Pittsfield Elementary School

Head Lice Family Handbook (4/15/2012)

Parents of students in grades three through six should check their mail for individual student New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) reports.  These were mailed to parents this morning.

Parents, would you like to send a letter to your child at school, no postage required.

PES has a mail delivery system called Wee Deliver. Students are able to send letters to other students and teachers in the building. Mail is delivered on Friday mornings by our postal assistants from grades 4, 5, and 6. Each classroom has selected a delivery address and is listed below.

The goals of this program are:

• Students practice written communication skills in a letter format.
• Students learn to use correct mechanics and format when addressing an envelope.
• Students help to develop a friendlier and stronger school community.

You can send a letter to your child by dropping it off at our school mailbox located in the main hallway. You can also send it to your child’s teacher inside another envelope. Please be sure to write your child’s name and classroom address. Also, the envelope must have a return address so that your child can write back. Contact any second grade teacher (Ms. Levine, Mrs. Venetos, Mr. Uhouse or Mrs. Mahanes) with questions about the program.

Students in grades 1-3 who wish to play in the snow during recess must have on boots, snow pants, and winter coats. Otherwise students will be kept on the blacktop.

***Please make sure children have shoes—not slippers—to wear in school when they take their boots off.***

The Pittsfield School District Wellness Committee is committed to supporting a healthy school environment through the implementation of our Wellness Policy. This year we are excited about the initiatives that support student health, like our Safe Routes to School Footwork Friday and a new one, Fuel Up To Play 60. So far, the students have been active participants in both endeavors.

There have been questions regarding snacks at PES brought to the committee. In keeping with our focus on nutritional eating, students are encouraged to bring a healthy snack to school. We realize that student’s may not have control over their snack choice and want to assure parents that the snack they do send with their child will be allowed. The Committee is continuing to update and revise the policy to stay current with the needs of our students. The new policy will be posted on the school website soon.

Fuel Up To Play 60 is a nationwide program designed to help students, working with adults, make themselves and their schools healthier. This program is a partnership of the National Dairy Council and the NFL.

The “ Fuel Up” part of the initiative focuses on educating our students about eating the right foods and making sure that our bodies are getting the nutrition we need in order to “Play 60”, that is play for sixty minutes a day.

PES students have signed a pledge indicating what they will do for 60minutes each day. These pledges are hanging on the wall in our gym, reminding us how important it is to be active.

On Wednesday, September 28th, PES held their kick-off event where the students were told about the FUTP and were given a Fuel UP To Play wrist band for them to wear as a reminder of their commitment to be healthy.

 Students are excited about being part of the team as we work together to do a school wellness Investigation that will direct us in how to use funds we receive to promote physical activity and nutritious eating here at PES!

Opening of School

I started my school career in the late seventies. I attended one of the several K-5 schools in a city just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. I had lots of great teachers throughout my school career. However, Mr. Carberry, my fifth grade teacher, helped me envision myself as a “writer.” Now I work as a kindergarten teacher at PES. As parents and teachers working daily with PES students, we all want children to see themselves in a positive manner.

The use of “envisioning language” can help students see themselves positively. What is “envisioning language? It is language that helps children see themselves as being positive, productive, and capable.

This school year our faculty and staff have been closely examining language that helps children grow socially and academically. We are doing a school-wide book study of The Power of Our Words, by Paula Denton. Denton writes, “To be inspired to do the hard work, children need a clear and engaging picture of what is possible, a new and exciting picture of themselves.”

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