Dear GHR Families,
Here are our weekly reminders and updates.
Important Dates:
- Tuesday, September 30th- Open House 5:30-7:30 pm
- Friday, October 10th- No School, Staff Development
- Monday, October 13th- No School, October Break
- Tuesday, October 14th- Drop of Literacy O’lanterns in the library!
- Tuesday, October 14th- PTO Meeting 6 pm, Library or virtual
- Wednesday, October 22nd- GHR Fun Run!
Updates
After School Clubs/Activities: Sign-ups are open! Hurry- deadlines to sign-up are coming up soon! See the attached flyer for more information. Upcoming GHR Fall Events.pdf
Literacy O’Lanterns!
It’s time to celebrate our love of literacy through family pumpkin decorating! All students are invited to decorate a pumpkin with a favorite character from a book or design a book cover. You can use paint, Sharpies, carve or use any materials you wish! Bring your pumpkin to GHR main office beginning on October 15th, and we will display it in our library where all students will be able to view them. All participants will receive a school store coupon. Please email tphillips@coventryct.org with any questions. Please see here for more details: Literacy O'Lanterns.pdf
We need you!
We are looking for paraeducators at GHR! Please visit our website, https://www.coventrypublicschools.org/district/human-resources for additional information.
Bus Updates
Each day, our bus drivers carry a tremendous responsibility: transporting students safely to and from school so they arrive ready to learn and return home to you with care. Driving a school bus requires constant attention. Our drivers must scan mirrors, blind spots, and traffic on all sides of the bus. To do this well, they need to be able to focus fully on the road ahead. When drivers are distracted by unsafe or disrespectful behaviors, such as students moving from seat to seat, not keeping hands and feet to themselves, or using unkind words, it not only disrupts the bus environment but also creates unnecessary risk.
Recently, we have noticed an uptick in bus-related behavior concerns. While most students ride responsibly, we want to be proactive in addressing these trends. We are asking families to join us in reinforcing at home the same expectations we teach at school, so that every child contributes to a safe ride. We ask for your partnership in practicing and reinforcing these expectations at home:
• Safe: Stay bottom to bottom, back to back. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
• Responsible: Remember belongings, report problems to the driver, and follow adult instructions.
• Respectful: Use kind words and show courtesy to the driver and peers.
We know children sometimes need multiple reminders and reteaching before a new behavior sticks. When concerns arise, we always begin by reteaching and reinforcing expectations. If behaviors continue despite this support, we utilize a progressive discipline approach.
• First, drivers or staff reteach and redirect.
• If issues persist, drivers complete a written report, which is shared with the principal and parents so that we can partner together.
• Repeated or serious behaviors may result in progressive consequences, including an assigned seat, a parent meeting, the temporary loss of bus privileges, etc.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping every ride safe!
Digital Backpack
You can visit our Digital backpack on the Coventry Public Schools website under our school! This is where you can find many of our flyers and other communications.
From last week:
GHR FUN RUN/ 5K
Wednesday, October 22nd- OPEN to all students WITH parents at no cost!
GHR is excited to host our very popular annual Fun Run and 5K Run! The races will begin at 4:00 p.m. starting with the 1 Mile Fun Run followed by the 5K Run. Students and their parents are welcome to participate in the races or be a supportive fan. We welcome all types of participation and hope you can join us for this fun event. All students running in the race must be accompanied by an adult. For more information and to sign-up!
Lifetouch Pictures
School pictures are ready! To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program.
Open House- 9/30/25 5:30-7:30 PM
Open House is an informative event organized to provide a brief orientation to your child’s classroom routine and grade level curriculum. This evening is a great time to ask questions and build positive home-school relationships. Parking assistance will be provided to support this well-attended event. You are welcome to come anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Additionally, the Scholastic Book Fair will be in the gym.
• Grade 3 Families: You’re invited to a 30-minute information session about our new ELA program, Wit and Wisdom. Three sessions will be offered in the library. Please consider attending one of the three: 5:00-5:30 (prior to Open House) or 5:30-6:00; 6:00-6:30, during Open House.
Updates from the Superintendent’s Office
Board of Education Regular Meeting Dates
The Board of Education remaining 2025 meeting dates are listed below. Meetings are open to the public and will also be live streamed through YouTube for convenient viewing. Meeting details and access links are available on our district website [HERE]. • October 9; October 30; November 13; December 11
Good News
Please visit our website at https://www.coventrypublicschools.org/district/district-communications for additional information on district news.
Open Door Meetings
Superintendent Dr. David J. Petrone has announced the schedule for his Open Door Meetings for the 2025-26 school year. These sessions will be held virtually, with the meeting link available on the district website. Open Door Meetings provide an opportunity for open communication, where parents and community members are invited to join, ask questions, and learn more about our school system.
1. Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 3:00-4:00 p.m.
2. Friday, February 13, 2026 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
3. Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (budget focused)
Reminder to complete your Annual PowerSchool Updates and Submit your Device Fee:
The Annual Update for students is now open for all students Pre-K through Grade 12. Please see below for important updates on what needs to be completed prior to the start of school. An Annual Update must be completed for all students enrolled. Students are not able to attend field trips or participate in after-school activities until their Annual PowerSchool Updates are completed.
Updates from the PTO
- Scholastic Book Fair at Open House https://tinyurl.com/pxdtxtdd
- Box Tops for Education: Sign up this month with the referral code W0TW14YO, and the school will earn extra cash on the first receipt scanned.
Don't want to download the app? - send in your receipts and a volunteer will scan the receipts to earn extra money for the school. The winning grade will earn a PJ Day!
- Be Spike for Spirit Days!
A short and fun way to bring school spirit (8–8:35am).
Sign up. https://tinyurl.com/3d3fmvtk - GHR School Store: We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers! Adult volunteers needed!!! School store will be the 2nd Friday of each month UNLESS it falls on an early release or no school day, then it will be the 3rd Friday. Mark your calendars now! This is a great opportunity for all of our students to use their math skills and for our 5th graders to be leaders! Sign up. https://tinyurl.com/4fymettw
- Welles House Candle Fundraiser- Order forms have gone home with your student! Sample candles available to smell at the GHR Open House (September 30th).
- Save the Date:
- Wolf Pack Season Opener at the XL Center on October 17th. Fliers have come home with your student!
- Lyman's Apple Pies- CGS & GHR PTOs are partnering again for the annual Lyman Orchards Pie Fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the kiddos & teachers with Family Fun Night and other events, guest speakers and assemblies, and even playground supplies! Online ordering is available now through 10/20 and paper forms will be in backpacks next week. Pies are delivered frozen and must be picked up on 11/19 at CGS from 4-6pm. Just in time for Thanksgiving dinner!
- Next PTO Meeting: October 14th @ 6PM -In person at the GHR Library or join virtually. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ypt-ossc-tnq We can't wait to meet you!
Have a great week,
Jen
