Principal Newsletter 2/5/2021

Friday, February 5, 2021

  •  Hybrid start date has changed to Monday, February 22nd.  Next Thursday, 2/11 and Friday, 2/12 will be days that teachers will be coming into school to set up their classrooms.  All staff have been asked to meet with students for only 1 hour each of those days to either; teach, check-in, or provide office hours.  The remainder of the day will be for students to work on assignments independently at home.

  • With in-person learning on the horizon, now is the time to show your Sheffield Pride by donning swag with our logo on it!  Please access this link for your sweatshirts, shirts, hats, etc.  https://cart.silverscreendesign.com/sheffield/shop/home

  • What will school look like for my child when they go back to school? Students will be in classrooms with 7-11 students sitting in rows 6 feet apart and facing the same direction.  They will eat breakfast and lunch in their classroom, sitting at their desk.  They will be doing a combination of computer work and paper/pencil assignments.  Outside, recess will include playing on the structure, basketball and soccer.  The gaga ball pit will be closed as students would not be able to stay 6 feet away from each other.  Students will wear their masks on the playground while at recess.

  • Many families have been asking what is recommended for a computer case for the chromebook.   Walmart.com and Amazon have many options and you’re looking for something that will fit a size 11 inch device.  We are asking that all students attending in-person learning bring their school issued chromebook daily with them.  Please make sure the device is  fully charged.  These cases are not mandatory but you will want to safely transport the device so it is not damaged. (If you are not using a school issued device, one will be provided for your student while attending class at school. Please do not send personally owned devices to school)

  • You can send your child into school with a home lunch.  We ask that you do not send in a snack because it can be too tempting for other students to want to share and for safety and sanitation reasons, we cannot at this time allow this.

  • Students are allowed to bring their backpack into school.  This will be important to transport their chromebook, extra warm layers if it is cool in the classroom, and possible lunch.  They will be hanging them up on a hook in their classroom cubby.

  • Valentine’s Day is looking VERY different this year.  Our Friends of Sheffield  (FOS) is asking our students to make cards that will be shared with local nursing homes because so many of them are not allowed to have visitors.  Please bring your cards to Sheffield Monday, Feb. 8 or Tues. Feb 9 to a drop box at the entrance of the school.  

  • Here is a link to the safety protocols to ensure student safety and well-being made by our district nurses.  Please review with your child/ren. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_40ElTl-gbaa6M0wPzV0A8qgHC63JvP7/view?usp=sharing

  • Drop off in the morning will be from 8:25-8:35. There will be adults outside at only those times. Everyone, including our busses, will be dropping off and entering the front of the building.    For safety, please keep your child in the vehicle with you until you see an adult. You may park in the parking lot, or please follow the cones and access the drop off lane pulling up as far as you can, stay in your car wearing a mask, and your child will be assisted out of the car.  Please make sure they have everything they need so they can exit the vehicle promptly, which ensures a smooth transition.

  • From the Nurse’s Office:   Please remember that student’s annual Health Forms  need to be returned for the start of Hybrid teaching. Also, please register your student through Project Beacon for the rapid Covid test if you haven’t already. No student that becomes symptomatic at school, will be tested at school without this registration completed. Thank you to all that have submitted their student’s form and registered for the rapid testing.Please call/email Nurse Sue with any questions at 863-7441. 

  • From Mrs. Burke in the office:  Please return all beginning of the year paperwork preferably before your child starts back to school.  You can drop them off in-person to the office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday between 8:00-4:00.  You can also fax to 413-863-3259 or email cburke@gmrsd.org.

  • Dress your child in warm layers, windows in classrooms and on busses will be ajar up to an inch to ensure air flow.

  • The district has purchased a cleaner that will be used on their desks called Cleancide: “Approved on EPA's List N - Registered Antimicrobial Products for use against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2”, which is citrus based and safe for students and staff use.

  • If you are looking to donate items for school or classroom use, we would always accept either white paper towels to aid in cleaning desks with Cleancide, or hand sanitizer.  (We cannot accept Clorox or Lysol wipes due to the chemicals in them.)

  • Congratulations to the fourth grade who had the most minutes in both reading and math this past week in i-Ready!!  Ms. Calkin’s class had the most minutes for reading and Mrs. Eichorn’s class had the most minutes for math!  Keep up the great work!  (There were two grades finishing up i-Ready assessments this week.)

With Sheffield Pride,

Melissa Pitrat