Something to Yelle About

ANOTHER AWESOME WEEK IN #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

It was another sensational week here in #HAYNation!

You will hear me talking in extremes in terms of sensational, excellent, awesome, amazing, incredible, but believe me, that is seriously what is going on. We have had another tremendous week here at the Yelle. Everyone -- students, teachers, staff have all been superb in what I like to call our first "real" week of school. Last week we spent a lot of time getting to know each other, building solid relationships, learning to collaborate and cooperate, and just make sure our students see the Yelle as a welcoming place; that is what we always do, and then we start to build upon this foundation. And this week is where that construction upon that strong foundation truly begins. We are getting into our Into Reading program, working in our Stepping Stones workbooks, practicing our problem-solving skills in ST Math, and doing some Mystery Science "experiences." This is what we started this week and it is going amazingly well.

In the big picture above, each week, I use it as a way to highlight and show what we were able to accomplish during the week.

We have a couple of 5th Graders holding up their Rocks they made on Monday, the 5th Day of School, for we celebrated how our 5th Grade students do most certainly ROCK! We have students collaborating, working outside in the beautiful weather, supporting each other's learning, up at the front of the room discussing and explaining their thinking, and even one picture with one of my favorite things holding up his whiteboard so his teacher can see how each student is understanding what they are working on. This second week we are defiinitely into our learning. Another picture is of this week's #PositiveSignThursday message of how our Students BELONG here. We want them to keep coming, enjoying themselves as they are learning, and as in every picture, SMILING brightly. Now that's a great week!

These and the other pictures below that I have snapped throughout the week in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of the incredible relational accomplishments our students and teachers achieved this week. Please check them out below and all over our Instagram feed to help to tell the tremendous story we are writing this year.

Please check out the rest of the Newsletter for some important information including ...

Start With Hello Week

Tuesday's Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night

HAY PTO Gear Store Ordering

NEED Night at GOAT City

Our Upcoming HAY PTO Meeting

Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

Community Events

Other PTO News

And much, much more ...

Please check it out.

Thanks; have a wonderful weekend; stay safe and well,

Marty

Martin R. Geoghegan

Principal

Henri A. Yelle Elementary School

Monday, September 15 through Friday, September 19 – Start With Hello Week (see below)

Monday, September 15 – NEED GOAT City Fundraiser (see below)

Tuesday, September 16 – Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night - 6PM for 4th Grade and 6:45PM for 5th Grade (see below)

Thursday, September 18 – HAY PTO Meeting (3rd Thursday of the month) at 6PM in Library

Wednesday, September 24 – ½ Day PD Day 11:40AM Dismissal

Our school will be participating in the Start with Hello program the week of Monday, September 15 through September 19. This program helps teach students the skills needed to create a culture of inclusion. By building a culture of inclusion, schools and communities can better support children while reducing the risk of bullying, violence and depression. Social isolation is a growing epidemic in the United States, and within our schools. The Start with Hello program is one step to decrease this.

Each day of the week, all students may participate in activities that encourage inclusion, kindness, and individuality (specific activities are listed below). We will be emphasizing the importance of our Core Values this year, and these lessons and activities will enhance our Core Values program. Please talk with your children about how they may have interpreted the different activities throughout the week and how they may be able to apply these values outside of school.

Monday

- “Hey Day!” Each student and staff member will be given a name tag, to design uniquely.

- Nametags will be worn all day and everyone will be encouraged to say “hello” to people that they pass by.

Tuesday

- Build a “Positivity Wall.” Each student and staff member will be given sticky notes to write down compliments and/or encouraging words for one another. Sticky notes will be placed on desks, lockers, and the windows in the front lobby.

Wednesday

- "Norton Pride Day." Students and staff members will be asked to wear Norton attire OR something that is purple and white.

Thursday

- “Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Each person in the school will be encouraged to perform 3 or more random acts of kindness throughout the day. See how many you can do!

Friday

- “No One Plays Alone Day.” Students may play at recess with other children they might not typically play with.

Hello Yelle Families:

We hope you are doing well and enjoying these first few days of the new school year.

We are doing a Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 16th, where we invite all parents/guardians for an evening event, our Elementary Curriculum Night, where our teachers will share the academic plan for the year.

4th Grade will be from 6 to 6:30PM, and 5th Grade from 6:45 to 7:15PM.

We ask that guardians come on-time (no need to be early) head to their child's Homeroom Teacher's classroom to be filled in on the particulars of 4th or 5th Grade. In the past few years, many things have changed academically for our students and what we expect of them.

We felt as though a night dedicated to academics was necessary, especially with our new Math program and our new ELA programming. This is a night where you can hear what you can expect your child to relay to you about what they are doing during the day, during classes, and what may be expected at home.

A Q&A period will be built into these half-hour sessions, as well as the evening is staggered to allow folks with siblings the ability to visit different grades.

Champions will be offering child care in the cafeteria for anyone who may need it.

I have also attached a slideshow, which highlights the curriculum we have here at the Yelle as well as information about how we are a Title I school. Please check it out as well. If you have any questions on it, Title I, the evening itself, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We look forward to seeing you at this Curriculum Night!

Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Hello Yelle Families:

The HAY Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hopes all families had a great Summer vacation. We are looking forward to another senational school year!

The PTO sponsors monthly meetings, which are usually held the third Thursday of each month from 6-7PM in the HAY Library. The meetings could be changed if there is a calendar conflict with a school vacation or holiday and are usually moved to the Wednesday before or after. You can view on the HAY Calendar on the NPS website.

We look forward to seeing returning parents along with new faces from our fourth grade families!

Come join the meetings to hear what’s happening in your child’s school, how you can help out by volunteering, or ways for you to share an idea!

Contact us at:

hayellepto@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/HAYPTO/

Don't forget to check out the HAY PTO Spirtwear Store

for your New School Year Gear!

The Store will be open from now through Monday Night, September 15th!

Choose between the #HAYNation Knight and the Norton N logos

to show your spirit in style!

Click This Link Below:

https://login.commonsku.com/shop/24504578-e85e-4205-8eb6-fd1fd4c58824

This month’s meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th from 6-7PM in the Yelle Library, where we will mostly be discussing plans for our upcoming October Book Fair and more.

We would love to see everyone there!

Additional information can be found on our Facebook page, and we will always contact families with any important information with ParentSquare.

September 12, 2025

Dear Yelle Families,

This school year we will welcome three interns to support our counseling department and classrooms. Miss Faith Reed and Miss Grace Faley will be joining us from Stonehill College. Additionally, our third intern Miss Genevieve Canavan is joining us from Simmons College.

The intern’s role is to support the counselor and the teaching staff while offering extra social, emotional, and academic assistance. This may involve co-leading groups, providing behavioral reinforcement, aiding with academics, and assisting with classroom lessons. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.

Sincerely,

Kim Fulton

School Adjustment Counselor

kfulton@norton.k12.ma.us

508-285-0186

Students will be able to purchase ice cream treats in the cafeteria for $1 cash.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact

Mr. Mike Vacarro

DDS Norton Public Schools

Chartwell's

508.285.0150

Please see more great Pictures and what is happening in #HAYNation like these by going to Instagram at @HAYSchoolNorton -- Make sure you Follow Us and Tag Us in any Posts you want us to see!

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts will be hosting a Webex Webinar Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents. The webinar will take place on the evening of Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30 pm in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Digital Forensics/Child Exploitation/Cyber Crime Unit. The registration flyer is attached. Advanced registration is required.

Click Here For the Link to Register.

Join us this Fall for our Tennis clinic!

Students in grade 4 - 8 are welcome.

The clinic will run for 5 weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting 9/9.

The clinic runs from 3:30 to 5:00 each session.

*Ms. Murphy will be meeting the middle school players to transport their bags. Then they will walk together to the tennis courts.

*The HAY players will meet at the courts at 3:30.

You can use this link to register, or the QR code on the poster attached

https://forms.gle/MBrK7sCJatV5yYMz8

The cost is $20 per session, or $190 for 10 sessions.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

You can email me at kerrimurphy@norton.k12.ma.us, or call/text me at 781-428-4629

Principal Martin R. Geoghegan

Past Newsletters can be found Here.

Website: https://www.norton.k12.ma.us/henri-a-yelle-elementary-school
Location: 64 West Main Street, Norton, MA, USA
Phone: 508-285-0190
Instagram: @HAYSchoolNorton