Friday, February 24, 2023

February 24, 2023

 


Griffin Memorial School News

At GMS, We THRIVE

February 24, 2023
GMS Families, 

           Well we made it. Another well earned vacation is here. There has been so much growth and hard work that has gotten us all to this point and we are so proud of the accomplishments that have been seen. We hope that this vacation is the rest and rejuvenation that you all need. When we return in March we are right back it with many exciting events and learning to take place. 

Enjoy your break and we will be ready for you when you all return in March.

Be Well, Be Curious, and THRIVE,

Dan Mitchell, Principal
Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates
February 27 - March 3Winter Vacation
March 10, 2023Griffy Store
March 14, 2023No School- Town Voting/ Professional Day

GMS News

For Fourth Grade Families

Hello 4th grade families! The LMS Spirit Store is now open thru March 8, 2023. As rising 5th graders, we invite you to shop for your first LYNX gear!  Visit the store here to shop! The LMS PTO is excited for our rising 5th graders to soon visit LMS and be part of our school community!!!  If you have any questions please email us at ptonhgms@gmail.com.

Registration for Kindergarten for this fall has begun.

You must use a laptop or desktop computer. Please use Chrome or Safari as your browser, not Internet Explorer.

Please go to the Litchfield School District website (litchfieldsd.org) and click on the Orange tab on the top, left-side of the page.

After completing this short form you will receive an email with further instructions on setting up an account. Please note that it may take several business days before your account becomes active.

You will need to provide the following documents in addition to completing the registration forms:

1. Child's birth certificate

2. Proofs (3) of residency

3. Proof of guardianship

4. Proof of immunizations and most recent physical


All forms and document submissions should be completed as soon as possible.

Please call Griffin Memorial School @ 603-424-5931 if you have questions about registering for Kindergarten.

Girls on the Run - Spring 2023

About Girls on the Run:

At Girls on the Run, we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches who guide and mentor the girls through dynamic discussions, activities and running 

games. Lessons are fun and engaging and teach specific skills and strategies such as how to manage emotions, help others, make intentional decisions, and resolve conflict. Girls can then use these strategies at home, at school and with friends.

The program culminates with all participants walking or running a celebratory 5K event, which gives them a tangible sense of accomplishment, as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

The 10-week program is for girls in 3rd and 4th grades of all fitness abilities.

Practice Times: Mondays & Wednesdays, 3-4:30 pm

Start Date: March 20th

Location: Griffin Memorial School

5K Celebration Event: June 3 (Concord, NH)

To learn more about Girls on the Run, registration or financial assistance, 

please visit our website:

https://www.girlsontherunnh.org/

Program lottery registration will open on February 13

No girl will be turned away for financial reasons

GOTR-NH is a 501© 3 organization. Contact Betsy Cissel: 603-778-1389 or 117 Water Street, Exeter, NH

*This is not a school sponsored event*

Spring Child Find Screenings

Litchfield School District will be hosting a Free Child Find Screening Event

Thursday March 30th, 2023

12:00-2:00 PM By Appointment Only

If your child is between the ages of 2.5  and 5 years 11 months, and you have developmental concerns in the areas of hearing, vision, motor coordination, speech/ language or cognitive development, please contact Courtney Beach at cbeach@litchfieldsd.org to learn more or to schedule an appointment for screening.

Free Summer Camp Opportunity

Please see the flyer below for opportunities for free summer camp sponsored by the State.

Summer Camp Opportunities

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 6 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

Griffy Store: The next Griffy Store is right around the corner on Friday, March 10th. Be sure to keep an eye out for the inventory forms that will be sent home after break. To volunteer at one of our Griffy Store days please visit the Sign-up here!

Save the Dates for Upcoming Spring Events: 

Boys Night Out "Let's Glow Crazy" is scheduled for Friday, March 24th from 6pm - 8pm. Join us for the next and final planning meeting on Wednesday, March 15th at 7pm via Zoom. To help make this event a success, please consider volunteering your time the night of or donating an item. More information will be sent home with students after the school vacation week.

The Sweetheart Dance is scheduled for Friday, May 12th from 6pm - 8pm. Join us for the first planning meeting on Wednesday, March 8th at 6pm via Google Meets

March PTO meeting: Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30pm. This meeting will be in-person in the GMS cafeteria. We hope to see you there!

Attention all 4th Grade Families: Here are some links to submit photos for this year's yearbook! 

You can send current pictures of this year using this form. Pictures from sports, playdates, performances, scouting, and class parties are great additions to the yearbook!

It is a GMS tradition to feature Baby Ads in the 4th grade yearbook! Please use this form to submit a baby ad for your 4th grader! Choose a photo, leave a brief message (we cap the number of characters for space) and your little cutie will be featured in the yearbook.

Do you have pictures of your child through their years at GMS? Please share them on this form

Baby Ads and Through the Years Pictures are due on Friday, March 31st.

Only current 4th grade students can be included in the photos submitted for the yearbook. No siblings/friends from other grades. These will NOT be shared online and will only be used for the 4th grade yearbook.

Newsletter: Our February Newsletter includes PTO news as well as a fun kindness 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!

February PTO Newsletter

News from the Community

Registration for the spring baseball season is now open! To register, please visit www.litchfieldbaseball.org and sign up today. Due to the new system, you will have to create a new account through sports engine. Deadline to register is March 15th. Please contact Andy Ruggles at aruggles17@gmail.com with any questions.

Come play Litchfield lacrosse! Registration is open for the spring season and will close on Feb.28, 2023. See the flyer for more information and registration details!

 Litchfield Lacrosse Registration Flyer

Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know

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.

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.

Hannaford Helps

Do you shop at Hannaford? If you do then please help Hannaford support GMS by just doing your regular grocery shopping!!

Shopping In-Store 

SHOP – Look for shelf tags on over 1,500 participating products.

CHECK OUT – Collect your School Dollars from an associate at checkout.

DEPOSIT – Drop your School Dollars in the Hannaford Helps Schools collection tower in-store.

Hannaford To Go 

SHOP – Look for the apple icon on over 1,500 products online.

CHECK OUT – Receive your School Dollars with your receipt.

DEPOSIT – Drop your School Dollars in the Hannaford Helps Schools collection tower in-store, or send them to school with your child.

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.




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/


                                                                                                



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