The UA Flex Week wrapped up this week with visits from a musician, the basketball program, and a Rube Goldberg master. The students were exposed to a wide variety of creativity, action, and expression. The student created Rube Goldbergs were quite the engineering marvels.
Fourth graders are coming home today with forms for Band or Chorus next year at LMS. Please complete those forms and get them back to Ms. Magoon as soon as possible.
After this long weekend the speed and pace really ramp up to the end of the year. There will not be a week without a field trip, shenanigans, ballyhoo, or special event for the students. It is a fun, yet exhausting way to put the ribbon on this year of growth, change, and learning.
As we go into this long weekend, we wish a time of rest, rejuvenation, or whatever else you may need . We use this weekend and extra day to remember the ultimate sacrifice of so many. Theirs will never be forgotten or overlooked. We owe them thanks and honor for their sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy.
We hope to see you at or in the parade on Monday.
From the Nurse
Field day is around the corner!! We are in need of water bottles for that day. If you are able to, you can send them into the gym. Thank you in advance!!
Relay Recess
Our school is participating in our 11th 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 2nd. 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. Please include your child’s name and their teacher’s name on the envelope when it is turned in.
GMS Tigers team is signed up for the larger community 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.
4th Grade Recognition
On Monday, June 12 we will have our 4th Grade Recognitions. The morning will be class specific recognition ceremonies and a honk out. In the afternoon, we will have them all together for one whole grade celebration. Parents and families are invited to take part in the morning class celebrations. More information will be coming next week but for planning purposes the times of these celebrations are as follows:
9:00 Kazangian
9:45 Leary
10:30 Ashe
11:30 Cohen
News from the SAU/ Superintendent
News from the PTO
June PTO meeting: Join us for our next and last PTO meeting on Tuesday, June 13th at 6:30pm via Zoom.
At our most recent meeting, we voted to adopt updated GMS PTO by-laws. What does this mean? The most significant update to the by-laws would allow co-positions for the Fundraising Chair & Cultural Arts Chair. Please note interested candidates in a co role must have mutual interest in working together and agree to a co nomination.
Given the update to the by-laws we voted to postpone the Executive Board election until our June meeting. At this meeting we will continue with the nominations and follow with a vote. If you are interested in a position, please reach out to a board member or myself at ericaeagan@gmail.com. We are here to answer any questions you may have
Newsletter: Our May Newsletter includes PTO news as well as a fun word search and May days to celebrate!
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!
May PTO Newsletter
News from the Community
Litchfield Recreational Basketball League will be offering Summer skills and drills for our athletes in Grades 1-8. Our Coaches Tyler Amigo and Brittany Reidy will be joining us again on the Darrah Courts. Register here for 4 session | $20.
Boys Monday Nights: July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31
Grades 1-4, 5:00pm-6:30pm | Grades 5-8, 6:30pm-8pm
Girls Tuesday Nights: July 11, July 18, July 25, Aug 1
Grades 1-4, 5:00pm-6:30pm | Grades 5-8, 6:30pm-8pm
* time can be adjusted due to registration numbers
Memorial Day Parade and Program:
This year’s Memorial Day Parade and Program will be held on Monday,
May 29th, starting at 10:00 A.M. Groups and individuals are invited to march inthe parade. Marchers and floats are asked to meet at the Litchfield Middle School parking lot at 9:30 A.M. The Parade will begin at the Litchfield Middle School andend 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 service wreaths and the playing of TAPS.
The Historical Society’s “Civil War Room” and other furnished rooms will be open to the public after the program.
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.
