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Dear YES Families,
Where has the time gone? Thank you for another amazing school year!
Reflecting on this year, it has been an exciting one for all of us. Together we learned much and shared experiences that will long remain with us in the years to come. The strength of our community and passion to make our school a wonderful place of learning not only for our children, but for all of us as well, continues to make YES a special place.
Special thanks to all of you who contributed in many ways: volunteering in the classrooms, chaperoning field trips, organizing events, attending events to support the children, serving on committees, sharing your talents, supporting our work in countless ways, and providing the resources to do what we know is best for children!
Thank you for getting your children to school on time each day, for sending your children with healthy lunches and snacks, for making sure homework gets completed… and turned in. Thank you for providing rich, engaging, and well-rounded experiences for your children and for knowing that education is about joy, wonder, and fostering curiosity, along with the development of the social skills so needed to succeed. For these, and a million other things, we are truly grateful!
This final newsletter of 2018-19 is filled with a lot of important information as we wind down this year while also planning for 2019-20.
NEW TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATOR
I am pleased to announce that Mr. Todd Abbott, current third grade teacher, has accepted our offer to become the new K-4 Technology Integrator at Rowe and YES. In a high-qualified and competitive field of candidates, he was the unanimous choice of the selection committee. We are excited to have Mr. Abbott transition to this new role!
We have already begun the search for his replacement on the third grade teaching team. We will be interviewing candidates this month and our goal is to have a new teacher hired by the end of this school year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RETIREES
In sharing changes at YES I would be remiss if I did not take one last moment to publicly acknowledge our three staff members who are retiring at the end of this school year. Betsy Clark, Cathy Wolinsky and Belinda Saucier have given years of dedicated service to the children and families of Yarmouth. They will be greatly missed, but we wish them nothing but the best as they move on to the next adventures in their lives!
END OF YEAR REMINDER IN THIS BUSY TIME
We recognize how busy everyone is at this time of year with places to go and schedules to keep. However, please remember that safety and security is always our top priority at YES. After school hours, no one should be entering classrooms without checking in with the main office. The cleaning staff is here working over the evening hours and they open up classrooms for this purpose. They are not authorized to give permission to go into rooms. Also, please make sure that we are also following the expected dismissal procedures at the end of the day. McCartney Street is extremely busy at this time and it is important that we follow these guidelines to keep everyone safe. We appreciate your help and cooperation.
YARMOUTH TOWN MEETING AT YPAC, JUNE 4, 7:00 P.M.
As Dr. Dolloff shared this week, please remember that the annual town meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at the YHS YPAC beginning at 7 p.m. Town meeting is where we begin the final process of approving our 2019-20 school budget.
VOTING DAY, AMVETS, JUNE 11
Don't forget to vote!
SPRING INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK, THURSDAY, JUNE 6
These fall events have been so popular, I am pleased to share with you that we will be hosting a Spring International Potluck Dinner on Thursday evening, June 6. This event will be held from 5:00- 7:30 p.m. in the YES Cafeteria. Bring your family for a night of food, conversation and fun!
PTO NEWS
Below you will find the final PTO news submission for 2018-19. I would like to take this opportunity to also thank this group for the incredible support that they provide to our school. Without their help, we would not be able to provide such enriching learning opportunities for our students. I hope that I see you all when I'm scooping ice cream on Wednesday this week! Thank you PTO!
- Paper-Based Directory or Online Directory? Please take this 20-second poll to tell us whether you think we should continue with our second year of the online school directory or go back to paper-based. https://forms.gle/X8zNaaakPqqgXuDh6
- Hannaford Gift Card Fundraiser – Due June 5, noon. The last load date of the school year! Stock up to get yourself through the summer while supporting our schools at the same time.
- Ice Cream Social – June 5, 6:00-7:30 pm at Rowe School. Ice cream! Book fair! Raffle baskets! It takes a crew of people to bring this beloved event to our children and community. If you can spare an hour, please sign up at https://signup.com/go/JVQZuFp. Community service hours apply to some of the positions listed. (Please bring cash! Tickets for ice cream will be CASH ONLY. Ice cream is $2 each.)
- YES Field Day – Friday, June 14 (rain date, June 17). This year, thanks to business sponsors, each child will receive a t-shirt to wear for Field Day. T-shirts coming soon thanks to Dirigo Pediatric Dentistry, P&P Screen Printing, Pat’s Pizza, Peachy’s Smoothie Café, and Royal River Books! Also new this year, all classes will be following either the Blue Loop or Red Loop. Both loops are identical and contain the same stations. When you sign up to volunteer, you'll want to see if your student's class is following the blue or red loop so you can select your assignment accordingly. If you have students in both loops, you can just swap places with one of the parents on the opposite colored loop when your child’s class comes through. Click here to sign up! https://signup.com/go/sSOZdSJ
- Blue Loop Classes: Davis, Moll, Spencer, Abbott, Wentworth, Ney, Bullard, Gordon, Rhoads.
- Red Loop Classes: Gautreau, Smith, Tate, Frame, Wetmore, Colfer, Frost, Parker, Winton
- June PTO Meeting – June 13, 4 pm, YES library. We will be presenting our proposed 2019/2020 budget. Please join us!
- Save the Date – We know the last thing you want to think about is next school year, but for the planners out there - save the date for our first ever Welcome Back Picnic! We invite families from YES, HMS, and Rowe Schools for a get-together in Royal River Park on Sunday, Sept 8, 12-2pm. Please bring a picnic lunch, blanket, and lawn games/toys to share. Rain date is Sunday, Sept 15, 12-2pm. OK, onward to summer!
- Thank You for an Incredible Year! – Without your volunteered time and financial support, we would not have been able to provide our school community with all that is listed in the link below. Our district is so strong, in part, because of how involved you are willing to be. We look forward to working with you next school year. Hope you have a wonderful summer! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AZTRYP74NcWljLysS7WbC0iwsqcmEbmrc0MK-btlUVc/edit
- Comments or Suggestions for Next Year? Please reach out to Jessica Raimy (our new co-lead for next school year!) and Christy Hayashida at christinehayashida@hotmail.com. We welcome ALL feedback.
YES STEP UP DAY: TUESDAY, JUNE 18
On Tuesday, June 18, we will have our "YES Step Up Day". From 9:10- 9:40 a.m. students entering grades 2, 3 and 4 in 2019-20 will spend time with their future teacher and classmates. On that day they will go home with information for families on their classroom placement for next year. Rowe students will be bused over for the visit. Current fourth graders will spend that time with the SHARE Team as their step up experience will be held prior to this day at Harrison Middle School on June 5.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: JUNE 19
Our last day of school is Wednesday, June 19. Classes will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m. Bagged lunches will be available for students.
MOVING FROM YARMOUTH?
Students who are moving out of Yarmouth will be provided with a fun activity during the step up time. If you know that you will be moving out of the Yarmouth School District and your child will not be attending YES during the 2019-2020 school year, please stop by the office or give us a call to share your plans so we can support their transition to a new school.
YARMOUTH EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWS: CLIPPER HONORS PROGRAM
The Yarmouth Education Foundation Clipper Honors program is back! It is a great end-of-year gift for Yarmouth School Department employees. Donate $25 or more in honor of a special educator, and your honoree will receive a YEF certificate of appreciation, a note from your family, and a beautiful succulent plant from Estabrook’s. Place your order online, and YEF will take care of the rest. The YEF website is www.yarmoutheducationfoundation.org and the order deadline is June 7. Don’t forget teachers, administrators, support staff, bus drivers, and more! YEF volunteers will deliver your gifts on June 12.
SUMMER READING MESSAGE FROM MRS. JOHNSTON
Dear Y.E.S. Families,
As summer approaches, we are reminded of the “summer slide” that some children experience over the summer in regards to their reading skills. It is natural that children read less over the summer than when they are in school five days a week, but hopefully they can find some time to read during vacation. Afterall, reading is a predictor of academic success.
At Yarmouth Elementary School, we encourage children to read for enjoyment over the summer. Hopefully they have found books of high interest throughout the school year, and they can carry this love of books into the summer months. A few tips for summer reading are:
- Find high interest texts, which may include fiction books, nonfiction books, articles for kids, graphic novels, etc. Series are a great way to get kids hooked on reading!
- Read aloud to your child and discuss the text
- Make special trips to the library and/or bookstore
- Give books as gifts
- Do Mad Libs together
- Watch the movie adaptation of a book after finishing it
- Find special places to read
- Try online options like raz-plus.com, headsprout, epic!, or other resources
- Check out Betsy Clark’s YES Library webpage for resources
- Participate in a summer reading program (such as through Merrill Memorial Library) or create your own summer book club (perhaps parents gather while the kids gather)
Also keep in mind that we encourage children to find “Just Right” books at Y.E.S. These are texts that are not too challenging and not way too easy to read independently. In school we often encourage children to find “Just Right” books so that they feel confident and competent while they read. To find a “Just Right” book, have your child first determine if it’s a text of interest (perhaps by reading the front and back covers and/or looking at the pictures. Then have your child read the first page aloud to you. If there are more than five words that s/he cannot pronounce or understand, then the book may be too challenging and can become frustrating. Sometimes a child may actually choose to read a more challenging book, but know that s/he will most likely need support with vocabulary, decoding, comprehension, etc. Sometimes a “too challenging at this time” book may be a good book for you to read aloud to your child even though they cannot yet read it independently. A child may also sometimes choose to read a book that’s a bit too easy, which actually is a good way to practice reading fluently (with good expression, phrasing and pace). Your child may enjoy reading a slightly easier book aloud to others!
Whatever summer reading looks like in your home, I hope that you enjoy quality time together, soak up the sunshine and have fun!
Thank you,
Sarah Johnston Literacy Lead Teacher Yarmouth Elementary School sarah_johnston@yarmouthschools.org
SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT MERRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
And speaking of summer reading, I would encourage everyone to participate in "A Universe of Stories!" the Summer Reading Program at Merrill Memorial Library. It runs from Friday, June 21 - Friday, August 9, 2019. The mission of this program is to get young readers excited about reading and stories and to engage older readers through a variety of materials and programs.
Every participant from birth - 12th grade who signs up receives a free book of their choice. Sign up can happen any time during the duration of the program. Participants completing a Bingo sheet of activities receive a Universe of Stories aluminum water bottle. Bottles can be picked up at the Wrap Party or anytime after August 9.
MML Summer Reading Events: Friday, June 21, 10:30-12: Kick Off Party! Galactic Slime Lab, All Ages (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult) Sensory Bottle Making for Babies/Young Readers Pizza Lunch Be the first to sign up for MML’s Summer Reading Program and get your free book!
Thursday, June 27, Got Science?: Mars Space Lab Edition! Make a water filter or a balloon-powered vehicle, 3:30-4:30
Tuesday, July 9, Mad Science, 3:30-4:30. Hands-on science
Tuesdays, July 16 & 23, Puppet Workshop, 3:30-5. Learn the ancient Chinese technique of shadow puppets with local artist Jennifer DeCristoforo
Thursday, July 25, Rocket Ship Story Time, 10:30-11:30. Come hear stories with Elsa then decorate rocket sugar cookies.
Wednesdays in July, Minecraft Drop-In, 3:30-4:30
Wednesday, July 31, Harry Potter Birthday Party, 11-3. Come in costume, play trivia, do a craft, eat cake, celebrate the Boy Who Lived!
Friday, August 9, 5:30-9PM, Summer Reading Wrap Party. Our Wrap-Up Party will be Star-Wars themed. Come in your best costume, play trivia, watch Star Wars IV: A New Hope, collect your water bottle.
For more information, visit www.yarmouthlibrary.org or contact Jill O’Connor, joconnor@yarmouthlibrary.org
OUR FOURTH GRADE LEADERS ARE MOVING ON...
Congratulations to our fourth grade students as they move down the street and begin their middle school careers. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to a grade as the move onward and upward. We are so proud of their hard work and leadership this year. I have shared with this group on more than one occasion that they have been an outstanding student leaders. We are confident that they are well prepared for middle school and we look forward to their visits and hearing about all their future success! Our school community will recognize them at our final student school-wide Community Meeting of the year on June 13.
It continues to be such an honor and a privilege to serve as the principal of Yarmouth Elementary School. We wish all students and families a safe and enjoyable summer, and we will see you back for "Meet and Greets" on August 29. Our first day of the 2019-20 school year will be September 4th. Grade 2 Open House will be on Thursday, Sept. 12, and Grades 3 & 4 Open House will be on Wednesday, Sept. 18. I will be in touch in the middle of August with news for you that will also include information on our new school construction next year. Between now and then hit the beach, the Clam Festival and all the other joys a Maine summer has to offer. Have a wonderful summer break!
Warmest regards.
Ryan Gleason, YES Principal