Hurlbutt Elementary School

Dear Families and Staff,

As we move into the last few school days before winter break,  families in our school community may be observing a variety of holidays, family traditions, or celebrations. One of our long-standing school traditions is a schoolwide sing-along that includes a variety of songs. The purpose of this experience is to learn about one another and to honor the many traditions and celebrations represented by our students through music. Each year, we thoughtfully reflect on how to make this tradition more inclusive and welcoming for all. We recognize and respect the rich diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs within our community, and we extend our warm wishes to all of our families during this season.  Our next weekly email will be sent on January 9. 

Attendance/Tardy Information

As you know, increasing on time arrival to school is a school focus for us this year and now is a perfect time to take a look at trends for our school and your family.  With the new year coming soon, it is an opportune time to start some new habits and routines. A fresh start in January can be very effective.

Unfortunately, our tardy data continues to increase. On November 22, I provided our last update of tardy data. At that time, we had logged 566 tardies.  As of December 19, we are now at 767 tardies.  Please take this opportunity to look at your child’s progress report which was available in the parent portal this past Monday.  You will see absences and tardies near the top. If your child has 5 or more tardies, consider whether or not this needs some attention. We are here to help!  This year, we are striving to improve on students on time arrival to school.  Students who are tardy to school miss out on the opportunity to have a consistent routine which fosters a sense of security and readiness to learn. Each day at Hurlbutt starts with a class morning meeting. During this time, children connect with their peers, review the day's schedule, and participate in activities that promote social and emotional growth. We know that mornings can be hectic at home.  If you find that you are consistently struggling with getting everyone out the door, you can reach out to us for support.  Our school social worker, Jillian Desiderio is a wealth of information and can help support the development of routines that make busy mornings more manageable.  Creating systems now will pay dividends down the road as children move through their school years.  Please refer to the attached tip sheet from Ms. Desiderio for more information. Help For Getting To School On Time

Town Survey

This past Fall the Board of Selectmen approved conducting a revised survey (based on the 2018 Survey) to understand Weston’s demographics, priorities, and residents’ feelings about the town. We are passing this information along on their behalf to help encourage friends and neighbors to participate. They welcome your feedback. 

To take the Town wide survey by visiting the Weston CT home page to access this important questionnaire.

Health Information and Resources

This fall we saw a return of illnesses as we started spending more time indoors.  We encourage handwashing and have hand sanitizer available throughout the school.  We are fortunate to have a full time nurse, nurse Suzy, at our school to support students throughout the day. You can visit the district health services webpage for important information about guidelines for staying home from school when ill.  Health Services Webpage

Lunch Menus/A La Carte Items

We now have chicken soup as an option in the cafeteria. You can find the full December lunch menus by following this link:  Lunch Menus  It will take you to the culinary services section of the website and the school lunch menus. Please note there is a lunch menu and a separate a la carte, beverage and snack menu so be sure to check out both.  It is our recommendation that you review these items with your child and set some clear expectations about what you want them to purchase. Over winter break is a perfect time to review your child’s purchases and reinforce any expectations you have with them. If you are interested in placing any restrictions on your child’s account, please email foodservices@westonps.org.  January menus will be available prior to the reopening of school in January. 

Sincerely,

Laura Kaddis

Principal

Important Dates: 

December 23: 12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal

December 24-January 2: Winter Break

January 5: School back in session

January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - school closed