Dear YES Families,
We are now beginning the month of February and officially past the halfway point of the school year. This time of year brings opportunities to check in on student progress, along with the anticipation of several meaningful learning experiences that will be occurring over the next few weeks.
CONFERENCES, REPORT CARDS, & NWEA
Parent conferencing occurs just after the midway point of our school year. Classroom teachers are in the process of scheduling these meetings and holding conferences. They will be sharing with you how students are progressing and growing in regard to the YES learning standards that have been taught.
Also, as part of the report card the Unified Arts team has provided information on the learning experiences that students have had in each grade level for the first semester.
Just a reminder that the conferencing window for teachers runs from now through March. Your child's teacher will communicate with you directly about when they will hold these meetings and when you can access your child’s report card. As shared previously, you will have access to the report card through PowerSchool.
It is important to remember that our progress reports are reporting out on end of year grade level common core standards. It is not uncommon that many students are at a "beginning" or "developing" level in their progress toward these standards at this point in the school year. In many cases, we would not expect students to be at a "meets the standard" until the end of the school year. The report card is always an "invitation to a conversation" as the conference will share the work going on for your child in the classroom.
We are finishing testing this week and next for all grades taking the NWEA winter assessment. Once those are completed we will be mailing home those results to you.
Once again, your collaboration and support are greatly appreciated!
REMINDER: USE OF PERSONAL DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
The following information is from our school handbook: “The school discourages students from bringing expensive items to school, i.e., cell phones, video games, etc. Smart watches should only be used as watches during the school day. We ask that you and your child do not call, text, or email each other during the school day. The school cannot assume responsibility for damage or the loss of such items. Students who do bring expensive items to school, do so at their own risk.”
If your child is going to bring a personal communication device to school it cannot be used during the academic day. Cell phones should be tucked away in pockets or a bag until school ends. If there is an urgent matter that requires that you communicate with your child during the day please contact the main office. Students can access the phone in the main office if they need to communicate with parents. We appreciate your help and support by reinforcing these expectations with your child.
STEAM FAMILY NIGHT: MARCH 6, 2024
Mark your calendars, YES will be hosting its first family STEAM Night on Wednesday, March 6th from 5-7pm! Join us for an evening of engineering design challenges, science experiments, math activities, programming and robotics games, and team-building challenges. More information to follow as we get closer to the event.
PTO NEWS
REMINDER!
PTO Meeting at 4:00 pm, YES Library on February 15. Babysitters are provided!
PTO Fundraising Committee:
Would you like to help create exciting fundraising ideas and help implement them? The PTO has a fundraising committee! The role is to research different ways of fundraising that will create a solid amount of benefit for the effort that is fun and inclusive. The ideas that have been created so far are a KIDS FUN RUN, PLANT SALE, SEA BAGS.... to name just a few. It doesn't matter if you have 1 hour to volunteer or the whole day we have a role for you. Please go to https://linktr.ee/yarmouthpto to click on the link to register to be a volunteer and to let us know what you would be interested in. Please provide any unique skills you have or strong interests. We look forward to hearing from you!
THANK YOU TO ALL PLEDGERS, VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, BUSINESSES, ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS
You helped raise our highest-ever amount of $32,264.00!!! All this money will go toward field trips, author visits, field days, classroom enrichments, library, and Unified Arts extras, as well as supporting Rowe and HMS programs! You are amazing and the PTO thanks you for your enthusiasm and participation!
Thank you to all those who have made this a huge success!
Teachers, administrators, students, families, volunteers, and local businesses!
FREE UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOPS:
FEBRUARY 1ST AT YES: RSVP BELOW WITH LINK. YOU MAY ALSO JUST SHOW UP AND JOIN THE WORKSHOP.
https://docs.google.com/forms/...
FEBRUARY 28TH AT BRICKYARD HOLLOW- FOR MALE-IDENTIFYING CAREGIVERS
https://docs.google.com/forms/...
WORLD OF CHANGE 2024: “TIME TO COMPETE”
Last school year the YES community participated in a school-wide fundraiser by partnering with the Maine based “World of Change”. World of Change® is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization. They work with schools and children to collect change and target it for local organizations that support people in need.
In just 5 years, World of Change “change makers” have gathered millions of coins for more than 180 nonprofit programs worldwide. There are six chosen focus areas (education, housing, food, health, animals & nature, and play). The organization provides each student with a change pouch and some “seed change” so everyone has a chance to participate.
Last year, at the conclusion of the fundraiser our school community:
- Collected 38,184 coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollar coins, dollar coins). The total change exceeded 250 lbs in weight!
- Had a Grand Total Collected of $3040.47!!!
- This money had a significant impact on several local non- profit organizations who support the six impact areas.
This school year we are going to engage the school community in a fundraiser that will begin just before the upcoming break and run through the end of April. However, we have decided to make a change in the non-profit organization that we will be supporting this year.
In early January former YES student Gibson Harnett passed away at the age of 24 after a short but courageous battle with late-stage clear-cell sarcoma, a rare, incurable cancer. Gibson was a standout and exceptionally competitive athlete in Yarmouth. “Time to Compete” was his mantra as he heroically fought this disease.
In the final months of his life, Gibson and his family established a non-profit called Time to Compete to raise money and help build support teams for young adults who have been diagnosed with debilitating illnesses. At YES we are proud to donate all proceeds from our 2024 World of Change fundraiser to the Time to Compete Foundation.
There will be a World of Change kiosk in the lobby where change makers can deposit their donations each day during the fundraiser. Students will also have change jars in their classrooms to fill the kiosk. This is an opportunity to live our YES core values of caring and citizenship and in April we will celebrate the total amount raised for Time to Compete.
FEBRUARY DATES TO REMEMBER
National School Counseling Week Feb. 5-9, 2024
National School Counseling Week is celebrated annually to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Sponsored by the American School Counselors Association, this week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
We are fortunate to have three dedicated school counseling and social work professionals at YES. Thank you to Laura Murray, Chelsea Beckett, and Lindsey Lokken for all the work they do to support our students' social-emotional needs!
Tuesday, February 13: Grade 4 Band Sectionals Recital 6:00 pm
On February 13 there will be a sectional recital performed by our 4th grade band students. Students should be here by 5:45 pm. The recital will start at 6:00 pm in the gym and should finish by 6:30 pm. We are excited for their first performance of the year!
Wednesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
On February 14th we celebrate Valentine’s Day. As we shared with you earlier, we will take care of all card materials and activities here at school. Each grade level has planned activities to celebrate the day with a focus on friendship and appreciation for one another.
Friday, February 16: Sock Drive/Wacky Sock Day
On this day we will celebrate the YES core values of caring and citizenship at a community meeting led by our second-grade teachers. Students who wish to participate are asked to bring in one or more new pairs of socks. Socks will be collected that day. Everyone is also encouraged to wear wacky socks to school that day to show their school spirit. You can wear unique-looking socks, mismatched socks, socks pulled up over the outside of your pant legs, etc.
As we approach our 100th day of school, we'd like to see if we can collect 100 or more pairs of socks to donate to people in need. We are proud to share with you that all socks collected will be delivered to the Preble Street Shelter in Portland. Way to go YES!
February 19 to February 23: Winter Break- No School
Monday, February 26: School Resumes
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback you would like to share. We hope that your family has a nice winter break!
Best,
Ryan Gleason, YES Principal & Molly Kilpatrick, YES Assistant Principal