January 23, 2026

 

Griffin Memorial School News At GMS, We THRIVE

January 23, 2026 GMS Families,         As we mentioned last week, this marks the midway point of the year. The second quarter is now closed and we look forward to all that the second half of the year will bring. We think it may start on the snowy side, but we will see.        Since the second quarter will be the first report cards of the year, we wanted to review the process for receiving these. Paper copies are not sent home, rather they are emailed to all parents. In order to protect this confidential information, two emails will be sent. Next Friday, you will receive a first email midday that includes a code in it. Later in the day, you will receive a second email that includes the report card. However the report card will be protected behind the code received in the first email. We know this may seem like extra steps, but it is also the best way to ensure that all information is kept as protected as possible. Please reach out if you have any questions and we will work through all the bumps that may come along with the first report cards of the year.         Mrs. Girzone would like to take PE classes outside next week to sled and snowshoe.  Please make sure your child has proper snow gear and boots on their PE day.  With all this snow we are supposed to be getting, I'd like to take advantage of it if the temperature cooperates!! Also, PE classes are in desperate need of small waters if anyone is willing to donate.         Stay warm this weekend, enjoy the snow, and here is to an amazing second half of the year! Be Well, Be Curious, and THRIVE, Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates January 31, 2026 School Deliberative Session 10:00 AM CHS Auditorium February 5, 2026 GMS Winterfest 5:00 - 7:00 PM February 13, 2026 Valentine's Celebrations- Wear Red, White, and/or Pink February 23-27, 2026 Winter Break GMS News Winterfest Our second annual GMS Winterfest is just two weeks away! Fun for the whole family: warm up by our bonfire, have your face painted, create some wonderful winter-themed crafts, enjoy the rhythms of cardio drumming, plus more! Don't forget to enter our chili contest to be in the running for some amazing gift cards to local restaurants!  Register for your FREE tickets if you plan on attending: https://forms.gle/qb2zYV93ZCBD7Jyv8 We still need a few items to make our event a success. We are looking for donations of individual waters as well as a few items on our Amazon wish list (https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/7JCD6KCI7FS4?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_QBT6TMTNAA6ER5FE3FF1). Thanks in advance for your support! Kindergarten Registration Registration for the 26-27 Kindergarten class will begin on Monday, February 2. Your child must be 5 on or before September 30, 2026. Registration is a multi-stepped process and begins with a pre-registration form that gives us basic information. You will receive an automated email with information about the next step as your request is processed. You can start gathering documents now that will be needed - birth certificate, immunization and physical exam record and 3 documents that prove your Litchfield residency. The link to registration and explanation of needed documents  is provided here: https://www.litchfieldsd.org/StudentRegistration1.aspx  and can be found on the main page to the Litchfield School District website. Counselors' Corner Be sure to check out the January edition of our Counselors' Corner Newsletter to hear all of the news and information from Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Perkins. Counselors’ Corner PTO News Volunteer Opportunities - Coordinator Needed! Kids N’ Canvas Coordinator Have you thought about getting involved with the PTO, do you like to plan events, want to start small and work your way up to a larger role or event? In this role you will organize an after school painting program for students. This position will have a point of contact from the Executive Board who will be available as a resource and for guidance. If interested, please reach out to Erica Ruggles at ptonhgms@gmail.com February PTO Meeting Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, February 10th at 6:30pm via Zoom. We hope you will join us as we hear updates from Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Clinton-Jones as well as updates about the PTO events and happenings! We look forward to seeing you there! January Newsletter Be sure to read our monthly newsletters where we will highlight important dates and upcoming events, and we'll introduce you to our Executive Board and Coordinators CALLING ALL 4th GRADE FAMILIES - YEARBOOK UPDATE Photo collection  It’s time to start sending in those photos for the yearbook! At this time, we are collecting photos from CURRENT and PAST years. Please note that all photo submissions should have current 4th grade GMS students only. We’d love to include your treasured snapshots! Here's how to submit photos: If you have a Google email account, please use the appropriate Google Forms  PAST CURRENT If you do not have a Google email account, please email photos directly to gmsyearbook2026@gmail.com Please do not submit photos from Facebook as they do not transfer well. Please also note that we will try our best to include as many submitted photos as possible, but reserve the right to select images based on space, image quality, and subject matter. We also strive to ensure that each student is represented equally. Help us make this year’s yearbook full of amazing memories! Yearbook Sponsorships Each year, the GMS PTO is proud to present our graduating 4th graders with a yearbook that captures their special memories from their time at GMS. If you’re a business owner and are interested in partnering with us for the upcoming publication, please fill out the sponsorship form.  Please contact the yearbook coordinators at gmsyearbook2026@gmailcom with any questions. Thank you for your consideration and support! **All of this information and more may be found on our Facebook Page: GMS PTO NH 2025-2026.** Community News Lacrosse Registration Litchfield town lacrosse registration is now OPEN for boys and girls, grades 1-8. Please visit our website at www.litchfieldlacrosse.net to access all information! Early bird registration, $25 off!!! Any questions? Email the president, patireland33@gmail.com Registration Flyer Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know End 68 Hours of Hunger and the Litchfield School District 2023-2024 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.  If you’d like to sign up for the program or need additional information, please contact Taryn Staples, School Social Worker, at tstaples@litchfieldsd.org. From Food Services Please see the attached links in regards to our food services. They explain the meal prices for this year as well as qualification and application information for the free and reduced meal program. 2025 NH Public Release Food Services Letter Free and Reduced Instructions (English) Free and Reduced Application (English) Free and Reduced Application (Spanish) News from Tech The parent portal in now open on Powerschool. Please see below in the News from Tech section, for instructions about completing your annual verification. As a reminder, these must be completed EVERY YEAR. MUST UPDATE AND CONFIRM POWERSCHOOL INFORMATION ANNUALLY.Please click the links below for updated information regarding powerschool and Chromebook information. A reminder that all parents PowerSchool Portal Information for Parents Back-to-School and Chromebook Insurance Morning Drop Off Procedures During the morning drop off, both buses and cars will utilize the big loop. As vehicles pull in please pull as far forward until all cars have stopped. Then you can let your child out of the car. Please then wait until the cars in front of you move before pulling forward. Please DO NOT pass a stopped car, cut through the parking lot,  or stop at the front door if there is space in front to pull forward. We also ask that you avoid parking in the parking lot and walking your child to the door, this adds pedestrian traffic to car traffic. Our attempt is to make this a safe and fluid process. We understand that some back ups do occur, but this procedure ensures safety of all and limits the length of any delay. 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-E): 2:45 Yellow Group (Last Names F-N) 2:52 Blue Group (Last Names O-Z) 3:00 Buses: 3:10 targeted departure      Absence Reporting  At Litchfield School District, one of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all our students arrive safely at school each and every day.  To enhance our existing absence-checking procedure, we now use a more efficient student absence reporting system called SafeArrival.  This  system will reduce the time it takes to verify student attendance, make it easy for you to report your child’s absence and easy for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.  With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods: Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.com). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence. Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence. Call the toll-free number 1-833-516-0370 to report an absence using the automated phone system. These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.  Future absences can be reported at any time.  In addition, we will use the SchoolMessenger Communicate automated notification system to contact parents whose child is absent when the absence was not reported in advance. The automated notification system will attempt to contact parents at multiple contact points until a reason is submitted for the absence. If our system is unable to reach the designated contacts, office staff will follow up.  If you report your child’s absence in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or mobile app, you will NOT receive these notifications. SafeArrival Sign Up SafeArrival FAQs SafeArrival Report an Absence From Nurse Alexa ·         Please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing o    a fever (>100.4°)They must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications o   Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours o   Continuous coughing not relieved by cough medicine o   Are overall not feeling well (headache, stomach ache, fatigue, etc.) ·         Practice hand washing ·         Practice covering a cough and sneeze ·         Drink lots of fluids ·         Get plenty of rest Linked below is a resource for helping prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. As always, you can reach out to the school nurse with any questions or concerns. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html  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/