Weekly MESsages: February 2, 2024
508-778-7975 440 Higgins Crowell Rd., W. Yarmouth, MA
A Message to Our Families:
Dear MES Families,
There are many exciting things to share in February! Jacob Wycoff, a meteorologist from WBZ-TV, WSBK-TV, and CBS News Boston, is coming to MES! Thank you to Mr. Sandone, our receptionist, and Mr. Spano, our STEM instructional coach for making this happen! Mr. Wycoff will be visiting the second and third grade students and we will be part of another Scientist Spotlight! Thanks to Mrs. Cronin, our literacy coach, MES has been awarded a grant from the Mass Cultural Council for a multi-day author visit! This opportunity will be shared with our entire school community later this school year! There will be more details coming and there is additional information below! Mrs. Buron, our physical education teacher, is partnering with the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension to bring Nutrition Education to kindergarten and first grade students. Check out that and more information on and Yarmouth Public Library Visionary Project that Mrs. Keith, our librarian, and Mr. Walker, our art teacher, have partnered on below!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warm regards,
Ms. Mahedy and Mrs. Carlson
MES wins a grant from Mass Cultural Council for multi-day author visit!
Great news! MES has been awarded a grant of $6,100 from the Mass Cultural Council. The STARS Residency Grant will support a multi-day author visit to the M.E. Small School from Brazilian American author Ana Crespo.
Crespo is the author of nine books for young readers, and the STARS Grant will fund her third visit to M.E. Small. She will visit the school for four days in late March 2024, leading writers’ workshops in grades K-3. Her next book for children, Saudade, will be published in June 2024. We are very excited to see Ana again!
In the World of Physical Education
All students are wrapping up their floor gymnastic units and we are all beginning our jump roping unit. This unit goes hand in hand with our Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Information about this fundraiser will be sent home soon! February is Heart Health Month and jumping rope is a great way to keep our hearts in shape. The unit starts with learning how to measure the correct size jump rope for the students height. We learn how to make soft jumps with our feet, big arm circles with the rope and then we time our swing to get over the rope. We introduce the three basic jumps: 2 feet forward direction, 2 feet backwards direction and jogging in place. My older students will be taught a variety of jump roping tricks including: Skier, Bell, Straddle, Rocking Horse, Side Swing, Crossover Straddle, Crossover with Arms, Pepper and the Double Jump. We also work on partner jumps and using long ropes with two students twirling as others jump.
This year I am collaborating with the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension to bring Nutrition Education into the lessons for kindergarten and first grade students. Paula LaRochelle will be joining my classes to educate them on the importance of eating healthy and will be adding these mini lessons to teach your students about My Plate, Fruits & Vegetables and Grains. Ask your student to share what they have learned in class.
Ms. Buron
News from the Art Room and Library
"Jazz in Schools"
"Jazz in the Schools" was presented to our second and third grade students on Wednesday, January 31st. This program is presented by Bart Weisman on drums from Orleans with Fred Boyle on piano from South Yarmouth and Rich Hill on bass from East Falmouth. The trio told Ms. Healy that the MES students were the best behaved students of all the schools they have visited!
The Jazz in the Schools Program was started in 2014 by Bart Weisman, Founder, Executive Producer & Performer for the Provincetown Jazz Festival. This is a chance for students to hear live Jazz and to learn about Jazz history and all styles of Jazz. Thank you to Ms. Healy, our music teacher, and the related arts team for making this possible!
February 3rd- The Wizards play at DY
February 12th- Jacob Wycoff, a meteorologist from WBZ-TV, WSBK-TV, and CBS News Boston, is coming to MES! Scientist Spotlight Event for Grades 2 & 3.
February 12th- "Love a Loved Book" Event at MES (details coming soon!)
February 13th- 16th- Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser for the American Heart Association
will take place during regularly scheduled Physical Education Classes
February 19th- 23rd- February Vacation
March 5th & 7th- Parent- Teacher Conference Days
March 20th- 1 ½ Hour Early Release Day. Dismissal at 1:55 pm
March 29th- Good Friday- no school
April 15th- 19th- April Vacation