Something To Yelle About

SO MUCH SPIRIT ALL

AROUND #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

What a spirited week we had this week in #HAYNation! The kids have all been so remarkable in dressing up for Spirit Days, being excited for Break, and still getting their work done! We are all so proud of them!

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.

The Big Picture for this week can be summed up by our #PositiveSignThursday message, which says, "We Have SPIRIT!" and we most certainly do as all of these students continue to impress us every day, especially as I said above with still getting things done as we get closer to the Break. There are some pictures of students in the Spirit Day outfits whether it was Homeroom Color, Favorite Character, PJ Day, and more! And then you catch a couple of kids working away in costume and it is just so impressive! #WayToGo!

These and the other pictures below that I have snapped throughout the week in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of what 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 ...

Spirit Week Continues Monday

Half Day on Tuesday

Norton Food Support Information

Boosterthon T-Shirt Sponsors Needed

Boosterthon Dates

Dressing For Winter

Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

Community Events

Other PTO News

And much, much more ...

Please check it out.

Two important Reminders:

1. Next Tuesday is a half-day early dismissal; and

2. This newsletter is for this week and next. There will not be a newsletter next week with the Holiday Break.

Have a wonderful Winter holidays! And one of my favorite things to say, "See You Next Year!"

Thanks; have a wonderful weekend, holidays, and Break; enjoy; stay safe and well,

Marty

Martin R. Geoghegan

Principal

Henri A. Yelle Elementary School

Monday, December 22 & Tuesday, December 23 – Yelle Spirit Days

Tuesday, December 23 – ½ Day Districtwide 11:40 AM Dismissal

Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2 – Winter Break

Monday, January 5 – 1st Day Back from Break

Wednesday, January 7 – 1st Day to Register for Boosterthon 2026 (see below)

Thursday, January 15 – HAY PTO Meeting at 6 PM in the Library

Monday, January 19 – MLK Day - No School

Wednesday, January 21 – Boosterthon Kickoff (afternoon schedule TBA)

Wednesday, January 21 through Friday, January 30 – Boosterthon Fun Run 2026

Friday, January 30 – Boosterthon Fun Glow Run Day (schedule TBA)

Just A Reminder for your Calendar:

Tuesday, December 23rd, is a Half-Day

11:40AM Early Dismissal for all Yelle students.

Then there is NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, December 24th through Friday, January 2nd

for the Winter Break and Holidays!

From everyone here in #HAYNation, we wish you the happiest of holidays

and a joyful New Year!

Enjoy.

"See You Next Year!"

Hello Yelle Families.

Typically, I am sending this message out earlier in the year, but we have been enjoying some more favorable weather so far these past few months.

This is just a friendly reminder that as the weather turns from Fall to Winter, and specifically from 50s, 60s and even 70s the last few weeks to a real feel of 40s this past week, we do love getting the students outside for PE/Wellness and Recess.

The students might think the classrooms can be warm, but we love to get the students outside for recess and Wellness, so they should at least know that they should dress appropriately for those times; at least packing sweatshirts, hats/gloves, jackets, and the like.

We will go outside for recess when the "real feel" is 25 degrees or above outside, and you can see me bundled in my hat, coat, and gloves, for to me, I need them. The students may not feel like they need it for the school day, but for recess if the real feel is at least 25, we have recess outdoors.

It is always nice to get that fresh air, and as I said, we love getting them outside whenever we can.

Any questions, please let us know.

Thanks!

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/

We are looking for sponsors for our Event Day Boosterthon Glow Run Shirts

$50 for business name only

$100 for Business Logo

$200 for Large Logo and Logo on the back of the 5th grade yearbook

Venmo - @HenriA-YellePTO

Check - Made out to HAY PTO (sent to school)

Logo Files can be sent to hayellepto@gmail.com

BIG NEWS!

Our HAY Glow Run is coming soon! We’re attempting to raise $20,000 for field trips and enrichment, and we need your help.

Save the date and stay tuned for more details on how you can support our cause.

Register online at MyBooster.com – 01/07/2026

Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 01/21/2026

Event Day – 01/30/2026

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!

Food Resources for Families

As you may have heard, many families across the country will be affected by the federal government’s decision not to use contingency funds to pay for November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Beginning Saturday, November 1, more than 1 million Massachusetts residents—including 277,000 school-aged children in 168,000 households—will not receive their SNAP benefits. SNAP payments will not resume until the federal government shutdown ends.

We understand how difficult this situation may be for many families, and we want to make sure everyone in our community knows that support is available right here in Norton.

Free Meals: Norton Public Schools continues to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students, every school day — no forms or questions asked.

Local Food Pantry: Cupboard of Kindness Food Pantry

120 Mansfield Ave., Norton, MA

(508) 285-3398 | cupboardofkindness.org

1st & 3rd Mondays, 4:30–6:30 PM

Parking opens at 3:30 PM

Need More Help?

Call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 (available in 180languages) or visit projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline.

Here is a helpful Town of Norton Food Resource flyer.

DPH Commissioner Rebukes Misleading Assertions

About Vaccines and Autism

11/20/2025

Boston — Vaccines do not cause autism, and there is no link between childhood vaccines and autism. This has been proven repeatedly through decades of rigorous, high-quality research involving millions of children worldwide. The evidence is clear, consistent, and overwhelming.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) rejects the assertion posted Nov. 19, 2025, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website which suggests that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based or that studies have failed to rule out a connection between childhood vaccines and autism. Such claims are factually incorrect and deliberately misleading. They contradict the global scientific consensus and undermine public confidence in vaccines. Vaccines are one of the most effective and life-saving interventions in the history of medicine and public health.

For an official federal website to include such misinformation is deeply troubling and even dangerous. It fuels misinformation and leads to misplaced doubt that puts children, families, and communities at risk for serious illness. These claims reflect ideology, not evidence.

DPH is committed to providing the public with accurate, science-based information. We continue to monitor emerging research, consult with leading experts, and update our guidance as new high-quality evidence becomes available. And we will continue to push back forcefully against misinformation and disinformation that threaten the health and safety of the people of Massachusetts — especially when it appears on official federal platforms. We are currently reviewing our website and are removing links to CDC content that contains or amplifies such false and misleading claims.

—Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD

Share this statement: DPH Commissioner rebukes misleading assertions about vaccines and autism | Mass.gov.

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