainder of the day.
Children must have a costume appropriate for elementary school aged children. Gory/violent images are not good for our little ones.
No props, toy weapons, costume face masks, or make-up, etc., are allowed.
Students must wear a “covid” face covering in accordance with our pandemic masking protocols. Costume masks are not considered face coverings. (Due to the nature of students stopping and potentially coming within close proximity of other students, this is the safest way to manage this.)
Any family who does not wish their child to participate should contact the teacher in advance so that we may make appropriate arrangements.
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Older News…. But Still Important!
Bus Seating: To further our safety efforts for our learners, our elementary schools, in collaboration with Durham Bus Company are developing a bus seating chart with assigned seats. The goal for each bus-riding student is to minimize the number of students quarantined should an individual on the bus test positive. Over the course of the next week or so, students will be assigned their seats. Buses will have stickers with row numbers above the window to assist in students locating the proper seat. You can help by:
Reminding your child to sit in their assigned seat at all times. Having your child stay in their assigned seat will help support their safety and the safety of others to stay healthy while on the bus.
Having students wear their masks for the entire ride.
These protocols are necessary to mitigate exposure and spread of the COVID virus. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in this important matter. Our schools will be working diligently to get these seat assignments in place. Please understand there may be a delay as we implement this process of assigned seating on the bus over the next few weeks.
Protocol for Contacting Tracing after school hours and on weekends -
When a school receives notification of a possible positive COVID-19 case there may be times particularly when we are notified after school hours or on weekends, that families will be sent an email indicating that their child is to stay home the next school day and that a school nurse will contact the family to discuss the matter and provide guidance on what happens. We thank you for your cooperation as we continue to navigate through these times together and put safety first.
Attendance :If your child is absent from learning, you must log in and report the absence that day through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Teaching and Learning Hub: This week the Teaching and Learning Department shared with the Milford Public Schools Teaching and Learning Community Hub, an online space for our community to access curricular materials and resources as well as a virtual space to access additional information to support our home school partnership. You may access the Milford Public Schools Teaching and Learning Community Hub via this link.
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Follow Mathewson School on Twitter @ BePAWsitiveMPS
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