Upcoming Important Dates:
All Kindergarten and 1st-grade students learn remotely Friday, January 15
No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 18
All Kindergarten and 1st-grade students learn in-person
on Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays starts January 19
Mid-Winter School Vacation February 15-19
Winter gear
While the winter weather has us mostly eating lunch inside now, we still will go out for recess daily and will eat outside as the weather allows. 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.
HW HEALTH OFFICE UPDATES
COVID-19 CLOSE CONTACT
Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an infectious person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. A COVID positive individual is considered infectious or contagious starting 2 days prior to their symptom onset, or 2 days prior to their positive COVID test in the case of asymptomatic individuals. During the contact tracing process, positive individuals are interviewed to see who they have been in close contact with during their infectious period, and close contacts are then notified of the need to quarantine. Masks reduce risk but do not eliminate exposure completely.
COVID-19 QUARANTINE
The CDC and MA DPH have provided new quarantine guidelines based on data on the typical timing of developing COVID after close contact exposure. For individuals who do not have, and have never had, symptoms during their quarantine period there is now a 7-day option with testing or a 10-day option without testing. Local public health nurses work with individuals to release them from quarantine, or from isolation in the case of positive individuals. Here are the quarantine options from the MA DPH:
- COUNSELOR'S CORNERHappy New Year! I hope this year brings peace and wellness to you and your families. While a new year is inevitably thought of as a new beginning, many of us continue to face ongoing challenges while the pandemic drags on for all of us. Coping with it all is not easy! Dr. Laurie Santos is the Yale professor behind the very popular free Coursera class, The Science of Well-Being, where she teaches evidence-based practices to help people feel better. We all use a variety of coping strategies; some serve us better than others. In this short video, she goes through her top five ways to cope, based on science. She first shared the video on World Mental Health Day, though it is still certainly relevant now. 😊A big THANK YOU to our group of fifth graders who spearheaded the food drive for Acord and to all of you who donated! We collected 130 pounds of food which is the equivalent of 108 meals for families in need. We also had many generous donations of toiletry items that are greatly appreciated.Thank you!As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or just to touch base.Warmly,Ann CreilsonSchool Adjustment Counselora.creilson@hwschools.net978-468-8475EARLY 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.
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!
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.
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 FREEand available on our Website, Facebook Page, & ZOOM! www.EarlyChildhoodPartners.com @EarlyChildhoodPartnersCFCEMONDAYS “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!
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!
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.
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!
