April 17, 2026

 

Griffin Memorial School News At GMS, We THRIVE

April 17, 2026 GMS Families,             This week was filled with noise, banging, energy, and excitement as students had the opportunity to participate in our Artist in Residence program, Junk to Funk. Jeff Erwin engaged the students in lessons about leadership and kindness through banging on pots, pans, barrels, signs, tubes, and more. Based on the smiles and conversations it was a smashing success (get it? Smashing...). This all culminated in a special performance this afternoon by our fourth graders. It was a great experience for all.           Next week is the week before vacation and with that comes its own form of energy. On Friday we will be introducing something new. We will hold our first ever GMS Wellness Day. Students will have the chance to participate in a number of activities that teach about hobbies, wellness, care, and creativity. One opportunity that some students will have is time with a therapy dog. If your child selected this we have communicated with you. This does mean that there will be a dog in the school building on Friday. This friend will be contained and only interact with those students selected. However, if you have concerns about the dog please reach out to Mr. Mitchell so we can ensure that your concerns are addressed.           Finally, remember that next Saturday Superintendent O'Connell will defend his leadership in the ring as professional wrestling returns to CHS. We hope you can make it and cheer him on.  Be Well, Be Curious, and THRIVE, Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates April 20, 2026 Student Council Movie Matinee April 23, 2026 Volunteer Appreciation 3:30 April 24, 2026 Wellness Day at GMS April 27- May 1 Spring Vacation GMS News From the School Counselors The newest edition of The Counselor's Corner is out now. March/ April Counselors’ Corner Preschool and Kindergarten Registration Registration for the 26-27 Kindergarten and Preschool classes has begun. . 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. PTO News Upcoming Spring Events Planning We’re excited to announce a lineup of fun events coming up this May! Flyers will be sent home with students soon, but for now, please mark your calendars: Sweetheart Dance (for GMS girl students and one adult guest): Friday, May 8 Starlight Social (for GMS boy students and one adult guest): Friday, May 29 Planning is already underway, and we’d love your help! If you’re interested in joining an event committee, please reach out to Erica Ruggles at ptonhgms@gmail.com, and she’ll connect you with the appropriate event coordinator. If you’re interested in donating an item to help make these events a success, please click here. Thank you for your consideration! Teacher & Staff Appreciation Month This year, we are trialing something new by celebrating our teachers and staff for one day a week for 5 weeks! We are spreading out the love! Flyers are making their way home with students. If you’re interested in donating an item to help make the celebration a success, please click here. If you’d prefer not to shop, we are also accepting Venmo donations and those may be sent directly to @sarah-vasil.1. Please contact Sarah with any questions at sarah_willis01338@yahoo.com. GMS/LMS Color Run The Color Run will be held at GMS on Thursday, May 21st from 6pm - 8pm. Flyers are headed home with students in the coming days, so be sure to keep an eye out for it! Please join us for our next planning meeting on Wednesday, May 6th at 7pm via Zoom. A link will be posted on the GMS PTO FB page. If you’re interested in donating an item to help make the event a success, please click here. Thank you for your consideration! May PTO Meeting Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12th 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. At this meeting, we will also be voting for all board positions for the 2026-2027 school year. If you’re interested in a board position, please fill out this interest form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Erica Ruggles at ptonhgms@gmail.com.  We hope to see you **All of this information and more may be found on our Facebook Page: GMS PTO NH 2025-2026.** Community News Town Wide Earth Day Clean Up Healthy Kids Running Series The Healthy Kids Running Series is about to begin again. For more information please check out THIS 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/