Something To Yelle About

WE ARE MARCH-ING ALONG

IN #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

It was a super busy week in #HAYNation! Report cards, parent-teacher conferences, BOOK FAIR, and so much more.

As I try to do each week, I use the big picture above to tell the story of the week in pictures for us here at the Yelle.

This week the Big Picture highlights most of those things I mention above. The HAY PTO Book Fairs are always a hit, and I love how they help to instill a great love of reading in our students. We do this in so many ways throughout the year, but the Book Fair is always a way to help celebrate reading. In a bunch of the pictures above, I saw a lot of reading, writing, and working on our reading comprehension skills. Students are getting ready for ELA MCAS next week, but these same skills have been practiced each and every week throughout the school year. We just hope they can show off their proficiency with them on the test. Then there is a large group of smiling young ladies and gentlemen holding up this week's #PositiveSignThursday with the message of how We Are MARCH-ing Along Together. We are heading out of this month and into April having learned so much and we hope, again, that we can show this growth in our assessments.

These and the other pictures below in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of the fantastic 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 ...

ELA MCAS This Week

Yelle Spring Picture Day

Our Successful Lockdown Drill

Jimmy Fund Rally Against Cancer Wear A Hat Day

Important Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

A Fantastic HAY PTO Spring Scholastic Book Fair

Community Events

Open To All Providence B's Star Wars Night

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

Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1 – 5th Grade ELA MCAS

Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3 – 4th Grade ELA MCAS

Friday, April 3 – Rally Against Cancer Wear A Hat (see below)

Wednesday, April 8 – Districtwide PD Day ½ Day – 11:40 AM Dismissal

Thursday, April 16 – Yelle Spring Picture Day

Thursday, April 16 – HAY PTO Meeting at 6 PM in the Library

Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 – April Vacation

Yelle Spring 2026 MCAS Schedule

Our 2026 ELA MCAS administration starts this week on Tuesday, March 31,

and on Wednesday, April 1, for our 5th Grade students, and then

Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3rd for our 4th Grade students.

You may not believe this but our students like our MCAS Days.

How might you ask?

Well, our students start their day with a morning Recess, then a Snack, then a couple of hours

set up for testing, then an Afternoon Recess and Lunch, with their Special happening in the

afternoon.

It's a day we just ask for our students to take their time and give their best effort.

That's all we ask.

Other than the testing, the day is very nice for them.

Please just wish your kids to do their best on those days.

That is all we ask.

Any questions, please let me know.

Grade 4

ELA Day 1 on Thursday 4/2

ELA Day 2 on Friday 4/3

Math Day 1 on Thursday 5/7

Math Day 2 on Friday 5/8

Grade 5

ELA Day 1 on Tuesday 3/31

ELA Day 2 on Wednesday 4/1

Math Day 1 on Tuesday 5/5

Math Day 2 on Wednesday 5/6

STE on Tuesday 5/12

On Friday, April 3, Yelle students are asked to wear a hat

and bring in a dollar for the Jimmy Fund to Rally Against Cancer.

Wear a Hat! Bring in a Dollar! Help Cure Cancer!

Win-Win-Win!

On Friday, March 20, we engaged in a successful lockdown drill.

The drill began at approximately 8:45 AM and was completed efficiently, with all classrooms cleared within 11 minutes. Many classrooms were cleared even sooner, depending on the time it took for Sgt. Dennett, Student Resource Officer Robichaud, additional Norton Police Department officers, and school administrators to safely reach and check each room.

I am proud to share that Sgt. Dennett specifically commended our students and staff for how well they performed. Across the building, students followed directions carefully, remained calm and quiet, and demonstrated a strong understanding of the procedures. Our staff executed the protocol with precision and care, ensuring that each classroom was secure and that students felt supported throughout the process.

As a reminder, lockdown drills are safety exercises designed to prepare students and staff for immediate threats by practicing how to secure classrooms, remain out of sight, and stay silent. In a real emergency, these actions are critical to protecting everyone in the building. Practicing these routines helps build muscle memory, improves response time, and ensures that both students and adults can act quickly and effectively under pressure.

During the drill, classrooms followed our established “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” protocol:

• Doors were locked and lights were turned off
• Students and staff moved to secure, concealed areas away from doors and windows
• Everyone remained quiet and still until cleared by law enforcement

These drills are always conducted in partnership with local law enforcement and in a developmentally appropriate way. As shared previously, students were well-prepared through classroom discussions and visits from Sgt. Dennett, helping them understand both the purpose of the drill and what was expected of them.

We recognize that these types of drills can feel serious, but they are an important part of maintaining a safe school environment. Our goal is always to ensure that students feel safe, supported, and confident in knowing what to do in any situation.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust as we work together to keep our school community safe.

If parents or guardians have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Geoghegan.

Thursday, April 16th is our Yelle Inter-State Spring Picture Day.

Ordering packet information will be coming home next week.

Please be on the lookout for it.

Say CHEESE!

Hello Yelle Families:

The HAY Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hopes all families are enjoying the school year. We are always trying to make this another senational experience for our students!

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/

The HAY PTO Scholastic Book Fair Was A Great Success!

The HAY PTO would like to thank everyone for their participation in our Spring Book Fair.

With the Scholastic Dollars earned, we are able to supply the Book Vending Machine, support teacher's libraries, and also stock the HAY Library.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our HAY PTO Volunteers for setting up, organizing, running, and

taking down the Fair!

We LOVE how you help in instilling a great love of our students for READING!

We will be looking for 5th Grade Pictures for the Yearbook!

5th Grade Families start looking around at your photos for some great ones

of your kids and friends!

More Information to Come ...

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!

Please consider attending our biggest music fundraiser of the year! This is a ticketed performance event which includes light refreshments and music provided by the students of NHS. Tickets can be purchased HERE or in-person at the door. This is open to everyone, not just the school community! Please share!

Save the Date!

Friday April 10th, 2026

6:00 PM @ The NHS Cafe

Tickets $20

Discounts available

See the poster for more details!

Dear Norton Families,

Join the NHS Varsity Tennis teams and their coaches at our April Vacation Tennis Clinic!

April 21-24 (Tues - Fri)

12:30 - 2:00 pm

NHS courts (behind the Yelle School)

$20 per day or $70 for all 4 sessions

Payments may be cash, or check payable to NHS Tennis Boosters Club

Please sign up using this form, or the QR code on the poster: https://forms.gle/kXzoS6iPMCc3Xwst9

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you and see you there!

Coach Murphy

Join us at Bridgewater State University for an Earth Day celebration filled with hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire a love for our planet!

This free family-friendly event is perfect for younger learners (PK–6), and all are welcome.

April 21, 2026

Drop in anytime from 1–3 PM (activities end at 3 PM)

Registration is required, and space is limited—be sure to save your spot! https://forms.gle/mwJXVLVimpD6beY7A

Serving Grades 4 and 5

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