Last evening we were able to attend the New Hampshire Partners in Education Event with some members of our PTO to receive our Blue Ribbon School Award. The dedication of our PTO and volunteers is the backbone of GMS. Without the service of our parents and volunteers we would not be able to do what we do. The Blue Ribbon honor truly exemplifies what GMS is all about. Thank you to the many volunteers who give their time, in many capacities, in service of our school.
Monday is the last day of our Make A Difference Food Drive. We are overwhelmed with the donations we have already received and are excited to see what the generosity of our community creates.
Please keep reading for important information regarding registration paperwork, Wizard of Oz, and our upcoming Book Fair.
Since this will be our last newsletter before the break, we want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. May the time off provide you rest, relaxation, and the quality time you all need and have earned with each other. We are thankful that we can serve you and are part of this amazing community!
Though it may be hard to believe, we are getting close to the time of year where weather may become a factor in our school days. While we are not ready to utter the "S Word", please know that Chromebooks will only be issued to students, on Remote Days, if they have paid their insurance. For more information please Follow this link:
Chromebook Insurance Information
If you need assistance in making these arrangements, please reach out to Mr. Mitchell.
We are coming up to Thanksgiving and we still have a number of students who do not have one or all of the School year registration forms completed. It is vitally important that these forms be completed. Please take a moment to fill out these forms as soon as possible. Information and instructions can be found in the link below. We will be personally reaching out as well.
Back To School Forms Information and Directions
SAVE THE DATE!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to GMS December 5-9th! Your child will be able to come to the book fair during library class time that week. Your family could also visit the book fair the evening of Thursday, December 8th.
GMS Scholastic Book Fair Website
In order to run the fair, we need volunteers! If you are able to volunteer, please sign up here: book fair volunteer sign up
Wizard Of Oz Information
Campbell High school Friends of Performing Arts will be running concessions for all four Wizard of Oz shows. The links are for our Amazon Wish list for candies, chips, etc... and the 2nd link is for our sign-up genius for all water and soda products. Please consider selecting some items from our wish list or sign-up genius so we can be fully stocked and ready to have lots of refreshments at the shows.
Please bring all water and soda items to the address on the form (24 Woodhawk way)
DO NOT BRING THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2439VP440P13W?ref_=wl_share
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4cadad2da5f49-20222
Make-A-Difference Food Drive
The GMS Student Council is helping to sponsor the 22nd Annual Make-A-Difference Food Drive to benefit the Litchfield Food Pantry. Please send non-perishable items into school between Monday, November 14-Monday, November 21 to participate. For more information, including a list of needed items, click here! The GMS Student Council thanks you in advance for your support!
News from the PTO
Join us for dinner and our own private showing of the Polar Express at Chunky’s in Manchester. WAITLIST for Wednesday, December 7th is available here. This will not reserve tickets for you but will put you on the waitlist should tickets become available for this date. Please DO NOT make payment if you choose this method - You will be notified if tickets become available. SECOND SHOWING DATE- TICKETS AVAILABLE for Thursday, December 8th! Please reserve using this link - waitlist will happen when we have reached a maximum capacity.
Holiday Store! The holiday store is scheduled for December 12th, 13th, and 14th (with a tentative back up plan for the 15th). Each class will have the opportunity to visit the store, so students can do some holiday shopping. To help them shop at the store please Sign-up here! More information about the store will be coming home soon!
December PTO meeting: Please save the date for our next meeting on Tuesday, December 13th at 6:30pm via Zoom. We know December is a busy month but we hope to see you there!
Attention all 4th Grade Families: Here is the link to submit photos for this year's yearbook! This will be the link to submit all current year photos. If you have any questions, please email gmsyearbook2023@gmail.com.
Newsletter: Our November Newsletter includes PTO news as well as a fun coloring page!
Attention all GMS Volunteers: GMS would like to apply for a Blue Ribbon Award this year and in order to do so, we need to keep track of volunteer hours. We are currently using a Google form to track. Please be sure to enter any time you may have spent volunteering this school year. Some examples include baking for the back to school breakfast bash, volunteering in the library, planning/coordinating an event, etc. Thank you to our volunteers for all that you do!
November Newsletter
News from the Community
Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know
An Opportunity to Help
Hello GMS Parents! If you are a customer of Amerigas and would like to help out our school, please consider signing up for the Amerigas School Days program. They partner with the school and you, the customer, to help support the school. The company will tally all gallons tied to our school from parents who sign up and pay $.02 per gallon at the end of the program. Then they will present our school with a check of up to $2000.00 to purchase items for any school-related need. Just click on the link and supply your information to participate. Our School ID is # 1014744825.
Thank you!
https://www.amerigas.com/company-information/amerigas-in-the-community/school-days-program/participant-form
From Food Services
All schools offer breakfast every morning to our students! The cost of breakfast is $1.75, and is open a half hour before school begins! If you have any questions regarding the school breakfast program please reach out to Food Service Director lcrowley@litchfieldsd.org for more information!" For Kindergarten families, please use THIS LINK to place a daily order for breakfast.
End 68 Hours of Hunger and the Litchfield School District 2022-2023
The End 68 Hours of Hunger Program 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.
Each week, bags containing food will be provided to students at school. Students will bring the bag home on the bus or by whatever mode of transportation they have at the end of the day. If you prefer, parents may pick up the bag at school. Please contact your GMS School Social Worker Jada Tessier for further information jtessier@litchfieldsd.org.
End 68 Hours of Hunger Sign Up
Pick Up Procedures
Those utilizing parent pick up are asked to fill in the large loop at the designated time. Please have the colored pick up slips that were sent home, as these act as verification for our staff. If you arrive early for your designated time, you will be directed to a waiting line in the parking lot until your group time.
Pink Group (Last Names A-G): 2:45
Yellow Group (Last Names H-O) 2:52
Blue Group (Last Names P-Z) 3:00
Buses: 3:10 targeted departure
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.
Chromebooks
For parents of Grades 1-4 students: Chromebook Take Home Fee is $5 per school year for each student. This fee will allow students to take home Chromebooks during remote learning days. If this fee is not paid the student will not be sent home with a Chromebook in preparation for a weather related remote day. If this fee presents a financial hardship please reach out to Mr. Mitchell.
