Cole Miners' Dig

At Cole School, we will celebrate Halloween with Wacky Day on Friday, October 30th where almost anything goes (no masks and no weapons). Students can dress in all or part of their costume, wear wild patterns/colors, put all of their clothes on backwards, or dress in any way their imagination takes them!

Conferences are coming the week of October 26th. The conference letter was sent home via email today. Please be sure to sign up for a conference to hear about your child's progress so far this year.

During the conference week, the PTO will be hosting the book fair in the main hallway outside the main office. Please be sure to stop and check out the great selection of books that were carefully selected by Cole School teachers and Buttonwood Books staff. The Lost and Found will also be on display in that hallway. Please check there for any missing items.

As principal, I am tasked with the responsibility of monitoring student attendance and finding ways to improve student attendance wherever possible. We did an amazing job as a community last year improving our percentage of chronically absent students from 6.1% in 2025 to 2.9 % in 2026! We are, however, trending upward. Currently 5% of our K-5 population has missed 3 or more days or 10% of the school year thus far. This is likely due to some of the viruses we saw in the building this fall and some vacations. Thank you for your ongoing support to have your children in school on time and for limiting dismissals and absences when possible. As cold and flu season hits, please consult Nurse Cashin if you have any questions about whether or not your child should be coming to school.

The cafeteria staff are excited to offer a special Halloween treat this Monday, October 26th! We will be serving delicious Spider Cakes for $1.00 each. Please note: Students must have money available on their school account prior to Monday to purchase this special snack. We hope you enjoy this festive treat!

How do I report my child's absence? We have received several questions recently about how to report a child's absence (note, phone call, email, Pick Up Patrol). The number of options can be overwhelming. We have removed the absent option from Pick Up Patrol and would prefer if parents either email the teacher and cc the office (theresa.festa@norwellschools.org and maureen.coleman@norwellschools.org) or call 781-659-8823 if your child is going to be absent.

We had a very successful parent book group two years ago when we read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. We have decided to host another parent book group this year. If you'd rather check out a video of Isabelle Hau's research and thoughts on the importance of relationships in the development of children, this video is a good place to get a preview. Please see the invitation below and RSVP if you'd like to join me in discussing Isabelle Hau's book, Love to Learn. We hope you'll join us!

Congratulations to this week's Magnificent Meerkats! These students listened so attentively to each other's nominations this morning - such a great job! We're very proud of these students for going above and beyond in showing expected behaviors, perseverance in the face of challenges, and kindness towards others. Way to go, Meerkats!

Data meetings took place this week, and Dr. Ciolkosz and I have been working to create intervention groups based on the SAEBRS social-emotional screeners. I will be reaching out soon to invite selected students, and to give more information about the type of skill-building group we're recommending. Have a great weekend!

Kindergarteners and first graders practiced tossing and catching underhand with a partner and at a target. Second graders turned into farmers to fill up chicken coops/buckets with eggs/balls in a fun throwing game called Farmer Frenzy. Moving to open space, working as a team, passing and catching, third graders played a throwing and catching game called Dice Bonk. With the objective of throwing a ball into the opposing teams’ net, fourth and fifth graders had a lot of fun playing Team Handball.

October

October 18 - PTO Cole vs. Vinal Moms' Kickball Game (rescheduled from 10/2)

October 19 - School Picture Day

October 21 - Elementary Early Release Day (all students dismissed at 12:20 pm)

October 26-30 - Halloween Safety Lessons with School Resource Officer Jake Campbell

October 26 - Cole Connections - Habit of Mind "Responding with Wonderment and Awe"

October 26 - Grade 5 Northeast Passages Enrichment (Thank you, PTO!)

October 28 - Grade 3 Meteorologist Visits Cole School (Thank you, PTO!)

October 28 - PTO Book Fair 3:30-6:00pm (in the main hallway by the office)

October 29 - PTO Book Fair 12:30-6:00pm (in the main hallway by the office)

October 29 - Early Release for Parent /Teacher Conferences (all students dismissed at 12:20 pm)

October 30 - Wacky Day (no masks and no weapons)

October 30 - PTO Monster Mash 6-8pm

Upcoming:

12/3 - Picture Retake Day

Teacher Appreciation Soup Luncheon (10/29)

• SignUp https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B45A8AE2FAB9-66733184-teacher#/

PTO SteerCo Opening

Do you love bringing Cole families together? We’re looking for a Co-VP of Community Events to join our SteerCo team!

Help plan the traditions, celebrations, and experiences that make our Cole community so special.

Interested in learning more, want to nominate yourself or someone else? We’d love to hear from you!
Email: coleptonews@gmail.com
Or: Reach out to a SteerCo member today!

Please express your interest by Monday, October 19.

*This is just for the remainder of this year with the position open to standard election come the spring.

• Tickets on sale now https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/monster-mash-13
• Volunteers needed

  https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040B45A8AE2FAB9-66558914-monster?useFullSite=false

• Amazon wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1WF1MVPOYLAMG?ref_=wl_share

Book Fair: volunteers needed

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040B45A8AE2FAB9-66287785-book?useFullSite=false

Join us on Oct 21st from 2:30-4pm at the Norwell Middle School for a fall lacrosse clinic!

Norwell Girls Youth Lacrosse is running a fall clinic. Sign up link and payment information are below. This is a great opportunity for the girls to practice their skills and get together. All skill levels are welcomed for grades 1-8. Season registration will open soon; this clinic is a great way for girls to try lacrosse before registering. Details are included in the attached flyer.

Sign up link: Norwell Girls Lacrosse Fall Clinic

Suggested donation of $25 can be made through Venmo: Venmo | Norwell Girls Youth Lacrosse

Norwell Girls Lacrosse

#futurestatechampions

www.norwellgirlslacrosse.com

Did you know the Cole School “1000 Book Club” was originally a Norwell Education

Foundation (NEF) grant funded back in 2014? What started out as a pilot program to encourage

a love of reading among pre-K and kindergartners has blossomed into something that is so

much more. With the support of Cole administrators, teachers, and parents, the “1000 Book

Club” is now a program that is integral to the learning culture of Cole students. When reading is

woven into the environment, and coupled with celebratory milestones and accomplishments,

we create enthusiastic readers and life-long learners.

If you want to help Fund What’s Next for Cole School, please consider donating to the NEF

during our Fall Giving Campaign this month to kick off a year of innovation and impact. Since

1992, the NEF has collaborated with educators and school administrators in the Norwell School

District to facilitate the development and funding of teacher-written grants. We rely solely on

the generous support of the community, so please consider donating to help fund these grants

that provide resources for innovative educational programs, activities and materials.