While much has happened in the world this week that has forced us to think and reflect, we keep coming back to one word: Community. The GMS and Litchfield community it second to none. Whenever necessary or needed this community comes together, thinks like a community, and acts like a community. This is present in events like our Family Arts Nights. Each night approximately 90% of the students and families returned to participate together in fun and engaging activities together to celebrate the arts. We can not wait to see the fun that the first and second grades have this coming week. Special thanks to our UA teachers for putting this together and the many volunteers, including many former GMS students, for coming and helping out.
You may remember that a few weeks ago we introduced the new mission and vision to you. As we move forward we are looking to work with a group a parents that can help spearhead this rollout into the community and with other parents. If this seems like it interests you please reach out to Mr. Mitchell for more details.
This weekend we observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 30. On this day we honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. While we all enjoy the long weekend, it is important to remember why we have it and honor the memories of these men and women.
See you all at the parade on Monday!
At this time we are reporting 15 positive cases within our school community. To track daily numbers you can always check HERE where the district lists our daily impact. Additional information about updated protocols will be coming soon from the Superintendent's Office.
Pre K | 1 |
Kindergarten | 0 |
First Grade | 4 |
Second Grade | 3 |
Third Grade | 2 |
Fourth Grade | 2 |
Other/ Non Grade Specific | 3 |
GMS News
Family Arts Night
The Unified Arts team presents Family Arts Night for grades 1-4.
Save the dates:
June 1, 2022 - Grade 1
June 2, 2022 - Grade 2
The schedule for these nights can be found HERE.
Relay Recess
Our school is participating in our 10th annual Relay Recess health awareness and fundraising event. Your child has an opportunity to participate in a wellness based school activity, as well as raise money in support of the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. Your child and our school have an opportunity to make a difference.
Through Relay Recess our school has chosen to walk around the school grounds to honor those affected by cancer. The fourth grade Student Council will help to spread awareness of healthy habits this month. The committee would like to remind everyone to wear sunscreen and hats on the day of our event, June 6th. A best hat prize will be awarded at each grade level!
We are asking each student to collect donations as part of their participation in Relay Recess. Each student has been provided a donation envelope and our Relay Recess fundraising program will run from now until June 3rd. Please have checks made out to American Cancer Society, not GMS. Attached to each letter you will find a sun/moon and a luminary bag. A person who donates $5 can be given a sun/moon to write their name to show their support of the event. A person who donates $10 can be given a luminary bag to decorate to honor someone who has passed, or a survivor. Send the sun/moon and luminary bag back to school to be displayed at our event. If you are in need of another sun/moon or bag, let your child’s classroom teacher know and we will be sure to get you another.
GMS Tigers team is signed up for the larger event and the fundraising goes toward our Relay Recess totals. Students can register online and send emails about their fundraiser to family and friends. This is also a way for you to avoid dealing with cash and checks.
Go to https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=99425 . You will be routed to the Greater Manchester/Concord event page. Click on Join This Relay. Create an account or use the account from last year if you have fundraised online in the past. Then join team GMS Tigers.
Every student who raises money will be entered into a raffle for Relay Recess prizes! Top fundraisers at each grade level will also receive a prize.
Thank you for all of your support as we work together to teach your children how to be responsible citizens and play an active role in their community!
Please email Mrs. Quimby at squimby@litchfieldsd.org if you have any questions about the GMS Relay Recess.
COVID Update - We are seeing an uptick in illness, including confirmed cases of COVID-19, in our schools. Please remember to complete the Daily Health Screener and to follow the Quarantine and Isolation Protocols. Washing hands, keeping a physical distance from others and wearing a mask are all effective strategies to protect against transmission of illnesses.
News from the PTO
No News At This Time
News from the Community
Memorial Day Parade & Program
May 30, 2022
10:00 A.M.
Groups or individuals are invited to march in the Memorial Day Parade. Marchers will meet at the Litchfield Middle School parking lot at 9:30 a.m.
The Parade will begin at the Litchfield Middle School and end at the Historical Society Building.
The Memorial Day Program will begin at this time. The Scouts will perform the Presentation of Colors. The Campbell High School Chorus and Band will be performing. The program will close with the placement of wreaths and the playing of TAPS.
The Historical Society Civil War Room will be open to the public.
Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know
Kindergarten Registration Has Begun!
Please register your child as early as possible. It is very important for our planning for appropriate class sizes and staffing needs. To attend Kindergarten, your child must be 5 years old on or before September 31, 2022.
All Student registrations are a 3 part process.
To Begin, click on the following link: https://ecollect.accelaschool.com/litchfield
1) After you complete and submit the preregistration information, it will need to be verified. Once verified, an email with further instructions will be sent to the address included in the preregistration. If you don’t receive the email within 3 school days, please check your spam or junk mail.
2) Follow the instructions from this email and complete the information on several additional registration forms.
3.) Bring Proof of Residence, an Original Birth Certificate, Proof of immunizations and a recent physical to the school. These items will be photocopied and your original paperwork returned to you. A list of acceptable items can be found here: Required Documents .Registration is not complete until all forms and documents have been verified. You will be notified via the email you provide when registering if there is missing or additional information needed.
Children who already attend Griffin Memorial do not need to re-register for the next school year.
End 68 Hours of Hunger
End 68 Hours of Hunger and Litchfield Schools are pleased to inform you about a free, confidential food program which provides students with meals from Friday after school until they return to school on Monday morning. If meeting the weekend nutritional needs of your child is challenging at this time, we would like to help meet that need. All food is non-perishable and easy to prepare. If your child has any food allergies, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate this need. Nut products are included for those who are not allergic, but children are informed that they are not to open the bags until a parent can review the contents. The bags are delivered to schools and students will take the bags home with them on the bus or at parent pick-up. If you would like to pick up the bags yourself, arrangements can be made for pick up at the front office.
If you are interested in joining the program or learning more, please contact Elin Pelland, School Social Worker, at 424-2133 x 2215 or at epelland@litchfieldsd.org.
Powerschool Parent Portal
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
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.
