The Big Cat Courier
Your Source for Big Cat News, Right Meow
November 4, 2022
Good Afternoon Barnard Families,
The school schedule in November is always packed with events, early releases, and no school days. This coming week is no exceptions with conferences Monday evening, no school for students on Tuesday, an early release for afternoon conferences on Wednesday, a regular day on Thursday, and no school in observance of Veterans Day on Friday. That'll be followed by a full week before we head into another wacky week for Thanksgiving. The good news is that after that we have a solid four weeks of learning before the holiday break. That happened quickly, didn't it?
It looks like we're in for an unseasonably warm few days so have a great weekend with the kids!
Thank Yous and Acknowledgements
Also, Thanks to our partners in the Family Resource Center for putting together a coffee and tea station for our families last night. Night conferences make for a long day and that caffeine boost seems to have been just what the doctor ordered! If your child's conference is on Monday night, feel free to stop in and see the staff at the FRC. In addition to a little caffeine, they'll be happy to show you around their space.
Join Us for HBS's Family Digital Citizenship Night
Important Dates to Keep an Eye On -
-No School during Election Day on Tuesday, 11/8 (staff will be at trainings)
-Student Conferences will be held as follows:
Monday, 11/7 is a regularly scheduled day with evening conferences
Wednesday, 11/9 is an Early Release day with conferences in the afternoon
-No School in observation of Veterans Day on Friday, 11/11
-Family Digital Citizenship Night at HBS on Monday, 11/14
-The Barnard/Crandall PTO's Chipotle Fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, 11/15
-LifeTouch Fall Picture retakes are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, 11/16
-PTO Meeting on Thursday, 11/17. It will be held at Barnard.
-Early Release for Thanksgiving Recess on Wednesday, 11/23 and no school on Thursday and Friday, 11/24 and 11/25
Important Items from Our Last Edition
From the Desk of Chris Drezek Regarding The Superintendents Advisory Council
A school/home partnership is vital to ensure the success of all our children. To increase parental involvement and to provide a platform for parent’s voices to be heard, I am creating a Superintendents Advisory Council for parents of Enfield Public School students. This council will consist of parents of school age children from every level, and will set the agenda for further, more specific topical conversations with district leadership in the future. School principals and leaders will send out application forms for any parent that wishes to participate. Meeting times and dates will be shared in the coming weeks. This is not a Board of Education initiative; this is a district initiative to gather parents’ concerns and ideas that helps direct the districts work moving forward.
Click here: https://forms.office.com/r/FErux9PTXW
Before and After Care Through the ERfC
Breakfast and Lunch Update
Helpful i-Ready Hints
The Elementary School Handbook
iPad Insurance is Important
Other Important PTO Dates and Information:
QR Code for the PTO's Amazon Smile Drive
Did you know the Barnard/Crandall PTO earns free money for purchases you make on Amazon? If you select your school as your "charity" Amazon will donate a portion of your total directly to our bank account for qualified purchases.
You can scan the QR code below to take you directly to our AmazonSmile page & you’ll log in to select us. If this does not work, please see instructions below.
How to use AmazonSmile using the Amazon app on your mobile phone:
1. Open the Amazon Shopping app
2. Navigate to the main menu (≡)
3. Tap on Settings and then select “AmazonSmile”
4. Select your charity
Crandall: type “Parent Teacher Organization of the Prudence Crandall Elementary”
Barnard: type “Henry Barnard School Parent Teacherorganization Inc”
and then follow the on-screen instructions to turn ON AmazonSmile in the mobile app.
Once AmazonSmile has been activated in your app, future eligible app purchases will generate a donation for the charity you have selected. Questions or need help with signing up? Email us at:
Arrival and Student Drop Off
If a child is being dropped off, we will be using the doors in the back parking lot in between the library and gymnasium. Please remain in your car as you loop around the back lot to drop your child off at the doors. If you are the family of a walker, please look for the orange traffic cones at the drop off doors to guide you safely into that space.
Please note that during arrival times, the front doors to the school are being reserved to receive only bus students. All other students, will use the doors in the back parking lot between the library and gymnasium. If you need to speak with somebody from the main office in person, please plan to do so before or after student drop off to alleviate congestion at the front doors.
A Reminder About Dropping Students Off at the Start of the School Day
Thank you in advance for following this very important safety procedure.
Student Dismissal
Students being picked up at the end of the day will be dismissed directly from the back door of your child's classroom. Please remember to bring a picture ID on the first day as well as your child's dismissal card on subsequent days (they will be sent home with your child on their first in-person day of classes).
Students taking the bus will continue to be dismissed through the front doors. Because buses are dismissed one at a time, the front doors are being reserved for bus students only. If a family has business with the main office during dismissal, we appreciate your patience as we complete the dismissal process. We will assist you as soon as possible.
Daycare vans and small buses are located in the back lot and side lot, respectively. Building staff are assigned to those locations to ensure students safely board the correct vehicle.
Up to Date Contact Information is VITAL
I have to say, from experience, that there's nothing sadder than having a sick student in the nursing office all day because we weren't able to reach their family. Never mind the fright caused when the student isn't on the bus home.
Please, please check that your information is up to date. You can check it out and update it in the PowerSchool Parent Portal and through School Messenger. Both can be found halfway down the District's homepage: http://www.enfieldschools.org/
Our Community Partners -
Consider Joining the PTO
Having said that, all the good work that the PTO puts into our schools translates directly to a richer educational experience for our students. They help fund fieldtrips and educational experiences that we would otherwise not have available to our students.
The PTO meets once each month. Meetings usually run for less than an hour and are dedicated to school updates and planning for upcoming events. Please consider being a part of the PTO. Many hands make light work!
For more information, please follow the link: https://enfieldpto.com/henrybarnard
The Family Resource Center (FRC)
For more information, please follow this link: https://www.enfield-ct.gov/375/Family-Resource-Center
Enfield Resources for Children (ERfC)
Follow this link for more information: https://erfcinc.org/
The Big Cat Courier
Enfield Public Schools
Learning Through Play
Henry Barnard School
Email: jgraham@enfieldschools.org
Website: https://henry.sharpschool.com/
Location: 27 Shaker Road, Enfield, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 253-6540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnfieldPublicSschools/
Twitter: @EnfieldPS