Principal's Corner - 11.3.22

Conferences finish up tomorrow, thank you for working with us in the varied ways of connecting with families. I hope you were able to get what you needed from the process., Next week, there will be no school on Tuesday, it's a Professional Development Day (and Election Day), and no school on Friday as we celebrate Veterans Day. Other than that (he says sheepishly), it will be a regular week, with a 3:15 dismissal Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The weather looks like it will be getting colder, so please make sure to have your students bring everything they need to be comfortable outside no matter the weather.

Next week's Professional Development day will be helpful for the teaching staff. They will work on plans for supporting the students' social, emotional, and academic learning this year. Whatever the year holds, I know the Rowe teaching staff will be prepared to support our students in an engaging and productive way.

Here's a link to an article from PBS about welcoming wonder and kids' questions, I thought you might find it interesting. https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/welcoming-wonder-and-endless-questions-with-kidsHave a good week and stay safe!

Principal's Corner - 10.13.22

It was a short, but still busy, week at Rowe School.

The beautiful fall days we've been having lend themselves to a range of both indoor and outdoor activities. There are great pictures from all the classes on the Rowe School Community Facebook page. If you're not yet a member, find the page on Facebook and ask to be invited, and we'll get you set up.

In addition to Facebook and email, we also communicate through a North Berkshire School Union (NBSU) app for mobile phones that you can customize just for The Rowe School! Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from the school, student stories, and even emergency notifications. You can download the app for free on both Google Play or the Apple App Store. Here are the links to download the apps:

Download for Android: https://bit.ly/2XWJWah

Download for iPhone: https://apple.co/3psqn53

We had a great day for hiking last Thursday, and each class took a slightly different route around the Dubuque State Forest in Hawley. The 5/6 Class also spent a community-building day at the Manice Center in Florida on Tuesday this week. Conferences are coming up in early November, more information is coming soon.

It's hard to believe we're almost into October already, which means we're finishing up our fifth week of school. The students are doing a great job of working with their teachers to build a positive community in their classrooms, and the teachers are doing a great job using the present situations we're in as a starting point for a new way of educating our students, and as importantly, making them feel safe and welcomed.

Please be sure to have your students here by 8:30, with the morning systems we have in place it really complicates things when they are late. We know things happen from time to time, but please shoot for 8:25. If students come in after 8:30, make sure they check in with Laurie in the office. If they are coming in later than 9:00, please call the office with their plans for lunch so we can have a fresh, hot lunch for them if needed. We also appreciate everyone who has turned their paperwork in on time.

To repeat a couple of points about the drop-off and pick-up line: please wait for the cars in front of you to leave before you pull out, unless directed by a staff member, and it is ILLEGAL to pass the bus when the red lights are flashing and the STOP sign is extended from the driver's side. Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer about this (or anything else).

It's hard to believe we're almost into October already, which means we're finishing up our fifth week of school. The students are doing a great job of working with their teachers to build a positive community in their classrooms, and the teachers are doing a great job using the present situations we're in as a starting point for a new way of educating our students, and as importantly, making them feel safe and welcomed.

Please be sure to have your students here by 8:30, with the morning systems we have in place it really complicates things when they are late. We know things happen from time to time, but please shoot for 8:25. If students come in after 8:30, make sure they check in with Laurie in the office. If they are coming in later than 9:00, please call the office with their plans for lunch so we can have a fresh, hot lunch for them if needed. We also appreciate everyone who has turned their paperwork in on time.

To repeat a couple of points about the drop-off and pick-up line: please wait for the cars in front of you to leave before you pull out, unless directed by a staff member, and it is ILLEGAL to pass the bus when the red lights are flashing and the STOP sign is extended from the driver's side. Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer about this (or anything else).

 So many of our students did so many interesting things over vacation, it's been great to hear all the stories. We have a number of new friends at the school this year, and it's been a treat to watch the students welcome their new classmates into our community. It's also been exciting to watch the classes start to come together as working units, already working hard, and to see the students playing together at recess. The classes have been exemplifying Rowe School's core values already: Kindness, Community, Responsibility, and Perseverance.

  Our motto this year is "Masks are optional, Kindness is mandatory", and some students and staff are wearing masks every day, and others are not. Everyone's choice is respected. Please continue to pay attention to symptoms, and encourage good hygiene and hand-washing, which will serve us all well as the colder months approach.

   A quick reminder: Our school day starts at 8:30, students are welcome on the playground anytime after 7:45, breakfast is served in the classrooms around 8:45. Also, please remember, our parking lot is one way, in and to the right, around the circle, and out. Please don't try to turn around and exit from the wrong side of the lot, and remember that it is illegal to pass a school bus when its RED lights are flashing.

   A couple of schedule notes: Our Open House will be on Monday, September 19, 6:00-7:00, more details to come. Our first fire drill will be next week, and teachers in all grades will work with the students to get them ready. September's School Committee meeting is Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m., in-person at the school, all are welcome.

   There was an interesting article online about how to help prepare students for going back to school, and what parents and educators can do. Here's the link: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/COVID-19-helping-children-transition-back-to-school.html.

I hope you find it interesting.

 So many of our students did so many interesting things over vacation, it's been great to hear all the stories. We have a number of new friends at the school this year, and it's been a treat to watch the students welcome their new classmates into our community. It's also been exciting to watch the classes start to come together as working units, already working hard, and to see the students playing together at recess. The classes have been exemplifying Rowe School's core values already: Kindness, Community, Responsibility, and Perseverance.

  Our motto this year is "Masks are optional, Kindness is mandatory", and some students and staff are wearing masks every day, and others are not. Everyone's choice is respected. Please continue to pay attention to symptoms, and encourage good hygiene and hand-washing, which will serve us all well as the colder months approach.

   A quick reminder: Our school day starts at 8:30, students are welcome on the playground anytime after 7:45, breakfast is served in the classrooms around 8:45. Also, please remember, our parking lot is one way, in and to the right, around the circle, and out. Please don't try to turn around and exit from the wrong side of the lot, and remember that it is illegal to pass a school bus when its RED lights are flashing.

   A couple of schedule notes: Our Open House will be on Monday, September 19, 6:00-7:00, more details to come. Our first fire drill will be next week, and teachers in all grades will work with the students to get them ready. September's School Committee meeting is Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m., in-person at the school, all are welcome.

   There was an interesting article online about how to help prepare students for going back to school, and what parents and educators can do. Here's the link: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/COVID-19-helping-children-transition-back-to-school.html.

I hope you find it interesting.

 So many of our students did so many interesting things over vacation, it's been great to hear all the stories. We have a number of new friends at the school this year, and it's been a treat to watch the students welcome their new classmates into our community. It's also been exciting to watch the classes start to come together as working units, already working hard, and to see the students playing together at recess. The classes have been exemplifying Rowe School's core values already: Kindness, Community, Responsibility, and Perseverance.

  Our motto this year is "Masks are optional, Kindness is mandatory", and some students and staff are wearing masks every day, and others are not. Everyone's choice is respected. Please continue to pay attention to symptoms, and encourage good hygiene and hand-washing, which will serve us all well as the colder months approach.

   A quick reminder: Our school day starts at 8:30, students are welcome on the playground anytime after 7:45, breakfast is served in the classrooms around 8:45. Also, please remember, our parking lot is one way, in and to the right, around the circle, and out. Please don't try to turn around and exit from the wrong side of the lot, and remember that it is illegal to pass a school bus when its RED lights are flashing.

   A couple of schedule notes: Our Open House will be on Monday, September 19, 6:00-7:00, more details to come. Our first fire drill will be next week, and teachers in all grades will work with the students to get them ready. September's School Committee meeting is Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m., in-person at the school, all are welcome.

   There was an interesting article online about how to help prepare students for going back to school, and what parents and educators can do. Here's the link: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/COVID-19-helping-children-transition-back-to-school.html.

I hope you find it interesting.