Coolidge Chronicle
March 10, 2024
Thank you!
Dear Coolidge Families,
I hope you are doing well and filled with the positive energy that resonated throughout our school during Cultural Connections Week. The Coolidge Staff and I want to extend our deepest gratitude for your incredible support, making this week a resounding success!
Your active involvement in sharing your cultural heritage with our students, whether in person or virtually, significantly contributed to the richness of this week-long event. We were thrilled to witness the diverse array of family traditions, artifacts, stories, and more that were shared, creating a tapestry of cultures within our school community.
The evening event, the "Celebration of Us," where families could display information about their cultures and traditions and indulge in delightful food and cultural presentations, was truly a highlight! Students were grinning ear to ear and your enthusiastic participation in this event made the celebration all the more vibrant and engaging.
The impact of Cultural Connections Week goes beyond the festivities; it strengthens the bonds within our school community, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds that make Coolidge special.
We are truly grateful for your contributions!
With deep gratitude,
Tiffany
P.S The Community Advocate was present at the event and plans to spotlight the event. Be on the look out for a story about your wonderful school community! :)
COOLIDGE COMMUNITY PHOTOS
A few photos from Cultural Connections Week! Thank you to all the families who presented. We have loved learning more about your cultural practices and families!
A few photos from the Celebration of Us Event! We are in the process of making a movie - more to come!
The Country of Origin school-wide activity has been such a gift to our hallways, minds, and hearts! Each child was given an outline of their country or countries of origin to decorate with interesting and important information connected to their culture. Students decorated with their families and the displays are amazing! Below we have a few examples chosen randomly.
Pictured below: The Shrewsbury Dolphins competed in the DI tournament this past Saturday at Beverly High School and had a fantastic time. Thank you to volunteer coach, Ananth Sadanand, for his support in running this fun opportunity for students!
COOLIDGE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
March Musician of the Month - Ludwig van Beethoven
March is Music In Our Schools Month and was created over 40 years ago to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children. Therefore during the Month of March we try to highlight a musician who has a focus on Orchestral music. This month we will be focusing on the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven was born in December of 1770 in Bonn Germany. At the age of 11 he began his career as a performer, acting as assistant organists in a nobleman's court and not long after he began to compose music. Beethoven became known for his skillful piano playing and became very famous following a large public concert in Vienna. In the late 1790’s Beethoven began to lose his hearing. Despite this hearing loss he continued to perform piano and compose. By 1819 Beethoven was completely deaf and no longer performing, rather he focused his energy on composing. If you care to listen to some of Beethoven's greatest works 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
​​Invention Challenge: Toys for Pets (Non-SPS Sponsored)
​Calling on all students in grades 2-8 to put on their inventor’s hat and stretch their imagination to design a new pet toy for a cat or dog for the Invention Challenge: Toys for Pets! The winning entry not only stands to win a grand prize of $5000 but also holds the potential to be manufactured, contributing to STEM education. To enter, simply submit a name for your pet toy, along with up to two images showcasing your design and a brief written summary explaining its concept in 200 words or less.
​Entries Due: March 19, 2024 | 8:59 PM PT
K-6 during April Vacation Program
Shrewsbury Public Schools is pleased to be offering enrichment classes for students in grades K-6 during April vacation. These classes are open to the community.
Registration will open Thursday, March 14th, at 7:00AM
Program information
Dates: Tuesday, April 16th - Friday, April 19th
Location: Beal School
Morning Class: 8:30-11:30 - $100week
Afternoon Class: 12:00-3:00 - $100/week
Early Drop-Off: 7:00-8:15 - $40week
Extended Hours: 3:00-6:00 - $85/week
Each class runs Tuesday-Friday, so students may select one class for the morning session and/or one class for the afternoon session. Students who wish to enroll in both AM and PM classes can bring a lunch from home and will be supervised in the cafeteria from 11:30-12:00.
Preview the catalog here.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
Students who meet the financial guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program can use the code APRVAC50 at checkout to receive a 50% discount off their total fees. Please note, even though all SPS students currently receive free lunch, this discount is only for families who meet the federal income guidelines for free and reduced meals. If you meet the criteria, you are eligible for financial assistance with other school programs. Learn more and apply here. All discounts will be verified with Food Services, and if you do not qualify, you will be billed the full cost of the class. Students who do not attend Shrewsbury Public Schools are not eligible for this discount, regardless of income status.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Karen Isaacson, Director of Extended Learning, 508-841-8727
REPEATED IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Coolidge School Council - Enrichment Activities Survey
The Coolidge School Council, comprised of staff, parents, and a community member, has identified the school improvement goal of creating an equitable and exciting enrichment menu for Coolidge Students. We would like to hear your thoughts on the current enrichment offerings at Coolidge and learn more about the strengths and barriers to programming. Please CLICK HERE or click the pocture above to take this 3-minute survey.
Information gained from this survey will be used to improve the Coolidge enrichment offerings. Your name will not be collected on this survey; however, responses will be communicated with others publicly through the Coolidge Chronicle.
Completion Ceremony Meeting - 4th Grade Parent Volunteers Needed!
Calling all Fourth Grade Parents! We are looking for fourth grade parents to attend a planning meeting for the upcoming 4th Grade Completion Ceremony that will occur later in June. (Date to be determined.) The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 13th at 4:00 at Coolidge in person in room 31. A Zoom link is provided for those who can only join virtually. During this meeting coordinating the 4th grade signature 2024 T-shirt, creating and publishing the 4thgrade yearbook, as well as organizing the 4th grade ice cream social will be discussed as we are looking for parent volunteers to help with all of these endeavors. The meeting should last no longer than 45 minutes.
Zoom Link:
https://shrewsburyps.zoom.us/j/82842897103?pwd=NS95bThxZkkyU0I2OUVKaU5uRlJ3Zz09
Meeting ID
828 4289 7103
If you want to help out, yet are unable to attend the meeting, please send an email to Miss Finneran (kfinneran@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us) so your name can be added to the volunteer list.
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.
MCAS Dates for Spring 2024
Below are the MCAS Testing dates for this year in Grades 3 and 4. Please mark your calendars and avoid scheduling appointments or travel on testing days if possible.
DIGITAL LOST & FOUND
Lost & Found
We are taking the Lost and Found digital! 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.
March PTO UPDATES
IMPORTANT DATES
Reminders: Mark Your Calendars - Important Dates for March!
March
13- Grade 4 Completion Meeting at 4:00 (Coolidge or Zoom)
25- Grade 4 ELA MCAS, Session 1
27- Grade 4 ELA MCAS, Session 2
April
1- T2 Report Card Available
1- Grade 3 ELA MCAS, Session 1
3- Grade 3 ELA MCAS, Session 2
Calvin Coolidge School
Website: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/coolidge
Location: 1 Florence Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Phone: 5088418880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoolidgeElementarySchool