Dear MMES Families,

Honor a MERSD teacher, staff member, or coach with a Golden Hornet!

The end of the school year is approaching and Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off May 3. Now is the perfect time to recognize an MERSD teacher, staff member, or coach who made a difference this year. Think of the teachers who inspired our students, the coaches who pushed our athletes, the staff members who supported our families. Let’s say thank you with a Golden Hornet!

With your $10 donation to Spaulding Education Fund, your Golden Hornet honoree will receive a Golden Hornet pin, a personalized dedication badge, and a certificate reflecting your words of gratitude. Donations are used to fund future Spaulding grants to MERSD faculty, staff, and students.

Golden Hornets can be dedicated online until May 24 and will be available from May 21-24 at the Middle/High School entrance before school. Golden Hornets will be delivered to recipients the week of May 27.

Have a great weekend!

Best,

John

Monday, the Tanglewood Marionettes came to Memorial and performed their original Chinese folklore, The Dragon King, for our 2nd and 3rd grade students. The Tanglewood Marionettes is a two person touring theater with beautifully hand-crafted marionettes, vibrant sets and animated sounds which creates a fully immersive theatrical experience. The Dragon King tells the story of a horrible drought that has overtaken the land. Luckily, a fearless grandmother travels to the bottom of the sea searching for him and seeking answers as to why he abandoned their land. The performance ends with the colorful Dragon King marionette entering the audience and spraying everyone with water! As a bonus, students were able to spend a long time after the show with the puppeteers asking questions about their work and getting up close looks at their marionettes. This Enrichment programming was made possible due to a generous grant from Manchester Cultural Council.

Friday, the Whalemobile came to school and met with our first graders. The students were able to crawl inside a life sized inflatable whale named Nile and learn about whale anatomy, similarities between humans and whales and the benefit whale poop has on our environment. The children were able to hold and feel humpback baleen, whale bones, and teeth from other types of whales. Cynde, the Whalemobile educator, played an interactive game with our students to describe the whale migration process and the kids were able to act out and understand how whales move around the ocean throughout the year. This Enrichment programming was funded due to the generosity of Cell Signaling.

Friends of Manchester Tree procured a new Red Oak tree which was planted by the playground at Manchester Memorial Elementary School.
The Fifth Graders helped with the planting and the Kindergarteners cheered with delight for their new tree.

https://www.friendsofmanchestertrees.org/arborday2024

The Elementary Spring Art Show is just around the corner! Mrs. Yutkins is looking for volunteers to help put up the artwork on Wednesday May 15 at the Middle School/High School. The art show will coincide with the Elementary Spring Concert. Mrs. Yutkins is also in need of extra hands to take down the artwork during the concert on Thursday May 16 at 6pm.

Please reach out to Mrs. Yutkins at yutkinsc@mersd.org to sign up to help. Thank you for your support!

2023-2024 Calendar

May

6- Chorus Dress Rehearsal 7:30-8:30a MERHS

8 - Grade 1 to Downtown Manchester

10 - Band Dress Rehearsal 7:30-8:30a MERHS

14 - Grade 4 to Gloucester Maritime

15 – MCAS Math G3-5 Session 1

16 – MCAS Math G3-5 Session 2

16 –Art Show and Spring Concert at HS 6pm

17 - Grade 3 to Dexter Pond

20 – MCAS STE-5 Session 1

22 – MCAS STE 5 Session 2

24 – Memorial Day Celebration

24 - Grade 5 Move Up Day at Middle School

27 - Memorial Day, no School

28 - G5 to Maritime Gloucester

31 - HS Graduation

June

3 - Field Day

4 - Spring Concert G K-4, 9:30 am

5 - Early Release, Professional Development, 11:45 Dismissal

7 - Last Day Kindergarten

7 - Grade 5 Project Adventure

10 - Grade 5 to Boston

11 - Crossing the Bridge, Grade 5, 6:00 pm

12 - Grade 3 to Boston State House

13 - Last Day, No Additional Snow Days

19 - Juneteenth

Looking ahead to Back to School:

First Day of School - Wednesday, August 28, 2024

MMES Open House - Thursday, September 12, 2024 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Register for the Race:

https://www.athlinks.com/event/hit-the-street-for-little-feet-59073

Sign up to Volunteer:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094EA5A62DA6FB6-48566479-hitthe

5k Committee Volunteers Needed!

We are so excited to bring back Hit the Street for Little Feet 5k, and we are looking for volunteers to help plan out the festival portion of the event. Reach out to mmptopres@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out!

Save the Date!

Hit the Street 5k - May 17, 2024

Field Day - June 3, 2024

Schedule of Monthly PTO Meetings:

The following are dates for the 2023-2024 PTO Meetings:
• Wednesday, May 22
All meetings will begin at 9 am, and will be located in the Project room on the first floor of the school. All are welcome...we hope to see you there!

5th Grade parents/caregivers, if your child has had their annual physical and you would like me to enter that information into the computer for transfer to middle school- please send to me

Physicals:

Current physical and immunization records are due for grades 1 and 4. Please do not make a new appointment. Send me the most current and then send me a copy of the new physical when it is completed.

Extra Clothing: ALL GRADE LEVELS

Occasionally a spilled drink, a fall in a puddle or even a ride down a wet slide occurs, if each child could have a change of clothing (head to toe) that would be great.

Just a few reminders:

1. If your child is going to be absent or arriving late, please call either 526-1909 or 526-1908 to let us know.

2. If your child has a temperature of 100. F or over, they need to be temperature free for 24 hours (without relying on Tylenol or Motrin) before re-entering the school.

3. If your child is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, we recommend that they are symptom free for 24 hours and can tolerate solid food before they return

4. If your child has a contagious illness such as conjunctivitis or strep throat, it is the school policy that they are on medicine for 24 hours before re-entering the building.

5. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL CLASSROOMS ARE PEANUT/NUT FREE

Thank you for your co-operation and continuing support.

Any questions or concerns please call or email

Joanne Seaman, R.N.

978-526-1909 Fax 978-526-5209

seamanj@mersd.org

MERSD elementary students now have access to the iReady "My Path" program at home. This aspect of iReady is an online tool that provides students with learning activities and practice geared towards their individual skills and needs. Below you will find information regarding accessing this tool at home for extra skill practice in reading and mathematics.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qhiOnoPCkyzwb8HLql0PdEgwNC_tiKcN/view

• Mobile Markets will then run from 2:30-3:30pm in October and November on the first Wednesday of each month.
• Mobile Market will run on an early release schedule of 11am-12:15pm on the first Wednesday of each month starting in December for the balance of the school year.