Manchester Library Reopening

The Manchester Public Library will reopen to the public on Monday June 22nd, 2020 for grab and go library services. Masks need to be worn by anyone seeking service from either building and all books and items returned are quarantined for 72 hours before being available for the next reader.  For more information, visit the Library’s Facebook page or website.

Flag Day & Old Flag Disposal

Flag Day is this Sunday, but on Thursday at 6 p.m. the Manchester Elks are having a ceremony at 30 Bissell St.   Old flags can be brought in to the Elks for proper disposal.

Tips on Social Emotional Learning: Relationship Skills

 

Today we wanted to share information on Relationship Skills, another one of the 8 critical areas of importance for well-being.  As noted in our earlier emails, studies show that developing and nurturing important skills in our children can help them become happy, productive, and successful adults as they appreciate how to think and act in stressful or challenging situations.

The purpose of these activities is to remind children that the skills we all use to build and maintain strong, healthy relationships are learned. We develop them by thinking about how we want others to receive us, and then by actively working to be open, caring, and supportive as we interact with others.

Here is some information about developing Relationship Skills and how to use the “Who’s Great At This?” strategy to promote positive interaction and strong interpersonal skills: Relationship Skills

Keep In Mind:   Your relationship with your child has more impact than many other powerful influences they encounter – all of their relationships are measured against their “home base”: you, and the caring community of family and friends that you build around them.

Here are some creative ways to practice and encourage Relationship Skills in your home:

* Build a strong protective circle of adults and youth to whom your child can turn for advice or support by talking to them very directly about the people you value who treat others with kindness, respect, and caring attention.

* Cook with your child:  Ask your child to help make their favorite dish by following your directions, one at a time. Make sure to say “please” and “thank you” and acknowledge all of their efforts. This will not only help their learn about the art of listening, but teach their about the importance of being polite to others, especially while working on group projects.

* Complete the Who’s Great At This challenge: Who’s Great at This?

* Read stories together and talk about the relationships and interactions between the characters.

Pick-up & Drop-off Wednesday

It was nice to see so many families today!  Thank you for helping things run so smoothly.  A reminder for those coming tomorrow to drop-off/pick-up…

When you arrive at your designated time, please head right inside and note the following:

* All persons in the building must wear a mask. Please enter through the main entrance and sanitize your hands before proceeding to classrooms.

* There will be labeled boxes inside the main hallway after you enter the front door for you to drop off:

  1.  SJS library books your child may have had at home
  2.  Uniform items to be donated to the uniform closet
  3. Basketball uniforms that need still need to be returned. Basketball uniforms should be in a Ziploc baggie or plastic bag labeled with the child’s name written on the front. There is a charge for unreturned uniform items.

* Please do NOT stop in the main office to check in – instead go right to your child’s classroom.

* There will be signs located at the stairwell entrances to guide you where to go.

* If a parent is already in the classroom when you arrive, please wait in the hallway until they are done.

* Please take all items left on your child’s desk and leave all items you are returning on your child’s desk. Students’ artwork and supplies will be included in the bags for you to take off your child’s desk.

* Teachers will be in their classrooms on both dates, but please take care to maintain proper social distancing and limit time to the three minute window.

* Please exit the building using the designated stairwells by the Pre-K parking lot. Signs will be posted in the hallways so people are not coming in and out the same doors. 

* For students in the upper grades or families that borrowed Chromebooks for distance learning, please remember to bring the assigned charger back with the Chromebooks. There is a charge for missing or damaged items.

 

Field Day

It was nice to see so many families enjoying our 2020 virtual field day! Here are a few pictures:

International Day Presentations

Congratulations to the Saint James School 8th Grade class on the outstanding job they did collaborating and putting together (remotely) their International Day presentations!  International Day is an annual project for the 8th Graders, which brings together a wide variety of skills they have learned during their time at SJS, while showcasing their research on an assigned country.  The students all turned in a research report to go with their presentation.  Today we would like to share the remaining presentations with you:

Argentina

Canada

England

France

India

Italy

Japan

Mexico

Poland

Russia

Singapore

Congratulations SJS Class of 2020!

Congratulations to the Class of 2020, our 94th graduating class!  We hosted all 38 graduates and their families outside St. James Church on Friday for a “socially distanced” graduation.  With each family arriving at a specific time…

Congratulations SJS Class of 2020!!

We look forward to honoring Saint James School’s 94th graduating class this evening as they receive their diplomas and head off to start the next chapter of their academic and spiritual journey uniquely prepared by their shared experiences, strong faith in God, and a passion for helping others. You will do great things Class of 2020! Congratulations!

International Day Presentations

Congratulations to the Saint James School 8th Grade class on the outstanding job they did collaborating and putting together (remotely) their International Day presentations!  International Day is an annual project for the 8th Graders, which brings together a wide variety of skills they have learned during their time at SJS, while showcasing their research on an assigned country.  The students all turned in a research report to go with their presentation.  Today we would like to share three of the presentations with you:

Costa Rica

Australia

Jamaica

 

Grab & Go Lunch Program

As a reminder, the town of Manchester is offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch on weekdays during this closure period.  Saint James School families are welcome – in fact, they wanted us to make sure we spread the word  –  you just need to give your child’s name and that they go to SJS.

If you would like to pick one up for your child/ren here are the designated locations and times.  Next week’s menu can be found HERE.

Bennet Academy – 1151 Main Street
Manchester Middle Academy (the former Robertson School building) – 65 North School Street
Waddell Elementary School – 163 Broad Street
Verplank – 126 Olcott Street

Breakfast: 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Lunch: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm