Something To Yelle About

🍀WE ARE SO LUCKY🍀

HERE IN #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

What a sensational week we had in #HAYNation! The weather might be breaking -- in a good way; we are definitely heading for Spring! And we definitely like it.

As I try to do each week, I use the big picture above to tell the story of the week in pictures for us here at the Yelle.

This week the Big Picture highlights a couple more trips to "The Dew" for a few more classes. A class that earned the stuffed JiJi for the month as they are crushing ST Math puzzles. A student super proud of his writing out his thinking, as we like to call it, a WOOT moment, where we Write Out Our Thinking on our whiteboard. Another student utilzing notes to help make her writing stronger. Another couple students utilizing an activity to help their understanding of scientific terms. And yet another couple of students having fun as they program a LEGO vehicle with coding. And finally, a group of smiling young men holding this week's #PositiveSignThursday with the message of how We Are LUCKY!, and what I mean by that is how the We are all of us who get to watch and amaze at the incredible growth of these students each and every day.

These and the other pictures below in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of the fantastic accomplishments our students and teachers achieved this week. Please check them out below and all over our Instagram feed to help to tell the tremendous story we are writing this year.

Please check out the rest of the Newsletter for some important information including ...

Half Day This Wednesday

Sign-Ups for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Slides from the NMS Roof Project Virtual Community Forum

Upcoming ELA MCAS Dates

NPS STEAM Showcase Event March 19

Upcoming Lockdown Drill

Important Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

HAY PTO Spring Scholastic Book Fair Coming Soon

Community Events

Open To All Providence B's Star Wars Night

And much, much more ...

Please check it out.

Thanks; have a wonderful weekend; stay safe and well,

Marty

Martin R. Geoghegan

Principal

Henri A. Yelle Elementary School

Tuesday, March 17 – Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences Sign-Ups Go Live (see below)

Wednesday, March 18 – Districtwide PD Day ½ Day – 11:40 AM Dismissal

Thursday, March 19 – NPS STEAM Showcase (flier below)

Monday, March 23 – Term 2 Report Cards Come Home

Wednesday, March 25 – Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences – 5 to 7:45 PM

Thursday, March 26 – Elementary Parent-Teacher Conference ½ Day – 11:40 AM Dismissal

Thursday, March 26 – Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences – 12 Noon to 6 PM

Thursday, March 26 – HAY PTO Meeting – 6 PM in the Library

Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1 – 5th Grade ELA MCAS

Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3 – 4th Grade ELA MCAS

Wednesday, April 8 – Districtwide PD Day ½ Day – 11:40 AM Dismissal

Thursday, April 16 – Yelle Spring Picture Day

The Norton Elementary Schools Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, March 25th, from 5 to 7:45PM, and again on Thursday, March 26th from 12Noon to 6PM.

*Note that Thursday, March 26th is an Early Release Day with an 11:40AM dismissal for all Yelle students to accommodate for conferences.

Conference sign-ups will go out directly from your child's teachers on Tuesday, March 17th.

The purpose of the conferences is to provide an opportunity for our teachers to share current information about your child’s student growth, and to provide guardians with a chance to ask questions.

Conference times are less than ten minutes long. Conferences are typically just for adults but kids may wait in the hallway with parents/guardians.

Our HAY PTO will also have our Spring Scholastic Book Fair open in the Library for you to check out and purchase books. 5th Grade students will be going to the Book Fair, on Tuesday, March 24, during the school day. 4th Grade students will be going on Wednesday, March 25, during the school day.

We look forward to seeing you at the Conferences. Please be on the lookout for more information here in next week's Newsletter and on ParentSquare.

Just A Reminder:

This coming Wednesday, March 18th, is a Half-Day with an

11:40AM Early Dismissal for all Yelle students

for a districtwide PD Day.

Please Mark Your Calendars!

The Norton Community STEAM Showcase!

--------------------------------------------------------------

The event will be held on March 19, 2026, hosted by the Norton STEAM Advisory Committee. Our goal is to develop partnerships that will benefit both you and our students.

This networking and showcase event will include:

• Students & teachers showcasing STEAM activities from classes and clubs

• Local businesses and organizations showcasing their careers with activities

• HS and MS students exhibiting work from classes and extracurricular activities

• Students, families, and other community members attending

Date: Thursday March 19, 2026

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Location: Norton High School

Yelle Spring 2026 MCAS Schedule

Our 2026 ELA MCAS administration starts on Tuesday, March 31, and then

Wednesday, April 1, for our 5th Grade students, and then

Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3rd for our 4th Grade students.

You may not believe this but our students like our MCAS Days.

How might you ask?

Well, our students start their day with a morning Recess, then a Snack, then a couple of hours

set up for testing, then an Afternoon Recess and Lunch, with their Special happening in the

afternoon.

It's a day we just ask for our students to take their time and give their best effort.

That's all we ask.

Other than the testing, the day is very nice for them.

Please just wish your kids to do their best on those days.

That is all we ask.

Any questions, please let me know.

Grade 4

ELA Day 1 on Thursday 4/2

ELA Day 2 on Friday 4/3

Math Day 1 on Thursday 5/7

Math Day 2 on Friday 5/8

STE on Tuesday 5/12

Earlier this year, Dr. O'Neill shared an overview of the steps Norton Public Schools has taken to strengthen our safety procedures. This work has included updating Emergency Response Procedures posted in each learning space, partnering with Wheaton College to identify a reunification location in the unlikely event we would ever need to evacuate a school, and continuing our close collaboration with the Norton Police and Fire Departments and our School Resource Officers.

As part of these ongoing efforts, each school will participate in a lockdown drill between now and April vacation. Just like a fire drill, this practice is an important way to ensure that students and staff know what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. These drills will be conducted in partnership with the Norton Police Department and will always be done in a developmentally appropriate way for students.

We understand that families, especially those with younger students, may have questions about these types of drills. Staff take time to explain the purpose of the practice beforehand so students understand that it is simply a way for us to learn how to stay safe. For our youngest learners, the focus is on listening to the teacher, staying calm, and practicing routines that help everyone stay safe, without sharing unnecessary details that could cause worry.

You may also remember that earlier this year we shared the consistent safety language used across our schools so that students and staff clearly understand what to do depending on the situation. These include:

• Stay in Place – “In Your Room or Area”

• Secure – “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors”

• Lockdown – “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

• Evacuate – Move to a designated location

• Shelter – Used for weather or environmental situations

Practicing these routines helps build confidence, ensures clear communication, and allows our schools to respond calmly and effectively if an emergency situation ever occurred. Each school principal will communicate to families separately about their school’s lockdown drill. We appreciate the partnership of our families as we continue this important work to keep our schools safe, supportive places for students to learn and grow.

With that, we at the Yelle, will have Sgt. Dennett go into each and every classroom to review what a "lockdown drill" is for; what it entails; and what and how students should do during the drill. Sgt. Dennett has put together a video we are showing in each class on top of this discussion to help answer any student questions or concerns.

If parents or guardians have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Geoghegan.

Please see the slides and recording linked below from Thursday, March 12, night's community forum on the Norton Middle School Roof project.

Since opening in 1998, the Norton Middle School roof has experienced ongoing leaks and deterioration. While repairs have been made over the years, the roof has now reached the end of its useful life and continued patching is no longer a sustainable solution. Addressing this issue is important to protecting the building and ensuring a safe, dry learning environment for our students and staff.

The good news is that Norton has the opportunity to partner with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which would reimburse 55.63% of the project cost—a significant level of state support to help address this long-standing facility need.

Recently, the Norton Select Board voted to place this project on the April 11 election ballot. Moving forward will require two community approvals: one at the ballot box on April 11 and another at Spring Town Meeting on May 18 to approve a debt exclusion.

Dr. Jennifer O'Neill | Superintendent of Schools
Norton Public Schools | 64 West Main Street | Norton, MA 02766

Office: (508) 285-0100 | Fax: (508) 285-0199 | norton.k12.ma.us

Hello Yelle Families:

The HAY Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hopes all families are enjoying the school year. We are always trying to make this another senational experience for our students!

The PTO sponsors monthly meetings, which are usually held the third Thursday of each month from 6-7PM in the HAY Library. The meetings could be changed if there is a calendar conflict with a school vacation or holiday and are usually moved to the Wednesday before or after. You can view on the HAY Calendar on the NPS website.

We look forward to seeing returning parents along with new faces from our fourth grade families!

Come join the meetings to hear what’s happening in your child’s school, how you can help out by volunteering, or ways for you to share an idea!

Contact us at:

hayellepto@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/HAYPTO/

The HAY PTO Scholastic Book Fair Is March 24-26!

Fliers will be coming home next week.

The HAY PTO Book Fair will be during Parent-Teacher Conferences Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26.

In-School Visits will happen on

Tuesday, March 24 for 5th Grade

Wednesday, March 25 for 4th Grade

Link for E-Wallet setup will be coming home next week as well.

Please see more great Pictures and what is happening in #HAYNation like these by going to Instagram at @HAYSchoolNorton -- Make sure you Follow Us and Tag Us in any Posts you want us to see!

Tickets are officially on sale for Norton High School's annual musical: Freaky Friday! In this heartfelt and comedic musical, an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies and have just one day to put things right again.

Performances are March 6th at 7pm, March 7th at 7pm, and March 8th at 2pm. Purchase tickets at the link below or at the door (cash only).

https://gofan.co/app/school/MA22190

Principal Martin R. Geoghegan

Past Newsletters can be found Here.

Website: https://www.norton.k12.ma.us/henri-a-yelle-elementary-school
Location: 64 West Main Street, Norton, MA, USA
Phone: 508-285-0190
Instagram: @HAYSchoolNorton