Friday News -- October 9, 2020

Friday, October 9, 2020


 

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

October 9, 2020

 

Dear Hillcrest Families,

It’s been quite a week here in Gill-Montague!  The weather on Wednesday evening had a broad impact across our community and many families may still be without power and internet.  If your student was unable to access their classroom due to power or internet issues, I hope they were able to use some of their At-Home Learning Materials in order to keep engaged in their learning.  We certainly missed seeing many of our students on Thursday and we’re looking forward to reconnecting!  

Please read today’s edition of Friday News carefully as it contains some very important updates.

  • Every Hillcrest family will receive a letter about our school’s Life Threatening Allergy Policy via email today.  It’s essential that you read this letter carefully.

  • Please be sure to complete the Family Return to School Survey . The information you provide in this survey is critical for our final planning for our Hybrid Learning model. 

  • Another important piece of news is a reminder that Hillcrest is a Fragrance-Free School. There are members of our staff who are very sensitive to fragrances and in some cases, exposure to fragrances can provoke a severe allergic reaction requiring medical attention.  Please refrain from wearing scented lotions, scented hair products, perfumes, and body sprays at school. Also, please be aware that scented laundry products, especially fabric softeners, can also have a negative health impact.  Please try to limit your use of these laundry products whenever possible.

  • Please keep in mind that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requiring the flu vaccine for all public school students this year.  For more information, check out School Health Resources for Parents at mass.gov. 

  •  There will be a Kindergarten Materials Pick-Up on Wednesday, October 14th from 12:00 to 3:00 in our main traffic circle.  Please remember to wear your face mask and remain in your vehicle. 

  • I am hoping to recruit some family and community members to serve on the Hillcrest School Council.  This group is made up of the school principal, Hillcrest staff members, Hillcrest family members and at least one community member and it serves to provide advice and support related to the School Improvement Plan. This year, our School Improvement Plan will focus on Mathematics, English Language Arts, Teaching for Diversity, and Social-Emotional Learning.  If you are interested in joining our School Council, please give me a call at 863-9526 or send me an email at sarah.burstein@gmrsd.org.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ---

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal