The Pulse of the Pride

Lyme School Friends,

We have had another great couple of weeks! It is amazing how quickly April went by.

Our students are active and engaged around school. Our lower schoolers did a fantastic job with their concert this past Wednesday. Our middle schoolers have been hard at work rehearsing for their production of Madagascar tonight and this weekend. They did a wonderful job performing for the school earlier today.

Aside from the usual happenings in the building, the School Board has also been quite active organizing their committees and discussing the approved asbestos abatement project for the summer of 2025. They have much going on and we include a School Board link to the Board page on our website in the newsletter further down.

There are also a number of exciting upcoming PTO events. Information on all of these can be found in the PTO section below including spirit week next week, bike to school day, and a student art show.

As we have rolled into May, we plan and prepare for end of year events and start thinking about what the 2024-2025 school year will bring. Classroom teachers have begun thinking about their students moving on to the next grade and preparations have begun for 8th grade graduation on June 13th at 4:30PM.

Thinking of 24-25, next year's school calendar has been approved and is linked and attached below.

The next newsletter will hit your inbox on May 17th! Have a great weekend!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Please follow this link for the 2024-2025 school calendar approved by the School Board.

Lyme School invites you to attend the Middle School production of Madagascar Jr.!

Show times are:

Friday 5/3 @6PM

Saturday 5/4 @1PM and 5PM

Runtime is about an hour. Admission is free, donations accepted.

It's going to be a wild time!

At our school, every Friday morning meeting is an opportunity to teach students how to be good audience members. An audience can be different depending on the event, and we try to expose our students to different expectations based on what is happening at our morning meetings. For example, being a quiet listener while someone is speaking looks different than our Faculty Trivia where there is student participation. Or, listening to a peer recite a poem looks different than singing along with a group inviting participation.

We know being a good audience member is very important, but it can also be hard for some students. We talk a lot about showing respect and being attentive to the performers or the presenter. Here are some ways you can help reinforce our messages about being a good audience:

1. Sit quietly and focus on the presenter or performance (whole body listening - Listening with my ears, Listening with my eyes - looking at the performer. Listening with my mouth - quiet mouth. Listening with my mind - thinking about what the performers are saying and doing. Listening with my heart - showing the performers that you care by being respectful.)

2. We stay seated and are not running around. We try to exit at appropriate times.

3. Our devices are off and put away.

4. We have an appropriate response. For example, we laugh when it’s funny and clap when appropriate.

5. We transition quickly and quietly from one thing to the next or stay quiet between scenes.

6. We don’t bring food or drink in the gym.

7. We remember the presenters, actors, etc. can see the audience and we don’t want to distract them.

Thank you for supporting our messaging and work around being a good audience.

Dates:

May 3rd - Drama Production of Madagascar - A Musical Adventure - 6PM

May 4th - Drama Production of Madagascar - A Musical Adventure - 1PM & 5PM

May 8th - National Bike/Walk to School Day (see PTO section)

May 16th - 5th Grade MS Transition Meeting - 6PM

May 17th - MS Dance Grades 5-8

May 18th - Student Art Show (see PTO section)

May 20th - 24th - 8th Grade to DC

May 30th - Hanover High School Step Up Day for 8th Graders

May 31st - 8th graders invited to HHS Dance

June 2nd - Student Art Show (see PTO section)

June 13th - MS Field Day

June 13th - 8th Grade Graduation @ 4:30PM

June 14th - K-5 Field Day

5th Grade Families,

Believe it or not, your students are almost middle schoolers!

Dr. D. would like to invite you to school on Thursday, May 16th at 6PM to go over the transition to middle school and what to expect in middle school. He will also give you a tour of the middle school classrooms and answer questions.

If you are having trouble, please reach out to Amanda Perry or John D'Entremont.

So far, you should have:

1. Gotten yourself logged in.
2. Received an emergency alert.
3. Double checked your contact information.
4. Completed ALMA Start Registration for this year.
5. Been given instructions to opt in to the Directory. [To opt in to the directory, you can click on the link for “my info” or get there through your profile icon in the top-right corner. You can toggle your visibility in the directory.]
6. Received preliminary information about the standards based report cards.
7. Received a first trimester report card via email on December 4th.
8. Received a second trimester report card via email on March 20th.

The Lyme School Apparel Store has a variety of apparel and accessories all customizable with a variety of school logos. The Lyme School PTO earns 12% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school and go Lions! #LYMESCHOOLROCKS

Kati Miller RN BSN: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

Matthew Greenway RN BSN: alternating Weds and coverage as needed

Celeste McCool RN BSN: alternating Weds and coverage as needed

As we welcome the warmer spring weather, it is important to remember that increased exposure to ticks and tick borne illnesses has begun.

Making tick checks a part of your child's nightly routine is a great way to help prevent tick borne illnesses including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Powassan virus disease.

The best way to prevent tick borne illnesses is by preventing tick bites:

Protect yourself by wearing protective clothing, use insect repellent and try to avoid wooded/brushy areas or tall grass if possible. Check your pets for ticks.

Check yourself for attached ticks every day. Make it a part of your nightly routine.

Remove attached ticks right away using tweezers. Pull in an upwards motion, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible. Clean the area with soap and water.

Watch for symptoms including fever, rash, headache, joint pain, fatigue or muscle aches for 30 days after a tick bite and contact Healthcare Provider.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (antibiotic given within 72 hours of tick removal) can help prevent Lyme disease if determined necessary by Healthcare Provider.

As of March, 1 2024 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance to provide "practical recommendations and information to help people lower risk from a range of common respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV."

We follow these guidelines. Please review the following links from the CDC for more information and reach out to me with any questions/concerns.

Thank you for your efforts in keeping our Lyme School students, staff, and families healthy.

Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick

Testing and Respiratory Viruses

Masks and Respiratory Viruses Prevention

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives. What is Mental Health? A very basic definition that I share with younger students is your ability to handle life’s ups and downs, (big or small), being a good friend to YOURSELF, and recognizing things that aren’t working well for us, and what we can do about it. This is something we should look after and check in on and get help with - it’s just as important as our physical health! Whether people are still struggling with maintaining their mental health or recovering from or managing a mental health disorder, we want to create a welcoming space where students and families can talk about mental health and access the resources they need for support. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are 1 in 5 adults in America living with a mental illness, and yet, a stigma still exists, causing people to feel like they may be the only ones. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity for people everywhere to come together and create change - helping to break the stigma.

Throughout the year in Stanton Time, we are having conversations about our feelings and emotions - being able to identify and express them in a healthy way to help us get what we need. We explore empathy and compassion not only towards others’ feelings and emotions but our own, too. All feelings are OK, and feelings CHANGE! Feelings are how we respond to what happens to us. Research shows that this early intervention and prevention method can support youth and their mental health. Our school will continue to be a healthy, happy place to learn and grow if we remind students, staff, and parents that they are ENOUGH, VALUED, and that they BELONG. We are so glad you and your students are members of our Lyme School Community!

As always, if you have concerns about your child’s mental health, please be in touch with anyone here at school for support. We’re here to provide help and resources!

With Care,

Mrs. Stanton

Happy May!

Here are links to our school library catalog collections being highlighted this month:

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Collection

Jewish American Heritage Collection

Mental Health Awareness Collection

Grades K-3 have heard Arab, Arab all Year Long and poems from Cece Bell’s, Animal Albums from A-Z. Grades three and four have been exploring the library catalog, Sora, Ebsco Explora, NoveList K-8, and Newsela during library classes over the past few weeks. We are building familiarity with these resources so that they can independently utilize them.

All students in grades 4-6 had the opportunity to vote for their favorite title among the twenty books nominated for the Great Stone Face Book Award. All 7th and 8th grade students had the opportunity to vote for their favorite among the 10 nominated titles for the 2024 Isinglass Award. Results will be revealed later this month!

Family-related Converse Free Library upcoming programing, from Ms. Judy’s newsletter:

Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. Family Story Hour with Lyme's Bill Murphy: The Friendship Tree.

Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. - noon Friends of Lyme Library Used Book Sale.

Thursday, June 27, 2-3 p.m. Whales & Seals with the UNH Marine Docents (ideal for children entering grades K-3).

Stay tuned for summer reading program information!

We are coming to the end of our first year with our new EL Education reading program in Grades K-5. The new materials and resources provided our lower school with a structured approach to teaching reading many great new books.

The EL Education curriculum is grounded in the Science of Reading, with an emphasis on structured phonics and complex grade-level texts. EL Education’s approach not only fosters reading proficiency, but also cultivates a deep understanding of diverse subjects such as social studies, STEM, and literature through the use of authentic, content-rich texts.

During our end of the year inservice days, teachers will debrief the successes and challenges we had with the roll-out of a new reading program. Together, we will look at our K-5 reading assessment data and optimal pacing through the four major units in each grade.

Becoming familiar with new teaching materials takes time and thoughtful planning. Our teachers have done a great job this year!

If you see one of these kids, make sure that you tell them they did a wonderful job on the Set, Props, and Costumes for the Middle School Production of Madagascar, Jr!

Enjoy the show!

Greetings, Design Lab enthusiasts!

This month, we embarked on a playful journey inspired by the spirit of the summer olympics. This week, they began "competing" in their first event, soccer.

The tournament unfolds with teams of designers, thinkers, and innovators from K-5 showcasing their skills and sportsmanship on miniature soccer fields. With strategic designs on each table, the stage was set for an epic showdown of creativity and skill.

Designers exchanged ideas and supported each other in the spirit of friendly competition — a true reflection of the vibrant community spirit that defines our Design Lab.

Students in the primary grades have been dabbling in track and field events. They have been learning how this sport involves various options from hurdling, running, and jumping.

They spent time in class rotating through various activities that had them sprinting, doing the long jump, and using a lead leg and a trail leg to go over the hurdles. Exposure to these activities helps students understand that there are always opportunities and options to help them build their fitness and that these choices offer variety and fun.

Even teachers can enjoy track and field. Mrs. Thayer sure did!

Dear Lyme School Families,

Happy Friday! Spring has sprung! We hope you all have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather.

Get Ready to Show Your Roar!

Join us as we celebrate our amazing teachers and show off our school spirit!

MONDAY: Pajama Day
Start the week in the comfiest way possible! Wear your favorite pajamas and bring a beloved stuffy to school. What a cozy way to appreciate our teachers by beginning with warmth and comfort!

TUESDAY: Dress Like a Teacher Day
Who inspires you? Transform into your favorite Lyme School teacher, emulate a famous educator like Albert Einstein, Bill Nye, or Helen Keller, or become a cherished storybook teacher like Ms. Frizzle or Dumbledore. Show off those tweed jackets and magical accessories!

WEDNESDAY: Wacky Wednesday
Let's get creative in honoring our teachers! Wear your most mismatched, inside-out, and wildly patterned outfits. The wackier, the better to spread cheer and fun!

THURSDAY: Hat Day

Tip your hat to our teachers! Wear your silliest, most creative, or favorite hat today. From caps to crowns, let your headwear speak volumes about your appreciation and style!

FRIDAY: Lion’s Pride Day

End the week with a roar! Wear green and/or deck out in lion-themed clothing to show what it means to be part of the Lyme School community. Let's roar into the weekend showing our pride and appreciation for our teachers!

Let’s make this the most memorable Teacher Appreciation Week yet! Go Lyme!

We're also excited to transform the school's vestibule—the area between the two sets of double doors—into a stunning display of gratitude, and we need your help to make it a success! Here's how you and your family can participate:

1. Create a Gratitude Note or Drawing: Write a note or create a drawing that expresses your gratitude.

   If you prefer to create your note or drawing at a community location, we will set up a note-writing station at the Lyme Library starting tomorrow, Saturday the 4th.

2. Drop off at the Library: We will have a collection box available at the Lyme Library (again, starting tomorrow, Saturday the 4th) where you can leave your contributions and a member of the PTO will collect them daily to tape up in the vestibule throughout teacher appreciation week!

_________________________

• Pick Up an Art Label: Stop by the front desk to pick up an art label for each piece of artwork your child wishes to submit. (Teachers will also send one label home in your child's folder.)
• Prepare and Drop Off Your Artwork: Attach the label to your artwork and drop it off in the designated collection box in the office starting Monday, May 6th.
• DEADLINE TO DROP OFF ART: Wednesday May 29th

Event Details: The art show will also feature a silent auction with professional artwork and other locally sourced items, further enhancing our fundraising efforts for the AIR program. We will provide light refreshments, creating a festive atmosphere for families, friends, and community members to enjoy. This event is not only a celebration of our students’ artistic achievements but also a significant fundraiser for enhancing future arts education at our school.

Cheers,

Fauve Dela Cruz

Chair, The Lyme School PTO

pto@lymeschool.org

P.S. We hope to also see you participating in the Lyme Day of Service on Saturday, May the 4th! Looking forward to helping out the community together! "Do or do not. There is no try. " -Yoda

Lyme alumni Rowan Cary and Tessa Cullen, who are part of Tuck’s Rock Dojo recently played at Sawtooth Kitchen in Hanover. Pretty amazing performances and lots to be proud of!

OUR VALUES

● Fairness ● Acceptance of Others ● Integrity ● Responsibility

● Perseverance ● Individuality ● Compassion ● Courage

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Elise Foxall, Academic Director

Geoff Tomlinson, Student Services Director