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
April 2nd - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 2 & 3 - Scholastic Book Fair
April 4th - Half-Day - Dismissal at 12:17 pm & Tiger Twist 5:30-7:30 pm
April 7th-10th - ELA MCAS
April 11th - Half-Day - Dismissal at 12:17 pm
April 17th - Grade 1 Concert Family Performance @ 6 pm
April 21st - 25th - No School - Spring Vacation
CHANGE FOR CHANGE Fundraiser - SUCCESS!
We are excited and humbled to share that our Student Council’s coin fundraiser has exceeded its goal of raising $1,000 for the non-profit organization Water for Change in only one week’s time!
The class with the most change collected is Ms. Marino’s earning a pizza party with an amazing $351.00 in change.
The runner up was Mrs. Murphy’s class earning an extra recess with having collected $257.00.
Shout Out to our Student Council representatives and Teacher Representatives for supporting this fundraiser for an amazing cause. Swallow Union may be small but certainly mighty with big hearts. We are pleased to share that our school raised a total of $1,376.00!!
PTO Fundraiser Event - Pie Throwing
During the PTO’s Feed, the Tiger Fundraiser offered a prize for being able to throw a pie in the face of a staff member or PTO member. On Thursday this week, we held this fundraising event and would like to give a HUGE shout-out to those who volunteered to get pied in the spirit of some serious fun!
The lucky students who got to throw the pies were (left to right): Lincoln Gannon ~ 3rd Grade, Max McLane ~ 3rd Grade, Wyatt Cole ~ Kindergarten, and Tristan Doherty ~ 2nd Grade
Seated (left to right): Chrissy McLane ~ PTO President & Parent, Lacey McCabe ~ School Committee Chair & Parent, Tim DiNicola ~ PTO Treasurer & Parent, and Dr. Geoff Bruno ~ Superintendent of Schools
GRADE 3 CONCERT
Last night, our 3rd graders performed for their families, showcasing their talents vocally and with their recorders. Thank you, Mrs. Mohan, for your hard work and dedication to preparing them for this performance! A special thank you to our families for being present last night and for persevering through your child’s recorder practice at home!
Grade 3 Spring Chorus performance was a success!
AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING
Author Visit Vivian Kirkfield @ 9:45 am (Grades 2-4), then a book signing at 10:30 am. Reading: Pedal, Balance Steer: Annie Londonderry, The First Woman to Cycle Around the World & One Girl's Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming April 2nd and April 3rd. Our students are excited to shop for their own books and every purchase at the Fair benefits our school! For more info, visit https://scholastic.com/bf/swallowunionelemschool.
For those interested in volunteering to help during the fair, here is the SPRING BOOK FAIR SIGN UP.
Healthy Bites Newsletter Feedback Form
Families,
Please take a minute to complete this 6-question feedback form for our Health Office. We appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback on our monthly Health Office newsletters. Your input helps us improve our communication and ensure we are addressing the needs of our students and families. Please take a few moments to complete this short survey.
Nurse Jen & Nurse Kate
Healthy Bites-Sleep Hygiene
Ensuring children get a good night's sleep is crucial for their physical health, emotional well-being, and cognitive development. Establishing good sleep hygiene practices can help create a restful environment and promote healthy sleep habits.
Importance of Sleep for Children
Children require adequate sleep to support their growth and development. Lack of sufficient sleep can lead to issues such as irritability, difficulty concentrating, and weakened immune function. Here are some key benefits of good sleep for kids:
Physical growth: Sleep is essential for the release of growth hormones.
Cognitive development: Restful sleep enhances learning and memory.
Emotional regulation: Adequate sleep helps manage mood swings and stress.
Recommended Sleep Duration
The amount of sleep a child needs varies by age. Here are general guidelines:
Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours per day, including naps
Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours per day
School-age children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per day
Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per day
Tips for Improving Sleep Hygiene
Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends, to help regulate the child's internal clock.
Create a Calming Bedtime Routine
Wind down with relaxing activities such as reading a book or taking a warm bath. Limit screen time at least an hour before bed, as the blue light emitted by devices can interfere with the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Design a Sleep-Friendly Environment
Keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to promote restful sleep.
Use nightlights if necessary, but ensure they are dim and not disruptive.
Encourage Healthy Habits
Promote physical activity during the day to help children expend energy, but avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime.
Limit caffeine and sugar intake, especially in the afternoon and evening.
PTO UPDATES
Pottery Night - April 10, 5:30pm, SU cafeteria. DEADLINE TO ORDER YOUR ITEMS IS TODAY! Students and their families pre-order a pottery item to decorate, and Time to Clay takes the projects back to their studio to fire them up in the kiln and return to school 2 weeks later. Makes a great Mother's Day gift idea! Deadline to order is March 28. Pottery Night Sign Up
Book Fair - The Spring Book Fair will be open during the week of March 31 and during the Tiger Twist so parents can shop! If you'd like to volunteer to help out, sign up here: Parent Volunteers: Spring Book Fair
Tiger Twist - Friday, April 4, 5:30-7:30. Your student + their selected adult can get dressed up and dance the night away (or just enjoy hanging with friends and eating some snacks)! Register here: Tiger Twist Registration
Groton Dunstable Hockey Days at the Worcester Railers - Sunday, April 6 at 3:05pm. All students are invited to participate in our pregame high five tunnel for both dates. Purchase tickets here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/Grotondunstable86
Board Elections - Wednesday, June 4 at our last General Meeting. All board positions are one year terms. We would love to see new faces on our board to bring their fresh ideas! Email swallowunionpto@gmail.com for any questions.
Fun 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
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
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.