Preschool Registration and Screening – New Students Only
Wednesday March 28th, 2018
Download Information Sheet Here
New Job Opportunities – Posted 02/12/2018
2 Anticipated Teaching Positions for the school year 2018-2019
1.0 FTE Grade 1 Teacher
1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher PreK-6
To Download a copy of the Newsletter – Please Click Here
The Kid’s Café News…
Rainbow Bagel Day was so much fun! We will definitely do it again soon!
The students had the opportunity to sample Roasted Butternut Squash with maple syrup – it was a hit! We also served a frozen fruit and veggie delight made with pumpkin, squash and carrots which was delicious! We always purchase our produce locally.
Harvest of the Month for March is “Dairy” so keep a look out for some wonderful ideas on our menu.
Please check out our Facebook for daily menu and exciting news!
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Kops and Kids Camp…
Registration for the April 2018 Kops and Kids Camp is now open!
This year will be a Pirate Theme and they are going to have a lot of exciting events. The dates are Sunday, April 15, 2018 through Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Officers from Otis and Tolland Police Departments will be your counselors. There will be a visit from a K9 Team, a visit from Otis Fire and Rescue, pirate flag making and other fun adventures!
On the last day of camp, they will take a field trip to see “How I Became a Pirate” and will visit a park that has a carousel. There is no cost for this program. Preference will be given to children from Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield but students from other towns are welcomed as space permits.
For further information and to sign-up, you can go to the Otis Police Department Facebook page, call 413/269-0100 extension 6 or use this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelgcGA84iu8KbB2Q663U7JkuVZ0LLf6tFn5dLXAvUBMXibXQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
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March Madness Reading News…
Our Reading Program for grades Pre-K through Grade 6 will begin on Monday, February 26th and end Monday, March 12th. This March, we’ll be celebrating women authors, illustrators, main characters, and historical figures for Women’s History Month. To earn a participation award this year, students will have to meet the minimum required reading. Part of the minimum required reading must be about a female historical figure, a book with a female author and/or illustrator, or a book featuring a female main character. We had a 68% student participation rate last year, and Grades 2-6 read a total of 15,000 minutes. This year, we are aiming for a 75% student participation rate and 17,500 minutes read! Please help us reach our school-wide goal by encouraging your child to read and log their minutes each day of our competition. Keep an eye out for your student’s March Madness Reading Log on Monday, February 26th.
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Health and PE News…
March Madness is here!
Students have been long awaiting this collaborative unit between the specialists in the building! During PE classes, students will be learning the history of basketball, basic fundamentals, shooting and dribbling games, offensive vs defensive strategies, rules of the game, and teamwork and communication! Students will also be taking foul shots that result from all of the reading they do – so read, read, read!!
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Art Corner…
We are about to enter our annual March Madness Design Unit in coordination with our school-wide theme to promote reading and good sportsmanship by learning about college basketball teams. Students in grades K through 6 will be creating designs for college pennants and uniforms. Students will track the colleges who go to the finals in the NBA Tournament, on the bracket created with their pennant designs.
The top eight designs will be displayed on the 2018 Elite Eight Banner in the Gym.
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Tech Bytes…
Google Sheets at FRRSD – Students in grades K-6 are learning all about Google Sheets. Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet application that allows you to store and organize different types of information, much like Microsoft Excel. Google Sheets allows students to organize, edit, and analyze different types of information using spreadsheets. Students are also learning about the different ways you might use spreadsheets and how to navigate the Google Sheets interface, including how to work with cells and cell content, how to select cells, insert content, copy and paste cells, insert charts, and write simple formulas.
*Apps…What is it? What does it do?
Huvi– is an app for kids to watch YouTube videos, with parents having control over the included content. Huvi allows parents to create profiles for each child in their family. They can then add individual videos to those profiles that meet with their approval. Kids are not allowed to search YouTube content; nor are they allowed to follow through to recommended videos. Ads are stripped as well.
Puffin Academy -is an app that serves as an alternative Web browser that only offers access to a pre-set list of educational websites. Its big appeal is that it lets users access websites that use the Flash plug-in. If you’re interested in accessing these sites on your mobile device or creating a safe space for your kids to study online, Puffin Academy can be a helpful tool.
*The descriptions here are informational only. This is not an evaluation or endorsement of app choices for students, but a tool for parent involvement.
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Student Council Needs Parent Helpers…
Student Council has presented their idea for a lock-in/sleepover to the PTA and the School Administration.
They are hoping to have this event at the end of March or early April but they need some parents to help with planning. If you are interested in being on that planning committee, please contact Ms. Catullo by email at lcatullo@frrsd.org, or leave a message with Lisa Crozier in the Main Office.
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Jane Gleason has left the building…
Farmington River Regional School District’s Business Manager, Jane Gleason, has retired from the after 25 years of service. Mrs. Gleason was hired as the first Business Manager when the regional district was formed in 1992.
The loss of Mrs. Gleason is significant for this district and for our community. Her service has provided stability, institutional knowledge and fiscal prudency that have been incredibly valuable. Everything Mrs. Gleason accomplished during her tenure was aimed at improving outcomes for both students and staff.
Jane, you will always be remembered for the things that you did for FRRSD and our community.
Thanks for your years of hard work and dedication. You will be missed dearly.
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Cradles to Crayons…
Farmington River Elementary School is helping local student, Kelly Couch, collect items for the Cradles to Crayons program. Project 351 is a nonprofit organization that promotes youth community service in all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
Donated items are used make “Kid Packs” which come with clothes for the week for a child as well as any items specified on their wish list; books, games, toys, shoes, etc. When the “Kid Pack” is completed, a family member or guardian comes to pick it up or it can be delivered to their home.
There will be a collection bin in the lobby March 27 – April 7 to collect new and used items for needy children throughout Massachusetts.
https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/
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Meet FRRSD’s New Business Manager…
Eric graduated from Babson College with a split major in Entrepreneurship and Finance. He spent the following 17 years working in retail management and moving around the country. While most of the time living in Massachusetts, Eric has also lived in Southeastern Florida; Seattle; South Carolina; and New York. Eric and his wife, Cheryl, have recently returned to the Berkshires from Potsdam, NY, after a 7 year adventure. The 5 years they lived in Otis are what drew them back.
In Potsdam, Eric was the general manager of the Potsdam Food Co-op where he helped the Co-op modernize operations and create efficiencies. Over his 5 years there, he helped restructure the store’s financials and become profitable.
Working at the Co-op was great as it brought together two things Eric is passionate about, food and community. While the business manager does not involve food, it is more important for Eric to work towards helping his community. It is the same for Cheryl as she is the Executive Director of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.
Please welcome Eric!
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