Pulse of the Pride - October 30th

Lyme School Friends,

It has been another great two weeks at school! Many Pumpkin Book Characters have decorated our lobby! We completed picture retakes for those that wanted them. We had a tremendous Middle School Lion's Cup event with the Chemical Cookies victorious. We also had an awesome spirit week this past week with a lot of participation! Students are surely looking ahead to Halloween. Have a fun and safe one!

Highlights in this edition:

• November Important Dates
• Food Drive
• Lost & Found/Clothing Update
• Latest Superintendent Newsletter
• PTO Giving Tree
• 8th Grade High School Choice Events
• Exciting Specials Updates

Please remember that school is closed on Tuesday, November 3rd for teacher in-service.

The next newsletter will hit your inbox on November 13th!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

November

1 - TA Open House - 2:00

1 - Daylight Saving Time Ends

2 - SALT to Hulbert

3 - Inservice - No School

5 - St. J Open House - 5:45

6 - K-5 Movie Night - 5:00

11 - Veteran's Day - No School

13 - Taste of TA

20 - First Trimester Ends

24 - Lyme Pride

25-27 - School Closed - Thanksgiving Recess

This is just a reminder that the Lost & Found is located in our gym stairwell. We periodically put things in the lobby and ask students to go by them to try to reunite items with their owners. Please remember that labeling items is the best way to get things returned.

Our temperatures are starting to hit the 30's in the morning. We have even had a morning or two where it hasn't even gotten to 50 degrees for morning recess. Please send students with layers. It is much better for students to take a sweater or jacket off than to not have one at all for those cold mornings.

In this issue:

1. Ready for the Future: What Skills Do Lyme Students Need Most?
2. Understanding Ballot Question 2
3. District Governance 101: The Roles of SAU and Building Administrators
4. Get Involved! Participate in Upcoming Events

We published our 2027 Best Elementary and Best Middle schools rankings on Tuesday, and the news is great for Lyme Elementary School: Your school placed among the top 40% of elementary and middle schools in the state of New Hampshire, making it BOTH a U.S. News Best Elementary School and a Best Middle School.

Here is what we published about your school, including its new rankings along with related data and descriptions: https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/new-hampshire/lyme-elementary-school-232985.

Dear Lyme School Families,

Over the last few years, The Lyme School Virtual Giving Tree - sponsored by our amazing PTO - has been wonderfully successful. For those new to the Virtual Giving Tree, it is an opportunity for our community to express generosity, care, and holiday cheer.

Through this program, families can sign up to fulfill holiday requests for other school families. We are now at the stage where we are reaching out to any family who could use extra support this season.

As a reminder, all requests remain anonymous - I am the only one who will see these.

How to Request Gifts

If your family would like to receive gifts from the Giving Tree:

1. Gather details: You may request up to 4 items per child. Please include specific product descriptions or links (Amazon links are preferred). Please note that gift cards cannot be requested.

2. Email your list: Send an email to rstanton@lymeschool.org by Friday, November 13th with the following information:

• Child’s name and age (can include children who do not yet attend or who have graduated from Lyme School)

• Item requests (with links)

• Preference for gifts to be wrapped or unwrapped
  
  

What Happens Next

• Share Item Requests: I will share just the request list with our PTO Giving Tree coordinators with all identifying personal information removed.

• Community Sign-Up: The PTO will send out an online sign-up link to the broader school community so families can select items to purchase.

• Gift Distribution: Purchased items will be collected and distributed to requesting families before winter break begins.
  
  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Warmly,
Rachel and the PTO Giving Tree Coordinators

• THIS WEEKEND!
  November 1st - Sunday - 2-3:30pm- Thetford Academy Open House - open to 7th and 8th graders and families. Join us at one of our Admissions Open House events and explore the academic, athletic, arts, and outdoor offerings at Thetford Academy. Hear from TA’s award-winning faculty about our programs and curriculum and learn from current students about the TA community and experience. We can’t wait to meet you! Questions? Contact Enrollment Coordinator, Contact Admissions Manager, Austin Walsh - austin.walsh@thetfordacademy.org | Registration Link
  
  

• NEXT WEEK!
  November 5th - Thursday - 6:30pm - St. Johnsbury Academy Open House - 6:30pm if families have pre-registered, 5:45pm if registering at the event. Meet our Faculty, Staff, and the Administrative Team -Learn about Academic Programs, talk to coaches and club advisors, and enjoy refreshments made by culinary students. Please reach out to Melissa Murphy at melissa.murphy@stjacademy.org for further information or to schedule a tour at another time | Registration Link
  
  

• November 13 - Friday - Taste of Thetford Academy - TA VISIT DAY - FOR STUDENTS ONLY -
  This is an opportunity for 8th graders to tour the campus and get more information about TA schedule, classes, clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. Students can order a complimentary lunch from the TA Cafe or bring a lunch from home. Transportation will be provided. Permission Forms will be distributed. Here is an electronic version
  
  

• January 6th - Wednesday Hanover High School Visit Day - 8:30-12:30pm - FOR STUDENTS ONLY. This is an opportunity for 8th graders to tour the building and get more information about HHS schedule, classes, clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. A bus will be provided by Lyme School to and from. Students will need to BRING A BAGGED LUNCH for the day. Permission forms will be distributed closer to the date, please indicate if your student needs a bagged lunch from the kitchen on the permission form. HHS ALSO NEEDS YOU TO REGISTER IF YOUR 8th GRADER IS ATTENDING
  

• February 3rd - Wednesday Hanover High School Curriculum Night (for parents/guardians) - 5:30-6:30pm
  Department coordinators will present an overview of the ninth-grade curriculum to prospective families. Counselors will provide an overview of the 9th Grade Program, Enrollment and the Registration process

Halloween is an exciting time for children. Halloween can also be an anxious time for children. Choosing costumes, anticipating candy, and making plans with friends are all part of the fun. For some children, however, figuring out what costume to wear, whom to trick-or-treat with, and how to navigate changing plans can be difficult. Children may feel left out when friends make plans without them, become disappointed when plans change, or struggle when everyone has different ideas about how to spend the evening. It is also ok to find alternative activities if Trick or Treating is not your thing. Not everyone has to go or even enjoys the activity.

Halloween is a great opportunity to help children practice communication, kindness, flexibility, and safe decision-making.

Help Children Plan Ahead

Help your child talk with friends and make plans before Halloween night. Help them figure out who they will be going with? Where will they go? What time will they meet? What do they do if they no longer want to be part of the group or if the group leaves them. For older children, parents can help establish a safe route, a return time, and a plan for checking in. Younger children should have appropriate adult supervision.

Making plans ahead of time can help alleviate confusion, disappointment and hard feelings when excitement is high.

Talk About Including Others

Children may hear classmates talking about trick-or-treating plans or discover that friends have made plans without them. They may have made plans without including others. These moments can bring up hurt feelings. Help your child navigate these feelings by listening to their concerns. Help them come up with a list of options to choose from. They might ask a friend if they can join, make plans with another friend, or enjoy Halloween with family.

It's also a good time to remind children to be thoughtful when making plans. They don't have to invite everyone to every activity, but they can be mindful of how they talk about their plans around others. A little kindness can make a difference.

Practice Flexibility When Plans Change

Even with carefully made plans, things change and don't always go as expected. Friends may meet up with other friends, walk at different paces, want to visit other houses, or go a different way. Prepping children to think about how they can respond in an expected way and manage disappointment when plans change can be helpful.

Children can learn to compromise, communicate their preferences, and manage disappointment without letting a small problem become a bigger one.

Review Where To Get Help

Before children head out for an evening of fun, take a few minutes to review safety with your child. Make sure children know where they are allowed to go, who they should be with, and when and where to meet their parents. Remind them to stay with their group, use sidewalks and crosswalks, carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, and never enter someone else's home or car.

The Lyme Police Department will be near the Lyme Country Store handing out glow sticks, and the Lyme Fire Department will be stationed on the Common. Both departments are available to help children if they need assistance.

For older children who may be trick-or-treating with friends, take time to review your expectations for the evening. Make sure they know how to reach you or another trusted adult if they need help or their plans change.

Making plans ahead of time can help make Halloween more enjoyable, safer, and provides opportunities to practice skills that children can use all year long. Happy Halloween!

Here is a helpful resource:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx?os=.&utm_source=chatgpt.com

K-3 students visited Converse Free Library for book checkouts this week and fourth and fifth graders will go next week. These trips are always a great opportunity to browse the full collection in person, say hi to CFL staff, and enjoy the “den” area for reading time.

Fourth graders completed their first unit of study on poetry and poets. They each researched a poet and analyzed their favorite poem written by their poet. They created posters to share what they learned and you can view them here.

Fifth graders have been learning how to use Kami and Kami companion, an assistive technology tool available to all students.

Sixth and seventh graders finished up a unit on digital citizenship during health classes and eighth grade started this week.

CFL Reminders:

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, participated in, and/or donated to Blisters for Books last month. Pledges are coming in and you can continue to collect through the end of the month. Donations can be sent into school or directly to CFL. Thank you!!

October 31, 4:30 pm - Trick or treat at the library!

November 2 - BLISTERS FUNDS DUE

November 11 - School and Library CLOSED

November 17, 3-5 pm - after school movie

We will be learning about different Native American musicians past and present! If you are interested in exploring music by Native American artists feel free to check out these resources:

Contemporary Music by Indigenous Peoples of North America- University of North Texas

Native Radio

Nikamowin

Over the past two weeks, our artists have been sculpting, painting, staging photo shoots, and discovering that inspiration is everywhere—from storybooks to piles of cardboard. Here is a look at what we have been up to across the school:

• Kindergarten: Our youngest artists explored lines and 3D forms by crafting vibrant sculptures that bent, looped, and twisted in every direction! We also shared the story Ghost in the House and constructed sweet, spooky paper house collages.

• First Grade: Weaving season is officially underway! After reading The Goat in the Rug, first graders learned how textiles are made and worked together to warp their first looms.

• Second Grade: We dove into the world of Jean-Michel Basquiat—and discovered his artwork hidden around our studio (on a stool, on a book cover…). Inspired by his energetic style, students painted their own dinosaur portraits.

• Third Grade: Students are putting the finishing touches on their leaf watercolor paintings, applying a final wash of analogous cool colors (blues, greens, and purples) to make their warm autumn leaves pop!

• Fourth Grade: Students painted bright colors and patterns last week and finished off details this week… Eyes, teeth, and monster noses.

• Fifth Grade: Exploring texture through chalk pastels, fifth graders watched a short video of artist Chuck Close discussing his unique process. The class asked insightful questions about how artists adapt and create.

Middle School & Art Electives (Grades 6–8)

• 6th Grade ELA Collaboration: Using cloth backdrops, studio lighting, and theatre props, students posed and shot portraits and still-life compositions that represent their mystery book selections.

• Painting Elective: Students wrapped up the unit exploring dynamic techniques like pour painting and spray painting. This type of open ended exploration is pretty magical. The students layered and shifted their ideas and got into such a creative flow!

• Cardboard Sculpture Elective: Cardboard is truly miraculous! Our new elective kicked off with a deep dive into shape, form, and studio safety. After a brief brainstorming session, students couldn't wait to dive in—construction is officially in full swing through November!

Photos: Grade 3 leaves, a Tai Chi Chicken, 2nd grade pots,

spray painting in elective, Kindergarten loop de loop, spray painting detail

Grade 5 owl, an ELA still life, our weaving story

Kindergarten has continued learning about materials and tools by building fun toys. This week they also learned about buoyancy and balance while building toy sailboats.

3rd Grade Design Week: Last week the third graders spent time designing and creating poppies to give to Veterans at an upcoming community event. They were very sweet and thoughtful as they designed and constructed these flowers.

4th graders recently logged back into the 3D modeling software, Tinkercad, to create fall-themed 3D-printed window art. They will soon be casting some interesting shadows into their classroom once these spooky creations are installed on the classroom windows. This project is also tying into their science unit on light, focusing here on light transmission through different mediums (transparency, translucency, and opacity).

5th grade: Fifth graders are getting closer to hosting their cardboard carnival for the Kindergarten. They have been hard at work creating fun, interactive games out of cardboard, while also using some tech skills to create theme music in Chrome Music Lab, scoreboards coded in Scratch, and colorful game posters designed in Canva.

Elective: The 6th annual Design Squad competition has just wrapped up this week. Students competed in 4 rounds of competition, earning points along the way. The final design-build competition was mini (candy) pumpkin chunkin. It was a sweet way to end the competition. :)

For the past few weeks, students in the primary grades have been working on the combined skills of eye-hand coordination and tossing and catching. We begin these skills by using colored scarves that move at a slow pace to make them easier to see and catch as they travel down back into a catching hand. The skill cues words of "eyes up, alligator, in" are helpful in helping students remember to keep their eyes looking up at the scarves, using and "alligator mouth" to catch with their fingers clasped tightly on the scarf, and then bringing the scarf close to the body as a final follow through.

Meanwhile, the fifth graders have learned a new team activity called "Ultimate ball". This fast paced game is one of possession and teamwork. Short quick passes, whether they be overhead, underhand, or bounced allow for the game to move quickly and for interceptions and strategic plays to be made to change the game on the fly. Utilizing teammates in this game keeps this game moving as students attempt to score goals and begin all over again.

This week is one of my most favorite weeks of the year! A time when the gym gets decorated as we head toward a fun, costumed end of the month. A time, when the ghost, goblins, and ghouls take over the gym and we get to play games like "ghosts in the graveyard", "Ghostbusters", and "Silencer". Students in grades K-5 have enjoyed their time and even our middle school students in the recreational sport elective got to travel back to their younger days when these games were so exciting.

Reading is one of the best ways to grow your language ability—and this is especially true in second language acquisition, which is why we do LOTS of reading in all levels of Spanish classes! Our reading activities are tailored to meet students where they are:

• Early Elementary: Students read along with simple texts and draw pictures to demonstrate their understanding.

• Upper Elementary: Students tackle more detailed readings, filling in blanks and showing comprehension through various activities.

• Lower School Read-Alouds: Students love hearing familiar stories read aloud in Spanish. The combination of visual illustrations and a story they already know in English makes the new language approachable and fun.

Depending on the lesson, our reading focus adapts. When we are practicing specific target phrases, understanding every word is key. For longer stories, we focus on grasping the main idea or gist.

Through every story, picture book, and passage, students are acquiring Spanish in meaningful ways. Be sure to ask your student what they have been reading in Spanish class lately!

Check out the photos below to see examples of our reading activities in action across the grades!

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

Hello Lyme Families,

I am writing to share the new Lyme Recreation Website. You can find the site link on the Recreation Commission page of the Town of Lyme website as well. My goal is to provide all the information you need about our program offerings, registration process, calendar, and policies in one place. The new calendar offers the ability to filter by team and sync your child's team schedule directly to your personal calendar. I will continue to update the website in the upcoming weeks, so check back in! Please reach out with any questions.

Best,

Susan

Susan Wasp - Recreation Director

recreation@lymenh.gov

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