Week of June 10th, 2024
6/13 - 8/27 - SUMMER BREAK
8/28/24 - Grades 1-12 - First Day of School
8/29/24 - PreK & Kindergarten - First Day of School
8/30/24 - No School - Labor Day Weekend
9/2/24 - No School - Labor Day
9/6/24 - Half-Day District-Wide - Teacher PD
9/20/24 - Half-Day Elementary
9/27/24 - Half-Day Elementary
4th Grade Moving Ceremony
Congratulations to all our 4th graders - we wish you all the best in middle school!
4th Grade Breakfast & Slideshow:
4th Grade Moving On Ceremony:
Last Week - 4th Grade Magic Show:
Thank you to Mrs. Gordon’s husband for his Magic Show fun! The 4th graders look forward to this each year!
Ti-GRRR Awards
G ~ We believe that one can develop a GROWTH mindset and learn new things.
R ~ A RESPECTFUL school community member is considerate of others.
R ~ A RESPONSIBLE school community member takes care of themselves, others, and their environment.
R ~ A RESILIENT school community member takes on challenges, learns from mistakes, and experiences growth through this process.
Amelia Wells (2R) is a Responsible member of our classroom community. She is always organized and works hard in class. Way to go, Amelia!
Henry Rainford (2R) is a Responsible learner and comes to school eager to learn each day. He is a wonderfully kind and respectful member of our school community. #proudti-grrr
Miles DiNicola (2R) shows both his classmates and teachers Respect each day He is helpful to others and Responsible for his learning. #proudti-grrr
Aubrey Mongan (2R) has Grown in her academic skills this year. She is a Respectful friend to her classmates - way to go Aubrey!
Chloe Callahan (4F) has demonstrated our core values with her Perseverance in completing our USA regions. She consistently applies feedback discovering her best study habits!
Benjamin Lippman (4F) has consistently demonstrated and shared his inquiry and understanding of new concepts with classmates through discussions and strong collaboration! #GrowthRespectResponsible
Emily Shea (4F) has demonstrated huge Growth in advocating for herself in the classroom with an increase in Confidence, too!
Grant Everett (4O) consistently applies feedback that he is given - he approaches learning with a smile and positivity! He always demonstrates a “can-do” attitude!
Asher Felix (4O) demonstrated Growth throughout the year by increasing his inclusion with his peers! Keep up the good work, Asher!
Summer Resources ~ MATH
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
Summer is a time to relax, enjoy the outdoors, spend time with your family, read some great books AND… do some math!
Research shows that students who continue to engage in academic activities during the summer months are better prepared for their next school year! These activities can be embedded in your daily routines, a choice of what you engage in, and something that you enjoy!
There are a number of links on this WEBSITE that lead you to games to play, puzzles to do, logic problems to solve, and more! Math practice in the summer can involve a good deal more than just practicing math problems. So, ditch the "practice workbook" and dive into these fun activities!
Happy Summer Break!
Mrs. Gartland, GDRSD PreK-8 Mathematics Supervisor AND
Your Present and Future Mathematics Teachers
PTO News
Welcome and congrats to the '24-'25 PTO Board!
We still have two positions open - email swallowunionpto@gmail.com if interested. A BIG thank you to Jen Dinneen, Whitney Healey, Ellen Logiodice, and Nancy Dias for their incredible, dedicated work over the years, you will be missed!
President: Chrissy McLane
Vice President: Kristina Gannon
Secretary: Carron DeGrass
Treasurer: Tim DiNicola
Teacher Rep: OPEN - must be a staff member at SU
Digital Marketing Coordinator: Katie Martin
Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator: OPEN
Events Coordination Update - for the upcoming year, we have decided to change things up with regard to event coordination. Given the loss of almost half of our families (we will miss you!), we are in greater need of volunteers and came up with an idea to help those who wanted to get involved and weren't sure how. Starting in September, each GDRSD graduating class year (Class of 2035, 2034, etc.) will be assigned 2-3 events that they will be in charge of for all 5 years at SU. For example, rising 2nd graders will be in charge of the book fair until they graduate. Here is our current approach starting with the incoming class in the fall - we're open to ideas!
K (Class of 2037)
Winter Store (Winter)
Pottery Night (Spring)
1st (Class of 2036)
Spring Fling/Tiger Twist (Spring)
SquareOne Art (Fall)
Spirit Wear (Summer and Winter)
2nd (Class of 2035)
Book Fair (Fall and Spring)
Science Fair (Spring)
3rd (Class of 2034)
Monster Mash (Fall)
Restaurant Night (Fall and Spring)
4th (Class of 2033)
Trivia Night (Fall)
Teacher Appreciation Week baskets (Spring)
PTO
Color Run, K Meet the Teacher Night, Chalk the Walk, Stock the Teacher’s Lounge, Community Reading Day, Author Visit
Healthy Bites Newsletter- Tick Safety
Welcome to our latest edition of the Healthy Bites Newsletter! Today we are talking about bites-but not the healthy kind. As spring arrives, so does the increase in outdoor activities for our students. While this is wonderful for many reasons, it does increase the likelihood of encountering ticks. Ticks are tiny creatures that can pose health risks, so it's essential to be informed and take preventative measures. Here are some important tips to ensure the safety of your child and yourself.
1. Know Your Enemy: Understanding Ticks
Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of animals, including humans. They are commonly found in grassy, wooded areas, and even urban parks. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and others.
2. Dress Appropriately: Tick-Proof Clothing
Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when venturing into wooded or grassy areas. Tucking pant legs into socks or shoes can help prevent ticks from crawling up the legs. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks as well.
3. Tick Checks: Routine Inspection
After outdoor activities, thoroughly check your body and your child's body for ticks. Pay close attention to areas such as the scalp, behind the ears, under the arms, around the waist, and behind the knees. Promptly remove any ticks found using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure.
4. Tick Repellents: Safeguarding with Sprays
Consider using insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing, but always follow the product instructions carefully, especially regarding application to children.
5. Stay on Trails: Avoid Tick Hotspots
Stay on designated trails and avoid walking through tall grasses or brushy areas where ticks may be abundant. It is important to stay away from leaf litter and wooded areas when possible.
6. Tick-Safe Play: Outdoor Precautions
While enjoying outdoor play, avoid sitting directly on the ground, especially in areas known to be tick habitats. Play in sunny, dry areas away from dense vegetation.
7. Seek Medical Attention: Know the Signs
See a doctor if you are unable to remove the entire tick, if symptoms such as fever, or flu-like symptoms develop, if a rash gets bigger and develops a bull's eye pattern, or if the tick bite looks infected. Early detection and treatment of tick-borne diseases are crucial for successful recovery.
Together, let's ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all!
Stay safe and healthy,
Nurse Jen and Nurse Kate
SEPAC Events
G-D Special Education Parent Advisory Council