Skillin Newsletter from Principal Connolly (February)
Hello Skillin Families!
Thanks to all for supporting your child during remote snow days. Please hold onto the packets for day 2 - in the event we have another remote snow day, I will send a message to families in the morning.
The weather this week looks clear but very cold! Please make sure your child has appropriate winter clothing to be outside in cold temperatures - hat, mittens/gloves, snow pants, coat, and boots. We go outside everyday unless the “feels like” temperature is below 13 degrees, it is raining/snowing, or the conditions are unsafe (ex. icy). If you need help getting snow gear for your child, please contact Mrs. Holt by calling the main office at (207)773-7375 or emailing holtsha@spsdme.org.
Please review the information below:
Read to ME Challenge
The Maine Department of Education is holding the Read to ME Challenge during the month of February! The Read to ME Challenge is a month-long public awareness campaign to promote childhood literacy in Maine.
Join Mrs. Connolly in the Read to ME challenge this month! She will visit each classroom this month to read to students. Post a picture of you reading to your child/children on social media - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and remember to tag #ReadtoME or #ReadaloudME. Visit Skillin’s website to see which books Mrs. Connolly reads to different classes! On March 9th, Skillin will host a Family Math and Literacy Night from 5:00-6:30pm to celebrate reading and learning!
Valentine’s Day in School
At Skillin, we celebrate Valentine's Day by focusing on friendship and kindness through activities, read alouds, and exchanging Valentines. Students may bring Valentines from home but there will also be opportunities to create Valentines at school. Please keep the following guidelines in mind:
If students choose to bring Valentine’s in from home, they need to have one for every classmate
There will be time and materials provided to make Valentines in school
Please do not send in any candy or food items
Food in Classrooms
Given the food allergies of many students and our district efforts around promoting wellness through our Student Wellness Policy - JLC, families are NOT allowed to bring food in for classrooms. Also, students may not share food. Typically, if there is a special, curriculum related activity that involves food, it must be approved by Mrs. Connolly and Nurse Kristie prior to food being provided to students. Teachers will also communicate with families about the activity.
Hannaford Fights Hunger program to benefit Skillin’s food pantry
The Hannaford on Cottage Road has selected the Skillin Food Pantry to be the recipient of $1 from the sale of every reusable Fight Hunger Bag during the month of September! To date, we have received $724 through this program to support our food pantry which helps supplement snacks for students during the school day. Many thanks to Hannaford and our community for supporting this important resource!
February Menus
Safety Drills
We will continue to conduct periodic safety drills throughout the school year including lockdown drills and fire/evacuation drills. Our next lockdown drill is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15th.
PTA Updates
Please check the Skillin PTA website for all information related to the PTA including the Calendar Fundraiser happening this month! Many thanks to our PTA for supporting the students and staff at Skillin!
Upcoming Dates
Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th - no school, February vacation
Monday, February, 27th - return to school
Wednesday, March 8th - early release, dismissal at 12:35pm
Thursday, March 9th - Family math/literacy night, 5:00-6:30pm
