From the Principal

Dear Families,

I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable spring break.  There were so many beautiful days that help us to feel hopeful for spring and better days ahead.  Our first two weeks of full day learning went really well, and took a lot of time and energy to set up.  The children in person seem to be enjoying being with us all day, and our remote learners have been working hard to get to know their new classmates and teachers.  Thanks to the generosity of the Burbank PTA, our remote learners got to participate in a whole-school virtual assembly.  Our Butler PTA is currently working on a whole school assembly for our school, which we would likewise want to extend to all of the remote learning classrooms.  Stay tuned!  

Upcoming

• Butler Butler Virtual Talent Show April 30
• Thursday, May 6 
  • Picture Day
  • Butler PTA Virtual Math & Science Night 6-7:30pm 
• Thursday, May 13 & 14 Kindergarten Intake (NO SCHOOL for current K students)
• Butler PTA Multicultural Week May 23-28
• Wednesday, May 26 - early dismissal 11:40
• Monday, May 31 - NO SCHOOL Memorial Day

MCAS Dates

	Grade 3	Grade 4	Make Ups
ELA (one session)	Tuesday, May 11	Thursday, May 13	May 17, 18
Math (one session)	Thursday, May 27	Tuesday, May 25	June 1, 3

Playground Access

Beginning this week, our playground and fields will be closed to the public during the school day up to 6pm.  This is because BEDP is launching their spring session and we need to support them in keeping the children safe.  If families wish to have their children play outside, a good alternate spot is PQ park.  Thank you for your cooperation and support on this!

Picture Day

We will finally have our long-awaited picture day on Thursday, May 6.  Please stay tuned for details.  We will have individual photos taken, and class photos will not be taken due to needing to keep 3ft of distance between people.

Pick Up and Drop Off Safety

We need your help in keeping our children safe and getting them to and from school safely.  If you are driving, please give yourself ample time to find a parking spot so you can walk your child to the perimeter of our campus.  You can also use the "Drop & Go" on White Street in the morning.  Please stay in your car and a staff member will help your child get out of the car.  Your child should then walk to her/his/their designated line up spot.  Please note that there is NO PARKING on White Street in front of our building (where the curb is painted yellow).  This is a bus and fire line, and needs to be clear at all times.  Also, when picking up your child, please help keep our children safe by leaving the grounds straight away so the BEDP can have the area secured.  Lastly, please remember that bikes, scooters, and skateboards should be walked or carried across our grounds and they should not be ridden.

Staffing changes

Our wonderful art teacher, Marissa Wakeen, has decided to leave her role of teaching art at Butler for family reasons.  This was a very sudden change, and, with the fantastic support of our Fine Arts Director (and Butler parent), Arto Asadoorian, we are able to welcome Avery Kallas to teach art beginning our first day back.  Avery is a Tufts and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston graduate, and has many years experience teaching young people art in both Massachusetts and California.  We will miss Marissa and appreciate all of the warmth and enthusiasm she brought to our artists.  We look forward to having Avery join our community and to begin working with our learners.

With warm wishes for good health and peace,

Danielle

Danielle Betancourt, Principal

 

From our School Nurse

Travel Update: April Vacation Week

If you are traveling out of state for longer than 24 hours, we require PCR testing of all students within 72 hours prior to your arrival back into Massachusetts or upon your return. Please be sure to quarantine until you receive your results.

In order to return to in-person learning following out of state travel, we ask that you:

1.   Fill out the Butler Absence Form You can do this before you leave so I am aware of your travel plans.

2.   Produce PCR COVID-19 test results that have been administered up to 72-hours prior to your student’s arrival in Massachusetts or upon your return. PCR test results must be sent directly to the nurse. Please note that all students are required to test, regardless of age. Parent tests will no longer be accepted. 

This is especially important to note: PCR test results must be sent to the nurse before your student returns to in person learning.

Please be sure to plan ahead including time for testing and results. Due to delayed results and a possible large amount of tests pending a review, your return to school may be delayed. 

If you choose not to test your student, they must remain home and  quarantine for 10 days from the time they arrive in Massachusetts. This type of quarantine does not qualify for at home tutoring.

Thank you for your attention to this and as always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Wishing you a safe and restful break.

Lisa Harteveldt BSN, RN

School Nurse

Butler Elementary School

Phone: 617-993-5556

Fax: 617-484-7921