What a busy week! Yesterday we hosted our second annual Global Play Day with our JES students, and it was truly something special. At exactly 1:30 teachers opened their classroom doors and allowed students to freely roam the halls, visit classrooms that were not their own, and play with whomever and whatever they chose, as long as it was safe and device-free. JES was separated into two zones, K to 3 and 4 to 5, and students were welcome to have fun as they saw fit. Forts were built out of boxes in hallways, board games filled staircases, and there was art, Legos, ping pong, bracelet making, dinosaurs, and just about everything else you could imagine. Most impressive of all was that when the 60 minutes of play came to a close, every student did their part in cleaning up. I am here to tell you that if your child claims they cannot clean up their bedroom, yesterday proved otherwise. This tradition has quickly become a new favorite and a wonderful reminder of the power of creativity, collaboration, and play. You'll find photos here.
Today we hosted our JES Winter Concert digitally. While it was not the ideal scenario, our students made the absolute best of it and performed beautifully. Their effort, resilience, and positivity were on full display, and I am proud of how they embraced the experience. I look forward to sharing the concert video with families next week so you can enjoy their hard work and celebrate their accomplishments. For now, we have photos here. While you're enjoying concert photos, check out last week's JMS Winter Concert here.
Tomorrow, during both the JES and JMS assemblies, we’re excited to welcome the New England Free Jacks, the men's professional rugby team based in Quincy! Free Jacks players and coaches will share a message about sportsmanship and teamwork.
After the assemblies, students in Grades 3–5 will explore the math of rugby, strengthening the connection between athletics and academics. We’ll wrap up the day with a hands-on Rugby 101 Clinic in the gym for Grades 3–5, where students will learn basic skills and fundamentals alongside the players and coaches. Thank you, Free Jacks!
Lastly, tomorrow is not just our 100th Day of School, but also Patriots Day, and JES Spirit Day! Will there be any 100 year old Drake Maye sightings? Time will tell! Have a great weekend and GO PATS!
-Mr. Shaw
