Martinson

Principal's Notes

On Friday, students enjoyed a special visit from Plory, one of the adorable i-Ready mascots! Plory encouraged everyone to try their best and persevere as they take their mid-year diagnostics over the next several weeks. The visit was filled with lots of hugs, high-fives, and fun—and exciting boost of motivation for our students!

Important Dates

Monday, Dec 8- Friday, Dec 12: Book Fair

Tuesday, Dec 9- PTO Sponsored Cards & Cocoa (6:00-7:30PM)

Monday, Dec15 - Winter Concert @ 9:15 AM

Tuesday, Dec 16 - Debyah/McHugh Caroling at Proprietors Green at 10AM

Thursday, Dec 18 - MHS Marshalairs & Chamber Orchestra Concert at 9:00AM, students only

Friday, Dec 19 - Kindergarten Caroling with parents (no MES siblings) at 2:00PM

Cafe News

SCHOOL LUNCH

Lunch will be served at all elementary schools this year free of charge. Please find the lunch menu here.

SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWS

The School Nutrition Department is happy to announce their new web page that offers a

new menu that will have nutritional information, language preference and allergy information. For more information please click here.

Nurse's Notes

As we embrace the winter season, colder weather brings a rise in colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses.

Winter Health Tips

Handwashing: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces
Cover cough and sneezes: Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow (not hands) when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly and wash hands immediately.
Stay home when sick: Keep children home if they have a fever, severe cough, or any flu-like symptoms. Encourage a minimum of 24 hours fever-free (without medication) before returning to school.
Boost immunity with healthy habits: Ensure children are getting plenty of sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active.
Avoid touching the face: Remind children not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs can enter the body this way and cause illness.
Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep mucous membranes moist, which can help protect against germs.
Avoid sharing personal items: Remind children not to share water bottles, food, or utensils to avoid spreading germs.

Winter Nosebleeds

If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds it may be from the dry air, try using a cool mist humidifier at night.
Saline nose drops or petroleum jelly may help too.

Dry Skin

Nourish your skin to prevent dryness and itching.
Wash hands with moisturizing soap and warm water as hot water can strip away natural oils.
Moisturize right after a bath or shower when your skin is still damp. This helps lock in moisture.
Vaseline or aquaphor to lips daily or more often to prevent cracking and bleeding.
Scratching can make dry skin worse and lead to infections. If your skin feels itchy, apply a cold compress or soothing moisturizer to calm the irritation.

Layering for the Changing Weather

Since temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day, it’s important to dress children in layers that can easily be removed if they get too warm.
Make sure clothing fits comfortably: Layers should fit comfortably and not restrict movement.
Extra set of clothes: Packing an extra set of clothes or layers in backpacks.

When to Keep Your Child Home:

When your child has a communicable disease such as strep throat or conjunctivitis that has not been treated for at least 24 hours with antibiotic medication
When your child has had a fever of 100 degrees or greater within the past 24 hours without fever- reducing medication
When your child has been vomiting or has had diarrhea within the past 24 hours

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's health, or if you're unsure whether they should attend school, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Jenny Goodwin

jgoodwin@mpsd.org

781-319-3985

Fax: 781-834-5003

Library News

Last week in the library we watched Scholastic Book Fair previews to start getting excited about the Book Fair taking place during library class this week. Please remember to either send in cash with your student or sign up for an e-wallet. If you signed up for an e-wallet and your student does not spend all of the funds on the e-wallet, feel free to shop online on our book fair website: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/martinsonelementaryschool

PTO News

Cards and Cocoa

Join us for Cards and Cocoa on Tuesday, December 9th at 6pm in the MES Cafe. We’ll be making holiday cards to distribute to local hospitals, nursing homes, and the Council on Aging. The MES PTO will provide card making supplies and hot cocoa.

Minted Fundraiser at minted.com

Consider supporting Martinson Elementary School’s PTO by using our unique promo code FUNDRAISEMARTINSON to purchase your holiday cards and gifts from Minted. You’ll receive 20% off your order and 10% of each purchase will be donated back to us at the end of the year. Feel free to share this code with others. Happy Holidays!

Marshfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Basic Rights Workshop & Tips for Organizing IEP Paperwork

Who: All parents and caregivers are welcome
Where: MPSD Administration Building, 76 South River Street, 2nd Floor
When: Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Presenter: Amy Scolaro, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Please click HERE to register

Join us for an informative session designed to help families better understand the special education process. This presentation will provide a clear introduction to special education laws and procedures, including:

The purpose of special education law
How referrals and evaluations work
What to expect during the team meeting process
How eligibility is determined
Understanding services, placement, and next steps after receiving a proposed IEP
What to do if a student is found not eligible
An overview of parents’ procedural due process rights for resolving disputes

In addition, Ms. Scolaro will review the paperwork typically received at an IEP meeting and share practical strategies for organizing documents, whether you prefer a simple three-ring binder or a digital filing system.

Reminder, SEPAC Board elections will take place at the beginning of the meeting.

For planning purposes, please click here to RSVP

We hope you’ll join us for this helpful and supportive session!