GFS Family Photos Days are ON!!!

 Sign up now for great family photos with Westport photographer David Dellinger. For each family, David will donate the cost of the photo session ($125) to GFS PTA, and will work with    you so you receive the photo package of your choice. It's a great way to capture special moments with your family AND help out the school at the same time.  

Location: Sherwood Island. Free entrance to CT residents. Park at the end of the East Beach parking lot. 

 Family Photo Days:

- Saturday 9/26/2019 (Rain Date Sunday, 9/27)

- Saturday 10/3/2019 (Rain Date Sunday, 10/4)

 Questions? Email or call Robin Bates (robinsbates@gmail.com - 917-805-0055)

 Paypal link:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=N788P9VMRHRFU

  Family Photo Day

4th or 5th grade Orchestra or 5th grade Band Program

If you haven't already signed up for the 4th or 5th grade Orchestra or 5th grade Band Program please register on Google Form ASAP 

 Westport Public Schools' award-winning, 80-tradition of instrumental music IS happening!! The orchestra program (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) is available for all 4th and 5th graders. The band program (bell set, practice pad, and snare drum) is available for 5th graders. 

 Please click on the links below for more information and to register your child for this amazing opportunity! 

 4th Grade Orchestra: https://forms.gle/ZrmggX4QS5VEbLbv7  (If your child doesn't know what they would like to play I am still looking for violas and cellos - I also have room for 1 more bass.)

 5th Grade Orchestra and Band: https://forms.gle/8rdKLAxnkSZLbjAZ7  

Please reach out to Ms. Hardy for orchestra at ehardy@westportps.org, or Ms. Gardner for band at mgardner@westportps.org if you have any questions. :-)   

SpEd Sip N Chat

 Join us for this great opportunity to connect with other SpEd parents!

Click Here to Download Flyer

Welcome to Square 1 Art!  

Square 1 Art is excited to partner with our child's school to celebrate creativity and raise funds for GFS! This year, Square 1 Art is celebrating 20 years of helping schools raise funds for education through the visual arts.

Wouldn't you love to share your child's artwork with family and friends? The Square 1 Art fundraiser provides you the opportunity to purchase keepsakes and gifts featuring your child's art while also supporting GFS! This is also open for siblings and parents as well if you would like to participate! 

You will receive an email that includes Art Creation instructions and art/order deadlines.  This year, our students will create their Square 1 art at home on their own time, and not as part of their grade's art class.  We will provide you with hard copies of the art templates the students need to use as well as a printable template that you can print at home.  You will have two options for submitting your child's art to Square 1, and both are super easy.

Together, we can help support GFS, and create keepsake memories of your child's art to enjoy for years! 

School Picture Day 

Please mark your calendars!  Picture day is TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

Our GFS Picture Day ID is: EVTCGBH7V

Due to Covid protocols this year you must place all orders on line.  You can order your pictures at mylifetouch.com.   More options are available online as well, including different photo packages, and various backgrounds with Lifetouch /Shutterfly.  Don’t forget to sign up for My Family Rewards program for more deals and packages. 

All students will have individual photos taken following the required guidelines. 

Here is some information from Lifetouch/ Shutterfly about their protocols for COVID. After lots of thought and preparation on the national level, Lifetouch and Shutterfly are ready!   

• Lifetouch Picture Day Safety video (90 sec.) - this video highlights our readiness to be on-site and details the preparation, resources, staff training, PPE, and technology we provide to offer a completely 'contactless' and paperless picture day

• Our Plan - we have submitted our COVID-19 readiness plan, and have placed it on our website so that any interested school administrators, staff professional, parents, etc, may view and feel comfortable about our process.

• We have eliminated our "Name on Card" (little white ticket).  Check-in is now at the camera and is paperless.  Our ordering process for parents also encourages paperless transactions.

• We have eliminated all props.  Students and staff stand for a picture and touch nothing.

• We have also converted all our standing classroom groups to a classroom composite to solve social distancing issues and account for high absenteeism.  After we are done with our final retake day you will have a complete classroom composite with every student in the class that we eventually photograph. 

 If you are unhappy with the photos, Lifetouch will retake your child’s portrait or you can return it for a full refund.  

Questions? Please contact Rory Murray or Jen Harvey.

Preview YouTube video Picture Day Safety | Lifetouch

Picture Day Safety | LifetoucPicture Day Safety | Lifetouch

School Photo Day Flyer

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) at GFS!

I would like to introduce myself as the GFS rep for the district-wide DE&I committee this year.  We know that GFS is already an amazing and welcoming place, but we know we can be even better.  We are committed to making DE&I a priority at GFS to support our ENTIRE school community.  We would love to hear from you!  If you have any questions, concerns, ideas or interest in helping out, please don't hesitate to contact me at gfs.dei2020@gmail.com.  We look forward to working with

ALL of you!

 Beatriz Jones

Room Parent Meeting  

Room parent notifications have been sent out.  There will be a mandatory Room Parent Orientation on Wednesday, September 16th, for those who were selected as a room parent for their classroom.  Any questions please contact Michelle Vitulich (michellevitulich@gmail.com) or Brooke Menoni (themenonis@gmail.com)

GFS Back to School Party 

This year we are currently working on providing an alternative Back to School celebration as we currently can not celebrate as we have in the past. Please keep an eye out for details in the near future. With any questions, please contact Roseann Elfstrum and Amy Lane.  

Amazon Smile 

Support GFS When You Shop on Amazon! Did you know that you can support the GFS PTA all year long every time you shop on Amazon?  AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to contribute to GFS every time you shop, at no cost to you. All you need to do is use the smile.amazon.com URL for all of your purchases and Amazon donates to the GFS PTA. Please note if you use the regular amazon URL no donation to GFS PTA will be made. Thank you for your support by shopping on smile.amazon.com.  Questions?  Please contact Kate Grijns or Melanie Heiser

Mabel’s Labels

Did you know that an item that ends up in the GFS Lost and Found will be returned to its owner by the PTA if it is LABELED with your child’s name?!

Get your Mabel’s Labels today! Free shipping to your door.  Your purchase helps support the GFS PTA.

Ready to order? Please click here or see the flyer for more details. Questions? Email Kate Grijns or Melanie Heiser

Stop & Shop Rewards Program 

Our school is participating in the Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Program, a great school fundraising program that runs from September through March. This is an easy way for you to help our school earn CASH each time you shop at ANY Stop & Shop Store.  Please help our school and register your Stop & Shop Card NOW to our SCHOOL ID#40658. You can ask non-GFS friends and family to register using our School ID as well!! Questions? Contact Kate Grijns or Melanie Heiser.

The 2020-2021 Westport Schools Calendar! 

The 2020-2021 Westport Schools Calendar, featuring student artwork, is available to ORDER online via PayPal at tinyurl.com/WSCalendar-Art. Delivery by mail ($23) or pick-up ($20). In-person purchasing opportunities will likely be Limited...ORDER your copy today! Also available for sale at ASF.

The 13-month full-color calendar (portable 8-1/2” x 11” size) covers a full school year. Each month features a wonderful work of art by a Westport Public School student and includes key district event dates, with room for your own notes, on high quality paper.

Proceeds benefit Westport Public Art Collections, which supports the display, conservation, and educational uses of original works of fine art in every school and municipal building across town.

Be sure to order your copy today!

The 2020-2021 Westport Schools Calendar