Dear GRAIS Families,
We continue to learn, grow, and have fun at the intermediate school! Below is a look at some of the things we are covering and future happenings.
Constitution Day:
President George W. Bush signed a bill on Dec. 8, 2004, asking schools to commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution. Each year, Constitution Day remains a favorite at GRAIS! On Tuesday, we got decked out in our finest red, white, and blue garb as a small part of the celebration! Please enjoy the attached photos, which are also on our website, that depict just a bit of the enthusiasm we saw. It felt a bit like the Fourth of July without the hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks! Students enjoyed viewing some informational clips and videos, and they participated in related activities, as well as in whole class discussions about the United States Constitution. A couple of great children’s books you may enjoy at home are We the People by Peter Spier and Those Rebels Tom and John by Barabra Kerley, which discusses how Adams and Jefferson disagreed a lot, but
Fun Run PTO Fundraiser:
Fun Run registration is open at Sign Up Now On MYBOOSTER.COM. Questions on the fun run? Email the PTO board at graispto@gmail.com. We’re only three days away from kicking off the GRAIS Fun Run fundraiser! We’re looking forward to having fun and building community together to reach our fundraising goal of $30,000. Get an overview of our fundraiser by clicking HERE! All donations will be collected through our fundraising platform: MyBooster.com. We have already earned over $3,000 in profit, so thank you!
From the Librarian’s Desk:
In addition to responding to stories to support reading and comprehension skills, doing research, and learning about media, GRAIS students will work on skills in library class that support their work in subject classes. This includes learning to use the apps in the Google suite, such as Google Classroom, Docs, Slides, Sheets and Forms; typing; online safety; and coding, which teaches problem solving. Currently students are learning about book checkout procedures and how to use call numbers and the online catalog to find books.
Grade Four Social Studies:
Fourth grade students had a wonderful time celebrating Constitution Day on September 17th during social studies time with a variety of activities and great discussions. They learned not only about the importance of the United States Constitution, but also how and why it was developed, as well as by whom.
Grade Four Science:
Last week, grade four took a trip to the science lab for their first experiment. The students were asked to predict "How many drops of water can a penny hold?" They did a great job going through the scientific method and working collaboratively! We will also continue our study of the scientific method by completing a webquest and creating a poster of the process.
Grade Five Social Studies:
In social studies, fifth graders have begun their Colonial America unit and will be focusing on Jamestown and Plymouth colonies first. They’re currently learning about the purpose for these colonies and the difficulties settlers faced during the first few years. They also celebrated Constitution Day on Tuesday through a variety of videos, discussions, and activities.
Grade Five Science:
In fifth grade science, students are learning about why matter matters. They will be investigating the three states of matter and the properties of each. They will enjoy doing experiments to learn that matter exists even though we cannot see it.
Campus Programs:
Please continue to check out this link to find some wonderful after-school opportunities for your children as the year progresses. Send any questions on the offerings as they post to Diane Czapiga at 508.923.2000 x1719 or dczapiga@freelake.org.
GRAIS storytelling registration
GRAIS Fall Running Club with Ms. Grosschedl
A Message for the PTO Board:
We have heard from many of the families in the community regarding the future plans for the socials hosted by the GRAIS PTO each year. We're excited to announce that we are coordinating some NEW and EXCITING events to take place this spring! The PTO is planning to host two grade-specific socials - one for our fourth graders, and another for our departing fifth graders - to be held on school property for the students to enjoy. Please keep an eye out for more details, as we look to coordinate parents to help these spring socials come together! The PTO truly appreciates and relies upon the support and generosity of our community's families to ensure that we can keep bringing these events to our students, while most importantly keeping them SAFE and FUN for all! Please be sure to get your CORI checks and fingerprints done now so you can be a part of these exciting events that the students look forward to attending!
If you have any questions regarding these events, or want to ensure you're on our mailing list, we ask that you please reach out to the GRAIS PTO mailbox directly at graispto@gmail.com and a member of our board will promptly get back to you. Thanks so much for your continued support. Our first meeting is on Tuesday, the 24th at 7:-30 p..m. via Zoom. The meeting ID is 477 737 8775 and the meeting passcode is graispto.
Information on CORI Forms and Fingerprinting:
A CORI check is good for three years, and the main officer can provide a CORI form if you need to do one for the first time or to renew yours. You will need to complete it in person with a valid state ID/driver’s license. The fingerprinting process is done only one time, and there is a fee. Locations to set up an appointment for fingerprinting can be found at www.identogo.com.
Select Massachusetts in the drop down menu to find the nearest fingerprinting center
Under Enrollment Services select “Digital Fingerprinting”
Select “Schedule a New Appointment”
From the Agency/Sector dropdown menu, select “Pre-K-12th Grade Education (ESE)”
Under Applicant Type Select “All Other School Personnel”
Select “Yes” to confirm agency
Enter our Provider ID: 06650000
Confirm that the provider is Freetown-Lakeville
Enter your zip code or select a region to find a list of the closet centers
Enter all of the required information and provide the payment to finalize your appointment.
Future Dates to Remember:
September 24th - Fun Run Activities Kick Off
September 24th - PTO Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
October 1st - Fall Picture Day
October 3rd - Annual Fun Run PTO Fundraiser
October 11th - Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
October 14th - No School
November 5th - No School
November 11th - No School
November 13th - Picture Retakes
November 18th - Book Fair Week
November 27th - Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully,
Dr. Sullivan
508.923.3506 x 3150