Doyon News
Friday, October 2, 2026
Dear Doyon Families,
Another wonderful week at Paul F. Doyon Memorial School is in the books, and we have so much positive news to celebrate!
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for Curriculum Night. The information shared during the presentations is linked in this communication and can be viewed below. Having the opportunity to share our vision for learning and connect with families in person is always energizing for our faculty and staff.
Next week, students will participate in conversations about school safety with Detective Joe Perna. We are grateful for his ongoing care and support as we transition from ALICE protocols to the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Please see the bulletin below for additional information about the SRP and what this transition will look like for our school community.
We are also looking forward to a fantastic Spooky Walk tomorrow! A huge thank you to our parent volunteers and FRIES for coordinating all of the details that make this event so special for our students.
As always, thank you for your continued support, partnership, and commitment to our school community. We are grateful to navigate the school year alongside you and your families. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, ideas, or feedback.
Warmly,
Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen & Mrs. Benincasa
Dear Doyon Families,
We continue to maintain a safe and supportive school environment at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School. Each school year, staff receive training in our emergency procedures in collaboration with our School Resource Officer, Detective Joe Perna. Our procedures now incorporate the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, which provides shared language and clear actions for responding to a variety of situations.
Student safety presentations are conducted annually and are tailored to our students’ developmental ages. Detective Perna will visit classrooms next week to review these procedures with students. The student presentation for the Standard Response Protocol is linked at the bottom of this memo for your review and to support any conversations about school safety that may arise at home. This is produced by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. Some slides may be omitted during presentations depending upon the age of learners. A parent handout has also been linked for your review.
The Standard Response Protocol includes five actions:
Hold — In Your Room or Area. Clear the Halls.
Students and staff remain in their classrooms or designated areas while hallways are kept clear. Classroom activities may continue. A Hold may be used during a medical emergency so responders can move through the building and the person receiving care has privacy.Secure — Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.
Students and staff come inside, and exterior doors are locked because of a concern or hazard outside the school. Activities inside may continue as usual. For example, a Secure action may be used during police activity in the surrounding neighborhood.Lockdown — Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.
When there is a threat inside the school, classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, and students and staff remain quiet and out of sight. Students follow the directions of the adults supervising them.Evacuate — To the Announced Location.
Students and staff move to a designated location, inside or outside the building, under staff direction. An evacuation may be needed during a fire or another situation requiring people to leave an area.Shelter — State the Hazard and Safety Strategy.
Students and staff follow directions appropriate to a specific hazard, such as severe weather. The announcement identifies the hazard and the protective action to take, which may include moving to a designated shelter area.
Regular practice helps students and staff become familiar with these procedures. Students have already completed two fire drills, and in October we will conduct an emergency drill using student-friendly language and age-appropriate procedures. Our goal is to help students feel prepared, supported, and confident in following directions from trusted adults.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Mrs. Benincasa and I, alongside our school community, are here to offer help and support. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Doyon a safe and caring place to learn.
The International Walk, Bike, and Roll to School is next Wednesday, October 7. Students and families across Massachusetts will walk, bike, and roll to school to enjoy a safe, healthy, and active lifestyle.
Doyon Bikers can meet a member of our police force as well as a few Doyon staff members at 8:00 am at Ipswich
High School near the tennis courts and football field. Bikers must wear helmets. Please let me Mrs. Sforza know if you need a new helmet as we do have some extras from our Bike Safety presentation from Children's Hospital.
*Please check your child's bike thoroughly for safety (tires inflated, chain intact, seat the correct height) so they can enjoy a safe ride to school.
Anyone interested in walking can meet at the Mile Lane parking lot where staff members are also waiting to lead the way to school at 8:15 am.
Sometimes unexpected things happen, and knowing how to respond helps everyone feel safe and supported. At Doyon, we practice using our CARES values in all kinds of situations, including when we need to follow special directions during a school drill or an unexpected event.
- Cooperation: We work together and follow directions from trusted adults.
- Assertion: We speak up, ask questions, and let an adult know when we need help.
- Responsibility: We listen carefully and do our part to keep ourselves and others safe.
- Empathy: We notice how others may be feeling and offer kindness and support.
- Self-Control: We manage our thoughts, words, emotions, and actions so we can make safe choices.
Being prepared means we can practice what to do, listen to the adults around us, and use our CARES skills when we need them. When we use CARES, we help make Doyon a safe and caring place for everyone.
Current Classes:
Color by Numbers (Grades 1, 2, 3, 4)
Jr. Police Academy (Grades K, 1, 2)
Mindful Coloring (Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Fall Mountain Biking at Willowdale (Grades 3, 4, 5)
Doyon Detectives (Grades 3, 4, 5)
Fall DEEP Dates - Mondays 3:00-4:00, Wednesdays 8:00-8:30 am OR 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Mondays - 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9
Wednesdays - 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, (11/11 - NO DEEP), 11/18
Volunteer sign-ups will close on Sunday night, 10/4 at 9:00 pm!
Please reach out to DEEP Coordinators Kerrie Titus and Jena Woodworth with any questions.
Thank you!
Kerrie & Jena
Thank you for joining us for curriculum night! Please see below for access to presentations shared by faculty.
Preschool Meet the Specialists
Friends of Ipswich Elementary Schools, aka FRIES, is a parent group of volunteers who support our school community in a variety of ways. Donating their time, ideas and fundraising efforts, this group is inclusive of all families attending the Doyon and Winthrop Schools.
Please check out and join the Doyon FRIES Facebook page for up to date information: facebook.com/groups/doyonFRIES
Dear Doyon Families,
We are already seeing cases of the flu! If you have not had your flu vaccine as of yet, please see below to schedule.
We are so excited to partner with Conley's Drug Store and offer flu clinics to students, staff, and families. Remember you can sign up for any clinic which fits your families' schedule. This is for staff, students, and families/caregivers so it can be a great day for the whole family
The first flu clinic date will be Tuesday, October 13, 2026 from 2-4pm at the Ipswich Middle/High School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385444100147
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 4-6 pm, flu clinics will be offered at the Doyon School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385305209153
On Thursday, October 15, 2026 from 4-6pm, flu clinics will be offered at the Winthrop School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385923678169
In addition to the flu vaccine, other vaccines are offered including the Covid vaccine. Online registration is encouraged, but forms can be printed at conleysdrugstore.com.
Thank you again, Conley's, for helping to keep our schools and community healthy!
Mary Sforza, RN, MSN, NCSN
Doyon School Nurse(ph) 978-356-5506 ext 111
The library will be open to students on Friday mornings from 8:00-8:40! Students can come to the library before school to read, draw, play with Legos, code, or work on a STEAM project. If your child would like to attend, please sign up below. Space is limited to 12 students per week.
Reach out to Teresa Hohenstein at thohenstein@ipsk12.net with any questions.
October 2026
Saturday October 3: FRIES Spooky Walk
Sunday October 4: RAIN DATE; FRIES Spooky Walk
Tuesday, October 6: Grade 5 to Topsfield Fair
Wednesday October 7: Walk, Bike & Roll to School
Wednesday October 7: Pre K to Russell Orchards
Monday October 12: Indigenous People’s Day; NO School
Tuesday October 13: Teacher Professional Dev. Day; No School
Monday October 19: DEEP Week 1 Monday Classes
Monday October 19: FRIES Pasta Night at Doyon 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, October 21: DEEP Week 1 Wednesday Classes
Wednesday, October 21: FRIES Meeting via zoom
Wednesday October 21: Kindergarten to Firehouse Theater
Wednesday October 21: DEEP Week 1 Wednesday Classes
Wednesday October 21: School Council Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday October 21: FRIES meeting via Zoom
Monday October 26: DEEP Week 2 Monday Classes
Wednesday October 28: DEEP week 2 Wednesday Classes
Saturday October 31: HALLOWEEN!