Learning First Charter Public School
Newsletter October 29, 2021
Nov. 1-18: Canned Food Drive
Nov. 2-23: Parent Guild Fundraiser
Nov. 4: ½ of Grade 7 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
Nov. 11: No School
Nov. 16: ½ of Grade 7 to WPI 9:00-11:45 AM
Nov. 18: SEMSAPAC MTG 4:00-5:00 PM
Nov. 24-26: No School
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; Holiday Bazaar
Dec. 2: Picture Re-Take Day
Dec. 23-Jan. 3: No School
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– You are invited to join us on Thursday November 18th from 4-5pm In the LFCPS Reflection room as we share information about the importance of Education and exercise; “Staying academically and physically fit through the winter months”. If you cannot physically make it but would like to join us, feel free to join us using this virtual link listed below:
Dial-in: (US) +1 609-779-1613
PIN: 765 996 427#
Food Fight!: Starting this Monday, November 1st there will be a school wide competition where each grade level competes with the other to bring in the most canned foods/non-perishable items. The grade with the most items will get a special treat. Each week Ms. Philius will stop by each grade level to get an updated count of canned goods/donations. The last day to bring in your donations is Thursday, November 18th. All donations will go to CENTRO- Great Brook Valley Pantry on November 19th.
Specials: The Specials Team invites all families and friends to join us for the “Taste of Specials” virtual showcase this December! Hop on our showcase night virtually to meet the art and health teachers and get a taste of what our LFCPS scholars have been working on in specials classes this semester! Stay tuned for more information as we get close to the month of December. We hope to see you there!
New Building Updates: After years of working towards our goal of finding a larger and more functional facility, this spring we were finally able to purchase the former St. Mary’s School building located at 50 Richland Street to become the future home of Learning First! We have spent the last many months working with LLB Architects and Consigli Construction along with a broader team of supports including project managers, LFCPS staff and board members to prepare for this massive undertaking.
We are thrilled to share that this week marked the official start of demolition work at the property! Our next steps are to finalize the contractors for the rest of the work (through the required public bid process) and move full steam ahead to making this property our own. Some key features of this new building are: A full gymnasium, auditorium/cafeteria space, 2 science labs, parking, larger classroom spaces, additional restroom facilities, and more. Overall, we are gaining approximately 30,000 square feet in programmable space that will be used to further enrich the learning experience for all of the Learning First students!
Please stay tuned for more updates via the family newsletter, on our website, and through social media as work continues to progress.
Extracurricular Activities: Girls’ Basketball practices are Monday and Wednesdays 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 12:45-4:00 PM sharp. Parent pick-up is on Eastern Ave. Please remember your $2.00 dues.
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. Please continue to send in physical forms and remember to send your child with a mask each day.
If your child was sent home in school nurses office pants to please send them back in. They have a yellow tag with red writing. The tag says LFCPS.
Reminder! The bubblers are still closed. Please send your child to school with water each day.
Extending the Learning: 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.
What’s Happening in JA Guidance (grades 6-8):Grade 8 Parents- Please be sure to check your email regularly as Mrs. Moore has sent multiple emails with school announcements, webinars, and important dates as well.
If you are not getting these emails, please call her at extension 1112 or email her at lmoore@learningfirstcharter.org.
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: Tuesday, November 9th 6-8:30pm
https://www.stjohnshigh.org/admissions/visit-us
Worcester Academy: Sunday, November 7th
https://www.worcesteracademy.org/open-house
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
Community Connections: Happy Halloween dog lovers! The Quite Fetching Barkery and Pet Boutique is holding its annual Halloween Extravaganza. There will be vendors, costume contests, games, a pet parade and so much more. This is happening at 1 Grafton Common, Grafton, MA on Saturday, October30th, from 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM.
Only two more nights left to visit the Haunted Hillando Halloween Maze! The McNamara family has been building and hosting a kid-friendly Halloween maze in their yard for the residents of Shrewsbury and surrounding communities. The maze is great for all ages. The decorations are appropriate for all ages; nothing jumps out at you and there is no blood, gore, weapons, or implied violence. There is no admission charge for the maze, but voluntary donations for Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services, Inc. are appreciated. This is located at 48 Hillando Dr, Shrewsbury, MA and is Friday and Saturday from 6:30-8:30 PM.
Clearview Farm located at 4 Kendall Hill Rd, Sterling, MA is hosting their 2nd Annual Trick or Treating on the farm on October 30th from 3:00-5:00 PM. Take a hayride around the farm with your little ones, at no cost, and tons of candy!
Brookfield Orchards is having its annual Halloween Party on October 31st from 11:00 AM- 5:00 PM. Walk through their Pumpkin Room with creative carved pumpkins and vote on your favorite. If the weather is good you can take a ride on their wagon through the orchard. Free candy apples for all visitors!
Polar Park’s 1st Annual Trick or Treating on the concourse is on October 31st. There will be a spooky house and Hocus Pocus movie at 5:00 PM. The event is from 2:00-7:00 PM and is FREE. Masks are required while indoors.