The Big Cat Courier
Your Source for Big Cat News, Right Meow
March 3, 2023
Good Afternoon Barnard Families,
With Spring set to arrive in a couple of weeks, It looks like the snow finally decided to show up! The snow day this past Tuesday has bumped the last day of school to June 14th. Luckily, tonight's storm is hitting on the weekend and so far next week's weather looks snow free.
This past week the students and staff at Henry Barnard enjoyed daily read aloud activities in recognition of Read Across America Week. Our culminating activity today saw many students wearing outfits that represent their favorite books and literary characters. All in all, it was a fun week focused on the joy of reading.
Next week we have the First Readers Ceremony at JFK on Monday night, the Barnard Kindergarten Science Night planned for Thursday (please RSVP with the attendance form by Monday), and our cutoff date for families interested in participating in a Barnard family focus group. If you'd like to sit in on one of these virtual groups and have your voice heard, please let the front office know by Wednesday, March 8th. We are happy to have as many participants as are interested because the more voices we hear from, the better our school will be.
Keep a look out for an email this afternoon with your child's Trimester 2 Report Card attached and have another great weekend with the kids!
Focus Groups for Parents and Guardians
Thank you for considering being a part of this important group.
Barnard Science Center Family Nights
Our grade level science nights are just around the corner! We have been able to schedule three grade specific family science nights with the CT Science Center. Educators from the Center are scheduled to come out to Henry Barnard to host hands on activities related to the current science units the kids are working through. We will send out an RSVP for families to let us know if they plan on participating with their child during their child's grade level night. In order to participate, families will need to RSVP ahead of time so we have the appropriate materials on hand. The Kindergarten RSVP paperwork went home with students today and the Grade 1 and Grade 2 paperwork will go home on Monday.
The grade level nights and activity focus areas are as follows:
Kindergarten Family night on Thursday, March 9th - Weather
Frist Grade Family night on Thursday, March 16th - Animal Structures and Function
Second Grade Family night on Thursday, March 23rd - Matter
Would You Like to be a Big Cat? Enfield Public Schools is Hiring!
If you are interested in working for Enfield Public Schools, I would encourage you to look at the job postings on our main website. With a school district this size, there are always open positions and if you don't see something that you're interested in, check back often as postings are always changing. Whether you're looking for a position as a Teachers, Paraprofessional, Academic Tutor, Behavior Technician, Nurse, Aide, Lunch Room Staff, Building Substitute, etc... you'll find positions that fall within the school day, which is perfect if you have children in school.
Follow the link to see the current postings: https://enfield.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
Important Dates to Keep an Eye On -
-Trimester 2 Report Cards went home electronically this afternoon
-First Readers Ceremony on Monday, 3/6
-The PTO's Munson Chocolate Fundraiser is due this Monday, 3/6
-Grade Level Science Center Nights on three Thursdays in a row (3/9, 3/16, and 3/23)
-Early Release on Wednesday, 3/15
-The Virtual Scholastic Book Fair will be held the week of 3/27
-Grade 1 Ruby Bridges assembly, 3/29
-No School in observance of Good Friday on Friday, 4/7
-No School for Spring Vacation from Monday, 4/10 through Friday, 4/14
-School reopens on Monday, 4/17
Important Items from Our Last Edition
Do you know a child who will be pre-kindergarten eligible next year? If so, here is some information about EPS Pre-K opportunities:
Stowe Early Learning Center’s Enfield Public Schools Pre-K Programs
Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year for the Enfield Public Schools Head Start, Integrated Pre-K (peer partners), and PK STEAM Academy at the Stowe Early Learning Center will open on January 3, 2023. Apply at www.enfieldschools.org by clicking on the link: “STOWE EARLY LEARNING CENTER APLLICATION”.
Enfield Head Start
· Head Start: Must be 3 years of age by December 31, 2023
· NAEYC Accredited
· Full time and part time sessions
· 5 days a week
· Follows the regular Enfield Public School’s calendar
· Breakfast, lunch, and snack provided
· Ongoing enrollment
· Families will be contacted in a timely manner to follow up on applications
· For more information call Stowe Early Learning Center’s office at 860-253-4744 or email kbowles@enfieldschools.org
Integrated Pre-Kindergarten
· Integrated Pre-K Peer Partner: Must be 3 years of age by April 1, 2023
· 5 days per week
· Follows the regular Enfield Public School’s calendar
· AM/PM sessions offered
· Peer partners are selected through a developmental screening process
· Annual materials fee of $600 (subject to change)
· Online submissions must be received by April 1st
· Families will be contacted in a timely manner to follow up on applications
· For more information, please call the Pupil Services Office at 860-253-6550 or email rroman@enfieldschools.org
PK STEAM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math)
· PK STEAM Academy: Must be 4 years of age by December 31, 2023
· NAEYC accredited
· 5 days a week
· Follows the regular Enfield Public School’s calendar
· Breakfast, lunch, and snack provided
· Online submissions must be received by March 24, 2023
· Lottery will be drawn the week of March 27, 2023
· Families will be notified by April 6, 2023
For more information, please call the PK Steam Academy office at 860-253-4744 or email kpiccuirro@enfieldschools.orgFree Lunch Update
EPS is piloting a new Home-School Communication App
iPad Insurance Can Mean the Difference Between a $25 Investment and a $400 Bill
A Reminder About Dropping Students Off at the Start of the School Day
Thank you in advance for following this very important safety procedure.
Some Important Updates from Our Partners at the Enfield Family Resource Center
Please follow the link for the FRC's latest newsletter. In addition to providing classes, play groups, support groups, and trainings, our partners at the FRC are an amazing group of people who help connect our families with resources in town.
https://www.enfield-ct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/22820/FebNewsletter2023
The Elementary School Handbook
Attendance Policy Recap
As stated in previous editions of the newsletter, student attendance is a major factor in scholastic success and achievement. It is understood that illness is a part of childhood and that families are at the mercy of doctor and dentist appointment availability. When these things arise, please follow up with the main office at HBS with a note from your healthcare provider if your child had an office visit. That way we can code the absence in our system correctly. If your child was not seen by a healthcare provider, which is often the case with common childhood illnesses, you should submit a note written by you to the main office regarding the absence. As stated in the policy, the first 9 absences may be excused with a parent note as long as the note is submitted.
Thank you for taking the time to read through the attendance policy in the handbook and for your understanding regarding the required attendance notification letters.
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/
Winter Weather Gear
Helpful i-Ready Hints
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