Sunday Scoop!
Good Afternoon,
We ended October feeling energized, supported and excited about what we get to do each day!
We had Janet Strauss, from TNTP, who is leading our work with the PRISM Grant Dr. Castonguay secured for the district, came to South at the beginning of the week and watched our Literacy work in action in Grades 1, 2 and 3.
This week Dr. DeFrancisco and her Superintendent Coach, Jane Tremblay also came to South and together the 3 of us were able to go into classrooms and then process together all the incredible teaching and learning moments we saw. It was really insightful for me to hear other perspectives of the teaching styles and energy our South teachers have.
We also learned that South was ranked #104 in Massachusetts Elementary Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school. Read more about how the schools are ranked here: Best Elementary Schools.
Thank you to all of the 2nd grade families and caregivers that were able to attend their 2nd Graders Cinderella Writing Event too! I think the 2nd graders really loved showing off their writing (and singing) to everyone and it was a perfect day to do it since we had turned the school into a castle for the day!
Our Royal Event on Friday was the icing on the cake for us! I think our students had an amazing day and really took their “Royal Status” very seriously!
Important Dates and Events:
November Lunch Menu: November Lunch Menu
South Confetti Celebration Apparel: Our awesome local vendor Christine from Christine's Sweet Shop has designed merch specifically for South and our Confetti Celebrations! You can order t-shirts, long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts!
The link/shop will only be live until November 9th, so if you're interested, order soon!
https://south-school-celebrations.spiritsale.com/
This past summer Ms. Alexa LoRe and Mrs. Renee Berard proposed creating a South Care Closet to Dr. Kathryn Castonguay and it was quickly approved. This closet supports students in need across our school community. This initiative strongly aligns with our district’s vision of supporting the whole child and fostering a safe, inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging. By addressing basic needs such as clothing, hygiene products, food and essential supplies, the Care Closet will remove barriers to learning and promote student well-being. This resource also serves as a vital component of our broader efforts around social-emotional learning (SEL), ensuring students are cared for physically, emotionally, and socially as they grow and thrive within our schools. If you are interested in donating to ourSouth Care Closet here is the link: South Care Closet Link
Food Security Resource: We know many families and caregivers struggle with providing food to their families, even more during these next two months, with many days that your children are not in school. Please know there are resources out there to help you. If you click on this link and enter your ZIP code (or type in Stoneham), you’ll see a list of all the food pantries available in our area. Greater Boston Food Bank: https://www.gbfb.org/need-food/ If you need help navigating this please stop in or send me an email and I will help you.
Thursday, November 6th: Last call for Paint & Sip night at Ceramica, a South parent-only fundraiser event this Thurs Nov 6th from 7-9pm. Tons of pottery to choose from to get creative and get to know some other South parents. And sponsored by Rapid Liquors! $Venmo 15 to @SouthSchoolPTO to reserve your spot - limited spots remaining
Tuesday, November 11th: Veteran’s Day: No School for all students and Staff
Thursday, November 13th : Save the Date for the next PTO Meeting, Thurs. Nov 13th at 7pm -- add it to your calendar here!
Friday, November 14th: Early Release Day for all students. Students will be dismissed at 12:00. Lunch will be served.
Calareso Fall Gift Certificates fundraiser continues another week until Nov 14th! Reminder that 25% of every $10 Calareso's gift certificate goes back to the PTO -- and the certificates never expire! Order here Use them for anything -- pumpkins, Christmas trees, flowers, bakery items, and more! Flyer attached below.
The Annual Food Drive has started -- now through Thanksgiving, you can drop off nonperishable foods in the box in the South School lobby, to be donated to local families in need. Paper collection bags courtesy of Stop & Shop were sent home in backpacks last week, along with a list of the most-needed items. Your community thanks you!
Wednesday, November 26th: Early Release Day for All students. Students will be dismissed at 12:00. Lunch will be served.
Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th: Thanksgiving: No school for students and staff.
As always, please reach out with any questions, suggestions or concerns.
Thank you,
Kerry R. Robbins