BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN
Week of June 6th
PRINCIPAL PONDERINGS
Good afternoon,
As I was preparing for this week's entry, I reviewed last week's and felt like it was a month ago!! Time does some weird things at the end of the year. The days are packed with end of year activities and excitement. And after a month of testing that feels like it may never end, June goes by way too fast and always makes me feel nostalgic and a little out of sorts. I feel like the host of the big event that doesn't want it to end and at the same time is trying to send everyone off with a slice of cake or a bit of the main course to take with them. This is especially true of our 8th graders.
We just spent three days on Cape Cod. The weather was amazing, our whale watch had SO MUCH to see - including whales that breached, mothers and calves, seals, and dolphins. We rode bikes, went swimming, dug up horseshoe crabs, and supported each other through a longer (and hillier) bike ride than anticipated. I think our evening of dinner and shopping in Provincetown and game time by the pool were fan favorites, but you'd have to ask one of the students to be sure. I am sharing some pictures from our trip so you can see some of the fun for yourselves. Everywhere we went, our students received compliments for how polite and respectful they are. But what made me most proud was their curiosity, wonder, flexibility, and compassion. They are a great group of humans! A HUGE thank you to Emily Marazzo, Karry Smardon, and Beth Clifton - the class advisors - for all of their work and coordination to make this trip possible. And a shout out to Ms. Mellow, Mr. Maling, and Mrs. Lizotte for their willingness to join as chaperones.
I hope as they depart Plainfield School (and eventually as they graduate high school), our students feel a deep sense of pride in their accomplishments and in who they are, as well as a sense of excitement and confidence for what lies ahead. I like to think of the work we do together - parents and educators - as gardening. Together we engage in the hard work of cultivating deep and strong roots which, in turn, allow our students to sprout outwardly in a multitude of creative, athletic, academic, and social directions. Just as with real gardening, it's not always glamorous. There's rough weather, rocky soil, and a need for some fertilizer and lots of watering along the way. But then there's the excitement of those first sprouts that turn into plants that, before too long, grow and bloom and bear fruit seemingly right before our eyes!
So, as I prepare to send this last Blackhawks Bulletin, I want to thank you all for gardening with us this year. It's a true labor of love and we are so thankful for your partnership each and every day.
Please note: There are MANY moving parts this week between spirit week, the eighth-grade activities, step up activities, field day and early dismissal on Friday. Please be sure to watch for grade specific updates from your teachers.
IMPORTANT - Friday is an early dismissal at 12:50 pm. Lunch on the last day of school - Friday, June 12th - will be a BAGGED LUNCH. - Sandwich orders for Friday need to be in by Thursday to home room teachers. Students getting school lunch must know which type of sandwich they would like for Friday.
Audra
Audra Bucklin, Principal
603-469-3250, x223
P.S. Thank you to the Plainfield Police Department and Stephanie Schell for bringing popsicles on Friday in celebration of our students' and staff's excellent performance during the Evacuation Drill earlier last week.
SENIORS RETURN TO PES
One of our favorite spring traditions is to welcome high school seniors back to PES for one final walk through. Congratulations Class of 2026!
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL SPIRIT WEEK
8TH GRADE END-OF-YEAR EVENTS
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE
9- K to 4 School Sing – 8:05 am Lobby – Parents/Guardian
9- 8th grade step up day, 11am LHS
9- 5th grade, 3pm Northern Stage, Bridge Up
9- School Board Meeting, 5pm Library
10- Kindergarten Field Trip, 12:10
11- Celebration of Learning, 8th grade- 11:30
11- Semi Formal Dance- PES, 7:00-7:30 (8th grade only), 7:30-9:30- 6-8th grade
12- 8:30-10:30 Graduation practice- KUA,
12 -Early Release 12:50- ANNUAL LAST DAY OF SCHOOL SENDOFF at dismissal
- Report cards and spring testing information sent home with students on the last day of school.
12- 6pm- 8th grade graduation, 6pm KUA- Flickinger Arts Center
LUNCH MENU
"COLD" Options: (offered daily)
Assorted Pre-made Deli Sandwiches, ham and turkey. Sunbutter/Jelly sandwiches
Yogurt Parfait with Fruit and Granola
Fresh Fruit and Veggie Bar with Dinner Roll
NOTE - Please note, lunch on the last day of school - Friday, June 12th - will be a BAGGED LUNCH. - Sandwich orders for Friday need to be in by Thursday to home room teachers. Students getting school lunch must know which type of sandwich they would like for Friday.
OFFICE NOTES
-Yearbooks are all sold out.
Thank you everyone for purchasing!
- NO STUDY HALL IN JUNE
PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY
Four Winds - STILL IN NEED OF MORE VOLUNTEERS TO KEEP THIS AMAZING PROGRAM GOING
Do you know a grandparent or other family member who wants to spend more time with your child? Would you like to help out in your kids' classroom and learn who their classmates are?We are looking for volunteers for grades K-4. The Four Winds program at PES teaches about science through observing and playing in nature. Volunteers attend five training workshops and then go into the classroom to teach the kids what they learned. Examples of subjects we have learned include clouds, water, flowers, wind, insects, birds, and much more. Kids love seeing their family members in the classroom and always look forward to the fun lessons the Four Winds Institute plans.
If you are interested or know of a family member interested, please contact Kathleen Maslan.
LOST & FOUND
ALL LOST AND FOUND ITEMS NOT TAKEN AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, FRIDAY JUNE 12th, WILL BE OUT ON DISPLAY IN THE FRONT LOBBY UNTIL FRIDAY JUNE 19th. AFTER THAT, IT WILL BE TAKEN TO THE LISTEN COMMUNITY CENTER FOR DONATION. PLEASE HAVE YOUR STUDENT TAKE A LOOK AND PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO POP IN AND TAKE A LOOK AS WELL.
2025-2026 Lost and Found…please bookmark the link below for access to our lost and found site. We amass quite the collection over the course of the year! Items are kept in a nicely organized "display" of sorts in the lobby just past the lunch area on the right. It would also be helpful if clothing was labeled
PTA UPDATES
We are looking ahead to this fall's Blackhawk Blaze Footrace and Fun Run which is scheduled for Sunday, October 4th! Planning committee leadership is in place and we are looking for a couple more folks to join the planning team, especially those with kids in K-5. This fun commitment will entail ~4-5 half-hour meetings from August to October and willingness to pitch in with various aspects of planning. No experience necessary. This is one of the PTA's major fundraisers of the year and a great way to support PES. If interested please email plainfieldnh.pta@gmail.com.
There are just 2 weeks left this summer that need coverage in the PES garden: weeks of June 27th and August 22). Signup here to cover a week of watering, weeding and harvesting in the PES garden during the summer months. This entails stopping by the garden to water plants during dry spells (i.e. no rain for >2-3 days), weeding once during the week (or more if you want) and harvesting/enjoying produce that is ripe. Likely 1-2 hour commitment total during the week. We will hold an orientation & have instructions in the garden so you know what to do. Many hands make light work! We will also be holding a community work day or two over the summer.
MOMENTS OF MINDFULNESS TO CLOSE THE YEAR
Ms. Culligan's 3/4 class enjoys some outdoor mindfulness.
CO-CURRICULAR NEWS
SPRING TRACK
Congratulations to our 5th and 6th graders for a great showing at the 5th/6th grade Track & Field meet, with our Girls team placing 3rd overall and our Boys team placing 4th overall. We had 2 event winners: Ellis Underhill in the 100m Hurdles and Sammy Bean in the Shot Put. Here are the top finishers for each event:
Girls, 3rd place team:
100m Hurdles: Ellis Underhill 1st place, Aubrey Darak 3rd place
100m: Ellis Underhill 3rd place, Aubrey Darak 6th place
400m: Maddy Piper 4th place
4x100m relay: 5th place (Riley Piper, Maddy Piper, Khloe Sarantopoulos, Bella Altman)
Triple Jump: Ellis Underhill 2nd place
Long Jump: Ellis Underhill 2nd place, Riley Piper 5th place, Aubrey Darak 6th place
High Jump: Aubrey Darak 2nd place
Shot Put: Sammy Bean 1st place, Lucy Decker 3rd place
Discus: Sammy Bean 2nd place, Lucy Decker 4th place
Boys, 4th place team:
100m: Bode Bucholz 5th place
200m: Chase Goodwin 4th place, Ryan Pearse 5th place
4x100m relay: 3rd place Plainfield (Chase Goodwin, Raymond Hughes, Josh Marrazzo, Lincoln Blanchard), 4th place Plainfield (Henry Weinstein, Ryan Pearse, Jonah Strong, Bode Bucholz)
Long Jump: Satya Venditto 2nd place, Chase Goodwin 6th place
High Jump: James Sardain 2nd place, Chase Goodwin 4th place, Lincoln Blanchard 5th place
PLEASE RETURN ANY AND ALL ATHLETICJERSEYS/UNIFORMS TO THE FRONT OFFICE BEFORE FRIDAY JUNE12th
COMMUNITY NEWS
BASKETBALL OPPORTUNITY
Noble Hoops, based in Grantham, NH, is offering a low to no cost girls basketball program for:
3rd & 4th Grade Girls
5th & 6th Grade Girls
Our goal is to provide an accessible, positive environment where girls can grow both on and off the court—especially for families who may not have access to more expensive AAU or travel programs.
Program Details:
Workouts: Saturday mornings & Wednesday nights
Location: Grantham Village School
Games/Tournaments: To be determined
Cost: Low to no cost (sponsorship-supported)
We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with students and families in your school community. I’ve attached a flyer that can be distributed via email, newsletters, or printed for posting.
If families are interested or have questions, they can:
Email: jacob@noblehoops.com
Visit: www.noblehoops.com
Thank you for supporting opportunities that help young athletes stay engaged, active, and confident.
Coach Jacob Noble
603-667-8485
jacob@noblehoops.com
FROM STEPHANIE SCHELL
Community Resources are Available!
Due to the federal government shutdown and the suspension of the SNAP food benefits the town of Plainfield’s Community Resource Room & Food Pantry is ready and available to assist Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish residents during this unsettling time.
If you are without transportation or can’t physically attend these special pick-up times, please reach out and we will try our best to arrange for a drop-off at your home.
The Community Food Pantry is located at the Christ Community Church, 1259 Route 12A in Plainfield. Across the street from the Plainfield Fire Station.
The Community Food Pantry's regular hours are the 1st Thursday, 3rd Friday & 3rd Saturday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m. During these times any residents needing to stretch their grocery budget from Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish can access food.
We are here to help during these challenging times. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Plainfield’s Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell at cr.director@plainfieldnh.org or 1-603-469-3201.
If people would like to make monetary donations to
Our local community food pantry they may do so by sending a check to:
The Town of Plainfield
P.O. Box 380
Meriden, NH 03770
In the check memo write: Food Pantry
IMPORTANT AREA EVENTS & RESOURCES
TOWN OF PLAINFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES
See below for a full list of upcoming events and ongoing resources in our community.
Fuel Assistance
Any Plainfield or Meriden resident requiring assistance for housing, heating fuel assistance, electricity assistance, medication assistance and or nutritional support from the Town should contact the Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell. Contact information: 603-469-3201 or email sschell@plainfieldschool.org. All information is confidential.
Food Pantry
Residents of the Town of Plainfield can access the following local services.
Note: The food pantry and clothing swap rooms are located in the Christ Community Church on Route 12A (across from the Plainfield Fire Department). The Food Pantry is open the 1st Thursday and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and warmly welcomes all Town residents.
Free Clothing Rooms
The Christ Community Church has (2) very well organized rooms that contain FREE clothing for adults and children. All clothing is donated and in great condition. In addition to clothing there are also Free household items, toys & books as well. These rooms are open to the Public each Tuesday morning from 9-11 a.m.
Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit
Free fresh produce provided by Willing Hands: please check the Town calendar for dates and times.
Fight 68 Hours of Hunger Care Package Program: A box of nutritious food is delivered to your home each Wednesday afternoon to help fight hunger. The box contains a variety of foods for the entire family to help stretch your grocery budget.
Willing Hands – FREE Fresh veggies, fruit, milk, eggs, bread & proteins Every Wednesday from 11:45-12:15 p.m. Cornish Town Hall is located on the fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome!
Southwestern Community Services: Claremont NH
Providing Heating Fuel & Electrical Assistance. They also have Rental or Mortgage Assistance programs. Completed applications for eligibility are needed. These programs are open to all Sullivan County Residents please call 542-9528 for more information.
Listen Community Services:
Providing Plainfield Residents with Heating & Electrical Assistance, Food Pantry resources, Holiday Gift Baskets, School Supplies Drive, Community Dinners, Housing Helper Grants, Summer Camp Scholarships and Thrift Store Vouchers for clothing & furniture.
Located at 60 Hanover Street, Lebanon
Call for an appointment to discuss individual needs: 1-603-448-4553
