September 11, 2026

 

Griffin Memorial School News At GMS, We THRIVE

September 11, 2026 GMS Families,           Week 2 is in the books and we now look to our first full week next week. To add to the fun we will also have our Open Houses on Tuesday (PreK, K and 1) and Thursday (Grades 2,3,&$). We welcome the students to come along to show the parents the classroom and all the work that has already been done.          During both of our Open House nights we will hold trainings for new volunteers. If you have not previously attended a volunteer training but you would like to volunteer in your child's classroom, chaperone a field trip, help out in the GMS library, etc., please plan to attend one of these trainings:       *Tues., Sept. 15 at 5:45pm or 6:30pm       *Thurs., Sept. 17 at 5:45pm or 6:30pm All volunteer trainings will be held in the GMS Gym.           Prior to attending a volunteer training please read The Volunteer Handbook, and also print and complete the Volunteer Confidentiality Form and the Volunteer Assurances Form.          If you are a returning volunteer who would like to update your volunteer paperwork for the 2026-27 school year, please stop by the GMS gym on Sept. 15 or Sept. 17 between 6:00 - 7:00pm. We will have copies of  paperwork available for returning volunteers to complete.           As a reminder all back to school forms are found on the Powerschool Portal. Information for completing these forms are found below in the Tech section. We ask that you please take a moment to complete these necessary forms. After September 30 any student who does not have these forms completed may lose Chromebook acess and the ability to check out library books, based on permissions that are included in these forms. Your attention to this is greatly appreciated.         Finally, we recognize that our drop off and pick up procedures can oftentimes create a traffic situation. We do our best to limit wait time and keep the traffic moving, though it does still back up. In an attempt to be good neighbors we ask that you avoid queing up on Anna Ln, and rather pull to the side of CBH. In the afternoon, if you are early we ask that you please pull in and wait in the lines we have created in the Parking Lot. Everyone's cooperation help make this process as smooth as possible.          See you all at the Fisher Cats tomorrow and then again on Tuesday or Thursday at Open House!    Be Well, Be Curious, and THRIVE, Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton-Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates September 15, 2026 Picture Day (CORRECTED DATE) September 15, 2026 Open House- Pre K, K and Grade 1 - 6:00 PM September 17, 2026 Open House- Grades 2-4- 6:00 PM September 25, 2026 Griffy Store at Recesses GMS News Spirit Days Throughout the year we like to mix in some fun through Spirit Days. In order to give you a chance to plan and prepare for these days we have created THIS LIST. Hopefully a little preparation allows you to express your best spirit on those days. Reminders will be included in the upcoming dates section of this newsletter and more information will be coming regarding the special weeks we have planned.  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 Back to School Tech News PTO News GMS Back to School Family Fun Night Join us on TOMORROW, September 12th as the Fisher Cats take on the Harrisburg Senators. First pitch at 6:03pm. Exclusive on-field experience for GMS students! Please click here for tickets and more information. Back to School PTO Forms Friendly reminder, please be sure to fill out the following forms by TONIGHT!  GMS PTO Family Directory Volunteer Form Room Parent Form Pumpkin Festival Planning Meeting The 9th annual Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for Friday, October 30th from 6pm - 8pm. Join us for our first planning meeting on Thursday, September 17th at 8pm via Zoom (link will be shared on the PTO FB page). We'd love your help as we plan a fun night for the GMS community!  Griffy Gear Sale We are excited that our Griffy Gear sale is back again this year! There are several items available in a variety of sizes and colors for both children and adults. Online orders can be placed until October 10th. Griffy Store The first Griffy Store of the year is right around the corner on Friday, 9/25. The store will open outside during recess with a variety of items for the students to shop for 2 items (e.g.  educational tools, classroom supplies, and more). Inventory forms will be sent home with students prior to the store opening, so stay tuned. To keep the store running we need VOLUNTEERS during recess times. Please consider volunteering for one of the slots. You can sign-up here! October PTO Meeting Please join us for our first meeting on Tuesday, October 13th at 6:30pm via Zoom. Come meet the board and learn about the PTO! At this meeting, we will hear school updates from Mr. Mitchell & Mrs. Clinton-Jones as well as updates about the PTO events and happenings. A link will be provided on the PTO FB page as we get closer to the date. We look forward to seeing you! **All of this information and more may be found on our Facebook Page: GMS PTO NH 2026-2027.** Community News Repeated News/ Long Term Info to Know 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 NOT park in the parking lot and walk 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      From Nurse Sarah ·         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  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 Food Services Free and Reduced Meal Applications are available for families needing to apply.  Families can apply online HERE, or can fill out a paper copy, available at each school.  Families can apply at any time during the school year, all information is confidential, and there is no penalty for applying and not qualifying.  For any further information or assistance, please contact Lauren Crowley, SNS, Dining Services Director.  Free and Reduced Instructions Free and Reduced Application Free and Reduced Public Release End 68 Hours of Hunger and the Litchfield School District 2026-2027 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 Jess Carroll, School Social Worker, at jcarroll@litchfieldsd.org 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/