Coolidge Chronicle
April 21, 2024
A Message from Mrs. Ostrander
As we enter the final trimester of the 2023-2024 school year, it is important to recommit to daily attendance for your child whenever possible. Coolidge Staff are dedicated to teaching your child for 180 days, and we sincerely hope your student can attend as much as possible so we can best support their learning goals.
According to recent data, we have observed that out of our 288 students at Coolidge, 121 students/42% has been absent eight or more times this school year as of April 1. This data point is concerning to me and the Coolidge Staff. Research tells us students who are absent frequently are more likely to struggle with reading at grade level, experience academic challenges across various subjects, and may face obstacles in graduating on time. To read more research about the impacts of absenteeism, click here.
While we recognize that some absences are unavoidable due to illness, medical appointments, or family emergencies, we urge families to avoid other absences whenever possible. Post-COVID, we are all more conscious about sending children to school with cold symptoms. The hope is once a child is 24 hours fever-free, they return to school.
If your family is experiencing attendance challenges, know that we are here to support you. Please do not hesitate to contact us for support or to talk about any attendance-related issues. Together, we can ensure that every student at Coolidge receives the support they need to thrive academically.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and let's continue working together to promote regular attendance and student success.
COOLIDGE COMMUNITY PHOTOS
A Few Photos of Solar Eclipse Viewing
April All School Meeting
Grade 4 Announcers from the Orne Class!
April birthdays!
Respectful Mantra with Mrs. Hubert!
COOLIDGE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
April is Jazz appreciation month. Tito Puente is an American composer, conductor and percussionist nicknamed "The King of Latin Jazz" and "El Rey". He was considered a musical pioneer for his fusion of Jazz with Latinx styles such as the mambo, cha-cha, salsa, merengue and more. Tito Puente’s parents were originally from Puerto Rico, He was born in New York City as Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. At the age of 13 Tito Puente began his career as a professional musician and learned to play a variety of instruments, including piano, saxophone, vibraphone, and timbales. After serving in the Navy during WWII Tito Puente attended The Julliard School of Music. In 1947 he formed his own 10 piece band. Over the course of Puente’s career he won 5 Grammys. One of his most notable tunes in Oye Como Va. If you care to listen to some of Tito Puente's greatest hits click this spotify link to access a playlist of some of their most notable tunes. Please note that you will need to create a spotify account to play these songs, it is free with some Ads.
NEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION
OPTIONAL Parent Input Re: Class Placement
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Coolidge faculty will begin to collaborate together in planning for the next school year. Part of this planning is the formation of new classrooms for students entering Grades 1-4.
This is one of the most complicated tasks we undertake each year. We take great care in creating class lists, taking into account several factors, including teacher input, the need to create balanced classes with regard to numbers of students, students’ gender, and students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. Above all, creating classes that provide for the most effective instruction for all students.
In addition to the factors discussed above, we consider parent input as to specific and significant issues that may affect a student; while we get to know students well over the course of a year or years, parents know their children best, and there may be issues regarding peers of which we are unaware. If you do have a specific concern that you wish the school to be aware of with regard to class placement, please complete the Google Form linked HERE.
Please complete this form even if you provided the same information last year, as we do not assume that information remains the same from year to year. If you choose to submit input, please do so no later than Sunday, April 28th. We will be unable to accept parent input after this date.
Teachers will be actively involved in the placement process and will have knowledge of parent input submitted through the Google Form. Please do not make placement requests for specific friends or teachers directly to your child’s teacher as it places them in an uncomfortable position of being asked to act in conflict with the school’s placement process.
Finally, please be aware that, for all the reasons described, changes to placement once it is complete are rarely, if ever, made. Due to the complexity of the process and the impossibility of satisfying everyone, requests for specific teachers cannot be considered or accommodated. Similarly, we cannot accept requests for specific friends to be placed together. It is our firm belief that each student should have his or her needs met regardless of the assigned teacher, as all of our teachers are highly qualified professionals that teach under the same umbrella of core values, curriculum, and best instructional practices.
If your child will be transitioning to Sherwood Middle School next year please do not complete the linked Google Form above. Administrators from Sherwood will be in touch shortly for you to provide your input directly to the Sherwood Staff.
We truly appreciate your support and trust in our work to help your children have a successful experience at Calvin Coolidge School.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Ostrander
Principal
Sherwood Middle School Placement Information for 2024-2025 School Year
Hello Grade 4 Families,
We are excited to be welcoming you and your child to Sherwood in the fall!
Please watch this video to listen to a welcome message from Sherwood Principal, Jon Kelly.
Please open this link for more information about Sherwood’s placement process for next school year and our Spring Open House.
Sincerely,
Jon and Heather
Jonathan Kelly, Principal
Heather Gablaski, Assistant Principal for Incoming Grade 5
REPEATED IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Bus Registration 2024-2025
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Do you have a child entering kindergarten next year? Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. We invite you to register your incoming kindergartener now in preparation for next fall. Information can be found on the Shrewsbury Public Schools website under Student Registration or click the picture above.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT
Registration for the Summer Enrichment program will open Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00AM.
You can learn more about the program and preview the catalog here.
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/extendedlearning/summer-programs
Location: Sherwood Middle School
For students who will be entering grades 1-8 in fall of 2024
Dates: June 24-27, July 8-11, July 15-18 and July 22-25
Half-day and Full-day options are available, with dozens of classes to choose from each week.
Each half-day class costs $100 per week. Students who meet the financial guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program can use the code SUMMER50 at checkout to receive a 50% discount off their total fees.
SUMMER ROBOTICS
Registration for the Summer Robotics Program will open Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00AM.
You can learn more about the program here.
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/extendedlearning/summer-robotics
Location: Shrewsbury High
For students who will be entering grades 4-8 in the fall of 2024
Dates: July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26 and July 29-Aug 2
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-3:30
Cost: $310 per week.
Students who meet the financial guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program can use the code SUMMER50 at checkout to receive a 50% discount off their total fees.
DIGITAL LOST & FOUND
Lost & Found - PLEASE CHECK!
Click here to see items that are in our lost & found. Lost & found is located right outside of our cafeteria and can be picked up in person during arrival and dismissal. If you see an item that belongs to your child you can also email nturnblom@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or your child's classroom teacher to claim the item. Please label your child's items.
April PTO UPDATES
Spring Fling May 3rd 5:30-7:30:
The Calvin Coolidge Spring Fling will be Friday, May 3! We will have Bingo, Ice Cream sundae bar, Raffle Baskets and more! Flyers went home this week to sign up. This is a pre pay event! You must return the form with your payment by Tuesday, April 23rd.
Thank you to the families who have already signed up to support the Spring Fling by donating items and money for the raffle baskets. We have had several donations from local businesses as well. We can’t wait to share these baskets with everyone. If you haven't had a chance to contribute yet, now is the perfect time to get involved! Please consider donating an item or signing up to contribute. Raffle basket donations are due by 4/23.
- Cash donations can be made here
- Sign up for an item by clicking on your child's grade level below
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Kids Night Out @ Coolidge:
We will be hosting another Coolidge Kids Night Out on Friday, May 17th. Our last event was a big success, so we’re looking forward to having even more fun this time. Flyers will come home soon!
IMPORTANT DATES
Reminders: Mark Your Calendars - Important Dates!
April
22- Return to Coolidge / Earth Day
25- SHS Lymphoma Society Fundraiser at CCS
May
3- Coolidge Spring Fling, 5:30-7:30
Calvin Coolidge School
Website: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/coolidge
Location: 1 Florence Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Phone: 5088418880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoolidgeElementarySchool