September 3, 2021

 

Griffin Memorial School News

September 3, 2021 GMS Families, As you drove by the school last week, you may have noticed an interesting message on our sign board. That message was "Now What?" While this may have struck you as funny, it was there because that will be our theme for this year. Building on last year's theme of "Be Curious", "Now What?" is the question we want to be asking in order to go from being curious and into a mode of discovery, exploration, learning, and growing. This coming week we will be going to classes to introduce this theme to the students in order to personally kick off a year of discovery, growth, inquisitiveness, and exploration. We encourage families as well to join us on this journey of "Now What?" The Powerschool information portal is now open for returning families to confirm their information, make changes, and grant permissions for this school year. Please complete this process by October 1. Below there is a link with a helpful sheet with information for completing this registration process. Returning Students Registration As each day passed this week, drop off and pick up went smoother and quicker. As a reminder, if you are doing parent drop off, we ask that you pull as far forward before letting your child out of the car. The line will stop and then move again as a complete line. Wherever you stop in the line we ask that you let your child out there. This is in an attempt to keep the line moving as smoothly as possible. We always have plenty of adults on duty to guide your child to the appropriate door. Further, once your child is out of the car, we ask that you wait until the cars in front of you begin moving, please do not go around any stopped vehicle. The line should always be a single file line.  At parent pick up we ask that you again pull as far forward as possible before parking. Once parked, you may exit your vehicle, but we ask that you do not go too far from your it. We have adults there to assist in reuniting parents and children. Once all students are safely in their vehicle, we will dismiss the group at the same time.  Your patience and cooperation is greatly appreciated during these processes.  Here is an updated lunch menu for September. Please take note of the changes. Corrected Lunch Menu Be Well, Be Curious, Now What?,  Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates September 3 - 6 No School - Labor Day Break September 22, 2021 Open House - PreK - Grade 1 More info coming! September 23, 2021 Open House - Grades 2 -4 More info coming! October 19, 2021 School Picture Day GMS News Bus First View Tracker App The Litchfield School District is launching the First View Bus Tracker Parent App.  Just download the First View app, go through a short registration and you will be able to access information on your child's bus, such as live tracking, predictive stop times, and more.  Please read the guides provided and follow the registration guide that contains the code for your child's or children's school, which you will need to submit during the registration process. To access the information, please click on the links provided: First View Parent Letter Registration Guide FAQs News from the SAU/ Superintendent No News at this Time News from the PTO Please click on the link below for a calendar of events for September. PTO Newsletter News from the Community Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know Powerschool Parent Portal This summer we switched our Student Information System to Powerschool. As part of Powerschool, you are able to access the Parent Portal in the Unified Classroom feature of this system. Please follow the link below to set up you parent portal account. Please contact the main office if you have an issues creating an account. For Parents - Directions for Parent Access Bus Routes Bus Routes for the upcoming year can be found here: Bus Routes Absence Reporting Email The GMS office now has a dedicated email address to use to report your child tardy or absent:  GMSabsences@litchfieldsd.org. You can also find it on the Griffin Memorial School homepage, on the top, left side under “ABSENCES”. When you send an email please include the following information:                 *Child’s first and last name                 *Teacher                 *Reason for absence If you would prefer to leave a voicemail message when your child is absent or tardy you are still welcome to call 424-5931 and then hit “2” when you hear the automated message. Please remember to include the above information in the voice message. Please note that when you email or leave a voice message saying that your child “will be out” then the absence is recorded as unexcused. Please tell us the reason for the absence so it is documented correctly.

229 Charles Bancroft Hwy. Litchfield, NH 03052 (603) 424-5931 Past Editions of the GMS School News can be found at: https://griffinnhnews.blogspot.com/