FOUR CORNERS CRIER

Respect & Courtesy is the focus this month

September 2007

First Day was a huge success!  Four Corners had many parents participating.  Families met on the playground, went to class, and returned to the gym with students for an all-school sing.  Thanks to local businesses, refreshments were enjoyed by parents after the sing.  Thank you to the Franklin Medical Center for co-sponsoring this First Day event.

Four Corners School is a Responsive Classroom Community and a visitation site for the Northeast Foundation for children.  What does that mean?  The 7 Principles of the Responsive Classroom are:

1.    The social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum.

2.    How children learn is as important as what they learn.

3.    The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.

4.    There is a specific set of social skills that children need to learn and practice in order to be successful academically and socially.

5.    Knowing the children we teach individually, culturally, and developmentally, is as important as knowing the content we teach.

6.    Knowing the families of the children we teach is as important as knowing the children we teach.

7.    How the adults at school work together to accomplish our mission is as important as our individual competence.

There are many ways to connect with your child’s teacher and we welcome your communication.  You can send in a note, leave a message in their voice mailbox or leave a note at the office and we will make sure it is put in their mailbox.  Teachers are very good about getting back to you. 

Thank you for your support!

Gail Healy, Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 17, 2007 (Monday) at 6:00 PTO meeting.  All are welcome to attend!

October 4, 2007 (Thursday) – Open House - 6:00-7:30 p.m.  There will be a Book Fair in the library.

October 11, 2007 (Thursday) School Picture Day.  More information will be coming home next month.

REMINDERS

**Please CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE first thing when you enter the building. Should you be volunteering, the sign-in sheet is located in the office and when you check in you will be given a visitor’s pass to wear.  For your children’s safety, all doors will be locked during the school days except the one in the front.

**SCHOOL STARTS AT 8:30 – PLEASE BE ON TIME: Please help your child be on time for school because having a good start to the day is important.  We will give you a call should your child be tardy on a regular basis.  The state expects our school to have a 95% attendance rate, so send your children to school!  The district continues to work with families at the District Attorney’s office to ensure all students come to school.

**Arrival of walkers or students dropped off should be no earlier than 8:10.  We will give you a reminder call if your child is dropped off too early.  Supervision outside begins at 8:10.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH

**Breakfast is served from 8:10-8:25 every day.   Breakfast is free.  Lunch will be $2.25 with a reduced rate of .40¢.  Milk will cost .55¢.  Please return the Free/Reduced lunch forms!  The more students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, the more Title 1 money the school receives.  Fill it out even if your child will bring their lunch.

VOLUNTEER PROCEDURE

**Any parent or community member who would like to volunteer in school or drive on a field trip will need to have a CORI check (Criminal Investigation Check) and complete the volunteer registration form.  These forms were in the packet your child brought home the first day of school.  If you know now that you would like to volunteer return the completed forms as soon as possible to the office or your child’s teacher and once the process has been finished, then you will be able to volunteer.  This is a district procedure for your child’s safety.  The faculty and students appreciate your support and look forward to you volunteering in the school.  If you think you may want to volunteer or drive on a field trip, fill out the forms now! 

ABSENCES OR TARDINESS

Parents: Please call the school by 9:00 a.m. at 772-1375 ext. 10 if your child will be absent.  You will be receiving a call from the office to ensure your child’s safety if you do not phone in.  A lot of time is saved by you calling in so thank you in advance for doing this.

**Emergency Cards and Emergency Plan Sheets should be returned as soon as possible.  This information is important in case of illness or emergency.  Phone numbers of whom we should contact are a must.

**WRITTEN NOTES must be brought to school if your child has been absent from school with a reason stating why.  NOTES must also be sent in when your child’s after school plans change.  This is to ensure your child’s safety in getting home or to an after school activity.

TRAFFIC INFORMATION

**BUS COMPANY NEWS: There will be no bus changes this year.  Students should ride the bus they are assigned to.

** Daycare and bussing:  Should your child need to ride a bus or a different bus for daycare needs, here is the procedure to follow:

v   Write a letter of request to the superintendent, Marcia Evans, 141 Davis Street.

v   You will receive a confirmation of this from 141 Davis Street.

v   Your child may not ride the bus until this procedure is complete

**DROP OFF/PICK UP PARKING REMINDER

Cars should not drive into the school entrance for drop off or pick up.  Please park on the north side/school side of Ferrante Avenue or in the upper parking lot off of Bernardston Road when you drop off or pick up children.  The front of the school needs to be clear for bus traffic and again is a safety concern.  When picking up your child at the end of the day, park on the north side/school side of Ferrante Avenue and walk down to get your children.  Set up a plan with your child so they know what to do at the end of the day.  Thank you for your cooperation.

**If you ride your bike or scooter to school, you need to walk it down the sidewalk when you come into the school driveway and walk it up the sidewalk at the end of the school day.   Bike riders need to wear helmets, as it is the law!  Be safe, wear a helmet!

**HOMEWORK INFO All elementary students (Grades 1-4) in the Greenfield Public Schools will receive homework assignments four nights per week. (M-T-W-Th).  Long-term projects for grade 4 will sometimes extend to the weekends.

The length of these assignments will range from approximately 10 minutes, for Grade 1, to 45 minutes for Grade 4.  Modifications of the homework assignments will be made on an individual basis.  Parents are strongly urged to encourage their children to read for pleasure as a part of their nightly homework routine.

Also, if your child is absent and you are requesting homework from their teacher, the policy is that the teacher needs 24 hours notice.

NO SMOKING POLICY

         The Board of Health and the School Committee have adopted a No-Smoking Policy according to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 37H.  Smoking and the use of tobacco products by students, staff, volunteers and visitors is prohibited in school buildings, grounds, parking lots and school buses.

         This policy states warnings and fines will be issued to adults using tobacco.  PLEASE make this work for all by putting out all tobacco products before you drive in the driveway.  This includes school dances, meetings, and Open House.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

**Prescription Medications can only be given by the school nurse.  Paperwork needs to be completed for this to happen at school.  Contact Sarena Brechenser, School Nurse, if this applies to you.

**Hats and bandanas should not to be worn in the school building.  Thank you for your cooperation.

**Skateboarding reminder: There is no skateboarding permitted on school property per town Bylaw 4:14.