Gainfield Elementary School

Matthew Salvestrini GES Principal Email: msalvestrini@region15.org Tel: 203-264-5312

Dear Students, Parents and Families of Gainfield-

Welcome back to another wonderful school year.  We are all very excited to kick off another year of learning together.  The start of the year is a special time filled with the promise of new friends, new learning and many new experiences.   Here are some helpful tips that will help get your child off to a great start and also help them see how important school is to you. 

Talk about school.

Encourage our child to share his/her accomplishments by asking them specific questions about their day (“What did you make in Art today?"  “Who did you read about in Social Studies?”).  You can even make it a game.  Asking about their day in detail sends the message that what they do is important and worth talking about. 

Follow a routine.

Create a schedule with your child to follow on school nights.  Include time for homework, dinner play and reading for pleasure.  Finally, figure a bedtime that gives them at least 9 hours of sleep.  A clear, predictable home routine will provide your child with a sense of confidence and security which will help them deal with the many new situations they experience at the start of the school year.

Read every day. 

There are many different ways to make reading a part of your child’s daily routine.  A few ideas include taking turns reading a story, reading to a sibling (or favorite stuffed animal), or asking for help with a recipe you may be following.  The important thing is to take some time each day to read with your child.  Research shows that children who read on a regular basis meet with greater success in school. 

Make attendance a priority.

Let your child know that it’s important to be in school every day, on time.  Talk about ways that he/she can stay healthy and avoid sick days like washing their hands regularly and eating a balanced diet.  Also, please make every effort to schedule doctor appointments and family trips when school is not in session.  The start of the school year is filled with activities that set the tone for learning for the entire school year. 

 Starting the school year off with these four simple steps will help your child get off to a great start.  I look forward to working with you and your child and an exciting year of learning together. 

 Mr. Salvestrini

"Mr. S"