Kittredge Elementary School

Last day of school: Monday, June 27th, half day only, students released at 11:40 a.m.

Dear Parents,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Kittredge staff for the incredible work they do with the Kittredge students. They are the ones who make it all happen, every day. Their tireless efforts are reflected in the smiles and successes of their students. It is hard not to be impressed by their dedication and genuine caring. The message clearly sent to each and every child is "This is important. You can do it. I won't give up on you." I am impressed every day with all they do for the children. We are truly fortunate to be gifted with such a wonderful staff. Please encourage your children to express their gratitude in some special way this week.

Sincerely, Nancy Jukins

If you have a child entering Kindergarten in the fall and have not yet registered; please do so by May 16th at the Bradstreet School.

Prior to April vacation, several students were diagnosed with strep throat in the school and some children have had reoccurrence of strep several weeks later Since this illness s highly contagious, we are asking your assistance in monitoring your own children for strep throat. If your child is complaining of a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, has a fever, and/or has spots on the throat or tonsils; we suggest the child visit his/her health care provider. If you believe your child has strep throat and/or a strep test result is pending, please keep him/her home from school. If your child tests positive for strep, a full 24 hours of antibiotic therapy, plus a normal temperature for 24 hours is necessary before your child returns to school. Discard your child's toothbrush 24 to 48 hours after being on the medication to prevent recontamination. Again, strep throat is contagious. Good hand washing and other infection control practices such as not sharing drinking glasses should be reviewed. Also, we request that you notify the school when your child has been diagnosed with strep.

For those of you who had your portraits taken at the Mother Son Jammin Fun dance and have not yet placed your orders - Now is the time! The images will be online until May 6th and then gone forever ... Don't miss out.

Just go online at www.KingstonStudios.com/Jammin to view and order. If you have any problems seeing the images or would just like to ask a question, please contact Kingston Studios at +1 978 683 9549.

The North Andover High School Alumni Network Committee is investigating the development of a new alumni website. The committee is looking for volunteers that have website design and /or database development experience to advise the committee during the development stage of the project. The goal is to help current high school students during their college/career selection process by connecting students with alumni. The website will also provide valuable information for class reunion committees and alumni networking. Anyone with a technical background and 2-3 hours per month of time is encouraged to leave your name and phone number with the High School Guidance office +1 978 794 2090 or to email committee member Patti MacPhee at tpmac@cshore.com.

The Town of North Andover has teamed up with the New England Rain Barrel Company to offer residents rain barrels as a way to conserve water and help the environment. A rain barrel collects water from the roof when it rains and stores it for use during dry conditions and during water bans. For a limited time, the rain barrels can be purchased by North Andover residents for $52 each (the regular retail price is $85). The company will be taking orders through May 13. The rain barrels will be delivered to the North Andover DPW (384 Osgood Street) and can be picked up on Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. - noon. To place your order or for more information about the rain barrels, call the New England Rain Barrel Company at +1 978 977 3135 or visit their website: www.nerainbarrel.com.

Several local charities will be on hand to accept your donations.

Spring cleaning continues at the DPW on Osgood Street from 9am to noon

• Do you have confidential documents you'd like shredded? Shredding compliments of Shred-Pro
• Do you have old sneakers or other athletic shoes? Nike Reuse-a-shoe Program will use them! (No metal cleats or metal supports please.)
• AND....for the first time, we will partner with a non-profit organization that wants our obsolete (but working) PC equipment and all the accessories. They cannot accept Macs. The PC must be Pentium II or newer and working. If you have specific questions, you can email them directly to www.afrihopeinc.org.

The Memorial Park is located across from the Library on Middlesex/Greene Streets. Please consider dropping by for an hour or two. Bring rakes, shovels, saws and gloves and wheelbarrows. We will be removing trash as well as replenishing the mulch. We will also be utilizing a new way of edging the beds. Come and learn this innovative new way of edging your beds while beautifying the Park at the same time. For more info, please contact Phila Slade at +1 978 683 9282. The friends also wish to acknowledge the support of Peter Breen who has supplied mulch for the cleanups for the past few years and for the Boys Scouts who have supported the cleanup efforts in the past.

The Friends of Memorial Park, a subcommittee of the North Andover Improvement Society would like to remind all friends and citizens of the Town that the gift of trees and shrubs is a wonderful way to beautify our Town. Gifts of this nature by citizens and civic groups to celebrate special occasions help compensate limited budgets and beautify our neighborhoods. A tradition based upon even one of the following examples can place hundreds of trees and shrubs in Town over several years. Why not consider donating a tree or shrub in honor of your own special occasion; the birth of a child; a special birthday; the death of a loved one; or a milestone, such as a wedding anniversary.

The Park is in need of replenishing its stock of spring flowering forsythia, rhododendrons; azaleas; roses, lilacs and holly. Why not join the over 300 friends and neighbors who have already donated? For more information, please contact Phila Slade at +1 978 683 9282. All donations should be mailed to the North Andover Improvement Society, P. O. BOX 212, North Andover, MA 01845

Visit our Kittredge website at http://www.northandover.k12.ma.us/Kittredge/.

Please send via email to kathy.eastwood@comcast.net (please put Newslink in the subject line) or call Kathy Eastwood at +1 978 794 3025 by Friday at noon.

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