Worthington School District
147 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
413-238-5856
gmorsedobosz@hr-k12.org
Dear School Community:
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. I also hope you are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. I am so delighted that you are part of our amazing learning community.
We have some new faculty members that are joining us this school year. We welcome Lucia Shapiro who will be the lead preschool teacher and Alix Bossenger will be a paraprofessional in the preschool classroom. Besty Todd will work with students in grades K-6 as the Interventionist. Nurse Stephanie Faas will share the nurse’s office with Nurse Meg Breymann. Stay tuned for a newsletter from the Nurse’s office with their schedule!
Finally, we welcome Jaimie Ricci who will assist Ashley Tompkins, the cafeteria manager.
Back-to-School Potluck: Our Annual Back to School Potluck will be on Monday, August 28, from 5:00PM – 7:00PM on the blacktop. This is a nice time for returning families to reconnect and a time to welcome new families joining the R.H. Conwell community. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share (side, salad, main or dessert). There will be hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill this year. Please bring your own non-alcoholic drinks, chairs or blankets to sit on. Plates, napkins and cutlery will be provided. Please contact, Anna Langone @ anna.Langone@yahoo.comto sign up to help out and discuss how you can help to make this annual event a success.
First Day of School: The first day of school is Wednesday, August 30. The first TWO days (August 30 and August 31) will be an EARLY dismissal beginning at 12:00. Students will begin their day on the playground, and can be dropped off beginning at 8:30AM. Classroom teachers plan to host parent-teacher in-takes during the afternoon on those early release days. Your classroom teacher will contact you shortly about available times for meeting.
Preschool’s First Day: Preschool’s first day of school is on September 6, 2023 and is a FULL day of school.
Handbook: Please visit this Worthington School District Handbook 2023-2024 for the updated Handbook. A copy will be sent home on the first day of school for you to read and review with your child(ren).
Enrollment: Our school enrollment continues to grow! This year we welcome three new families and seven new students to the district for a total of 74 students enrolled in preschool through 6th grade.
Attendance: Starting a new school year is a good time to make new resolutions. Please help us in meeting our goals for students by arriving at school on time and making school attendance every day a top priority. Students can be dropped off at 8:30 for morning recess and school begins at 8:50. You may remember that last spring dismissal has been changed to 3:20! Please make sure to note this change!
Reminders from Nurse’s Office: The Mass Department of Public Health (MDPH) has health requirements for certain grades and newly entering students. The requirements are listed here. Each child needs to present to the school nurse documentation of a physical examination prior to first school entry and at intervals of every three to four years thereafter.
Newly entering Preschoolers: Physical exam (PE) within the last calendar year by school entry, Vision Screening (providers are required to do this during a PE,) Immunizations or medical or religious exemption letter, documentation of lead screening,
Newly entering Kindergarteners: Same as preschoolers.
First Graders: Physical Examination and Immunizations Fourth Graders: Physical Examination and Immunizations
Band and Chorus with Mr. Cain: The purpose of the R. H. Conwell band and chorus program is to give students in grades 4-6 the opportunity to explore their musical interests in a focused environment with like-minded peers, allowing them to support and enhance their growing knowledge of music and their skills in expressing themselves through sound.
BAND
In the band program, students will be introduced to standard concert band instruments from the woodwind and brass instrument families (including the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone), as well as advanced percussion family instruments (including the snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and xylophone).
Students will select an instrument as their focus instrument, which can be rented for the duration of the school year from Gerry’s Music Shop. Detailed information on renting instruments will be distributed to students and their families during the first week of school. Students will receive instruction on how to play their instruments solo while also learning how to play concert band arrangements together as an ensemble. At the end of the school year, students will put on a recital to share what they learned.
CHORUS
In the chorus program, students will be introduced to sight-singing and ear-training practices, including learning about pitches and intervals on the music staff, the relationship between pitches in chordal harmony, and how to match and complement pitches while singing as a group. Students will receive instruction on how to sing solo while also learning how to sing choral music arrangements together as an ensemble. At the end of the school year, students will put on a recital to share what they learned.
After-School Program: The After-School Program will begin on Monday, September 11th. The program will be open Monday through Friday from 3:20 to 5:15 for grades 1st through 6th and will be open on Monday through Wednesday for kindergarten. The program is open on full days of school. The After-School Program is free to students thanks to two grants from the Department of Education (DESE) . DESE requires students to attend the program a minimum of 2 days a week. Registration forms will be handed out to students in their classrooms during the 2nd week of school. The fall activities will include: Girls on the Run for grades 3 to 6, Golf at the Worthington Golf Club for grades 6, instrument lessons for grades 4 and 6, Comic Book Creation for grades 3 to 6, Music & Dance Exploration, Drama, Art Studio, and Innovation Hub for kindergarten to grade 6. For more information contact Shannon Madden, After-School Program Coordinator, at smadden@hr-k12.org.
Coffee with the Principal: Throughout the year I look forward to meeting the new members of our community and connecting with returning community members. They are scheduled during morning drop off beginning at 8:30 a.m. and evening times that will be virtual. I will share an agenda with parents and topics for us to discuss. These gatherings are a great opportunity to meet new people and see old friends. Our first Annual Coffee will be in person on September 20 at 8:30AM beginning in the library and then parents will visit classrooms beginning at 8:55 a.m. to observe classroom Morning Meetings.
Open House: Will be on October 19 with a PTO sponsored dinner event beginning at 5:00PM. More information will be forthcoming.
Bus Information: Our bus drivers Elodi McBride and Robin Sampson are the R.H. Conwell bus drivers. The bus schedule will be forthcoming. If there are any changes or if you have questions about pick up and drop off, please contact Beth Boyle at 413-862-8080. Please notify the office at louellet@hr-k12.org if you know that your child(ren) will NOT be riding the bus at all as soon as possible.
Below are a few friendly reminders for children riding the bus:
- Kindergarten students will need an adult present for PM drop off at the bus stop. An ID will be required if someone other than the identified adult is at the bus stop.
- Both bus drivers will communicate daily with the office, and have been invited to join the school for our monthly all school meetings. It is my hope that we have all the adults who work with kids to play a role in celebrating the students and community.
Breakfast and Lunch: The school breakfast and lunch program is free this school year! If you would like to purchase milk with your bagged lunch it will cost .50 cents. Parents may send cash or checks in an envelope. Checks are made out to The Town of Worthington. We invite families to join us for breakfast and lunch each month. Please watch the community news and lunch menu for these days/times.
Volunteers: We are looking for community members to substitute and/or volunteer at R.H. Conwell. Please call Lisa at 413-238-5856.
PTO: Meetings will typically be on the third Thursday of each month with the next one scheduled on September 21 at 6:00PM. This will be a hybrid meeting.
Thank you for sending your children to R.H Conwell. Your commitment to ensuring that
R.H. Conwell remains a celebrated and successful school is awe-inspiring. I eagerly look forward to greeting students and families on the first day of school! It remains an honor and privilege to serve as your principal. Enjoy these last weeks of summer, and I look forward to seeing you at the potluck or on the first day of school!
Warmly,
Gretchen Morse-Dobosz
Principal/Superintendent, Worthington School District
gmorsedobosz@hr-k12.org