After School Reminder

Erving Elementary School has an After School Program and a Green Team Program scheduled during each week of school. These programs often times use the playground areas. The school respectfully asks students and families to come to use the playground after 5:30 PM if they so wish. The reason involves safety. The adults responsible for their programs must only be working with the students that parents/guardians have enrolled in these programs. Thank you for reading this note.

Erving Elementary School’s Proposed After School Enrichment Program

Dear parents and guardians,

For a few years, the Erving Elementary School has been interested in offering an enrichment program during the after school hours for our students. This program can only exist if there is enough interest from families to participate. Therefore, if you are willing to commit to any of these programs, please fill out the form and return it to the school by February 14. Once all the forms are returned, interested families will be contacted if the programs are “A GO”. Please ONLY sign up if you are interested and willing to make the commitment.

Please complete the following information and circle which program your child is interested in attending:

Child’s name:

Parent/Guardian’s name:

Contact phone number:

PLEASE CIRCLE WHICH PROGRAM YOUR CHILD IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING:

It is very important to note that these programs will only happen if there is enough interest in Erving families having their child participate. Payment is due prior to the beginning of the program. Parents/guardians also would be expected to pick up their child at the conclusion of each day’s program.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the following form and return it to the office in an envelope marked “AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM”. Shortly after February 14, parents/guardians will be informed if the program is “A GO”. At that time, payment will be necessary to secure a place in a program. If too many children have an interest, a lottery will be held to select the children for those programs that have more students than spaces.

Parent/Guardian Signature:

Winter Outerwear

As the cold weather has arrived, many adults have noticed some children are arriving to school with sweatshirts and/or no outer coats. The determination of how the students dress for the colder weather is truly a parental/guardian decision. If it becomes very cold, the school nurse gives students warm coats to wear when a light long sleeved shirt is serving as a jacket and is not enough for warmth. This notice is informational only to let families know that some students are not wearing warm coats at this time.

Grade Level Field Trip Chaperone Information Notice

Erving Elementary School prides itself in keeping the lines of communication open between families and the school. There often are questions regarding chaperoning of field trips at each grade level. It is important to maintain a strong communication system for all involved. This week, each grade will have a notice attached to Inside Erving explaining the chaperone protocol your child’s teacher will use for this year. This notice will assist families in knowing how your child’s classroom will utilize chaperones for field trips. Hopefully, this information being presented early in the school year will allow parents/guardians to understand the process for chaperoning.

Reverse 911 System Update

Sharing of School Event Photos or Videos

Our world has changed dramatically with the addition of computers, cell phones, iPads, Blackberries, etc. These communication devices have become an essential tool to many people both in their workplace and in their personal lives. With this change comes the accessibility for people to share different pictures and videos with others with general ease. How wonderful it is to be able to view an event that may occur halfway around the world in a matter of seconds!

There is a concern that has been discussed with the Erving staff regarding precautions that families need to consider regarding the privacy of others. When families take photos or videos during school events, it would be greatly appreciated that these pictures not be placed on YouTube or the web. The reason being that at our school, there are some families who do not want their children’s pictures available to others on the web. Your serious consideration to respect the privacy of others would be appreciated by the Erving staff.

PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN

In order for your child to be eligible to enroll in the Erving Elementary School for the 2012 – 2013 school year, all parents/guardians must notify the school by February 1, 2012.

The school has been sending out letters to notify parents of this procedure. If you have not received a letter, please contact Michele Regan-Ladd, Early Childhood Coordinator, as soon as possible at 413-423-3326, ext. 321. Please leave a message with your name, your child’s name and date of birth, your address, and phone #. Michele works ½ day per week, alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

PRESCHOOL SCREENING

If parents have any concerns about their child’s development, you may call the school to request a developmental screening. The screening is a short assessment that looks at a child’s speech/language, small and large muscle coordination, and preacademics, such as knowledge of colors, counting, and sorting. Please call Michele Regan-Ladd, Early Childhood Coordinator, if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development and she can set up an appointment. 413-423-3326, ext. 321.

SCREENING for children Birth – Three

If your child is younger than three years of age, you may wish to speak to your pediatrician about any concerns about your child’s development or call the REACH Program, which is an early intervention program for children ages Birth to 3 years of age. The REACH Program holds several developmental assessments per week. They will send a team of experiences specialists to your home to assess your child’s overall development, in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, language, cognition (learning style and problem solving, attention and memory, self-help (feeding, dressing, toileting), and social/emotional development. Please call the REACH Program at 413-397-8986 to make a referral for an assessment.

FOUND

REMINDERS

If you have not already done so, please return all forms (Emergency Card, Health History, Fluoride, Volunteer, Free/Reduced Lunch Application, Etc.). If you need more copies, please call the school office immediately.

Those interested in becoming involved in the Reverse 911 program, complete the form included in this week's Inside Erving or CLICK HERE.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

In the beginning of the school year, parents and guardians were asked to complete a survey regarding the interest level to expand the After-School Program to five days a week. We received a fair amount of returned forms to make a decision. Beginning next week, the program will start on Tuesday with Wednesday and Thursday also being After-School Program days. If all the logistics can be finalized, a five-day a week program will begin on Monday, September 19. There will be an article in next week's Inside Erving to confirm the beginning of the five-day program. As with any change in program, some important details remain to be completed. Thank you for your patience in this important matter.

ALL-SCHOOL SING DATES

Thursday-October 13

Thursday - December 8

Thursday - January 12

Thursday - February 9

Thursday - March 8

Thursday - May 10

Thursday - June 7

There will be no All-School Singing in November or April because of a special Veteran's Day Program and the All-School Play commitments.