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Message from the Family Liaison
It’s been a very busy start to the year. We’re already rolling up to our Family Fun Fest, the Turket Trot and the holidays! Next month Rolanda Prophete and I will start Parent Workshops that will alternate between morning and evening times. Please keep your eyes out for these dates as well as other activities here and throughout Cambridge.
If you have not been receiving emails from me please contact the school to update your email address. I send out a lot of information about Cambridge events and services this way...don’t miss out! If you have any questions about information in here (or other general questions) please contact me by email or 617.349.6841. Please note: my direct line (617.349.4865) is not working. Please do not leave a message on that voicemail because I cannot access it.
Family Fun Fest
Thursday, November 5, 2019 | 5:30 – 7:30PM
Please join us! Dinner will be served, and then families will participate in a wide array of fun activities. Families will stay together throughout the evening. It’s a great opportunity for kids and adults to play, side by side!
From the School Nurse
Fall is in full swing and we are working hard to keep our classrooms health and ready to learn! With the change in weather we often see an increase in contagious illnesses including coughs, colds and the flu. Flu is the short term for influenza and is caused by a respiratory virus. When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus gets into the air and other people can inhale it. It can also be spread when we touch a hard surface and then touch our nose, mouth or eyes. Flu symptoms include: fever, chills, body aches, headache, sore throat or cough.?
The most important way to prevent the spread of colds and viruses is to wash our hands using soap and water. One way to remember how long to scrub is to sing the “Happy Birthday” as you wash. To prevent the flu, everyone should get the flu vaccine each year to update their protection. You can call your primary care provider for an appointment to get one or visit your local pharmacy.
From Thorndike to Berkshire
 After many years in rented quarters, CPS Central Administration is relocating to brand new offices, inside the new Cambridge Street complex.
You can find us behind the new Valente Branch Library, with our entrance located at 135 Berkshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 (see map).
Phone numbers and email addresses should remain the same, but we appreciate your patience as packing and unpacking is taking place. We will do our best to respond and look forward to welcoming you into our brand new offices!
Sensory Path
 Last year, the Kindergarten team received a mini-grant from Cambridge in Motion. The team, along with our Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist, recently participated in a professional development course (offered by our PT and OT, Kara and Erin) which focused on movement in the classroom. Children need to move because their brains need to be stimulated in a variety of ways. From this, our sensory path was envisioned. With the talents of our amazing artist, Tim Hogan, the project came to life and children are now be able to participate in meaningful movement breaks throughout the day that suits their needs. The path is designed to look like the solar system: students can blast off and then jump, hop, or creatively move between the planets and astroids!
Did You Know?
- This year we have four Special Start classes in the building. We love having all the new little friends!
- Fruits and veggies are unlimited in the cafeteria at lunch time. If your child buys a lunch they can always go back for more salad, fruit, or even the hot vegetable. Kids getting the alternate lunches (PB&J, cheese sandwich or yogurt) can get all these too. We don’t want any of our kids to be hungry.
 Volunteers from BostonCares built picnic tables and decorated and painted to beautify the space outside of the Kindergarten. It looks great.- When our 5th grade students move on to middle school they go to Putnam Ave Upper School (PAUS)! Transition events begin in December so keep an eye out in these newsletters for these and other Putnam Ave Upper School activities and information. Get to know the new community!
 K-Lo now has a BlueBike station right by the playground. - We now have a baby changing table in our first floor gender inclusive bathroom.
- Over the summer we added two more bottle filling stations. We now have one in the first and second floor hallway as well as one in the cafeteria. The one in the first floor hallway is estimated to have saved over 600 single use bottles.
Social Emotional Learning
 As you probably know, we are very dedicated to supporting the emotional health and growth of our students. We use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model throughout the school (ask your children about Wildcat tickets and the Wildcat Way!) to create a calm and supportive environment. This year we have some new staff to help with this. Tashima Point du Jour (who was our Building Substitute last year) has returned and Ilham Elazri and Ethan O’Leary have joined us. They are called SEL Paraprofessionals (“Paras”). They work with all the students through the day and help to provide structure at recess and lunch time. Ask your children if they know Ms. T., Ilham, and Mr. O.!
Friends of KLO Corner
The Kennedy-Longfellow is excited to have joined the Crayola ColorCycle program which recycles markers instead of throwing them away. All types of markers will be accepted (they do NOT have to be Crayola), send them in with your child to put in the collection box in the art room! Learn more about the program >>
 Fall means Box Top collection time! Please send in any Box Tops you have collected since the spring, to help raise some money for the school. If you have a bunch at home, please bring them in by Wednesday, Oct 31 for the fall collection. Don’t have some at home? Keep an eye out! We collect them a few times a year.
Maybe you have noticed that some of your boxes no longer have Box Tops you can cut out. That is because the program is going digital! You won’t have to cut things out and send them into the school, you can just scan your receipt and the money immediately gets credited to the school. Please continue to send in any physical Box Tops you have, but also start scanning those receipts! Learn more about the new scanning system >>
Math Facts
Our Math Coach, Karla Anderson, has a bunch of great resources to share.
You can access them here. You can find this Math Coach's Corner on each grade's academic page at the bottom.
Parent Workshops
Parenting is hard work! Most people find it’s a lot easier with supports and people to talk to. Rolanda Prophete, School Adjustment Counselor, and Nancy Wyse, Family Liaison, will host monthly workshops with information, handouts and plenty of time to share and talk. On first workshop will be about creating routines in the home and we will meet at 8AM on Thursday, November 14th. The December meeting will be in the evening at 5:30-6:30PM on the 4th. This Workshop will have dinner and childcare. Please join us...we’re stronger together!
Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC)
If you have a child that is on an Individual Education Plan (IEP) you should check out the SEPAC. It is a parent advocacy and resource group. Special Education services can be tricky to navigate….it’s important to have help! Learn more >>
Kennedy-Longfellow School Volunteer Opportunities
There are many ways to help out in the school. Parents are encouraged to speak to classroom teachers (or the assigned Room Parent) about ways to help out in the classroom. Below are ways you can volunteer for the school in general. If you’re interested, please contact Nancy Wyse.
View the Opportunities >>
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