December 2, 2022

 

Griffin Memorial School News At GMS, We THRIVE

December 2, 2022 GMS Families, Welcome Back from what we hope was a great Thanksgiving Break. It is hard to believe it is already December, yet here we are. This month will fly by we are sure, but there is much to do and be celebrated. This coming week will be our annual Book Fair. Please see below for more information about this wonderful opportunity. This weekend, months of work and dedication will come to fruition as the Litchfield School District presents A Wizard of OZ. We hope you are able to make one of the performance. To all involved we say Congratulations. Thank you to our Music Department Staff, Mrs. Nelson, and the many other volunteers who have made this production a reality. To the cast and crew, Break a Leg!       Ms. V is having a winter clothing drive to give to students who may have a need. There is a labeled box in the front lobby to drop items off now through January. If you have a need for any winter clothing items for your child, please reach out and let her know! (All donations that do not go directly to a student in need, will either be used in the nurse's office or donated to another organization that has a need for these items.)  Be Well, Be Curious, and THRIVE, Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates December 2-4 Litchfield School District Present "The Wizard of Oz" December 5-9 Scholastic Book Fair December 12-14 PTO Holiday Store GMS News THE BOOK FAIR HAS ARRIVED! The Scholastic Book Fair is here all next week.  Purchases are a fundraiser for our library program.  Your child will be able to come to the book fair during library class.  Your family can also visit on Thursday December 8th from 3:30-7.   Here is a sample of things for sale. Here is the schedule for classes: Monday December 5th:  Smith, Kazangian, Beach, and Elliot Tuesday December 6th: Levesque, Leary, Webster, Sweetser Wednesday December 7th: LaPlante, Allen, Minervini, Adamakos Thursday December 8th: Patten, Quimby, Ashe, Doucette Friday December 9th: Sibona, Mic, Cohen, Anctil, Gould Don't want to send in money that could potentially get lost?  Sign up for ewallet at our Book Fair website and students will have that money accessible while they shop in school:  https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/griffinmemorialschool We still need help!  Please consider coming in and helping out for a few hours this coming week.  All volunteer paperwork needs to be current:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094ea8a82ca2fec07-book 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. News from the SAU/ Superintendent With winter weather around the corner, a message has gone out reminding parents and staff of the procedures we will follow to delay or cancel school due to inclement weather.  Our goal is to make a decision based upon current safety conditions the morning of the event no later than 5:00 AM.  The school district will provide 5 methods of notification of school cancellation or delay:  Facebook, email, text, website, and WMUR followed by a final phone message.  We will not be contacting any other media outlets, so please be sure to monitor these 6 methods. News from the PTO Polar Express at Chunky's - reminder to those with pre purchased tickets for the December 7th and December 8th shows: doors open at 5:15pm and the movie starts at 6:15pm. We look forward to seeing you there! Don't forget to wear pajamas!  Holiday Store! The holiday store is scheduled for December 12th - December 14th (with a tentative back up plan for December 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!  To read more about the holiday store click here. To help with the students' shopping experience a wishlist will go home for you to review with them. 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 December Newsletter includes PTO news as well as a fun winter word search! 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! December PTO Newsletter 2023 Lean to Ski and Snowboard School Program Registration is now open at McIntyre Ski Area for GMS! Dates/ Time: Wednesday's 4pm-6pm  ( 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1) Registration closes December 20th at 9:00am.  Registration "Little Macs"  ( PreK, K) 1 hour lessons https://www.mcintyreskiarea.com/product/gmkindergarten/?schoolname=Griffin%20Memorial|0 Registration "Mighty Macs" (1-4th grade) 2 hour lessons https://www.mcintyreskiarea.com/product/griffinmemorial/?schoolname=Griffin%20Memorial|0 Please feel free to reach out with any questions Melissa Feeley ( GMS ski coordinator) mkfeeley@gmail.com  News from the Community Hi I am a sophomore at CHS and for my sophomore project, I am holding a holiday drive to benefit the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. I am collecting throw blankets, lego kits, matchbox cars, pillow cases, or any oys or crafts a kid can use while in the hospital. Please help me brighten some holidays! Benefits kids 0-18 years. There will be a box placed outside of the GMS Office. Thank you - Rowan S. Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know 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. 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/