R.K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary School
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In art students in Mrs. Sidoti's room worked on their visual pun projects!
They were so creative! We have a fruit dove, fishbird, catbird, and a nightbird
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Kindergarteners from Mrs. Smiarowski and Ms. Egitto's rooms playing outside in the courtyard! |
Tuesday, June 2nd
Iron Horse
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Deadline is August 2, 2026
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How You Can Access or Offer Support?
This resource list (English / Spanish) is a tool for the entire community. You can use it to:
- Access food assistance: Find local pantries, programs, and opportunities for your family.
- Offer help: Discover ways to donate food, time, or funds to help feed others in need.
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Important Dates this Week |
June 5th: FIELD DAY! (rain or shine)
This event is for students only. Caregiver spectators are not allowed.
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June 17th: Kindergarten EOY Celebration Popsicle Picnic - 12pm
June 18th: 5th grade Moving up Celebration
June 19th: NO SCHOOL - JUNETEENTH
June 22nd: 1/2 day - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
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Dear Caregiver,
If your student has medication in the Health Office, it will need
to be picked up from the Health Office on or before the last day
of school, June 22nd. Parents or responsible adults must pick up
any medications, inhalers, or Epipens.
Any meds not picked up will be destroyed. We cannot keep them
over the summer.
If your student will be taking medication next year at school, you
will need to provide a new physician order/parent permission form prior to the new school year.
For your convenience, these forms will be given to you as you pick up the meds from this year.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Thank you,
Karen Schiaffo, RN
School Nurse
587-1557
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Tick activity in Massachusetts is exceptionally high lately. The season began intensely, with high activity expected through August (first peak) and again in October–November. Warmer, milder winters and changing climate conditions are fueling an "aggressive" start to the season. There are also expanding tick populations, including deer ticks and the newly established, disease-carrying lone star tick.
Key 2026 Tick Season Information for Massachusetts
- Current Risk: April 2026 recorded the highest Northeast tick-bite ER visit rate since at least 2017.
- Active Types: Deer ticks (Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis) and Lone Star ticks (associated with alpha-gal red meat allergy) are both prevalent, particularly on Cape Cod and the Islands.
- Peak Activity: While active year-round when temperatures are above freezing, peak activity is March/April through August.
- Key Locations: High-risk areas include wooded, brushy, and high-grass areas, as well as suburban backyards.
Preventive Measures
- Repellents: Use EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
- Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucked into socks, preferably light-colored to spot ticks easily.
- Tick Checks: Perform thorough body checks immediately after being outdoors, especially during peak season.
- Property Maintenance: Keep lawns mowed and clear leaf litter to reduce tick habitats.
- Removal: Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin and pull straight up.
- Clean: Clean the area with soap and water or alcohol.
- Save the Tick: Place it in a bag or alcohol for identification if needed.
- Monitor: Watch for symptoms for 30 days.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
- Signs of Infection: The bite area shows spreading redness, significant swelling, or oozing.
- Symptom Development: You experience fever, chills, severe headache, muscle/joint pain, or fatigue.
- Neurological Symptoms: Facial paralysis, droopy eyelids, or a stiff neck develop. (Emergent care advised)
- Tick Identification/Duration: The tick was likely a deer tick (small, brown) and was attached for more than 24–36 hours.
- Removal Issues: You cannot fully remove the tick, or parts remain embedded in the skin.
- Pregnancy/Immunocompromised: If you are in a high-risk group, contact a doctor to discuss prophylactic antibiotics.
- A small, itchy bump, smaller than a quarter, is normal; however, a rapidly expanding rash or one forming a bull’s-eye pattern warrants a doctor's visit.
Check out this resource for more information:
Thank you for your attention to this,
Karen Schiaffo
RKFRR Nurse
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Stay Healthy This Season
Flu and cold season is here, and we encourage you to help us prevent the spread of illness. To keep our students, staff and families healthy, please review these important reminders:
- Wash your hands often with soap & water for 20 seconds; Hand sanitizer is helpful in between
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when symptomatic
- Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently
- Get plenty of rest, fluids, and eat balanced meals
When to keep students home
- Fever (100.0°F or higher); they can return to school when fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication
- Cough, ear pain, sore throat, congestion, or runny nose when severe symptoms will impact their learning
- Vomiting/diarrhea episodes– students can return to school after 24 hours without the use of medication
Testing for COVID-19 is encouraged
- Students who test positive should stay home from the onset of symptoms and may return when symptoms are improving
- Consider having your student wear a mask for the first few days upon return to school
Contact me if you have any questions
- I can be reached via ParentSquare, phone @ 413-587-1557,
- If your student has been diagnosed with an illness (such as the flu, pneumonia, strep, or COVID-19), please let me know
Thanks for your help with keeping Ryan Road a healthy school community!
Karen Schiaffo, RN
RKFRR School Nurse
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- Our building is a scent free school - please make sure that anytime you're visiting that you refrain from wearing perfume/ cologne or strongly scented body products (for example, hair shampoo/conditioner, hair gel/spray, body wash, deodorant, and lotions).
- Supervision will begin at 7:40 AM on the playground - please do not drop your child off prior to that time.
- School Hours: 8 AM - 2:10 PM
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Please refrain from bringing your dog on school grounds.
Thank you for your assistance in advance.
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This year we will be using parent square to contact families if your child is absent and we haven't heard from you.
Messages will be going out around 10 every morning.
It is a new process for us, so we appreciate your patience in advance!
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Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Keillor
vkeillor@northampton-k12.us
587-1560
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As always, we hope that all families and caregivers feel welcomed, comfortable and valued at our school. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Rebecca LeBeau, Principal
RK Finn Ryan Road Elementary School
Email: relebeau@northampton-k12.us
Location: 498 Ryan Road, Florence, MA 01062
Phone: 413-587-1550
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