Important Weather Advisory Information: In the event of a delay or cancelation due to weather, Learning First will follow the Worcester Public School’s Snow Policy. We will not be posting on the television news station sites. You must look for Worcester Public School on the local television news station sites. You can also check out the Worcester Public Schools Facebook page.

Learning First will send out an autodial to families.  You can also go to our schools website or sign-up for the family email.

School Website/ PowerSchool: Use your child’s login to www.learningfirstcharter.org

Family E-mail Mailing List: Sign up at www. learningfirstcharter.org/wq

Lottery Applications for the 2022-2023 School Year are available! If you have a child or sibling that will turn five years old by August 31, 2022, please complete an application available in our main office or online at https://learningfirstcharter.org/admission/ . The application deadline is March 2, 2022. All applications require a birth certificate and two proofs of address. Reminder, a new application must be completed for any child that is on the current waitlist. Please contact Sally Ustaitis at (508)799-7500 x1031 or email sustaitis@learningfirstcharter.org if you have any questions.

Reminders from the School Nurse: This week we have had 40 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 Sammi

Updated Covid-19 Guidelines:

-If a student is a close contact to someone who lives outside of the house they can come to school if negative.

-if a student is a close contact to someone who lives in the same house and they are NOT vaccinated they must stay home and can return on day 6 if they have no symptoms. If they ARE VACCINATED they can come to school as long as they have NO symptoms.

-if a student has Covid-19 (regardless of vaccination status) and after 5 days has no more symptoms (fever, cough, body aches, etc.) they can return on day 6.

-If a student has Covid-19 and still has symptoms after day 5 they should stay home until they are symptom free for 24 hours.

SEMSAPAC:  Parents you are invited to come and join us on February 8^th from 4:00-5:00 PM as we come together and talk about nutrition and how it correlates with student achievement.  Light refreshments will be served.

ACCESS Testing:  Both state and federal laws require schools to assess the English proficiency of all English Language Learners (ELL’s) during each school year.  To comply with these laws, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) require schools to administer the ACCESS for ELL’s 2.0 Assessment to students in grades K-12.

     At Learning First Charter Public School, the ACCESS for ELL’s 2.0, which evaluates students’ skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, will be administered January – February, 2022 to EL students in grades K-8.  EL Teachers will oversee the administration of this assessment.

     This test will provide important information to you about your child’s English proficiency level and progress.  In addition, we will use the results of the test to make curricular improvements and further promote the acquisition and development of students’ English skills.  Thank you for your cooperation with the testing period. 

What’s Happening in JA Guidance (grades 6-8):7th and 8th grade families: Students have been granted the opportunity to attend a field trip to Worcester Technical High School on Tuesday, January 25th. Students should have taken home a permission slip this week in order to attend the trip. If they have not, please ask them for it, it needs to be signed and returned by January 20th in order for them to attend. 

A Valentine’s Day fundraiser: The Girls and Boys basketball team will be selling roses with a message for a dollar!  Roses will be delivered on Monday, February 14th to students.  Anyone wishing to send a rose to a student can see Mrs. Bryan. All proceeds will benefit the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. 

Extracurricular Activities:  The Girls Basketball will play this Sunday January 23, 2022 at 2:00 PM.

The Boys Basketball will play on Friday, January 21, 2022, at 6:30 PM.  

All basketball games will be held at Venerini Academy located at 27 Edwards St. Entry fees are as follows: $5 per Adult and $1 per student (players are free)

Girls’ practices are on Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-6:00 PM.

Boys’ practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 PM.   

Parent pick up is on Gage Street at 6:00 PM sharp. Please encourage your student athlete to bring an extra water bottle to practice. 

                Stomp practice is on Fridays from 12:45-3:30 PM sharp. Parent pick-up is on Eastern Ave. Please remember your $2.00 dues.

Community Connections: Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Please use the following website to order yours now https://www.covidtests.gov/

Feb. 21-25 No School

Feb. 28: Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00 PM