Something to Yelle About

A VERY BUSY & DRIVEN

WEEK IN #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

We just finished one of the busiest weeks in #HAYNation that we do all year long (and then we do it almost exactly the same way in the Spring)! From Book Fair, to Parent-Teacher Conferences, to all five days of learning; it was phenomenal!

In the big picture above, each week, I use it as a way to highlight and show what we were able to accomplish during the week.

This week I highlight the students enjoying their purchases from the Book Fair, showing off their Student-Led Conference slides to me, working on their learning, working on their Slides, working together, in deep thought, and that's just the six small pictures around the outside. Then in the center, we have our Unified Bocce Team celebrating a great match and a group of students holidng up our #PositiveSignThursday with the message, We Are Driven, and these students, all of them, are so driven in their want to achieve. Each and every week I see it more and more, and I could not be more proud.

These and the other pictures below that I have snapped throughout the week in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of the incredible relational 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 ...

1/2 Day This Coming Wednesday

HAY PTO Fall Scholastic Book Fair Success

Picture ReTake Day on Thursday

Wearing Sneakers in Wellness Class

In-School Halloween Costume Guidelines

Spring 2025 MCAS Results

HAY PTO Special Author Visit

School Meals Survey

Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

Community Events

Other PTO News

And much, much more ...

Please check it out.

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

Marty

Martin R. Geoghegan

Principal

Henri A. Yelle Elementary School

Wednesday, October 29 – ½ Day PD Day 11:40AM Dismissal

Thursday, October 30 – Yelle Fall Picture Re-Takes

Friday, October 31 – HAY PTO In-School Halloween Bingo

Wednesday, November 5 – BSU CASE STEM Open Lab Night 5–8:00 PM (see below)

Tuesday, November 11 – Veterans Day – No School

Friday, November 14 – Author Visit School Assemblies (see below)

Saturday, November 15 – Holiday Craft Fair (see below)

Thursday, November 20 – HAY PTO Meeting 6 PM in the Library

This coming Wednesday, October 29, is a half-day

Early Dismissal for all Yelle students at 11:40 AM

for districtwide PD Day.

Please Mark Your Calendars!

Our Inter-State Studios Fall Picture Retake Day

is Thursday, October 30.

If your child was absent or you did not like the Fall Picture,

Retake Day is for you!

The retake picture day ordering code is 0323SP.

Parents can go to Inter-State Studios and plug in the code to order photos.

Anyone that would like a retake would simply bring back their original portraits and hand them to the photographer on retake day.

If they forget the originals, we will still give them a retake.

Please mark your calendar.

Happy Halloween 2025!

If your student wants to dress up, please be sure to have them wear a sensible, school appropriate, costume and shoes.

They may also choose to wear part of their costume and save the full effect for Halloween night.

Students will still need to take part in recess, Wellness/physical education, and other daily activities.

Please NO weapons, excessive blood or facial coverings where we don't recognize who our students are, or props that would make their daily routine difficult. It is still a school day and we want to make sure our students continue to learn.

Thank You!

At the end of the school day, our HAY PTO will put on Bingo for our students with Halloween-themed prizes.

We hope everyone has a safe Halloween 2025!

A couple of weeks ago, you should have received in the mail your child's MCAS Score Report from the Spring 2025 administration. I just want you to know we are using these reports as purely formative for our purposes.

We always want to do as well as we can on these assessments, but we also know and understand that these tests are only a snapshot of what are students are capable of doing and achieving.

Last Spring, when we and the JCS/LGN administered the MCAS, we all take it seriously and want our students to do their best. We encouraged students to try their best, for it is a way for us to see how we are doing as a school.

We will be using these reports for our LLT (Lancer Learning Time) RTI Block and our classroom teachers will be checking these reports to see where students either progressed or didn't do so well, but for the most part it is just another piece of data we will utilize to try to better help your child succeed this year and beyond.

If you have any specific questions, please do not ever hesitate to get in touch with me mgeoghegan@norton.k12.ma.us or your child's teacher.

Thank you.

Wellness Class Footwear Reminder from Mrs. McCallister

As a reminder, students should wear sneakers on their Wellness days to ensure safety and full participation in class activities. Proper footwear allows students to move comfortably and safely during lessons. Please avoid boots, sandals, crocs, or other non-athletic shoes on these days. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students stay active and safe!

Dear Norton Families,

At Norton Public Schools, we’re always working to improve the meals we serve to students. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Chartwells K12 on the School Meals Report Card.

At Chartwells K12, our mission is to ensure that kids leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than when they came in. To support this mission, we are excited to announce the School Meals Report Card, a nationwide initiative designed to gather valuable feedback and insights from the people who matter most: students, their parents and families, and school staff.

What is the School Meals Report Card?

The School Meals Report Card survey will provide valuable insights into satisfaction and preferences at both local and national levels. This feedback will enable us to make meaningful improvements to our meal programs, ensuring they better meet the needs of Norton PS and the community, and ultimately enhancing K-12 school meal programs nationwide.

Why is Your Support Important?

The success of this initiative depends on participation. The survey will be available from October 13 to November 7, 2025, and we need your help to ensure it reaches the right audience.

A Note on Privacy

Please note that the survey is completely anonymous. No identifying information will be collected.

Mike Vaccaro

mvaccaro@norton.k12.ma.us

Hello Yelle Families:

The HAY Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hopes all families had a great Summer vacation. We are looking forward to another senational school year!

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/

Our Fall HAY PTO Scholastic Book Fair was a Huge SUCCESS!

Thank you so much to everyone for its success!

Thank you to our HAY PTO for organizing, setting-up, taking down, and putting it on!

Thank you to our HAY PTO Volunteers for working it!

And, Thank You all for helping in getting books into our students's hands,

as well as helping to restock our HAY PTO Vending Machine!

Thank You!

The HAY PTO with the Unlikely Book Store are bringing

Author Mr. Eoin Colfer to the Yelle for a special

assembly on Friday, November 14th!

Mr. Colfer will be discussing writing,

his novels, and his newest book, Firefox Moon.

Please see the flier above for pre-ordering

a copy of this book at a special price!

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!

BSU CASE STEM Open Lab Night is happening on 11/5!

Join us for a free community event open to all ages, featuring hands-on STEM activities led by BSU faculty, staff and students.

Please note: All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Advance registration is required. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

Date: Wednesday, November 5th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM

Location: Dana Mohler-Faria Science & Mathematics Center

Visit our website to learn more and to register.

Parking is available in the Bridgewater State University Parking Garage.

We look forward to seeing you!

The CASE Staff

Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE)

Bridgewater State University

Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center, Room 220

Telephone (508)531-2575

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