December 13th, 2024
Please be sure to visit our Live Feed on our Website to keep up to date on all the exciting things happening both at Swallow Union and in the district.
IMPORTANT DATES
December 20th - Half Day - Dismissal at 12:17 pm
December 23rd - January 3rd - Winter Break
January 6th - School Resumes
January 10th - Half Day - Dismissal at 12:17 pm
January 17th - District Half-Day - Dismissal at 12:17 pm
January 20th - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Message from Ms. Woods, School Adjustment Counselor
Christmas Wish List
Dear Families,
I am writing to you in hopes of collecting donations of Christmas gifts for one of our kindergarteners, Briella Groesser, whose father was in a tragic accident before Thanksgiving. I have attached the Amazon Christmas HERE. If you are interested and able to do so, please buy a gift directly from this list and deliver it to Swallow Union (me), Sarah Woods, by next Thursday, December 19th. You can bring it to the front office or send it in with your child. I will be delivering these gifts on December 20th.
Please order directly from the Amazon list so that no duplicates are bought. Once you buy from the list, the items should be removed; however, we have noticed that the item is still there in some instances. If you see “last purchased” or “need 1, has 1,” please do not purchase that item. I have attached photos below to help guide you.
Please do not wrap the gift as their tradition places them in sacks.
If you have any questions, please email me at swoods@gdrsd.org or call my extension 6228.
Thank you all for your generosity this holiday season.
Best regards,
Sarah Woods
GD Staff Spotlight
We proudly share that two SU colleagues were nominated and will be recognized during the 12/18 School Committee Meeting. Margie Lattini and Genevre Jankowski were nominated through the new Staff Spotlight Program initiative, started under Lacey McCabe's leadership. This is the staff recognition program is as a way of highlighting and recognizing the wonderful things that our staff does daily to support their students and colleagues. Nominations can come from other staff members, parents, or students as we continue to work together with a concerted focus as a District on celebrating one another and strengthening our sense of belonging within our communities (schools and towns).
The presentation will also be shown on the Groton Channel and shared via social media and the District Website. If you are interested in tuning into this meeting next week, it will be at 7 pm on 12/18 in the Middle School PAC and on the Groton Channel. Below is the link to the Groton Channel website, where you can watch it online.
Please join me and our School Committee in recognizing Margie, Genevre, and several other district colleagues!
Mrs. Marjorie Lattini, Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Genevre Jankowski, Fourth Grade Teacher
GDEF Teaching Stars - Recipients
Congratulations to…
The Tully Family recognized Ms. Marino.
SU Cheer Board
Our Holiday Cheer Board is growing - please send in a picture or your holiday card so we can show our family all together.
As we celebrate this festive season, we invite everyone to share in the joy by adding your holiday cards to our community bulletin board. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, or any other holiday or tradition, we’d love to see your cards and hear your warm wishes.
SU School Council ~ Food Drive Extended Until Monday 12/16
Our Student Council Representatives have been busy collecting, organizing, and counting the donations. Congratulations to Mrs. Keegan's class for being the top donors and earning an extra recess.
Runner-ups were 4J and 2R. We appreciate the goodwill and generosity shown and good-spirited competition during this drive. All items will be delivered to PACH next week.
All non-perishable food donations are welcome.
The Much Needed Item List consists of the following items:
Toiletries (toothbrushes and toothpaste, shower gels/soaps, deodorant)
Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, foil, plastic wrap, baggies
Dish soap, sponges, laundry detergent
Jelly, Soups, canned chicken, lemonade mix, applesauce, and maple syrup
Winter Raffle: Deadline to order raffles is Tuesday, 12/17, don't miss out! Makes a great gift from the grandparents!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/su-pto-red-envelope-raffleUmass Lowell Riverhawks Hockey Night! January 11 at 6:05pm. Tickets are $15, click here to purchase:
https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Swallowunion6Fun Fridays: Want to show how much we appreciate our teachers and staff? Sign up for a Fun Friday as an individual or as a class! Fun Friday Sign Up
SEPAC
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS
Unified Bowling for Grades K-8
Littleton Parks & Recreation, in partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts, will offer a 6-week inclusive candlepin bowling program at Acton Bowl-a-drome. The program is for anyone in Grades K - 8 with intellectual and/or emotional disabilities. We are also recruiting players/partners, individuals who do not have an intellectual disability, to team up and bowl with the athletes.
All are welcome, including players/partners, to participate as well (Separate Registration)
Players/Partners- are for community members who do not require or have any intellectual disability and would like to participate in the program.
Parents of unified athletes will need to complete the customizable form (Attached to registration). All participants are required to complete Campdocs to participate (Will be emailed to you separately after registration).
Registrants would need to be brought to the location of the program and picked up from the program.
Volunteers: Littleton PRCE is seeking volunteers to assist with this program. Please register below!
Schedule:
Thursdays, January 23rd- March 6th (No program on Feb 20)
Grades K-4 Time: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
Grades 4-8 Time: 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
Location: Acton Bowl-a-Drome
COST: FREE
https://littletonma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30569
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS
2025 Winter Lowell Unified Basketball Program
Unified basketball program for ages 13 years and older. The program will meet at Lowell Catholic High School on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 2 pm, starting on January 26th and ending on March 30th.
Thank you for your interest in registering for this program. Please click the sign-up button below to begin registration.
If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
Holly Keane
Community Resource Specialist
Department of Developmental Services
(Mobile)978-924-5780
https://padlet.com/CommunityResourcesLowellArea
GDEF Teaching Stars
Are you looking for a unique way to recognize a Teacher, Administrator, or Other Staff/Community Member for their hard work and the impact they’ve had on your child? GDEF Teaching Stars are the perfect gift! They are a great way to say "Thank You" while helping enrich the schools by donating to the Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation (GDEF). Certificates are great for showing gratitude in November or as a holiday gift in December! Learn more here about how to show an educator how much they are appreciated with a Teaching Star: https://www.gdefinc.org/teaching-star
It’s that time of year again! Please make sure your child(ren) has the appropriate winter weather gear—we rarely stay in for recess!
Healthy Bites - Cold vs Flu
Hi there, SU Families! It’s cold and flu season. Inevitably, we will be exposed to people who are not feeling well or who do not feel well ourselves. Understanding the difference between a cold and the flu is important. Both illnesses affect your breathing, but they come from different viruses and have different symptoms. Let’s break it down!
What Causes Them?
Cold: Colds are caused by many viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common.
Flu: The flu is specifically caused by influenza viruses, mainly types A and B.
Common Cold Symptoms
Runny or Stuffy Nose: This is a big sign of a cold.
Sore Throat: Usually, it feels mild.
Cough: It can be annoying but is often not too bad.
Sneezing: Sneezing happens a lot with a cold.
Mild Headache: Not as intense as what you might feel with the flu.
Feeling Tired: You might feel a little tired, but not too much.
Flu Symptoms
Fever: This can be high and come on suddenly.
Chills: You might feel really cold when you have a fever.
Muscle Aches: These can hurt a lot and make you feel weak.
Extreme Tiredness: You might feel super tired for a long time.
Severe Cough: This can really bother you and last a while.
Sore Throat: It can happen, but not as much as with a cold.
Runny or Stuffy Nose: This is less common than with a cold.
Severe Headaches: These are usually worse than a cold.
How Long Do They Last?
Cold: You usually feel sick for about 5 to 7 days, but it can last up to two weeks.
Flu: Symptoms might improve in a week, but you can feel tired and cough for weeks afterward.
How to Feel Better
For a Cold
Rest: Make sure to get plenty of sleep.
Drink Fluids: Water and juice help keep you hydrated.
Over-the-counter medications: These can help you feel better by reducing symptoms.
For the Flu
Antiviral Medications: A doctor might give you these if you see them early.
Rest and Hydration: These are very important just like with a cold.
Pain Relievers: Medications like ibuprofen can help with body aches and fever.
How to Prevent Them
For Colds: Wash your hands often and stay away from people who are sick.
For the Flu, the best way to avoid it is to get a flu shot each year. Good hygiene also helps!
Finally- A reminder to parents of 3rd and 4th Graders-
Parents of 3rd graders- If you have not already done so, please remember to send in a copy of your child’s 3rd-grade physical after it is done. The District requires physicals on file for grades K, 3, 7 & 10.
Parents of 4th graders- There are still a few 4th graders whose physicals didn’t come in last year- if you did not send in a physical for your child when they were in 3rd grade last year, please send the most current one in as soon as possible.
Parent/Guardian Notes Required for any changes in Dismissal
If your child(ren) has a change in dismissal from their normal plan, a written note or email to the teacher is required. Please be sure to send that note the same day noting the change. From there, those notes go to the office, where we verify the change and create a bus slip for the bus drivers. This ensures students are going where their parents have arranged and provides permission to the bus drivers to take them (or drop them off at a different stop). Students are not allowed to change their dismissal plans on their own.