This week's South Star

Wednesday, December 23 with dismissal at 12:30 for all K - 4 students. All of our regular buses will be available on this day.

Dear Parents,
As you may have already heard, our Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Gilmartin is on a medical leave of absence. We know that she enjoys hearing from South families and staff, and the cards, letters, and photos she has received have been very much appreciated. There is a basket in the main office for any families who would like to send a holiday card or greeting to Ms. Gilmartin. The deliveries from South School certainly brighten her day!
Thank you!

New Reserved Parking Spaces: Please note that the "Visitor Parking" spaces in our lot have been changed to "Reserved Parking" spaces for office staff. Please avoid parking in these spaces between 7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Thank you.

Morning Drop Off Reminders:

Morning supervision for students begins at 7:55AM. Please DO NOT drop off students before this time. Classes begin at 8:15 A.M. so students should be dropped off no later than 8:10 A.M. to allow them time to walk to morning recess and meet up with their class.

When dropping students off in the morning, please use the Farm Road lot only. Students should be dropped off using the drop-off line at the front of the school. For safety reasons DO NOT drop students off in any other part of the parking lot and allow them to walk to the entrance on their own. If parents choose not to use the drop-off line, they must park in a lined space and walk their children to the main office. The Gower Road lot is for bus use only.

We encourage all students who qualify for bus service to use the bus for transportation to and from school to reduce the traffic flow on campus.

Inclement Weather Closings,Delayed Openings & Early Dismissal Procedures:
As we have entered that time of year when inclement weather may result in school closings, delayed openings or early dismissals, we are sharing the procedures for these events that come directly from the South School Directory and Handbook.
Notification for School Closing or Delayed Openings:
If school is closed or a delayed opening is called for prior to 8:15 AM. NO phone calls will be made to parents.
Check the district website, www.newcanaan.k12.ct.us, or check the local news stations. Delayed Opening Times and Procedures:

If there is a 90 minute delayed opening, school starts at 9:45 AM

*Students should not arrive prior to 9:25 AM, as there is no supervision prior to this time.
Early Dismissal Procedures:

If early dismissal is announced prior to 8:15 AM, no phone calls will be made to parents. Parents should use the above means of finding information.

If early dismissal is announced after 8:15 AM, parents will be contacted by the automated ConnectEd system.

All students in grades K-4 will be dismissed at 12:30 and use normal mode of transportation (bus, pick up, walk).

If it is necessary to change your child's regular mode of transportation on an early dismissal day, you must enter the change in School Dismissal Manager NO LATER THAN 10:45AM.

Lunch will served, but there will not be any recess.

Cold Weather Clothing:

As winter is fast approaching, it is important to make sure that your child comes to school prepared to go outside for recess with an appropriate coat, mittens or gloves, and a head covering. We have outdoor recess whenever the temperature is 22 degrees or above. If mittens

snow is on the ground, snow pants and boots are required for the children to play in the snow. Otherwise, they will be restricted to the blacktop area. Please be sure that all your child's personal articles are marked with their name so they can be returned to them if lost, or easily identified in the Lost and Found.

Board of Ed Gift Policy Reminder:

With the holiday season upon us, we would like to remind everyone of the recently adopted Board of Education Policy #1305:

Gifts from Individual Students and /or Their Families to Staff
The Board recognizes that its employees work very hard and very effectively as part of their jobs. Consequently, parents and students often wish to express appreciation to members of the staff for their work. The Board encourages symbolic gifts such as photos, personal notes, students' art work, etc. These are most appropriate and have enduring value. Individual gifts with a monetary value of more than $50 are not permitted as they create the appearance of intending to influence or reward employees for performing their duties and/or giving special treatment to students whose families provide gifts.
Group Gifts
There are also occasions where parents solicit money for group gifts. These may be from an entire class to the teacher of that class or it may be a gift from a group involved in a special activity to the staff member leading that activity. Collective gifts should not be given more than twice a year to any individual employee and together should not have a total monetary value greater than $300. No individual contribution should exceed $20. Cash gifts are never appropriate. The entire policy is available on the district website. This policy was effective July 1, 2008

Homework Guideline Reminder:

Parents of students at home due to illness must phone in the morning before 11:00 a.m. to have homework assignments available at the front office by 2:45 p.m.

From the Counselor's Corner:

The school counselor and school psychologist are looking to introduce a newsletter, which will be published every other month, to parents and teachers. This year's topic: Anxiety. Please click here to complete the survey to indicate your understanding of coping strategies, your thoughts about receiving a newsletter, and the areas of anxiety you feel your child expresses. Thank you in advance for your time!
Danielle Maslar and Sarah Weirsman

Thank you from Norwalk Hospital: The Norwalk Hospital Volunteers would like to thank the parents, teachers, principals, and especially the children of New Canaan South for the exceptional job they did in collecting about 500 books for the Volunteers' monthly Book Sales books

and for the patient services that they support. Thanks in part to your extraordinary efforts; the hospital just held the most successful Book Sale they have ever had. The children are to be congratulated and commended for a job very well done! The contribution you made to the hospital will not end with that one sale. Many of the books remain, and will continue to be "best sellers" for many more of their monthly Book Sales for many months to come. The children of New Canaan South found an excellent way to help the Hospital and the communities it serves- and your gift will keep on giving. Thank you very much!!!

Food Donations:

Mr. Nicholson, our Science Lab TA is collecting pet food donations for Strays and Others, an organization which helps homeless dogs and cats. Pet food donations may be placed in boxes located in main lobby.

School Store:

The school store has opened for Grades 2-4 during lunch shifts. Unfortunately, at this time, the school store is not open during kindergarten or first grade lunches, as our fourth grade students are in class at those times. Items for sale will include pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers, toppers and more and will cost between $.25 and $2.00. All profits will be donated to charity at the end of the school year. Students can bring change or small bills (nothing larger than $10 bills please). Any Gr. 4 parent who'd like to help with this effort can email Beth Peckham in math resource.

Family Math Night

Family Math Night for grades K-4 will be held from 5:30-7:00 pm on Thursday, January 14th in South Hall. This is a great opportunity for you and your child to participate in fun math math symbols

activities. Information about the evening is coming home with your child. Please return the registration slip to school if you'd like to attend. If you have any questions please email Sue Hatzis at or Jennifer DaPonte.

NCPS Preschool Program- 2010-2011 school year:
The New Canaan Public Schools Preschool Program includes a 3 year old, a 4 year old, and a 5 year old class located at West School. All three programs are traditional preschool classes that offer a complete and developmentally appropriate child-centered program to New Canaan residents. Teachers use an interactive learning approach to stimulate curiosity, creativity and to promote cognitive, language, motor, and social development. Children are chosen through a lottery system and a moderate tuition is charged. All applications are due by January 29, 2010. Notification of acceptance will be made to parents by February 5, 2010 and a non-refundable deposit of $200 will be due by Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
There will be an Open House for each class on January 11, 2010. Parents interested in applying to any of these classes must attend this informal screening with their child. The 3 year old class will be from 1:00-1:30pm, the 4 year old class from 1:45-2:15pm and the 5 year old class will be from 2:30-3:00pm. Parents who absolutely are unable to attend must schedule an alternate time to visit to participate in this process.
Brochures, applications and fee schedules are available in each elementary school office or by contacting the Preschool Director, Eileen Donellan via email or phone at 203-594-4598.