Greetings Community,
With the sun shining so bright during the day it gives me hope that spring is just around the corner! We’ve had another full week of teaching and learning, and the students enjoyed time outside and in the woods engaged in learning activities.
We are getting really excited to welcome the tents back for the first week of April! During last Sunday’s CBS morning show they featured a segment on how Forest schools are popping up during the pandemic. Forest schools, in which students are instructed outside rather than in classrooms, have become a learning experience for many – and have added benefits in a time of pandemic. At Conwell, we have seen first hand the benefits of outdoor learning and why at Conwell we spend so much time teaching outside even when there isn’t a pandemic. During the fall we all noticed a significant decrease in unexpected behaviors from students and a general sense of attentiveness. This video highlights how learning outside awakens whole body learning and allows for a more authentic learning experience for students. Students are naturally curious learning outside, and I am so appreciative that we can offer this here at Conwell. I hope you enjoy this segment.
Watch Sunday Morning: Forest schools: Lessons in outdoor education – Full show on CBS
Book Fair: We are fortunate to host a Scholastic Book Fair this year. This is an opportunity to have a bookstore brought to the school. It allows students, families and community members to browse and purchase books, art kits, favorite books series, etc. while earning Scholastic Book Dollars for our school library. The book fair is open to the public on the following dates below. We ask that community members coming to the school cafeteria for the book fair practice social distancing, wear a mask and to be mindful of others while shopping! There will be a limited amount of browsers allowed at one time. Thank you for your cooperation.
- Tuesday, March 23: 3:15 – 4:30
- Thursday, March 25: 3:15 – 4:30
- Saturday, March 27: 10:00 – 2:00
You can also visit our Book Fair online: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/rhconwellelementaryschool
Kindergarten School Choice: The school committee voted to allow our district to participate in school choice for the 2021-2022 school year. We currently have openings in the kindergarten class. Please follow the link for the School Choice application. The due date is April 16, 2021.
School choice Application for SY 2021-2022.pdf
School Calendar: School Committee voted to approve the calendar for the upcoming school year. You can find a copy of it here:
Worthington School District Calendar for 2021-2022.pdf
LAST CALL for the last photo: I invite all members of the school and the Worthington community to share their last photo before the coronavirus and we will create a slideshow with these photos to be shared with everyone. Please email me your photo at gmorsedobosz@hr-k12.org
Travel Advisory: Governor Baker has opened up to Step 1 of Phase IV starting Monday March 22. Our positive test rate has been less than 2% for several weeks (once we are less than 1%, spread stops!); COVID cases as well as hospitalizations are down; and Massachusetts leads the country in vaccinations.
The changes include: The Massachusetts Travel Order is downgraded to a Travel Advisory the Governor urges rather than requires all persons entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival if they have been out of the state for 24 hours or more. Exceptions are people who have been fully vaccinated, those who have tested negative within 72 hours of return, and critical infrastructure workers.
The new advisory also:
- Opens indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks at 12% capacity
- Increases the capacity at event venues and public settings; unfortunately, private gatherings remain the same at 25 people outside and 10 indoors.
- Opens dance floors at weddings and other events only
- Permits overnight summer camps this summer
- Opens exhibition and convention halls, following public limits
A Weekly Covid Update from the Nurse’s Office (3/19/2021)
Number of positive cases within the school community: 0
Overall health of the school community: Healthy
We are continuing to have great success with our health and safety protocols within our school community, and we continue to thank you all for your support in keeping our students safe and in person learning.
UPCOMING DATES:
- March 22 – March 30: Scholastic Book Fair
- March 26, 2021: Report Cards go home
- March 26, 2021: Noon dismissal
- April 8, 2021: School Budget hearing and regular scheduled meeting @ 6:30PM.
Warmly,
Gretchen Morse-Dobosz,
Superintendent/Principal
Worthington School District
147 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
413-238-5856
gmorsedobosz@hr-k12.org