Dear Intermediate School Families,
You all have reason to be proud of your student’s ease at settling into a routine so early in the school year! The boys and girls are doing very well meeting expectations for behavior and effort, overall. Of great significance to me is the kindness they are displaying to each other!
We thank all the caring adults at home for helping things run smoothly so early in the year by having children to school on time, calling the absent line when children must be absent, sending in notes when there are changes to dismissal arrangements, adhering to all driving and parking rules on the campus, and completing all necessary paperwork. Your support of our work is greatly appreciated.
A Message from the Gym:
Check out the link below to see what's happening in physical education with Mr. Lestage. Ask your children about their home base, muscle/bone of the week, 1-2-3 whistle routine, and some of the games we've played so far this year.
Fourth graders will begin a unit focused on soccer, and fifth graders will begin a unit focused on basketball.
News from the Library:
Learning the procedures for checking out library books involves more than remembering to bring your books back on library day. We are also learning about book care and strategies for picking a just right book. Next week, we will have the PTO book fair during library time, and these strategies can be used in purchasing books as well. Our new reading challenge, The Tournament of Books, will begin in October and more information will be coming soon. We are also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in library classes by looking at books by and about Hispanic people and culture.
Happenings in Art Classes:
Fourth and fifth graders made their own sketchbooks last week, and this week they are using them to begin practicing ideas for their Square 1 Artwork. More information about this art fundraiser can be found at https://www.square1art.com/. Students will be bringing home more information in October. If you'd like to see more on the GRAIS art room happenings, follow along on Instagram @grais_art.
Safety Assembly and Drills:
We completed our first of four scheduled fire drills of the year on September 8th. Deputy Chief Garant and I were very pleased with the response of the students and staff as they exited the building, waited for the all clear announcement, and returned to the building quietly and orderly. All of our expectations were met, but as other drills occur during the school year, we will all strive to surpass them!
As part of the beginning-of-the-year work done by the staff in the days prior to the students returning to school, we reviewed the training we’ve all had on the federally endorsed safety protocol, A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). Last week. GRAIS students attended a safety assembly with our school resource officer, Valerie Bartholomew from the Lakeville Police Department. Our students were attentive and focused on the protocols to follow during a variety of emergencies.
PTO News:
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the first PTO meeting on Tuesday, especially our very enthusiastic and generous board. We’re looking forward to another great school year here.
The first book fair of the year is being held in the GRAIS library during school hours from September 25th through the 29th. Flyers were passed out in homerooms on the 20th. Students will visit the book fair during their regularly scheduled library day that week. Please have your child ready to shop with his/her form and payment method. We accept eWallet, cash ,or checks (made payable to GRAIS PTO). Volunteers are still needed! Sign up is below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0948ACAC2FA5F94-44374830-book#/
The PTO is having an evening social event at the school, which will be a Halloween Costume Party on October 20th from 6-8 p.m. This is a DROP OFF event for GRAIS students. A permission slip will be sent home during the first week of October. Lots of volunteers are going to be needed to make this a successful event! A sign-up list will be sent out for this, and information will be on the GRAIS PTO Facebook page.
The Fun Run is coming! Our annual fundraising event is scheduled for October 26th This is an exciting during school event for the students, and the Booster group is back to create the hype! More information will be coming.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: To volunteer at any of these events, a valid CORI (within 3 years) and fingerprints (never expire) must be on file. These items can take time to process, so please plan accordingly.
Questions on any PTO news or events should be sent to graispto@gmail.com.
Thank you to all who donated to the PTO’s fall breakfast for the staff this past Thursday! We appreciate your generosity very much!
Future Dates to Remember:
PTO’s Scholastic Book Fair - September 25th - 29th
Individual Picture Day - October 4th (Flyers were sent home on September 20th.)
Early Release at 11:30 a.m. - October 6th
Columbus Day/No School - October 9th
PTO’s Halloween Social for GRAIS Students - October 20th from 6 - 8 p.m.
PTO’s Fun Run - October 26th During the School Day
No School for Students/ PD Day - November 7th
Veterans Day/No School - November 10th
Picture Retakes - November 15th
Thanksgiving Recess - November 22nd at 11:30 a.m - November 24th
First Trimester Grades Close - November 27th
Dr. Sullivan
508.923.3506 x 3150
esullivan@freelake.org
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