Well, we made it, here we are, April Vacation!! We are so proud of all the growth and accomplishments that have been had up until this point. We are excited to see what this final stretch of the school year brings.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the Climate and Culture Surveys that went out this week. Now the work of taking that feedback and using it to make GMS even greater begins. Earlier today, we had great conversations at our Coffee with the Principal. It was a nice moment for us to spend some time with parents, hear their stories, answer their questions, and just have a relaxing moment with them. We will have one more before the school year ends, we hope you can join us.
When we return in May it will be the most active part of the school year. NHSAS assessments, iReady, Field Trips, UA flex week, Chorus Concert, Field Day, and Relay Recess are just a few of the things waiting for us. As the speed picks up and the sprint to the finish takes place, we hope you are all able to take a moment or two to reflect back on all that this year has brought.
We wish you all a happy, safe, and restful April vacation.
Parents of Fourth Graders
Your child has the opportunity to vote for their favorite book out of the 2022-2023 New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award Nominees. If at least one book was read and enjoyed, he/she can vote. The deadline for the voting is Sunday, April 30th. The link is posted in their Library Google Classroom, but it is also here: GSF voting
Department of Education 603 Bright Futures Survey
The New Hampshire Department of Education wants to hear from you. The 603 Bright Futures Survey is an opportunity for you to have your voice heard. These surveys will gather actionable feedback around learning models, school climate, family and community engagement, and other topics in order to understand the successes and challenges of the recent school year and plan for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. We have partnered with Panorama Education to support us with the 603 Bright Futures Survey. If you have any questions about the survey program, please reach out to Panorama at support+nhed@panoramaed.com.
The 603 Bright Futures Survey is also a way for schools to gather their Special Education Family data in support of NHED's federal reporting for Indicator 8. This year, all schools and families are eligible to participate. Please feel free to share the survey with your community.
Survey questions were developed with input from a cohort of school leaders and should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. The survey window runs from March 13 to April 28.
Survey Links:
News from the SAU/ Superintendent
News from the PTO
May PTO meeting: Join us for our next PTO meeting on Tuesday, May 9th at 6:30pm via Zoom. At this meeting we will continue with Executive Board nominations and follow with a vote. If you are interested in a position, please reach out to a board member or email Erica at ericaeagan@gmail.com.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is scheduled for the week of May 1st-5th (the week immediately following April vacation). During the week we will celebrate our amazing GMS teachers and staff! Here is the flyer and the questionnaire for students to fill out for their classroom teacher and assigned staff. If you are interested in donating an item to help make the week a success, please click here. If you are interested in volunteering the week of the event, please click here. We are requesting that all items be dropped off by 2pm on Monday, May 1st. Please reach out to Sarah Vasil (sarah_willis01338@yahoo.com) with any questions. Thank you in advance for your help making this week a great one!
Sweetheart Dance: Join us for a Night In the Fairy Garden on Friday, May 12th from 6pm - 8pm. To help make this event a success, please consider donating an item or volunteering the night of the event. If you have any questions or would like to help please reach out to event chairs: Katie LaBrie at bardsleykatie@gmail.com or Erika Charbonneau at Erikacharb@gmail.com.
Attention all 4th Grade Families: 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! 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 April Newsletter includes PTO news as well as some fun ideas for home!
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!
News from the Community
Hi! My name is Kiana Henderson and for my Senior Project I will be running the hair donation drive for cancer patients with hair loss. The event will be held on May 4th, from 4-6pm at Campbell High School. Anyone who is looking to donate their hair can show up between 4-6 and you may bring someone with you to cut your hair, or any volunteer working the event can cut your hair as well. You can donate 8, 10, or 12 inches and you will be able to select the charity you wish to donate to when you arrive. There will be hair stylists at the event to style your hair after the big cut if you are interested! Below there will be a link for you to sign up on a google form as well as a permission form if you are under 18. Please remember to print out the permission form and write on it after you print out the blank form. Bring the form the day of the event and feel free to reach out to me or my advisor if you have any questions! You can contact me at kianahh11@gmail.com or my advisor Amy Gaspar at agaspar@litchfieldsd.org
I hope to see everyone there!!
Hair Donation Sign Up: https://forms.gle/JWXBikQscFYvxWQy9
Hair Donation Permission Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OzU7e2lKP5hvA_QUJhHrLg6kXnU21BRPEhgxQul0WV4/edit?usp=sharing
Litchfield Fishing Derby
Litchfield Fishing Derby will take place May 6 from 8am to 11am at Parker Park, rain or shine! The event is open to ages 4-15 with prizes offered in many categories. This sponsored by the Litchfield Conservation Comm. and Recreation Comm.
Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know
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.
Blue Lights
You may have seen that in the past few months blue lights have been installed both inside and outside of all three schools in the Litchfield School District. These lights are designed to flash in an emergency, offering a visual alert that there is an emergency situation going on. When you are in the building and see the blue light flashing you should listen for information given over the intercom. If you are outside of a school building and you see the blue light flashing you should not enter the building.
Lunchroom News
Beginning April 1, 2023, the price of breakfast and lunch will be increasing at each school. Breakfast will be $2.00; Lunch will be $3.00 at GMS, $3.25 at LMS and $3.50 at CHS. Please contact lcrowley@litchfieldsd.org with any questions or concerns.
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.
