December 20th, 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 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
GDEF Teaching Stars Recipients
Mrs. Janksowski was nominated by Charlie DeGrass.
Mrs. Schott was nominated by Bryce McInnis.
Reading of The Polar Express 
Student Council Food Drive
PACH extends its heartfelt thanks for your incredibly generous contributions to the Share & Care food drive. Thanks to your kindness, a total of 804.9 pounds of donations were collected, making a significant impact in supporting those in need. Your support truly makes a difference!
High School Winter Chorus Performance
Student Expectations for Device Damages
Given the number of damaged devices across the district, this serves as a reminder of the District’s Technology Policy per our Elementary Student Handbook (Section 8, page 18). Please note the following section, Student Expectations for Device Damages (page 20):
Parents are responsible for the cost of damaged or lost Chromebooks or iPads, similar to textbooks.
Typical repair costs range from $75 to $100, while a replacement due to loss or extreme damage costs $275.
Parents who face financial hardship should contact their student’s principal.
Raffle Winners!
We raised over $1,700 and are thrilled to give away some fantastic prizes! Thanks to everyone who participated.
Great Wolf Lodge: Emma Lieneck
Roller Kingdom: Lincoln Gannon and Brianna Mousseau
Acton Discovery Museum: Emma Lieneck
Lego Discovery Center: Miles DiNicola
Cowabunga Indoor Activity Center: Milana Kesler
Taylored Moments Family Photography Session: Brayden Bodoin
Classroom pizza party: Mrs.Keegan's class
Friend pizza party: Maddie Mosharo
Skip to the front of the lunch line: Shawn Mousseau, Charlie DeGrass, Tristan Doherty, Emilie Dias
Hotworx: Emilie Dias
Pie the superintendent/school committee chair/PTO parent: Henry Martin, Max McLane, Tristan Doherty, Wyatt Cole
Umass Lowell Riverhawks Hockey Night! January 11 at 6:05 pm. 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
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 our 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 Jon anuary 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
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!
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.