Dear Peirce Families,

It was a pleasure to see many of you at the Parent Information Evening last Wednesday.  We are looking forward to welcoming all of our in-person students back for full school days next week!  As we plan for these changes, we are prioritizing social-emotional wellness, relationships, and community.  We will reteach routines and procedures just as we do at the beginning of the school year, and we will focus on helping students build stamina as they acclimate to a full in-person school schedule.  We are excited for this transition, and we are eager to address any questions or concerns.  Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Among the routines and procedures that it is important to revisit, I will ask everyone to be mindful of the following rules to keep our students safe.  Thank you for your cooperation.

• Please keep dogs away from the entrances and exits of the school building.  If pets walk with you to school, they should be kept well back from the school so that children who are uncomfortable around dogs do not have an unpleasant experience.
• Dogs must be leashed when on City sidewalks and/or at parks (exception: designated off-leash parks).
• Please clean up and dispose of dog waste immediately.
• The City of Newton has designated off-leash dog parks.  Click here for more detailed information about Newton’s off-leash dog parks and rules.
• School grounds/playgrounds are closed to the public during school hours.

 Next week, we will also begin our Spring Conference season.  Please note that we will have 12:30 dismissal on Monday, April 5th, and Thursday, April 8th, for the purpose of these important parent-teacher discussions.  These conferences will be a time for teachers to share information about students’ current progress and collaborate with families to plan the strongest possible end to this unusual school year.

 I hope to see many of you at tonight’s webinar on Social-Emotional Learning at Peirce: Skills that Parents Can Use at Home.  Please join us as Peirce teachers model strategies students are learning at school and provide tools and practical tips for supporting students’ social-emotional development at home.  Many Thanks to Katie Busk, Lindsey Conkey, and Emily Donahue for facilitating this conversation!  Please click here to RSVP.

With Best April Wishes,

Mark Chitty

Joyous Holiday Wishes to all of our Families who will celebrate Easter this weekend!

Kindergarten Registration Reminder:  If your child will be 5 years old before September 1st, and you have not yet begun the Kindergarten registration process for the 2021-22 school year, please contact Trisha Carey at 617-559-9630.  More information can be found here.  Please also share this information with neighbors for whom it may be relevant!

From Music Teacher Olivia de Geofroy:  There are a number of wonderful summer music camps and programs available in this area for children ages 6-18. If your child is interested, please take a look at this list: Summer Music Camps and Programs. There are out-of-state and overnight camps as well as local day camps on this list. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions!

Fifth Grade Parent Information Night for Day Middle School:

Peirce Parent Meeting

Time: May 13, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86026010136

Meeting ID: 860 2601 0136; Passcode: 567607
 

School Photo Dates: Please mark your calendar with the following dates:

Tuesday, 4/13 – In-Person Photos

Wednesday, 4/14 – DLA Photos (Start time 1:00PM)

Absences:  If your child will be absent from school for any reason on either in-person or at-home days, please call the Student Absence Line at 617-559-9650 before 8:00.  Also, please be sure that teachers have accurate information about dismissal routines for your child.

Conference and Progress Report Schedule for 2020-21:

Progress Sharing	Dates
Spring Conferences	Mon, Apr 5    2:00-3:15 (Early Release at 12:30) Thurs, Apr 8  2:00-3:15 (Early Release at 12:30) Wed, Apr 14  1:15-3:15
End-of-Year Progress Report	Last week of school in June.

Parent Coffees:  Our next PTO/Principal Coffee will be held on Tuesday, May 4th.  Please join the PTO Presidents, Principal, and other parents on Zoom at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation about topics of interest in our school community, including how we are maintaining connectedness with others during this time of pandemic.   

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/81842617434; Passcode: 988612