Friday News - January 14, 2022


 

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

January 14, 2022

 

Dear Hillcrest Families,

It was a very chilly week!  Thank you for sending your children to school with plenty of layers and their outdoor gear.  We make every effort to get outside whenever the weather permits, so this is very important.  If the temperature (and wind chill) are above 20 degrees, we will generally be outside for recess.  We have also made some adjustments to arrival and dismissal routines to accommodate the cold temperatures. 

 

A few important news items

  • Please be sure to keep an eye on the school calendar for the upcoming week.  We have three full days of school on Tuesday, the 18th, Wednesday, the 19th and Thursday, the 20th.  There is No School on Monday, the 17th and on Friday, the 21st.

  • Earlier this week, we sent home a paper copy of the updated school lunch menu.  I have also attached that new menu to your weekly Friday News email. 

  • In other food news, the Mobile Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will be at 62 5th Street in Turners Falls on Wednesday, January 19th from 1:30 - 2:30. This free food bank is open to everyone.  Please bring along your own bags. 

  • A note from our Art Teacher, Jocelyn Castro-Santos, about Preschool Art. Please note that this past term many students received an "I" in art. Although we have transitioned to number grades for our earliest learners, I assigned preschool students a letter grade which stands for "In Progress". Preschool art classes are designed around the idea of creative play and experimentation with art materials. Some of the fun activities' students have engaged in this past term include learning how to use a brush, how to mix colors, how to draw with ice, and how to roll coils and simple shapes with clay. We are all "in progress" with the discovery of these new skills and I am happy to report high engagement from all of our amazing preschool artists!

  • There are a couple of Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics coming to our area soon:

    • January 20th at The Brick House. Please see the attached flyer for details. 

    • January 24th at Turners Falls High School. Please see www.grmsd.org for details. 

 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend —

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal

Important dates

Monday, January 17th – No School/MLK, Jr. Day

Friday, January 21st – No School/Turnaround Day

Wednesday, January 26th – Early Release Day