Autism Awareness Month is a time to educate your community about autism. We should recognize that there are parents, grandparents, siblings, and many others who are there each day to help their family member who has autism. Let’s also acknowledge the role professionals, teachers, caregivers, nonprofits and so many others have in empowering people with autism to maximize their quality of life.  National Autism Awareness Month represents an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance and to draw attention to the tens of thousands facing an autism diagnosis each year.  Ways you may celebrate; put on a puzzle ribbon, connect with your neighborhood or donate to the Autism Society!

Rainbow Afterschool Childcare Information: On Monday April 11th and Wednesday April 13th from 6:00-7:00 pm, we will host a parent informational session about the after school child care program that Rainbow Child Development will facilitate for our students next year. If you filled out the survey indicating that you will need after school care starting the 2022-2023 school year, please attend one of these sessions to have any questions you may have about the program answered. This is in person and will take place in the school gym. 

SEMSAPAC:  “The poetry slam

Will be a wordsmith’s jam

Rhyming, free verse, sonnet and haiku

Whatever your taste, we have a flavor for you

The drama room’s the place, April 14^th is the day

Our MSA poets will be on display”

Please come to Learning First on April 14^th for The Multilingual Student Association (MSA) Student

Poetry Slam! Kindergarten – Grade 2 will be 9:00-10:00 AM and Grades 3 – 8 will be 10:30-11:30 AM.

WooSox Game Interest Survey: Learning First Charter is hoping to partner with WooSox for a Family Night at a Friday game in early June. Let us know if you and your family are interested by taking this survey: https://forms.gle/mXrQrdyLAf2k2qGb7 

Autodials:  Autodials are used to let families know of school closings/ delays or other important information and reminders that we need to get out sooner than in this newsletter. We would prefer the text message option, as families can see the message immediately, but at times, the message is longer and we need to do a voice message. Because of the importance of the autodial, we ask that families please answer the call and listen to the message or check your voicemail before calling the school to ask what the message is. We have 666 families that receive the message at the same time there are only eight phone lines and two people to answer the phones. If you do need to call the school, please remember to call (508) 799-7500 and press “8” for the main office. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Calendar Fundraiser– Our school-wide fundraiser was sent home last Thursday, March 30th. The money raised is going to our annual Field Day that we have not had since 2019 due to COVID-19. The sale ends this Sunday, April 10^th. Please return all tickets sold with money on Monday, April 11th. If you have been unable to sell any of your child’s calendar raffles please give it a try this weekend or consider purchasing 1 or 2 books yourself to help us make a great field for our students. Prize winning top sellers will be announced on Monday afternoon. Any questions please contact Robin Roy, rroy@learningfirstcharter.org.

Reminders from the School Nurse: The nurse is looking for gently used uniforms donations. If you have any pants and/ or shirts that your child does not fit any longer and are in good condition, please send them in.

This is a reminder to Learning First families participating in the at home COVID-19 testing, to test on Tuesday night and if positive to contact the school nurse on Wednesday morning.

The mask mandate for all students and staff was lifted on March 7th and is no longer a requirement. Student and staff that feel more comfortable wearing a mask may do so but the school is unable to provide them with one. Please be sure to send your child with a mask if they choose to wear one.

This week we had 7 cases of Covid-19 in our school.  If your student was a close contact then you were notified by the school nurse. It is not required for your child to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, however if your child has had it and you are willing to let us know it would be appreciated and helpful in cases when we need to do contact tracing.

Stay healthy! ~Nurse Sarah and Sammy

Extracurricular Activities:  STOMP practice will be held on Fridays from 12:30-3:30pm. Assumption College Stomp and Dance Competition has been changed to a showcase and will be held on April 9^th from 1:00-4:00 PM.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams are having a banquet on April 14th. Athletes will stay after school and parents are encouraged to attend a short award ceremony that will begin at 5:30 prompt.

School Calendar Update for 2021-2022 School Year: Due to the numbers of snow days we had this school year; our last day of school is now June 21, 2022. It will be a half of day. Dismissal will be at 12:30 PM. There will be no school the day before, June 20^th, in observance of Juneteenth.

Reminder: School Hours for the 2022-2023 school year will change to 7:30 AM- 2:30 PM Monday through Friday.

Apr. 9: Stomp Showcase at Assumption College 1:00-4:00 PM

Apr. 11: Calendar Raffle Ticket & Money Due; Rainbow Parent Informational Session 6:00-7:00 PM

Apr. 13:  Rainbow Parent Informational Session 6:00-7:00 PM

Apr. 14: SEMSAPAC Grade 2 9:00-10:00 AM; Grade 3-8 10:30-11:30 AM; Boys’& Girls’ Basketball Banquet 5:30 PM

Apr. 15: No School

Apr. 18-22: No School

May 2-3: Grades 3-8 Math MCAS Testing

May 4-5: MCAS Make-Ups

May 16-17: Grades 5 & 8 STE MCAS Testing

May 17-18: MCAS Make-Ups

June 20: No School

June 21: Last Day of School (Dismissal 12:30 PM)