Swift River

NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK 

Greetings,

Welcome to the new school year! Classes are off to a great start and we are moving along like a well-oiled machine. I hope that everyone was able to take time over the summer to relax and enjoy the long days.

I’d like to welcome back Michelle Connolly as the long-term substitute Kindergarten teacher, and to welcome our new Physical Education teacher, Cole Hogg, and our new student support paraprofessional, Carly Haydocy. I’d also like to welcome back two paraprofessionals who have worked for us in the past, second grade paraprofessional, Kirsten Lamotte, and student support paraprofessional, Xavier Godette. Allie Barnes is now working as a student support paraprofessional, and Michelle Wolfe is now working as the Kindergarten professional. We’d like to wish Susan Bishop a happy and well-deserved retirement after devoting eight years of service to Swift River School and its students.

Open House will be Thursday, September 26 from 5:30-7:00 PM, and will follow the same format as last year. Students will complete scavenger hunts that will take you and your student touring around the school. I hope you have the opportunity to meet all of the professionals who work with your students. We look forward to seeing you there!

We will be hosting Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 30 and November 1, 6, 8. To accommodate the conference schedule, we will have early release days on Friday, November 1 and Friday, November 8 (students will be released at 1:05 PM, and will follow a Wednesday schedule on these days). Please make sure to sign up for your conference slot at Open House, and to check the Back Pack Express (otherwise known as your student’s backpack) for a confirmation of your conference times.

We want to remind all families that it is important to call Nan Mead, our school nurse, in the morning when your student will not be present at school for the day. You can reach her at 978 544 6926, extension 220. If we do not hear from you by 9:00 AM, we will call to confirm your student's absence.

We had hoped for lines to be painted in the school parking lot before school started. However, the company we will be using has unfortunately been held up. Fortunately, we do expect this project to be completed in the coming weeks.

I’d like to remind families that the driveway directly in front of the school is a drop-off zone only. Please ask your students to exit vehicles on the right side of the car, since other cars may try to pass vehicles stopped there on the left. All areas in front of the school and on the hill behind the upper lot are in our fire zone and there is no parking there (even for quick trips into the building)! The fire department has also asked that families parking on Wendell Road use the side of the road that is furthest from the school.

I’d like to remind all families who use the playground after school to please monitor your students and follow the playground rules. Run Club and EF staff members are busy focusing on the children in their care, and are not able to attend to students who are in the company of their grown-ups.

We want to encourage all of you to come in for Community Sing on Fridays at 8:45 AM and to join us anytime for lunch. We ask that you call by 10:00 to place your lunch orders. We are looking forward to a fabulous school year together!

Fondly,

Kelley Sullivan

T.E.A.M. SRS Update

We hope to see you at some of our upcoming meetings, where we will discuss and plan for events! The meeting dates for this school year are:

Tuesday, October 8

Thursday, November 14

Tuesday, December 10

Thursday, January 9

Tuesday, February 11

Thursday, March 12

Tuesday, April 14

Thursday, May 14

Tuesday, June 9

Meetings start at 6:00 PM in the SRS café. Childcare will be provided by members of the Mahar Key Club.

Also, be sure to check out the T.E.A.M. SRS table at Open House on Thursday, October 26, starting at 5:30 PM. We will be selling Dean’s Beans Swift River Blend coffee and SRS tee shirts to support Swift River School. We look forward to seeing you!

Enchanted Forest Feature

Good news! Enchanted Forest is joining forces with T.E.A.M. SRS soon to offer a gift wrap/kitchen and home fundraiser! This year, we are very excited to partner with Charleston Wrap for the first time. Check out their website at charlestonwrap.com to get a sneak peek at the beautiful products that will be available to our SRS families. The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit both Enchanted Forest and T.E.A.M. SRS. Be on the lookout for Charleston Wrap catalogs coming home soon! And thank you in advance for your support!

Erving School Union #28 assures that all programs, activities and employment opportunities are offered without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, age, creed, homelessness, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. 

Sign Up for New Salem Broadband!

The sign-up for New Salem high-speed inernet and phone services will be taking place online from Saturday, September 21 through Thursday, October 31. For more information or to sign up, visit wiredwest.net/newsalem. Sign-up is required if you want your home to be connected! Also, send your email and mailing addresses to [email protected] to receive updates. Come join us at Swift River School tomorrow, Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 AM for an information session and sing-up event!

Piano Lessons

Local piano teacher offering in-home lessons (her house or yours)! Amber O’Brien has over 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages, using Suzuki piano as well as contemporary songs tailored for each student. Conveniently serving the Shutesbury, Wendell, Leverett, Amherst, and Pelham areas. For more information, email [email protected] or call 413-367-2367.