Learning First Charter Public School
Newsletter October 15, 2021
Oct. 18: Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00 PM
Oct. 19: SEMSAPAC Meeting 4:00 PM
Oct. 25: Picture Day
Oct. 29: Bus Evacuation Review 10:00 AM
Nov. 4: ½ of Grade 7 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
Nov. 16: ½ of Grade 7 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
Nov. 30: ½ of Grade 8 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
Dec. 1: ½ of Grade 8 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
School Happenings: Lottery Applications for the 2022-2023 School Year are now available! If you have a child or sibling that will turn five years old by August 31, 2022, please complete the attached form and return to the main office or go 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 if you have any questions.
SEMSAPAC will be hosting an informational workshop On October 19th, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Come help set the stage for our student’s success with new ideas, questions and concerns. All are welcomed to this open forum. Light refreshments will be served.
Picture Day is Monday, October 25, 2021. All students must be in uniform. Picture order forms went home this past Monday with your child. If you are interested in purchasing pictures please remember to return the order form on picture day, October 25th, with your payment. Payment can be made with cash, check or money order. You can also order online before Picture Day by going to www.grynnternet.com and entering code 7E3R5U8 and click login. Please have exact payment when paying cash. The Main Office does NOT have change.
Grades 7 & 8 will be attending a STEM experience at WPI. The grades will be divided in half and attend on different through December 1st. They will leave for the campus after 9:00 AM, 15 minute STEM presentation, 45 minute STEM activity, 20 minute STEM presentation and a 30 minute campus tour. Students will then head back to the school and eat lunch upon arrival. Permission slips will go home at the end of the month.
Message from the Nurse: Just a friendly reminder that allergy season is among us. If your child has seasonal allergies please give them medication at home, as we do not provide it at school. Also, please continue to send in physical forms and remember to send your child with a mask each day.
Reminder! The bubblers are still closed. Please send your child to school with water each day.
Extracurricular Activities: The Stomp coaches will let students know who made the Stomp team by Tuesday 10/19. Contracts to be signed by parents and team members will go home with the students. Students cannot participate in practice until the contract has been signed and returned to Ms. Ortiz or Ms. Bryan.
What’s Happening in JA Guidance (grades 6-8):
6th grade families: In guidance classes this year we will be learning about the Massachusetts anti-bullying law, the cases that reformed our law, our schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan which includes: bullying (vs. conflict, mean moments, joking around) cyber bullying, sexual harassment, discriminatory harassment (race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, homelessness, disability, religion) and should time allow we will watch the documentary “Bully”. The movie is rated PG-13 for strong language, so if you do not wish for your child to watch it you can inform, Lisa Moore at x 1112.
7th grade families: Students will be reviewing our bullying prevention and intervention plan, learning about their high school options in Worcester, learning about mental health and how to stay mentally healthy, and they will begin their substance abuse prevention unit. In 2016, Governor Baker passed, An Act Relative to Substance Use, Treatment, Education, and Prevention. This law made it mandatory for students to start their education on Substance Abuse Prevention in grade 7 and start Universal Screening in grade 7 (more information on that will follow).
8th grade families: We are continuing their substance abuse prevention unit that was started in grade 7, and should time allow, they will begin a career exploration unit.
This week I have also started 1:1 meetings with the students. We are exploring their high school interests, setting up accounts, sending out inquiries, and setting up open house visits and entrance exams. If you would like to be present during your child’s meeting I am happy to set up a google meet and have you virtually present at it or you are welcome to come in, You do not need to be present, but you may get a call or a text during it to verify an email or dates that work for you. If you have already started this process with them and have any questions, Please do not hesitate to contact me and please make sure to watch the videos that were sent out in the parent email blast that explains the admissions process to all of the high schools.
The following high schools have published dates for IN PERSON fall open houses! Please take advantage and go see these schools if you are interested! Many of them you need to register online for, so please click on the links, it will take you directly to the open house pages.
St. John’s: Saturday, October 16th 9-11:30am, and Tuesday, November 9th 6-8:30pm
https://www.stjohnshigh.org/admissions/visit-us
Worcester Academy: Sunday, October 17th and Sunday, November 7th
https://www.worcesteracademy.org/open-house
Notre Dame Academy: Sunday October 17th 1-3pm
https://www.nda-worc.org/admissions/fallopenhouse
Placement test: November 6th, and December 4th
Placement tests: November 20th @ 8:30am & December 11th @ 8:30am
St. Paul’s: Open House November 6th 10:00am-12:00pm
Message from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA): Based on federal rules, students attending school in-person are not eligible for Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT), but the DTA encourages students and families to keep their P-EBT cards.
Community Connections: Worcester WIC Program, Worcester Community Soccer Coalition, REACH of Worcester and Unity Hair Studios on West Boylston St. in Worcester are sponsoring a FREE youth Soccer league for ages 3-15 at Lake Park Field, Quinsigamond State Park, 283 Lake Ave. Worcester. This will take place every Sunday until November 14, 2021. You don’t have to pre-register. Just show up at the time your child’s age group plays. Turf soccer cleats or sneakers only and shin guards are required. The following age groups play at these times; Ages 3-5 9:00-10:00 AM; Ages 6-8 10:00-11:00 AM; Ages 9-13 11:00 AM-12:00 PM; Ages 14-15 12:00-1:00 PM. For more information contact Kwame at (774) 823-8193 or visit www.facebook.com/pickup4soccer
For the past several years, the McNamara family of Shrewsbury, has been building and hosting a kid-friendly Halloween maze in their yard for the residents of Shrewsbury and surrounding communities. The Haunted Hillando Halloween Maze is fairly challenging, but most guests can make it through in 5-15 minutes. The decorations are all reasonably appropriate for all ages; nothing jumps at you, and there is no blood, gore, weapons, or implied violence. The maze is well-lit and filled with ghosts, skeletons, witches, spiders, scarecrows and jack o’ lanterns just hanging out and looking creepy. There is no admission charge for the maze, but voluntary donations for Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services, Inc are appreciated. There will be a concession area with seasonal snacks and warm apple cider for sale. * Parental supervision and considerate us of the maze are requested and expected. Please wear a mask and maintain a reasonable social distance to those not in your party. The address is 48 Hillando Drive in Shrewsbury, MA on Friday and Saturdays throughout October from 6:30pm-8:30pm starting on October 1st.