K to 5 students were treated to "True Blue You" a performance about doing the right thing and showing up with respect for ourselves and others. The performers - Plymouth State University, TIGER - also conducted workshops with 3rd through 5th graders following the show. See more details at this (LINK). They will be back at PES in just a couple of weeks to perform "Triggered" (LINK) for our middle school students. They are always a favorite here at PES! Enjoy the photos throughout

Weekly Principal Ponderings

How perfect that we celebrate the life of MLK just at the start of the new year -- it offers the opportunity to make resolutions about the steps we each can take to foster a more just world. Please be reminded that in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy, there is no school tomorrow, Monday, January 19th. Tomorrow is also my sister Maureen's 60th birthday...I'm now the last of my siblings in my 50s (gulp!)

We will start the week with our MLK Assembly, coordinated and emceed by Student Council and including a special "All School Sing." (NOTE There is no K to 4 Tuesday Morning sing this week, and parents are invited to join our assembly instead. You will just need to sign in at the office.) In the meantime, I encourage you to explore the activities and resources throughout this week's Bulletin. The folks at "smore" (our newsletter platform) did a nice job compiling this template.

This week also includes the Spring Drama Club kick-off meeting (Tuesday at 3 pm!), the 6th to 8th grade Spelling Bee (Wednesday at 1:30 pm) and our first of four FAST Fridays. Please review Weekly Happenings for all upcoming events and activities and the Office Notes for the most up-to-date FAST information. There is a comprehensive chart detailing the equipment and gear needed for each program. We want your child(ren) to be well prepared so they can take full advantage of the FAST activities!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of this snowy long weekend!

Audra

P.S. - Go PATS!!!

Join us for one or more of the following:

It's not too late to join us. Whether you are available all four Fridays or only one, please consider stopping by. The dates are as follows:

Friday, January 23
Friday, January 30
Friday, February 6
Friday, February 13
Make up day if needed - Friday, February 20

Programs options include:

Whaleback Mountain - Pickup begins at 5 pm
The Notch: The program goes until 4 pm
CCBA Swimming: 1 to 2:20 pm
Willow Brook Farm Horsemanship: 1 to 2:20 pm
Ice Skating: 12:50 to 2:10
PES Winter Sports: 12:50 to 2:30

We are also looking for used skates (ice or hockey) that we can offer to students who need them for FAST (Jan 23, 30, Feb 6, 13). If you have any skates that your family has outgrown, please consider dropping them off in the donation bin in the PES entryway. Thank you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 2026

19 - NO SCHOOL, MLK Day

20 - 8:15 to 8:35 - MLK Assembly – Gymnasium – Parents/Guardians Welcome

20 - Drama Club Kickoff - in the Library - Students at 3 pm; Parents at 4 pm (see more info below)

21 - Spelling Bee (6-8th grade), 1:35-2:45, PES gym

21 - Community Committee meeting, 4-5pm, PES library

21- Destination Imagination, 2:50

22- Math Team, 2:50

23- FAST (1st of 4 Fridays)

27- Start of NWEA testing

27- 8:05 K-4 School Sing – 8am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

27- School Board Meeting, Public Hearing 5:30pm

28- Destination Imagination, 2:50

30- FAST (2nd of 4 Fridays)

FAST Kick-off - This Friday

Our first FAST Friday is January 23rd! Please be sure your students come to school prepared with any necessary equipment for their activity (skates, helmets, snow gear, boots, swim suits, skis, etc!). We have very limited options for “extras” here at school. Students will not be able to participate without the required gear and our staff will be busy running and supervising the various activities.

This is an all-school program so all staff have assignments and are unavailable for supervision of students who are not prepared. If a student does not have their equipment to participate, a parent/guardian will need to drop off the items at school prior to the activity starting. If they cannot participate, the only other options are to watch from the sidelines and/or be picked up early by a caregiver. Thank you for your help in sending students to school ready to participate in these fun activities!

WINTER NWEA DATES

We will once again administer winter NWEA tests in all grades. This helps us to monitor individual growth and assess our curriculum, instruction, and assessment program. Results will be available for March parent teacher conferences.

K

1/29 - Reading

2/12 - Math

Grades 1 & 2

1/28 - Reading

2/4 - Math

Grades 3 & 4

1/27 - Reading 8:30am

2/11 - Math 8:30am

Grade 5

1/28 - Reading 8:30am

2/3 - Math 8:30am

Grades 6 through 8

2/5 Reading 8:00 - 10:00

2/10 Math 8:00 - 10:00

Substitute Teachers Needed for 2025-2026 school year

The Plainfield School is seeking individuals who would be comfortable working with K-8th grade students in our building during the 2025-2026 school year. Applicants must be able to follow teacher substitute plans, be dependable, and enjoy working with children. If you are interested in applying, please contact Katie Lowery in the office at (603) 469-3250.

Sending a huge thank you to everyone who came to this week's PTA meeting!

The PTA flourishes when we have engagement from parents across all grade levels.

We debriefed recent events from the late fall/early winter and started to look ahead to our continued support of PES classroom/community activities and to PTA-sponsored winter and spring events.

We will be purchasing two rolling book carts for the PES library to aid in unit-specific book support for individual classrooms.

Next PTA Meeting: Wednesday, March 11th 7-8pm at Meriden Library

PTA Scholastic Book Fair: March 10-12th. This is a fun caregiver volunteer opportunity!

Volunteers needed for Four Winds Nature Program

Want to learn more about nature? Eager to share the joy of discovery with children? Become a Four Winds volunteer and join a group of community members who share both an interest in nature and a love of children.

Four Winds Nature Institute is a community-based organization that provides natural science education for all ages. As a Four Winds Nature Program volunteer, you will bring fun and engaging natural science lessons to the children at Cornish or Plainfield Elementary School, in Kindergarten through Grade 4.

Adult volunteers from both towns meet for five two-hour workshops throughout the school year. The site of the workshops alternates between the Cornish and Plainfield Schools. At each workshop a member of the Four Winds staff walks the volunteers through a fascinating natural science topic by demonstrating activities that will be done later with the students.

After the workshops volunteers bring these lessons to the classroom. Many of the activities involve taking the children outdoors, to the nearby fields and woods, for an up-close look at things related to the topic. This is the best way to learn about the natural world.

Our teachers are always involved when the volunteers are with their students. This is a way to support them, as it is not always easy to take a whole class outside without extra hands. It is also a great way to meet other people in our community and give the important and rewarding gift of your time to the children in our school.

For more information contact the program coordinators,

Linda Fuerst- Cornish, lm@lmfuerst.com

Kathleen Maslan, Plainfield- kathleen.maslan@comcast.net

THERE'S STILL TIME TO JOIN!

Drama Club will begin on Tuesday January 20th! There will be an afterschool gathering with snacks and theater games for all interested 6th-8th grade students from 3-4pm. There will be a Parent and Student Meeting 4-4:30 with logistics and information about this year's Drama Club held in the PES Library.

Rehearsals will be held 3-4:30 on Mondays beginning Jan 26th and additionally on Thursdays beginning February 19th, with additional time during the Elective period for 7th and 8th graders and last period on Tuesdays and Fridays for the 6th graders. The performances will be on April 3rd and 4th.

Looking for all those interested in creating an exciting play together -- no experience necessary, just a willingness to be a team player and try new things! Keep an eye out in the hallways for an announcement of this year's play…

Thank you,

Kailie Larkin

Community Resources Are Available

Due to the federal government shut down and the suspension of the SNAP food benefits the town of Plainfield’s Community Resource Room & Food Pantry is ready and available to assist Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish residents during this unsettling time.

This will be a drive through pick up of supplemental nutritional care packages. At pick up you will need to show your EBT card.

If you are without transportation or can’t physically attend these special pick-up times, please reach out and we will try our best to arrange for a drop-off at your home.

The Community Food Pantry is located at the Christ Community Church, 1259 Route 12A in Plainfield. Across the street from the Plainfield Fire Station.

The Community Food Pantry’s regular hours are the 1st Thursday, 3rd Friday & 3rd Saturday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m. During these times any residents needing to stretch their grocery budget from Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish can access food.

We are here to help during these challenging times. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Plainfield’s Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell at cr.director@plainfieldnh.org or 1-603-469-3201.

Yes if people would like to make monetary donations to Our local community food pantry they may do so by sending a check to:

The Town of Plainfield

P.O. Box 380

Meriden, NH 03770

In the check memo write: Food Pantry

Town of Plainfield Community Services

Any Plainfield or Meriden resident requiring assistance for housing, heating fuel assistance, electricity assistance, medication assistance and or nutritional support from the Town should contact the Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell. Contact information: 603-469-3201 or email sschell@plainfieldschool.org. All information is confidential.

Food Pantry

Residents of the Town of Plainfield can access the following local services.
Note: The food pantry and clothing swap rooms are located in the Christ Community Church on Route 12A (across from the Plainfield Fire Department). The Food Pantry is open the 1st Thursday and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and warmly welcomes all Town residents.

Free Clothing Rooms

The Christ Community Church has (2) very well organized rooms that contain FREE clothing for adults and children. All clothing is donated and in great condition. In addition to clothing there are also Free household items, toys & books as well. These rooms are open to the Public each Tuesday morning from 9-11 a.m.

Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit

Free fresh produce provided by Willing Hands: please check the Town calendar for dates and times.

IMPORTANT LOCAL RESOURCES

For Plainfield Residents

Community Resource Room & Food Pantry-

1st Thursday & 3rd Friday & Saturday of each month at the Christ Community Church; Route 12A Plainfield. Nutritious pre-packaged bags of nonperishable food items, frozen meat, bread, eggs, milk and fresh veggies & fruit. This is a drive thru pantry for

Plainfield & Cornish residents. Free Cat & Dog food on the 3rd Friday & Saturday provided by the Upper Valley Humane Society. Please stop by between 9-10:30 a.m. to help stretch your grocery budget.

Christ Community Church FREE Clothing Rooms

FREE Clothing for all ages, Home goods, Toys etc.

Christ Community Church; 1259 Route 12A Plainfield - 1-603-675-5673

Tuesdays 9-11 a.m. Everyone is Welcome!

Fight 68 Hours of Hunger Care Package Program: A box of nutritious food is delivered to your home each Wednesday afternoon to help fight hunger. The box contains a variety of foods for the entire family to help stretch your grocery budget.

Willing Hands – FREE Fresh veggies, fruit, milk, eggs, bread & proteins Every Wednesday from 11:45-12:15 p.m. Cornish Town Hall is located on the fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome!

Southwestern Community Services: Claremont NH

Providing Heating Fuel & Electrical Assistance. They also have Rental or Mortgage Assistance programs. Completed applications for eligibility are needed. These programs are open to all Sullivan County Residents please call 542-9528 for more information.

Listen Community Services:

Providing Plainfield Residents with Heating & Electrical Assistance, Food Pantry resources, Holiday Gift Baskets, School Supplies Drive, Community Dinners, Housing Helper Grants, Summer Camp Scholarships and Thrift Store Vouchers for clothing & furniture.

Located at 60 Hanover Street, Lebanon

Call for an appointment to discuss individual needs: 1-603-448-4553

8th graders tour the Building Trades program.

A stop at the STEM classroom

Health Sciences was a favorite!

The welding program is full of interesting equipment.

Never too old to play a little!

STEM Engineering & Design programs were a hit.