Upcoming Important Dates:
No School: Winter Recess December 24-January 1
Winter gear
While the winter weather has us mostly eating lunch inside now, we still will go out for recess as much as possible. It's the one time of day that kids really can move and play without as many restrictions as they face inside. Thank you for making sure your child has appropriate boots, coats, mittens, and hats to be comfortable while we are outside multiple times each day.
SCHOOL PICTURES:
Cohort A - Monday, December 7th
Cohort B & Remote students-Friday, December 11th
If you still wish to place a picture order, click on the following link; O'Connor Studios, enter your unique access code and place your order.
If you did not receive a unique identifier code for your child, please email Sandy Williams at s.williams@hwschools.net.
Technology
The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District continues to make computer devices available at each school for those students who are without an appropriate remote learning device. If your student does not have dedicated access to an Internet-ready device please complete the device request form: https://forms.gle/b7JipLN8wquWvkFCA. If your student encounters technology difficulties with a District loaner device, please email helpdesk@hwschools.net for assistance.
HW HEALTH OFFICE FLU UPDATE
December 1, 2020
Massachusetts requires the flu vaccine for all students (hybrid and remote)
The influenza vaccine is important because:
- It reduces the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduces the severity of disease (including the risk of hospitalization), and prevents the spread of influenza to others.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the influenza vaccine is especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system.
If your child(ren) have not received their flu vaccine yet, please call their pediatrician today to schedule their vaccine. Once received, please submit the documentation to your school nurse in whatever way is most convenient. It can also be faxed to (978) 468-0450 or attached to a message in our health portal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which students need to receive the influenza vaccine?
- Students in Kindergarten-Grade 12 are required to receive influenza vaccine for the current influenza season for school attendance.
When do students need to receive the influenza vaccine?
- Students must receive the influenza vaccine for the current season by December 31, 2020.
Are there any exemptions to receiving the influenza vaccine?
- Medical and religious exemptions are allowable in the state of Massachusetts.
What type of influenza vaccine can students receive?
- Any age-appropriate licensed influenza vaccine for the current season fulfills the requirement. This includes injectable and nasal spray vaccine types.
If my school will be providing instruction remotely, will students still need to meet immunization requirements?
- The school immunization requirements, including the requirement for the seasonal influenza vaccine, apply to all Massachusetts students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12, regardless of whether the district is providing instruction in-person, or using a hybrid or remote learning model.
Source: FAQ Influenza Vaccine Requirement for School Attendance at mass.gov
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Community Service Project 💙
I am excited to share that my 5th-grade student leadership group is organizing a food drive for our local food pantry, Acord. The students are eager to get underway with their first community service project and are hoping you can help by donating some of Acord’s most needed items. Students may bring items in or if you would like to drop something off, there will be a donation bin in the gallery. They will be collecting through Thursday, December 18th, thank you so much in advance for your help with this! Here is a list of their most needed items:
- Breakfast items: Jam/jelly, cereal (hot & cold), pancake mix, syrup
- Canned goods: Chili, hearty soup, canned meats (white tuna, chicken, salmon, ham), baked beans, beef stew, Chef Boyardee
- Dry goods: Coffee, tea, cocoa, baking mixes, macaroni & cheese, couscous, quinoa, and other grains
- Snack items: granola bars, raisins, pudding, peanut butter crackers, other crackers
- Condiments: Mayonnaise, salad dressing, mustard, ketchup, and other condiments
- Personal care items: Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products
- Baby items: Diapers, formula, baby food
Community Supports 💙
During these times of uncertainty, we understand that many families may be experiencing hardship. Here are some local resources that you may find helpful.
Acord serves clients in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Topsfield, and Wenham. They offer weekly food distributions, holiday meal programs, school vacation lunch bags, nutrition education and outreach, and emergency meal assistance. They also partner with local farms to provide fresh produce to their clients every week. They can be reached at 978-468-7424 or acord.director@gmail.com.
The Hamilton Foundation was created to help meet unexpected, urgent, and short-term needs of Hamilton residents due to job loss, death, divorce, or catastrophic illness. It also maintains a directory of over 60 regional social service agencies and refers people to those programs when appropriate.
Please call 978-233-1816 and leave a message and someone will return your call.
WISSH assists Wenham residents in need of temporary financial or social service assistance. Their mission is to identify the social service needs of Wenham residents and to coordinate and implement appropriate immediate unmet financial assistance to those in need. You may call WISSH at a confidentially maintained phone number, 978-468-5520 Ext. 9.
Beverly Bootstraps provides critical resources to families and individuals so that they may achieve self-sufficiency. They offer emergency and long-term assistance including access to food, housing stability, adult and youth education, counseling and advocacy. The best way to contact them is to fill out this form and a case manager will reach out to you. You may also call them at 978-927-1561 and a message will be relayed to a case manager for you.
I maintain connections with all of the above organizations. If you need any help accessing them or if there are other supports that I might assist you with, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am happy to help out in any way that I can.
Warmly,
Ann Creilson
Cutler School Adjustment Counselor
978-468-8475
HAMILTON WENHAM GENERALS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FUNDRAISER
For a $20 Donation
You can participate in Our HW Community Photo Scavenger Hunt!
Here is what you need to do:
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Email Lisa Fibbe @Lmfot@comcast.net and she will send you a secure link
for payment.
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Once you go to our secure links and pay, We will send you the instructions
and the checklist.
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Enjoy celebrating the Holiday season by finding and photographing yourself
or family with the clues from the checklist.
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Add our Twitter Page @HWHolidayHunt and Like our Facebook Page@HW
Holiday Hunt: Girls Basketball Fundraiser
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Once complete: You can post your Photos to our Facebook or Twitter
pages for all participants to enjoy. Be sure to use #HWgirlsbasketball
#HWHolidayHunt
Be sure to stop at 2 Donkeys Toy Shop during Store Hours and show your
Holiday Mascot Gerry to pick up a small treat.
And of course.......Have a blast making some fun family memories!!
EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS CFCE
“WIND-DOWN WEDNESDAYS”
PARENT WORKSHOPS ON ZOOM
Please join Early Childhood Partners CFCE for a series of FREE drop-in parent workshops to
connect local families during these unprecedented times. Each week we will focus on self-care
strategies, share parenting challenges & opportunities and discuss ways to better support our
children. These workshops will be facilitated by Maryellen Collamore, MSW, LICSW, a local child
& family clinician who specializes in parenting and childhood mental health.
JANUARY 6 @ 7:30PM: PARENTING DURING COVID
JAN 13 @ 7:30PM: ADDRESSING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS JAN 20 @ 7:30PM: ENGAGING TWO AGE LEVELS AT ONCE JAN 27 @ 7:30PM: PARENT/PARTNER COMMUNICATION FEBRUARY 3 @ 7:30PM: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FEB 10 @ 7:30PM: SELF-CARE FOR BUSY PARENTS
Please register at www.EarlyChildhoodPartners.com to receive the ZOOM link.
Feel free to join us for one or all of the workshops!
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Early Childhood Partners CFCE offers FREE storytimes, playgroups,
workshops, community events, advocacy, connections, and support
for families and children aged 0-8.
To learn more and to register, please go to our website
www.EarlyChildhoodPartners.com or call 978-468-5489.
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Funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care awarded to Hamilton-Wenham
RSD. All educational and non-academic programs, activities and employment opportunities at Hamilton-Wenham RSD
are offered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity,
homelessness, age and/or disability, and any other class or characteristic protected by law.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS WINTER 2021
All Early Childhood Partners programs are FREE and available on our Website, Facebook Page, & ZOOM!
www.EarlyChildhoodPartners.com @EarlyChildhoodPartnersCFCE
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MONDAYS “FIRST FRIENDS” Interactive Story Time @ 10am on ZOOM. Themed circle time, songs, stories,
group activities, and so much more! This program is best for parents/caregivers & children ages 2-8!
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TUESDAYS “STORYTIME YOGA” is a pre-recorded mindfulness & movement storytime for children
ages 2-6yo & a parent/caregiver. Participate in basic yoga stretches & breathing exercises inspired by a book.
“THE PROCESS ART WORKSHOP” is designed for children ages 3-8yo & their parents/caregivers.
Participants will enjoy links to online read-aloud stories & activities that practice process art methods.
Available for those who pre-register: FREE PROCESS ART TAKE & MAKE BAGS!
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WEDNESDAYS “PRE-K HOORAY” is a virtual storytime focused on literacy, arts, music, movement, & science!
Designed for children ages 2-6yo & their parents/caregivers. Includes SPECIAL EVENTS & GIVEAWAYS!
“WIND-DOWN WEDNESDAYS” Parenting Workshops @ 7:30pm on ZOOM. Focus on self-care strategies,
share parenting challenges & opportunities, and discuss ways to better support our children.
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THURSDAYS “LITTLE LEARNERS” Interactive Story Time @ 10am on ZOOM. Families with children ages 0-5
will enjoy stories, songs, & fingerplays. An opportunity to virtually meet and connect with other parents!
“WENDY’S STORY ART“ is designed for children ages 0-5yo & their parents/caregivers. Participants will
develop literacy & fine motor skills through links to online read-aloud stories and play-based art experiences.
Available for those who pre-register: FREE STORY ART TAKE & MAKE BAGS!
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FRIDAYS “STORIES AND SONGS” Interactive Story Time @ 10am on ZOOM. Join us for a fun early literacy
music & movement story time for the whole family. Play, move, sing, read, and have fun together!
“SCIENCE FRIDAYS” is STEAM fun! Parents/caregivers and children ages 2-6yo will listen to online
read-aloud stories and explore links to science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities!
Includes SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND GIVEAWAYS!
"M IS FOR MUSEUM" & ”POPPETS PLAYDATES” is a pre-recorded story time with the Wenham Museum.
Join us for a virtual version of our popular monthly preschool and toddler programs.
Available for those who pre-register: FREE TAKE & MAKE ACTIVITY BAGS!
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SATURDAYS "SEASIDE SATURDAYS" weekly virtual field trips PLUS a monthly pre-recorded collaboration
with the Manchester Historical Museum & MBTS Public Library. Fun for the whole family!
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