Weekly MESsages: September 29, 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  ...  

September 29, 2023

 

Arrival and Dismissal Routines at MES! 

Dear MES Families, 

We wanted to thank you for all of your support and patience while we settled into our morning, midday, and afternoon arrival and dismissal routines! During our first early release day those routines and schedules are adjusted and it can be tricky at times. Thank you for keeping the safety of our students and staff in mind during these busy times of the school day. We are “rocking” these routines! 

Please continue to contact the main office directly if you have any dismissal changes for your child. Please call 508-778-7975 and let Mr. Sandone know that there is a change in plans. If you call the school and speak a language other than English, simply ask whomever answers the phone for “the language line.” We will then connect an interpreter to our conversation. We value our partnership and appreciate your support! 

 

Warm regards, 

Ms. Mahedy and Mrs. Carlson 

 

Upcoming Important Events

(Upcoming events will be updated throughout the school year.) 

October 5th- Picture Day at MES 

October 6th NO SCHOOL. – All Cape Teacher Professional Day.

October 9th  NO SCHOOL – Columbus Day holiday.

October 10th- MES PTO meeting at 5:30pm 

October 16th- 20th- Scholastic Book Fair (More details to follow) 

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.

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.

 

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) 

MES has launched our first school-wide initiative on Monday, September 25th focused on what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to be Caring. Being caring is one of our school-wide expectations. MES is respectful, responsible, ready, caring, and safe! 

A student may receive a bead and a paper leaf to be hung on our tree outside of the gym! We will watch the tree become full through the rest of September and October. To celebrate how students are following school-wide expectations, our first All School Meeting will be shared at the end of October. There will be more information to follow. 

Here are just some examples of how students at MES can show that they are respectful, responsible, ready, caring, and safe at school:

In the classroom students are: 

  • Listening and Looking
  • Participating
  • Keeping materials in their own space
  • Respecting other’s ideas
  • Sharing ideas 
  • Having a quiet and calm body
  • Focusing on their learning 

At recess students are: 

  • Entering and exiting recess quietly in line 
  • Listening to others 
  • Remembering their belongings 
  • Cleaning up recess equipment 
  • Stopping, looking, and listening when the whistle signal is given
  • Lining up with hands to themselves  
  • Using kind words and actions 
  • Including and helping others 
  • Keeping your hands to yourself  
  • Following the rules of the playground, basketball court, and the field

At lunch students are: 

  • Raising a quiet hand 
  • Entering and exiting lunch quietly 
  • Staying seated when they are eating 
  • Being in charge of your own food
  • Getting their milk and tray
  • Getting everything they need for your lunch (milk, napkins, straw, etc.) 
  • Using kind words 
  • Helping others 
  • Keeping their hands to themselves 
  • Walking in the cafeteria

 

Picture Day is October 5th at MES 

O’Connor Studio will be visiting our school to take fall pictures. If you have questions regarding your order, you can visit www.oconnorstudio.com, email the company at costumerservice@oconnorstudio.com or call 978-640-6250. Paper order forms have been sent home via backpack mail. 

 

Thank you to Copeland Subaru of Hyannis

Marguerite E. Small would like to thank Copeland Subaru of Hyannis for the generous donation of $3,000 that will be used for the school year! This donation will fund academic resources needed for our students. Building on our collaborative, team-based approach, our school is determining the specific resources by grade level teams. The early education & Star teams, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, and related arts have decided to select materials and resources that support our students’ social-emotional, academic, and physical needs and interests in the classroom. This is a welcomed and much appreciated donation and we would like to thank the nonprofit organization of AdoptAClasroom.org for selecting our school and making this possible! Thank you! 

 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND TOYS at School

We are asking that you make sure your child leaves at home their trading cards (such as Pokemon cards), toys, and electronic devices. If these items do join us in school, all toys and electronic devices must remain in backpacks, powered off during school hours. 

 

Lost and Found

Our MES Lost and Found is exploding with valuable items that we would like to return to their rightful owners. We are starting to accumulate jackets, sweatshirts, vests, and other items that have been lost and need to be found! Please ask your child to visit it if they have misplaced something or visit us at the main lobby 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! 

 

Parent Volunteers for the Scholastic Book Fair Needed! 

Come join us as a parent volunteer during our Scholastic Book Fair October 16th through the 20th! What a great way to get involved while checking out some new books! Contact Mrs. Peace at mesmallpto@gmail.com.

 

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

 

MES Early Education Morning Pick-Up

Students for the AM preschool class are picked up at 11:50 AM in the Upper Lot Tuesdays through Fridays. 

  • Families must enter the upper lot and stay to the right, travel in one line that will travel around the upper lot circle and stop at the fence. Vehicles may NOT cut the line or enter from the lower lot.  
  • Please come to a complete stop and turn off your vehicle. 
  • The smaller buses will be parked just to the right of the inner grassy area in the center of the upper lot. If the bus lights and stop signs are flashing, do not pass the bus. 
  • Students will be escorted out of the building by an adult and brought to the vehicles and buses. 
  • An adult will be directing traffic to signal when the line of vehicles can move forward. 
  • Please remain in line and wait for the vehicle in front of yours to move forward in order to exit the upper lot. 

Everyone’s safety is very important. We thank you for your support and cooperation! 

 

Calmer Choice 

Learn About Calmer Choice at DY:

Join us for an hour long session sharing how Calmer Choice and DY Regional School District are partnering to bring mindfulness into the school community at the three elementary schools for the school year. Learn about strategies your children are learning and basic components of mindfulness.

About Us:

We are a local nonprofit serving children and those who support them on Cape Cod and surrounding regions by providing evidence-based mindfulness education, training and mentorship to build resilience, foster compassion, and nurture wellbeing for all people and communities.

Calmer Choice Parent Information Session

October 4, 2023

7pm

Join this virtual session to find out more about the Calmer Choice program and how you can support it at home.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82421959405

 

Meeting ID: 824 2195 9405

 

 

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