Dear YES Families,
We hope that everyone had a nice February vacation week. As we begin these last few months of the school year, we want to thank you for your participation in our recent parent-teacher conferences. Our hope is that this is an opportunity for you to celebrate your child's progress and learn more about their next steps in growing as learners. Please know that your partnership, feedback, and support are valued and greatly appreciated by our staff.
Speaking of feedback a parent recently shared with us that sometimes it can be difficult to get a lot of information from their child as to how their day went. We have certainly been there as parents! Asking "How was school today?" might not get you far. Instead, a suggestion might be to ask questions like these for a better picture of your child's day:
- "What's the coolest thing that happened today? What wasn't so cool?"
- "Pretend you are the teacher. How would you describe the day?"
- "What made you laugh?"
- "What was the most creative thing you did?"
- "How were you kind or helpful today? How was someone kind or helpful to you?"
- "Tell me what you learned today that you'd like to know more about."
If you find that you aren't getting many details from your child hopefully these conversation starters are a help. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Although school has not been in session this week, YES has been busy with construction continuing on. Some of the changes that students will see when they return from break include:
- Exterior and interior signage completed.
- Bleachers installed in the gymnasium.
- New windows in the student services wing by the library.
The music and band suite should be finished by the middle of March and the rest of the interior work (the renovated grade two and three wings) by April break. All substantial interior work will be largely completed by then. A reminder that we will not be moving any classrooms this year as that will take place over the summer.
During April break all of the modular classrooms will be removed from school grounds in preparation for the finished exterior site work over the early summer. At that time, the playground areas will be refurbished and final paving, painting, and signage will be completed.
MARCH DATES/EVENTS TO REMEMBER
MARCH 2: READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Read Across America Day, coming up this month, is an opportunity to take time to promote the love of reading. Here at YES, we will be celebrating this event during weekly “Team Time”. Each class will be engaged in some fun reading activities with their teachers. Thank you to our school librarian, Mrs. Moreno, and our unified arts team for leading this event.
You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, To pick up a book and read with a child. You're never too busy, too cool, or too hot, To pick up a book and share what you've got. In schools and communities, Let's gather around, Let's pick up a book, Let's pass it around. There are kids all around you, Kids who will need Someone to hug, Someone to read. Come on and join in Your own special way And make this America's Read to Kids Day!
by Anita Merina
Enjoy the day ... and of course, take time in your own lives to READ!
MARCH: YES SPIRIT MONTH 2022
Last year began our annual "YES Spirit Month". This year will once again feature fun spirit week dress-up days:
Friday, March 4 Yarmouth Spirit Day! Wear your favorite Yarmouth gear or the colors blue and white
Friday, March 11 Hat Day! Wear your favorite hat
Thursday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate by wearing the color green
Friday, March 18 Pajama Day! A YES favorite- wear your PJ’s to school
Friday, March 25 Favorite Day! Wear your favorite color, sports team, activity…anything that is one of your favorites!
Friday, April 1 Wacky Outfit Day! A day for mismatches, wacky clothes, and hats
We look forward to having some fun each week as we celebrate the arrival of spring!
THURSDAY, MARCH 10: GRADE FOUR BAND AND CHORUS CONCERT 6:00 PM
In-person Grade Four Band and Chorus concerts are back at YES! Mrs. Troy, Mr. Snow, and our young singers/musicians have been working hard to prepare for this event. They will communicate specifics to the performers and parents regarding arrival time and dress expectations for the evening. The concert will be held in the new gymnasium! More specific information and reminders will be communicated to you as we get closer to the concert date.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
We look forward to the time when our days start getting longer. Don't forget to set the clocks one hour ahead when you go to bed that night!
MONDAY, MARCH 28: YARMOUTH'S GOT TALENT AUDITIONS 4:00 PM
Yarmouth Music Boosters is excited to share that this year's Yarmouth's Got Talent will take place on Friday, April 1, and will highlight some of Yarmouth's remarkably talented students from grades K-12. Auditions will be hosted by Mrs. Troy on Monday, March 28. If you would like to try out, fill out a YGT entry form at YarmouthsGotTalent.org. Entry forms are due by Thursday, March 17. Yarmouth Music Boosters is planning for a live show this year so acts should be able to be performed on the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center stage. If Health and Safety conditions don't allow for in-person attendance, the show will be recorded and shared with the community via Vimeo. All acts must follow school COVID requirements: all performers must wear masks, maintain spacing to the greatest extent possible, and use instrument filters. For more details, visit YarmouthsGotTalent.org!
THIRD GRADE COGAT TESTING- LATE MARCH TBA
In late March, we will be administering the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to all third-grade students. It is a short assessment that we are adding to our universal screening process for gifted and talented instructional support programming. As you are aware, our Talents instructional support programming is consult-based at the elementary level. Beginning in grade four we have additional pull-out groups that represent 3-5% of the total grade level population. The CogAT is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. We will communicate the date of this assessment once it is finalized.
PTO NEWS
- Silver Graphics – Coming soon! Choose from dozens of different keepsakes featuring your child’s artwork. Online ordering will be available 3/30-4/13 with delivery direct to your home 2-3 weeks after your orders are placed. Order forms and instructions coming home soon!
- Hannaford Load- March 16 by noon
- March meeting: 24th 7 pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89456348096
- "Wave of Kindness Week"
March 21-25 is “Kindness Week”. While a goal of kindness is something that is an important part of life at YES each and every day, we will be celebrating a “Wave of Kindness Week” in March. The school community will be engaged in reflective thinking and activities to continue our focus on this important goal. Our K-8 PTO will be helping to support these efforts throughout our schools this month.
YCS LUNCH CRUNCH SUMMER EMPLOYEES NEEDED
Yarmouth Community Services is reaching out to the community to see if anyone knows of a potential candidate to be the kitchen supervisor for the "Lunch Crunch" program this summer. The job description is attached. Attachment. Volunteers are also welcome but the State of Maine requires a trained person in kitchen safety/sanitation in order for YCS to offer the program. A candidate could be trained. This program has served many families throughout the summers for several years now and we would hate to see it stop now. Please send any interested parties to Bob Priest at rpriest@yarmouth.me.us. Thanks for your help!
YARMOUTH YOUNG AUTHORS SUMMER CAMP
Lorrie King, a teacher at Yarmouth High School, will be offering a writing camp again this summer:
Dear Writers and Parents of Writers,
Have you ever thought, “There are so many camps advertised each summer, but I wish one of them was a writing camp.” Wish no more! Once again, there will be a writing camp in Yarmouth. The camp offers time to write with other young authors in a relaxed environment designed to spark creativity. Writers will have time to get their thoughts on paper, combine writing with art, be inspired and energized by the activities, and have time to interact with other kids who enjoy writing. Even if you have been to the camp before, we have already designed many new activities. Information about our Yarmouth camp is here:
Date/Time - June 27th - July 1st from 9am-2pm
Location - Yarmouth High School
Ages - Current 4th - 7th graders
Cost - $222 (requests for partial scholarships will be considered)
If you would like to join us again this year, please fill out this online form.. Also, here is a flier that you can print if you can't fill it out online, The flier also has more details about the camp. For more information, contact Lorrie King and/or Kelly Tukey, SMWP YAC Directors at yac.smwp@gmail.com .
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback you would like to share. Thanks for all that you do!
Respectfully,
Ryan Gleason, YES Principal & Molly Kilpatrick, YES Assistant Principal