"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it." -Ralph Marston
As we enter November and approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good time to focus on thankfulness and appreciation. In reflecting on these first two months of the school year there is a great deal for us to be thankful for!
I continue to be thankful that I am the principal at YES and have the opportunity to be part of the amazing work that helps our children grow every day. I am also extremely thankful for the people I get to work with. Our students, families and staff make YES a special place. Please know that all members of our school community have my appreciation for the role you play in supporting the success of every student.
Our November newsletter highlights many of the events that have taken place over the past month and the exciting things we have to look forward to in the month ahead.
BOOK FAIR
Our annual YES Book Fair was another wonderful week of excitement and a celebration of reading at our school. We are thankful to Mrs. Moreno for all the time that she put in to make this event so special for our students. We are also grateful to our many parent volunteers who came in to assist with this event throughout the week. Thank you all!
OCTOBER COMMUNITY MEETING
Our October Community Meeting took place on Friday. Thank you to the entire school for their work decorating the pumpkins that are now on display in the lobby. In what has become an October tradition at YES, the students in each classroom chose a character from a book and decorated their pumpkin to look like that character. If you have not had a chance to see them please stop by the lobby to check them out!
At our community meeting, students shared their classroom pumpkin project with every grade. Our third graders then modeled the "monster mash" dance and the entire school got to have some fun moving and grooving together. Steamer showed YES some pretty cool dance moves!
Once again, this meeting was planned and led by our third grade teaching team and we appreciate the work that they put in to make this such a successful and fun event. We would also like to give another huge thank you to our PTO who donated the pumpkins to us.
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parents, thank you for actively participating in your child’s education by attending the fall conferences this past month. Individual conferences will continue to take place over the next few weeks. Our teachers appreciate your support and look forward to working closely with you throughout this year.
YES SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
As you read in Dr. Dolloff's recent communication, the construction process begins next week at Rowe School. We are not far behind! At this time we are in the process of gathering bids and the plan is to break ground on YES construction in January. It is an exciting and busy time as we plan for this work to begin. There will be some changes in location and traffic flow for both parent drop off and bus lines here at school. As we finalize those plans we will be communicating them to you before we return from the holiday break in January. Stay tuned!
PTO NEWS- Hannaford Gift Card - Next load is 11/20, 12 pm. Forms are sent home with K-4 students or can be accessed here. To reload an existing card, just write the card’s last 6 digits on your check’s memo line; no need to send in the card or the form. Thank you!
- Make-It Take-It Craft Fair – This much-loved tradition is Sunday, November 17, 11am-2pm, YES gym. We’ll have several craft stations for children to create a holiday gift for someone or keep for themselves. Lunch and baked goods are available for purchase. This event is popular with K-4 students, but children younger and older are welcome! (Not a drop-off event.) **Are you a parent, grandparent or high schooler who could assist kiddos at the craft tables?** We would love your help! No need to be crafty – we prep the crafts and provide directions! Craft Help Signup (includes high school community service hours)
- Silver Graphics – To take advantage of the holidays we’re offering Silver Graphics earlier this year. You can choose from dozens of different keepsakes featuring your child’s artwork. The sale runs Nov 13-27 with delivery the third week of Dec. Orders can be placed online or on paper order forms. Ordering instructions and forms coming home to you soon!
- Digital Box Tops – Box Tops is going digital! Just download the free app below and scan your store receipt within two weeks of purchase. Traditional Box Tops will be honored until they expire. For the rest of 2019, you can earn double through traditional clipping and scanning your receipt.
- Google Play Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmills.btfe
- Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1150038564.
- PTO Meeting – Nov 21, Thursday at 7 pm in YES library. Please join us if you’re able!
- Questions/Comments? – Please contact Christy Hayashida & Jessica Raimy at yarmouthpto04096@gmail.com.
WINTER WEATHER GUIDELINES
With Thanksgiving coming soon, before we know it there will be snow on the ground. Please be sure to come into our foyer and check the lost and found as we have many lost but not yet found sweatshirts and jackets along with several other personal items. We will periodically donate any unclaimed items so please take an inventory of missing items with your child.
Additionally, this is a good time to review some of our winter weather playground and clothing guidelines as we may get some snow before our December newsletter.
We will NOT go outside if the temperature is 5 degrees or below. Wind chill plays into this, but fluctuates within seconds. The effect of a consistent wind chill may also cause us to stay inside even if the tempature is above 5 degrees.
Students who want to play in the snow and on snowbanks, must wear winter jackets, boots and snowpants. If the temperature is below 40 degrees it is too cold for shorts, tee shirts and no coats. If you are in need of winter weather clothing please reach out to Ms. Spellman in the counselors' office as we do have resources available for those in need to make sure that all students have the proper gear.
Thank you for your help with this to keep our children healthy and warm this winter!
SCHOOL NURSE NOTES
With cold weather here, lice become more common in the school setting. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend exclusion from the school setting for lice or nits, but they certainly are a nuisance. Anyone can get lice...mainly from direct head-to-head contact but also from sharing hats, brushes and other personal items. Lice are no reflection on hygiene, and nothing to be ashamed of but, are definitely a nuisance!
Please complete lice checks on children with itchy heads, or known exposure to lice, (spending time with friends, family, or classmates with a known case of lice) and let me, as the school nurse, know if your child has nits or lice. Together we can keep the cases to a minimum at YES.
For more information on how to do a head check and tips for lice prevention visit the YES school nurse blog at: https://yarmouthelementaryschoolnurse.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Alison Thomson RN., BSN
Yarmouth Elementary School Nurse
Phone (207)846-3391
alison_thomson@yarmouthschools.org
SCHOOL COUNSELOR CORNER: BULLYING PREVENTION
October is bullying prevention month across the country. In SEL we have been focusing on all aspects of bullying prevention. Students have learned what an upstander is and have been encouraged to be an upstander. In addition to bullying prevention lessons we have also been focusing on kindness. We have talked about being kind kids and what that looks like and sounds like. Model acts of kindness in your home and encourage your kids to share what they did that was kind. Research finds that when one is kind you are physically and emotionally healthier. One of my students showed me a poster that another student made that said. Be Kind. It Is Good For You. This is such a great message and one that the kids light up about when sharing examples of kindness.
Laura Spellman
School Counselor
Yarmouth Elementary School
DECEMBER 12 YES GRADE 4 WINTER CONCERT NOW AT 6:00 PM
Please note that the start time of our December 12 concert has been changed and it will now begin at 6:00 p.m. in our cafeteria.
YCAN PROJECT HOLIDAY
Project Holiday is a program coordinated by Yarmouth Cares about Neighbors (YCAN). The goal of this program is to enhance the holiday spirit of giving in the Yarmouth community by connecting anonymous donors with Yarmouth families who confidentially request assistance. Food baskets are also available. For more information please see the following form.
MERRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY NEWS
- Voting Event - For the month of November, come to the library and vote in our voting booth for the Mayor of Merrill: Fancy Nancy or Pete the Cat.
- Cozy Crafting, Wednesdays, November 6, 13, 20, December 4, & 11, 3:45-4:30. Grades K-2. Registration required. Call 846-4763 or email mrandall@yarmouthlibrary.orgto sign up.
- Let's Learn Sign Language, Saturday, November 16, 10:30 AM. Ages 4-7. No registration required.
- Board Game Saturdays: November 23 and 30. Have family in town that you need to entertain? Get away from? Come to the library on Saturday November 23 or November 30, or both, to play new board games from Island Treasure Toys. No pre-registration required. All ages, 10AM-3PM.
- Book Arts Workshops, Mondays, December 2, 9, 16, & 23, 3:45-4:45. A series of workshops where participants will use old books and magazines to create art objects. Sign up via this Google Form, at the circulation desk, by emailing Jill at joconnor@yarmouthlibrary.org, or by calling 846-6743.
- Reminder that we also have our MML Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/merrillmemorialkids/ Like us to get our posts and event notifications. Or sign up for our newsletter at yarmouthlibrary.org: scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4: PICTURE RETAKE DAY
If you wish to have a retake, please send the package of photos with your child on retake day and notify your child's teacher. Our retakes will take place first thing in the morning. Class composites will be sent home after the retakes are done. If you have questions, please call Geskus at 1-800-948-1120 ext. 1 or check their website atwww.weargeskus.com.
TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 5: MAINE PARENT FEDERATION VIEWING OF "INTELLIGENT LIVES" YPAC 6:30 P.M.
On Tuesday, November 5, Maine Parent Federation will be providing a free viewing of "Intelligent Lives," a film by Dan Habib which sparks dialogue about what it means to be intelligent by challenging our assumptions around students with disabilities. The film will be shown in the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center at Yarmouth High School and will run from 6:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. For more information: https://drive.google.com/file/...
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7: HMS LITERACY GALA
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Announcing our SECOND Annual HMS Literary Gala! This will be a BIG, one-evening literary event which will include a book fair (powered by Royal River Books), a literary-themed Silent Auction, a Honeydukes stand (from Harry Potter), live portraits by Charlotte Agell, and more! So SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, Nov. 7th, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the HMS Library and the HMS Cafeteria! See the poster (below) for more details. You may also wish to check out this web page on the HMS Library Web Site: https://www.hmslibrary.org/hms-reads-literary-galaThis event is being held to CELEBRATE and SUPPORT reading at Harrison Middle School!
Please contact me if you have questions or wish to donate an item to the Silent Auction.
Best regards,
Merry Stuhr, HMS Librarian
merry_stuhr@yarmouthschools.org
207-846-2499
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11: NO SCHOOL- VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank our community Veterans for your dedicated service to the United States Armed Forces. We will forever be grateful for your bravery and sacrifices to protect our country’s freedom.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21: PTO MEETING 7 P.M. YES LIBRARY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17: PTO "MAKE IT TAKE IT CRAFT FAIR"- 11:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. YES GYM
NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29: THANKSGIVING BREAK
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On behalf of of everyone at Yarmouth Elementary School I wish all of our families a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful start to the Holiday Season!
Best,
Ryan Gleason, YES Principal
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