Weekly MESsages: October 13, 2023
Weekly MESsages
Marguerite E. Small Elementary School
Carol Mahedy, Principal
Shannon Carlson, Assistant Principal
508-778-7975 440 Higgins Crowell Rd., W. Yarmouth, MA 02673
https:www.dy-regional.k12.ma.us/marguerite-e-small-elementary-school
October 13, 2023
Dear MES Families,
There is so much to look forward to next week! Our Scholastic Book Fair and parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for the week of the 16th!
The Scholastic Book Fair will run from Monday, the 16th, until Friday, the 20th! This is the perfect time to find a new treasure to add to your book collection, share a favorite title that you love, and/ or do some shopping for an upcoming event! What a perfect way to support our school while encouraging the love of reading! More information is highlighted below! See you there!
MES is looking forward to parent-teacher conferences that can be scheduled during our half days on Tuesday, October 17th and Thursday, October 19th. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers and learn more about your child’s school experience!
Warm regards,
Ms. Mahedy and Mrs. Carlson
Upcoming Important Events
(Upcoming events will be updated throughout the school year.)
October 16th- 20th- Scholastic Book Fair (more information below)
October 16th- Grade 1 growth and development screenings
October 18th- Vision Screenings
October 17th & 19th EARLY RELEASE – Parent/Teacher Conferences. Dismissal at 12:10pm. NO LUNCH WILL BE SERVED.
October 25th 1 ½ Hour Early Release Day. Dismissal At 1:55pm.
October 26th Coffee Connection for our EL Families (more information below)
November 10th NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day holiday.
November 14th- MES PTO meeting at 5:30pm (Calendar Raffle begins! More information to follow)
November 22rd-24th NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break.
November 29th 1 ½ Hour Early Release Day. Dismissal at 1:55pm.
Scholastic Book Fair!
The PTO is excited for the book fair next week! The Book Fair will be open during conferences and late in the day on Wednesday for after school shopping! Families may volunteer. If you are interested, please contact the office to fill out a CORI form and reach out to Mrs. Peace at mesmallpto@gmail.com for scheduling. Come and find a new treasure to add to your book collection! Happy reading!
Make sure to follow our Parent Teacher Organization on Facebook: “M.E. Small PTO”
October 17th & October 19th- Half Days for Parent- Teacher Conferences
For our half days scheduled for conferences on October 17th and 19th, our "day" of the week for both days will "split" the Day 4 schedule. This will allow all students to visit their related art classes throughout the week and not miss anything. The week will follow this pattern within our 4 Day Related Arts Rotation Cycle:
- 10/16- Day 3
- 10/17- Day 4 AM schedule
- 10/18- Day 1
- 10/19- Day 4 PM schedule
- 10/ 20 Day 2
- 10/23- Day 3 and so on... the schedule will continue on our regular 4 Day Rotation cycle.
Please keep in mind that our school has four related arts classes that your child attends. Art, Music, Library, and Physical Education are often referred to as “specials.” These classes rotate throughout the school year on a 4 Day Rotation Cycle that is specific to your child’s classroom. This schedule is for our kindergarten through grade 3 classrooms. It is important to note that the “days” of the 4 Day Rotation Cycle are not attached to the day of the week. You should also keep in mind that we never miss a “day.” If school is canceled due to inclement weather, the next school day will be the following “day” of the 4 Day Rotation Cycle. Our Early Education classrooms have a related arts schedule, too! Early Education classrooms visit related arts classes Tuesdays through Fridays on a daily schedule. On half days, we do not have PM preschool classes, lunch, or recess.
On half days, dismissal will begin at 12:00 when parent pick-up will be dismissed from the upper and lower lots. Buses will be dismissed at 12:10.
Vision Screenings: October 18th
Hello Parents and Guardians,
Vision screening will start on October 18th for our pre-k through grade 3 students. If you would like to opt your child out please notify us in writing no later than the 17th. You can email the nurse, Danielle DeSimone, at desimond@dy-regional.k12.ma.us to opt out.
For 1st grade parents/guardians just a reminder that the growth and development screening will begin on Monday Oct 16th.
Thank you.
Thanksgiving Meals for MES Families
The holiday season will be here before you know it! We will be helping our MES families who are in need of support around the holidays. For Thanksgiving, the school helps provide 40 families with the food and ingredients needed to be able to enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal. The sign up is first come first serve until we reach 40 families. Please call or email the school social worker with your student’s name and how many are in your family so you can be put on the list for Thanksgiving food.
We will need this information by Thursday November 9, 2023. First come, first serve, so please reach out as soon as you can so you are on the list!
School Social Worker
Emily Bassett
bassette@dy-regional.k12.ma.us
508-778-7975 ext 6316
Coffee Connection For our English Language Learners’ Families: October 26th
Mark Your Calendars! On Thursday, October 26th we will be hosting the first ESL Coffee Connection of this school year. Our meeting will take place in room 201 at MES from 8:30-9:00 am.
This is a great opportunity to meet other families of ELLs and your child’s English teachers. We will have Portuguese, Spanish, and Haitian translators available. Children are welcome. Coffee, water and treats will be served!
Coffee Connection Agenda
- 8:30 Introductions: You will meet the 4 ESL teachers here at MES along with our Principal, Carol Mahedy and Assistant Principal, Shannon Carlson. We will be there to answer any questions that you may have about our ESL program and about our school.
- 8:40 Social Worker: She will share some resources that are available to you and your family and answer any questions you may have about the work that she does here at MES.
- 8:50 Nurse: Our nurse will talk about when you should keep your child home from school and when we send students home from school. She will also be there to answer any questions that you may have relating to student health and share resources that may be available to your family.
Lost and Found
Our MES Lost and Found is exploding with valuable items that we would like to return to their rightful owners. These items will be available next week during parent-teacher conferences for our families to look through. We have many jackets, sweatshirts, vests, and other items that have been lost and need to be found! Please ask your child to visit our lost and found during the day if they have misplaced something. You can also visit us at the main lobby throughout the week or when you visit the school for your conference time to claim a missing item. We are asking that you place your child’s name inside of their clothing or on their personal items. Thank you very much!
Book Vending Machine
Our school community is fortunate to share a book vending machine. The book vending machine provides the opportunity for students to receive a book to keep each school year! Classrooms are invited to use this school treasure to celebrate birthdays, special occasions, summer reading, and more! This opportunity will continue throughout the school year and we will provide the choice of summer birthdays towards the end of the school year. Happy reading!
MES Job Opportunities!
We have openings for substitutes, classroom and student assistants, as well as recess and duty aides. Whether you are interested in joining us for a few hours or a full day, reach out if you are interested.
Check out the opportunities online DY employment opportunities or contact Assistant Principal Shannon Carlson at 508-778-7975 or carlsons@dy-regional.k12.ma.us
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students for the school year!
Food Bags
Our school collaborates with Cape Cod Bright Lights and Cape Kids Meals to offer students take home food bags for the weekends. Emily Bassett, our social worker, and Sheila Hayles, our medical assistant, can be contacted by email: bassette@dy-regional.k12.ma.us and hayless@dy-regional.k12.ma.us to get any family started right away.
Community Connections
Check out Community Connections in our “Virtual Backpack” on our website:
https:www.dy-regional.k12.ma.us/marguerite-e-small-elementary-school