Worthington School District
147 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
413-238-5856
October 22, 2021
Dear R.H. Conwell Families,
Parent Zoom: Thanks to the families who joined me during last evening’s parent zoom. During the meeting, I shared with the families my reflection of how the school year is going thus far. It was important for me to convey that this year is feeling more challenging than during the beginning of COVID. Some of these challenges include:
- Staffing Shortages: As you may be aware, national staffing and supply chain issues are impacting every sector of service, including school districts. We are feeling the impact of national shortages in these areas. I have articulated some of the challenges facing our community at School Committee meetings and in my previous newsletters. I ask for your continued patience and support as we work through this year together. For two months, the district has been advertising for a 1:1 special education paraprofessional, preschool paraprofessional, music teacher and school counselor.
- We need to Rebuild Educator Agency
- How can the district support our teachers? How can parents be supportive of our teachers?
- Assume Best Intentions
- How can the district support our teachers? How can parents be supportive of our teachers?
- Trust Our Educators – the teachers plan engaging lessons using the Massachusetts Frameworks. They do not bring their political views into the classroom and their lessons. And, we ask that families keep their political views out of the school building.
Halloween Parade: The annual Halloween parade will begin on Friday, October 29 at 2:00 sharp. We ask that Halloween costumes are not scary, weapon- free, and that students don’t have full face masks.
Beginning at 2:00, students will parade out the cafeteria door and turn right down the sidewalk and around the building. The students will walk around the building twice. We ask that parents stand along the parade route (sidewalk and back field). After the parade, everyone is welcome to visit near the tents where the PTO will have complimentary cider and donuts for everyone.
News from the Recreation Committee:
HALLOWEEN 2021
SYAA HAMPSHIRE RECREATION BASKETBALL
School Pictures: School pictures went home in folders today. Retakes will be next Thursday, October 28, 2021. If you would like your child’s pictures re-taken, please return the complete package on that day. If you have any questions, please call the office or email louellet@hr-k12.org
Conferences: Please make sure to sign up for a conference with the classroom teacher. Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 4 and Friday, November 5, 2021.
Snacks: We have seen an increase in students coming to school without a snack and are very hungry by mid-morning. Please make sure to send your child in with a healthy snack. If this is a hardship, please contact Nurse Sam or Grecthen for support.
Handbook: Handbook 2021
We are resending the link to the handbook and would like to remind families to sign the last sheet that you have read the handbook.
Lunch: Until further notice students will eat snacks and lunch outside.
- Friday lunch: Caregivers are welcome to join Friday lunch. We are limiting lunch to three caregivers per class. The K-2 lunch begins at 12:00 and the 3-6 lunch begins at 12:35. Please sign up to attend Friday lunch using the following link. The next family lunch will be Friday, October 29, 2021. The LAST Parent Lunch will be October 29th. Please come to the front door and sign in at the office first.
- If you (the caregiver) will be purchasing lunch please include this into the comment section when you sign up. School lunch costs $4.00. While attending family lunch, we expect that caregivers will sign in at the front office, will wear a mask while they are inside, and find a spot outside with their child. At that time, we ask that families be mindful of social distancing since masks are not required while outside.
| Covid-19 Data Dashboard | |||
| This Week (10/22/21) | Last Week (10/15/21) | Changes from last week | |
| Positive Cases at R.H. Conwell | 0 | 0 | — |
| Internal Close Contacts | 0 | 0 | — |
| External Close Contacts in Quarantine | 0 | 0 | — |
| BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Tests Conducted (last 7 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Days | |||
| Positive Cases in Worthington (last 7 days) | 2 | 0 | ↑2 |
| Positive Cases in Hampshire County (last 14 days) – Updated 10/12/2021 | 243 | 252 | ↓9 |
| Positive Cases in Massachusetts (last 14 days) – Updated 10/12/2021 | 18,086 | 18,528 | ↓442 |
Upcoming Events:
October 25, 2021: Noon Dismissal
October 28, 2021: 3:30 – 5:30 – Equity Advisory Committee
October 29, 2021: Halloween Parade beginning at 2:00 p.m. followed by a PTO cider and donut party out by the tents.
October 30, 2021: Special Town Meeting under the tents beginning at 10:30 a.m. Special Town Meeting: October 30, 2021
November 4, 2021: Noon Dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences November 5, 2021: Noon Dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences November 8, 2021: PTO meeting – 3:30p.m.
November 11, 2021: No School
November 23, 2021: Noon Dismissal
November 24- 26, 2021: Thanksgiving Recess
Have a wonderful weekend!
Gretchen Morse-Dobosz
Superintendent/Principal
gmorsedobosz@hr-k12.org